It happens every morning. You’re sitting there with a cup of coffee, staring at a grid of gray squares, wondering if today is the day your streak finally dies. You finally nail the answer on the fourth try. Then, you see it. The little message from the bot or the shared text in the group chat. "Not too shabby." It’s a classic bit of understated praise. But in the world of the New York Times Games, specifically Wordle and Connections, not too shabby nyt has become more than just a phrase; it’s a specific vibe of "good enough" that keeps millions of people hooked on their morning routine.
Honestly, the New York Times didn't invent the idiom. People have been saying things are "not too shabby" since at least the mid-19th century to describe something surprisingly decent. However, the way the NYT puzzle community uses it today—as a badge of honor for a middle-of-the-pack solve—has given it a second life in the digital age.
The Psychology of the "Middle Solve"
Why does this phrase resonate so much with puzzle players?
Because most of us aren't getting Wordle in two tries every day. We aren't. If you say you are, you’re probably using a starting word that changes based on Twitter spoilers. For the rest of us, the four-guess solve is the bread and butter of the game. It’s the definition of not too shabby nyt. It’s not elite, but it’s definitely not a failure.
Psychologists often talk about the "Goldilocks Zone" of difficulty. If a puzzle is too easy, it’s boring. If it’s too hard, it’s frustrating. The NYT Games team, led by editors like Tracy Bennett for Wordle and Wyna Liu for Connections, purposefully crafts puzzles to hit that sweet spot. When you finish a particularly tricky Connections grid where the categories were all "Words that start with a type of fish" or "Palindrome body parts," that feeling of relief is exactly what "not too shabby" describes. It’s the exhale after a moment of tension.
How the NYT Wordle Bot Redefined "Shabby"
If you haven't used the Wordle Bot, you’re missing out on a lot of data-driven ego bruising. The bot analyzes your choices and tells you exactly how much better it would have performed.
When you see a not too shabby nyt performance reflected in the bot's stats, it usually means your "skill" score was high even if your "luck" score was low.
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- Skill: This is how much you narrowed down the possible remaining words with each guess.
- Luck: This is just the universe throwing you a bone.
Sometimes you make a mathematically perfect guess, but the word ends up being "FOLLY" instead of "FULLY." The bot recognizes your brilliance. It tells you that your process was sound. It basically pats you on the back. It’s a weirdly human interaction with an algorithm. You’ve probably noticed that the bot’s tone is consistently encouraging yet slightly condescending, like a chess grandmaster teaching a toddler.
The Rise of the Connections "Phew"
Connections is a different beast entirely. While Wordle is about elimination, Connections is about synthesis. It’s about seeing the threads that tie "Cloud," "Nine," "Dress," and "Square" together (they all follow the word "Cloud" or precede "Dance"—wait, no, that’s wrong—it’s "Cloud," "Piece," "Square," and "Line," maybe?).
When you get down to your last life and finally click that fourth category, "not too shabby" is the only appropriate reaction. It’s a messy win. But in the ecosystem of NYT games, a messy win counts exactly the same as a perfect one in your long-term stats. This is a huge part of the "lifestyle" appeal of these games. They aren't high-stakes. They are a gentle way to wake up the brain.
Why We Share Our Failures (and Decent Wins)
Sharing your scores is the backbone of the community. You see those little colored boxes all over X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. There is a social etiquette to it.
Posting a "1/6" on Wordle is actually kinda gauche. People think you cheated. Posting a "3/6" or "4/6" with the caption not too shabby nyt is the sweet spot of social media sharing. It says, "I am smart, but I am also human."
The New York Times has leaned into this. They bought Wordle from Josh Wardle back in 2022 for a price "in the low seven figures" because they saw that this specific type of social engagement was driving massive amounts of traffic to their other products, like the Cooking app or the core news subscription. They realized that "not too shabby" was a business model.
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Breaking Down the Language: From Idiom to Icon
Let’s look at the linguistics. "Shabby" literally means threadbare or worn out. Adding "not too" creates a litotes—a figure of speech where an understatement is used for emphasis, often by negating its opposite.
When you say your solve was not too shabby nyt, you’re actually saying it was pretty good. It’s a linguistic shield. It protects the player from the embarrassment of trying too hard. If you claim your solve was "spectacular," you look like a try-hard. If you say it was "not too shabby," you’re cool. You’re collected. You’re the James Bond of word puzzles.
The Daily Mini and the "Under a Minute" Club
The Mini Crossword is where this phrase goes to die, honestly. In the Mini, "not too shabby" doesn't exist. You’re either fast or you’re slow. If you finish in 14 seconds, you’re a god. If you finish in 2 minutes, you’re basically a Neanderthal.
But even there, the casual player uses the phrase to describe a clean solve without any "check word" or "reveal" assists. That’s the true definition of a "shabby-free" game: total independence.
Expert Tips for a "Not Too Shabby" Streak
If you want to keep your stats looking respectable, you need a strategy that prioritizes consistency over flashes of brilliance.
- Vary your starting words. Don’t just use "ADIEU" every day. It’s a weak start because "U" and "I" aren't as common as you think in the actual answer pool. Try "SLATE" or "CRANE."
- In Connections, don't submit your first thought. The editors love "red herrings." If you see four words that look like they belong to "Types of Dogs," look for a fifth dog word. If there’s a fifth, "Dogs" isn't the category.
- Walk away. If you’re stuck on the Spelling Bee and can't find the Pangram, put the phone down. Your subconscious works on the puzzle while you’re doing laundry. You’ll come back and see the word immediately.
The Cultural Impact of NYT Games
The NYT games have changed how we spend our "in-between" moments. Waiting for the bus? Wordle. In line at the grocery store? Connections. Bored during a Zoom call that should have been an email? Spelling Bee.
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This ubiquity has made not too shabby nyt a universal language. It’s a way for people of different generations to connect. Your grandmother in Florida and your nephew in Brooklyn are likely playing the same puzzle. When they share their scores, they are participating in a shared cultural ritual that is rare in our fractured media environment.
Is it just a game? Sure. But it’s also a daily check-in with your own brain. It’s a way to prove you’ve still got it, even if "it" is just the ability to remember that "XYLEM" is a word.
Practical Next Steps for the Puzzle Obsessed
If you want to move beyond just being "not too shabby," you can actually dive into the data.
- Check the Wordle Archive: If you missed a day, there are unofficial archives where you can play past puzzles to practice your strategy.
- Follow the Editors: Tracy Bennett often gives interviews or posts on social media about the logic behind certain puzzles. Understanding her "voice" helps you predict the tricks in the grid.
- Join a Community: Subreddits like r/wordle or r/NYTConnections are goldmines for seeing how other people approach the same problems you faced that morning.
The goal isn't necessarily to be perfect. The goal is to enjoy the process of discovery. Whether you get it in two or six, as long as you finish, you're doing not too shabby nyt style. Keep your streak alive, keep your mind sharp, and don't let the red herrings get the best of you.
Check your stats right now. If your "Current Streak" is over 10, you’re doing better than 60% of players. If it’s over 50, you’re in the elite tier. If you lost your streak yesterday? Well, tomorrow is a new word. Start with "STARE" and see where it takes you.