What does Fare Eaten by Scavengers mean in the NYT puzzle?

Fare Eaten by Scavengers NYT is a tricky clue that’s confused many crossword fans. Have you seen it in the New York Times puzzle and wondered what it means? You’re not the only one! This smart and playful clue might look tough at first, but the answer is simple. In this blog, you’ll learn what the clue means, why it’s such a clever part of the NYT Crossword, and how even kids can understand it with the right tips and tricks.

We’ll walk you through step-by-step tips, simple explanations, memory tricks, and a fun breakdown of the biology behind it. Whether you’re solving the NYT Mini Crossword, prepping for word puzzles, or just love learning how tricky clues work — this guide will help you master it confidently. Let’s dive in and uncover what “Fare Eaten by Scavengers” really means — and why the answer is CARRION!

What Does Fare Eaten by Scavengers Mean?

In some New York Times (NYT) puzzles, you might find the clue exactly worded “Fare Eaten by Scavengers”. That is the clue you need to solve. The correct answer is:

CARRION

• CARRION means the dead and rotting flesh of an animal. Scavengers like vultures, hyenas, and crows eat it.
• The clue plays on the word “fare”, which sounds like “fair” or “fare” (the price you pay). It’s a pun: airline carry-on fare sounds like carrion, the dead animal flesh.
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So whenever you see “Fare Eaten by Scavengers”, think CARRION.

Why Is This Clue Clever?

The clue “Fare Eaten by Scavengers” is a great example of how The New York Times puzzles use wordplay, puns, and tricky meanings to make solvers think harder. Here’s why it’s such a clever and tricky clue:

1 Wordplay and Double Meaning

The word “fare” usually means something simple — like the money you pay to ride a bus, taxi, or plane. For example:

“My taxi fare was five dollars.”

But in this clue, the word fare is part of a pun. It’s used in a fun and tricky way. Instead of meaning money, it hints at “carry-on fare”, like what you pay for a small suitcase on a plane.

And guess what? The words “carry-on” and “carrion” sound very close!

• Carry-on fare (airline charge)
• Carrion (dead flesh eaten by scavengers)

This sound trick — where two words sound similar but mean very different things — is called a pun.

Crossword lovers love these kinds of word tricks. They make your brain stop and go:

“Wait… is this about money or something animals eat?”

That pause is what makes it fun and clever!

2 Easy to Miss if You Don’t Know “Carrion”

Here’s the tricky part: “Carrion” is not a word that most people use every day. That makes it harder to guess — especially for younger solvers or those who don’t study animals.

But in science or biology class, you might learn this:

Carrion is the word for dead and decaying animal flesh.

And which animals eat dead meat? That’s right — scavengers!
Animals like:

Scavenger Name	What It Eats
Vulture	Carrion – dead animal bodies
Hyena	Carrion – leftover meat
Crow	Small pieces of dead animals
Raccoon	Dead fish or birds sometimes

So, to solve the clue, you need to:

1. Know what a scavenger eats
2. Understand the word carrion
3. Realize that “fare” is being used as a trick word

If you don’t know what carrion means, the clue feels super confusing. But once you make the connection, it’s a fun “Aha!” moment.

3 It’s a Brain Teaser That Combines Topics

This clue is clever because it mixes different ideas:

• Language/Puns (fare sounds like carrion)
• Science/Biology (what scavengers eat)
• Sound Similarities (homophones or near-homophones)
• Common Words with Uncommon Meanings

It challenges both your vocabulary and your knowledge of nature, which is why people love solving clues like this in the NYT puzzle.

Fare Eaten by Scavengers Clue Breakdown Table

Clue Part	Meaning	How It Helps Solve
Fare eaten	A fee or charge	Misleading hint toward “fare”
by scavengers	Animals that eat dead flesh	Real clue pointing to carrion
Wordplay pun	“Fare” (fee) ~ “Carrion” (dead flesh)	Helps link the sounds

The combination: fare misleads, scavengers clarify.

Step-by-Step Guide for Young Solvers

Solving the clue “Fare Eaten by Scavengers” may sound tricky, but if you follow these simple steps, you’ll solve it like a pro!

Step 1: Read the Clue Carefully

Look at the clue: “Fare eaten by scavengers.”
Ask yourself:

“What do scavengers eat?”

Scavengers like vultures, hyenas, and crows don’t hunt. They eat what’s already dead. So the clue is talking about dead animal meat.

Step 2: Think of a 7-Letter Word

Many crossword clues give a hint with the number of letters.
This one has 7 boxes, so we need a 7-letter word that means “dead flesh.”

That helps your brain focus on the right-sized answer.

Step 3: Recall the Word “Carrion”

You may have learned the word “carrion” in science class. It means:

“The decaying, dead flesh of animals.”

Scavengers eat carrion in the wild.
Now, count the letters:

• C
• A
• R
• R
• I
• O
• N

Perfect! 7 letters. We’re getting close.

Step 4: Check the Wordplay or Pun

Now for the fun twist!

The word “fare” normally means:

The money you pay for a ride (bus, taxi, plane).

But in puzzles, “fare” is a pun. It sounds like “carry-on fare,” like the fee you pay for a suitcase on an airplane.

Say it slowly:

• Carry-on fare
• Carrion

They sound very similar, right?

That’s the trick! The puzzle uses sound to confuse and challenge you.

Step 5: Write the Answer — CARRION

Now that everything fits:

• It means dead flesh ✅
• It’s 7 letters ✅
• Scavengers eat it ✅
• It sounds like “fare” ✅

You can now confidently write the answer in the puzzle grid:

C – A – R – R – I – O – N

Puzzle solved! 🎉

Bonus Tip:

Next time you see a clue that looks confusing, ask:

• “Is there a word trick here?”
• “What do the words sound like?”
• “Is this a science term or a pun?”

That’s how smart solvers think — and now you’re one of them!

Fun Facts About Carrion and Scavengers

• Scavengers are animals like vultures, hyenas, and crows. They clean the environment by eating carrion.
• Carrion is not fresh meat; it is rotting flesh. That’s why it’s for scavengers only.
• The puzzle uses the sound play: fare → carrion.

How to Remember FARE EATEN BY SCAVENGERS = CARRION

Tip Table for Memory Tricks

Memory Tip	Example
Sound like a pun	Fare → sounds like carrion
Picture a vulture eating	Imagine a vulture near a dead animal
Seven letters	Count C-A-R-R-I-O-N = 7
Biological meaning	Carrion = dead flesh

Related High‑Search Keywords to Include

• NYT Mini Crossword carrion answer
• puzzle clue explanation carrion
• What does fare eaten by scavengers puzzle mean
• Scavenger food crossword clue
• Carrion crossword answer explained

Sprinkle these long-tail and primary keywords in your blog for better SEO. For example:
“This post answers the NYT Mini Crossword carrion answer for the clue fare eaten by scavengers.”

Problem‑Solving Table: When You Get Stuck

Problem	Solution
Don’t know “carrion”	Think what scavengers eat (dead animals).
Don’t get the pun “fare”	Think of travel fare vs. animal flesh sound.
Only know other answers	Use crossings in the grid to confirm letters.
Confused by word length	Seven‑letter word helps narrow to “carrion.”

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How FiveStarCoder Teaches This?

At FiveStarCoder, we break tricky clues like Fare Eaten by Scavengers into simple parts:

1. Explain the biology term (carrion).
2. Show the pun (fare vs. carrion sound).
3. Use tables and images to help kids visualize.
4. Provide practice puzzles.

So even grade‑5 kids can say: “Yes! The answer is CARRION.” And they remember it next time.

Example Mini Lesson

Lesson Title: What Does Fare Eaten by Scavengers Mean?

Materials:

• Picture of a vulture
• Letters C A R R I O N as scrabble tiles

Steps:

1. Read the clue together.
2. Ask: What do scavengers eat?
3. Show “carrion” on a board.
4. Explain the pun: fare vs. carrion.
5. Practice writing and spelling carrion.
6. Draw a table like above.

This lesson is clear, visual, and fun.

Two Helpful External Resources

For more reading and confirmation:

• Merriam‑Webster dictionary definition of carrion and explanation of how scavengers eat it.
• A biology or nature site explaining how scavengers clean ecosystems by eating carrion.

(You might insert real URLs like Merriam‑Webster and National Geographic) — here are two trusted external links for credibility.

• Merriam‑Webster: Definition of carrion
• National Geographic: Role of scavengers in nature

Including these gives your blog E-E-A-T (Expertise, Experience, Authority, Trust).

Final Wrap-Up

You saw a tricky clue in the New York Times puzzle:
“Fare Eaten by Scavengers.”

At first, it sounds like it’s talking about money (like bus or plane fare).
But it’s a fun word trick — it means carrion, which is dead meat that scavengers eat.

What You Learned Today:

• The word fare has two meanings: money and food.
• Carrion is the dead flesh that animals like vultures and hyenas eat.
• The clue is a pun — “fare” sounds like “carrion.”
• You used sound science and smart thinking to solve it.
• Now, next time you see this clue, you’ll know the answer right away!

You Also Learned:

• How to break down tricky clues using tables and tips.
• That scavengers are nature’s clean-up crew.
• That crossword clues can be fun and educational.
• How FiveStarCoder helps make hard things simple and clear for kids.

At FiveStarCoder.com, we teach kids how to solve puzzles like this using:

• Easy examples
• Fun games
• Smart memory tricks
• Simple explanations

So whether it’s a puzzle, a coding problem, or a science word — we make it easy to learn and fun to remember.

Now you can smile and say:

“I get it! The answer is CARRION!”

👏 Great job, puzzle master!

Quick Recap Table

Clue	Answer	Why It Works
Fare eaten by scavengers	CARRION	Scavengers eat carrion; pun on “fare”

Word‑Bank Glossary for Kids

• Fare: money you pay for a ride (like a bus or plane ticket).
• Scavenger: an animal (like a vulture) that eats dead animals.
• Carrion: dead, rotting flesh eaten by scavengers.
• Pun: a joke that plays on words that sound alike.

We hope this complete guide helps you fully understand What Does Fare Eaten by Scavengers Mean in the NYT Puzzle? using your focus keyword Fare Eaten by Scavengers throughout. If you need more blog ideas, meta descriptions, or kid‑friendly worksheets, just let us know at FiveStarCoder!

About FiveStarCoder

FiveStarCoder is a fun and friendly learning platform that helps kids and beginners understand tricky topics like puzzles, coding, and word games in the simplest way possible. At fivestarcoder.com, we break down hard words and clues using easy steps, clear examples, fun visuals, and smart memory tricks. Whether it’s solving a crossword clue like “Fare Eaten by Scavengers” or learning how to code, FiveStarCoder makes learning feel easy, exciting, and something to smile about!