‘Worker with a comb, perhaps?’ NYT Mini Crossword clue answer and hints

I hate yet love this clue.

Two combs a clue, worker with a comb, from the nyt mini crossword puzzle.
Image by Dot Esports

There are very few crossword clues that bewilder and make me shake my head, and today’s NYT crossword puzzle’s clue, “Worker with a comb, perhaps?” did just that.

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This bafflingly tricky clue, “Worker with a comb, perhaps?” appeared at eight across in the NYT’s Sept. 13 Mini Crossword puzzle. If you’re struggling with the answer today, just think of it as a few paces away from being a dad joke—that should help.

‘Worker with a comb, perhaps?’ Sept. 13 NYT Mini Crossword clue hints and answer

The clue, worker with a comb, highlighted in blue and yellow on the NYT mini crossword puzzle
It’s the last clue in the across section. Screenshot by Dot Esports
  • Hint 1: It’s an animal.
  • Hint 2: It starts with a “B.”
  • Hint 3: It ends with an “E.”
  • Hint 4: It makes honey.

The answer to the “Worker with a comb, perhaps?” clue from the Sept. 13 NYT Mini Crossword puzzle is “BEE.” The comb this clue refers to is honeycomb, which bees use in various ways, such as as a nursery for baby bees, pollen storage, and a place to store honey.

All clues and answers from the Sept. 13 NYT Mini Crossword puzzle

Across

  • 1A Clothed (in)CLAD
  • 5A Ring of light — HALO
  • 5A Black____(dangerous spider) — WIDOW
  • 7A Longtime talk show host known for pulling pranks on her guests — ELLEN
  • 8A Worker with a comb, perhaps? — BEE

Down

  • 1D South American country with a 4,000-mile coastline — CHILE
  • 2D Tool for a soup kitchen volunteer — LADLE
  • 3D Succulent in some health drinks — ALOE
  • 4D “I’m reading a book about antigravity. I can’t put it ____!” (groaner) — DOWN
  • 6D One “w” in www — WEB

‘Worker with a comb, perhaps?’ NYT crossword clue difficulty

I thought this clue may be referring to a hairdresser or a barber because they’re workers with a literal comb. For the life of me, I couldn’t figure out which other worker used one that would fit this crossword. As soon as I finishedand saw the answer, I didn’t know whether to laugh or feel foolish because the answer made sense, in a dad-joke kind of way. Because of the absurdity, I’d give it a four out of five in difficulty. But it gets top marks from me for being so goofy.

Best 4 mini word games and crossword puzzles

If you’re after new mini crosswords or word games, try the following crosswords from the LA Times or Washington Post or these word-based games from the NYT: Strands or Spelling Bee.

Author
Image of Hayley Andrews
Hayley Andrews
Hayley Andrews is a staff writer for Dot Esports with a dual degree in business and human resource management. After discovering her passion for creative writing and gaming, she now writes about MOBAs, MMOs, and cozy games.