‘Hot couple, in a celebrity gossip column’ NYT Mini Crossword answer and hints

Celebrity culture frankly annoys me, and I actively avoid reading gossip columns, so I struggled with today’s NYT Mini Crossword. I had to work out one down and five down to figure out this answer.

‘Hot couple, in a celebrity gossip column’ NYT Mini Crossword hints and answer

• Hint 1: It begins with the letter “I.”
• Hint 2: Slang, informal.
• Hint 3: It rhymes with “bite him.”
• Hint 4: In a romantic or sexual relationship.

Stop scrolling! I’m about to uncover the answer. You’ve been well and truly warned.

Yes, that’s right. The answer to four across in the July 30 NYT Mini Crossword is “ITEM.” If you say two people are an “item,” you mean they’re in a romantic or sexual relationship. This Americanism became widespread in the 1980s when Variety magazine began using the word to describe celebrity couples. Celeb couples like Ben Affleck and J-Lo, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, or Beyoncé and Jay-Z could be called an item.

‘Hot couple, in a celebrity gossip column’ NYT Mini Crossword difficulty rating

This clue was difficult for me, so I’m giving it a four out of five on the difficulty rating scale. The “in a celebrity gossip column” part threw me off the trail. But the answer probably popped into your head immediately if you’re big into celebrity gossip.

NYT Mini Crossword (July 31) answers

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword was difficult. Check out our hints and answers to “Comedian Maron,” “Little spats,” “Hot couple, in a celebrity gossip column,” “Caustic chemical compound,” “Thoroughly devoured,” and “Yogi who said ‘Always go to other people’s funerals, otherwise they won’t come to yours.”

How to play other word games like the NYT Mini Crossword

After finishing the NYT Mini Crossword, why not check out the LA Times and the Washington Post for more crossword action? For a change of pace, head over to Strands and Spelling Bee. I can’t get enough of word games.