NYT Daily • August 2, 2025
Silicon Valley's holy grail
Answer:
THENEXTBIGTHING
Hint:
["**Hint:** \"What tech innovators are always chasing—often in one breathless phrase.\"\n\nThis hint:\n- References the tech industry’s pursuit of innovation.\n- Suggests the answer is a common, almost clichéd phrase in the field.\n- Hints at the answer being a single, merged term (like many tech buzzwords).\n- Avoids repeating \"holy grail\" or \"Silicon Valley\" directly."]
Explanation:
The clue **"Silicon Valley's holy grail"** leads to the answer **"THENEXTBIGTHING"** through a combination of cultural context and wordplay. - **"Silicon Valley"** refers to the tech industry hub known for innovation and startups, where companies and investors are constantly searching for the next major breakthrough or trend. - **"Holy grail"** metaphorically represents the ultimate, elusive goal—something highly sought after but difficult to attain. In tech culture, this often refers to **"the next big thing,"** a phrase commonly used to describe the latest groundbreaking innovation or product. - The answer is written as a single word (**"THENEXTBIGTHING"**) rather than separated, which is a playful nod to how tech jargon and branding often merge words for impact (e.g., "iPhone," "Netflix"). Thus, the clue cleverly combines Silicon Valley’s obsession with innovation and the idea of an ultimate, game-changing discovery to lead to the answer.