Quick Answer
The New York Times crossword clue “Some breakfast drinks, for short” is answered with OJS.
- Answer: OJS
- Length: 3 letters
- Clue number and direction: 1 Across
In the grid, it appears as a three‑letter entry: _ _ _, which fills the first Across slot of the puzzle.
Why “OJS” Is the Right NYT Answer
The clue “Some breakfast drinks, for short” points to a shortened form of a common breakfast beverage. OJS stands for orange juices, the plural of “orange juice,” a typical breakfast drink.
The phrase “for short” signals that the answer is an abbreviation, and OJS is a natural, pluralized short form that matches both the clue’s wording and the three‑letter slot for 1 Across.
What “OJS” Means in Plain English
In everyday language, OJS is shorthand for orange juices—plural bottles or glasses of orange juice, often served at breakfast. The clue plays on the idea that people commonly refer to orange juice in casual speech, and the “S” at the end hints that it’s plural (“some breakfast drinks”).
Even if you don’t see “OJS” written out often, the pattern of shortening “orange juice” to “OJ” and then pluralizing it as “OJS” fits how abbreviations are used in crosswords.
How “OJS” Fits the Grid and Crossings
For 1 Across, the entry is exactly 3 letters long, so the pattern in the grid is:
- Pattern: _ _ _
- Final fill: O J S
Because this is 1 Across, the first letter of the puzzle, the “O” will also be the first letter of 1 Down. Once you have that intersecting Down clue filled in, the shared “O” helps confirm that OJS is correct and rules out other three‑letter options.
Crossword constructors often use short, common abbreviations like OJS in tight corners of the grid, so seeing a three‑letter plural drink clue is a strong hint to think of a beverage abbreviation with an “S” at the end.
Solving Tips for Similar NYT Clues
When you see clues like “Some breakfast drinks, for short” in future NYT puzzles, keep these tips in mind:
- Watch for “for short” or “abbr.”: These phrases almost always mean the answer is an abbreviation, so think of shortened forms of common words (like OJ for orange juice).
- Check the letter count: A three‑letter slot narrows the possibilities a lot; with “some breakfast drinks,” you can quickly rule out longer beverage names.
- Use the plural clue: “Some breakfast drinks” suggests a plural answer, so look for forms that end in “S,” like OJS instead of OJ.
- Leverage crossings: If 1 Across is hard, solve the first Down clue first; its first letter will match the “O” in OJS, giving you an anchor to lock in the answer.
Possible Alternate Clues for “OJS”
The same answer OJS can appear under different clue phrasings in other NYT or mainstream crosswords. Examples include:
- “Morning drinks, briefly”
- “Some brunch beverages, for short”
- “Breakfast bar orders, for short”
These variants all point to the same core idea: plural orange juices in abbreviated form, which makes OJS a flexible, reusable answer in the puzzle grid.
