‘Give false hope to’ NYT Mini Crossword (Aug. 16) answer and hints

Don't go breakin' my heart.

A blank crossword with "give false hope to" written below it
Image by Dot Esports

Today’s NYT Mini clue, “Give false hope to,” is about deception. Maybe you’ve been promised a cup of tea by a loved one, but it never emerges from the kitchen. It’s heartbreaking, but use that fire to solve this clue.

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‘Give false hope to’ NYT Mini clue hints

A blank NYT crossword with six down highlighted
It’s a tough one. Screenshot by Dot Esports

Before I give you the answer, I’m going to offer you four hints (take them or leave them) to help solve this clue.

  • Hint 1: The answer is actually two words.
  • Hint 2: If you’re interested in someone romantically and they give you the impression they reciprocate when they don’t.
  • Hint 3: You can put a ____ __ a dog.
  • Hint 4: First word begins with “L” and the second begins with an “O.”

If you still can’t crack this clue, read on for the answer. If you want to keep trying, don’t go any further.

‘Give false hope to’ NYT Mini clue answer

The answer to the NYT Mini clue, “Give false hope to,” is “LEAD ON.” You can lead someone on by giving them the impression you believe or feel someone you don’t. Merriam-Webster defines the verb “lead on” as “to entice or induce to adopt or continue in a course or belief, especially when unwise or mistaken.”

‘Give false hope to’ NYT Mini clue difficulty rating

This is one of those very annoying NTY Mini answers that consists of two words, but the clue never explicitly tells you that. If you solve the clues around this one, you may get to the answer, but the fact it’s two words can still throw you off. So, I’m giving this clue a four out of five difficulty rating.

All NYT Mini Aug. 16 answers

Across

Down

  • 6D Coniferous trees with red berries — YEWS
  • 1D Interlocks (with) — MESHES
  • 2D Esoteric — ARCANE
  • 3D Give false hope to — LEAD ON
  • 4D Ship into the country — IMPORT
  • 5D “Surely you___!” — JEST

How to play more word games like the NYT Mini

Planning a quiet Friday night in? Why not spice things up with more word games? For more crosswords, try the LA TimesThe Atlantic, and the Washington Post. If you’re looking for something a bit different, try out Strands and Spelling Bee.

Author
Image of Vic Hood
Vic Hood
Vic is Gaming Editor at Dot Esports. An award-winning games journalist, Vic brings experience from IGN, Eurogamer, TechRadar, and more to the Dot Esports table. You may have even heard her on the radio or speaking on a panel. Not only is Vic passionate about games, but she's also an avid mental health advocate who has appeared on both panels and podcasts to discuss mental health awareness. Make sure to follow her on Twitter (@hood_vic) for more.