Gossip that’s “spilled” - NYT Mini-Crossword Clue

Introduction

Today's clue, "Gossip that’s “spilled”", is a perfect example of how modern slang has become a staple in crosswords. The quotes around "spilled" are a major signal that we're not talking about a literal liquid, but rather an idiomatic expression. This clue tests your knowledge of contemporary language.

Clue Analysis

The clue hinges on the popular phrase "spill the tea." In this expression, "to spill" means to reveal or share, and "the tea" is a slang term for gossip, juicy news, or the truth about a situation. The clue is asking for the word that represents the gossip itself, which is “spilled” in the phrase.

So, the puzzle is looking for the noun in the expression that means "gossip." The structure is a clever definition-by-example, where the entire clue describes the answer's role in a common idiom.

Thinking Approaches

A solver might approach this clue in a few ways:

1. Idiom Recognition: The most direct path is recognizing the phrase "spill the tea" immediately. If you're familiar with this slang, the answer becomes obvious.
2. Deconstructing the Clue: Noticing the quotes around "spilled" is the first step. This tells you to think figuratively. What is colloquially "spilled" that means gossip? This train of thought can lead you to the correct idiom.
3. Using Crossings: Since the answer is very short (only three letters), even one or two crossing letters would make it highly solvable. If you had the 'T' or the 'A', you could quickly cycle through common three-letter words until you found one that fits the modern slang context.

Background Context

The term "tea" as slang for gossip has its roots in Black drag culture. It was popularized by the drag queen The Lady Chablis in the 1994 book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. In this context, 'T' stood for 'Truth'. The phrase evolved and gained mainstream popularity through social media and shows like RuPaul's Drag Race. Today, "spilling the tea" is a widely understood expression for sharing gossip.

Conclusion

This clue is a fun and accessible entry that rewards solvers for being up-to-date with modern language. Its reliance on a single, popular idiom makes it a classic example of the kind of playful, contemporary cluing often found in the NYT Mini-Crossword.

Hints

1. Hint 1: Think of a popular beverage, often served hot or cold.
2. Hint 2: This word is modern slang for juicy information or inside news.
3. Hint 3: The full idiomatic phrase is “spill the ___”.
4. Hint 4: It's a three-letter word often associated with Britain.

The answer is TEA.