38 Across

NYT Daily • September 3, 2025

Fancify … or a phonetic hint to 17-, 23-, 50- and 62-Across

Answer:

ZHUZH UP

Hint:

Think of a slangy way to say "spruce up" that sounds like it belongs in a drag queen’s vocabulary or a trendy home makeover show.

Explanation:

The clue plays on two meanings of "fancify"—the answer itself is "ZHUZH UP," a slang term meaning to make something more stylish or exciting. It also acts as a phonetic nudge ("zhuzh" sounds like "juice") for the answers at 17-, 23-, 50-, and 62-Across, which all start with or contain "JU" (as in "juice"). The wordplay ties the definition and the sound-alike hint together in one clever package.

More Clues from This Puzzle

34 Across

4 letters

Creature of Sherpa folklore

1 Across

5 letters

Project for a beginning knitter

14 Across

5 letters

Exposed, as one’s dirty laundry

19 Across

4 letters

One getting top billing