Pays (up)
Published by Naitik Mehta · March 28, 2026
Stuck on the clue Pays (up) from the New York Times Daily for March 28, 2026? We have the correct 6-letter answer, including the definition, alternative hints, as well as other answers from the same crossword. Ready to learn more about this clue?
Clue
Pays (up) (6)
Answer
The answer to Pays (up) is Ponies (6 letters).
Why does Ponies fit this clue?
This clue uses slang terminology where 'Pays (up)' points to PONIES, British slang meaning to pay money owed. A pony in this context refers to twenty-five pounds sterling, so 'ponies up' means settling a debt or paying what's due. The parenthetical '(up)' signals the phrasal verb 'pony up,' which has crossed into American usage meaning to pay or contribute money, often reluctantly or after being pressed. This gambling and betting slang likely originated from the substantial sum that twenty-five pounds represented in earlier British currency.
What does Pays (up) mean?
We break down each word in the clue and show its dictionary definitions below.
pays
verb
•gives money owed or due
up
adverb
•completely or in full (when used with 'pay')
Where did this clue appear?
This clue appeared as 23-across in the New York Times Daily on March 28, 2026, by Katie Hoody, edited by Will Shortz. See all answers for this puzzle.
Read the NYT Wordplay column for this puzzle.
NYT Daily — Mar 28, 2026
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What does Ponies mean?
noun
•Horsepower
•(with the) horse racing
•A small horse; specifically, any of several small breeds of horse under 14.2 hands at the withers.
•A small serving of an alcoholic beverage, especially beer.
•Crap; rubbish, nonsense.
Origin of the word Ponies
•origin: Old French 'poulenet' meaning 'little foal'
•period: 17th century
The word evolved from the diminutive form of 'poulain' (foal) and originally referred specifically to young horses before becoming the standard term for small horse breeds.
How to use Ponies in a sentence
Here are 3 examples of how to use the word Ponies.
•“After losing the bet, Jake had to pony up the fifty dollars he owed his friend.”
•“The startup founder had to pony up additional capital when the initial funding ran short.”
•“She decided to pony up for the premium membership to get access to all the features.”
Learn about related clues
All clues from the New York Times Daily, Mar 28, 2026 crossword
The New York Times Daily for March 28, 2026 was published by Katie Hoody and has 70 clues. Curious about all the answers from this crossword puzzle? View all answers here.
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Frequently asked questions about Pays (up)
- What is the answer to Pays (up)?
- The answer is Ponies (6 letters).
- Where did this clue appear?
- This clue was last seen in the New York Times Daily on March 28, 2026.
- How many letters does the answer to Pays (up) have?
- The answer has 6 letters: Ponies.
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 28, 2026
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provider
editor
Will Shortz
date
position
23 Across
answer length
6 letters