“No acting up!” - NYT Crossword Clue

Introduction

Today's clue, "“No acting up!”", is a perfect example of a common spoken phrase appearing in a crossword puzzle. These types of clues, often enclosed in quotation marks, ask the solver to translate a familiar expression into its grid-friendly equivalent. In this case, the answer is a simple, direct command that means the exact same thing.

Clue Analysis

The clue is a direct quote: "“No acting up!”". The key elements are:

• Quotation Marks: This is a strong signal that we're looking for a spoken phrase or a direct equivalent.
• “Acting up”: This is an idiom for misbehaving or causing trouble.
• “No”: This negates the action, turning the clue into a command not to misbehave.

So, the clue is asking for a command that means "behave well." The answer, BEGOOD, is a concise, two-word phrase (condensed for the grid) that perfectly captures this instruction.

Thinking Approaches

When you encounter a clue like this, here are a few ways to approach it:

1. Direct Synonymy: The most straightforward path is to rephrase the clue. What's another way to tell someone, especially a child, "No acting up!"? You might say, "Behave yourself!" or, more simply, "Be good!"

2. Contextualization: Imagine the scenario. A parent is leaving their kids with a babysitter. As they walk out the door, they turn and say, "Okay, you two, no acting up!" What's the positive command they might use instead? "Be good for the sitter!"

3. Structural Analysis: The answer is often a compact phrase. If you get a few crossing letters, you might see a pattern. For instance, if you have B-G---, you can start thinking of phrases that fit. The structure of a verb followed by an adjective is common for these types of answers.

Background Context

Quote clues are a staple of modern crosswords. They test a solver's knowledge of colloquialisms, famous lines from movies or literature, and everyday sayings. They add a conversational flavor to the puzzle and can be a fun change of pace from standard definition-based clues. The answer BEGOOD is a classic example of how a two-word phrase is often entered into the grid as a single, concatenated entry.

Conclusion

This clue was a friendly and accessible entry point into the puzzle. By recognizing the common phrase and translating its meaning into a simple command, solvers could quickly fill in the answer. It serves as a great reminder that in crosswords, sometimes the most obvious interpretation is the correct one.

Hints

1. Hint 1: A command often given to a child.
2. Hint 2: An instruction to behave properly.
3. Hint 3: It's a two-word phrase, often said by a parent leaving a babysitter in charge.
4. Hint 4: The phrase is a verb followed by an adjective, meaning 'behave well'.