21 Across

NYT Daily ? October 3, 2025

Slapdash

Answer:

HALFASS

Hint:

Think of how you might describe something done with little effort or care, like a job completed in a rushed, incomplete way. The answer sounds like it’s missing something essential.

Explanation:

"Slapdash" is a synonym for doing something carelessly or without full effort, which directly hints at "HALFASS"—a casual term for putting in minimal work. The answer plays on the idea of not giving your all, where "half" emphasizes the lack of completeness and "ass" adds a colloquial punch. It’s a straightforward definition with a slightly cheeky tone, common in crosswords that mix informal language with clever wordplay.

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General solving tip

When a clue says 'informally,' 'slangily,' or 'casually,' think slang, clipped forms, or texting abbreviations. Try the short casual word you'd use in speech or a message.

More tips → General Hints