35 Across

NYT Daily • August 5, 2025

Something an employee wouldn't want to be given

Answer:

BOOT

Hint:

["\"Think about an unwanted workplace dismissal phrase.\""]

Explanation:

The clue "Something an employee wouldn't want to be given" leads to the answer "BOOT" through a straightforward wordplay based on common workplace terminology. In corporate or employment settings, the phrase "given the boot" is an idiomatic expression that means to be fired or dismissed from a job. Therefore, an employee would not want to be "given the boot," as it signifies losing their job. This cleverly connects the clue to the answer through the idiom.