Monday August 18, 2025 Amanda Cook

  

Happy Monday, everyone! Today's puzzle comes to us from the marvelous mind of Amanda Cook. You may recall that Amanda constructed the EXCHANGE puzzle published the Sunday before yesterday. Today marks her 16th LAT publication. Sweet! 

Theme:  

We'll start with the four themers:

17 Across. Avant-garde: CUTTING EDGE.  

CUTTING BOARD

23 Across. Assets and liabilities statement: BALANCE SHEET.  

A BALANCE BOARD is a piece of fitness equipment.
How to Select the Best BALANCE BOARD for You

39 Across. Stylistic faux pas that puts an editor between a rock and a black sheep?: MIXING METAPHORS.  This clue provides an example of what MIXING METAPHORS is. It takes two metaphors, "between a rock and a hard place" and "black sheep" and combines them in a way that does not really fit.  

A MIXING BOARD combines audio recordings.
Perhaps you have seen one in a movie scene set in a recording studio.

51 Across. Illumination that sets a tone: MOOD LIGHTING.  

A MOOD BOARD is a collage of colors, fabric swatches, shapes, etc.
They can be helpful when organizing ideas for a decorating project.

63 Across. List of top-scoring players, and what the start of 17-, 23-, 39-, or 51-Across could be called?: LEADER BOARD.  

This is a LEADER BOARD from a golf tournament.

All four of the themed answers are two-word phrases. The first word can be put in front of (i.e., LEAD) the word BOARD to create something new. Not being familiar with a couple of the answers did not impede my solve. MIXING METAPHORS gets full points for not only working with the theme and spanning the grid, but it is also a fun answer for us word lovers.

Now let's close this door and start a new chapter:

Across:

1. Like some histories: ORAL.

5. Scents such as freshly baked bread and clean laundry: AROMAS.  Both are appealing smells.

11. Cave mammal: BAT.  This was my favorite clue today! At first I was trying to think of big, furry, hibernating mammals.  

a BAT in a cave

14. Zilch: NONE.

15. __ Creed: Mass recitation: NICENE.  It is recited as part of the Catholic Mass. You can read it here.

16. Flamenco cry: OLÉ.

19. Was victorious: WON.

20. Live and breathe: EXIST.  This was a fun use of a known expression!

21. Feel under the weather: AIL.

22. Cabin timber: PINE.

27. King Arthur's realm: CAMELOT.  

1470 reproduction of Évrard d'Espinques's illumination of the Prose Lancelot,
 showing King Arthur presiding at the Round Table with his knights,

30. Compete in a slalom: SKI.

31. Alias letters: AKA.  Also Known As  

32. Dozes (off): NODS.  Off inside the parenthesis means that it is combined with the answer to match dozes. In other words, the clue-writing convention is telling us that dozes means NODS off.

35. Archipelago unit: ISLET.

43. Take potshots (at): SNIPE.  

 I find it difficult to believe this beautiful SNIPE 
would take potshots at anyone. 

44. Repeated word in a Doris Day classic: SERA.  I have previously linked the Doris Day song a few times. Today I am presenting something different. In this song, the artist uses a MIXING BOARD to sample Doris Day. (Sample means to use a piece of a pre-existing work in a new piece.) It might not be your cup of tea but perhaps you will find it interesting. 

Wax Tailor     ~     Que Sera     ~    2020

45. Tear (apart): RIP.

46. Archer's asset: AIM.

48. Positives: UPSIDES.  

56. Storylines: ARCS.  Babylon 5 (1994) is usually credited as the first U.S. television series with a 5-year story ARC conceptualized prior to filming. I describe it as "United Nations in space". 

Bruce Boxleitner is front and center.

57. Salty expanse: SEA.     and     7-Down. Atlantic, for one: OCEAN.

58. Pirouetting, say: ON TOE.  Think "ballet".

62. Tabby: CAT.  

This is Coco, my SIL's new tabby CAT.

66. Feasted on: ATE.

67. Achieve fame: ARRIVE.  

68. Arancini ingredient: RICE.  These are new to me. They are Italian RICE balls.  

recipe

69. Sopping: WET.  

"WET dog" smell is up there with those in 5-Across.

70. Organized workflow: SYSTEM.

71. Flair: ELAN.

Down:

1. __ upon a time: ONCE.

2. Gumbo thickener: ROUX.  Def.: (noun) a cooked mixture of flour and fat used as a thickening agent in a soup or a sauce.

BTW, the plural form is also ROUX.

3. Against: ANTI.

4. Doesn't disturb: LETS BE.  

This is a scene from one of my favorite movies, Yesterday (2019). The premise is that a struggling musician wakes up to an alternate reality where he is the only one on Earth who knows who the Beatles are or any of their songs. In this scene, he tries to play Let It Be for his parents. They are completely unaware of how amazing the song was in the previous reality. (3:29 min.)  

5. Rashida's "Parks and Recreation" role: ANN.  

Rashida Jones as the very likable ANN Perkins

6. Fix, as a fight: RIG.

8. Soldier trained in first aid: MEDIC.

9. "I teach geometry, so I know all the __": math professor's quip: ANGLES.  Groan!

10. Observe: SEE.

11. "Starman" singer David: BOWIE.  Me:  This clue is too hard because the only Starman song I know is by David Bowie...oh, wait...that fits. Never mind.  

Here is the 1972 song:

12. Unaccompanied: ALONE.

13. Core belief: TENET.

18. Lang. of Rome: ITAL.  language and Italian

22. Run an email scam: PHISH.  This term comes from the idea of fishing. Just as a fisherman dangles bait on a hook, internet scammers send out bait to computer users.

This is an early scene (not a spoiler) in the movie The Beekeeper (2024). Unfortunately it contains a lot of F-bombs but I encourage you to watch it because it portrays how bad people scam money from good people via the internet. This 4:28 min. scene might help you prevent your life savings from being stolen by nefarious hackers.  If you are ever in doubt, call your bank. Do not use the number 'conveniently' provided by the scammer. Do not click on their links!!!

24. __ division: LONG.  Yay, it's an excuse for me to insert another Old 97's song! This is Singular Girl from 1999.

Talking to you girl is like LONG division, yeah  🎵

25. Molecule makeup: ATOMS.

26. Pass over: SKIP.

27. Zoom devices, familiarly: CAMS.  cameras

28. Related (to): AKIN.

29. Ankle-length skirt: MAXI.

33. Hollywood ending?: DEE.  This is one of those meta clues. The last letter in Hollywood is the letter D.

34. Confident stride: STRUT.

36. "Bridgerton" title: LORD.  Bridgerton is a Netflix drama based on novels by Julia Quinn. It is set in the 19th century and follows eight siblings seeking relationships. It has been compared to a cross between Jane Austen and Scandal. LORD Anthony Bridgerton is one of the characters.

37. Cleveland's lake: ERIE.

38. Baking amts.: TSPS. amounts and teaspoons

40. Apple tablets: IPADS.

41. Singer Diamond: NEIL.  (b. Jan. 24, 1941). I'm a fan!  

Neil Diamond     ~     You Don't Bring Me Flowers     ~     1977

written by Neil Diamon with Alan and Marilyn Bergman

42. Heritage celebrated in May, for short: AAPI.  Asian American and Pacific Islander

I see that this answer appeared a year ago in a Universal crossword puzzle. It was also used twice in 2023 in USA Today puzzles.

47. Great suffering: MISERY.  This is THAT scene from the movie Misery (1990), based on Stephen King's psychological horror novel.  WARNING:  Do not watch this video if you have not already seen the movie!! It is absolute MISERY and it will haunt you.

49. Hoity-toity type: SNOB.

50. Send to voicemail, perhaps: IGNORE.  I'm happy to be guilty of this. I try to be present in whatever I'm doing. That means I do not let my phone interrupt me just because it dings or rings. The great thing about a cell phone is that it can accept messages which I can view later.

51. Colorful parrot: MACAW.  

Both males and females share this brilliant coloration.

52. Deliver a speech: ORATE.

53. Chamber music configuration: OCTET.

54. Bike parts: GEARS.  

55. "You've never __ so good": HAD IT.

59. Follow covertly: TAIL.  This is a 2:08 min. scene from The French Connection (1971). Gene Hackman is trying to TAIL Fernando Rey:  

60. Marine apex predator: ORCA.  

61. Idyllic place: EDEN.  

63. __ Vegas Aces: LAS.  This is a WNBA team.

64. Night before: EVE.  I wonder what EVE did the night before she was cast out of the Garden of EDEN.

65. "Shiny Happy People" band: REM.  Here is that 1991 song:  

The grid:  

See you later, crocodile!

(I wrote that before doing yesterday's puzzle.)

Monday August 11, 2025 Mary Winslow

  

Happy Monday, everyone! sumdaze here with (what I think is) Mary Winslow's worldwide debut puzzle. Congratulations, Mary!!

Theme:  

Today's themers are all two-word phrases such that the first word can be combined with the word CUT to MAKE a new, in the language phrase.

18 Across. Hula dancer's bottom: GRASS SKIRT. I liked the three S's in a row.  

CUT the GRASS

23 Across. Yellow spice in tangy marinades: MUSTARD SEED.  

CUT the MUSTARD
(This one is figurative.)

36 Across. Lounger on an ocean liner: DECK CHAIR.  

CUT the DECK (of cards)
Well, not quite like Bugs is doing it. 

54 Across. Influencer with serious clout: POWER BROKER.  

CUT the POWER

Now for the unifier:

60 Across. Survive an audition, and what one may do to the start of 18-, 23-, 36-, or 54-Across?: MAKE THE CUT.  

<We are already inside that window. Yikes!>

Time to CUT to the chase. These are the remaining clues:

Across:

1. Split __ soup: PEA.

4. "Time to get up!" noise: ALARM.

9. Ceremonial accoutrement: SASH.  Accoutrement is an accessory, item of clothing, or equipment.  

13. Greek god of war: ARES.     and     

22 Across. Mount of Greek legend: OSSA.     and     

65 Across. "A Death in the Family" writer James: AGEE.     and     
67 Across. Director Preminger: OTTO.     and      
25 Down. Anna's "Frozen" sister: ELSA     and      

27 Down. Vietnamese celebration that welcomes spring: TET     and     
31 Down. Actress Sorvino: MIRA     and     
40 Down. Abstract artist Jean: ARP     and      
55 Down. Heroic knight of medieval Spain: EL CID     and      
62 Down. Music producer Brian: ENO. 

All of these proper nouns are known crossword staples. They are necessary to construction and help with perps. (They can be lifelines on Saturdays!) Unfortunately they rarely add any sparkle to a grid.

15. Called: NAMED.  This song seemed the obvious choice:  

Johnny Cash   ~     A Boy Named Sue   ~   recorded at San Quinten Prison in 1969

Those prisoners look like church ushers by comparison.

16. Not for: ANTI.

17. Not illuminated: DARK.

20. Evening parties: SOIREES.  evening  =  after DARK

"Oh, dahling don't you look mahvelous."

26. Wile E. Coyote's explosive: TNT.  

He's always scheming, that Wile E.

28. Spanish gold: ORO.

29. Classified ad shorthand: ISO.  In Search Of ___

30. With a scoop of ice cream, as pie: À LA MODE.  

32. Lunch spots: DELIS.

34. Cooling systs.: A/Cs.  Systems and Air Conditioners

35. Technical sch.: INST.  school and INSTitute

"The primary difference between an institute and a private school is their purpose and funding model, with institutes being focused on research, education, or social causes, and private schools being focused solely on education."

40. Cathedral recess: APSE.  

43. __ : raisin :: log : celery: ANT.  The colons in this clue are used to express an analogy. It is read, "ANT is to raisin as log is to celery." (That last colon is just our blogging format.) 

44. Slangy "For sure!": NATCH.  NATCH-urally 

48. Have another nibble of: RETASTE.  "eat more" Bzzzt. Try again.  

(See what I did there?)

50. __ kwon do: TAE.

52. "And you __?": ARE.  I'm a fan of nametags.

53. A pop: PER.

57. Civil rights icon Parks: ROSA.  

Rosa Parks Memorial

Veterans Courthouse, Essex County, New Jersey
Bronze and stainless steel, over life-size

59. Despised with a passion: LOATHED.

63. Egyptian fertility goddess: ISIS.  Also ... the name of the dog on Downton Abbey. We saw her bum at the beginning of every episode.  

66. Criticize pettily: SNIPE.  It's really not fair to the bird.  

Common Snipe

68. Worktable: DESK.

Are you familiar with NPR's Tiny Desk Concerts? It is a video series of live music performed in the All Songs Considered D.C. offices. This link goes to the Takács Quartet performance posted last month. Prepare yourself for some thrilling music! 

The Tiny Desk venue is quite cluttered!

69. Lymph __: immune system parts: NODES.  

Lymph NODES are part of your lymphatic system, which, along with your spleen, tonsils, and adenoids, help you fight off illness and infections. The number of lymph nodes varies from person to person. Adults generally have about 600-800 lymph nodes.

70. CIA forerunner: OSS.  Office of Strategic Services  

This famous American served in the OSS before she cooked on PBS.
Read about Julia Child in the OSS and see more photos here.

Down:

1. Push-up bra feature: PAD.  

Seinfeld     "The Bro"     (1:50 min.)

2. Mark of a correction: ERASURE.  

National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C.
info. on another one just like it

3. Spray starch dispenser: AEROSOL.  If you could identify the typewriter eraser above, you have probably sprayed starch on shirt collars when ironing -- or thanked someone else for doing that for you.  

4. Makes miffed: ANGERS.

5. Texas border city on the Rio Grande: LAREDO.  

home to a famous song

6. Stockpile: AMASS.

7. Hi-__ photo: RES.

8. Surgeons, e.g., for short: MDS.  Doctors of Medicine

9. __ Off 5th: discount fashion chain: SAKS.  This is an American off-price department store chain founded in 1990. It is a sister brand to the luxury department store chain, Saks Fifth Avenue, founded in 1867 by Andrew Saks.

10. Jennifer of "The Morning Show": ANISTON.  The Morning Show is not a network news show. It is an Apple TV+ drama series starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon. I have not seen it. This is the trailer for Season 4.  

11. Hair pieces: STRANDS.  Toupees fit but did not perp.

12. Smashing success: HIT.  Think "Broadway".

14. Comedy sketch: SKIT.  Think SNL.

19. Club __: bar mixer: SODA.  

Hi C-Eh!

21. Pay increase: RAISE.

23. Forum admin: MOD.  administrator and MODerator

24. "To __ their own": EACH.  That's why they make different flavors of ice-cream.

33. Brainchild: IDEA.  

34. "__ your age!": ACT.  

37. Reformer of ancient Rome: CATO.  Cato's Britannica Bio

38. Was certain of: KNEW.  

(XKDC comic)

39. Motionless: INERT.  

It is interesting how the "IN" in INERT came from the prefix meaning "not".

41. British aristocracy: PEERAGE.  The British PEERAGE is a system of heredity and life titles of nobility in the U.K. They are expected to "act their peerAGE".

42. Paintbrush marks: STROKES.  Also ... here is a PSA on another definition of STROKES.  

45. Becomes smitten with: TAKES TO.

46. University units: CREDITS.  University classes are worth units, which are sometimes called hours or CREDITS. They are part of one's GPA calculation.

47. Feminine pronoun: HER.

49. Squabble: SPAT.  Also ... the past tense of spit. You can see where this is going....

50. Company that takes the show on the road: TROUPE.  Think "theater company."

51. Lets up: ABATES.  ABATE shares some etymology with abatis, "a defensive obstacle formed by felled trees with sharpened branches facing the enemy". That tracks. Both decrease the force of something.

56. The Buckeye State: OHIO.  

Ohio Buckeye vs Horse Chestnut

58. Participate in a scavenger hunt: SEEK.  Do you remember scavenger hunts? Teams had a list of ordinary things like paper clips, rubber balloons, or popsicle sticks. They had to knock on neighbors' doors and ask for the items. It is a race to see who can complete their list first.

60. Crazy (about): MAD.  This 3 min. clip is from a TV show called Mad About You (1992-1999), starring Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt. They had great timing together! 

61. QVC alternative: HSN.  They are both TV networks dedicated to selling things you did not know you needed.

64. "Help!" letters: SOS.  

The grid:  

That's all for today. Next I have to go stack some CORD WOOD.