Friday, November 7, 2025 - Joseph A. Gangi

 Theme:  You tell me!

Puzzling Thoughts:  

As a crossword puzzle solver for umpteen years, and a blogger here for 5+ years, I have probably seen just about every kind of theme used.  Wordplay; add/subtract a letter; circled letters; rebus; you name it.  Today's had circles.  I can just imagine an anonymous solver, jumping for joy! [not]

After seeing how the circled letters in today's puzzle spelled out the words TIME, DANGER, and DROP (all words that can precede the word "zone") I thought, well, what else is there?  How does it interact with the reveal?  

First, the reveal:  56-across. Focused and feeling unstoppable, or an apt description of the answers to the starred clues: IN THE ZONE.  

The website [crossidiomas dot com] defines "in the zone" as: 

"Being “in the zone” is a term that describes a mental state where an individual is fully immersed in their task or activity. It’s a feeling of being completely present and engaged with what they are doing, without any distractions or interruptions. When someone is in this state, they may feel like time has slowed down or even stopped altogether"

"The benefits of being “in the zone” are numerous. For athletes, it can mean improved performance and better results. For workers, it can lead to increased productivity and better quality work. Creatives may find that they produce their best work when they are in this state of mind"

So now, we unfold the entries:

17-across. *Comments: TIRE MARKS.  Simply, when the circled letters TI are separated, the word "remarks" remains and defines the clue (comments) 

19-across. *Seasonal malady: FLUME.  Simply, when the other circled letter ME are separated, the word "flu" remains and defines the clue (seasonal malady).  When you read across the grid, the words "remarks" and "flu" are "within" the time zone

26-across. *Kinda-sorta: DANISH.  Remove the circled DAN from ISH you have "kinda-sorta" (ish) 

29-across. *Blacken on the grill: CHARGER.  Remove the circled GER and you have "char" which is term for blacken on the grill.  This spanner reveals "ish" and char" in the danger zone

42-across. *Mimic's talent: DRAPERY.  When I finally figured the theme out, the last two entries were easy to fill - "apery" supports the clue (mimic's talent) and 44-across. *American Girl buy: DOLLOP. "Doll" supports the clue (American Girl buy), and "apery" "doll" are in the drop zone

Interestingly, in the last pair, the word dollop is a "kinda-sorta" synonym for the word drop but that is the only entry word that even comes close to supporting the circled word in its zone.  I was looking for more.  It would have been way more cool if the words left within each "zone" supported the words time, danger, and drop

I dunno.  Not a puzzle that I feel is Friday-worthy, nor a puzzle that gave me much of an "aha" moment.  I think the constructor had an interesting theme/reveal but it was the "getting there" that left me nonplussed.  Sorry, Joseph if you read this.  Your "T-Square" puzzle from last December was much more enjoyable for me

Here is the grid and then the rest of the clues: 

The Grid

Across:

1. __ committee: AD HOC.  Moe-ku:

        The committee met

        To discuss making bean soup.

        Decided, AD HOC [sic]

6. Soak (up), as gravy: SOP. 

9. 34-Across lines: ROADS.  (34-across. GPS display): MAP.

  

Old school GPS

14. Statement of beliefs: CREDO.  Rhymes with Play-doh

15. Homer's tee: TAU.  Did anyone think about a Simpsons character playing golf?  I did!  Tau is the Greek letter for T; Homer is the Greek dude who is recognized for writing the Iliad and Odyssey. Or did he?  Open this link to find out 

16. Top monk: ABBOT.  As opposed to the top Monk, which would be Tony Shalhoub

[theme entry]

[theme entry]

20. Resort destination: SPA.

21. Attend without an invitation: CRASH.  Some of them are professionals ... 

22. Sacred object: TOTEM.  Moe-ku:

        Tribe chief wants to know

        If sacred object's revered.

        Took a TOTEM poll

23. Full of frills: LACY.  One of the more sophomoric movies that I've seen countless number of times had a character who was Judge Smails' niece; her name was Lacey 

24. "Ain't it the truth!": AMEN.  Listen carefully; this is a very short video clip

[theme entry]

[theme entry]

32. Happening: EVENT.

33. Plaintiffs: SUERS.  Moe-ku:

        Best plaintiffs work for

        Sanitation Department;

        Well-versed with SUERS [sic]

[see above]

36. Zero, for Aryna Sabalenka: LOVE.  Tennis term for this lady

37. Bug __: SPRAY. JUICE also fits

38. Lion locks: MANE.  

39. Fib: LIE.

40. Archaeologist's find: SHARD.  Also known as "sherd"

41. Adjoining hotel rooms: SUITE.  The same word has a musical meaning; here is a rendition of a song that contains this word in the title - CSN could still rock it as senior citizens (2012 concert) even without hitting all of the high notes

[theme entry]

[theme entry]

45. Theme park attraction: RIDE. Moe-ku:

        Theme park's admission

        Cost was huge. I felt I was

        Taken for a RIDE

      

46. The "S" of NSFW: SAFE.  The full acronym unveiled is: Not SAFE (Suitable) For Work.  It's become an internet slang term to indicate that an email, e.g., may contain sexually explicit text and/or photos.  But unbeknownst to some, it was also the name of a 2014 movie thriller

47. Home of Himeji Castle: JAPAN.  Google it 

50. Mocking tribute: ROAST.  The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts were pretty risqué for TV back in those days (note, you might have to rewind it to the start) ... here is a 4 minute clip starring Foster Brooks

52. "Shame on you!": TSK.  

55. Only coastal city in Jordan: AQABA.  Despite using a word with a Q in it (as well as a J, K, W, Y, and Z) Joseph ended up being an X short of having a pangram

[reveal / theme]

58. Staff writing: MUSIC.  Prose fits, too, if you use a different meaning of the word staff

59. Overalls component: BIB.  

60. "In your dreams!": NO WAY.  [spoiler] there's a clecho at 28-down

61. Pancake quantity: BATCH.  I tried STACK and it really screwed up that section of the grid

62. Place for pigs: STY.

63. "Hello" and "Bye Bye Bye": SONGS. Moe-ku (with an extra line thrown in for good measure):

        Justin Timberlake
        Lost his first golf match after
        A Tournament pass.
        Was a "BYE, BYE” BYE 

Down:
1. Does something: ACTS.  

2. Faucet annoyance: DRIP.  Moe-ku:

        An erstwhile actress 

        Came on set with runny nose;

        Cast scorned Fawcett's DRIP

3. Goddess whose symbol is a peacock: HERA.

 

 

4. Poem of praise: ODE.  Moe-ku:

        Gave myself some props.

        Wrote haiku about nothing,

        Called it ODE to Moe

5. Company whose symbol is a peacock: COMCAST.  Part of the NBC family

6. Many a shelter animal: STRAY.

7. Hardy trees: OAKS.  I guess some might have chosen ELMS

8. Press on: PUSH AHEAD. Only the second use of this clue/answer as I discovered when I searched Crossword Tracker.  And BTW, the certification for CrosswordTracker dot com has not been renewed, apparently, and I got all kinds of warnings about visiting their site.  Hence, I am not linking it today

9. Roof supports: RAFTERS.  TRUSSES also fits

10. Like plum tomatoes: OBLONG.  The clue could have said like Roma tomatoes, too

11. Be up against: ABUT.  "CRUNCH TIME" was not an option for this clue ... today

12. Top of many an indoor stadium: DOME.  ROOF fits, as well.  I am guessing the difference between them is that a dome is a permanent fixture; a roof can be retractable 

State Farm Stadium - home to the AZ Cardinals

13. Acronym on some educational toys: STEM.  If anyone wants to know which educational toys are, click this link

18. __ supports: ARCH.  Moe-ku:

        Social nerd erred twice;

        Put his foot in his mouth while

        Wearing ARCH supports

23. Security checkpoint formation: LINE.  

This is why I have Global Entry and Pre-Check

25. Steenburgen of "Parenthood": MARY.  Then and now photo

26. "Hi-ho, the derry-o" setting: DELL.  Or, as this version says, "hey-ho, the derry-o" ... if you watch it the lyrics "Farmer in the DELL" are sung just at the beginning of the song; nowhere else

27. Bypass: AVOID.  
 
28. "In your dreams!": NEVER.  "WHEN PIGS FLY" did not fit; that said:

29. B-baller Steph: CURRY.  Not sure why the abbreviation in the adjective (b-baller).  Is it because his full name is actually Wardell Stephen Curry II and he prefers to go by Steph?  

30. Common accumulation during vacation: E-MAIL.  Snail mail, too, accumulates for us when we disappear for a few weeks or longer.  Speaking of e-mail, does anyone else suffer from getting more email messages, even after you've unsubscribed from certain ones?

31. Cost: RAN TO.  I don't use this phrase often, so I looked it to confirm it was two words, not one

33. Pork slab on the grill: SPARERIBS.  Moe-ku: [warning: this has some religious context]

        When Adam and Eve

        Planned to have kids, who was it

        That gave their SPARE RIBS?

35. Small sound: PEEP.  Moe-l'ick: 

        Easter baskets were out, in plain view.
        We peeked in because that's what we do.
        Removed marshmallow treat
        As the one thing we’d eat.
        If we’re caught? Not one PEEP out of you!

37. Garden structure: SHED.  Are we over the "she shed" craze yet?

This one looks pretty posh

38. Moscow __: ginger beer drink: MULE.  Another ginger beer drink that I prefer is called a Dark 'n' Stormy

40. la Florentine green: SPINACH.  Fun fact: Spinach is one of my key ingredients when I make breakfast burritos for Ms. Margaret and me

Maybe I use spinach in the recipe because this cartoon character was one of my childhood heroes.  I dare you to watch the video and not continue to hum the song all day. 🤣 "I fights to the finish 'cause I eats me spinach, I'm Popeye the Sailor Man!"

41. Makes less harsh: SOFTENS.  

43. Language spoken in 55-Across: ARABIC.  In Aqaba, remember??

44. 100-meter race, e.g.: DASH.  Technically, any race up to 400-meters in considered a dash (or SPRINT - which was too long to work).  This guy set a world-record 9.58 seconds, and during the final third of the race he was clocked at running 27.1 miles per hour! 

46. Didn't help: SAT BY.  Not Ms. Margaret; she proof-reads my blog each time for grammatical and spelling errrors [note, she missed this one 😂]

47. Door __: JAMB.  Moe-ku:

        Ray Manzarek's band's

        Greatest hits are played at Lowe's:

        Called: Doors JAMB sessions

             
48. Sea blue: AQUA.  This color 

49. Days of yore: PAST.  As opposed to a clue that read: "Days of Eeyore", in which the answer would be cloudy

51. "Right away, boss!": ON IT.  

Good old Ron Burgundy

52. 34-Across dot: TOWN.  I'm guessing that if you didn't get 34-across right away you'd have some fill issues

53. Minor setback: SNAG.  Did anyone find any snags in today's puzzle?  As I said in the intro, my major nit was not having entry words that matched the zones

54. A minor and A major: KEYS.  Musical term; as opposed to UrsA Minor and UrsA Major which are constellations

UrsA Major

57. Where the wild things are: ZOO.  WOODS didn't fit but it did inspire another Moe-ku:

        To attract more guests

        ZOO adds a wild golf course de-

        signed by Tiger Woods

Please comment below if you'd like ...