Things you can’t do without

BARE ESSENTIALS

Think of the minimal items or elements that form the foundation for survival or basic needs—what you’d pack if starting over with nothing. The phrase itself suggests a lack of extras.

The phrase "Things you can’t do without" hints at the most basic items or needs you absolutely require—those are your "bare essentials." The word "bare" reinforces the idea of stripping things down to the absolute minimum, while "essentials" directly means what’s necessary. It’s a straightforward clue where the answer plays on the literal meaning of the phrase.