31 Down
NYT Daily • August 21, 2025
Boot
Answer:
HEAVEHO
Hint:
Think of what sailors might shout when lifting something heavy together.
Explanation:
"Boot" here isn’t about footwear—it’s a nautical term meaning to kick someone off a ship. The answer "HEAVEHO" plays on the phrase "heave ho," a sailor’s chant when pulling or lifting, which also sounds like the act of forcefully removing (or "booting") someone. The spelling tweak from "heave ho" to "HEAVEHO" keeps it tight for crossword style.