51 Across
NYT Daily • August 29, 2025
Spitting contest?
Answer:
RAP BATTLE
Hint:
Not available
Explanation:
This clue plays on the idea of a "spitting contest," which literally sounds like people competing to spit the farthest. But in hip-hop culture, "spitting" refers to rapping, especially delivering fast, clever lyrics. So a "spitting contest" is actually a rap battle, where two MCs trade insults and show off their skills. The wordplay hinges on the double meaning of "spitting.