You're staring at a grid. It's Sunday morning, the coffee is getting cold, and you’ve got four empty boxes under a clue that simply says "Pull a fast one." You think of scam. No, doesn't fit. Dupe? Too short. Honestly, the phrase "pull a fast one" is one of those linguistic chameleons that crossword constructors like Will Shortz or Patti Varol absolutely love because it scales. It can be a four-letter verb or a ten-letter phrase depending on how mean the editor feels that day.
Solving a pull a fast one crossword clue isn't just about vocabulary. It’s about understanding the "trickster" meta-language of the New York Times, LA Times, and Wall Street Journal puzzles. These clues are rarely literal. They are about the vibe of the deception.
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The Common Culprits: What Usually Fits the Grid
Most of the time, the answer is CON. It’s the three-letter king of the crossword world. If you see "Pull a fast one" and you have three spaces, don't overthink it. It’s a con. But what if the grid asks for more?
Sometimes the answer is DUPE. Other times, it's HOAX or SNOW. If you’re looking at a five-letter space, COZEN is a favorite for those "harder" Saturday puzzles where the constructor wants to flex their dictionary muscles. It’s an old-school word, but it shows up more than you’d think. Then there’s SHAM. Short, punchy, and fits into those tight corners of the grid where vowels go to die.
We also have to talk about SCAM. It’s the modern equivalent. But crosswords are nostalgic. They often prefer the slang of the 1920s or 40s. That’s why you’ll see BAMBOOZLE or HOODWINK if the layout allows for a long, winding answer. These words feel "crosswordy." They have high-value letters like Z or K that help builders connect difficult sections of the board.
Why "Fast One" is a Linguistic Trap
The idiom itself dates back to the early 20th century. It likely comes from the world of sports or gambling—think of a pitcher throwing a "fast one" that the batter didn't see coming, or a card shark moving their hands quicker than the eye can track. In the context of a crossword, the clue "pull a fast one" often functions as a "hidden" indicator.
Constructors use it because it’s ambiguous. Is it a verb? Is it a noun? If the clue is "Pulls a fast one," the answer is likely GYPS or DUPE. If it’s "Pulled a fast one," you’re looking for HAD or CONNED.
Tense matters. Beginners often miss this. If the clue ends in "-ing," the answer must end in "-ing." If the clue is "Pulling a fast one," you are probably looking for HOAXING or KIDDING. This is the golden rule of the grid. If you ignore the tense, you’re basically sabotaging your own solve.
When the Answer Isn't a Single Word
Crosswords in 2026 have become increasingly fond of multi-word phrases. Gone are the days when every answer was a neat, singular noun. Now, if you’re tackling a "pull a fast one crossword" clue, you might be looking at a partial phrase.
- GET OVER ON
- PUT ONE OVER
- PLAY FOR A FOOL
These are the nightmares of the casual puzzler. They break across multiple black squares sometimes, or they just sit there in a long 10-letter string that makes no sense until you have the cross-letters. "Put one over" is a classic NYT Sunday answer. It’s conversational. It’s how people actually talk.
You also have the more "slangy" versions. DO A NUMBER ON someone. It’s a bit of a stretch for "pull a fast one," but in the world of cryptic crosswords or high-difficulty puzzles, synonyms are treated with a lot of elasticity.
The Strategy: How to Crack the Code
If you’re stuck, stop looking at the clue. Look at the crossings.
Seriously.
If you have the second letter and it’s an 'O', and the word is three letters long, it’s CON. If the third letter is an 'X', it’s HOAX. Don’t waste brain power trying to remember every synonym for "cheat" ever written in the English language. Let the grid do the heavy lifting for you.
Another tip: check the "vibe" of the puzzle. Is it a Monday? The answer is probably something simple like LIE or CON. Is it a Saturday? Start thinking about words like BEGUILE or BILK. Puzzles get progressively harder throughout the week (at least for the NYT style), and the complexity of the "fast one" follows that curve.
Real Examples from Recent Puzzles
Let’s look at some actual data from the last few years of major publications. In the New York Times, "Pull a fast one" has frequently mapped to:
- CON (3 letters)
- DUPE (4 letters)
- HAVE (4 letters) - as in "You've been had!"
- BILK (4 letters)
- TRICK (5 letters)
- HOODWINK (8 letters)
In the Wall Street Journal puzzles, which tend to have a slightly more "business" or "formal" lean, you might see DEFRAUD or SWINDLE. Same meaning, different flavor.
There's also the "rebus" factor. Occasionally, a crossword will have a gimmick where "FAST ONE" is actually a single square or a theme where the word "FAST" is literally pulled out of other words. If the grid looks impossible and the clues aren't making sense, check if it's a Thursday. Thursdays are the "trick" days. A "pull a fast one" clue on a Thursday might literally mean you need to skip the word "fast" in another part of the puzzle.
The Psychology of the Cheat
Why do we love these clues? Because humans are fascinated by deception. The English language has an incredible number of ways to describe someone being sneaky. From SKULDUGGERY to a simple FIB, we have a hierarchy of lies.
Crossword constructors play on this. They know that when you see "pull a fast one," your brain goes to a dark place of being wronged. It’s a strong emotional hook. And when you finally nail that eight-letter word that’s been eluding you for twenty minutes, the hit of dopamine is real.
Actionable Tips for Your Next Solve
- Check the count first. If it's 3 letters, write "CON" in light pencil.
- Verify the tense. Does the clue imply past, present, or future?
- Look for "rebus" signs. If "fast" or "one" doesn't fit, see if the puzzle has a hidden theme.
- Use a crossword solver only as a last resort. Sites like Wordplay or Crossword Tracker can give you the answer, but they won't teach you the "why" behind the constructor's choice.
- Build a mental bank of "crosswordese." Words like BILK, ETUI, and ALEE are the bread and butter of puzzles. BILK is a very common synonym for pulling a fast one in the crossword world, even if you never hear anyone say it in real life anymore.
Next time you see this clue, don't panic. Take a breath. Look at the vowels. Most "fast one" answers are heavy on O’s and U’s. Fill in those crossings and let the "trick" reveal itself.
Mastering the Grid
To get better at identifying these patterns, start keeping a small notebook of clues that tripped you up. You'll notice that the same 20-30 words circulate through the major puzzles. Once you recognize that "pull a fast one" is just code for CON, DUPE, or BILK, you'll slash your solving time in half. Focus on the Wednesday and Thursday puzzles to see the most creative uses of this specific clue, as that's where the wordplay truly shines.