"It's the Hard-Knock Life" musical nyt crossword clue

The clue "It's the Hard-Knock Life" musical refers to the musical "Annie." This musical, based on the comic strip "Little Orphan Annie," features the song "It's the Hard-Knock Life," which is one of its most famous numbers. ### Solving Process: 1. **Identify Key Phrases:** The clue includes a specific phrase, "It's the Hard-Knock Life," which is iconic and directly associated with a well-known musical. 2. **Recall Knowledge of Musicals:** Given that this is a prominent song, it leads us to think of musicals from the 20th century, particularly those that feature children or orphans, as "Annie" does. 3. **Confirming the Answer:** Knowing that "Annie" is the only musical that famously includes this song, we arrive at the answer confidently. ### Tips for Solving Similar Clues: - **Familiarity with Songs and Musicals:** Increasing your knowledge of song titles and which musicals they belong to can be very beneficial. - **Look for Unique Phrases:** Clues that contain a well-known phrase or title can often point directly to the answer, especially if they reference a cultural touchstone. - **Cross-reference with Letters:** If you already have some letters filled in, that can help narrow down your options, especially if the clue pertains to topics with multiple possible answers. In summary, the answer to the clue is **"Annie."**