Quick Answer
- Clue: “Like blue whales and the Burj Khalifa”
- Answer: BIG
- Length: 3 letters
- Position: 1-Across
The key snippet-friendly line: The New York Times crossword clue “Like blue whales and the Burj Khalifa” is answered with BIG.
Why “BIG” Is the Right NYT Answer
- Both blue whales and the Burj Khalifa are famous for their enormous size—blue whales as the largest animals and the Burj Khalifa as an extremely tall skyscraper—so “BIG” is the natural adjective that applies to both.
- he clue uses a classic NYT pattern: give two very large things and ask for a shared descriptive word, which makes BIG a clean, literal fit.
Because BIG is short, common, and easy to clue, it is exactly the kind of friendly entry often placed at 1-Across to give solvers a quick win.
What “BIG” Means in Plain English
- In everyday English, big simply means “large in size, extent, or importance.”
- Here, the clue is focusing squarely on physical size: blue whales are big animals, and the Burj Khalifa is a big (very tall) building.
There is no hidden wordplay or trick; the clue is a straightforward definition by example.
Crossword-Specific Help: Pattern, Crossings, and Variants
- In the grid, BIG fills a three-square slot as B–I–G, matching a pattern like _ _ _ at 1-Across.
- With crossings, you might see something like B I _, and among common adjectives that fit both examples, BIG is the only one that makes obvious sense.
This answer can also appear under related clues such as “Not small,” “Considerable, size-wise,” or “Like an elephant or a jumbo jet.”
Solving Tips for Similar NYT Clues
- When a clue lists two or more famous examples, ask what simple adjective or noun they share (for example, “large,” “fast,” “tall,” “cold”).
- Match the word length to the grid: if the slot is three letters and the examples suggest “large,” BIG is usually your best candidate.
Using short, high-frequency adjectives like BIG, TALL, or OLD at the start of the puzzle can help you quickly establish crossings and build early momentum.
