53 Down

NYT Daily • September 6, 2025

They may be fine

Answer:

ARTS

Hint:

Think of disciplines that often end with "s" and are celebrated in galleries or theaters. They can also describe creative skills you might study in school.

Explanation:

The clue plays on the double meaning of "fine." While "fine" usually means okay or good, it can also refer to "fine arts," which are creative disciplines like painting or sculpture. Here, "they" hints at a plural word, and "ARTS" fits as the shortened form of "fine arts." The wordplay tricks you into thinking about quality first before landing on the artistic definition.

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