16 Across

NYT Daily • September 8, 2025

*Pad in a makeup kit

Answer:

POWDER PUFF (take a powder & take a puff)

Hint:

Think of what you might use to apply loose face powder—it’s soft, fluffy, and shares its name with a playful way to say "leave quickly" or "inhale sharply.

Explanation:

The clue plays on two phrases: "take a powder" (slang for leaving quickly) and "take a puff" (like inhaling smoke). A "powder puff" is a soft pad used to apply face powder, so the answer combines both meanings—it’s literally a puff for powder, while also hinting at the two expressions. The wordplay ties the makeup item to familiar idioms for a clever twist.

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