31 Across
NYT Daily • August 29, 2025
Plot device in many a rom-com
Answer:
MEET-CUTE
Hint:
Not available
Explanation:
A "meet-cute" is a classic romantic comedy trope where two potential love interests cross paths in an adorable, quirky, or slightly awkward way—think bumping into each other and dropping groceries or getting stuck in an elevator. The clue plays on how this scenario is a go-to plot device (a storytelling tool) in rom-coms to spark the couple’s first real connection. The hyphen in "meet-cute" hints it’s a compound term, blending "meet" (their first encounter) with "cute" (the charming or funny twist that makes it memorable).