Sunday November 1, 2026, 2026 Doug Peterson

Theme: "READ THAT BACK TO ME" - Each clue needs to be read backwards. 

23. Bonk?: DOOR HANDLE. Knob. 

34. Laced?: WINDOW STICKER. Decal. 

44. Pacer?: POSTGAME REPORT. Recap. 

65. Drab?: MEDIEVAL POET. Bard.

74. Ergo?: FANTASY BEAST. Ogre.

93. Gulp?: BATHTUB STOPPER. Plug.

102. Mined?: JEANS MATERIAL. Denim. 

121. Rebut?: FLESHY ROOT. Tuber. 

 
I just learned that this type of word is called a "semordnilap," which is "palindromes" spelled backward.

There are plenty of other semordnilaps, like EVIL/LIVE and GOLF/FLOG. The challenge is finding solid in-the-language phrases.

 Across:

1. Low voice: BASSO.

6. Out of fizz: FLAT.

10. Zoning measure: ACRE.

14. Expressed disdain: TSKED.

19. Room that often has a slanted ceiling: ATTIC.

20. Undoer of Othello: IAGO. He has more lines than Othello in "Othello".

21. Son of Noah: SHEM. Semite derives from Shem through the biblical genealogy. The other two sons were Ham and Japheth.

22. Absolut rival: STOLI. Originated in the Soviet Union. Absolut is a Swedish brand. 

25. Considerate: KIND.

26. March 14 observance: PI DAY.

27. Classic record label: EMI.

28. Repetitive sonata movement: RONDO.

29. Trojan hero in a Virgil epic: AENEAS. He deserted Dido.

31. London art gallery: TATE.

32. Performer honored with a Billboard Icon Award in 2017: CHER. Do you believe in life after love? 

37. One of Pittsburgh's Three Rivers: OHIO. The other two are the Allegheny and Monongahela.

39. Inked body art: TAT.

42. Monopoly token that replaced the iron: CAT.

43. Corned beef __: HASH.

49. "Jingle Bells" transport: SLEIGH.

53. South Pacific island group: SAMOA.

54. Picked out, in a way: ID'ED.

55. Los Angeles Philharmonic, e.g.: ORCHESTRA.

57. "My turn": I'M NEXT.

59. Sorceress whose aunt is the sorceress Circe: MEDEA. She helped Jason in his search for the Golden Fleece.

61. Exploits: USES.

62. Invalidated: NULLED.

68. __-Wan Kenobi: OBI.

69. Cheer syllable: RAH.

71. Sticky pine product: RESIN.

72. Padmé's beloved: ANI. Anakin Skywalker is often called "Ani" by Padmé.

73. JFK predecessor: DDE.

77. Precisely correct: DEAD ON.

79. Egyptian cross: ANKH.

80. __ Hall: MONTY.

81. Princess introduced in season four of "The Crown," familiarly: LADY DI.

84. "So much for that plan": I GUESS NOT.

87. Norway home of the Munch Museum: OSLO.

88. Wreck: TRASH.

92. Carpentry tool: RIPSAW.

97. Shortly, shortly: ASAP.

99. She/__ pronouns: HER.

100. Consumed: ATE. Have you tried pumpkin bars before? 

101. Goes (for): OPTS.

108. Once-sacred snakes: ASPS. Sacred to the Ancient Egyptians.

110. Within: AMID.

111. Schoolbook: PRIMER.

112. Shelter org.: ASPCA.

115. Poetic contraction: TIS.

118. Move like a crab: SIDLE.

120. "Voulez-Vous" pop group: ABBA.

123. Nondairy spreads: OLEOS. Short for oleomargarine, a name derived partly from Latin oleum ("oil").

124. Food plan: DIET.

125. Pet aisle brand: IAMS.

126. Maker of iComfort mattresses: SERTA.

127. Cozy spots: NESTS.

128. Hearing things: EARS.

129. Doofus: TWIT.

130. Endless expanse: OCEAN.

Down:

1. Commanded, quaintly: BADE.

2. Particle with an electron cloud: ATOM.

3. Philosophy stressing self-control: STOICISM. The most famous Stoic philosophers are Marcus Aurelius and Seneca. 

4. Title for Idris Elba: SIR.

5. Earthy colour: OCHRE.

6. Literary Huckleberry: FINN.

7. Cheryl of "Charlie's Angels": LADD.

8. Radiant: AGLOW.

9. Digit covered by a sock: TOE.

10. Sent an invitation for: ASKED TO.

11. Khaki-colored cloth: CHINO. The name comes from Spanish for "Chinese," referring to the fabric's association with China.

12. Extend, in a way: RENEW.

13. Punctuation mark that may signal an abrupt change: EM DASH. I was going to text you—but then I changed my mind.

14. Minced garlic amt.: TSP.

15. Repairs with thread, as a torn pocket: STITCHES UP.

16. Classic camera brand: KODAK.

17. Make merry: ELATE.

18. One who may watch how-to videos online, for short: DIYER.

24. Vital artery: AORTA.

29. Take __: rest up: A NAP.

30. Save for later: STASH.

33. Deep conditioning choice for hair: HOT OIL. Not going to put oil in my hair. 

35. Coffee specification: ICED.

36. __ of Wight: ISLE.

37. Short missions?: OPS. Operations.

38. Residential community org.: HOA.

40. Dijon companion: AMIE. The city Dijon. 

41. Lecture series spinoff: TEDX.

45. Giant fire-breathing turtle in Japanese monster films: GAMERA. Godzilla's giant turtle rival.

46. Pt. of IRA: RET.

47. The Burghers of Calais sculptor: RODIN. 

48. Plant with a trunk: TREE.

50. "Hmm, strange": IT'S ODD.

51. "Star Wars" bounty hunter shot by Han Solo: GREEDO. Learning moment for me.

52. Hotfoot it: HASTEN.

56. Spanish wine similar to Champagne: CAVA.

58. "Keep this private" docs: NDAS.

59. Stylike: MESSY.

60. Make a long story short?: EDIT.

62. "You cheated!": NO FAIR.

63. Congo River tributary: UBANGI.

64. Connect (with): LINK UP.

65. Veal or venison: MEAT.

66. "Toy Story" boy: ANDY.

67. Wasn't honest with: LIED TO.

70. Church song: HYMN.

71. Fashion designer Oscar de la __: RENTA.

75. Baseball movie with the line "You're killing me, Smalls!": THE SANDLOT. I need to watch this movie someday. 

76. __ tube: BOOB.

78. Prepare a movie snack, perhaps: AIR-POP.

81. Baton Rouge sch.: LSU.

82. Actress and entrepreneur Jessica: ALBA.

83. "__ thou love me?": Juliet: DOST.

85. Attitude: SASS.

86. __ Thing: green DC Comics superhero: SWAMP.

87. Other, in Oaxaca: OTRA.

89. Place to buy games: APP STORE.

90. Matching group: SET.

91. Time sheet abbr.: HRS.

94. Menacing messages: THREATS.

95. Beneficiary: HEIR.

96. Do some school work?: TEACH. Real school work.

98. Show off: PARADE.

102. "Matlock" actor Ritter: JASON.

103. "Ratatouille" rat: EMILE.

104. West Wing staffers: AIDES.

105. Leg bone: TIBIA.

106. Live coal: EMBER.

107. Former TV drama set in SoCal: LA LAW.

109. Final word: SAY SO.

113. Sweet start?: SEMI. Semi-sweet.

114. Soft "Hey, you!": PSST.

116. Tiny bit: IOTA.

117. Big fan, in slang: STAN.

119. Curvy shape: ESS.

121. In shape: FIT.

122. Button for making a voice note, briefly: REC.

C.C.,

Saturday, September 12, 2026, Doug Peterson

 Saturday Themeless by Doug Peterson

Doug's puzzle provided a real challenge and the NW corner was my "last stand". I crossed the finish line unscathed once I sussed JACKETS for Book keepers which unlocked that corner. 

Most of Doug's puzzles I have blogged have been collaborations but his solo job here provided me with a lot of, uh, fun. I'll tell you about my travails as we plow through the puzzle. 

Across:

1. Some park visitors: CAMPERS - These CAMPERS had a surprise visitor. 

8. Book keepers: JACKETS - Since the clue was two separate words, I knew it wasn't about accounting.

15. Concierge's handout: AREA MAP.

16. Tragic character in the title of a 2025 Taylor Swift chart-topper: OPHELIA - Jeffrey Wechsler would be so proud! Taylor sang of a Shakespearean woman who was undone by grief and betrayal. How Taylor's new husband rescued her from Ophelia's fate.

17. Act sassy: GET CUTE.

18. Item under a weizen glass: BEER MAT ¯\_(ツ)_/¯  BEER MAT is another name for a coaster and a weiznen glass has a narrower base and curves upward.

Prost!

19. Lowood attendee of literature: EYRE.

20. Brand with a paw in its logo: IAMS.

22. Celtic __: CROSS.

23. Animated bouncer: ROO.

24. Celebrity chef Cat: CORA ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ - Cat is capitalized.

25. Jet setting: SKY. 😀

26. Building worker: SUPER - Pat Harrington Jr. played the building SUPER on TV's One Day At A Time

28. Bipedal cryptid: YETI.

30. Entree often garnished with lime: PHO.

33. Hall of Fame wrestler who was a commentator for the first eight Wrestlemanias: GORILLA MONSOON.

37. Western wear with a clasp: BOLO TIE.

38. California city where "American Graffiti" was set: MODESTO - Producer George Lucas wanted to use his hometown of MODESTO to film the movie but felt it had changed too much since he lived there. Most of the scenes were shot in Petaluma, CA.

39. Freebie with an airline snack box: MOIST TOWELETTE.

41. Collections of letters: Abbr.: WDS 😀

42. Itsy: EENY.

43. Con's decoy: SHILL - One SHILL could be a false bidder in the audience used to drive up the price

45. Students who may take 14-Down: SRS and 14. Pre-coll. exams: SATS.

46. Hose problem: LEAK.

49. Menu eponym: TSO.

50. Look a lot like: MIMIC.

53. Ground substance: MEAL - Corn grain in and corn MEAL out.

54. Nibble away: GNAW.

55. Song heard at Rogers Centre: O CANADA - I am blogging this as I am watching the KC Royals play Toronto in The Rogers Centre

 

57. Leave: TIME OFF - Noun not a verb

59. Lego line that includes a 587-piece Eevee set: POKEMON - This Lego's line of toys includes this

60. Soda alternative: ICED TEA.

61. Traps under a blanket?: SNOWS IN 😀

62. Least chill: TENSEST.

Down:

1. Hoopsters: CAGERS - NBAERS didn't make the cut

2. "Need anything?": ARE YOU GOOD?

3. Comic book city nicknamed "The Big Apricot": METROPOLIS - Since NYC was the Big Apple, DC Comics decided on this name for METROPOLIS

4. Show impatience: PACE.

5. Shaggy outback runner: EMU.

6. Secant, for one: RATIO - This math major nailed it 

7. Valkyrie's weapon: SPEAR.

8. Capers: JOBS - I wonder if Bonnie and Clyde ever used the word capers?

9. Dr. Zaius, for one: APE ¯\_(ツ)_/¯  He even has his own doll

10. Conventioneer's first stop: CHECK-IN DESK.

11. Washington who played a Pope: KERRY - I watched KERRY Washington play the lead character Olivia Pope on this ABC series.

12. Red Halloween costume for toddlers: ELMO.

13. Rosario relations: TIAS - Rosario is in Argentina and is known as the birthplace of soccer great Lionel Messi. Sr. Messi might have some TIAS (aunts) in his hometown.

21. Rudolph of "Loot": MAYA - A very funny alum of SNL

24. Motion-activated trail monitors: CRITTER CAMS - Smile!

25. Counter position: STOOL - The counter and STOOLS at Lou's Cafe in Back To The Future 

27. Lovers' deity: EROS.

29. Supermodel born Melissa Miller: EMME - The first plus size super model

30. Tacky square: POST IT NOTE. 😀

31. Passport holders, perhaps: HOTEL SAFES.

32. "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" vocalist: ONO.

34. Miller offerings: LITES.

35. Spanish city or province: LEON - If you look closely, you can see the city of LEON in the NW province of Castille-Leon

36. Brother of Cain: SETH - What ever happened to Cain's other brother?

37. Company with a museum in Munich: BMW.

40. "The Pitt" star: WYLE.

44. Cottage cheese option: LOW FAT.

45. Tendon: SINEW.

47. 1984 "Weird Al" Yankovic hit: EAT IT - A parody of Michael Jackson's Beat It

How come you're always such a fussy young man?

Don't want no Captain Crunch, don't want no Raisin Bran

Well, don't you know that other kids are starving in Japan?

So, eat it, just eat it

48. __ + Olivia: clothing brand: ALICE ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

50. Unruly dos: MOPS.

51. Billboard __ Award: ICON - Neil Diamond was the initial recipient 

52. Chum of "Finding Nemo," for one: MAKO.

53. Grammy winner Aimee: MANN.

54. Pre-coll. exams: GEDS - Four years after getting their GED, 50% of recipients go to college.

56. "Heck yeah!": DOI.

58. Chaps: MEN.