Do Some Legwork? Crossword Clue
By: Five Letter Words | Last edited: May 02, 2025
Looking to solve the "Do some legwork?" crossword clue from the May 02, 2025 New York Times Mini puzzle? We've identified the perfect 5-letter answer for you. For those who prefer a more interactive solving experience, our page offers helpful tools to assist you along the way. You can reveal the solution gradually with our letter-by-letter tool, or explore our carefully crafted hints—these include wordplay explanations, alternative clues with the same solution, and detailed definitions to guide your thinking process. We've also made it easy to navigate related clues from the same puzzle. Ready to tackle this exercise-related wordplay clue? Let's discover the solution together!
Crossword Answer:
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About This Clue
The May 2, 2025 New York Times Mini Crossword featured the clue "Do some legwork?" with the answer SQUAT. This clever clue uses wordplay to hint at the exercise that literally works the legs. The question mark at the end of the clue is a common crossword convention indicating that the clue involves wordplay or a pun, signaling solvers to think beyond the literal meaning of "legwork" (which typically means investigative work or research). Instead, the clue is asking for an exercise that works the leg muscles in a literal sense.
Context for "Squat"
A squat is a strength training exercise where you lower your body into a sitting position and then stand back up. It primarily targets the quadriceps, hamstrings, and glutes—the major muscle groups in your legs. The exercise is considered a fundamental movement pattern and is widely used in fitness training, rehabilitation, and sports conditioning. There are many variations of squats, including bodyweight squats, barbell back squats, front squats, and goblet squats. The exercise can be adapted for different fitness levels by changing the depth, stance width, or adding resistance. Beyond its fitness context, "squat" can also refer to the position of crouching close to the ground with knees bent and heels near or touching the buttocks. It can also be used as a verb meaning to occupy a building or piece of land without permission, or as an adjective describing something short and thick in build. In this crossword context, the clue cleverly uses the fitness meaning of "squat" while playing on the phrase "do some legwork," which would normally mean to do preliminary research or investigation. The question mark signals this playful shift in meaning from figurative to literal "leg work."
NYT Mini Crossword Tips
When solving clues like "Do some legwork?" in the NYT Mini Crossword, pay special attention to punctuation marks. A question mark at the end of a clue often signals wordplay, a pun, or a non-literal interpretation. In this case, the phrase "do some legwork" is being taken literally rather than figuratively. For fitness-related clues, think about common exercises, especially those that have entered everyday vocabulary. Crossword puzzles frequently reference popular workout terms like squat, lunge, plank, or crunch. When a clue mentions a specific body part (like "leg" in this case), the answer might be an exercise that targets that area, a body part that connects to it, or an action involving that body part. The constraint of the puzzle grid (in this case, a 5-letter answer) helps narrow down the possibilities. Remember that NYT Mini Crosswords often feature clever wordplay that requires thinking beyond the literal or most common meaning of words. When you see puns or playful clues, consider multiple interpretations or meanings of the key terms.
Related Crossword Answers
SQUAT
Clue: "Leg exercise"
SQUAT
Clue: "Gym move that works the quads"
LUNGE
Clue: "Another exercise for leg day"
CROUCH
Clue: "Get into a squat position"
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ACROSS
- 1. Do some legwork?
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