You’re sitting there with your coffee, staring at your phone or the folded paper, and you hit that one wall. It’s a specific kind of frustration. You know the feeling. The I don’t care what that cost nyt crossword clue is one of those classic New York Times "aha" moments that feels more like a "wait, what?" until the letters finally click into place.
Crosswords aren't just about trivia. They're about how we use language.
The Logic Behind I Don't Care What That Cost NYT
Sometimes the NYT editors, like Will Shortz or Joel Fagliano, like to play with conversational idioms. When you see a clue like "I don't care what that cost," your brain immediately goes to money. You think about price tags. You think about bills. But in the world of the New York Times crossword, the answer is often much more idiomatic.
The most common answer for this specific prompt is AT ANY PRICE.
Wait. Think about it.
If you want something "at any price," you are literally saying the cost doesn't matter. It’s a phrase used to denote desperation, obsession, or high-stakes negotiation. It’s also exactly the kind of clever, slightly-offset phrasing that makes the NYT puzzle a daily ritual for millions and a source of minor hair-pulling for others.
Why Crossword Clues Use This Kind of Phrasing
Crossword construction is an art form of misdirection. When a constructor writes "I don't care what that cost," they are looking for a synonym that fits a specific letter count. Often, this appears in a Friday or Saturday puzzle where the clues are intentionally vague.
🔗 Read more: Marie Kondo The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up: What Most People Get Wrong
On a Monday, the clue might be "Regardless of the expense."
On a Saturday? It’s "I don't care what that cost."
The lack of quotation marks in the clue—or sometimes the inclusion of them—changes everything. If the clue is in quotes, it’s looking for a spoken phrase. If it’s not, it’s looking for a conceptual match. It’s a subtle game. You’ve probably noticed that the NYT has a very specific "voice." It’s academic but witty. It’s high-brow but loves a good pun.
Semantic Variations and Other Possible Answers
While AT ANY PRICE is a frequent flier, crosswords are rarely that simple. Depending on the grid layout and the specific day of the week, you might be looking for something else entirely.
If you are stuck on a grid right now, check these alternatives:
- WHATEVER: This is the more casual, dismissive version. It fits if the clue is looking for a more modern, "Gen Z" or slangy vibe.
- COST IS NO OBJECT: A bit longer, usually reserved for those 15-letter "spanners" that go across the entire middle of the board.
- ANY: Sometimes the simplest answer is the one we overlook.
- NAME YOUR PRICE: This shifts the perspective from the buyer to the seller, but it fits the thematic "cost" umbrella.
The nuance of the NYT puzzle is that the clue must match the tense and part of speech of the answer. If the clue is a full sentence, the answer usually is too, or at least a complete prepositional phrase.
The Evolution of the NYT Crossword Style
Honestly, the puzzle has changed. If you look at archives from the 1970s, the clues were very different. They were more focused on dictionary definitions. Today? It’s about cultural literacy.
💡 You might also like: Why Transparent Plus Size Models Are Changing How We Actually Shop
The phrase I don't care what that cost nyt reflects a shift toward "conversational" cluing. The editors want you to feel like you’re having a chat with a very smart, slightly annoying friend. This is why you see more pop culture, more brand names, and more phrases that sound like something you’d actually say at a dinner party.
It’s also about the "crosses."
If you have the A and the P, you might start seeing "AT ANY PRICE" take shape. If you have a W, "WHATEVER" becomes the lead candidate. The strategy is always to work around the ambiguity. Never marry your first guess. Crossword solvers who get stuck are usually the ones who refuse to erase an answer they "know" is right even when the down-clues don't fit.
Dealing With the Frustration of Vague Clues
Let's be real: some clues feel unfair.
When you search for I don't care what that cost nyt, you're likely looking for a lifeline. There is no shame in it. Even the best solvers—the people who compete at the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament (ACPT)—use different techniques to break through "the wall."
- Check the theme. Is it a Thursday? If it is, there’s a gimmick. Maybe the word "COST" is literally missing from the grid or replaced by a rebus square.
- Look for the "?". If the clue ends in a question mark, it’s a pun. If "I don't care what that cost?" has a question mark, the answer might be something like FREEBIE or something related to a "cost" of a different kind, like a loss in a game.
- Step away. It’s a cliché because it works. Your subconscious keeps grinding on those letters while you’re doing the dishes or driving.
Practical Next Steps for Puzzle Success
If you want to stop hitting a dead end on clues like I don't care what that cost nyt, you need to build a mental library of "crosswordese."
📖 Related: Weather Forecast Calumet MI: What Most People Get Wrong About Keweenaw Winters
Start by identifying the "fillers." These are the short, vowel-heavy words that appear constantly (think ETUI, ALEE, OROE). Once you nail those, the longer, more complex phrases like "AT ANY PRICE" become easier to see because you have the "anchors" in place.
Next, pay attention to the constructor’s name. Every creator has a "tell." Some love sports analogies. Others are obsessed with 19th-century literature. Over time, you’ll start to anticipate their tricks.
Finally, use a tracker. Apps like the NYT Games app track your streak. There is a psychological benefit to seeing that number go up, which encourages you to push through the "I don't care what that cost" moments instead of just closing the app.
The goal isn't just to finish. It's to understand the logic. Once you see the "cost" clue as a linguistic puzzle rather than a math problem, the whole grid opens up. Keep your pencil sharp—or your screen bright—and don't let a single clever phrase ruin your morning.
Fill in the vowels first. Check the terminal 'S' for plurals. Look for the 'ED' or 'ING' endings. Most importantly, remember that the "cost" in a crossword is usually just your time, and the reward is that sweet, sweet jingle when the final square turns gold.