Good morning, Cruciverbalists. Malodorous Manatee here with a recap of today's puzzle by Michael Torch. The theme of the puzzle is based on the placement of words within four of the responses. In those places, Michael has taken common expressions that include the word BEFORE and omitted the word BEFORE thereby allowing the order of of the words to speak for itself. He has "literally" placed certain words before (in front of) others. Let's take a look at the first example:
17 Across: Give unappreciated gifts, literally: CAST PEARLS SWINE.
The expression is, of course, "cast pearls before swine" and it has come to mean to not present a thing of value to those who will fail to understand or appreciate it. Here, our constructor has physically CAST (placed) the word PEARLS in front of (before) the word SWINE. As a result we can read the answer as CAST PEARLS (BEFORE) SWINE. Michael has, literally, cast pearls before swine.
Here is how the gimmick is applied at the other themed clues and answers.
25. Pre-chaos moment, literally: THE CALM (BEFORE) THE STORM. In the answer, THE CALM, literally, comes before THE STORM.
43. 48 hours ago, literally: THE DAY (BEFORE) YESTERDAY. You get the idea.
57. Overconfidence is dangerous, literally: PRIDE COMES (BEFORE) A FALL. Cometh, goeth, who's quibbling!?
Here is the completed grid:
.... and here are the rest of the clues and answers:
Across:
1. Radio format: TALK. Hand up for first thinking AM FM. TALK radio as opposed, say, to Top 40 radio or All News radio.
5. Johnny Chase's nickname on "Entourage": DRAMA. Unknown to this solver. Thanks, perps.
10. Hunk: SLAB. Not as in Adonis. A hunk, for example, of meat or concrete.
14. Land east of the Urals: ASIA. I sometimes wonder whether we would consider Europe and Asia to be separate continents if the map makers who had the greatest influence were not, themselves, European.
15. Scout's task, briefly: RECON. Not a reference involving Tonto's horse. RECONnaisance.
16. Choice: A-ONE. Used as an adjective.
20. Unsubscribe, with "out": OPT. Why did the Maharishi Yogi OPT out of Novocaine during his root canal? Because he wanted to transcend dental medication.
21. Boot: EXPEL. Not a shoe reference. Perhaps a shoo reference.
22. Took the top prize for: WON AT.
23. Drink suffix: ADE. As in lemonade. Or Gatorade.
24. Emmy nominee Lucy: LIU. A frequent visitor.
34. "Boléro" composer: RAVEL.
24. Emmy nominee Lucy: LIU. A frequent visitor.
34. "Boléro" composer: RAVEL.
35. Fields: AREAS. As in AREAS of expertise. Not as in comedienne Totie.
36. Highlands refusal: NAE. Scottish. "No more Glenmorangie for me, thanks" would not fit in the allowable space.
37. Cupid counterpart: EROS.
38. Snide remarks: SNARK. An answer that did not end with an S.
39. Orchid garlands: LEIS. An answer that did end with an S.
40. Set as a price: ASK.
41. Cozy inn, informally: B AND B. Bed AND Breakfast.
42. Modest hits?: BUNTS. Not a musical or theatrical reference. A baseball reference.
46. Scrubs ctrs.: ORS. Medica personnel wear scrubs in Operating RoomS. With the leading cap it could be a reference to the TV show.
47. Consumed: ATE.
48. Enjoy every bite of: SAVOR.
51. Leading the league: FIRST. A possible baseball reference.
54. Place for a mud bath: SPA. STYE was too long.
60. Middle East capital: RIAL. Capital in the financial sense.
61. Trim: PRUNE. What did the gum trees say after I PRUNEd them? Eu-clipped-us!
62. Alien conveyances: UFOS.
63. Bulldog's home: YALE.
64. Turn off: REPEL. What did the male magnet say to the female magnet? He said : When I saw your backside I was repelled....However, after seeing you from the front, I now find you very attractive.
Down:
1. Birria option: TACO. A Mexican food reference, Birria is a flavorful stew that originated in Jalisco.
2. Letters of urgency: ASAP. What do you call very short proverbs? ASAPs fables.
3. Enumerate: LIST.
4. Dennings of the MCU's "Thor" films: KAT.
5. School that's home to the Dragons: DREXEL. Known for their women's basketball program.
6. Harvest: REAP. As ye sow . . .
7. Plot piece: ACRE. Not a literary reference. A bit misleading as an ACRE, by itself, can be a fair sized plot.
8. Defoe's "__ Flanders": MOLL. A literary reference.
7. Plot piece: ACRE. Not a literary reference. A bit misleading as an ACRE, by itself, can be a fair sized plot.
8. Defoe's "__ Flanders": MOLL. A literary reference.
9. Y or N, possibly: ANS. Punt. Yes No ANSwer
10. Showed the door: SAW OUT.
11. Pork cut: LOIN. CHOP would have fit.
12. Golfer Nordqvist: ANNA. Winner of the 2009 LPGA Championship and the 2021 Women's British Open.
13. __ red: BEET. ERIK THE was too long (and red was not capitalized).
18. Elliptical part: PEDAL. An exercise machine reference.
19. Reuben cheese: SWISS. A sandwich reference. For a number of years, the Yamaha FJR motorcycle community put together a Ruben Run to La Pine, OR.
23. Las Vegas team: ACES. A basketball reference.
24. Security concern: LEAK. Call the White House Plumbers.
25. Halloween option: TREAT. TRICK was also five letters. Fill in the T and the R and find a perp.
26. Rather severe: HARSH.
28. Third baseman Machado with two Gold Gloves: MANNY. Obviously, a baseball reference.
29. Vocation: TRADE.
30. Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme: HERBS. Once again, Patti and the puzzle setter have teed it up.
31. Upright: ON END.
32. Condiment in Indian cuisine: RAITA. A creamy yogurt-based sauce.
33. Tough to resolve: MESSY. As in a MESSY situation.
38. Word with you or who: SAYS. Before and after. SAYS you and who SAYS. Or, Simon.
39. Bass player?: LURE. Not a music reference. A fishing reference.
38. Word with you or who: SAYS. Before and after. SAYS you and who SAYS. Or, Simon.
39. Bass player?: LURE. Not a music reference. A fishing reference.
41. Fitness program that incorporates ballet, yoga, and Pilates: BARRE. Another unknown for this solver.
42. Siamese fighting fish: BETTA. ... and yet another unknown to this solver. Thanks, perps.
44. Marginal drawing: DOODLE.
45. Shoe decor: TASSEL.
48. Nimble: SPRY.
49. Covent Garden solo: ARIA. Covent Garden is a London, England venue used for operas.
50. Glass vessel: VIAL. I once made the mistake of drinking the liquid from a scientist’s test tube. It was a VIAL substance.
51. Anterior: FORE. Most often seen as a golf reference.
52. "My turn!": I'M UP. Another possible baseball reference.
53. Artist Magritte: RENE. Another frequent visitor.
54. Jewel box?: SAFE. A place to store your jewelry. Jewel box is often used as a CD case reference.
55. Tiny splash: PLOP.
56. Plus: ALSO.
58. Lifeguard skill: Abbr.: CPR. An abbreviated answer to a non abbreviate clue.
59. Lab coat?: FUR. Not a reference to what might be worn in a facility used to conduct experiments.
I'll take two.
And, on that note . . .
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