So this morning I’m doing my usual coffee-and-crossword routine, digging into that NYT Mini from July 29. Got stuck good on this clue: “Ladder counterpart?” Five letters. Blank space taunting me.
The Initial Struggle
First thought was “antithesis.” Too many damn letters, and didn’t feel right. Brain kept spinning. “Bridge”? Nope, didn’t fit the crossing words I already had filled in. “Slide”? Seemed weird. I scribbled in “steps,” “scale,” even “rungs” – all wrong lengths or clashing with other answers. Annoying, man.
Digging Deeper
Alright, took a sip of cold coffee and really stared at the clue. “Ladder counterpart.” Counterpart usually means something paired with it, right? Not necessarily the opposite. Started listing things that often go with ladders:
- A ladder leans against a wall? Too short.
- You climb a ladder to reach a roof? Five letters! Couldn’t shake the feeling this was a reference to something specific.
The Click Moment
Suddenly remembered that old game we all played as kids. What was it… Ladders and… something? Snakes? Ladders and Snakes? No! It hit me like a ton of bricks: Chutes! “Chutes and Ladders”! Duh!
Checked the crossings: fit perfectly with the letters I had from other clues. The crossing answer I’d hesitated on – boom, made sense instantly after plugging in “chutes.” Felt like an idiot for not seeing it sooner.
Wrapping It Up
So yeah, the answer was CHUTES. Simple in the end, but totally had me chasing my tail for a good ten minutes. Classic wordplay, really. “Ladder counterpart” isn’t about a physical opposite, it’s about the thing it’s famously paired with in that board game. Kicking myself, but happy I got there without cheating. That ‘aha!’ moment is half the fun.