Sports shocker … with a hint to the circled letters nyt crossword clue

To solve the clue "Sports shocker … with a hint to the circled letters," we need to break it down into its components. 1. **Understanding the Clue**: The phrase "Sports shocker" refers to something surprising or unexpected in the realm of sports. The mention of "with a hint to the circled letters" suggests that the answer might relate to a specific set of letters in the crossword that are circled, perhaps providing a further hint or a unique connection. 2. **Possible Answers**: In the context of sports, a common phrase that indicates a shocking event is "upset." An "upset" occurs when a lower-ranked team beats a higher-ranked opponent, which is often viewed as surprising or shocking. 3. **Analyzing Circled Letters**: If the phrase "upset" corresponds to the circled letters, it is likely that they might either spell out something related to the word "upset" or give an additional layer of meaning supporting the answer. 4. **Refining the Answer**: Without knowing the exact letters or layout of the crossword, I would propose "upset" as a strong candidate. If you have specific letters that fall into the available slots (e.g., _P_S_T), it fits well. ### Tips for Crossword Solving: - **Contextual Clue Analysis**: Consider if the clue has a well-known phrase or term associated with it. Sports-related clues often use vocabulary common in sports commentary. - **Look for Patterns**: If you have letters filled in, think about how they might correspond to common prefixes or suffixes. This can help in forming your answer. - **Thematic Connections**: If there are circled letters, they may provide thematic connections—look for common trends or links to the clue. - **Cross-Referencing with Other Clues**: Solutions are often interlinked in crossword puzzles. Use the letters you already have to facilitate solving other clues. If there are any specific circled letters or a letter count you can provide, I can help refine the answer further!