3 Down

NYT Mini • September 18, 2025

“You can count on me”

Answer:

IWILL

Hint:

Think of a two-word phrase where the first word is a personal pronoun and the second is a verb meaning to leave something to someone in your will.

Explanation:

The clue plays on the phrase "you can count on me," which usually means someone is reliable. Here, "count" hints at Roman numerals—I (1), V (5), L (50), etc.—so "I will" becomes "I" (1) followed by "WILL" (sounding like the Roman numeral "V" doubled as "LL"). The answer is a punny way of saying "I’ll be there" while spelling out the numerals.

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2 Down

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5 Down

4 letters

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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