Theme: Head Over Heels or Tumbling.
Here is today's theme song.
This theme is unusual. Instead of the meanings of theme fill words, it's based on the placement and repetition of a certain syllable within longer words in the grid. That syllable is "END, " which is also a word meaning the extreme part of something. Let's start with the unifier.
66. One way to tumble, or what can be found four times in this puzzle: END OVER END. "End over end" describes an object rotating end over end, like a football flipping vertically in the air, rather than spinning on its axis, similar to "head over heels," and often implies an uncontrolled or tumbling motion. In the puzzle it indicates the physical placement of the letters "END," in vertically adjacent fill.
I placed the grid here instead of at the bottom for easy reference.
Here are the relevant word pairs.
First -
14 A. Bike trick also called a stoppie: ENDO. An endo (short for end-over-end - imagine that) is a fundamental bike trick where you use the front brake and body weight to lift the rear wheel, balancing on the front wheel, often used for tight turns or as a base for other tricks.
17 A. Neurochemicals that act as natural painkillers: ENDORPHINS. Any of a group of hormones secreted within the brain and nervous system and having a number of physiological functions. They are peptides which activate the body's opiate receptors, causing an analgesic effect.
Second -
26 A. "Peter Pan" protagonist: WENDY. Wendy Moira Angela Darling is a fictional character and one of the main protagonists of the 1904 play and 1911 novel Peter and Wendy by J. M. Barrie, as well as in most adaptations in other media. Her exact age is not specified in the original play or novel by Barrie, though it is implied that she is about Peter's age as she is "just Peter's size".
As a girl on the verge of adulthood, she stands in contrast to Peter Pan, a boy who refuses to grow up, the major theme of the Peter Pan stories. Wendy hesitates at first to fly off to Neverland, but she comes to enjoy her adventures. Ultimately, she chooses to go back to her parents and accepts that she has to grow up.
31 A. Low-calorie sweetener: SPLENDA. A global brand of sugar substitutes and reduced-calorie food products. While the company is known for its original formulation containing sucralose, it also manufactures items using natural sweeteners such as stevia, monk fruit and allulose.
Third -
49 A. Classifications for nouns in some languages: GENDERS. In languages, "gender" means a system for classifying nouns, which can be related to biological sex (like he/she in English), but often isn't, applying to objects (French: la table, le canapé) or animacy (Swahili), serving grammatical functions like marking agreement on adjectives and verbs, with some languages having many genders (Zulu) and others none (Finnish), reflecting diverse cultural and linguistic approaches to categorizing the world.
54 A. Lets use: LENDS. Grants to someone the use of something on the understanding that it shall be returned.
Forth -
66 A. One way to tumble, or what can be found four times in this puzzle: END OVER END.
70 A. Hawk: VEND. To peddle or sell goods aggressively, often by shouting in public, like "hawking newspapers on the street". It also means to advertise or promote something intensely, such as a product or idea.
For a final, elegant touch for this thematically rich puzzle, the ENDs are all symmetrically placed. A tremendous amount of thought went into this construction.
Hi, Gang - JazzBumpa here to stumble and tumble through the rest of the puzzle. Let's try to keep our footing.
1. Old car from Sweden: SAAB. Made by a Swedish company known for its defense and security solutions (aircraft, naval systems, radar) and its legacy as a unique automobile manufacturer, which ceased production in 2011,
5. __ Rica: COSTA. Costa Rica is a rugged, rainforested Central American country with coastlines on the Caribbean and Pacific. Though its capital, San Jose, is home to cultural institutions like the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum, Costa Rica is known for its beaches, volcanoes, and biodiversity.
10. Distance runner Ztopek: EMIL. Emil Zátopek (misspelled as "Ztopet") was a legendary Czech long-distance runner, nicknamed "The Locomotive," famous for his distinctive, gasping running style and for being the only person to win the 5,000m, 10,000m, and marathon at the same Olympics (1952 Helsinki)
15. Poker buy-ins: ANTES. Stakes put up by players in poker and similar games before receiving cards.
16. "Ciao": TATA. Adios. Later.
19. Fluid-filled cavity: CYST. In the body, a membranous sac or cavity of abnormal character containing fluid.
20. Italian staple: PASTA. A dish originally from Italy consisting of dough made from durum wheat, extruded or stamped into various shapes and cooked in boiling water, and typically served with a sauce.
21. Story-sharing app, briefly: INSTA. Short for Instagram, a popular, free photo and short video-sharing social media app (owned by Meta) where users post visual content, apply filters, use hashtags, and follow others to see their posts in a personalized feed, featuring formats like permanent posts, disappearing Stories, and short-form Reels
23. "I'm on vacay" notification: OOO. Out Of Office [I assume.]
24. Prisoner: INMATE. A person confined to an institution such as a prison or hospital.
28. "Bon __!": APPETIT. French people say "Bon appétit" (meaning "good appetite") as a polite way to wish someone a good meal before they start eating, signaling the beginning of the dining experience, similar to "Enjoy your meal."
33. Source of minerals: ORE. A naturally occurring solid material from which a metal or valuable mineral can be profitably extracted.
34. Garden pest with tentacles: SLUG. Any of several tough-skinned terrestrial mollusks which typically lacks a shell and secretes a film of mucus for protection. They can be a serious plant pests. Like other pulmonate land gastropods, the majority of land slugs have two pairs of 'feelers' or tentacles on their head. The upper pair is light-sensing and has eyespots at the ends, while the lower pair provides the sense of smell.
36. __ Mujeres, Mexico: ISLA. Isla Mujeres is a Mexican island in the Caribbean Sea, 13 kilometers off the coast from Cancún. It's a vacation destination known for beaches such as northern Playa Norte, resort hotels and for snorkeling and scuba diving on the surrounding coral reefs. At Punta Sur, the southern tip, there's a lighthouse, the remains of a Mayan temple and a sanctuary for sea turtles.
37. One way to stop a cab?: CORK. Here, a cab is a cabernet wine in a bottle stopped with a cork. Cute and clever clue
39. JD seekers' hurdles: LSATS. The LSAT (Law School Admission Test) is a standardized exam for aspiring law students, assessing reading comprehension, logical reasoning, and analytical skills through multiple-choice sections and an argumentative writing sample,
41. Baking instruction: SIFT. Put a fine, loose, or powdery substance through a sieve so as to remove lumps or large particles.
44. German article: EINE. Meaning "one" or "a."
46. "Heads up!": DUCK. Move your head or body downwards to avoid being hit or seen. A bit ironic, I think.
48. __ Paulo, Brazil: SAO. São Paulo (pronounced "Sow Pow-loo") means "Saint Paul" in Portuguese, named after Saint Paul the Apostle, as the city was founded by Jesuit priests on the feast day of his conversion (January 25, 1554). It refers to both a major Brazilian state and its capital city, a vast economic, cultural, and cosmopolitan hub in South America.
52. Wild: BERSERK. Erupt in furious rage, become crazily violent. This expression is believed to allude to the name of Norse warriors renowned for their ferocity in battle and for wearing no armor but a bearskin shirt (or berserkar).
55. Saved option: PRESET. A setting on a device that is adjusted or applied before use or by the manufacturer, especially on electronic audio or video equipment.
57. Lennox of R&B: ARI. Courtney Shanade Salter [b. 1991] known professionally as Ari Lennox, is an American R&B singer-songwriter from Washington, D.C. She signed with J. Cole's Dreamville Records, an imprint of Interscope Records as the former label's first female artist in 2015.
58. Weasellike critter: STOAT. The stoat (Mustela erminea), also known as the Eurasian ermine or ermine, is a species of mustelid native to Eurasia and the northern regions of North America. The name ermine is used especially in its pure white winter coat of the stoat or its fur. Ermine fur was used in the 15th century by Catholic monarchs, who sometimes used it as the mozzetta cape. It has long been used on the ceremonial robes of members of the United Kingdom House of Lords. It was also used in capes on images such as the Infant Jesus of Prague.
60. First lady of the 1950s: MAMIE. Mary Geneva "Mamie" Eisenhower [1896 - 1979] was the first lady of the United States from 1953 to 1961 as the wife of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Born in Boone, Iowa, she was raised in a wealthy household in Colorado. She married Eisenhower, then a lieutenant in the United States Army, in 1916.
64. Obsolete phone part: DIAL. A rotary dial is [or was] a component of a telephone or a telephone switchboard that implements a signaling technology in telecommunications known as pulse dialing. It is used when initiating a telephone call to transmit the destination telephone number to a telephone exchange as a succession of individual digits.
68. Scope prefix: TELE. The prefix "tele-" means "far off," "at a distance," or "over a distance," coming from the Greek word tēle. It's used in English to describe things that operate remotely, involve long-distance communication, or are performed electronically across space
69. Wide-mouthed: AGAPE. Wide open, especially with surprise or wonder.
71. Rough words?: OR SO. Roughly speaking, so to speak, but not speaking roughly. Sort of.
72. Brusque: TERSE. Short and to the point.
73. Marketplace with personalized gifts: ETSY. An online marketplace for unique, handmade, vintage, and creative goods, connecting independent sellers with buyers globally, and its name was inspired by the Italian phrase "eh, si" ("oh, yes") and the Latin/French "etsi" ("what if"), chosen by founder Rob Kalin for its nonsensical yet evocative sound to build a brand from scratch
Down:
1. Leak slowly: SEEP. Flow or leak slowly through porous material or small holes.
2. "The Piano" Oscar winner Paquin: ANNA. Anna Helene Paquin [b. 1982] is a New Zealand-born actress who won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress at age 11 for her role in The Piano. She is the second-youngest Oscar winner in history.
3. Puts two and two together: ADDS. Or 3 and 1. There are options.
4. Part of a knitted outfit for a baby: BOOTIE. A baby bootee (or bootie) is a soft, sock-like, knitted or crocheted footwear for infants, designed to keep their feet warm and protected, acting as a cozy alternative to shoes, often used for warmth in cribs, strollers, or during crawling.
5. Part of a knitted outfit for a baby: CAP. As for the feet, so for the head. Also a clecho.
6. Taking a gap year, say: ON HIATUS. A pause or gap in a sequence, series, or process.
7. Spell: STINT. A STINT is a limited period spent doing a particular job, activity, or serving in a place. A spell is a short, continuous stretch of time or weather (e.g., "a cold spell,"). Do these match? You decide.
8. Reacts to suspense: TENSES. As a verb, "tense" means to make or become tight, stiff, or strained, often due to nervousness, fear, or readiness for action,
9. Admin. aide: ASST. ASSISTANT. Note ebbrvs. in cl. & ans.
10. Succinct "I could go on": ETC. "Etc." is the common abbreviation for the Latin phrase "et cetera," meaning "and the rest," "and so forth," or "and other things," used at the end of a list to show that more items of the same kind could be added.
11. Thousand Island base: MAYONNAISE. A thick, creamy sauce with a rich and tangy taste that is commonly used on sandwiches, hamburgers, bound salads, and French fries. It also forms the base for various other sauces.
12. "This ain't normal": IT'S ODD. Said of something different from what is usual or expected; strange.
13. "Heart Don't Lie" singer Jackson: LATOYA. La Toya Yvonne Jackson [b. 1956] is an American singer, songwriter, actress, model, and television personality. She's also the older sister of Janet and Michael Jackson. Jackson first gained recognition on the family's CBS variety show, The Jacksons, from 1976–1977.
18. __ and raves: RANTS. Shouts and complains angrily and at length. Not a good time.
22. Piercing tools: AWLS. An AWL is a small pointed tool used for piercing holes, especially in leather.
25. Playwright Arthur: MILLER. Arthur Asher Miller (1915-2005) was a 20th century American playwright and actor who explored social and psychological themes in the human experience. His work, influenced by the Great Depression and World War II, captured the American psyche's unrest and dissatisfaction. Marilyn Monroe was his second of his three wives. He was her third husband.
27. Bed fellows?: EELS. Eels are ray finned, elongated fish, ranging in length from 5 cm (2 in) in the one-jawed eel (Monognathus ahlstromi) to 4 m (13 ft) in the slender giant moray. They inhabit both saltwater (marine) and freshwater (brackish/fresh) habitats, preferring to hide in mud, sand, or under rocks, [hence the "bed" in the clue] and are often nocturnal.
28. Rep. from the Bronx: AOC. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez [b. 1989] is an American politician and activist who has served since 2019 as the U.S. representative for New York's 14th congressional district. She is a member of the Democratic Party.
29. Expert: PRO. A professional, especially in sports.
30. Plants with a long life cycle: PERENNIALS. Perennials live for multiple years, often dying back to the roots in winter but regrowing each spring for long-term garden presence.
32. Star fish?: PISCES. Pisces (Latin for "fishes") is the 12th and final zodiac sign (Feb 19 - Mar 20), symbolized by two fish swimming in opposite directions, representing the pull between fantasy and reality. As a mutable water sign ruled by Neptune, Pisceans are known for deep empathy, intuition, creativity, and compassion, having absorbed lessons from all other signs, though they can struggle with escapism and getting lost in emotions. Nice double meaning in the clue.
35. Knock (about): GAD. Go around from one place to another, in the pursuit of pleasure or entertainment.
38. "The Secret Life of Bees" novelist: KIDD. The Secret Life of Bees is a bestselling coming-of-age novel by Sue Monk Kidd [b. 1948], set in South Carolina in 1964, about a young girl named Lily Owens who escapes her abusive father with her caretaker, Rosaleen, and finds refuge with three Black beekeeping sisters who hold the key to her mother's past.
40. Garments that may lead to cold shoulders: TUBE TOPS. A strapless, sleeveless, tight-fitting top for the upper body, shaped like a tube, that wraps around the bust without covering the shoulders or arms.
42. Not close: FAR. At a distance.
43. Tik's partner: TOK. "Tic toc" (or tick-tock) primarily means the sound of a clock, but colloquially, it signifies that time is running out, urging someone to hurry or warning of an approaching deadline, like a countdown.
45. Loch for monster hunters: NESS. The Loch Ness Monster, known affectionately as Nessie, is a mythical creature in Scottish folklore that is said to inhabit Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands. It is often described as large, long-necked, and with one or more humps protruding from the water.
47. Last word in doughnuts: KREME. Krispy Kreme, Inc. (previously Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc.) is an American multinational doughnut company and coffeehouse chain. Krispy Kreme was founded by Vernon Rudolph (1915–1973), who bought a yeast-raised recipe from a New Orleans chef, rented a building in 1937 in what is now historic Old Salem in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and began selling to local grocery stores. The brand name is a deliberate non-standard spelling of "crispy cream", for marketing effect.
49. "My pleasure": GLAD TO. Happy to be of service.
50. More spine-tingling: EERIER. More strange or frightening.
51. Freeload: SPONGE. Take advantage of other people's generosity without giving anything in return.
53. "Feed a cold, __ a fever": STARVE. "Feed a cold, starve a fever" is an old saying, but modern medicine says your body needs energy and fluids for both, so it's best to eat nutritious foods and stay hydrated when sick with a cold or fever, rather than skipping meals, as your immune system needs fuel to fight infection.
56. Meteorology tool: RADAR. An acronym for "radio detection and ranging," it is a system that uses radio waves to determine the distance (ranging), direction (azimuth and elevation angles), and radial velocity of objects relative to the site. It's used to detect and track aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations and terrain.
59. Udder part: TEAT. A nipple of the mammary gland of a female mammal, from which the milk is sucked by the young.
61. Bump into: MEET. Encounter someone by chance.
62. Stops along the way: INNS. Establishments providing accommodations, food, and drink, especially for travelers.
63. Sink hole feature, perhaps: EDDY. A circular movement of water, counter to a main current, causing a small whirlpool. Sinkholes and eddies are related by water dynamics, where strong water flow (like floods or even leaking pipes) can create eddies that erode soil, leading to sinkholes.
65. Novelist Tolstoy: LEO. Count Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy [1828 - 1910] , usually referred to in English as Leo Tolstoy, was a Russian writer. He is regarded as one of the greatest and most influential authors of all time. His works include the novels War and Peace and Anna Karenina and novellas such as Hadji Murad and The Death of Ivan Ilyich.
67. Vendetta's origin?: VEE. This awkward self-referential clue refers to the first letter of Vendetta. Meh!
This is otherwise a fine puzzle with a creative theme, some clever clues, and lots of high quality fill. Hope you enjoyed it. And are enjoying the winter. It's been brutally cold here in south-east Michigan. I'll be back next month.
Cool [and hoping for warmer] regards!
JzB
Notes from C.C.:
1)
Happy 78th birthday to Madame DeFarge, who used to be a regular on our blog. We miss you, Janice, hope you're doing well.
2) Today our blog turns 18 years old. There were some difficult stretches, but I'm proud to say we have not missed a single day of the writeup.
This milestone would not be possible without the dedication of our past and current team members, or the steady support of our readers over the years. Thank you for showing up, day after day, and for being part of our Corner family.
