Hello Cornerites!
sumdaze here. Today's theme is Hot Stuff
Donna Summer sang about Hot Stuff in 1979. Today constructor Steve Faiella takes a different approach. He gave us five starred clues (three horizontal and two vertical). Each is composed of two words such that the first word can follow the word "hot" to make an in-the-language phrase.
17 Across. *Holders of small liquor servings: SHOT GLASSES. HOT SHOT has a few different meanings, including this one from the American Heritage Dictionary: a person of impressive skill and daring, especially one who is highly successful and self-assured.
29 Across. *Facial feature of Frosty the Snowman: BUTTON NOSE. A HOT BUTTON is a topic or issue that is highly charged emotionally or politically.
48 Across. *Theater buff's memento: TICKET STUB. A HOT TICKET is someone or something that is very popular, the current rage.
11 Down. *Top dog: HEAD HONCHO. A HOT HEAD is quick to anger.
28 Down. *Upholstery protectors: SEAT COVERS. The person in the HOT SEAT carries full responsibility for something, including facing criticism or being answerable for decisions or actions.
The reveal is at 62A:
62. Arriving with great speed, and what the first words of the answers to the starred clues are doing?: COMING IN HOT.
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| Shadow the Hedgehog |
Most of the sources I looked at say this phrase has military origins but is now also used metaphorically in business and entertainment promotions. We hear it often in films to mean approaching (too) fast or about to arrive and prepared to begin immediately firing one's weapons. You can probably think of other examples.
For this puzzle, "COMING IN HOT" means that HOT will be the intro to the first word of the starred clue. You might not want to overthink it.
1. Circle dance at a Jewish wedding: HORA.
5. Asparagus units: SPEARS.
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| Advice from Bonnie Plants: Plant asparagus in Spring or Fall in a sunny spot with nutrient-rich, well-drained soil. Asparagus takes a few seasons to mature but will reap a harvest for 15 to 30 years, so choose a planting location that will go undisturbed for a long time. |
11. Over-the-top actor: HAM.
Actor Jon Hamm's John Ham SNL skit (2 min.)
15. "That may be true. However ... ": YES, BUT. Good one!
16. CNN's "__ Longoria: Searching for Mexico": EVA. Her mother's name is Ella, her father's name is Enrique, and her sisters' names are Esmeralda, Elizabeth, and Emily.
19. Put on TV: AIR. An 'anachronym' is a word or phrase that remains in usage even as behaviors change. One example is "hang up the phone". I suspect "AIR" is an anachronym from the days when the three major networks broadcast television shows to rooftop antennas.
20. Protective feature of a work boot: STEEL TOE.
21. Tosses in: ADDS.
22. Large body of water: SEA. Did you read about the discovery of a deep-SEA Octopus Garden off the coast of California?
23. Filly sound: NEIGH. Generally speaking, a filly is a female horse who has not yet been bred.
26. Sit a spell: REST.
34. Suffix with prop-: -ANE. PropANE is a three-carbon alkane with the molecular formula C3H8. It is a gas at standard temperature and pressure, but compressible to a transportable liquid. Perhaps that is why these containers are sometimes called "bottles".
36. Play divisions: SCENES. theater clue
37. Ill-suited: INAPT.
42. Natty necktie: ASCOT. The Cambridge Dictionary defines "natty" as "stylish and tidy in every detail".
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| Princess Kate always appears "stylish and tidy in every detail" -- especially when she wears royal jewels. |
43. Private pupils: TUTEES. One being tutored is a TUTEE.
45. Singer Yoko: ONO.
47. Tint: HUE.
50. Shoe bottom: SOLE. intersects with 32 Down. South Korean capital: SEOUL.
52. "To Kill a Mockingbird" novelist Harper: LEE.
54. Gaga review: RAVE. Not "Lady GAGA", although I am sure she gets many RAVE reviews.
56. Pop star Christina known as the "Voice of a Generation": AGUILERA.
61. Valuable rock: ORE.
65. Respectful title: SIR. and 69 Down. Polite titles: MADAMS.
66. Street crosser: AVENUE. Where I live now, avenues run north-south and streets run east-west, but I have also lived in cities where it is the opposite. Which direction do they run in your city?
67. Tot: TYKE. Def.: a small child.
68. Billboards, e.g.: ADS.
70. Mount of Greek myth: OSSA. If you have not done so already, I recommend memorizing this one, as well as 53D, for future solves.
Down:
1. Letters on a British ocean liner: HMS. His (or Her) Majesty's Ship
2. __ and aahs: OOHS.
3. Tooth anchor: ROOT. I've often thought it would be good if humans got a third set of new teeth when they turn 45 years old. If it happened to everyone, it would not seem weird.
4. Bear witness (to): ATTEST.
5. College course outlines: SYLLABI. A syllabus is a document that communicates information about an academic course and defines expectations and responsibilities. Its plural form is not "silly busses".
6. __ moss: gardening material: PEAT. Most gardening gurus now recommend a "PEAT-free" approach. Monty Don's recommendations
7. Canadian fuel giant: ESSO.
8. Not in class: ABSENT.
9. Deeply regret: RUE.
10. MN and NM: STS. Minnesota and New Mexico are STateS. Great clue!
13. "The War of the Worlds" planet: MARS. H.G. Wells authored this book in 1898. Prior to that, he had already published The Time Machine, The Island of Doctor Moreau, and The Invisible Man. goodreads link
18. "Gosh!": GEE.
21. Choreographer de Mille: AGNES. A CSO to a sweet & savvy Cornerite.
24. Dawn goddess: EOS. Greek mythology
25. Native of ancient Peru: INCA.
26. "Something To Talk About" singer Bonnie: RAITT. I like her music but I always forget how to spell her name. Here's the song:
27. Listless feeling: ENNUI.
30. Card game with an edition for colorblind players: UNO. According to Mattel, each colorful card also has a symbol (see below) designed to represent that color so color blind and color sighted players can "compete on equal footing". Does Twister do this, too? ("Footing", get it?)
31. Fortuneteller's card: TAROT.
33. Lauder of makeup: ESTÉE.
38. Grade of black 64-Down: PEKOE. and 64 Down. Steeped beverage: TEA.
39. Overflow (with): TEEM.
41. Stocky antelope: GNU. Apparently there is a GNU Muppet. Who GNU?
44. Fuel additive brand: STP. Yesterday it was 99A. Gas additive brand.
46. Does a favor for: OBLIGES.
49. Disgraced: SHAMED.
50. Taken care of: SEEN TO.
53. Yalie: ELI. Yale University was founded in 1701 in Saybrook, CT as the Collegiate School. In 1718 it was renamed after the Welsh merchant Elihu Yale as a gesture of gratitude for a donation. Henceforth, "ELI" and "Yalie" became nicknames for Yale students.
54. "Alita: Battle Angel" star Salazar: ROSA. IMDb page
55. Extremely dry: ARID. To make an 'extremely dry' martini, pick up the vermouth bottle, consider it, then set the bottle back down.
57. Actress Gershon: GINA. IMDb page
58. E pluribus __: UNUM. "out of many, one"; the motto of the United States of America
59. "The Americans" actor Matthew: RHYS. Matthew Rhys Evans is a Welsh actor. He is also the new Perry Mason.
60. NASA go-aheads: A-OKS.
62. Pic taker: CAM. "Picture" is shortened, so is "CAMera". "Smart phone" does not fit.
63. Reproductive cells: OVA. plural for "ovum"
45. Singer Yoko: ONO.
47. Tint: HUE.
50. Shoe bottom: SOLE. intersects with 32 Down. South Korean capital: SEOUL.
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| When I was in SEOUL, every public bathroom I used had these blue bars of soap. They are attached to metal rods so you just rub your wet hands on them to lather up. |
51. Vim and vigor: OOMPH. I thought for sure I had an error when I saw the two O's.
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| Yesterday we learned that Yorkshire Terriers weigh less than seven pounds (3.18 kgs). |
52. "To Kill a Mockingbird" novelist Harper: LEE.
54. Gaga review: RAVE. Not "Lady GAGA", although I am sure she gets many RAVE reviews.
56. Pop star Christina known as the "Voice of a Generation": AGUILERA.
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| She was born on Dec. 18, 1980, is 5'2", and was a coach on The Voice for seasons 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, & 10. |
61. Valuable rock: ORE.
Identifying Valuable Rocks (1 min.)
65. Respectful title: SIR. and 69 Down. Polite titles: MADAMS.
66. Street crosser: AVENUE. Where I live now, avenues run north-south and streets run east-west, but I have also lived in cities where it is the opposite. Which direction do they run in your city?
67. Tot: TYKE. Def.: a small child.
68. Billboards, e.g.: ADS.
70. Mount of Greek myth: OSSA. If you have not done so already, I recommend memorizing this one, as well as 53D, for future solves.
 |
| Mount OSSA (a.k.a. Kissavos) It is 6,490 ft. (1,978 meters) high. |
Down:
1. Letters on a British ocean liner: HMS. His (or Her) Majesty's Ship
2. __ and aahs: OOHS.
3. Tooth anchor: ROOT. I've often thought it would be good if humans got a third set of new teeth when they turn 45 years old. If it happened to everyone, it would not seem weird.
5. College course outlines: SYLLABI. A syllabus is a document that communicates information about an academic course and defines expectations and responsibilities. Its plural form is not "silly busses".
6. __ moss: gardening material: PEAT. Most gardening gurus now recommend a "PEAT-free" approach. Monty Don's recommendations
7. Canadian fuel giant: ESSO.
 |
| I took this pic in Nakusp, BC, Canada while on my cycling trip this past summer. I have been waiting for ESSO to pop up on a Monday ever since! Note: The price is cents per litre. |
8. Not in class: ABSENT.
9. Deeply regret: RUE.
10. MN and NM: STS. Minnesota and New Mexico are STateS. Great clue!
12. Enthusiastic: AVID.
13. "The War of the Worlds" planet: MARS. H.G. Wells authored this book in 1898. Prior to that, he had already published The Time Machine, The Island of Doctor Moreau, and The Invisible Man. goodreads link
18. "Gosh!": GEE.
21. Choreographer de Mille: AGNES. A CSO to a sweet & savvy Cornerite.
 |
| Agnes George de Mille (September 18, 1905 - October 7, 1993) |
24. Dawn goddess: EOS. Greek mythology
25. Native of ancient Peru: INCA.
26. "Something To Talk About" singer Bonnie: RAITT. I like her music but I always forget how to spell her name. Here's the song:
27. Listless feeling: ENNUI.
 |
| "Ennui" by Walter Richard Sickert (c.1914) learn more about this painting |
30. Card game with an edition for colorblind players: UNO. According to Mattel, each colorful card also has a symbol (see below) designed to represent that color so color blind and color sighted players can "compete on equal footing". Does Twister do this, too? ("Footing", get it?)
33. Lauder of makeup: ESTÉE.
38. Grade of black 64-Down: PEKOE. and 64 Down. Steeped beverage: TEA.
39. Overflow (with): TEEM.
41. Stocky antelope: GNU. Apparently there is a GNU Muppet. Who GNU?
44. Fuel additive brand: STP. Yesterday it was 99A. Gas additive brand.
46. Does a favor for: OBLIGES.
49. Disgraced: SHAMED.
50. Taken care of: SEEN TO.
53. Yalie: ELI. Yale University was founded in 1701 in Saybrook, CT as the Collegiate School. In 1718 it was renamed after the Welsh merchant Elihu Yale as a gesture of gratitude for a donation. Henceforth, "ELI" and "Yalie" became nicknames for Yale students.
54. "Alita: Battle Angel" star Salazar: ROSA. IMDb page
55. Extremely dry: ARID. To make an 'extremely dry' martini, pick up the vermouth bottle, consider it, then set the bottle back down.
57. Actress Gershon: GINA. IMDb page
58. E pluribus __: UNUM. "out of many, one"; the motto of the United States of America
59. "The Americans" actor Matthew: RHYS. Matthew Rhys Evans is a Welsh actor. He is also the new Perry Mason.
 |
| His partner on The Americans, Keri Russel, is his partner in real life, too. |
60. NASA go-aheads: A-OKS.
62. Pic taker: CAM. "Picture" is shortened, so is "CAMera". "Smart phone" does not fit.
63. Reproductive cells: OVA. plural for "ovum"
Here's the grid, HOT off the presses:
I liked Steve's HOT idea; however, I wish there was more of a transformation for SEAT and TICKET. I also liked that we had both vertical and horizontal themers today. What do you think? It is difficult to please everyone -- only Some Like it Hot.
"Nobody's Perfect", the final scene from Some Like it Hot (1959)
starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, and Jack Lemmon (2 min.)
