27 Across
NYT Daily • August 30, 2025
Heat setting, perhaps
Answer:
MEET
Hint:
Not available
Explanation:
Heat setting, perhaps" plays on two meanings of "heat." In one sense, it hints at warmth or temperature, but here it’s a sneaky nod to a "hot" or intense situation—like a romantic or competitive encounter. The word "setting" suggests a place where something happens, so a "heat setting" could be where people come together, like a MEET (as in a meet-up or athletic meet). The "perhaps" signals the wordplay, letting you know it’s not about actual temperature.