24 Across

NYT Daily ? September 24, 2025

Lead-in to struck or luck

Answer:

DUMB

Hint:

Think of a word that describes something silent or lacking intelligence, often paired with "blonde" in jokes. It can also precede "found" in a common phrase.

Explanation:

This clue plays on the word "dumb" as a prefix meaning mute or silent, often seen in words like "dumbstruck" (another way to say "struck" as in shocked) or "dumbluck" (a less common but playful term for luck). The "lead-in" hints at adding "dumb" before "struck" or "luck" to form those phrases. It’s a classic crossword trick where the answer isn’t a standalone word but a piece that builds familiar terms.

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General solving tip

Quoted clues often indicate a spoken phrase, interjection, or a title. Think of something you'd say out loud or see as a headline.

More tips → General Hints