Peat and Repeat and Repeat and Repeat and Repeat.
20-Across. Marshy source of organic fuel: PEAT BOG. In Europe, archeologist have often found mummified bodies in peat bogs.
22-Across. Attempt to hit: SWIPE AT.
31-Across. Budget-friendly fare: CHEAPE ATS.
41-Across. Slip by unnoticed: ESCAPE ATTENTION.
And the unifier:
52-Across. Rare championship sequences, or what can be found in this puzzle's circles: FOUR PEATS. One of the four Peats is not like the other Peats.
Here's the Grid:
This was a very name-heavy puzzle. It didn't bother me, but I know many people don't like seeing so many names in a puzzle. The names here covered several generations, so there is probably at least one name for everyone to recognize.
Across:
1. Open-handed hit: SLAP.
5. Saudi neighbor: OMANI.
10. Reasons to cry "April Fools!": GAGS. // And 18-Across. "April Fools!": GOT YA!
14. Bull, in Spanish: TORO. Today's Spanish lesson.
15. Former One Direction member Niall: HORAN. Niall James Horan (b. Sept. 13, 1993) is an Irish singer and musician. His band, One Direction, was apparently one of the best-selling boy bands. [Name # 1.]
16. Actor Morales: ESAI. We haven't seen Esai Manuel Morales Jr. (b. Oct. 1, 1962) in a while. He used to appear in the puzzles with alarming frequency. Maybe he has aged out of the current demographics. [Name # 2.]
17. Upper limbs: ARMS.
 |
| When Octopus arms become Upper Limbs. |
19. Epistles: Abbr.: LTRS. Today's Greek lesson. Epistles is a Greek word meaning Letters. Typically, when this word is used, it refers to a number of letters in the New Testament.
24. Touched down on a runway: LANDED. It's going to be a bumpy ride.
25. Come out: EMERGE.
26. "Middlemarch" novelist George: ELIOT. The given name of George Eliot (Nov. 22, 1819 ~ Dec. 22, 1880) was Mary Ann Evans. She was one of the leading writers of the Victorian era. In addition to Middlemarch, she wrote several other novels, including The Mill on the Floss and Silas Marner. She was well known and led a rather scandalous life. [Name # 3.]
27. Unfortunate: SAD.
30. Word before beauty or peace: INNER. As in Inner Beauty or Inner Peace.
34. __ tai: cocktail: MAI. Yummers!
37. Squeeze water from: WRING.
38. Show hosts, for short: MCs. As in the Master of Ceremonies.
46. Eighth Greek letter: THETA. It's all Greek to me.
47. "Science Guy" Bill: NYE. Bill Nye (né William Sanford Nye; b. Nov. 27, 1955) is a science "communicator." He is best known for being the host of the science education television show Bill Nye the Science Guy. His life has not been without controversy. [Name # 4.]
48. "Live at the Acropolis" musician: YANNI. Yanni (né Yiannis Chryssomallis; b. Sept. 14, 1954), is a Greek composer, hence the "Acropolis" in the clue. [Name # 5.]
49. Appear that way: SEEM SO.
51. Pass along, as an unwanted present: REGIFT.
56. Acid counterpart: BASE. Today's Chemistry lesson.
59. Auction warning: GOING.
60. Somewhat open: AJAR. When is a door not a door ...
64. Run in place: IDLE.
65. Opposite of double: HALVE. Today's Math lesson.
66. Zero, in tennis: LOVE. We've discussed the rational for Love meaning Zero in tennis in the past.
67. Planner pages: DAYS.
68. Long shots, in hoops lingo: TREYS. A reference to the game of basketball.
69. Black-__ Susan: EYED. How the flower got its name.
Down:
1. Paper clip alternative: STAPLE.
2. "Because you're worth it" cosmetics brand: L'OREAL. This tagline made its debut in the 1970s, although the company claims's it a mission and not a tagline.
3. Italian fashion house: ARMANI. The luxury fashion house was named after Giorgio Armani (July 11, 1934 ~ Sept. 4, 2025). [Name # 6.]
4. Scholar pursuing an advanced deg.: POST-DOC. As in Post Doctorate degree.
5. "Good Lord!": OH, G'D.
6. Big name in synthesizers: MOOG. The Moog Synthesizer was named after Robert Arthur Moog (May 23, 1934 ~ August. 21, 2005), who was an American electronics engineer and electronic music pioneer. In 1964, he founder the Moog synthesizer. [Name # 7.]
7. Museum display: ART. I recently visited the Detroit Institute of the Arts. It was an amazing museum.
8. Votes against: NAYS. Today is Election Day. Please exercise your rights and vote.
9. At a loss for words, perhaps: IN AWE.
10. Felt-tip alternatives: GEL PENS.
11. Toward the back of a boat: ASTERN.
 |
| Anatomy of a boat. |
12. Parking structure: GARAGE.
13. Sorority member: SISTER.
21. Word in many temple names: BETH. The word Beth is a transliteration of the Hebrew word בית, which, in Hebrew is pronounced more like Beit, or Bayet. The word means House. I used to attend a synagogue called Beth Shalom, which means House of Peace.
23. "You found the one and only": I'M IT.
27. Kitchen wrap brand: SARAN.
28. Unfortunate: A PITY.
29. Al __: pasta specification: DENTE. Today's Italian lesson. The phrase al dente means to the tooth.
32. Female sheep: EWE.
33. Mature: AGE.
34. Queens baseball players: METS.
35. Queens tennis stadium namesake: ASHE. Arthur Robert Ashe Jr. (July 10, 1943 ~ Feb. 6, 1993) was an American professional tennis player. He won three Grand Slam singles titles in singles and two in doubles, [Name # 8.]
36. Slushy drink: ICEE. They can come on lots of different flavors.
38. Pocket-size: MINI.
39. NCAA div.: CONF. LSU, which frequently appears in the puzzles, is in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and competes in NCAA Division I.
40. Irritable state: SNIT.
42. Some convenience store inconveniences: ATM FEES.
43. El __, Texas: PASO.
44. Russian denial: NYET. Today's Russian lesson. And NO, I won't tell you what it means.
45. Neighborhood event with good deals: TAG SALE.
50. "This __ to be good": OUGHT.
51. Rants and raves: RAGES.
53. Lion's sound: ROAR.
54. Mound that grows until laundry day: PILE.
55. "Inside Out 2" emotion voiced by Ayo Edebiri: ENVY. [Name # 9.] // And 61-Down. "Inside Out 2" emotion voiced by Amy Poehler: JOY. [Name # 10.] Both Aye Edebiri (née Funmilayo Edebiri; b. Oct. 3, 1995) and Amy Poehler (née Amy Meredith Poehler; b. Sept. 15, 1971) are American comedians and actresses.
56. Auction action: BID.
57. Tooth care org.: ADA. As in the American Dental Association.
58. __ as a fox: SLY.
62. "__ Maria": AVE.
63. Like Clifford of kid lit: RED.
חתולה
