Good Morning, Cruciverbalists. Malodorous Manatee here with the recap of a Friday puzzle by Matthew Luter. Matthew has his own website: Matthew Luter Crosswords .
Let's start right off with the reveal:
60 Across: Suffer disgrace, or what the starred clues must do as a set to match their answers?: LOSE FACE.
This solver had to ponder things for a while until the "gimmick" reared its not-so-ugly head. It turned out to be quite straight forward. We are asked to drop (LOSE) parts of the FACE from the following clues and to then use what remains as the hint. All of the answers to the starred clues are comprised of two words:
17 Across: *Evil eyes: SUPER BAD.
24 Across: *Stuffy nose: STRAIT LACED.
36 Across: *Smart mouth: WELL DRESSED.
50 Across: *Double chin: MIRROR IMAGE.
This is how it all looks in the grid:
Here are the other clues and answers:
Across:
1. Billiard table accessory: RACK.
 |
| Nice |
5. Natl. Pizza Mo.: OCT. Isn't every month?
8. Stay behind: SHADOW. FOLLOW would have fit the space and the OW would have worked but sent the solver off on a tangent.
14. Sultanate on the Arabian peninsula: OMAN. A frequent destination in our puzzles.
15. Massage: RUB.
16. Ford model named for a city: TORINO.
19. Less prosperous: POORER.
20. "Whenever you're done talking ... ": I'LL WAIT.
21. Word with cat or power: NAP.
20. "Whenever you're done talking ... ": I'LL WAIT.
21. Word with cat or power: NAP.
22. Course for intl. students: ESL. Abbreviated clue . . . English as a Second Language
23. Driving aid: TEE. A golfing reference.
27. Story that might be dark and creepy: ATTIC. Not a ghost story. The uppermost level of your house.
29. Unrefined resource: ORE. What did the Wicked Witch of the West say when she extracted metal from ORE? I’m smelting! I’m smelting!
30. Pays to play: ANTES. Amounts often paid up front in puzzles.
31. Closest pals: FAM. Not sure if FAM-ily equates to pals. Perhaps, slang-ily.
33. Channel that often airs films in letterbox format: TCM.
35. HS proficiency test: GED.
39. Cleveland pro: CAV. An National Basketball Association reference. Abbreviated clue . . .
39. Cleveland pro: CAV. An National Basketball Association reference. Abbreviated clue . . .
40. Sketch on a dust jacket: BIO. Not a work of art. A brief description (sketch) of the author's life.
41. Semisolid hair product: GEL.
42. Render unreadable, in a way: SHRED.
44. Grasped: GOT.
46. Yogurt-based dip: RAITA. Yogurt, cucumber, onion, herbs, spices.
53. Flash __: MOB. A relatively recent phenomenon.
54. __ whim: ON A.
55. After expenses: NET.
56. Party bites: CANAPES.
58. Ride for a few days: RENTAL. Hand up for first trying LOANER.
61. __ planning: ESTATE.
62. Electric guitarist's need: AMP.
63. Mathematician Turing: ALAN. A frequent visitor. ALAN Turing
64. Insect's legs, e.g.: SESTET. By definition.
65. "As I __ saying ... ": WAS.
66. Riveted: RAPT. Not as in Rosie The Riveter.
Down:
1. Guitar-playing "Sesame Street" Muppet: ROSITA.
2. Protective talisman: AMULET.
3. Coated pill: CAPLET.
4. "Who __?": KNEW. We did.
5. Go around: ORBIT. Scientists recently spent 24 hours observing the moon ORBIT around earth. Then they got bored and called it a day.
6. Dos y dos: CUATRO. Today's arithmetic lesson en espaƱol.
7. Short "We'll announce this later": TBD. To Be Determined.
8. Parade VIP: ST. PAT. Abbreviated . . .
9. Brouhaha: HOOPLA.
10. Person who prefers platonic relationships, for short: ARO. From AROmantic. An ARO person may never develop a crush on a person, or envision themselves entering a romantic relationship with someone.
11. Led: DIRECTED.
12. Bracket favorite: ONE SEED. A sports reference.
13. Best of both __: WORLDS.
18. Mischievous type: RASCAL. A dog comes limping into the old west saloon. The bartender asks if he can help the dog with anything. The dog says, "I'm lookin' for the low down RASCAL who shot my paw."
21. Female kin: NIECE.
25. School space that's full of drawers: ART ROOM. Not drawers as in your kitchen or bathroom - or drawers as underwear. Used here literally. People who draw pictures,.
26. Actress Bassett: ANGELA. One T is the hound.
28. "In the event that ... ": IF EVER.
32. Org. with a summer All-Star break: MLB.
34. Umami source, briefly: MSG. Umami is the fifth basic taste (bitter, sweet, salt, sour, umami). It is a complex and savory flavor that comes from glutamate-rich foods like cheese, seaweed, and mushrooms (or added MonSodium Glutamate).
36. Calls for: WARRANTS. As in this WARRANTS a closer look.
37. Numeral: DIGIT. Choose any number between 2 and 8. Multiply by 4, and then add 3. Now reverse the DIGITS and close your eyes. Dark, wasn’t it?
38. Pleasantly calm: SERENE.
39. One official language of the U.N.: CHINESE.
42. Gooey sandwiches: S'MORES.
39. One official language of the U.N.: CHINESE.
42. Gooey sandwiches: S'MORES.
43. Act charitably: DONATE.
45. Seattle's airport-sharing neighbor: TACOMA.
47. Chevy model named for an animal: IMPALA.
48. Steel part of a work boot: TOE CAP.
49. __-minded: ABSENT.
51. Sublease: RE-LET.
52. Shocked sounds: GASPS. A Tibetan monk was preparing his morning toast when he saw, in the margarine, the face of Jesus. He GASPED and said, "I can't believe it's not Buddha."
57. Nowhere near: AFAR. Whence the three kings traveled.
59. Ink spot?: TAT. ... and a good excuse for a song.
59. Ink spot?: TAT. ... and a good excuse for a song.
60. Grisham's field: LAW.
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10 comments:
I soldiered through this, not having any idea what the gimmick was, at least until the reveal. Then, it all made sense. I wouldn’t say this was the easiest puzzle in the world; not by a long shot. But, eventually, I got it. FIR, so I’m happy.
Well, there was a lot I didn’t know at first glance so I have to give major credit to the perps which got me a FIR in 17:59. Never did grasp the theme till MM explained it, STRAIT faced made sense, but face didn’t fit the other phrases š¤·♂️. And I thought STRAIT was missing a G so I LIU, it can be either. Drawers in a kitchen and drawers in an art room I would pronounce differently. DNK what a talisman is but I see a synonym for AMULET is “phylactery”, looks like a word we’d see in a Katie Hale puzzle. Had to change Santa to ST PAT. I’m glad I’m not ARO, sounds very boring. Thank you Matthew for the morning enjoyment.
MM ~ thanks for explaining it all in your fine review. I liked the vid of the printer feeding the SHREDder. The “ABSENT Minded Professor” movies were quite hilarious, who remembers Flubber?
Good morning!
"Whoosh," said the theme as it flew over d-o's head. Couldn't figure out which month is abbreviated using a Q -- "Oh, it's CUATRO," said Spanish-challenged d-o. D'oh. Also noticed the misspelling of GNU. This was definitely a Friday-worthy challenge. Thanx, Matthew and Mal-Man. (Loved "I'm smelting!")
FIR, but cautro->CUATRO. I can mispel in Spanish! DESATAR!
Most people don't listen, they just WAIT for the other to stop talking so they can speak. Root cause of a lot of our problems.
Closest pals = FAM? You sure about that Jethro?
IMO, TBA means "we know, we're just not telling yet." TBD means "we haven't nailed down all the (crossword favorite) deets yet."
Knee Deep in the HOOPLA was a huge commercial success for Starship, which meant, of course, that the critics and band members had to pan the song.
Around here, many of the local pizza joints have big sales on pi day, March 14.
Thanks to Matthew for the fun, easy-for-Friday puzzle, and to our MalMan for the fun review. BTW - I first heard the "shot my paw" joke listening to a Dodgers game on the radio. Vin Scully was trying to be entertaining in a game that was a runaway for the Dodgers, and told a version on the air. BTW, why do hillbillies know that the Three Wise Men smelled like smoke? 'Cause they came from a far.
Friday puzzle. Really enjoyed today’s challenge…many write overs, be damned. Follow/shadow, travel/rental put me in big corner jams. All in all better than most TGIFs.
Greet the day.
Took 9:10 today for me to be all ears.
Like SubG, the theme evaded me fora while. Like YooperPhil, I wanted to spell "Straight" not "strait". Like D-O, I originally had quatro, thus, I am a bilingual misspeller like Jinx.
I knew today's actress (Angela).
Enjoyable puzzle.
Another runaway baseball game story form Vinny (short version:) Dale Evans and Roy Rogers were out camping, and when they woke up, they found that the cowboy boots that Roy had just bought had been gnawed. Roy said "looks like a mountain lion got 'em," and put them on anyway. Dale said "I'll be right back," and rode away on Buttermilk. In a little while, Dale returns, throws the carcass of a mountain lion at Roy's feet, and said (here Vinny breaks out in song) "pardon me Roy, is that the cat that chewed your new shoes."
I got (grasped) the gimmick after the reveal, but I doubted I was correct. Meh!
The NW corner slowed me down. Superbad never occurred to me. I hadn't seen or heard of it, but now I see that it's commonly used as slang.
I had attic but wondered about it. Oh, that kind of story! Duh! But the attics I have seen are not creepy, except in books and movies. They all had lights.
FAM, another clue from textspeak.
"The slang term "fam" is short for "family" and is used to refer to a close friend or group of friends. It's often used in text messages, social media posts, and other online communication. "
I often use TBA for TBD. After I determine the info, I will announce it.
I remember the funny Absent Minded Professor and Flubber.
Fine review, MM.
Spoiler alert - If you play today's King Features Crossword by Eugene Sheffer, 22D "Indian yogurt dish" is RAITA.
TITT, although for a Friday, kind of enjoyed it (except for the theme). Actually finished everything except the NW, where I essentially struck out. It didn't help that I completely missed "sultanate" and was stuck on EMIR.
Anyway:
Moe: "I am an artiste!"
Larry: "I am an artiste too!
Curly: "Oh, a pair of drawers!"
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