You're staring at the grid. Five letters. The clue is "Lets go of," and your brain is screaming for a word that fits the tiny white boxes. Crosswords are a weird psychological experiment. They force us to look at language through a straw. When you see lets go of crossword clues in your daily New York Times or LA Times puzzle, you aren't just looking for a synonym; you're looking for the specific flavor of synonym the constructor intended.
Usually, the answer is DROPS. Or maybe FREES. Sometimes it’s EMITS.
The frustration doesn't come from not knowing English. It comes from the "let go" ambiguity. Are we talking about physical release? Firing someone? Or just venting a smell? Honestly, the English language is a mess of overlapping meanings, and crossword puzzles exploit those overlaps to make you feel like you've forgotten how to speak.
The Semantic Trap of Lets Go Of Crossword Clues
Crossword construction is an art of misdirection. Will Shortz, the legendary editor of the NYT Crossword, has often spoken about how "clue difficulty" is mostly about how many different ways a word can be interpreted. "Lets go of" is a prime example of a multi-directional clue.
If you are looking at a Monday puzzle, the answer is likely literal. DROPS. Simple. But if it’s a Saturday? You’re in trouble. On a Saturday, "Lets go of" might mean AXES (as in terminating employment) or RELINQUISHES (if the grid allows for a longer word).
Think about the word UNHANDS. It feels archaic, right? Like something a villain in a Victorian melodrama would snarl. Yet, it pops up in puzzles constantly. Why? Because it has a great vowel-to-consonant ratio. Constructors love those "S" endings because they help bridge the gap to the vertical clues. If you see "Lets go of" and the answer ends in S, always check if it's a third-person singular verb.
Why We Get Stuck
It’s called functional fixedness. Your brain locks onto the most common meaning of a phrase and refuses to budge. When you see "lets go of," your first instinct might be "releases." But "releases" is eight letters. If you only have five slots, your brain might freeze.
You've gotta pivot.
Check the crossings. If the second letter is an 'R', you’re likely looking at FREES. If the first letter is 'E', you might be looking at EDUCE or EMITS, though those are slightly more lateral interpretations. The lets go of crossword struggle is really just a battle against your own mental rigidity.
Real Examples from Major Puzzles
Let’s look at how the pros handle this. In a 2023 New York Times puzzle, "Lets go of" was used to clue EXHALES. That's a brilliant bit of misdirection. You aren't dropping a ball; you're letting go of breath.
In the LA Times puzzles, which tend to be a bit more straightforward but still clever, "Lets go of" has frequently led to LOSES. Think about it: if you let go of your grip on a lead in a race, you lose it. It's a subtle shift from physical action to a state of being.
- DROPS (The most common 5-letter answer)
- FREES (Common when the context is liberation)
- AXES (Used frequently in business-themed puzzles)
- UNHANDS (The "old-timey" favorite)
- RELENTS (A more emotional "letting go")
Sometimes the clue is "Let go." Note the lack of the "s." This changes everything. Now you're looking for DROP, FREE, or FIRE. Tense is king in crosswords. If the clue is "Lets go of," the answer must end in an "s" or be a singular verb form. If the clue is "Letting go," start looking for words ending in -ING, like DROPPING or LOSING.
The Evolution of Crossword Language
Crosswords aren't static. The "Crosswordese" of the 1980s—words like ETUI (a needle case) or REO (an old car)—is slowly being phased out for more modern language. However, the "lets go of" style of clue remains a staple because it's "clean." It doesn't rely on obscure trivia. It relies on your ability to navigate the nuances of your own vocabulary.
Constructors like Robyn Weintraub or Brendan Emmett Quigley often use these common phrases to anchor more difficult, "sparkly" entries. If you can quickly solve lets go of crossword clues, you get the "toehold" needed to solve that 15-letter pop culture reference nearby.
The goal isn't just to find the word. It's to understand the vibe of the puzzle. Is the constructor being literal, or are they playing a game? If the puzzle is full of puns, "Lets go of" might even be something ridiculous like CEDS (as in "cedes," but with a spelling twist based on a theme).
Deep Nuance: The "Cedes" vs. "Sells" Debate
Sometimes, letting go involves a transaction. If the clue is "Lets go of, for a price," you're looking at SELLS. If it's "Lets go of, as territory," it's CEDES.
This is where people get tripped up. They forget the context. Crosswords are a holistic experience. You can't solve one clue in a vacuum. You need the surrounding letters to tell you if you're dealing with a financial transaction or a physical release.
Mastering the Five-Letter Release
When you see a 5-letter space for "Lets go of," your mental checklist should look exactly like this:
- DROPS (Check for a 'D' or 'P')
- FREES (Check for an 'R' or 'E')
- LOSES (Check for an 'O' or 'S')
- EXITS (Less common, but possible if the context is leaving a place)
- AXES (Only four letters, but "Lets go" could be the clue)
Actually, wait. Let's look at FIRE. If the clue is "Let go," and it's four letters, it's almost always FIRE or SACK. If it's "Lets go," it's FIRES or SACKS. It's brutal. You think you're looking for something gentle like "releases a bird," but the puzzle is talking about a brutal corporate layoff.
The word UNHAND is the one that really gets people. It’s so specific. You rarely hear it in real life unless you’re at a Renaissance Fair or watching a silent film. But in the world of the lets go of crossword, it’s a gift. It has those beautiful vowels (U, A) and common consonants (N, H, D). If you see a 'U' at the start of a "let go" clue, just ink in UNHAND and move on.
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Beyond the Literal: Emotional Release
The most difficult version of this clue involves emotions. "Lets go of, as a grudge."
That’s FORGOES. Or FORGIVES.
This requires a completely different part of your brain. You’ve moved from the physical world of dropping objects into the abstract world of psychology. This is why crosswords are touted as great for cognitive health. They force you to jump between different types of thinking—literal, metaphorical, and linguistic—within seconds.
Dr. Antonia Arboleda, a linguistics researcher, has noted that our brains categorize verbs by their "argument structure"—who is doing what to whom. "Let go" is fascinating because it can be transitive (you let go of a ball) or intransitive (you just let go). Crossword clues usually target the transitive version, which is why the answer is almost always a verb that requires an object.
The Role of "Crosswordese"
We have to talk about ERASE. Sometimes, letting go of a thought or a mark means to ERASE it. It’s a bit of a stretch, but in the world of Friday/Saturday puzzles, stretches are the norm. You have to be willing to be wrong to eventually be right.
I’ve seen people sit for twenty minutes over a 5-letter clue because they were convinced the answer was DROPS, only to find out the answer was SHEDS.
Think about a snake. It "lets go" of its skin. It SHEDS.
If you're stuck on a lets go of crossword clue, stop thinking about hands. Think about snakes. Think about lightbulbs emitting light. Think about chimneys letting go of smoke (EMITS). The wider your lens, the faster the solve.
Actionable Strategy for Your Next Puzzle
Stop guessing and start analyzing. If you hit a "let go" clue and the answer isn't immediately obvious from the crossings, use these three steps to break the deadlock:
- Identify the Tense: If the clue is "Lets go," the answer must be singular and present (ending in S). if it's "Let go," it's plural or a command. If it's "Dropped," it's past tense (ending in ED).
- Search for the 'S' Pivot: Most "Lets go of" answers end in S. Fill in the S at the end of the box tentatively. Does it work with the vertical clue? If so, you’ve narrowed your search space by 20% immediately.
- Switch Domains: If physical release (drops/frees) doesn't work, switch to the "employment" domain (fires/axes). If that fails, move to "physics" (emits/radiates) or "legal" (cedes/waives).
The "Let go" clue is a microcosm of why we love these puzzles. It’s a simple phrase we use every day, yet it contains a dozen different lives. Mastering the lets go of crossword entry isn't just about winning a game; it's about appreciating the ridiculous, flexible, and often frustrating beauty of the English language.
Next time you're stuck, take a breath. Let go of your first instinct. The answer is probably right there, hidden in a meaning you haven't considered yet.
Check the vowels. Look for the 'S'. You've got this.