12 Down

NYT Daily ? September 27, 2025

Classic rock?

Answer:

RUNESTONE

Hint:

Think of ancient carvings that might "rock" in a historical sense—this one’s more about Viking artifacts than music.

Explanation:

"Classic rock?" plays with the double meaning of "rock"—both the music genre and an actual stone. The word "classic" hints at something ancient, steering you away from music toward a historical object. A runestone is an ancient carved stone (a literal "rock") from Norse culture, making it a clever twist on the phrase.

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General solving tip

A question mark usually flags wordplay or a non-literal reading. Expect a pun, a twist, or a definition that's one step removed from the surface meaning.

More tips → General Hints