I do like a challenge, but today's NYT crossword seems impossible to solve because you only have one clue to solve two separate clues. This is another merged clue.

"With Six-Across, 'Let me begin by saying …'" is one of the clues from the NYT's August 15 Mini Crossword puzzle, and it goes with six-across, "See one across." If you're stuck, you've come to the right place because I've provided the answers to both clues below.

The answer to the clue "With 6-Across, 'Let me begin by saying…'" is "FIRST," and the answer to six-Across, "see one over," is "OF ALL." First of all is an idiom that many people use to mean before doing something else. In that situation, you could also use "firstly" (which would have been a much nicer answer if seven-letter words would work well).

I would give this clue a five out of five; out of all the crossword clues, my least favorite are the two-for-one clues, where you have to answer one clue to solve the other. It's especially frustrating because if you can't solve the first clue, the second clue is impossible unless you finish all the other crossword answers. Even then, you have to guess what the two clues are based on the limited letters given. They can be very tricky.