“It’s an ___ but a goodie!” - NYT Mini-Crossword Clue

Introduction

Today's clue, "“It’s an ___ but a goodie!”", is a classic example of a fill-in-the-blank clue that relies on familiarity with a common English idiom. For many solvers, this will be an instant fill, a satisfying start or finish to the puzzle. It's a friendly clue that tests cultural literacy more than vocabulary or wordplay.

Clue Analysis

The clue presents a well-known phrase with a single word missing. The structure of the phrase itself provides the biggest hint. The word "but" signals a contrast. We're looking for a word that contrasts with "goodie" (something positive) but can still be paired with it. The phrase essentially means, "Even though this thing is [blank], it is still good."

The blank, therefore, must be a word that describes a quality that might sometimes be seen as a negative, but in this context is simply a neutral descriptor. That quality is age.

Thinking Approaches

1. Direct Recall: The most common way to solve this is by recognizing the idiom immediately. Your brain will likely supply the missing word without much conscious effort. This is pattern recognition at its finest.

2. Contextual Deduction: If the phrase isn't immediately familiar, think about what it's describing. What kinds of things are called "goodies" despite being from a while ago? Classic songs, old jokes, and vintage movies are common examples. The word you're looking for is a noun that encapsulates this idea of a cherished item from the past.

3. Using Crossings: For a clue this straightforward, crossings are more for confirmation than discovery. If you have even one or two letters from intersecting answers, they will almost certainly confirm the word you're thinking of.

Background Context

The phrase "an oldie but a goodie" became widely popular in the mid-20th century, particularly with the rise of radio programming dedicated to playing popular music from previous decades. A DJ might introduce a hit from the 1950s by calling it an "oldie but a goodie" to frame it as a beloved classic rather than just an old song.

Today, its use has expanded far beyond music. It can refer to anything—a movie, a book, a piece of advice, a joke—that has stood the test of time and remains valuable or enjoyable. The term oldie itself is now a standard noun for such an item.

Conclusion

This clue is a perfect example of how crossword puzzles weave everyday language and cultural touchstones into their grids. It's a gentle and accessible clue that rewards solvers for simply being familiar with the English-speaking world. For new solvers, it's a great introduction to the fill-in-the-blank format.

Hints

1. Hint 1: The missing word describes something from a past era.
2. Hint 2: It's often used to refer to a classic song on the radio.
3. Hint 3: The word is a noun form of an adjective meaning 'not young'.
4. Hint 4: The complete phrase acknowledges that something is not new, but is still of high quality.

The answer is OLDIE.