Temporary fix, so to speak NYT Crossword Clue
If you’ve spent much time with the NYT Mini, you know full well how often practical phrases show up as crossword clues. “Temporary fix, so to speak” has that just-right blend of wordplay and real-life action—it’s a classic NYT style move, the sort of clue that trips up even the fast solvers if they read too literally. Sometimes, the simplest words are hiding in plain sight if you step back from overthinking.
Answer:
The answer is BANDAID. That’s seven letters, and it lands perfectly for both pun-minded puzzle folks and anyone who’s done a quick fix on the fly before.
Explanation:
Why “BANDAID” for a temporary fix? The term’s been slang for a quick, not-always-pretty patch-up forever—whether you’re covering a scrape or, more often, just slapping on a practical fix till you can tackle the real problem. NYT clue writers know how much we lean on these metaphors. BANDAID isn’t some ultimate cure, but it gets the job done for now—and that’s exactly what the clue’s aiming at. If you’re stuck on what a “so to speak” phrase means, think of what you’d reach for in a mess: a band-aid, every time.
Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers – August 2, 2025
Need to check your grid for August 2? Grab the rest of today’s solutions:
| TikTok or Tinder | Show |
| Lawyers' org. | Show |
| Place with Bunsen burners and beakers, in brief | Show |
| Product that can be sampled with a spray on the wrist | Show |
| Visibly muscular | Show |
| Groceries carrier | Show |
| Self-indulgent "journey" | Show |
| AOL alternative | Show |
| Things that phone users might accidentally tap on webpages | Show |
| Sports org. that now includes schools from Texas and California, strangely enough | Show |
| Hobbyists with cameras, informally | Show |
| Big name in exercise bikes | Show |
| "Solve for x" subject | Show |
| Temporary fix, so to speak | Show |
| Pres. Lincoln | Show |
| "Show me the ___" (punny request at an art museum) | Show |
| President pro ___ | Show |
| Road trip assistance, for short | Show |
About NYT Mini Crossword
The Mini’s bite-sized grid delivers quick-hit challenge—pop culture, puns, and life’s everyday slang, all squashed into five-by-five squares. Editors love clues where the answer could be something literal and metaphorical in one (see: BANDAID). Even the shortest crossword can teach you how language twists and shifts, just like real life.
How to Solve a Crossword
Tackling wordy clues? Focus first on direct meanings, but don’t ignore common phrases. Fill what you know, let your crossings guide the rest. Sometimes a word like “BANDAID” jumps to mind only after you stop searching for something clever. Be patient, and remember: nobody clears every grid line by line—skip, return, and take that break if you need one.
Tips for NYT Mini Crosswords
Find your easy wins first and fill in as much as you can.
“So to speak” almost always means a phrase or pun—think creatively!
Short, metaphorical answers—like “BANDAID”—are crossword gold.
Use crossings to double-check before locking in oddball guesses.
If you blank, step away. You’d be surprised what pops up after a breather.
