Shifty? Do they mean us?

The fill-in-the-blank clue at 40-Across in The New York Times crossword puzzle on Sunday caught the attention of several Reuters people past and present.

The Times crossword is syndicated to more than 300 newspapers and journals. Beginning on a Monday, the crosswords become increasingly more difficult as the week progresses. The Sunday crossword, larger than others during the week, is believed to be about the most difficult.

“Shifty Business” was the theme of Sunday’s crossword. ■