You and me both! - NYT Crossword Clue

Introduction

Today's clue, "You and me both!", is a delightful little puzzle that might send you down the wrong path at first. It's a common phrase, but its connection to the answer isn't a simple definition. Instead, it requires a conceptual leap, making it a classic example of clever crossword cluing that feels very satisfying to solve.

Clue Analysis

The phrase "You and me both!" is an idiomatic expression of agreement or shared experience. If someone says, "I'm exhausted," you might reply, "You and me both!" to show you feel the same way. The clue isn't asking for another way to say this, like "DITTO" or "SAME HERE". Instead, it's asking you to identify what "you and me" are, collectively. The exclamation point adds a sense of camaraderie and shared identity, which is a subtle hint towards the answer. The clue is essentially saying: "What is a word for the group that contains both you and me?"

Thinking Approaches

When you first see this clue, your brain might jump to synonyms for agreement. This is a common crossword trap. A good strategy is to pause and re-evaluate if that path isn't working.

1. Deconstruct the Phrase: Break the clue into its core components: "you" and "me". What is a word that encompasses both of these entities as a group?
2. Think Categorically: Instead of thinking about what the phrase means in conversation, think about what it describes. It describes two (or more) individuals sharing a state. What is a collective noun for individuals?
3. Use Crossings: This is a perfect clue to lean on crossing letters for. If you have a few letters in place, the answer might jump out at you, and you can then work backward to understand the clue's logic. The "aha!" moment comes when you realize the clue isn't a synonym but a description of the subjects.

Background Context

The clue is a beautiful piece of linguistic misdirection. It uses a common conversational phrase to point to a very common, fundamental noun. There's no specific trivia or cultural knowledge needed here, which makes it accessible to all solvers. The word for the answer is one of the most basic in the English language, referring to human beings in general or a particular group of them. The genius of the clue is in framing this basic concept in such an unexpected, conversational way.

Conclusion

This clue is a great reminder that crossword constructors are masters of perspective. By taking a familiar phrase and asking us to look at it from a different angle, they challenge our assumptions and make the solving experience rewarding. "You and me both!" isn't just an expression of agreement; in this puzzle, it's a definition of who we are.

Hints

1. Hint 1: A way to refer to a group of individuals.
2. Hint 2: This word can be used to refer to the general public.
3. Hint 3: It's often used in the phrase '___ magazine'.
4. Hint 4: The clue is a phrase of shared sentiment, and the answer is a plural noun that includes the speaker and the listener.