NYT Daily • August 2, 2025
Spiffed up, say
Answer:
REDONE
Hint:
["**Hint:** \"Like a room after a renovation, perhaps.\"\n\nThis hint suggests a transformation or improvement without directly repeating \"spiffed up\" or giving away \"redone.\" It guides the solver toward the idea of something being done again or refreshed."]
Explanation:
The clue **"Spiffed up, say"** leads to the answer **"REDONE"** through the following breakdown: 1. **"Spiffed up"** – This phrase means to make something look neat, clean, or improved, often by redoing or renovating it. 2. **"Say"** – In crossword clues, "say" often signals that the answer is an example or synonym of the preceding phrase rather than a direct definition. 3. **"REDONE"** – This word means to have done something again, which aligns with the idea of improving or fixing something (i.e., "spiffing up"). The wordplay here is straightforward, relying on synonymy rather than complex puns or anagrams. The answer is a verb that directly conveys the action of improving or redoing something.