Theme: Is she out there? Letter in.
Or, this LINK.(1:03).
Each of the four theme answers are recognizable two-word phrases with a single letter inserted and attached to the final word to create a new and whimsical phrase. The second words are all words starting with a single letter. I just had one of Mr. Holland's puzzles in April where he entertained us with a punny one; this time he has an add-on with four solid entries. To accomplish that we have many more than a Friday worth of 3,4 and 5 letter fill. I liked OBSOLETE, DOODLER, STEAMS UP and some others but there there were some really hard short ones. Let's explore.
17A. Spontaneous camera adjustment? : SUDDEN F-STOP. (11). A quick stop becomes the misunderstood action which basically controls how much light comes in through the lens.
26A. Electronic device for some singles? : BACHELOR I-PAD. (12). The single man's cave becomes his tablet. Makes sense after that 90 square foot apartment.
43A. Oversized cleaning tool? : GENEROUS Q-TIP (12). Just keep it out of your ear.
57A. Kid's sport played in costume? : MASKED T-BALL. (11). My favorite one as I picture all the little kids in their masks swinging away.
Across:
1. Brown shade : ECRU. Continuing my shade theme from last week.
5. Authentic : LEGIT.
10. Yale Law students, until 1918 : MEN. He tried tricking you into putting in ELI.
13. Move furtively : SLINK.
15. Muse for Byron : ERATO. A repeat performance from yesterday, and not the only one as we also have, 38D. Belligerent son of Zeus : ARES. War god.
16. Cry of support : OLE. This is a lot of bull.
19. URL ending : GOV. You have to wait for peeps.
20. Unemployed? : OBSOLETE. This was not easy clued this way. And we have an antoclecho 45D. Employed : USED.
21. Car buyer's choice : COUPE. DeVille? DeVil? Laugh?
23. In one's cups : LIT.
24. One at a dull meeting, perhaps : DOODLER. I doodle at all opportunities.
31. Alberta NHLer : OILER. Edmonton, Alberta Canada, which suggests Mr. Holland has some ties as he also includes, 8D. 1989 World Champion figure skater : ITO. She also won the OLYMPIC gold (6:48) in Alberta, Canada. Every figure skating clue brings back fond memories of dear CA and our other past posters who skated. We miss you dear Clear Ayes.
 |
| Clear Ayes & Granddaughter Rachael |
32. It often includes a bio : OBIT. Uary
33. Unfavorable : BAD. Not my first thought.
36. "The Man Show" co-host Carolla : ADAM.
37. Ship's anchor hole : HAWSE. I love the definition in the dictionary, "Where the hawsehole is on the ship." Apparently from Old Norse for neck? Jerome, SB?
39. Decree : RULE. Which is also a Law which rhymes with
40. Green : RAW.
41. Gun barrel measurement : BORE. Which has nothing to do with 26D. Tusked mammal : BOAR.
42. Like staying in the Bates Motel : EERIE. If you do not know the movie Psycho, they have a TV series now.
46. Lets out early : PAROLES. Last day of school in Florida, so the traffic gets better.
49. Halifax hrs. : AST.In Nova Scotia, more Canada, and Atlantic Standard Time, 1 hour earlier than EST.
50. Something to aspire to : IDEAL.
51. Angers : STEAMS UP. Nice fresh fill.
56. Captain's record : LOG. How many have seen the new Star Trek movie, I still have not gone, but I can always here Shatner's voice, "Captain's Log, stardate..."
60. Jazz ___ : ERA. Which was when JzB?
61. Dangerous snake : ADDER. My favorite is the BLACK (2:42) one.
62. "...could ___ lean" : EAT NO. Poor Mrs. Sprat.
63. Retreat, perhaps : DEN. Unless it one of iniquity...I think they are now media rooms, or family rooms.
64. Pries (into) : NOSES. Such a nice literal usage, as you see people actually inserting their face, nose first...
65. Ticket word : SEAT.
Down:
1. Exxon, previously : ESSO. Classic crosswordese.
2. Bridge ___ : CLUB. I used to play often, but not in a long while.
3. Clears : RIDS.
4. Command following a mistake : UNDO.
5. Gave, as in a will : LEFT TO. To many legal terms slowed me down here.
6. Gaelic tongue : ERSE.
7. Rod : GAT. Hard boiled detective fiction words, Mickey Spillane, etc.
9. Fall wear : TOP COAT.
10. Trump, for one : MOGUL. I will avoid comment on this man except to ask if anyone has seen the ESPN show where Trump is credited with destroying the USFL? I know his attorney from those days.
11. Use a ladder stereotypically : ELOPE.
12. "___ My Love": 1967 hit : NEVER. My teenage years from the ASSOCIATION.(2:46).
14. Sullivan's student : KELLER. I have always been fascinated by the story of HELEN.(2:59). The Movie the Miracle Worker was also wonderful.
18. Diamond on many charts : NEIL. He was at Fenway Park to support Boston after the Marathon Massacre.
22. Vegas bet : ODD. You will never get even betting just odd; gambling is not that Black or Red.
24. Informal claim : DIBS. Like the ubiquitous call, "shotgun."
25. Expectant father in "Return to Mayberry" : OPIE. A reunion show, with all the old characters, including a married Ron Howard; here is the entire SHOW. (1:36:08).
27. "O patria mia" singer : AIDA. How many opera fans do we have?
28. Nail that's often curved : CLAW. Kitty lovers?
29. Moment of hesitation : HEM. Haw, he got them.
30. Trireme mover : ROWER. The three rows of oars in this ancient VESSEL. Very hard fill.
33. Eponymous beekeeper Shavitz : BURT. This was very obscure, while the company kept his name, he sold out to his partner who made a success of BURT's BEESWAX products. I did not know his last name but do recall when all they sold was candles..
34. Et ___ : ALII. You say ALII I say ALIA.
35. Serious : DEEP. Like all those conversations in college where we were able to....
37. Fine-tune : HONE. are seductive ways.
39. What an asterisk means on some forms: Abbr. : REQ. Uired. You can't finish the form unless you fill it in.
41. Luggage lugger : BELL MAN. Bell Cap?
42. Fancy spread : ESTATE. Not food, dirt.
43. India's smallest state : GOA. I had no clue, but perped it in.
44. Some of their scenes were filmed in deserts : OATERS. I knew this immediately was referring to old westerns.
46. In a stack : PILED.
47. Be gaga over : ADORE.
48. Lear daughter : REGAN. Clearly Goneril and Cordelia would not do.
51. Arcade game word : SKEE. Balls!
52. Work force entrants' assets, briefly : MBAS. Master of Business Administration.
53. Fill to capacity : SATE.
54. Prismatic bone : ULNA. I never really thought about PRISMS.
55. Scheme : PLOT.
58. Flurry : ADO.
59. Radical campus org. : SDS. Students for a Democratic Society.
Well another Friday done and an odd experience, with some very hard fill in a grid with primarily short words but a very clever theme. Until next time, I am either in a storm or playing in golf tournament as you read this; live long and prosper. Lemonade out.
