Sunday February 2, 2024 Pam Amick Klawitter

Theme: "Silent Partners"- A silent letter is added to one word in each common phrase, forming a homophone.

23A. "The cherry, apple, and strawberry candles are all sold out!"?: NOT ONE RED SCENT.

53A. Unmounted jouster?: KNIGHT CRAWLER.

72A. Outdo a rolled entry in a sandwich battle?: BEAT THE WRAP.

88A. Where guys hang out in a big box store?: THE AISLE OF MAN.

121A. Urgent addition to the end of a song?: EMERGENCY CHORD.

15D. Podcast series on how to build a door frame?: JAMB SESSIONS.

65D. Macrame enthusiast's appraisal of a painting class?: I'D RATHER KNOT.

I really love the last entry and its clue. 

We've had B, K & W addition puzzles in the past. I don't recall a puzzle with a mix of silent letters. Pam is known for her originality and creativity.

 Pam Amick Klawitter

 

Across:

1. REM opener: RAPID.

6. Genesis mountain: ARARAT. Where Noah landed his ark.

12. Spanish table wines: RIOJAS.

18. Goldfish or oyster: ANIMAL.

20. "Bubble" drink: BOBA TEA. I love chewing the tapioca balls at the bottom.

22. Gasoline number: OCTANE.

25. Musical-comedy legend Ethel: MERMAN.

26. Give a silent signal: NOD AT.

27. Ryukyu Islands island: OKINAWA. Known for their milk tea. Tapioca pearls at the bottom also.

29. Early education topic: ABCS.

30. Palm berry: ACAI.

33. Ousted Russian ruler: TSAR.

35. Lose energy: TIRE.

36. Nail salon brand: ESSIE.

37. "Rigoletto" setting: MANTUA. City in northern Italy.

40. Many NFL MVPs: QBS. Quarterbacks.

42. Suppress: SIT ON.

44. Word with loose or tight: END.

45. Make a choice: OPT.

46. Utter fiasco: SNAFU.

49. Subway Surfers and Candy Crush Saga: APPS.

51. Military drama franchise: NCIS.

56. Comedic tribute: ROAST.

58. Jewish school: YESHIVA. Google shows that yeshiva comes from the Hebrew yesibah meaning "academy".

 59. "Unbelievable!": WOW.

61. Idolize: ADMIRE.

63. Flighty notions: WHIMS.

66. Menzel with a "Wicked" cameo: IDINA. Powerful voice.

68. Maker of Giant Rubber Bands and Dehydrated Boulders: ACME.

70. Ref. that added "mic drop" in 2024: OED.

71. Relieves (of): RIDS.

75. Grab hold of: SNAG.

76. Miscalculate: ERR.

77. Like a slasher film: GORY.

78. Building blocks smaller than Lego: ATOMS.

79. Red-blooded: LUSTY. Have any of you seen "Red Sorghum"? Masterpiece by Zhang Yimou, the most famous Chinese director. He grew up in Xi'an also.

80. Set to rights: NEATEN.

82. Guarded ID digits: SSN.

85. Postal creed start: NEITHER.

87. Community values: ETHOS.

93. Dance performed in concentric circles: HORA.

94. Guitarist Guthrie: ARLO.

95. Post-polish luster: SHEEN.

96. Good Grips maker: OXO.

97. Omar Sharif title role: CHE.

99. Greedy demand: GIMME.

101. "The Muppets" eagle: SAM.

103. Like a gymnast: LIMBER.

105. Stable neigh-bor: HORSE. Such a fun clue.

107. "The Mammoth Hunters" novelist: AUEL.

109. Settings symbol: GEAR.

112. Rae of "Insecure": ISSA.

113. Ancient Egyptian cross: ANKH.

114. Faint reminder: VESTIGE.

116. Some hand-me-downs: GENES. I also like this clue.

119. One of TV's "Friends": MONICA.

126. Target for Target: PROFIT.

127. Fill up: SATIATE.

128. Capital markets worker: TRADER.

129. Heated conflicts: SET-TOS.

130. Dads, sometimes: POPPAS.

131. Many prom coifs: UPDOS.

Down:

1. Hoofed it: RAN.

2. "We're in __-win situation": A NO.

3. Hardest part of a date?: PIT. Sweet clue also.

4. "You can trust me with this!": I'M ON IT.

5. "Love & Mercy" actor Paul: DANO. He played Brian Wilson.

6. Enables a crime: ABETS.

7. Diviner's device: ROD.

8. Take, as a loss: ABSORB.

9. Pool hall staple: RACK.

10. Took a loss: ATE IT.

11. Court figure: TENNIS PRO. Tennis court.

12. Fontana di Trevi locale: ROMA.

13. Hockey surface: ICE.

14. Spanish "others": OTRAS.

16. Pain reliever since 1916: ANACIN.

17. Had a hunch: SENSED.

19. Took charge: LED.

21. Retro gaming consoles: ATARIS.

24. Cluny the Scourge in "Redwall," e.g.: RAT.

28. Drenched: WET.

30. Totally wild: AMOK.

31. Crunch on a cereal box: CAP'N.

32. Dissenter, at first?: ANTI. And 72. Growing art form?: BONSAI. 97. En-titled ones?: CHAMPS. All brilliant clues.

34. Caraway-flavored spirit: AQUAVIT.

36. Make unreadable, in a way: ENCODE.

38. Seats, slangily: USHES.

39. Crumb seekers: ANTS.

41. McCloskey's blueberry picker: SAL. "Blueberries for Sal"

43. Freeway feature: ON RAMP.

47. Feeling more fluish: ACHIER.

48. Starts of some long weekends: FRIDAYS.

50. Hymn singer's seat: PEW.

52. Reba McEntire's "All the Women __": I AM.

54. Spots for sweaters?: GYMS. Sweat-ers.

55. Wish list item: WANT. Andy just visited my 70-year-old aunt during Chinese New Year. She made him rabbit stew. They also found this pic of me and my grandma.

 

Me and My Grandma

57. "Trick or __!": TREAT.

60. On the hot side: WARMISH.

62. Pushing boundaries: EDGY.

63. Little brown bird: WREN.

64. New payroll member: HIREE.

67. "I just knew it!": AHA.

69. Sand structure: CASTLE. Always associate this word with Splynter. Sorry about your knees.

73. Volcano near the Ionian Sea: ETNA.

74. Pity party line: WOE IS ME.

75. Half a combo entree: SURF. Surf and turf.

77. "Curious" monkey: GEORGE. Hi there Big Easy!

79. Actress Téa: LEONI.

81. Ne'ertheless: THO.

83. Local guide: STREET MAP.

84. Penguins' org.: NHL. Pittsburgh Penguins.

86. "Stay by me, Fido": HEEL.

89. Early morning goddess: EOS. Greek goddess of dawn.

90. Disorderly hordes: MOBS.

91. Hacking tools: AXES.

92. Romance writer Roberts: NORA.

94. Keeps entertained: AMUSES.

98. Novelist de Balzac: HONORE.

100. Space traveler Jemison: MAE.

102. Sibling difference: AGE GAP.

104. Small slipup: MISHAP.

106. Work period: SHIFT.

108. Intentionally deceive: LIE TO.

110. Edith and Margo's sister in "Despicable Me": AGNES. And our Irish Miss. Will be thinking of you on Tuesday.

111. Button for making a voice note, briefly: REC.

114. Brewery tanks: VATS.

115. Film set assistant: GRIP.

117. WSJ competitor: NYT.

118. Earth tone: ECRU.

120. Part of a big union merger: CIO. AFL-CIO.

122. Fig. texted en route: ETA.

123. Like most prime numbers: ODD.

124. __ Speedwagon: REO.

125. Some ER staff: DRS.

C.C.

Wednesday January 26, 2022 Darryl Gonzalez

Theme:  We'll Get Along Swimmingly or This Puzzle Is All Wet.   You can choose.

It will make more sense if we start with the unifier.

39. '70s-'80s series about the Drummond family ... and what the starts of four long answers are: DIFF'RENT STROKES.  This was 

an American television sitcom that aired on NBC from November 3, 1978, to May 4, 1985, and on ABC from September 27, 1985, to March 7, 1986. 

[From IMDB] "

Two black kids from Harlem, Arnold Jackson and older brother Willis, are welcomed into the family of wealthy New York businessman Philip Drummond when their mother, his housekeeper, passes away. The two brothers become part of the Drummond family and learn various lessons about life."  I wasn't a regular watched, but did see this show occasionally.  It was pretty good.

Back to the puzzle: the first word of each theme answer is a specific stroke used in swimming.

17 A. Oxymoronic '80s sci-fi film title: BACK TO THE FUTURE.  This is classic.

The BACK STROKE: Lie on your back and flutter your legs while circling your arms in a windmill motion. You swim on your back and propel yourself backwards. 

28 A. Out-of-the-way access: SIDE ENTRANCE.  Possibly good for sneaking in or out.

Although not one of the official four strokes in competitive swimming, the sidestroke is a great survival technique. This is commonly used by lifeguards because you can hold onto another person and keep them above water while you swim. Lie on your side and scissor your legs to propel yourself forward.

47 A. Place for a pen: BREAST POCKET.  A pocket on the front of a shirt or jacket, located over the chest.

The BREAST STROKE: Float with your stomach facing down, then move your arms in a half-circle motion in front of the body. Bend your legs, then kick back with good timing, and you’ll propel yourself up and forward. This is a great workout and is recommended for those who swim for exercise.

65. Seafood order: BUTTERFLY SHRIMP.  To butterfly a shrimp means to do a lengthwise incision on the front or back of the shrimp in a symmetrical way. Since it should be symmetrical or equally alike, both sides of the shrimp must have the same form when opened – like the shape of a butterfly with wings extended.

The BUTTERFLY STROKE: An excellent workout and common competitive stroke–possibly because it tests a mature swimmer–the butterfly is performed by bringing your arms up above your head, then pushing them down into the water to propel yourself forward. Your legs perform a dolphin kick, in which they stay together and kick simultaneously in a bobbing fashion. 

[Stroke descriptions]

Hi, gang, JazzBumpa on duty.  I'm not much of a swimmer, but lets dive right in to the puzzle.

Across:

1. Natural sand bank: BERM.  A flat strip of land, raised bank, or terrace bordering a river or canal.  I guess it could be sand.

5. Historic times: AGES.  As, free, the jazz AGE.

9. Standing at attention, say: ERECT.  Upright, as a good soldier should be.

14. Diva's solo: ARIA.  From operas and oratorios.  If Game of Thrones were an opera there could be an Arya ARIA.

15. Meter starter: DECI-.  Meaning one tenth of.

16. Cookie maker's tool: MIXER.  To blend all the ingredients

20. "Jeopardy!" contestant: ASKER.  That's the way this show works.   Answers must be in the form of a question.

21. Cub slugger: SOSA.  Samuel Peralta Sosa [b 1968]  is a Dominican American former professional baseball right fielder. He played in Major League Baseball for 19 seasons, primarily with the Chicago Cubs. After playing for the Texas Rangers and Chicago White Sox, Sosa joined the Cubs in 1992 and became regarded as one of the game's best hitters. [Wikipedia]

22. Paradise: EDEN.  The perfect place, if you can keep it.

23. Anasazi home setting: MESA.  A table land in the American South-west.  The Ancestral Puebloans, also known as the Anasazi, were an ancient Native American culture that spanned the present-day Four Corners region of the United States, comprising southeastern Utah, northeastern Arizona, northwestern New Mexico, and southwestern Colorado.  [Wikipedia]

25. "__ the season ... ": TIS.  To be jolly, so cheer up, dammit!

27. Crowd no., often: ESTimation.

33. It's its own square: ONE.  Also the loneliest number.

34. Nice water?: EAU.  French.  Do you think it's nice?

35. Lanai greeting: ALOHA.  Welcome to Hawaii

44. Enjoying a scone, maybe: AT TEA.  We have tea at 4:00 every afternoon.  Sadly, though, I have to watch my carbs.

45. Call to Jude?: HEY.

 

 46. RN workplaces: ORS. Operating Rooms.

52. African snake: ASP.  As Cleopatra well knew, as the story goes.  But historians dispute the manner of her death

55. Major NJ airport: EWR.  Newark - Liberty International Airport.

56. Prepare to mail: SEAL.  As an envelope.

57. Small deer: ROES.  These are small deer native to Europe, reddish and grey-brown, and well-adapted to cold environments.

59. NYC's __ River: EAST.  A salt water tidal estuary in New York City. The waterway, which is actually not a river despite its name, connects Upper New York Bay on its south end to Long Island Sound on its north end.  Who knew?

61. Salamanca snacks: TAPAS.  Salamanca, in northwestern Spain, is the capital of Salamanca province, part of the Castile and León region.  Appetizers or snacks in Spanish cuisine.

68. Frisky swimmer: OTTER.  Some aquatic creatures are fish.  others are otters.  Either way, they're all wet.

69. "The Clan of the Cave Bear" protagonist: AYLA.  The Clan of the Cave Bear is a 1980 novel and epic work of prehistoric fiction by Jean M. Auel about prehistoric times. It is the first book in the Earth's Children book series, which speculates on the possibilities of interactions between Neanderthal and modern Cro-Magnon humans.

70. Fencing tool: EPEE.  A sharp-pointed dueling sword, designed for thrusting and used, with the end blunted, in fencing.

71. Feature of Mike and Ike candy?: RHYME.  Oblong, chewy, colorful candies coming in many flavors.  The only rhyming aspect I can figure out is in the name.

72. Pour: TEEM.   TEEM means to be full of or swarming with.  I can't relate it to pour.

73. Look after: TEND.  As sheep or children.

Down:

1. Quick Draw's sidekick __ Looey: BABA.

 

 2. Historic times: ERAS.

3. "Casablanca" hero: RICK.  Also classic.

 

 4. Bully's challenge: MAKE ME.

5. Turmoil: ADO.  A state of agitation or fuss, especially about something unimportant.

6. Enjoys the beach, say: GETS A TAN.  Don't forget your sunblock.  You want a TAN, not a burn.

7. Canyon comeback: ECHO.

8. Afternoon break: SIESTA.  Nap in Spanish

9. Long-legged runner: EMU.  Big bird.

10. Serious ceremony: RITE.  By definition

11. Radiate: EXUDE.  

12. Roman goddess of agriculture: CERES.  In ancient Roman religion, Ceres was a goddess of agriculture, grain crops, fertility and motherly relationships.  [Wikipedia]

13. Stoke-on-__: English city: TRENT.  Known for its pottery.

18. Plant with a trunk: TREE.

19. Gladly, to Shakespeare: FAIN.  Archaic word meaning done with pleasure.

24. Old-time knife: SNEE.  A large knife.  The word has cognates in other Germanic languages. 

26. Sign of surgery: SCAR.

28. Pop at a counter: SODA.  Pop in some regions, soda in others.  or even soda pop.  What do you say?

29. Down but not out: IN IT.  As, for example, the Chiefs with 14 seconds left.

30. Slick: DEFT.  Said of something done in a neatly skillful and quick manner, as for example Matthew Stafford to Cooper Kupp, as can be seen here.

31. Babe and a doctor: RUTHS.  Baseball star George Herman Ruth, Jr. [1895 - 1948] and Dr. Karola Ruth Westheimer. [b. 1928]

32. "Do Ya" rock gp.: ELO.  Electric Light Orchestra.

 

 36. "That's enough!": OK OK.  TMI; stop it already.

37. "You are __": mall map info: HERE.

38. Exec.'s helper: ASST.  Assistant.

40. Big mo. for chocolate purchases: FEB.  Thank you, St. Valentine.

41. Steakhouse order: RARE.  Style of cooking.

42. Established method: SET STYLE.  I'd call a standard operating procedure, but OK.

43. Work at a keyboard: TYPE.  As I am doing right now.

48. Pretty pitcher: EWER.  A large jug with a wide mouth.  Might or might not be pretty as a picture.

49. 1994 Peace co-Nobelist with Rabin and Peres: ARAFAT.  Mohammed Abdel Rahman Abdel Raouf al-Qudwa al-Husseini [1929 - 2004] popularly known as Yasser Arafat or by his kunya Abu Ammar, was a Palestinian political leader. 

50. Solemn vow: OATH.

51. Brit's Bordeaux: CLARET.  Unofficial reference to red Bordeaux wines.

52. Garden recess: ARBOR.  A shady garden alcove with sides and a roof formed by trees or climbing plants trained over a wooden framework.

53. TV's "__ Park": SOUTH.

 

 54. Tom of the Traveling Wilburys: PETTY.  Thomas Earl Petty [1950 - 2017] was an American singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, and actor. He was the lead vocalist and guitarist of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, formed in 1976. He previously led the band Mudcrutch, and was also a member of the late 1980s supergroup the Traveling Wilburys.

 

 58. Stop, as a flow: STEM.

60. Roy Rogers' birth name: SLYE.  Leonard Franklin Slye [1911- 1998] aka Roy Rogers was an American singer, actor, and television host. Following early work under his given name, first as co-founder of the Sons of the Pioneers and then acting, the rebranded Rogers then became one of the most popular Western stars of his era.

62. Plumbing part: PIPE.

63. "Right you are!": AMEN.

64. Went too fast: SPED.

66. Before, to a poet: ERE.

67. Yosemite __: SAM.

This wraps up another Wednesday.  Hope you didn't flounder.

Tuesday, October 6, 2020 Bruce Haight

Leaf Peeping.  In New England people like to travel in the countryside to see and enjoy the colorful fall foliage before the leaves begin to fall.    In today's puzzle the first word of each theme answer r is a type of leaf.  Because the answers are all in the down position, the leaves are all "Falling".

5-Down. Sherlock Holmes portrayer in 15 movies: BASIL RATHBONE.  Basil Rathbone (né Philip St. John Basil Rathbone; June 13, 1892 ~ July 21, 1967) was born in Johannesburg, South Africa.  He got his start as a Shakespearean actor, before moving on to swashbuckler films and his portrayals of Sherlock Homes.

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/a>

11-Down. Wise counsel: SAGE ADVICE.

24-Down. Silicon Valley region: BAY AREA.  This one was the final leaf I found because I didn't see Bay Area as being a particularly long answer.

28-Down. Interpreter of lines: PALM READER.

Here's the unifier:

19-Down. Autumn occurrence, and a hint to the start of the other four longest Down answers: FALLING LEAVES.

Fall Colors in Northern New Hampshire

Across:

1. Meat on a skewer: KABOB.

6. Better mtge. deal: RE-FI.  As in Refinance.

10. Subtle "Look this way": PSST!

14. Gulf of __: Red Sea inlet: AQABA.

15. Horror movie helper: IGOR.

16. Healthy: HALE.

17. Albacore and yellowfin: TUNAs.

18. "Darn it!": SON OF A GUN.

20. Ingredient in some Tibetan cheese: YAK MILK.

22. Genealogy aid: DNA TEST.

23. Pie-mode link: À LA.  I am not keen on ice cream.  I prefer a solitary pie.

24. Cut out early: BAIL.

25. "Heavenly!": AHH!

26. Mont Blanc, e.g.: ALP.  Also the brand of a very expensive writing instrument.

29. Beatles' meter maid: RITA.

31. Hunk of dirt: CLOD.

33. Lea plea: MAA.

34. Fast-food chain named for its founders, the Raffel Brothers: ARBY'S.  How the Raffel Brothers built Arby's.  The name is the sound of the initials of Raffel Brothers (RB).

36. Pro Football Hall of Fame receiver Michael: IRVIN.  Michael Irvin (b. Mar. 5, 1966) played college ball for the University of Miami.  In 1988, he was selected in the NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys.

39. Splendor: ÉCLAT.

41. Maple extract: SAP.

42. Born yesterday, so to speak: NAÏVE.

43. Female folklore deity: NYMPH.

44. Part of a plug: PRONG.

46. Word with pool or park: CAR.  As in a Car Pool or a Car Park, more commonly referred to as a parking lot.

47. First name in country: REBA.  As in Reba McEntire (b. Mar. 28, 1955).

49. List-ending abbr.: ET AL.  A crossword staple.

50. Finish: END.

51. Crayon shade: HUE.

53. Legendary Greek mount: OSSA.

55. Drink with scones: TEA.

57. Ideal way to work, teamwise: AS A UNIT.

59. "No idea": BEATS ME.

63. Living labyrinth: HEDGE MAZE.

65. Time off, informally: VACAY.  Short for Vacation.

66. "The Clan of the Cave Bear" author Jean: AUEL.  Jean Marie Auel (b. Feb. 18, 1936) wrote a series of novels set in prehistoric Europe.  The Clan of the Cave Bear was the first book in the series.

67. Kitchen cooker: OVEN.

68. Clear the board: ERASE.

69. Nimble: SPRY.

70. Let off steam: VENT.

71. Drops below the horizon: SINKS.

Down:

 
1. Pop singer Perry: KATY.  Katy Perry (née Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson; b. Oct. 25, 1984) was once married to Russell Brand.

2. Water color: AQUA.

3. River border: BANK.

4. Hawaiian-born president: OBAMA.  Barack Obamas (b. Aug. 4, 1961) was the 44th President of the United States.

6. Gamble: RISK.

7. __ trip: EGO.

8. "On Golden Pond" actor or actress: FONDA.  Both Henry Fonda (May 16, 1905 ~ Aug. 12, 1982) and his daughter, Jane (b. Dec. 21, 1937) were in this 1981 film.

9. Dramatically twisty: IRONIC.

10. Awesome, in '90s slang: PHAT.

12. Blizzard remains: SLUSH.

13. Grade for a soph: TENTH.

21. Bandit's hideout: LAIR.

26. "You got that right!": AMEN.

27. Like many doilies: LACY.  Do people still used doilies?

30. Recipe amt.: TBSP.  As in a tablespoon.

32. "... boy __ girl?": OR A.

35. Predicament: SPOT.

37. Lendl of tennis: IVAN. 

Ivan Lendl (b. Mar. 7, 1960).

38. Uncool one: NERD.

40. Copy: APE.  A crossword staple.

45. Kid-lit's __ the Great: NATE.  The first Nate the Great book was published in the early 1970s.  Nate the Great a series of over 24 children's detective novels.

48. "I, Robot" author: ASIMOV.  Isaac Asimov (Jan. 2, 1920 ~ Apr. 6, 1992) was born in Russia.  He was actually born sometime between October 1919 and Jan 1920, but celebrated his birthday on January 2.  His family moved to the United States when he was about 3 years old.

51. Comedy club sounds: HA HAs!

52. Exhaust: USE UP.

54. Ward (off): STAVE.

56. Gaming giant: ATARI.

58. Hideous: UGLY.

This is an Ugly Ugli.

59. Like knees during a squat: BENT.

60. MRI image: SCAN.

61. Face concealer: MASK.  This word has a whole new meaning on today's world.  Masks were also worn during the 1918 pandemic.  Almost exactly a century ago, world was also suffering form a viral pandemic.  The Great Influenza, by John M. Berry is a fascinating history of that pandemic.  I was struck by how little has changed in the past 100 years.  The events of this book are so similar to the events of today.

62. Focus group?: EYES.

64. Buddhist sect: ZEN.

Here's the Grid:

 

Mask Up!