1 Across

NYT Mini • September 19, 2025

Cancel on plans at the last moment

Answer:

FLAKE

Hint:

Think of what happens to a piecrust when it falls apart unexpectedly, or how someone might describe an unreliable friend who disappears.

Explanation:

"Cancel on plans at the last moment" hints at someone backing out unexpectedly, which is often called "flaking." The word flake here isn’t about the literal snowflake or pastry bit—it’s slang for being unreliable or ditching commitments without warning. The clue plays on the casual, slightly annoyed tone people use when someone bails last minute, like "Ugh, they totally flaked on me." It’s a common term in everyday conversation, especially when talking about social plans.

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General solving tip

Location/language tags (in Paris, in México, in Roma) often want an answer in that language. Try the basic word in French/Spanish/Italian, confirmed by crosses.

More tips → General Hints