Theme: Field day.
Caroline Hand has published crossword puzzles in several major newspapers over the last couple of years. You might say she is having quite a field day! Today she treats us to a field day as well, with four echoing theme clues, and no reveal. The theme clues and answers, symmetrically placed in rows Across, are:
20. Field: GRASSY PASTURE. A straightforward type of field.
27. Field: LINCOLN ACTRESS. Sally Field played Mary Todd Lincoln in the 2012 Spielberg film.
43. Field: CATCH A GROUNDER. Scoop up a baseball that is rolling on the ground and return it to play.
51. Field: BRANCH OF STUDY. Discipline, area, specialty, subject, domain.
Having fielded these clues, it's time to dig into the rest of them.
Across:1. Oodles and oodles (of): GOBS.
5. Language of poet Nima Yooshij: FARSI. Nima Yooshij (1895 - 1960) is considered the father of modern Persian poetry.
 |
| Nima Yooshij |
10. Future esq.'s exam: LSAT. Law School Admission Test.
14. Share a border: ABUT.
15. Sweet sandwiches: OREOS.
16. Empire centered at Cuzco: INCA.
17. iPhone speaker: SIRI.
18. Marner of fiction: SILAS. Silas Marner is a novel published in 1861 by English author George Eliot, pen name of Mary Ann Evans. The main character is a humble weaver who suffers various misfortunes, but whose life is given new meaning when he adopts a little orphan girl. The novel impressed me a lot when I was a young girl given to reading Victorian novels.
19. Extol the good points of: TOUT.
20. [Theme clue]
23. Cooling syst. meas.: BTU. British Thermal Unit is a measure of heat.
25. Jockey (for): VIE.
26. Rite place: ALTAR.
27. [Theme clue]
32. Furnish with funds: ENDOW.
33. Tortilla dough: MASA. Masa is dough made from corn that has been soaked in limewater, washed, and hulled. The dried corn is ground up and reconstituted with water to make dough for tortillas.
34. "The Banana Boat Song" opener: DAY-O. Harry Belafonte and others adapted this Jamaican song about dock workers loading bananas onto ships at night and looking forward to daylight when they could go home.
Day-o, day-o
Daylight come and me wan' go home ...
Work all night on a drink of rum
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Stack banana till de morning come
Daylight come and me wan' go home
35. Marinade of vinegar and spices: ADOBO. Adobo is an indigenous Filipino cooking process in which meat, seafood, or vegetables are browned in oil, and then marinated and simmered in vinegar, salt or soy sauce, and garlic. Spanish or Mexcian adobo is a red chili sauce. The two types of adobo take their names from the Spanish adobar, to marinate.
37. Tracy Marrow's stage name: ICE T. We've seen Ice T here a few times recently. He looks tough, but is apparently grid-friendly.
 |
| Ice T |
41. Words of clarification: AS IN.
42. Flip out: GO APE.
43. [Theme clue]
48. Like some seals: EARED. True seals, like harbor seals, have no external ear flaps. Eared seals like sea lions and fur seals do have external ear flaps. But all seals have ear openings.
49. Sharing word: OUR.
50. Cozy burrow: DEN.
51. [Theme clue]
56. Microsoft's web browser: EDGE.
57. Contact, in a way: EMAIL.
58. Spa supplies: OILS.
61. Barrel of laughs: RIOT.
62. Pasta often served alla vodka: PENNE. Penne (a tube shaped pasta) is served with a sauce of heavy cream, tomatoes, and a splash of vodka.
 |
| penne alla vodka |
63. Simple fastener: SNAP.
64. Weight units for whales: TONS.
65. Emotional state: ANGST.
66. Like some batters: EGGY.
Down:
1. Fun time: GAS.
2. Kimono sash: OBI.
 |
| A woman wearing a kimono with an obi at her waist. |
3. Dry red wine: BURGUNDY.
4. __ the pot: STIR.
5. Accessory brand known for watches: FOSSIL. When youngest daughter was in high school, she longed for a nice watch. I pictured something dainty, but she chose something like this:
6. No longer in bed: ARISEN.
7. Lean (on): RELY.
8. Stuff available in bars: SOAP.
9. Rae of "American Fiction": ISSA. I remember her from her HBO show, Insecure. And from crossword puzzles.
7. Lean (on): RELY.
8. Stuff available in bars: SOAP.
9. Rae of "American Fiction": ISSA. I remember her from her HBO show, Insecure. And from crossword puzzles.
10. Younger, as a sibling: LITTLE. No matter how old you get, your little sister is your little sister.
11. Rooting parts: SNOUTS.
12. Legends, for example: ACURAS. Honda introduced its luxury car brand, Acura, with the Legend sedan in 1985. It was manufactured through 1995.
13. Home run, in baseball slang: TATER. Perhaps from hitting a ball over the fence into the potato fields, back in the day.
21. Declare without shame: AVOW.
22. Indie pop duo Tegan and __: SARA. CanadianEh!, do you know these Canadian twin sisters?
 |
| Tegan and Sara |
23. Came out in the wash?: BLED.
24. Jukebox musical whose second act begins with "Private Dancer": TINA. A jukebox musical is a stage musical or musical film in which most of the songs are well-known popular songs, rather than original music composed for the musical. Tina: The Tina Turner Musical depicts her life from humble beginnings to rock 'n roll superstar. It's been on stages around the world since 2018.
28. Baby's noise: COO.
29. In the middle of: AMONG.
30. Hailed ride: CAB.
31. "The Search for General __": food documentary: TSO. I learned from puzzles about the Chinese American dish called General Tso's chicken.
35. Hosiery shade: ASH. This vintage package says the color is Ash. I guess I'd call it taupe.
36. Domingo, por ejemplo: DIA. Sunday, for example: Day. (Spanish.)
37. Physicist's particle: ION.
38. Summer gig for an aspiring golfer, perhaps: CADDYING.
39. Foil kin: ÉPÉE. Types of swords used in fencing.
40. Beach bird: TERN.
41. Current options: AC/DC.
42. Buddhist teacher: GURU.
43. Elliptical workout, e.g., informally: CARDIO. Cardiovascular exercise elevates your heart rate. An elliptical machine allows you to achieve that while being gentle on your joints.
44. Old kingdom of Spain: ARAGON.
45. Core convictions: TENETS.
46. Prepares to bow: ROSINS. Violin rosin is made from pine resins. A violinist applies rosin to his bow -- or "rosins" the bow -- to create friction between the bow hair and the strings, and thereby create sound.
 |
| NaomiZ on cello, big brother and little sister on violin, 1966 |
47. Retail store: OUTLET.
48. Longtime "At the Movies" co-host: EBERT.
52. Filter letters: HEPA.
53. Prophetic sign: OMEN.
54. Venom source: FANG.
55. Capful, perhaps: DOSE.
59. Trail behind: LAG.
60. Figure in a covert op: SPY.
48. Longtime "At the Movies" co-host: EBERT.
52. Filter letters: HEPA.
53. Prophetic sign: OMEN.
54. Venom source: FANG.
55. Capful, perhaps: DOSE.
59. Trail behind: LAG.
60. Figure in a covert op: SPY.
Here's the grid:
Solvers, did you have a field day with Caroline's puzzle?
Was it a GAS? Or did it cause you ANGST?
I am on the EDGE of my seat waiting to know.
-- NaomiZ
22 comments:
I didn’t know what
“Lincoln actress” meant until I came on this site. Other than that, I didn’t have too much trouble with this puzzle of varied meanings of a single word. FIR, so I’m happy.
Good morning!
Didn't know that Caroline is an old hand at cw creation. Wasn't familiar with FOSSIL, and briefly tried AVALON, but the perps set me straight. Nicely done, Caroline and NaomiZ. (Do you still play the cello? I remember when Hermione Gingold did her cello shtick on TV back in the day.)
FIW, missing with LINgOLN ACTRESS x gOO. Shoulda, coulda. Hand up for not remembering the movie, but I knew i must be Sally Field. I
got EARED without benefit of perp, so I got that goin' for me. Which is nice. (Fitting to pay homage to CADDYshack today. You probably know that every line delivered by Bill Murray's Carl Spackler was unscripted.)
I think I linked to The Banna Boat Song last week. Harry's finest achievement, IMO.
I'm just a country boy, but is there any type of PASTURE other than a GRASSY one? Kinda seems like making an appointment with the "tooth dentist."
Is bow a verb when it refers to a musical instrument? Easy fill, but why not prepare a bow instead of prepare to bow? Seems a little too cute to me, for no real purpose, not even much of a misdirection.
Baseball has many terms besides TATER for a home run. "Homer" (of course,) "dinger," "four-bagger," "big fly," "moon shot," "went yard," and probably ones I don't remember from the days before my divorce from MLB.
Thanks to Caroline for the fun Thursday challenge. My favorite was the clue for ACURAS. And thanks to NaomiZ for another fun narrative, and FLN the interesting information on God's name. (Makes me wonder if it should even be capitalized.)
Good Morning:
I always enjoy this type of theme because discovering the various definitions of a single word, from the author’s viewpoint, is fun and rewarding, IMO. The cluing and fill were pretty straightforward, with Fossil and Sara, as clued, being the only unknowns. Therefore, the solve was on the easy side for a Thursday.
Thanks, Caroline, and thanks, Naomi, for the informative review and striking photos, especially the musical family trio. That cello is almost as big as you!
Have a great day.
FIR. I had to take a WAG at the crossing of adobo and dia, and it took a while for me to remember Sara and Tegan, but beyond that this was fairly easy for a Thursday.
I got the theme early on and that helped some. Very clever at that.
Overall an enjoyable puzzle.
Musings
-I would probably not be a good candidate to name the founder of modern Persian poetty
-SARA bailed out MAS_
-Every teacher for whom I sub appreciates that they gets a detailed EMAIL that day summarizing the day’s events
-My “LITTLE” sister turned 70 this week
-There was a General TSO but he had no connection whatsoever to this dish
-John Denver’s Country Boy “pulled out his fiddle and ROSINED up the bow”
-Pastures are not grassy at all when we are in the throes of a drought
-I too simply filled in LINCOLN ACTRESS before Naomi enlightened me as to what that meant
Hola! I had GOBS of fun with Caroline's puzzle! Though it was easier than most Thursdays, the enjoyment made up for it. And, of course, I am always pleased with a bit of Spanish, so ADOBO/DIA made my day!
It was interesting to see ISSA at the Golden Globes last year as I had no idea what she looked like but knew her only from crosswords.
Sally Field was superb in LINCOLN as she always is in any role, IMO.
Though I filled CATCHA GROUNDER, it was a mystery to me.
Thank you, NaomiZ, for your insightful HAND in this puzzle! Have a great day, everyone!
My LITTLE sister turned 74 this year!
Shame on me, I guess, for not knowing the father of Persian poetry. Other than that early stumble, the puzzle filled in quickly, and was an enjoyable exercise.
Terrific Thursday. Thanks for the fun, Caroline and NaomiZ (great family musical photo).
I completed this CW in good time, saw the Fields (even Sally), but came here to discover that my Spanish was lacking. I should have used a “Call a Friend” to ask Lucina! I WAGged an R in the cross of DIA and ADOBO. (I needed perps for the M in MASA also.)
But this Canadian did know SARA and Tegan. We have seen them in CWs before.
Even after watching all the World Series games with our Toronto Blue Jays, I don’t remember hearing a Homer called a TATER. We did have Springer Dingers.
I started with TONS at 1A, but needed it for 64A. I changed it to Lots before GOBS finally perped.
Aver vs. AVOW always requires perps to decide.
I learned OBI in my early CW days. EPEE also.
Canada ABUTs USA. But the ANGST has never been higher.
I smiled at the misdirections like “bow”, “rooting” (I have spider plants rooting without NOSES), “Legends”, “current”.
Wishing you all a great day.
Took 6:42 today to get this puzzle in my field of view.
I knew the Actresses of the Day (Issa, and well, Field).
I didn't know Sara, and found that section unsightly (masa on adobo, intersecting dia, with Tso & Sara in there too). I imagine someone once called a HR a "tater."
HG: My Wordl streak came crashing to a halt today. No excuses, just dumb guesses on my part.
Have to Hand it to Carol a fairly fair Thursday challenge
As perJinx “Prepare a bow” ….is playing a violin considered “bowing”? Usually “bowing” is reserved till the end of the performance
Canadian twin sisters Tegan and SARA, Best known for their song “Everything is Awsome”
Never heard of a home run TATER 🥔
Henry VIII first wife Catherine of ARAGON’s Dad Ferdinand sponsored Columbus’s voyage to “India”
Always get fooled by “Legends” as an ACURA model. This old fossil had a FOSSIL watch once. Now I’m just spied on by my I phone watch
OBI : Good to see you old CW friend!
“Silas Marner”‘standard reading assignment back in HS days
“Anchor Man The Legend of Ron BURGUNDY ”
Not familiar with the slang, "tater," (or sports in general.) and google is kind of vague. But one definition that stood out for me was that a "tater" was supposed to be a low hit home run, as opposed to a high fly, etc...
(I dunno, but it makes sense to me...)
Hope no one got lost on this field trip...
The LINCOLN ACTRESS who is usually a Norma, not ISSA, RAE, was 100% perps. Not being a movie watcher, the Spielberg film was unknown. I had to make changes in the NW & NE, and still ended with a FIW. Changed LOTS to GOBS and LAUD to TOUT. TATER was all perps-unknown.
Where I messed up was the cross of two unknowns, ADOBO and DIA. I filled RIA and AROBO. Never heard of Tegan and SARA. TSO and FARSI were guesses.
I've played golf on over 50 courses and not one of them had CADDIES. That requires big money; join some exclusive club, pay dues, pay green fees, and somebody to haul your clubs. I couldn't afford it and if I could I wouldn't.
I bought DW an ACURA Legend back in 1989, It was a good car but the leather seats started getting cracks after 5 years.
BURGUNDY street in the French Quarter is pronounced 'bur-GUN-dee'.
Terpsichore is pronounced ' terps-i-core.
Calliope is pronounced 'CAL-e-ope'
Take a guess on 'Tchoupitoulas'.
Your comment about a "tooth dentist" reminds me of what I think when I see "attorney at law". Is there another kind of attorney? Can you be an "attorney at plumbing"?
FIW on the AROBO/RIA cross, didn't know the Persian guy, never heard a Homer called a TATER, and didn't know Ice Ts name, but WAGs and perps got the rest done. Made big money in the early '60's caddying at the local country club. $2.50 for nine holes, $5.00 for 18, plus tips. 3 to 4 loops on a summer day, all cash and no taxes. (Well, it WAS big money for 15 year old me!) NaomiZ, I enjoyed the recap.
I love this CW, even though it has 13 names, and I DNK 6 of those. I know ICET, but didn't know what his real name is. There are lots of clever misdirection clues, notably 48A, 8D, 11D and 12D. Like C-Eh @ 9:33, I started badly with TONS and LOTS before GOBS showed up. Still, managed to FIR in 12 minutes which is excellent time for me for a Thursday. Easiest CW of the week, and that is NOT a complaint. Thanx CH for this fun, witty CW. Thanx too to NaomiZ for the brilliant write-up. The Fossil wristwatch reminded me: I always wonder why anyone would want a Rolex. I use my iPhone for the time. If I wanted a wristwatch, I would wear a Timex. Wear a Rolex you might as well hang a sign on your back that says "Rob me". And it doesn't keep time better than any other wristwatch. (Done with the rant).
Hi Jinx! Yes, "bow" is a verb with regard to stringed instruments.
Re: God, I think the capitalization reflects our western cultural preference for the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, whom we also take to be the God of Christians and Muslims. This as opposed to other cultures who recognize multiple gods. Zeus, Poseidon, Hera, Aphrodite et al. are examples of gods to whom we assign the lower case, and of course there are current examples like Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.
UncleFred gave me a good laugh today with his "attorney at plumbing."
Well, as soon as I saw OREO, this morning's puzzle made me happy, until I remembered we had no OREOS in the house. Maybe I'd just best go out into a GRASSY PASTURE to relax (if we had one), or take a CAB to buy a DOSE of some tasty OIL to pour over some PENNE (if we had some). Well, what I should really do is to buy something to munch on when I'm doing E-MAIL, like I'm doing right now. I'll try to keep that in mind.
Have a sunny, delightful day, everybody.
My plumber charges the same as an attorney. Grrr
GOBS is the rarest of 4LW equivalent to lots, tons, alot etc. Sneaky way for Caroline to start!
Naomi, I love your puzzle titles. Field Day is perfect! Regarding your string section, did your parents ever consider adding a double bass player? LOL
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