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

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.

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

• 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.