23 Across
NYT Daily • August 12, 2025
After the buzzer
Answer:
LATE
Hint:
Arriving when the opportunity has already passed.
Explanation:
The clue "After the buzzer" hints at something happening too late, as a buzzer often signals the end of a time limit. "Late" directly means after the expected or required time, fitting the clue perfectly. There’s no hidden wordplay here—it’s a straightforward definition where the answer describes the situation after the buzzer sounds.