Theme: Placee your bets. That's what it mens to ANTE UP. But to UP THE ANTE means something quite different, as we shall soon see.
This time the theme fill are in the down columns. This usually indicates that there is a relevant gimmick in play. This theme has a hidden word, and it is spelt in the reverse direction, oriented up rather than down. Did you find it?
3. Cold War force that included the Baltic Fleet and the Caspian Flotilla: SOVIET NAVY. The Soviet Navy played a large role during the Cold War, either confronting the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in western Europe or power projection to maintain its sphere of influence in eastern Europe.
9. Terms of endearment: PET NAMES. Things like "dear, sweetheart, or honey. "Fido" and "Spot" are not recommended.
38. Parental control software: NET NANNY. A popular parental control software designed to help parents monitor, filter, and manage their children's digital device usage.
31. Increases both risk and reward, or what 3-, 9-, or 38-Down does?: UPS THE ANTE. Increase the demands, risks, or stakes in a situation to achieve a greater potential reward. It implies raising the level of intensity, whether you are negotiating a deal, raising a standard, or taking a bigger gamble.
The word ANTE is spelt up and split across each two-word theme entry. For an extra elegant touch, in each case the split is between the N and the T. Nicely done.
HI Gang - Jazzbumpa here. I'm not a gambler, but I'll bet you spotted this one. Now that we're in the game, let's see what we can do.
Across:
1. Ctrl+V action: PASTE. Computer command to insert a bit of copied text.
6. Stage accessory: PROP. [Short for property] any movable object used by actors on stage to support storytelling, distinct from scenery, costumes, or electrical equipment.
10. Spring bloom: IRIS. Iris is a flowering plant genus of 310 accepted species with showy flowers. As well as being the scientific name, iris is also widely used as a common name for all Iris species,
14. Affirms: AVOWS. Declares, states, or admits something openly, boldly, and unashamedly
15. __ and hearty: HALE. Being in robust good health, strong, and active, particularly when referring to an elderly person. Hrumpf!
16. List that may drop with a click: MENU. A user interface element that displays a list of options, commands, or tools.
17. Golfer's gouge: DIVOT. A small chunk of grass and dirt that is dug out of the ground while executing a golf shot..
18. Leave out: OMIT. To leave out, exclude, or fail to include something, whether intentionally or by accident.
19. Bus charge: FARE. The money you pay to ride a bus, train, taxi, airplane, or other transit vehicle. If it's en electric bus, this couold mean something entirely different.
20. Govt. support program: SSI. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a U.S. federal program that provides monthly cash payments to adults and children with disabilities, blindness, or those aged 65 and older who have limited income and resources. It is funded by general tax revenues, not Social Security taxes.
21. Summons one's last bits of energy:
RUNS ON FUMES. Just about used up.
24. Wipe clean:
ERASE. Delete, remove, wipe out.
26. Feel unwell:
AIL. To experience physical or emotional pain, to be unwell, or distress.
27. Sets of eight:
OCTADS. A group, sequence, or arrangement of exactly eight.
29. Complete fluke:
DUMB LUCK. Refers to pure, unearned chance. It describes a situation where a positive outcome happens completely by accident, rather than through careful planning, strategy, or skill
34. Italian grandma:
NONNA. Nagymama in Hungarian.
35. Lung sections:
LOBES. Lobes are the distinct, sponge-like sections that make up your lungs. The right lung has three, the left lung has two.
36. Vietnamese soup:
PHO. A traditional Vietnamese soup consisting of a rich, aromatic broth, flat rice noodles, fresh herbs, and thinly sliced meats
37. Division d'une nation:
ETAT. A French State.
38. Congregation areas:
NAVES. The main area of a Christian Church, exclusive of the alter section.
39. Mallorca, por ejemplo:
ISLA. A Spanish Island, for example. It's off the east coast of the mainland.
40. Off-rd. ride:
ATV. All terrain vehicle.
41. Meal with charoset and maror:
SEDER. The Jewish Passover dinner, including a sweet, dark-colored mixture of finely chopped fruits and nuts, and bitter herbs.
42. Drum major's stick:
BATON. A tall, weighted prop used to lead marching bands, command attention, and execute visual routines.
43. Nursery outfits:
LAYETTES. Complete sets of clothing, bedding, and accessories prepared for a newborn baby.
45. Poet Langston:
HUGHES. James Mercer Langston Hughes [1901 - 1967] was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist from Joplin, Missouri. An early innovator of jazz poetry, Hughes is best known as a leader of the Harlem Renaissance.
46. Japanese honorific:
SAN. A polite, gender-neutral honorific suffix attached to the end of a person's name.
47. River rental:
CANOE. A canoe is a lightweight, narrow watercraft, typically pointed at both ends and open on top, propelled by one or more seated or kneeling paddlers facing the direction of travel and using paddles.
48. Feature of a prestige miniseries, perhaps:
ALL STAR CAST. A group of actors in a movie, play, or television show where everyone (or almost everyone) is a highly famous, celebrated, or award-winning performer.
53. Easter mo., often:
APR. April. But next year it will fall on March 28.
56. Luke's twin:
LEIA. Principle roles in the Star Wars franchise.
57. Lofgren of the E Street Band:
NILS. Nils Hilmer Lofgren [b. 1951] is an American rock musician, recording artist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. Along with his work as a solo artist, he has been a member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band since 1984, a member of Crazy Horse, and the founder and frontman of the band Grin.
58. "Same old same old" feeling:
ENNUI. A feeling of listlessness, weariness, and dissatisfaction caused by a lack of excitement, occupation, or meaningful engagement. Its pronunciation does not match its spelling.
60. Like some energy bars:
OATY. Made of or containing oats.
61. Campus sports gp.:
NCAA. National Collegiate Athletic Commission, the primary governing body for intercollegiate sports in the United States.
62. Back in fashion: RETRO. describing modern items—like clothing, furniture, or design—that are consciously designed to mimic the aesthetics, styles, or trends of the past. What was once old is now new again.
63. Squeezes (out): EKES. Obtain, produces, or achieves something with great difficulty, effort, or by a very narrow margin.
64. Longings: YENS. Has two completely different meanings. It can either refer to the official currency of Japan or be used informally as a noun or verb to describe a strong craving or desire. I thoughy about going to Japan, but didn't have the Yen to travel
65. Like some energy bars: SWEET. Not just oaty, but sugary to boot. Also, a clecho.
Down:
1. Removable parts of some bras:
PADS. Torso enhancers? Bosom buddies? Breastwork reinforcements? I would probably have come at this in a different way. Anyway, you can buy them
here.
2. Alamo rival:
AVIS. Car rental companies.
4. Retired jersey number for Derek Jeter:
TWO.
5. Erik who played Poncherello on "CHiPs":
ESTRADA. See him
here.
6. Give a buzz:
PHONE. Call a person on your PHONE.
7. Los Angeles team:
RAMS. American football team.
8. Hodgepodge:
OLIO. A collection of varied or random items.
9. Terms of endearment:
PET NAMES. Things like "sweetheart" or "honey." "Fido" or "Spot" are not recommended.
10. "No more for me, thanks":
I'M FULL. I've eaten all I want.
11. 500 sheets:
REAM. Standard quantity of sheets of paper.
12. Memo header:
IN RE. "In re" is a Latin phrase that translates to "in the matter of" or "concerning".
13. Takes legal action:
SUES. To "sue" means to take legal action against a person or organization in a civil court, usually to seek financial compensation or damages for harm, injury, or a breach of contract.
22. Aircraft carrier letters:
USS.
United
States
Ship. It is the official identifying prefix used before the names of commissioned vessels in the United States Navy
23. Bits of baloney:
FIBS. Small untruths, typically not of great consequence.
25. Deliver a tirade:
RANT. A passionate, loud, or angry speech in which someone complains about something at length.
27. Oscar winner Tatum:
O'NEAL. Tatum O'Neal won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1974 for her debut film role as Addie Loggins in Paper Moon (1973). At just 10 years old, she set a record that remains unbroken as the youngest person ever to win a competitive Oscar.
28. Terra-__ flowerpot:
COTTA. Terra cotta (literally Italian for "baked earth") is a type of porous, unglazed, or glazed clay-based ceramic fired at relatively low temperatures.
29. Cooing birds:
DOVES. Doves are stout-bodied birds belonging to the family Columbidae. They are highly adaptable, commonly found across North and Central America. They are known for their soft, melancholy calls and typically forage on the ground for seeds and grains. Doves are widely recognized as universal symbols of peace and new beginnings.
30. Get a lift, but not a Lyft:
UBER. These are the primary ride-hailing services connecting riders with on-demand drivers.
32. Olympic snowboarder Kim:
CHLOE. Chloe Kim is an American professional snowboarder and two-time Olympic gold medalist. At the 2018 Winter Olympics, she became the youngest woman to win an Olympic snowboarding gold medal when she won gold in the women's snowboard halfpipe at age 17.
33. Zen paradoxes: KOANS. Paradoxical stories, dialogues, questions, or statements used in Zen Buddhism. They are designed to bypass logical reasoning and force the student into an intuitive, enlightened state of awareness. "If you have ice cream, I will give it to you. If you do not have ice cream, I will take it from you" is the ice dream koan.
35. Stow, as cargo: LADE. To put a load or cargo on or in, as in loading a ship.
39. Othello's false friend: IAGO. Iago is a fictional character in Shakespeare's Othello. Iago is the play's main antagonist and Othello's standard-bearer.
41. "Right now!": STAT. In the medical field, STAT means immediately or without delay. It is derived from the Latin word statim.
42. Players known to make sacrifices: BUNTERS. Bunting is a technique where a batter intentionally meets the pitch with a loosely held bat to tap the ball slowly into the infield. Instead of taking a full swing, the batter gives up their chance for a big hit to strategically advance base runners or reach base on a surprise.
44. Op-ed pieces, e.g.: ESSAYS. Focused, structured pieces of writing that explore a specific topic, idea, or argument.
45. __-been: HAS. An informal slang term for a person whose best days, popularity, or success are in the past.
47. Durango dwellings: CASAS. Durango is the capital city of the state of Durango, in Mexico. It’s known for its historic center, with important colonial and Mexican baroque buildings. Begun in 1695, the ornate Cathedral Basilica has sacred art and carved wooden interiors. There are houses there.
48. Succulent with medicinal uses: ALOE. A genus of over 500 species of succulent plants, best known for Aloe vera. Native to arid regions of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, its thick, fleshy leaves contain a clear, soothing gel highly valued in traditional medicine, cosmetics, and skincare
49. Showerhead problem: LEAK. A physical problem in the structure of the item that allow liquid to escape in an unintended manner.
50. Miller option: LITE. One could have regular or LITE beer.
51. Texas school with an owl mascot: RICE. William Marsh Rice University, also known as Rice University, is a private research university in Houston, Texas, United States. Established in 1912.
52. Tight-knit group: CLAN. A traditional social unit comprised of multiple families or households that claim a common ancestor, mores and interests.
54. Undiluted: PURE. Something is pure, unmixed, and at maximum strength. This is a neat definition.
55. Laugh-a-minute type: RIOT. Someone extremely funny, hilarious, or highly entertaining. It describes a person whose jokes or antics make you laugh uncontrollably.
59. Green, in a way: NEW. Inexperienced, naive, or new to a subject.
Well, it's time to fold for another Wednesday. I'm betting you had a good time. See you next month.
Cool regards,
JzB
