Go up and down in the water
Published by Naitik Mehta · March 30, 2026
Stuck on the clue Go up and down in the water from the New York Times Daily for March 30, 2026? We have the correct 3-letter answer, including the definition, alternative hints, as well as other answers from the same crossword. Ready to learn more about this clue?
Clue
Go up and down in the water (3)
Answer
The answer to Go up and down in the water is Bob (3 letters).
Why does Bob fit this clue?
This is a direct definition clue where 'Go up and down in the water' describes the action BOB. To bob means to move quickly up and down with short, jerky motions, especially on the surface of water. The word perfectly captures the rhythmic vertical movement of objects floating on water, like a fishing bobber or cork that rises and falls with waves and currents. This bobbing motion is exactly what the clue describes with its phrase 'go up and down in the water.'
What does Go up and down in the water mean?
We break down each word in the clue and show its dictionary definitions below.
crossword
noun
•a puzzle with numbered squares filled in with words based on clues
clue
noun
•a hint or piece of information that helps solve a puzzle or mystery
Where did this clue appear?
This clue appeared as 22-down in the New York Times Daily on March 30, 2026, by Gary Cee, edited by Will Shortz. See all answers for this puzzle.
Read the NYT Wordplay column for this puzzle.
NYT Daily — Mar 30, 2026
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What does Bob mean?
noun
•A bobbing motion; a quick up and down movement.
•A curtsy.
•A bob haircut.
•Any round object attached loosely to a flexible line, a rod, a body part etc., so that it may swing when hanging from it
•(Kenya) A shilling.
•A 10-cent coin.
•A dish made of small pieces of meat, with or without vegetables, which are skewered on a wooden or metal stick and roasted in an oven or over an open fire.
•A crystal structure consisting of a central spine (the shish) and disks or lumps growing out from it (the kebab).
•A graphical element, resembling a hardware sprite, that can be blitted around the screen in large numbers.
verb
•To move gently and vertically, in either a single motion or repeatedly up and down, at or near the surface of a body of water, or similar medium.
•To move (something) as though it were bobbing in water.
•To cut (hair) into a bob haircut.
•To shorten by cutting; to dock; to crop
Origin of the word Bob
•origin: Middle English 'bobben' meaning to strike or knock
•period: 14th century
The name Bob likely evolved from the rhythmic, bouncing motion associated with the verb 'bob,' and became a nickname for Robert through rhyming slang patterns common in medieval England.
How to use Bob in a sentence
Here are 3 examples of how to use the word Bob.
•“The cork began to bob gently on the surface of the lake as fish nibbled at the bait below.”
•“The small boat continued to bob up and down with each wave that passed beneath it.”
•“She watched the apple bob in the water bucket during the Halloween party game.”
What are other crossword clues for Bob?
Learn about related clues
All clues from the New York Times Daily, Mar 30, 2026 crossword
The New York Times Daily for March 30, 2026 was published by Gary Cee and has 78 clues. Curious about all the answers from this crossword puzzle? View all answers here.
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Frequently asked questions about Go up and down in the water
- What is the answer to Go up and down in the water?
- The answer is Bob (3 letters).
- Where did this clue appear?
- This clue was last seen in the New York Times Daily on March 30, 2026.
- How many letters does the answer to Go up and down in the water have?
- The answer has 3 letters: Bob.
Author
Naitik Mehta
Co-founder
Naitik is a gaming enthusiast who loves solving daily word games and enjoys the friendly competition from time to time. He is the co-founder of Crossword Chef and enjoys thinking about how to make crossword solving more fun for everyone around the world.
Puzzle
NYT Daily — Mar 30, 2026
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