"... In One Ear And Out The ___" Crossword Clue
By: Five Letter Words | Last edited: Apr 27, 2025
Looking for the solution to the "... in one ear and out the ___" crossword clue from the April 27, 2025 New York Times Mini puzzle? We've identified the precise 5-letter answer you need. To make your puzzle-solving experience more interactive and engaging, we've created special features that enhance the learning process. Our letter-by-letter reveal tool lets you uncover the solution at your own pace, while our thoughtfully designed resources—such as pattern recognition hints, alternative clues with the same answer, or comprehensive explanations—help guide your approach. We've also simplified navigation between related clues from the same puzzle, making it effortless to tackle multiple challenges. Ready to complete this common idiom and expression? Let's discover the answer together!
Crossword Answer:
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About This Clue
The April 27, 2025 New York Times Mini Crossword featured the clue "... in one ear and out the ___" with the answer OTHER. This clue refers to the well-known idiom "in one ear and out the other," which is commonly used to describe a situation where someone hears information but doesn't remember or retain it. The expression creates a vivid mental image of words traveling through one ear and immediately exiting through the opposite ear without being processed or stored in the brain. This type of clue is typical in crossword puzzles, where a partial phrase is provided and solvers must complete the expression with the missing word. The ellipsis (...) at the beginning signals to solvers that they're looking at part of a larger phrase, while the blank line at the end indicates where their answer should fit.
Language and Cultural Context
The idiom "in one ear and out the other" has been part of everyday English language for centuries, with documented usage dating back to at least the 1400s. It belongs to a category of figurative expressions that describe inattention or failure to retain information. The imagery evoked is physical and straightforward—words enter one ear, pass directly through the head without being processed by the brain, and exit the opposite ear. This idiom is used across many contexts: parents might use it to describe children who don't follow instructions, teachers might apply it to students who don't retain lessons, and it's common in workplace settings when discussing colleagues who don't remember important information. Similar expressions exist in many languages and cultures, suggesting that the experience of information being heard but not retained is universal. The phrase is so deeply embedded in English that it has become a standard way to describe forgetfulness or inattention, making it perfect material for a crossword puzzle clue that many solvers will recognize immediately.
NYT Mini Crossword Tips
When solving clues like "... in one ear and out the ___" in the NYT Mini Crossword, recognizing familiar idioms and common expressions is key. The ellipsis (...) at the beginning of a clue is a strong indicator that you're looking at a partial phrase, quote, or idiom that needs completion. These types of clues actually provide substantial hints because they leverage your knowledge of everyday language patterns and expressions. The blank line or underscore signals exactly where your answer should fit. For this particular clue, once you recognize the beginning of the familiar saying "in one ear and out the other," the answer becomes clear. The five-letter word "OTHER" is the only possible completion. These partial phrase clues often appear in crosswords because they're generally easier for solvers to identify compared to more obscure or knowledge-based clues. When encountering similar clues, try mentally completing the phrase based on common expressions you've heard, and check if the resulting word fits the available spaces and intersecting letters from other clues.
Related Crossword Answers
OTHER
Clue: "The ___ day (recently)"
OTHER
Clue: "One or the ___"
IDIOM
Clue: "Expression like 'in one ear and out the other'"
EAR
Clue: "It might be 'bent' (listened to)"
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