Good Morning, Cruciverbalists. Malodorous Manatee here (from Crested Butte, Colorado this fine fall day) with the recap of a puzzle by Lee Taylor.
Today, Lee does not give us a reveal / unifier. Instead he offers us clues in which portions of the answers are hidden in plain sight. Those clues provide us with the letters comprising both beginning and the end of the sought-after answer. In the clues, those pieces are combined into a single word. In the answers, those pieces are split apart and each part is a portion of one of the two words that form the answer. One way to approach answering the clues is to ignore the second part of each clue. Another approach is to use the second part of each clue as a source of the beginning and end of each answer. It's simpler than I have made it sound. Take a look at the four themers to see:
18 Across: Slasher flick actress on a split screen?: SCREAM QUEEN. SCREEN has been split.
25 Across: Merchant Ivory works featuring split peas?: PERIOD DRAMAS. Merchant Ivory is a film production company. PEAS has been split.
44 Across: Auras around people with split ends?: ENERGY FIELDS. ENDS has been split.
59 Across: Lack of recognition for working a split shift?: SHORT SHRIFT. SHIFT has been split.
This is how everything appears in the grid:
Other than the themed responses above, here are the clues and answers:
Across:
1. Place to retire: BED. Retire as in go to sleep not as in to stop working.
4. Let gravity do most of the work, perhaps: COAST. Sled prices are too damn high but you can find a good deal if you're willing toboggan.
9. Estrangements: RIFTS.
14. "Rules __ rules": ARE. The motto of my gym's Silver Sneakers instructors.
15. Infuriate: ANGER. ANGER as a verb.
16. Salon abrasive: EMERY.
17. Word often said while holding a treat: SIT.
20. Summer quaff: ICED TEA.
22. Links: COUPLES. Not links as in golf course. And not couples as in groups of two people. Used as a verb. To link, or COUPLE, things together. Think, for example, railroad cars.
23. Emmy and Grammy winner Burnett: CAROL. See also 65 Across.
24. Sandwich shop: DELI. I went to a deli and said, "I'd like to buy a bagel with cream cheese." The kid behind the counter replied, "Sorry we only take cash or credit cards."
32. Protective cover: TARP. A group of bedazzled TARPs and a bunch of poles walk into a restaurant and order some stakes....Things became pretty tents.
35. W.H. Auden's "__ to the Medieval Poets": ODE. Someone wrote a poem about the sounds made by dogs. It can only be read if you scan it first. It's a bark ODE.
36. Slowly wear down: ERODE. Slowly deconstruct.
37. Develops over time: EVOLVES. Slowly create. Nice juxtaposition.
39. Dish garnished with peanuts and lime: PAD THAI.
41. Marisa with a cameo in "Spider-Man: Brand New Day": TOMEI. Perhaps best known for her work in the movie "My Cousin Vinny".
42. Have a cold, say: AIL.
43. Schools of thought: ISMS. The suffix (pluralized).
48. Close by: NEAR. "Work until" wouldn't fit the allotted space.
65. Oscar and Grammy winner Burnett: T BONE. T BONE Burnett is a legendary music producer and musician. See also 23 Across. Nice touch. Among many other works, T BONE produced the sound track for the film "O Brother Where Art Thou".
66. Tabloid TV host Povich: MAURY.
67. Squalid space: STY.
Down:
1. No-frills: BASIC.
2. "I Luh God" singer Campbell: ERICA. New to this solver. Thanks, perps.
3. Prevent: DETER.
4. Neuschwanstein __: CASTLE. The model for Walt Disney's Sleeping Beauty's Castle.
5. As soon as: ONCE.
6. City in India's Golden Triangle: AGRA. Often visited in our puzzles and often clued with reference to the Taj Mahal.
7. "What'd I tell you?": SEE. Get it?
8. Copied, in a way: TRACED. Copied exactly. Handy for forgery.
9. Not elective: REQUIRED. Ah, college days !
10. "My turn!": I'M UP.
11. Have a hunch: FEEL.
12. Sequoia, e.g.: TREE. Also the name of a Toyota SUV.
26. School of tomorrow?: ROE. As in a school of fish - with ROE being fish eggs.
27. Puts a name to: IDS. IDentifieS
28. Skilled performer: ARTISTE. An "Artist" creates art, encompassing painters, sculptors, and more. An "ARTISTE" typically refers to a skilled performer, like a singer or dancer.
29. Mineralogist with a hardness scale: MOHS. Not to be confused with Moe's Hardness Scale.
30. Scott of "Severance": ADAM. ADAM also played Ben Wyatt in "Parks and Recreation".
31. Cuatro y dos: SEIS. Lección de español y matemáticas de hoy.
32. Spot for un chapeau: TETE. Leçon de français du jour.
33. Mary Kay rival: AVON.
34. City on the Tiber: ROME.
38. Brief scene: VIGNETTE.
39. Dessert for Little Jack Horner: PIE.
40. ATV component: ALL. Not a component of an actual All Terrain Vehicle. A component of the name ALL Terrain Vehicle.
42. Atmosphere: AIR.
45. Hankerings: YENS. URGES was too long.
46. Fully grasp: FATHOM. FATHOM has several meanings. In this case, to understand.
47. In a senseless way: DAFTLY. Not to be confused with DEFTLY.
50. Memorial bios: OBITS. OBITUARIES
51. Warrant: MERIT. Not a search or arrest warrant. Earned.
52. London of "What Not To Wear": STACY. NIMW. Thanks, perps.
53. Discreet summons: PSST. A sound often heard in our puzzles.
54. Ishmael's captain: AHAB. A monomaniacal sea captain who often visits our puzzles.
55. Brouhaha: TO DO.
56. Setting of the graphic novel "Persepolis": IRAN.
57. In __: as found: SITU. In situ is a Latin phrase meaning 'in the place' or 'on site'. The term refers to studying or working with something in its natural or original location rather than moving it elsewhere.
58. Over yonder: AFAR. Not in the Dickensian sense.
60. Color TV pioneer: RCA.
Well, I guess that it is time to split. Have a great Wednesday.
Today's is a very special puzzle, we have a new young and talented Constructor, who's first puzzle has created a fun (and for me) challenging suss fest. Not only that, I had an even more fun, challenging, and learning experience trying to explain it all! Nate, I look forward to many more "aha" moment experiences from you. Thank you for this submission...
Commenters: please let our new constructor know how he did with feedback on your personal experience in solving this puzzle.
Theme: Phonetic agreement
They agree, they see eye to eye, but somehow I don't think it's going to end well...
The Reveal:
54 Across. *How like-minded people see, or a phonetic hint for the answers to the starred clues?: EYE TO EYE.
18 Across. *Tablet choice: IPAD MINI.
23 Across. *Silent film based on a Leoncavallo opera: I PAGLIACCI.
36 Across. *Destination for a day trip from Naples: ISLE OF CAPRI.
Take a cruise, it will be fun, they said...
49 Across. *Lionel Messi's MLS team: INTER MIAMI.
MLS = Major League Soccer.
As you can clearly see, the themers go from I to I... you may be an optimist, but after I got tripped up by so many tricky clue/answers, I tend to be a bit disagreeable. (Full list at end...)
10. Exec concerned with network security: CTO. Chief Technology Officer.
13. Piccata ingredient: LEMON.
Even better, substitute White Wine for chicken stock!
14. "Celebration" band __ & the Gang: KOOL.
15. Magic spell: HEX. As a noun, it is a curse or a witch's charm meant to cause harm. As a verb (to hex), it means to cast that evil spell on someone. The word comes from the German word Hexe, meaning witch.
27. Overseas greeting?: AHOY. This really got me, I wanted Ciao...
30. Formally turn over: CEDE.
31. Panang curry cuisine: THAI.
32. Summoning contraction: C'MERE. ( not Pssst...)
33. Sweet potato kin: YAM.
34. Filmed: SHOT.
35. Oklahoma athlete: SOONER.
36. [Theme.]
39. DraftKings user, e.g.: BETTOR.
41. Gutter locale: EAVE. I was thinking bowling...
42. Skin pic: TAT.
45. Done (with): FED UP.
46. Architect Saarinen: EERO.
47. Old Testament scribe: EZRA.
48. Pet pest: FLEA.
49. [Theme.]
51. "The Trial" novelist Kafka: FRANZ.
53. Notary imprint: SEAL.
54. [Theme Reveal.]
57. Vin in the "Fast & Furious" franchise: DIESEL.
61. Passing through: VIA.
62. Nautilus captain: NEMO.
63. None too trusting: LEERY.
64. Just right: APT.
65. Garden with forbidden fruit: EDEN.
66. Drum kit drum: SNARE.
Down: 1. Banned Books Week org.: ALA. American Library Association. Fear not! ALA does not refer to a Southern State! Banned books week this year is October 4th thru 10th. If you oppose censorship, and support the freedom to read and learn, you can do something about it here!
2. Capitol Hill VIP: SEN. Senator.
3. French friend: AMI.
4. Show of respect: HOMAGE.
5. Entirely: IN ALL.
6. Slalom, say: SKI.
7. Genre for many an Attenborough documentary, in brief: POPSCI. Short for popular science.
8. Raccoon relative: COATI.
9. Canadian shoe brand: ALDO. Half a Natick with a 50% tariff...
10. Home of the Mayan temple El Castillo: CHICHEN ITZA.
11. Decimal base: TEN.
12. Commercial lead-in to Clean: OXI.
17. Move like a snake: SLITHER.
19. Spanish term of endearment: MI AMOR. (My love.)
21. Early search engine: YAHOO.
23. Distant: ICY.
24. Green shade: PEA.
25. Wave the white flag: ADMIT DEFEAT.
26. Where toe beans are found: CAT FEET.
28. Minecraft mineral: ORE.
29. "__ outta here!": YER.
32. Deal (with): COPE.
34. Low-quality A.I.-generated content: SLOP.
35. Reveled in: SAVORED.
37. E.B. White's "__ Little": STUART.
38. Gives a darn: CARES.
39. One to share a matching bracelet with, informally: BFF. Best Friend Forever.
40. Unagi roll fish: EEL.
43. Radius locale: ARM.
44. __ chi: martial art: TAI.
46. Biological catalyst: ENZYME.
47. Fashion designer Fisher: EILEEN. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
49. "__ a nap!": I NEED.
50. Sends: MAILS.
52. First-rate: AONE. Aone is a casual or stylized spelling of A-one, but personally I believe it should be One A, because A1 is a steak sauce...
54. Actress Longoria: EVA.
55. Puppy noise: YIP.
56. Countless lifetimes: EON.
58. __ salt: SEA.
59. Goof up: ERR.
60. Caustic compound: LYE.
The Grid.
I would be very interested to know what you thought of this puzzle, because, while I am a mediocre solver at best, this puzzle kept tripping me up. Was it just wavelength? Wheelhouse? Or very tricky clues.
(Or maybe I need to retire, lost to many brain cells... I dunno.) here is the list of things that tripped me up, but perpage and sussing made this quite the workout for me to finally finish this Wednesday puzzle.
1a Japanese beer asaki/asahi. If I get beer wrong, I need to stop drinking...
12d Commercial lead-in to Clean: oxo/oxi. Hmm, I got sidetracked in the kitchen...
17d Move like a snake: sidles/slither. Ok, ok, I saw snake and I panicked!
22a Poker-faced: stone/stoic. (Guess I was thinking stone faced...)
23d. Distant: far/icy. (Ooh, this left me cold...)
29d. "__ outta here!": get/yer (really? Get outta here!...)
45a. Done (with): FED UP. ( I tentatively penciled an E as in ended here before the perps confirmed I was done with...)
27a. Overseas greeting?: AHOY. This really got me, I wanted Ciao...
So who did this to me? Who is this constructor who kept me busy as a one armed wallpaper hanger?
I checked the L.A Times, nothing... N.Y Times, nothing... Google Crossword Constructors, nothing...
And then, as I was about to 25 down (admit defeat,) I found this:
Nate, I hope you stop by and tell us how you accomplished this suss fest, ( and how do you know Italian Opera? ) and I hope to see many more puzzles from you. Who knows, maybe one day, we can meet eye to eye!
17 A. Prohibition of some single-use products: PLASTIC STRAW BAN. A government or business rule that restricts or prohibits the distribution, sale, or use of single-use plastic drinking straws.
26 A. Spiral burners that deter biting pests: MOSQUITO COILS.They are only temporarily and marginally effective over a limited area. Better to wear light colored clothing and use a topical repellant. These nasty suckers are mostly active at dawn and dusk. You have been warned.
43 A. Liquid in a vampire slayer's vial: HOLY WATER. Water that a member of the clergy has blessed for a religious or spiritual purpose. It acts as a powerful repellent and weapon against vampires in pop culture and modern folklore. It burns them like acid on contact.
53 A. "Later, chumps!," or what can be said while putting 17-, 26-, and 43-Across to good use?: SO LONG, SUCKERS.Here is the rude dismissal. What the items described by the theme entries accomplish is repelling or avoiding things that suck. Mosquitos and vampires "vant to suck your blood." The plastic straw doesn't really fit, because is does not provide the sucking. It is an item through which one may suck something, such as a milk shake. That's my nit for the day.
Hi, Gang - JazzBumpa here. Let's put on our insect repellant and see what we can discover.
Across:
1. Image in a botanical print: LEAF. Took me a while to catch on to this clue. Here are some examples.
5. Feminist Frequency founder Sarkeesian: ANITA. Anita Sarkeesian [b. 1983] is a Canadian-American feminist media critic. She is the founder of Feminist Frequency, a website that hosts videos and commentary analyzing portrayals of women in popular culture.
10. Hardly hard: SOFT. Describes something that easily yields to pressure, feels smooth, or is gentle and soothing to the senses, Softly soft, maybe. Clever clue.
14. Jessica of "Sin City": ALBA. Jessica Marie Alba [b. April 28, 1981] is an American actress and businesswoman. She rose to prominence at age 19 for portraying Max Guevara, the lead character in the television series Dark Angel, for which she received a Golden Globe nomination. Her cinematic breakthrough came shortly after with the lead role in Honey. Images.
15. __ New Year: LUNAR. A major multi-day festival that marks the start of a new year based on the traditional lunisolar calendar, typically falling between late January and mid-February. The date changes every year depending on the new moon. In 2026, it began on February 17, and in 2027 it falls on Saturday, February 6.
16. Wagon rod: AXLE. A central rod, bar, or shaft that connects a pair of wheels to help them rotate and move a vehicle or machine.
20. __ Domingo: Caribbean capital: SANTO. Founded in 1496, Santo Domingo is the capital and largest city of the Dominican Republic, serving as the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the Americas.
21. Permit: LET. Allow.
22. Grinds to a halt: STOPS. Gradually slows down and completely stops moving, working, or functioning
23. German article: DER. The, in masculine nominative singular case.
24. Earth-friendly prefix: ECO. Originating from ecology, the scientific study of how living organisms interact with each other and with their physical environment.
25. Female moose: COW. Does a moose cow moo?
30. Bottled, as emotions: PENT UP. Feelings, energy, or demand that are held inside and not expressed, vented, or released.
31. Add to an email: ATTACH. To include and send a separate document or photo with an electronic message.
33. Subject of a miner dispute, maybe: ORE. Note: miner, not minor -- deep joke. Can you dig it?
34. Shuns: ESCHEWS. Deliberately avoids, shuns, or abstains from something, usually for moral, practical, or personal reasons. Many years ago there was a popular bumper sticker in the Ann Arbor area that said " Eschew obfuscation."
38. Splash of color in an ornamental pond: KOI. Brightly colored, ornamental varieties of the common carp
39. Ties the knot: WEDS. Accepts the ball and chain.
41. Granola bar fleck: OAT. An annual cereal grass (Avena sativa) or its edible seed, which is commonly used for human food (like oatmeal or porridge) and animal feed
42. Groks: GETS. Understands. The word is a neologism (a newly coined word) invented by American science fiction writer Robert A. Heinlein in his 1961 novel Stranger in a Strange Land. In the book's fictional Martian language, it literally translates to "to drink," but it symbolically means to blend or merge with a concept or person so thoroughly that the observer and the observed become one.
48. Home of the College World Series: OMAHA. Omaha is a city in the U.S. state of Nebraska, on the Missouri River close to the Iowa border. A stop on the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail, it's known for its pioneer history, museums and cultural centers.
50. Cover story: ALIBI. An alibi is proof or a claim that a person was somewhere else when a crime or event happened, meaning they could not have done it.
57. Actor James __ Jones: EARL. James Earl Jones [1931 - 2024] was an American actor. A pioneer for Black actors in the entertainment industry, he was acclaimed for his performances on stage and screen. Jones is one of the few performers to achieve the EGOT [Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Awards]
58. Liquid-Plumr rival: DRANO. A popular brand of chemical drain opener.
59. Battery unit: VOLT. The standard international unit of measurement for electric potential, electric potential difference (voltage), and electromotive force.
61. Distort: SKEW. To twist, bias, or cause something to be slanted, inaccurate, or uneven.
62. Shoutout to a parent: HI, MOM. What - no love for Dad?!?
63. __ out a living: EKED. Managed to get by with great difficulty,
64. Like muted colors: PALE. Describes a very light color that won't attract mosquitos.
65. Ukrainian port on the Black Sea: ODESA. A major port city and transport hub located on the northwestern shore of the Black Sea in southwestern Ukraine.
66. Tennis match units: SETS. A set in tennis is a group of individual games that players must win to move closer to winning the overall match. This usually involves winning 6 games.
Down:
1. Track circuits: LAPS. Each LAP is one complete trip around a track or course during a race or exercise.
2. Spanish pronoun: ELLA. The third-person singular feminine personal pronoun.
3. Like ghost towns: ABANDONED. Left behind, no longer used, or deserted.
4. Like a race winner: FASTEST. Moving, acting, or happening with the greatest degree of speed or in the shortest amount of time.
5. Boxer Muhammad: ALI. Muhammad Ali [formerly known as Cassius Clay Jr. 1942 - 2016] was an American professional boxer and activist. A global cultural icon, widely known by the nickname "the Greatest", he is often regarded as the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time.
6. Atomic centers: NUCLEI. The tiny, dense, positively charged centers of atoms made of protons and neutrons.
7. Bug: INSECT. Six-legged creepy crawler or flyer.
8. Bit of henna art: TATTOO. A tattoo is a permanent design, mark, or word etched into the skin using needles and ink.
9. Train board abbr.: ARR. The scheduled or estimated arrival time.
10. Took care of a situation: SAW TO IT. Took full responsibility for making sure a specific task or action was successfully completed.
11. U-shaped body formed by a river diversion: OXBOW LAKE. An oxbow lake forms when a meandering river erodes through the neck of one of its meanders. This takes place because meanders tend to grow and become more curved over time. The river then follows a shorter course that bypasses the meander. The entrances to the abandoned meander eventually silt up, forming an oxbow lake.
12. Cardboard carton part: FLAP. A box flap is a flat extension of a container that folds over the opening to close, cover, and secure the contents.
13. Till stack: TENS. Ten dollar bills in a cash box.
18. Rotational force: TORQUE. Torque is the rotational equivalent of a linear force—essentially the twisting power that makes things spin around an axis or pivot point.
19. Broad neckties: ASCOTS. Wide, traditional men's neckties that look like short scarfs.
26. Trifling: MERE. An adjective meaning "nothing more than" or "only," used to emphasize how small, insignificant, or limited something is.
27. Company with brown trucks: UPS. United Parcel Service.
28. Cry from a crow's nest: CAW. Crows are not song birds. They're squakers.
29. Glaswegian, e.g.: SCOT. Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland.
35. Demure: COY. Quiet, shy, modest and reserved. But COY suggests that this is flirty or performative.
36. Hem and __: HAW. Hesitating, stalling, or taking a long time to make a decision because you are unsure, evasive, or unwilling to commit.
37. Greek vowel: ETA. Eta is the seventh letter of the Greek alphabet, written as Η in uppercase and η in lowercase. It sounds like a long E.
40. "Ready to get moving?": SHALL WE? A polite suggestion to start or do something.
42. Mourns: GRIEVES. Feels or shows deep sadness and sorrow, especially because someone has died.
44. "Well, well, well!": OHO. Expression of mock surprise when discovering about somebody.
45. Cry from a crow's nest: LAND HO. A crow's nest is a small, partly enclosed platform high up on a ship's mast where a sailor stands as a lookout. LAND HO is a traditional nautical call shouted by a sailor or lookout to announce that land is finally visible. Note the clecho.
46. Puget Sound city: TACOMA. Tacoma is a vibrant port city in Washington State, located on the shores of Puget Sound about 30 miles south of Seattle.
47. Large deer: ELK. (Also called wapiti) is a massive animal belonging to the deer family (Cervidae), weighing up to 1,100 pounds and standing about 5 feet tall at the shoulder.
48. Financial center in Honshu: OSAKA. Osaka is a major financial center of Japan and is recognized as one of its most multicultural and cosmopolitan cities. It is home to the Osaka Exchange and the headquarters of multinational electronics corporations such as Panasonic and Sharp.
49. Gourmet mushroom: MOREL. The common morel, often called the white or gray morel. Its color varies from light cream to gray to yellowish-brown depending on habitat and age. The hollow cap is attached to the stalk at base. The common morel is perhaps the easiest of all edible spring mushrooms to recognize, and is therefore widely collected.
51. Insolvent: BROKE. Lacking funds.
52. Typically uninhabited key: ISLET. A tiny, often rocky or sandy, uninhabited island in a sea, lake, or river.
54. Sudoku diagram: GRID. A network of evenly spaced horizontal and perpendicular lines used to organize, locate, or distribute things. The layout for some games and puzzles.
55. "I feel seen!": SAME. A powerful sense of connection that makes you feel less alone in your struggles or thoughts.
56. Chicago-style pizza chain, familiarly: UNOS. Pizzeria Uno. It's good. Detroit style from Buddy's is better.
57. Seer's gift: ESP. Extra Sensory Perception. A supposed mental ability to receive information without using the normal physical senses
60. Scores equal to two FGs: TDS. Touchdowns - six-point scoring plays in American football where a player possesses the ball in the opponent's end zone.
That wraps up another Wednesday. Actually, this puzzle did not suck. Hope you enjoyed it.
20 Across. Soccer player who shares every little detail online?:PUBLIC DEFENDER.
A defender is an outfield player whose main job is to stop the other team from scoring goals.
Types of Defenders
Center-backs (CB):Play in the middle of the defense right in front of the goal. They win high balls and block shots.
Full-backs (LB/RB):Play on the left and right sides of the backline. They stop opposing wingers and run up the sidelines to help on offense
Wing-backs (LWB/RWB):An aggressive type of full-back. They focus heavily on running up and down the field to support attacks
Sweepers (SW): A rare, deeper defender who plays behind the main defensive line to clean up loose balls.
Key Skill
Tackling: Winning the ball cleanly from opponents
Positioning:Standing in the right place to block passing lanes
Aerial ability:Heading away crosses and long balls
Communication: Organizing the backline and talking with teammates.
38 Across. Soccer player from a Florida archipelago?: KEEPER OF THE KEYS.
A keeper (short for goalkeeper) is the designated player on a soccer team whose primary job is to stop the opposing team from scoring by preventing the ball from crossing the goal line.
Key Responsibilities and Rule
Handball Privilege: The keeper is the only player on the field allowed to use their hands and arms, but they can only do this inside their own designated penalty area.
Last Line of Defense: They act as the final barrier against shots and direct the outfield defenders during plays and set pieces.
Distinct Uniform:To easily tell them apart from everyone else, the keeper must wear a jersey color that is different from both teams and the referee.
Starting Attacks: Beyond stopping goals, modern keepers often use kicks or throws to launch fast counter-attacks for their team.
51 Across. Soccer player who doesn't pull their weight?: CARRIED FORWARD.
A forward in soccer is an outfield player who plays closest to the opposing teams's goal with the primary job of scoring and creating goals.
Main Roles of a Forward
Center Forward / Striker:Plays through the middle as the main goalscorer and focal point of the attack.
Winger / Wide Forward:Plays on the left or right side to stretch the defense, dribble past defenders, and cross the ball into the penalty box
Second Striker:Plays just behind the main center forward to link the midfield and attack
False Nine: A forward who drops backward into the midfield to pull defenders out of position and create open space for teammates.
Core Responsibilities
Finishing:Shooting and heading the ball into the net to score goals
Creating Space:Making smart runs off the ball to open passing lanes for teammates
Holding the Ball:Using physical strength to keep possession under pressure from defenders until help arrives
Pressing: Applying early pressure on opposing defenders when the other team has the ball.
Onward! To the coin toss, and kickoff!
Across: 1. Insensitive: CRASS. 6. Not out: SAFE.
10. Apple variety: GALA.
14. __ Productions: media company founded by Oprah: HARPO. (Oprah backwards.)
15. West Coast sch. that joined the Big Ten in 2024: UCLA.
16. Team with a lot of pull?: OXEN.
17. All over: AGAIN.
18. Birds whose oil is used in Aboriginal medicine: EMUS. 19. Super Serum seller: OLAY. (Note: Olay does not sell Emu Oil...)
20. [Theme.]
23. __-di-dah: LAH.
24. Blubber: FLAB. Emu oil is made by harvesting, melting, and refining the thick layer of fat found on the back of an Emu.
25. Accident report?: OOPS. 😬
28. "What a gimme!": EASY.
31. Mail: POST.
34. King topper in a game of war: ACE.
35. Singer Halliwell: GERI.
Also known as Ginger Spice...
36. Leave in a fit?: CLOTHE. (To make sense, you must read this 3 times...)
8. Nickname for comedian Gabriel Iglesias: FLUFFY. 9. Stand for artistic freedom?: EASEL. 😀
10. Bible: GOOD BOOK.
11. Wheel spinner: AXLE.
12. Father of Goneril, Regan, and Cordelia: LEAR. William Shakespeare wrote the tragedyKing Lear.
Quick Facts:
Written:Between 1605 and 1606
First Performance:December 1606
Plot: An aging king divides his kingdom among his daughters, leading to tragic consequences and madness.
13. Flexible amount: ANY.
21. Joyful: CHEERY.
22. Italy's third-largest city: NAPLES.
25. National trees of the United States: OAKS.
26. Place where people cruise through life?: OCEAN.😏
27. Get to: PEEVE.
29. Preferring platonic relationships, for short: ARO. Aro is short for aromantic, which describes a person who experiences little or no romantic attraction to others.
30. Searches (through): SIFTS.
32. Iron output: STEAM.
33. Herb in jerk seasoning: THYME.
35. Company with an annual search for a spokesbaby: GERBER.
36. Flamin' Hot puff: CHEETO.
People are serious about their Cheetos...
37. "College GameDay" network: ESPN.
39. Short time out: POWER NAP.
40. From dawn __ dusk: TIL.
45. Finder's cry: I SEE IT.
Finders cry: Mine!
46. "Such is life": OH WELL.
48. Spot for a tee party?: LINKS. ❤️
50. Knee protector: BRACE.
51. Small talk: CHAT.
52. Deputy: AIDE.
53. Spreadsheet input: DATA.
54. Guitar ridge: FRET. My 50 year old guitar is getting worn grooves in its frets.
(I fret about my frets...)
55. Yankee nickname of the 2000s: AROD.
56. "__ and shine!": RISE.
57. Lots of bucks: DEER.
58. Some 37-Down highlights: Abbr.: TDS. (Touchdowns.)
The Grid.
7 three letter words, 6 people names, and only one abbreviated school name. Not bad!
Sorry for the deep dive into splainin' Soccer positions, but I know little about the game and had to do much research to do this write up, and, you know I hate to suffer alone...
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