“With 87-Down, idiom about wasting one's efforts … as seen in four columns in this puzzle?” crossword clue

Reveal the answer to see why it works and where this clue has appeared before.PEARLSBEFORE is the answer to the New York Times crossword clue “With 87-Down, idiom about wasting one's efforts … as seen in four columns in this puzzle?”. It was last seen in the puzzle of November 30, 2025, where it runs at 16 Down and fills 12 squares. It crosses 12 other entries in that grid — those are listed below and are the quickest way to confirm the letters you already have.