53 Across

NYT Daily • September 4, 2025

Plant watcher, for short

Answer:

OSHA

Hint:

Think of the government agency that ensures workplace safety—its acronym sounds like it could belong to someone keeping an eye on office plants.

Explanation:

This clue plays on the phrase "plant watcher" as a clever misdirection. "OSHA" stands for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which oversees workplace safety—including monitoring industrial plants. The "for short" hints at the acronym, while "plant watcher" humorously twists the idea of someone observing greenery into a regulatory body keeping an eye on factories. It’s a pun relying on the double meaning of "plant.

More Clues from This Puzzle

28 Down

5 letters

Slowly diminish

60 Down

3 letters

Epitome of simplicity

40 Across

6 letters

Woke

50 Across

3 letters

In good shape