Clever Clue of the Month

May 2026
Clue: Navel brass?....................................................BELLYBUTTONRING
Constructor: Karen Steinberg; Editor: Patti Varol
LAT, Saturday, May 16, 2026

Clever Clue Nominees

Please vote for the best clue from May. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced in a few days.

Headspring?................................RINGLET
"Watch this ill-advised thing I'm gonna
do"........................................HOLDMYBEER
Don't start with me!.......................SECONDSTRINGER
Navel brass?...............................BELLYBUTTONRING
Places to train for a few rounds?..........BARCARS
Silent film figure?........................EXTRA

Clever Clue of the Month

 

April 2026
Clue: Pop up on screens?.........................................TVDAD
Constructor/Editor: Brendan Emmett Quigley
Brendan Emmett Quigley Crossword, Monday, April 6, 2026 

Clever Clue Nominees

Please vote for the best clue from April. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced in a few days.

Distraction at home?.......................HEYBATTERBATTER

Pop up on screens?.........................TVDAD
Primitive flatulence simulators............ARMPITS
Request that might get a canned response?..BEERME
Trashy TV star?............................OSCAR
Wear a cape, for example?..................ERODE

Clever Clue of the Month

March 2026
Clue: Lab entrances?............................PETDOORS
Constructor: John Dunn; Editor: Mike Shenk
WSJ, Monday, March 9, 2026

Clever Clue Nominees

Please vote for the best clue from March. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced in a few days.

Lab entrances?.............................PETDOORS

Locales for the late news?.................OBITPAGES
Parts of a story structure?................IBEAMS
Predator with a mask, e.g. ................GOALIE
Key that's hard to reach?..................DESERTISLE

Bill passer?...............................JOSHALLEN

Clever Clue of the Month

February 2026
Clue: Reason to cover a lot of ground quickly?.....RAINDELAY
Constructor: Amanda Cook; Editor: Patti Varol
LAT, Saturday, February 14, 2026