Theme: Automatic replies
When I'm going to be out of the office, I set my work email to send automatic replies to anyone who sends email to me, assuring them that I will return on a given date and attend to their needs. In today's puzzle, four well known characters craft automatic replies that let you know they're up to their usual behaviors. The theme clues and answers are:
18-Across. Automatic email reply from Glinda?: GONE FOR GOOD. If Glinda, the good witch from The Wizard of Oz, is gone, she must be up to something good.
28-Across. Automatic email reply from Lightning McQueen?: OFF TO THE RACES. If Lightning McQueen, the anthropomorphic stock car from the Disney/Pixar Cars movies, is off, it must be to the races.
45-Across. Automatic email reply from Pigpen?: LEFT IN THE DUST. If Pigpen has left, you can expect to find this character from Peanuts in a cloud of dust.
60-Across. Automatic email reply from the Tasmanian Devil?: OUT FOR A SPIN. If Warner Bros.' Tasmanian Devil is out, you'll likely find him spinning like a tornado.
Across:
1. Place: PUT. You might place, or put, dishes on the table.
4. Nearly match: RIVAL. "A photographer whose fame rivaled that of his subjects."
9. Impressive deeds: FEATS.
14. "Or so": ISH. Let's meet for lunch noonish.
15. Savory food quality: UMAMI. The tasty je ne sais quoi triggered by glutamate, inosinate, and guanylate.
16. Aptly named cooler brand: IGLOO.
17. Leaves in hot water: TEA.
18. [Theme clue]
20. __ and crafts: ARTS.
22. Rejects: NIXES.
23. Bear necessities?: DENS.
24. Wraps found in Delhi: SARIS.
26. Weep: CRY.
28. [Theme clue]
33. Water nymph of Greek myth: NAIAD. Not to be confused with Dryads (tree nymphs), Oreads (mountain nymphs) and other specialized nymphs. They are all female nature spirits.
4. Nearly match: RIVAL. "A photographer whose fame rivaled that of his subjects."
9. Impressive deeds: FEATS.
14. "Or so": ISH. Let's meet for lunch noonish.
15. Savory food quality: UMAMI. The tasty je ne sais quoi triggered by glutamate, inosinate, and guanylate.
16. Aptly named cooler brand: IGLOO.
17. Leaves in hot water: TEA.
18. [Theme clue]
20. __ and crafts: ARTS.
22. Rejects: NIXES.
23. Bear necessities?: DENS.
24. Wraps found in Delhi: SARIS.
26. Weep: CRY.
28. [Theme clue]
33. Water nymph of Greek myth: NAIAD. Not to be confused with Dryads (tree nymphs), Oreads (mountain nymphs) and other specialized nymphs. They are all female nature spirits.
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| Hylas and the Nymphs by John William Waterhouse |
34. Spiritual glow: AURA.
35. Buddy: PAL.
38. Itty-bitty: TINY.
39. Detests: HATES.
41. Many a Marvel character: HERO.
42. "Let You Love Me" singer Rita: ORA. If you've been solving LA Times crossword puzzles, you know Rita Ora, at least by name.
43. Had on: WORE.
44. Sources of dates: PALMS. Date palms are native to the Middle East and North Africa. They need an arid climate with plenty of water at their roots. A few species were transplanted to the Palm Springs area, where the fruit is popular with tourists, especially in the form of date shakes. Yum!
35. Buddy: PAL.
38. Itty-bitty: TINY.
39. Detests: HATES.
41. Many a Marvel character: HERO.
42. "Let You Love Me" singer Rita: ORA. If you've been solving LA Times crossword puzzles, you know Rita Ora, at least by name.
43. Had on: WORE.
44. Sources of dates: PALMS. Date palms are native to the Middle East and North Africa. They need an arid climate with plenty of water at their roots. A few species were transplanted to the Palm Springs area, where the fruit is popular with tourists, especially in the form of date shakes. Yum!
45. [Theme clue]
49. Sound of a lightbulb turning on?: AHA.
50. Become edible: RIPEN.
51. Go at it: SPAR.
54. "In case you didn't hear me ... ": I SAID.
57. Slant: SKEW.
60. [Theme clue]
63. Decorate at a bakery: ICE.
64. Essential at a bakery: FLOUR.
65. Dazzled: SHONE.
66. Org. with up to 23 Senators: NHL. The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa and competing in the National Hockey League. An NHL team roster has a maximum of 23 players, but only 20 players are allowed to dress for each game. All of this being news to me, of course.
67. McIntosh or Macintosh: APPLE. McIntosh is a fruit: Macintosh is a computer. The first is an apple; the second is an Apple.
68. __ fund: HEDGE. A hedge fund is a pooled investment fund that holds liquid assets and that makes use of complex trading and risk management techniques to improve investment performance and insulate returns from market risk. In the U.S., only institutions and high net worth individuals are allowed to invest in hedge funds due to the risks involved.
51. Go at it: SPAR.
54. "In case you didn't hear me ... ": I SAID.
57. Slant: SKEW.
60. [Theme clue]
63. Decorate at a bakery: ICE.
64. Essential at a bakery: FLOUR.
65. Dazzled: SHONE.
66. Org. with up to 23 Senators: NHL. The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa and competing in the National Hockey League. An NHL team roster has a maximum of 23 players, but only 20 players are allowed to dress for each game. All of this being news to me, of course.
67. McIntosh or Macintosh: APPLE. McIntosh is a fruit: Macintosh is a computer. The first is an apple; the second is an Apple.
68. __ fund: HEDGE. A hedge fund is a pooled investment fund that holds liquid assets and that makes use of complex trading and risk management techniques to improve investment performance and insulate returns from market risk. In the U.S., only institutions and high net worth individuals are allowed to invest in hedge funds due to the risks involved.
69. 41-Down, e.g.: GOD.
Down:
1. Wrap found in a deli: PITA.
2. App customer: USER.
3. "End of discussion": THAT'S FINAL.
4. Prayer __: RUG. Muslims use a prayer rug for cleanliness during the various positions of Islamic prayer. These involve prostration and sitting on the ground. Orthodox Christians and Baháʼís may also use prayer rugs.
5. "Consider this done!": I'M ON IT.
6. Disappear: VANISH.
7. MC alternative: AMEX. MasterCard vs. American Express. The crossing of AMEX with NIXES was a sticking point for me, especially because I did not recognize MC as an abbreviation for MasterCard.
8. Word with partner or lesson: LIFE.
9. Christmas purchase: FIR. This is a tree, not what cruciverbalists write in our comments section when they Finish It Right.
10. Easter purchase: EGG DYE.
11. Soothing ingredient: ALOE.
12. Bluey, for one: TOON. Bluey is an Australian animated television series aimed at preschool children, available for streaming on Disney+. Both the main character and the series can be called a TOON, short for cartoon.
13. Lays down turf: SODS.
19. Honors given to Walt Disney a record 26 times: OSCARS.
21. Kebab with peanut sauce: SATAY. Satay is a Southeast Asian dish of skewered and grilled meat, marinated in a blend of spices and served with a peanut dipping sauce. DH and I enjoy soy "chicken" satay from LA Vegan.
25. Divining __: ROD.
27. Co. that purchased Victor in 1929: RCA.
28. Not fooled by: ONTO.
29. Unbiased: FAIR.
30. Downed: EATEN.
31. Regret: RUE.
32. Cave man's hobby?: SPELUNKING. Loved this clue and answer. Spelunking is the exploration of caves, especially as a hobby.
19. Honors given to Walt Disney a record 26 times: OSCARS.
21. Kebab with peanut sauce: SATAY. Satay is a Southeast Asian dish of skewered and grilled meat, marinated in a blend of spices and served with a peanut dipping sauce. DH and I enjoy soy "chicken" satay from LA Vegan.
25. Divining __: ROD.
27. Co. that purchased Victor in 1929: RCA.
28. Not fooled by: ONTO.
29. Unbiased: FAIR.
30. Downed: EATEN.
31. Regret: RUE.
32. Cave man's hobby?: SPELUNKING. Loved this clue and answer. Spelunking is the exploration of caves, especially as a hobby.
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| I took this photo in the caves of Nerja during my recent trip to Spain. |
36. Cuttlefish's octet: ARMS. Cuttlefish are marine molluscs in the class Cephalopoda which also includes squid, octopuses, and nautiluses. We saw cuttlefish on restaurant menus in Spain.
37. Missing: LOST.
39. Windbag's output: HOT AIR.
40. Cards, to NFL fans: ARI. The Arizona Cardinals are a professional football team based in Phoenix, ARIzona. The "Cards" compete in the National Football League.
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| My mom took this photo of a real Arizona Cardinal in her garden north of Phoenix. |
41. Brother of Zeus and Poseidon: HADES. Greek gods.
43. Status of remote employees, for short: WFH. Work From Home.
44. Pizzazz: PEP.
46. Sharp scolding: EARFUL.
43. Status of remote employees, for short: WFH. Work From Home.
44. Pizzazz: PEP.
46. Sharp scolding: EARFUL.
47. Three-footer?: TRIPOD. One of my best friends adopted a tripod dog.
48. Concealing: HIDING.
51. Nap location: SOFA.
52. Orange juice option: PULP.
53. Perched on: ATOP.
55. Accessory in a homecoming court: SASH.
56. Arthur __ Courage Award: ASHE. The Arthur Ashe Courage Award, presented by ESPN, is named for tennis player Arthur Ashe. The award is presented annually to individuals whose contributions "transcend sports."
58. Bounce off the walls, say: ECHO.
59. Fuse using heat: WELD.
61. NorCal neighbor: ORE. Northern California abuts Oregon.
62. Formerly known as: NÉE. French for "born," feminine. My NÉE name is a couple of names behind me.
Here's the grid:
Let us know what you thought about the puzzle in the comments.
-- NaomiZ
