Theme: Unfettered vocabulary.
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| Prometheus Unbound by Carl Bloch |
Crackerjack crossword constructor (and our competent copy editor) Patti Varol brings us a wealth of wonderful words, while her four grid-spanning theme answers are unfettered by any formal reveal. They are:
17-Across. Get-up-and-go that never goes: BOUNDLESS ENERGY.
25-Across. Therapy technique that encourages a thoughtful flow of ideas: FREE ASSOCIATION.
42-Across. School organizer with three rings: LOOSE LEAF BINDER.
55-Across. Righteous Brothers hit in the film "Ghost": UNCHAINED MELODY.
Was anyone unmoved by Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore, and Whoopi Goldberg in Ghost,
to the soundtrack of Unchained Melody by The Righteous Brothers?
In case you missed it, the four theme answers all begin with synonyms for "free."
And now, we are at liberty to review the rest.
Across:1. Table where Holy Communion is consecrated: ALTAR.
6. Play, as a guitar: STRUM.
11. Lifesaving skill, for short: CPR. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.
14. Yankees manager Aaron: BOONE. Aaron Boone is the manager of the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball. He previously played in MLB for 13 seasons from 1997 to 2009. He was a baseball analyst on ESPN from 2010 to 2017, and became the Yankees manager in 2018. He's led the team to the playoffs in seven of his eight seasons, and to the World Series in 2024.
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| Aaron Boone |
15. Make fun of: TEASE.
16. Scoffing laugh: HAH.
17. [Theme clue]
20. Crumb-carrying insect: ANT.
21. Toffee bar brand: HEATH.
22. Great Plains Natives: OTOES.
23. Quick look: PEEK.
24. Family nickname for some matriarchs: GRAN. (I tried GRAm at first, but it didn't work out.)
25. [Theme clue]
32. Sped: RACED.
33. Sound of relief: SIGH.
34. Forensic sci. specialty: CSI. Crime scene investigation (CSI) is a scientific discipline focused on the recognition, preservation, documentation, and collection of physical evidence at a crime scene.
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| Also a gripping TV series. |
35. Megastar: IDOL.
36. Tusked hogs: BOARS.
38. "Sounds like a __!": "Works for me!": PLAN.
39. "Hamilton" creator __-Manuel Miranda: LIN.
40. Corporal or private: RANK.
41. Feudal lord: LIEGE.
42. [Theme clue]
46. Extra helping: MORE.
47. Tenant's monthly payment: RENT.
48. App replaced by Microsoft Teams: SKYPE. In my home and office, we replaced Skype with Zoom. Guess it's time to join Teams.
50. __ the pot: causes trouble: STIRS.
52. Word before a maiden name: NÉE. French for "born." "Alicia Keys, née Cook" indicates the singer was born Alicia Cook. If you want to indicate a man's former name, the word is "né," for instance, "Nicolas Cage, né Coppola."
55. [Theme clue]
58. Feathery garland: BOA.
59. Comedy counterpart: DRAMA.
60. Otherworldly: EERIE.
61. Cello's sect.: STR. The cello's section in an orchestra is strings.
48. App replaced by Microsoft Teams: SKYPE. In my home and office, we replaced Skype with Zoom. Guess it's time to join Teams.
50. __ the pot: causes trouble: STIRS.
52. Word before a maiden name: NÉE. French for "born." "Alicia Keys, née Cook" indicates the singer was born Alicia Cook. If you want to indicate a man's former name, the word is "né," for instance, "Nicolas Cage, né Coppola."
55. [Theme clue]
58. Feathery garland: BOA.
59. Comedy counterpart: DRAMA.
60. Otherworldly: EERIE.
61. Cello's sect.: STR. The cello's section in an orchestra is strings.
62. Cloyingly sentimental: SAPPY.
63. Coins that can be screwdrivers in a pinch: DIMES. Dimes are handy because they are thin.
Down:
63. Coins that can be screwdrivers in a pinch: DIMES. Dimes are handy because they are thin.
Down:
1. "Dancing Queen" pop quartet: ABBA.
2. Canadian lake bird with a unique call: LOON. Loons make eerie calls, each with specific meanings.
Harry Collins makes exceptional videos of loons.
3. Promote loudly: TOUT.
4. __ Arbor, Michigan: ANN.
5. One with hair like Little Orphan Annie: REDHEAD. Only 1-2% of the global population has naturally red hair. It is most prevalent in Scotland and Ireland.
6. T-bones, e.g.: STEAKS.
7. Sample: TEST.
8. Foolishly impulsive: RASH.
9. "__ it or lose it!": USE.
10. Hanukkah centerpiece: MENORAH. A Hanukkah menorah is technically a hanukkiah. The word menorah means "lamp" in Hebrew and usually refers to the seven-branched candelabrum used in the ancient Temple in Jerusalem. A hanukkiah celebrates the miraculous rekindling of the menorah when the Maccabees overthrew their Greek oppressors and rededicated the Temple to the one God.
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| Count the branches! The menorah was described by God to Moses. The chanukiah is a later invention, specific to one holiday. |
11. Told the story of: CHRONICLED.
12. Beep on a beeper: PAGE.
13. Actor Matthew of Netflix's "The Beast in Me": RHYS. Matthew Rhys is a Welsh actor. He played Kevin Walker in Brothers & Sisters (2006-2011) and Philip Jennings in The Americans (2013-2018). He played the title role in Perry Mason (2020-2023). In 2025, he appeared as antagonist Nile Jarvis in The Beast in Me. Rhys currently plays the lead role in the comedy-horror series Widow's Bay (2026).
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| Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys Co-stars on screen and off. |
18. Wine sediment: LEES. Lees are the natural sediments -- dead yeast cells, grape skins, and seeds -- that settle at the bottom of a wine vat. Winemakers remove the heavy lees after fermentation, but sometimes leave fine lees in the vat, and even stir them up to maximize the release of beneficial compounds into the developing wine. This is common in French Muscadet Sèvre et Maine, Chardonnay, and Champagne. When "sur lie" appears on a wine label, it means the wine was aged "on the lees."
19. Coup d'__: ÉTAT. A coup d'état (French for "stroke of state") is a sudden seizure of power by a small group, such as military leaders or political elites.
23. Rind: PEEL.
24. Jobs for a band: GIGS.
25. Perk: FRILL.
26. "All Things Considered" medium: RADIO. All Things Considered, on National Public Radio since 1971, is the most listened-to, afternoon drive-time, news radio program in the country.
27. Option for travelers on a budget, perhaps: ECONOMY CAR. I wanted ECONOlodge. Had to get a few perps in there to FIR.
28. Japanese port city: OSAKA.
29. Geometric fig. with a radius: CIR. A geometric figure with a radius is a circle.
30. Missouri River tributary: OSAGE.
31. Bay Area NFLer: NINER. The San Francisco 49ers (Niners) are a professional NFL team.
36. Hay bundle: BALE.
37. __ and only: ONE.
38. Ice cream purchase: PINT.
40. Goes over again, as a contract: REREADS.
41. Type of oil extracted from flax: LINSEED. Edible linseed oil is a nutritious oil from flax seeds, rich in omega-3 fatty acids, but it must be cold-pressed and used cold as it spoils quickly. It should not be confused with boiled linseed oil used for wood finishes, which is treated with chemicals and is toxic.
31. Bay Area NFLer: NINER. The San Francisco 49ers (Niners) are a professional NFL team.
36. Hay bundle: BALE.
37. __ and only: ONE.
38. Ice cream purchase: PINT.
40. Goes over again, as a contract: REREADS.
41. Type of oil extracted from flax: LINSEED. Edible linseed oil is a nutritious oil from flax seeds, rich in omega-3 fatty acids, but it must be cold-pressed and used cold as it spoils quickly. It should not be confused with boiled linseed oil used for wood finishes, which is treated with chemicals and is toxic.
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| Linseed oil AKA flaxseed oil |
43. Former frosh: SOPH. Frosh is for freshman, a first year student. Soph is for sophomore, a second year student.
44. Start of many long weekends: FRIDAY.
45. Natural sandbank: BERM. Berms can be built for landscaping purposes, but are also naturally occuring raised ridges of sand or pebbles on a beach, formed by wave action at high tide marks.
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| Beach berm |
48. Long sandwiches: SUBS.
49. Nautical speed unit: KNOT.
50. Simple fastener: SNAP.
51. Fill-in worker: TEMP.
52. Convention: NORM.
53. Emmy winner Falco: EDIE. Edie Falco was amazing in her role as Carmela Soprano on the HBO series The Sopranos (1999-2007), and won three Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for that show. She won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for playing the title role in the Showtime series Nurse Jackie (2009-2015). She has lots of other TV, film, and Broadway credits. Impressive.
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| Edie Falco |
54. Potato buds: EYES.
56. 401(k) rollover target: IRA. A 401(k) is an employer-sponsored retirement account. An IRA (Individual Retirement Account) is an account you open yourself. When you leave an employer, you may wish to roll your 401(k) into an IRA under your own control. You can do the rollover without paying tax or early withdrawal penalties.
57. Tropical garland: LEI.
56. 401(k) rollover target: IRA. A 401(k) is an employer-sponsored retirement account. An IRA (Individual Retirement Account) is an account you open yourself. When you leave an employer, you may wish to roll your 401(k) into an IRA under your own control. You can do the rollover without paying tax or early withdrawal penalties.
57. Tropical garland: LEI.
Here's the grid:
Solvers:
Were there any answers today that you DNK (Did Not Know)? I DNK Matthew Rhys.
Did perps (perpendicular entries) help you fill them in?
Or did you FWH (Finish With Help) by turning on red letters, searching Google, or asking a friend?
Maybe your DW (Dear Wife) or DH (Dear Husband) helped.
Maybe you FIW (Finished It Wrong) or DNF (Did Not Finish).
I FIR (Finished It Right) and enjoyed it, but everyone wants to know how YOU did.
Please comment, even if it's just WEES (What Everyone Else Said).
-- NaomiZ
23 comments:
Quite easy,
notwithstanding the fact that the four themers were grid spanners. But a good Monday-level puzzle.
FIR, so I’m happy.
A very well crafted Monday puzzle. I did not recall the term LEES and smiled at the inclusion of LEIS in the puzzle. AARON BOONE is a third generation Major League Baseball player as well as a manager with RAY, his grandfather and BOB his father coming before him. This puzzle also supports my earlier comment that Patty is not getting enough good Monday submissions hence Katie Hale last week and this offering . The gridspanners were excellent.
Thank you Patty and Naomi for a nice start to the week
Good morning!
Hand up for GRAm. In the navy we were taught that officers have RANK, but enlisted personnel (as clued) have RAte. Despite those two hiccups, I zipped right through this one. My PC has no mic and no camera, so a video chat (SKYPE) is not an option. Thanx, Patti and NaomiZ.
FIR. For a Monday this was easier than most. I hadn't heard of the NPR radio show before, so I'm guessing it isn't that popular, but then again I can never remember anything about "Hamilton " since I've never seen it.
The theme was quite clever and I saw it after the second long answer. And I agree having all four as grid spanners is very remarkable.
Overall a very enjoyable puzzle.
Took 4:32 today to unburden myself.
I knew the Actress of the Day (Edie), but wasn't sure of the Actor of the Day (Rhys) despite having watched "The Beast in Me". Otherwise, uneventful puzzle.
Musings
-I wonder if editor Patti changed any of constructor Patti’s clues. :-)
-WORD ASSOCIATION gave way to FREE.
-Crossword solvers have to let go of some word associations when solving! During the school year, I am a long sandwich and a temp.
-Bill Medley did not sing at all on Unchained Melody. It was all Bobby Hatfield’s soaring voice but was it was billed as being done by The Righteous Brothers.
-Play golf this morning before the heat index nears 100? Sounds like a PLAN.
-Later today I am going to research why people with auburn hair call it red hair.
-Speed demon? Not I, it still took me 8 minutes.
All Things Considered is one of NPR’s major news sections, and I believe quite popular.
Finished in 20 minutes. Only problem was I had GRAM instead of GRAN which got fixed while doing the down clues.
😢 FIW. I had RaYS for the actor whom I DNK. Otherwise a great Monday puzzle. I enjoyed the theme of freedom, very few references to people I’m not familiar with, so no DRAMA.
Thank you NaomiZ. Great review. How clever of you to have discreetly reviewed common abbreviations for us. And thanks for the Ghost video. Now I can say I’ve seen the movie.
Husker, are you equating a temp with a hero? :)
Marvelous Monday. Thanks for the fun, Patti and NaomiZ.
I FIRed in “very good even for a Monday” time and saw the Free theme.
No inkblots either. What a great start to the week.
The unknown-to-me HEATH, BONE, RHYS perped easily. This Canadian has learned about your IRA long ago doing CWs.
I’ll take a CSO for LOONS. Their unique call evokes memories in every Muskoka cottager, and of course, they are well know for being on our dollar coin, Loonie.
A father arrived at one of our extended family picnics (on his dark-haired wife’s side) and commented, as his REDHEADed daughters ran off to play with young third or fourth cousins (nearly all REDHEADs) they had never met before, “well, now I know where the Red hair came from!” I think it’s the Irish ancestors.
Wishing you all a great day.
Whoops, that should be BOONE. (I would have known Pat).
This Canadian didn’t know that RADIO program either.
Nice Monday solve with the grid spanners not needing a reveal.
FREE ASSOCIATION which stemmed from Freudian psychoanalysis is not used much anymore and has been relegated along with the couch and the therapist sitting out of the patient's view at the top of the couch
My DH has built a BERM along one side of his gardens to prevent erosion down to our alley
I'm with you Naomi on being moved by "UNCHAINED MELODY" in the "Ghost" scene
Thanks for the blog and to Patti for the puzzle
Good Morning:
Patti showed her constructing chops with this impressive 4 grid spanners offering. Clever theme, well-executed, very clean grid, minimal pop culture, and definite Monday level of difficulty, that is to say, no difficulty at all and an enjoyable solve. A perfect Monday example, IMO.
Thanks, Patti, nice job and thanks, Naomi, for the excellent review and commentary. I think you could find a way to comment on a telephone book and make it interesting and informative. I liked Ghost but I’ve never gotten over Tony Goldwyn’s (Sam’s executioner) betrayal and think of it even now when I see him as the DA in Law and Order. Loved Whoopie , though, as Oda May Brown! Seeing Matthew Rhys was a coincidence as I just mentioned him yesterday re The Americans.
Good luck ☘️ to the Knicks tonight!
Test 1
Forgot to mention that I never saw The Sopranos, but I did see Nurse Jackie and thought Edie Falco was absolutely outstanding.
FIR without erasure. Mild guess at HAH x RHYS, but figured it wouldn’t be RrYS/HAr. Waited for gram/GRAN.
STIR the pot – Former radio blowhard Neil Boortz used to refer to people who did that as “an outboard in a cesspool.” (One who stirs up the s***.)
I’ve mentioned before that REDHEADs have always been my Kryptonite.
I’m not sure FRILL is good fill for perk (short for perquisite.) Some perks are, like assigned parking spots, but others, like profit sharing bonuses and access to the company jet, are hardly FRILLy. RHIP (rank has its privileges) would have been better fit.
For last week’s trip to Ocala I reserved an ECONOMY CAR. They gave me a Toyota Camry, which was my first experience with a hybrid car. Very nice and fun to drive. My only surprise was that even though the gas gauge read “full,” it was actually 1 ½ gallon lower than full. They kindly provided a top-off at $11 per gallon.
Thanks to Patti (2) for the fun, easy-ish start to the work week, and to NaomiZ for yet another fun tour.
Sure it's an option. Buy a $25 webcam with a built-in microphone, plug it in to a USB port, and you can SKYPE to my Lou whenever you want.
Patty cake, Patty cake...and put it in a puzzle for Naomi and me! This one was child's play, exactly what one would expect on a Monday.
It's funny how you don't see an actor, then suddenly he seems to be everywhere, like Matthew RHYS. I liked The Beast in Me and his currently role in the comedy-horror series Widow's Bay. I like horror; RightBrain doesn't. But she also enjoys his new show because the humor breaks the tension.
MsZ, thanks for your high quality review, as always!
Hola! Monday fun! Thanks to Patti and NaomiZ for that. I sashayed very quickly and found the FREE synonyms. Nice! I love seeing and hearing UNCHAINED MEOLODY. Ghost is one of my all-time favorite movies.
Have a great day, everyone!
Great Monday CW that I managed to FIR in 12. It took longer than it should because, living in SOFLO, "Bay area NFLer" had me thinking BUCS (Tampa Bay area) which slowed me down a bit. Also tried to enter DREG where LEES goes. 13 names, DNK 4, including RHYS.
Overall, very nice CW. I thought all berms were man-made: learning moment.
4 gridspanners: amazing! Constructor and editor PV, thanx. Well done.
Thanx too to NaomiZ for the terrific write-up.
Off to see my new DDS this afternoon. My guy retired and sold his practice to a DDS that wanted to do a full set of X-rays every time I went there. ADA recommendations: full set of X-rays upon entering the practice, then no routine X-rays, not even "bites", unless there is a problem. So I left that DDS. It's not that I fear the X-rays, it's that I don't like being used as a piggy-bank. X-rays are a billable service. That's why dentists always want to do X-rays: to make money. No thanx. The new guy follows ADA recommendations.
Oh, meant to mention I also slowed myself down by filling LUNE instead of LOON (DOH!!) and ending up with a W/O.
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