“Polite rejection at a dance ... or a hint to each half of the answers to the starred clues” crossword clue

Reveal the answer to see why it works and where this clue has appeared before.IMTAKEN is the answer to the New York Times crossword clue “Polite rejection at a dance ... or a hint to each half of the answers to the starred clues”. It was last seen in the puzzle of September 8, 2025, where it runs at 39 Across and fills 7 squares. It crosses 7 other entries in that grid — those are listed below and are the quickest way to confirm the letters you already have.