Dangle A Carrot In Front Of ... Crossword Clue
Last edited: April 17, 2025
Looking for the answer to the motivational expression "Dangle a carrot in front of" clue featured in the April 17, 2025 New York Times Mini crossword? We've deciphered this idiomatic puzzle and identified the precise 6-letter solution for you. If you enjoy interactive solving methods, try our letter-by-letter reveal tool, or explore our collection of curated hints that might include an anagram, alternative clue with the same answer, or comprehensive explanation to guide your thinking process. We've also implemented seamless navigation between related clues from this puzzle for an integrated solving experience. Ready to improve your understanding of common expressions and crossword strategies? Let's explore this metaphorical clue!
Crossword Answer:
About This Clue
The April 17, 2025 New York Times Mini Crossword featured the clue "Dangle a carrot in front of" with the answer ENTICE. This clue references the well-known idiom "to dangle a carrot in front of someone," which derives from the metaphor of motivating a donkey to move forward by dangling a carrot on a stick just ahead of it. In everyday language, this expression refers to offering someone an incentive or reward to encourage them to do something. The clue cleverly asks for a verb that captures this concept of tempting or attracting someone with a promise or reward, which is precisely what "entice" means.
Idiom Explanation
The phrase "dangle a carrot in front of" comes from the idiom "carrot and stick," which refers to a policy of offering a combination of rewards and punishments to induce behavior. Historically, the image was of a cart driver dangling a carrot on a stick in front of a donkey while holding a stick behind it - the carrot to entice it forward (positive reinforcement) and the stick to prod it if needed (negative reinforcement). Over time, the "carrot" part of this idiom has come to stand alone as a metaphor for any incentive used to motivate someone. When you "entice" someone, you're essentially offering them that metaphorical carrot - something desirable that motivates them to act in a certain way.
NYT Mini Crossword Tips
When solving clues based on idioms or common expressions in crosswords, it helps to identify the metaphor and think about what concept or action it represents. In this case, "dangling a carrot" is about incentivizing or motivating someone, which leads to the answer "entice." For these types of clues, if you recognize the idiom, try to distill its core meaning into a single word - often a verb, as in this example. Also, pay attention to the part of speech needed; the structure of "Dangle a carrot in front of" suggests you need a verb that completes this action. Familiarity with common expressions and their meanings can significantly improve your crossword-solving skills.
Related Crossword Answers
LURE
Clue: Attract with bait
TEMPT
Clue: Induce to do something
BAIT
Clue: Fishing hook attachment
SEDUCE
Clue: Attract irresistibly
More Clues & Answers For The New York Times Mini (April 17, 2025)
ACROSS
- 1. Person, ___ or thing
- 6. Like someone you shouldn't trust with fragile objects
- 7. A time to dye?
- 8. Dangle a carrot in front of
- 9. Class for a cognitive science major, for short