Wordlessly indicate "Please give me a hand"

ANTE

["Here’s a helpful hint for your crossword clue:\n\n*\"In poker, it's a small bet to start the game—no words needed.\"*\n\nThis hint guides the solver toward the poker context and the idea of a non-verbal action (placing a bet) without directly giving away the answer."]

The clue "Wordlessly indicate 'Please give me a hand'" leads to the answer **"ANTE"** through the following wordplay: 1. **"Wordlessly indicate"** suggests that the answer is a gesture or non-verbal action rather than a spoken phrase. 2. **"Please give me a hand"** is a common phrase meaning to ask for help, but in poker, **"ante"** refers to a mandatory bet that players must contribute before receiving their cards—essentially "giving a hand" (i.e., contributing to the pot). 3. Additionally, **"ante"** can colloquially mean "up" or "put in," reinforcing the idea of contributing something (like a hand in poker). Thus, the clue cleverly uses poker terminology to hint at the answer **"ANTE."**