Shake it Off! Three phrases that involve a Shake.
17-Across. Shiver during a horror film, perhaps: TREMBLE WITH FEAR. Shake # 1.
29-Across. Thick fast-food beverage: CREAMY DRINK. The illustration gives us Shake #2 and Shake #3.
46-Across. Finalize an agreement, say: SEAL THE DEAL. Shake # 3.
And the unifier:
61-Across. Start of a KC and the Sunshine Band title, and 17-, 29-, and 46-Across: SHAKE, SHAKE, SHAKE.
Across:
1. Hissed "Hey! Over here!": PSST.
5. Island nation near Fiji: TONGA.
10. Milky birthstone: OPAL. These gemstones make frequent appearances in the puzzles. Hi, Kazie!
14. Teensy bit: IOTA.
15. Smells: ODORS.
16. Payroll tax that funds Soc. Sec.: FICA. As in the Federal Insurance Contributions Act.
20. Whenever one wants: AT WILL.
 |
| Not always, apparently. |
21. Historic German state: PRUSSIA. More than you ever wanted to know about Prussia.
22. Hay storage areas: LOFTS.
25. Curved piece: ARC.
26. "Slumdog Millionaire" actor Patel: DEV. Dev Patel (b. Apr. 23, 1990) is an English actor. He was the star of the 2008 film Slumdog Millionaire. [Name #1.]
34. Colorful eye part: IRIS.
36. Jazz great Fitzgerald: ELLA. Ella Jane Fitzgerald (Apr. 25, 1917 ~ June 15, 1996) makes frequent guest appearances in the crossword puzzles. [Name #2.]
37. Iced tea garnish: LEMON. Hi, Lemonade. We hope you are doing well.
38. Reef explorer's tube: SNORKEL.
40. Church spire: STEEPLE. Do you know it's connection with 19-Down?
42. Tiny hairs: CILIA.
43. Odd sock's lack: MATE.
45. "American Gods" novelist Gaiman: NEIL. Neil Gaiman (né Neil Richard Gaiman; b. Nov. 10, 1962) will celebrate his 62nd birthday in Thursday. He is an English author of short stories and graphic novels. I read one of his books of short stories. [Name #3.]
49. Tennis do-over: LET.
50. Cry of insight: AHA!
51. Killer whales: ORCAS.
53. Starting to spoil: TURNING.
57. Vacuum brand: HOOVER. [Name adjacent.]
64. Big mountain cat: PUMA. Also the name brand of a running shoe.
65. Suez Canal tanker: OILER.
66. Small bills: ONES.
67. Lower leg area: SHIN.
68. Shopping centers: MALLS. The malls are becoming more and more empty. It's quite eerie to walk through some of them.
69. Exam: TEST.
Down:
1. Bread with a pocket: PITA. I will probably be eating quite a few Pita and Falafel sandwiches in the next couple of weeks.
2. Put laundry into piles, say: SORT.
3. Meat-and-potatoes bowlful: STEW.
4. Language spoken by many a 35-Down: TAMIL. // And 35. Colombo resident: SRI LANKAN. The official name of the country is the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. The capital of the country is Colombo. A brief history of the country.
5. Like many infomercial phone numbers: TOLL FREE. Because 1-800 didn't fit.
6. Poem written "on" or "to" something: ODE. We often find Odes in the puzzles.
7. Right this minute: NOW.
8. Hold tight: GRIP.
9. Off course: ASTRAY.
 |
| Cats gone astray. |
10. Like a movie star's personal life: OFF SCREEN. But we still have to hear too much about their personal lives, don't we.
11. Diner desserts: PIES.
12. Antioxidant-rich purple berry: AÇAÍ. This berry has become very trendy and makes frequent appearances in the crossword puzzles.
13. "__ Croft: Tomb Raider": LARA. Lara Croft is a fictional character, but she was portrayed by Angelina Jolie in the film. [Name # 4.]
18. Group of allied countries: BLOC.
19. Steeplechase obstacle: HURDLE. Origin of the Steeplechase.
23. "Out with it!": TELL ME!
24. Paolantonio of ESPN: SAL. I don't watch ESPN, so am not familiar with Sal Paolantonio (né Salvatore Anthony Nicholas Paolantonio; b. June 13, 1956), a Philadelphia-based sports reporter. [Name #5.]
26. Vertebrae separators: DISCS.
27. 123 Sesame Street resident: ERNIE. You rarely see Ernie without his pal, Bert. [Name #6.]
28. String quartet instrument: VIOLA. What's the difference between a Viola and a Violin?
30. The "M" of MBA: MASTER. As in a Master of Business Administration.
31. Urge forward: IMPEL.
32. "Honest!": NO LIE!
33. Prepared to pray: KNELT.
39. TV host __ Lee Gifford: KATHIE. Kathie Lee Gifford (née Kathryn Lee Epstein; b. Aug. 16, 1953) was married to Frank Gifford (né Francis Newton Gifford; Aug. 16, 1930 ~ Aug. 9, 2015). They shared the same birthdate. In the 1980s, she did commercials for a cruise line. [Name #7.]
41. Classroom figures: TEACHERS.
44. Brouhaha: ADO.
47. __ cab: two-wheeled carriage: HANSOM. The Hansom cab was the creative invention of Joseph Hansom (né Joseph Aloysius Hansom; Oct. 26, 1803 ~ June 29, 1882).
48. Landlocked Asian country: LAOS.
52. Not __: far from optimal: SO HOT.
53. Recipe amts.: TSPS. As in Teaspoons.
54. "Nah": UH, UH.
55. Actor Malek: RAMI. Rami Malek (né Rami Said Malek; b. May 12, 1981) starred as a computer hacker in the television series Mr. Robot, but is probably best known for his portrayal of Freddie Mercury in the 2018 film Bohemian Rhapsody. [Name #8.]
56. Karmann __: classic Volkswagen: GHIA. The Karmann Ghia was a sporty little car that was made between 1955 and 1974. It looks so dated now. [Name adjacent.]
58. Barn topper that indicates wind direction: VANE.
59. Makes do, with "out": EKES.
60. Lie down for a while: REST.
62. Completely: ALL.
63. Kenan's former Nickelodeon partner: KEL. [Name # 9.] Kenan & Kel was apparently a buddy sit-com that ran from 1996 until 2000 on Nickelodeon.
Here's the Grid:
חתולה
If you are reading this on Tuesday, I will likely be on the crossword puzzle's favorite airline heading towards Tel Aviv. Part business, part fun. Unlike the song, however, I do know when I will be back. See you at the end of the month. You will be in capable hands during my absence.
