Quick Answer - Question in a late-night text
Clue: “Question in a late-night text”
Answer: “YOUUP”
Length: 5 letters
Position: 1-Across
The grid entry will appear as YOUUP, with no spaces or punctuation, filling all five squares for 1-Across.
Why “YOUUP” Is the Right NYT Answer
“YOUUP” is a direct, casual-text version of the question “You up?”, which is exactly the kind of message people send late at night. The clue’s wording points cleanly to that familiar texting phrase, making it a natural fit.
The 5-letter length matches the slot for 1-Across, with each square corresponding to one character: Y–O–U–U–P.
What “YOUUP” Means in Plain English
In plain English, “YOUUP” is shorthand for “Are you awake?” or “Are you still awake?”, usually sent as a late-night text. It often implies someone wants to chat, vent, or maybe start a flirtatious conversation.
Because it’s informal and texty, it fits well with modern NYT clues that play on messaging and internet language.
How It Fits the Grid and Crossings
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Pattern: For a 5-letter slot, the pattern is _ _ _ _ _. Once you have some crossings, you might see something like Y O U _ P, which makes “YOUUP” almost inevitable.
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Crossings: Any crossing entries that give you Y at 1, O at 2, and P at 5 will strongly confirm the answer. Even if the double U feels unusual, the crossings will back it up.
The unusual double-U sequence (YOUUP) is exactly the kind of visually striking string constructors like to use, but crossings make it easy to trust.
Solving Tips for Similar NYT Clues
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Watch for text-message tone: Clues referencing “text,” “DM,” “late-night,” or “chat” often want shortened or vowel-dropped phrases like YOUUP, UOK, or THX.
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Think in spoken rhythm: Say the clue in your head the way someone might text or speak it; “Question in a late-night text” almost naturally becomes “You up?”.
When you see casual speech in clues, try stripping spaces and punctuation first to see what would fit in the grid.
