52 Down

NYT Daily • August 26, 2025

"My gut says …"

Answer:

IDBET

Hint:

Trust your instincts when shortening "I would wager" in casual conversation.

Explanation:

The phrase "My gut says" is a casual way to express a strong feeling or intuition about something. Here, it hints at the word "bet," since people often say "I bet" when they’re confident about a guess or prediction. The answer "IDBET" combines "I’d" (short for "I would") with "bet," making it a natural fit for the clue’s conversational tone.

More Clues from This Puzzle

4 Across

4 letters

___ monster (only venomous lizard native to the U.S.)

8 Across

4 letters

Go caroling, say

15 Across

4 letters

Devils' center, appropriately

16 Across

10 letters

Ones taking baby pictures in the delivery room, maybe