Monday December 29, 2025 Keegan Edgar

  

Happy Monday, everyone! This is Keegan Edgar's second LAT puzzle. His debut was on Feburary 6, 2025. Today's theme is:  

We will begin with the four fin-tastic themers:

17 Across. Hangout with ramps and rails for boarders and bladers: SKATE PARK.  I liked the bit of misdirection with hangout the noun versus hang out the verb. In this case, it is the place where skateboarders and rollerbladers can practice their tricks.  

23 Across. Exclamation of surprise: HOLY MACKEREL.  This phrase goes back at least 200 years. It likely originated as a minced oath, substituting mackerel for "Mary" or the archangel "Michael".  

46 Across. Diving stance with bent hips and straight legs: PIKE POSITION.  

57 Across. A-OK: HUNKY-DORY.  This slang expression means "everything is quite satisfactory". It is believed to have Dutch origins and was first spotted in English in the mid-1800s.

(I get those mixed up but I think this mnemonic will help now.)

The reveal spans the equator:  

36 Across. "This doesn't seem right," or what can be said about 17-, 23-, 46-, and 57-Across: SOMETHING'S FISHY.  

In case you have not yet smelt the gimmick, there are four types of fish hidden in the themed answers, making them FISHY. 

(clockwise from top-left)  skate, mackerel, dory and pike

This puzzle earns a gold-starfish for its separation between the themed answers and the reveal. Additionally, note the alternating pattern of the fish word placement. Well done, Keegan! No trout about it!

Now, let's see what other clues we can catch....

Across:

1. "You snooze, you __!": LOSE.  ... said the tortoise to the hare.

5. Not doing anything: IDLE.  not the same as snoozing  

9. Data on baseball cards: STATS.  CSO to our former Monday sherpa, Boomer.

14. Consumes a 15-Across: EATS.     and     ↙

15. Lunch or dinner: MEAL.  

I love a good Venn diagram.

16. Cockpit figure: PILOT.  One of the noun definitions for figure is "bodily shape or form especially of a person".  

19. French "between": ENTRE.  

20. Nine-digit ID: SSN.

21. Hard drive capacity prefix: TERA-.  If you are truly curious, this article explains the basics.  

22. Gemstone with colored stripes: AGATE.  all about AGATE

26. British nobles with low ranking: BARONS.  By comparison, Lord Grantham of Downton Abbey was two steps up:  Earl.

It could be worse....

29. Scottish gal: LASS.  Have you heard of Ally Crowley-Duncan, aka Ally the Piper? She was a guest on WWDTM a while back. Ally was born in Latham, New York in 1995. She is known for playing songs from rock, pop, and metal music on the bagpipes. Although she is not from Scotland, her piper skills surely give her LASS cred. In this video, she plays The Session, the title track from her 2025 album.  

30. Grows older: AGES.  

31. __ pie: dish with corn chips: FRITO.  

recipe

33. Tennis server's success: ACE.  An ACE is a legal serve that is not touched by the receiver, winning the point for the server.

40. Self-image: EGO.

41. Aired again: RERAN.  Think "old TV shows".

42. __-Ball: target game in arcades: SKEE.  

43. Add to the payroll: HIRE.

44. Places for bracelets: WRISTS.  "Ankles" was too long.

51. Actress Tatum: O'NEAL.  [b. November 5, 1963]  Tablet claims her father Ryan named his daughter after the jazz pianist Art Tatum.  source

52. Convent residents: NUNS.  CSO to Lucina!

53. Spot for a facial: SPA.  

56. Blue-gray color: SLATE.  

These walls are painted with Glidden's blue-gray SLATE.

59. Guiding principle: TENET.

60. Length x width: AREA.  

61. Sunburn-soothing succulent: ALOE.  

62. Small earrings: STUDS.  Basically, they are earrings that do not hang down past the lobe.

63. Trial run: TEST.

64. Archery items: BOWS.  "Arrows" was too long.

Down:

1. Not as expensive: LESS.  

2. Acorn droppers: OAKS.  

3. "Thunderbolts*" actor Sebastian __: STAN.  Thunderbolts is a Marvel movie that came out earlier this year.

4. Approximate fig.: EST.  Another noun definition for figure is "value, especially as expressed in numbers".  In this case, that figure is an ESTimate.

5. Spurs to action: IMPELS.

6. Sweetie pie: DEARY.  

7. SoCal NFL player: LA RAM.

8. Large deer in the Rockies: ELK.

9. Talks about: SPEAKS OF.  

The Gossips   ~   Norman Rockwell  ~  1948

10. Touches of color: TINGES.  A TINGE of color is like a "splash of color", only more subtle.

11. "I do" venue: ALTAR.  

Notice what is in their hands.

12. Rich layer cake: TORTE.  

This one certainly has a lot of layers.

13. Construction girder metal: STEEL.

18. Historic British school: ETON.

23. Hydrant hookup: HOSE.  Hee!Hee!

24. Arrange in a row: ALIGN.  You know ... so they line up.

25. Purring pets: CATS.  

I have been cat-sitting for my neighbor.
This gray tuxedo looks sweet but she will not let me get any work done.

26. Acid counterpart: BASE.  This clue references the pH scale.

27. Eager: AGOG.  

28. San __, Italy: REMO.  Population ~55,000. Wiki says it is Sanremo in Italian but two words in English.  It is known as a tourist destination on the Italian Riviera. I was curious how many other municipalities fit the clue (but not the perps). Cono, Fele, Fili, Fior, Luca, Lupo, Rufo, Siro, and Vito all work.

31. "Little __ Everywhere": Celeste Ng novel: FIRES.  goodreads link

32. Genetic messenger molecule: RNA.

33. Queries: ASKS.

34. NBA player Holmgren: CHET.  [b. 2002 in Minneapolis, MN] He plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

35. Potato spots: EYES.  I always thought they were poisonous if ingested but the Idaho Potato Commission says otherwise. Nevertheless, do not take my word for it! Do your own research. 

37. Three siblings with the same birthday: TRIPLETS. This cute clue deserves a cute image.

St. Bernard TRIPLET puppies
(BTW, I recommend Googling "TRIPLET puppies images".)

38. One saving the day: HERO.  

Mighty Mouse made his debut in 1942.

39. "The proof __ the pudding": IS IN.  M-W explains this idiom

43. Like a sauna: HEATED.

44. Reassure that one's joking, in a way: WINK AT.  😉

45. Like pink cheeks: ROSY.

46. Sends with a stamp: POSTS.  To POST a letter is to mail a letter.

47. Small bay: INLET.

48. Actor Reeves who plays John Wick: KEANU.  [b. September 2, 1996] His mother was English; his father was American; he was born in Beirut, Lebanon because his mother was there for work; and yet Keanu is Canadian.  

There are four John Wick movies ... so far.

49. Become accustomed (to): INURE.  I found this example sentence online:  Does the violence on television INURE children TO violence in real life?

50. Adjusts a piano's pitch, e.g.: TUNES.  It was fun to see a verb meaning for TUNES instead of a plural noun.  

53. Brand of red plastic cups: SOLO.  When filmmakers include red SOLO cups in a scene they send the viewer a quick message about the characters and the gathering. It might be a message of formality, taste level, financial situations, group dynamics, age range, attitudes towards alcohol, or a combination of all those.  

Friends     ~     Phoebe is in charge of cups and ice.     ~     (1:26 min.)

54. Boat's front: PROW.  The bow is the front part of a boat. It includes the PROW, the stem, and the foremost part of the hull. the PROW is the part of the stem line above the waterline.  

55. Affirmative votes: AYES.

57. Part of a Santa costume: HAT.  

58. Apply gently: DAB.

The grid:  

That's all for this puzzle and that's all from me. Changes are afoot on The Corner. Beginning in 2026, another project will require my time and attention. I simply will not have enough free hours to continue in this role. I still intend to add to the comments most days. I will also be around as an occasional substitute blogger. So, I am not leaving -- just transitioning. I am thankful to C.C. for creating and maintaining this space where solvers can share a common hobby. It has been my pleasure to be a part of her team. I have learned so much! Speaking of the team, I happen to know you will be in excellent hands going forward! So long and thanks for all the fish!

~ sumdaze

 

 

Notes from C.C.:

I'm sad that today marks Sumdaze's final Monday blog post. Renee gives her all to every write-up. Her posts are always rich with images, video clips, and thoughtful, detailed explanations. Mondays won't be  the same without her.

That said, Mondays will remain in very capable hands. The incredible Naomi will begin covering Mondays starting next week. RustyBrain will take over Thursdays, and Splynter will blog Fridays, as both Chairman Moe and MM have decided to scale back and blog once a week. They'll now be sharing Wednesdays alongside Jazzbumpa and CrossEyedDave.

Hahtoolah and Husker Gary will continue their excellent work on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and Anonymous T (Tony) remains our ever-reliable pinch hitter.

I can't say how thankful I am for the dedication and generosity of our blogging team. Each post represents hours of care, often three or more, spent choosing the right words, finding just the right images, and tracking down helpful links. This blog simply wouldn't exist without them.

 

Monday December 22, 2025 Rena Cohen

  

Happy Monday everyone! sumdaze here with the penultimate 2025 Monday puzzle.

Theme:    

Go to the back of the line.
(Note that the girl in blue is "in front", even though she is to the right in the photo.)

We will begin with the three themed clues and answers:

20 Across. Basic lunch choice: CHEESE SANDWICH.  

definitely basic 

26 Across. Art activity that comes with a key: COLOR BY NUMBER.  I am more familiar with paint BY NUMBERs but apparently this is a thing. Below is an example from a book that does not tell you what the finished image will be. It is a mystery until you fill it in. (The top part is the legend or key, if you will.) 

46 Across. 1986 film teen with a poor attendance record: FERRIS BUELLER.  This clue references the 1986 film Ferris Bueller's Day Off, starring Mathew Broderick. Here is a 1:14 min. clip documenting Ferris' poor attendance.

That is Ben Stein playing the teacher. 

The unifier:

55 Across. Driving a car, or an apt description of the ends of 20-, 26-, and 46-Across: BEHIND THE WHEEL.  This is an idiomatic phrase that refers to the act of driving a vehicle.

Also, the ends of the themed clues can be placed BEHIND ("after") THE (word) WHEEL to create new phrases. We now have:  WHEEL CHEESE, WHEEL COLOR, and WHEEL FERRIS.

[record scratch] Wait, that cannot be right. I am pretty sure the intention was:  

CHEESE WHEEL, COLOR WHEEL, and FERRIS WHEEL

So I had to think about this differently. Suppose I first wrote the word

WHEEL

Then I added the word fifth like this

FIFTH WHEEL

One could say that I added the word FIFTH behind the word WHEEL. In today's puzzle, BEHIND  does not mean "after". It means "in front of" ... on the printed page, that is. You might think of it as " to get in line behind" as seen in my theme illustration above.

Still not convinced? Just roll with it!

One more note... Props for FERRIS as being a word with no connection between the themed answer and the reveal.

Are you ready to bet your fortune on the remaining clues?

Across:

1. Apple Pay alternative: CASH.  I was thinking of on-line purchases so CASH was the last thing on my mind.

5. Egg on: GOAD.  

9. Spills the beans: BLABS.  

14. Blue Buffalo competitor: ALPO.  Both are brands of pet food.

15. Opposed to: ANTI.  Also, ANT I was the first ruler of the colony.  😜

16. Lounges: LOLLS.  Def.:  (intransitive verb) to act or move in a lax, lazy, or indolent manner; lounge.

Quoting from Merriam-Webster:  LOLL has origins similar to another soothing verb, lull, which means "to cause to rest or sleep."

17. "Just keeping you on your __": TOES.  Please enjoy this seasonal manifestation of on your TOES.

Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy from The Nutcracker

18. Yoga studio supply: MATS.

19. Large body of water: OCEAN.     and     34-Down. Dot in the 19-Across: ISLE.  

The British island group of Tristan da Cunha
is the most remote inhabited island on Earth.
The nearest landfall is South Africa (1,750 miles / 2,816 km. east).
In case you are wondering, there is no airstrip on the island.

23. Owned: HAD.  

24. Rock concert sound booster: AMP.

25. Ages and ages: EON.

33. Name of 12 popes: PIUS.  Pope Pius XXII passed in 1958.

35. Narc's org.: DEA.  Narcotic and Drug Enforcement Administration are both abbreviated.

36. Diet that shuns processed foods: PALEO.  Also known as the "caveman" diet, this eating plan centers on whole foods such as lean meat, fish, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. It avoids grains, legumes, dairy, sugars, and processed foods.

37. Standard connector for electronic devices: USB C.  Anything I have purchased recently has this style of connector. I am glad they are moving away from the little, trapezoidal-shaped ones. I was always plugging those in up-side down. Oof!

38. Minuscule: EENSY.  This category broadens when I am not wearing my glasses.

41. Site with a Write a Review button: YELP.

42. Pet collar targets: FLEAS.     and     67-Across. Exterminator's target: PEST.  

Get it?  "Collar" also means to arrest someone. LOL!

44. Tea, in French: THÉ.  

45. Military outpost: BASE.  This is not a hard-and-fast rule, but the Navy, Air Force, and Marines generally have BASEs and the Army has forts.

50. The Marlins, on scoreboards: MIA.  

I like the use of negative space in their logo.

51. __-mo video: SLO.

52. "I accept!": YES.  

60. Cry to someone learning to ride a bike: PEDAL.  PEDAL is used as an imperative sentence here. Note the influence from the Latin word for foot as in pedestrian, expedition, and podiatrist. 

61. Wetlands plant: REED.     and     65-Across. Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy: REID.

62. Brontë's "Jane __": EYRE.  This novel was published in 1847. It follows the life of the title character, including her growth to adulthood and her love for Edward Rochester, the master of Thornfield Hall.

63. Middle Schuyler sister in "Hamilton": ELIZA.  Eliza is the central female character from this 2015 musical.

64. Alan of "M*A*S*H": ALDA.

66. Change: ALTER.

68. Poems of praise: ODES.

Down:

1. Little Leaguer's warm-up activity: CATCH.  Little League Baseball players begin practice by pairing up and playing an easy game of CATCH. They know if they throw a ball with full effort without first warming up, they could pull a muscle. 

2. "__ 'Oe": "Lilo & Stitch" song: ALOHA.  Translation:  Farewell to Thee

While you might not be familiar with the song, it is fair to say that solvers would know this movie is set in Hawaii -- making ALOHA a reasonable guess.

3. Competitive puzzler with quick fingers: SPEEDCUBER.  They solve combination puzzles such as a Rubik's Cube. Two of the categories are fastest time and fewest moves.  History of Speed Cubing

4. Garden spigot attachment: HOSE.  

5. Esports player's computer setting: GAME MODE.  Esports is short for "electronic sports". They are organized, multi-player video game competitions. This 2:50 min. video gives us a taste of how huge these competitions can be.

6. Spending like mad: ON A SPREE.  

7. Roti flour: ATTA.  I only know this one from XWDs.

8. Mickey Mouse operation?: DISNEY.  Cute.

9. Like beach balls and bouncy castles: BLOWN UP.  

pink bouncy castle with slide

10. Sets of points, in math: LOCI.  LOCI is the plural of locus. In math, locus is defined as the set of all points whose location is determined by stated conditions.

For example, the green area of this diagram shows all of the points that are closer to  Line AB than to Line AC. We can see this because a bisecting line shows us the half-way points. If you cross that half-way line, you will be closer to Line AC and will not longer satisfy the stated condition.

11. Actor Guinness: ALEC.  [1914-2000]  His memoir, Blessings in Disguise, was published in the UK in 1985.

12. Boring: BLAH.

13. ID fig. often hidden by x's: SSN.  

Remember when these were printed on checks and medical bills?

21. Spanish seasoning: SAL.  

salt

22. Put on, as clothing: DON.  

Deck the Halls 

🎵 "Don we now our gay apparel,

Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la, la, la."  🎵

27. "I Love Trash" singer on "Sesame Street": OSCAR.  

Who else could it be?

28. Language family that includes Zulu: BANTU.   

link to the article that goes with this map
(and a larger version of the map)

29. Noncommittal reply: MAYBE.  MAYBE 15-A. ANTI; MAYBE 52-A. YES

30. Feeling the effects of studying all night, say: BLEARY-EYED.

31. Snakelike swimmers: EELS.

32. Tug-of-war need: ROPE.  Please do not play this game with EELS.

33. __ pastry: PUFF.  Just in time for holiday baking, Martha discusses the difference between PUFF pastry and Phyllo Dough

39. Man cave counterparts: SHE SHEDS.  A SHE SHED is a small building that has been converted into a space where a woman can be alone to do a hobby. Some are used for practicing yoga, painting, doing crafts, or reading books. They are similar to man caves in that one can go there to unwind in private.

40. Scolded loudly: YELLED AT.  

Can you guess who this USMC  Sergeant is yelling at?

43. Like: SIMILAR.  

47. Moral wrong: SIN.

48. Unfair reputation: BAD RAP.  an undeserved, negative reputation

49. Close to the floor: LOW.  

53. Like a haunted house: EERIE.

54. Snow day toys: SLEDS.  

55. End-of-class signal: BELL.  

Carol of the Bells performed by LIBERA (2019)

56. Menu heading often next to File: EDIT.

57. Foggy state: HAZE.

58. Prefix with health: TELE-.

59. Gallant one: HERO.  Do we have any other Big Hero 6 fans on The Corner? (2:32 min.)

60. Split __ soup: PEA.  Some people make this with their leftover holiday ham.

The grid:  

Rena gave us several fun answers for the Down fill.

Happy Holidays to you and yours!