Sharp As A Tack Crossword Clue

By: Five Letter Words | Last edited: Apr 21, 2025

Looking to solve the challenging "Sharp as a tack" crossword clue featured in the Apr 21, 2025 New York Times Mini puzzle? We've identified the precise 5-letter answer you're seeking. For those interested in a more interactive puzzle-solving adventure, we offer engaging features to enhance your experience. Try revealing the solution gradually with our progressive letter reveal tool, or explore our carefully crafted hints—like a helpful anagram, an alternative clue that shares the same answer, or a detailed definition to guide your thinking. Plus, we've made navigating other clues from the same puzzle easy, allowing you to solve multiple clues seamlessly. Ready to become a crossword master? Let's dive deeper into today's puzzle!

Crossword Answer:

You can click on the ? tiles to reveal letter by letter before uncovering the full solution.

About This Clue

The April 21, 2025 New York Times Mini Crossword featured the clue "Sharp as a tack" with the answer SMART. This clue uses a common idiom that describes someone who is exceptionally intelligent or quick-witted, drawing on the metaphor of a tack's sharp point to represent mental acuity.

Origins of the Expression

The idiom "sharp as a tack" has been a part of American English since the early 20th century. It uses the physical sharpness of a tack or pin as a metaphor for mental sharpness or intelligence. The expression belongs to a family of similar metaphorical phrases that compare intelligence to sharpness, such as "sharp as a razor" or "sharp-witted." This metaphorical connection between physical sharpness and mental acuity is common across many languages and cultures, reflecting how humans often use concrete, physical experiences to understand abstract concepts like intelligence.

NYT Mini Crossword Tips

When solving clues involving idioms or common expressions in crosswords, it's helpful to think about the most common synonym or equivalent for the expression. In this case, "sharp as a tack" is directly calling for a word that means intelligent or mentally quick. With five letters, SMART is the perfect fit. The NYT Mini often uses such idiomatic expressions, requiring solvers to translate colloquial language into more direct synonyms. For these types of clues, consider the essence of what the expression means rather than focusing on the literal words used.

Related Crossword Answers

More Clues & Answers For The New York Times Mini (April 21, 2025)

ACROSS

• 1. What the beaklike teeth of a parrotfish are used to bite
• 6. On top of
• 7. Noodle soup with "tonkotsu" and "shoyu" varieties
• 8. Sharp as a tack
• 9. "___ questions?"

DOWN

• 1. Dealership choices
• 2. His presidential center is being built on Chicago's South Side
• 3. Totally convinced of
• 4. Traditional dance at a Jewish wedding
• 5. Scram!