NYT Daily • August 2, 2025
The most infinitesimal amount
Answer:
ADROPINTHEOCEAN
Hint:
["Here’s a helpful hint for your crossword:\n\n*\"It’s a tiny part of something vast—think of a common phrase written as one word.\"*\n\nThis nudges the solver toward the idiomatic expression while keeping the answer's structure in mind."]
Explanation:
The clue **"The most infinitesimal amount"** leads to the answer **"ADROPINTHEOCEAN"** through a combination of literal meaning and vivid imagery. - **"Infinitesimal amount"** suggests something extremely small, almost negligible. - A **"drop in the ocean"** is a common idiomatic expression meaning a tiny, insignificant part of a much larger whole. - The answer is written as a single word without spaces (**ADROPINTHEOCEAN**), which is a playful twist on the phrase, making it fit the crossword format while retaining the meaning. Thus, the clue cleverly uses a well-known metaphor to hint at the answer in a compact, puzzle-friendly form.