"The ___ is up!"
Published by Naitik Mehta · March 30, 2026
Stuck on the clue "The ___ is up!" from the New York Times Mini 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
"The ___ is up!" (3)
Answer
The answer to "The ___ is up!" is Jig (3 letters).
Why does Jig fit this clue?
This is a fill-in-the-blank clue where "The ___ is up!" points to JIG. A jig is a type of lively folk dance, but the phrase "The jig is up!" is an idiomatic expression meaning that a deception or scheme has been discovered and exposed. The phrase originated in the 16th century when "jig" referred to a trick or deception, and saying the jig was "up" meant the ruse was over. This common expression fits perfectly into the blank, making JIG the clear answer to complete the familiar exclamation.
What does "The ___ is up!" mean?
We break down each word in the clue and show its dictionary definition below.
jig
noun
•a lively dance or a deceptive scheme that has been exposed
Where did this clue appear?
This clue appeared as 1-down in the New York Times Mini on March 30, 2026, by Tracy Bennett, edited by Joel Fagliano. See all answers for this puzzle.
NYT Mini — Mar 30, 2026
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What does Jig mean?
noun
•A light, brisk musical movement; a gigue.
•A lively dance in 6/8 (double jig), 9/8 (slip jig) or 12/8 (single jig) time; a tune suitable for such a dance. By extension, a lively traditional tune in any of these time signatures. Unqualified, the term is usually taken to refer to a double (6/8) jig.
•A black person.
verb
•To move briskly, especially as a dance.
•To move with a skip or rhythm; to move with vibrations or jerks.
Origin of the word Jig
•origin: French 'gigue'
•period: 16th century
The word originally referred to a type of fiddle before evolving to describe the lively dance performed to its music, and later extended to fishing lures that 'dance' through the water.
How to use Jig in a sentence
Here are 3 examples of how to use the word Jig.
•“The criminal tried to escape when he realized the jig was up and the police had discovered his hideout.”
•“The fisherman used a colorful jig to catch bass in the deep water.”
•“The folk dancers performed a lively Irish jig at the cultural festival.”
Learn about related clues
All clues from the New York Times Mini, Mar 30, 2026 crossword
The New York Times Mini for March 30, 2026 was published by Tracy Bennett and has 10 clues. Curious about all the answers from this crossword puzzle? View all answers here.
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Frequently asked questions about "The ___ is up!"
- What is the answer to "The ___ is up!"?
- The answer is Jig (3 letters).
- Where did this clue appear?
- This clue was last seen in the New York Times Mini on March 30, 2026.
- How many letters does the answer to "The ___ is up!" have?
- The answer has 3 letters: Jig.
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 Mini — Mar 30, 2026
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