44 Down
NYT Daily • September 10, 2025
Flew past
Answer:
SHOT BY
Hint:
["Think of a phrase used when something moves quickly beside you, like a car on the highway or a bullet in a game."]
Explanation:
"Flew past" hints at something moving quickly, but the answer "SHOT BY" plays with the idea of speed in a different way. "Shot by" can mean passing swiftly (like a bullet), tying into "flew," while also being a phrase that literally means overtaken or surpassed. The clue cleverly uses the double meaning of "shot" as both a fast-moving object and a past-tense action. It’s a compact way to suggest motion and competition in one.