42 Down

NYT Daily • August 1, 2025

What fell on Chicken Little's head

Answer:

ACORN

Hint:

["Here’s a helpful hint for your crossword clue:\n\n**\"It's not the sky, but it might drop from a tree.\"**\n\nThis hint gently guides the solver toward the idea of something falling from above (like in the story) while avoiding the direct reference to Chicken Little or the answer itself. It keeps the connection to nature and the misconception in the tale without giving it away."]

Explanation:

The clue **"What fell on Chicken Little's head"** leads to the answer **"ACORN"** through a well-known children's story reference. In the classic folktale *Chicken Little* (also known as *Henny Penny*), the protagonist is struck on the head by an acorn, which leads to the famous line, *"The sky is falling!"* The story plays on the idea of an overreaction to a small event, as the acorn is mistaken for a piece of the sky. Thus, the clue directly references this key moment in the tale, making **"ACORN"** the straightforward and correct answer. No complex wordplay is involved—just a direct cultural allusion to the story.

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