If you're tackling today's Newsday Crossword for October 2, 2024, and feeling a bit stumped, you're not alone! Crosswords are a great way to challenge your brain, but sometimes a tricky clue can leave even the most seasoned solvers scratching their heads. Don’t worry, though—we’ve got you covered! Whether it's a clever play on words or a piece of obscure trivia, we’ve compiled all the answers to help you complete today’s puzzle. Let's dive in and crack those tough clues together!

Newsday Crossword Answers for October 02, 2024

Across:

• Purple flower: LILAC
  (A fragrant, purple flower commonly found in gardens.)
• “Finished” house rm.: BSMT
  (Short for basement, the lower level of a house.)
• Word like “buy” or “sell”: VERB
  (A part of speech that indicates action, like “buy” or “sell.”)
• Boxing match venue: ARENA
  (A large, enclosed space where sporting events, like boxing, take place.)
• Toledo’s state: OHIO
  (The U.S. state where the city of Toledo is located.)
• 0-shaped: OVAL
  (A geometric shape similar to a circle, but elongated.)
• Book to look up words in: DICTIONARY
  (A reference book containing words and their meanings.)
• Shelter for a scout outing: TENT
  (A portable structure used for camping.)
• Avoid, as duties: SHIRK
  (To evade or neglect responsibilities.)
• Pies and cakes: DESSERTS
  (Sweet dishes typically served at the end of a meal.)
• Metallic mineral: ORE
  (A naturally occurring rock that contains metal or minerals.)
• Barnyard cackler: HEN
  (A female chicken, known for its clucking.)
• In a crowd of: AMID
  (Being in the middle of or surrounded by.)
• Scientist looking up at the sky: ASTRONOMER
  (A scientist who studies stars, planets, and other celestial objects.)
• Unimportant: MERE
  (Something insignificant or minor.)
• Reaches down: STOOPS
  (To bend down or lower oneself.)
• __ in a million (rare): ONE
  (Used to describe something extremely rare.)
• French farewell: ADIEU
  (A formal way of saying goodbye in French.)
• Part of the UK: ENG
  (Short for England, a country in the United Kingdom.)
• Wear away: ERODE
  (To gradually wear down or diminish over time.)
• Female sibling, for short: SIS
  (A common abbreviation for sister.)
• Person searching for something: SEEKER
  (Someone actively looking for a specific thing or knowledge.)
• Starting on: AS OF
  (Used to indicate when something begins or is effective.)
• Long-ago class pal you might look up: SCHOOLMATE
  (A former classmate from one’s school days.)
• The latest happenings: NEWS
  (Information about current events or occurrences.)
• Super Bowl org.: NFL
  (The National Football League, which hosts the Super Bowl.)
• Maple syrup base: SAP
  (The liquid extracted from maple trees to make syrup.)
• Cuts down on: CURTAILS
  (To reduce or limit something.)
• Tuxedo collar flap: LAPEL
  (A part of a jacket that folds back, often seen on formal wear like tuxedos.)
• Exotic palm berry: ACAI
  (A small, purple fruit from the acai palm, often used in smoothies and health foods.)
• With a “things are looking up” attitude: OPTIMISTIC
  (Having a positive or hopeful outlook.)
• Unlikely, as odds: SLIM
  (Small or unlikely chance of something happening.)
• Letters heard end-of-week: TGIF
  (A popular acronym meaning “Thank God It’s Friday.”)
• Insect in a cocoon: LARVA
  (The early stage of an insect’s life cycle, before it becomes an adult.)
• Narrated story: TALE
  (A story or narrative, often with fictional elements.)
• Driveway coverings: TARS
  (A black substance used to pave roads and driveways.)
• Cavalry horse: STEED
  (A horse ridden by knights or soldiers in historical times.)

Down:

• Small boy: LAD
  (A young boy or male child.)
• Part of the eye: IRIS
  (The colored part of the eye that controls the size of the pupil.)
• Walesa of Poland: LECH
  (Lech Walesa, a Polish political leader and former president.)
• Prefix for freeze: ANTI
  (A prefix meaning against, as in antifreeze.)
• Capital on the Nile: CAIRO
  (The capital city of Egypt, located on the Nile River.)
• __ voyage party: BON
  (Part of the phrase “bon voyage,” a farewell before a journey.)
• Caviar source: SHAD
  (A type of fish whose roe is used to make caviar.)
• Swampy ground: MIRE
  (A stretch of wet, muddy ground.)
• Busy Yuletide emporium: TOYSHOP
  (A store that sells toys, especially during the holiday season.)
• Say nay in a roll call: VOTE NO
  (To cast a negative vote during a decision-making process.)
• At any point: EVER
  (At any time, now or in the future.)
• Talk angrily: RANT
  (To speak loudly and angrily about something.)
• Lunches with crunches: BLTS
  (Sandwiches made with bacon, lettuce, and tomato.)
• Cajun veggies: OKRAS
  (A vegetable often used in Cajun and Southern cooking.)
• Hearing or touch: SENSE
  (One of the five senses, such as touch, sight, or hearing.)
• High regard: ESTEEM
  (Respect or admiration for someone or something.)
• Stock up on: AMASS
  (To gather or collect a large amount of something.)
• Battlefield doctor: MEDIC
  (A doctor or paramedic who provides care in combat situations.)
• From Dublin: IRISH
  (Relating to Ireland or its people, particularly Dublin.)
• Barely passing grade: DEE
  (A “D” grade, the lowest passing grade in many educational systems.)
• Truck brand in a 9-Down: TONKA
  (A brand of toy trucks, often sold in toy stores like the one mentioned in 9-Down.)
• Thesaurus, for short: ROGETS
  (A reference to Roget’s Thesaurus, a popular synonym dictionary.)
• Caribou cousin: MOOSE
  (A large mammal related to caribou, often found in colder climates.)
• Fund, as a museum: ENDOW
  (To provide financial support for an institution, like a museum.)
• Coral ridges: REEFS
  (Underwater structures made of coral, often found in tropical waters.)
• Uncle Sam’s land, informally: USOFA
  (Short for the United States of America.)
• Was in charge of: RAN
  (Managed or directed an operation or event.)
• Singer Missy or actor Gould: ELLIOTT
  (Refers to either singer Missy Elliott or actor Elliott Gould.)
• Monarch’s domain: REALM
  (A kingdom or area ruled by a monarch.)
• Punctual: ON TIME
  (Arriving or happening at the scheduled time.)
• Containers in sandboxes: PAILS
  (Buckets commonly used by children to play in sand.)
• On-camera crew: CAST
  (The group of actors performing in a movie, show, or commercial.)
• Sch., near Beverly Hills: UCLA
  (The University of California, Los Angeles, a major university near Beverly Hills.)
• Staircase banister: RAIL
  (A handrail alongside a staircase.)
• Women’s links org.: LPGA
  (The Ladies Professional Golf Association, governing women’s golf tournaments.)
• Begin to wake up: STIR
  (To start moving or waking up after sleeping.)
• HS jr.’s exam: PSAT
  (The Preliminary SAT, an exam taken by high school juniors.)
• Raison d-__: ETRE
  (French for “reason for being” or purpose.)
• Dwell: LIVE
  (To reside or exist in a particular place.)
• “No __, ands, or buts!”: IFS
  (Used to emphasize that there are no exceptions or excuses.)
• Unmannerly guy: CAD
  (A rude or dishonorable man.)

Thanks for Checking Out Today’s Newsday Crossword Answers! 

And there you have it—those tricky clues from today’s Newsday Crossword for October 2, 2024, solved! Whether you needed just a hint or the full answer, we hope this guide helped you cross the finish line. Remember, crosswords are all about learning and having fun, so don’t get discouraged if a clue stumps you. Keep sharpening those solving skills, and tomorrow’s puzzle might just be a breeze. Happy solving, and see you for the next challenge!