sumdaze here, wishing you a Happy Memorial Day! This national holiday commemorates all the men and women who have died in U.S. military service.
We had three themed clues today:
27 Across. Run-scoring out in baseball: SACRIFICE FLY.
44. Tech genius: COMPUTER WHIZ.
The reveal is at:
59 Across. Heartfelt tribute, or what can be found at the ends of 17-, 27-, and 44-Across?: MOVING WORDS.
I am sure that many MOVING WORDS will be said today as part of the various Memorial Day activities across the country. Nicely done, Amanda and Patti!
As for the themed answers ... ZOOM, FLY, and WHIZ are all words with a movement connotation. Look closely, however. None of them convey motion in their themer states. ZOOM is referring to a type of lens, FLY is referring to a type of hit, and WHIZ is referring to a type of person. Amanda has provided a textbook demonstration of how the meanings of the themed answers should transform in the reveal. 👍👍
Let's move on to the other clues:
Across:
1. Person who may win an Emmy: ACTOR. Here is a list of 124 Emmys that were awarded in January 2024 for achievements in 2023.
6. Stogie: CIGAR.
11. Toe bean spot: PAW. New to me ... toe beans are a cat's paw pads. I asked the internet if dogs could have toe beans. Here is one poster's take:
1. Person who may win an Emmy: ACTOR. Here is a list of 124 Emmys that were awarded in January 2024 for achievements in 2023.
6. Stogie: CIGAR.
11. Toe bean spot: PAW. New to me ... toe beans are a cat's paw pads. I asked the internet if dogs could have toe beans. Here is one poster's take:
While this subreddit is primarily for cats toes, other animal toes are allowed as long as they are cute and jellybean-like.
14. Jeweler's magnifier: LOUPE.
15. Make amends: ATONE.
16. Pub quaff: ALE.
19. Fish eggs: ROE.
20. Prefix meaning 41-Across: OTO-. and 41 Across. Hearing organ: EAR.
14. Jeweler's magnifier: LOUPE.
 |
| This jeweler is wearing a LOUPE. |
16. Pub quaff: ALE.
19. Fish eggs: ROE.
20. Prefix meaning 41-Across: OTO-. and 41 Across. Hearing organ: EAR.
For example, OTOmycosis is a fungal infection of the ear.
21. Graphic consulted before a cross-country road trip, for short: U.S. MAP.
22. Paid for a poker hand: ANTED.
24. Anticipate: FORESEE. Def.: to see (something, such as a development) beforehand.
26. Linger: STAY.
32. In base eight: OCTAL. A base 8 system only uses the digits 0 - 7. As a result, "8" is written as "10", "9" is written as "11", and "10" is written as "12". How do you think one would write "16"? Just continue the pattern and you will see that the answer is "20".
35. Book of Genesis shipbuilder: NOAH.
36. Belonging to us: OUR.
37. Blueberry desserts: PIES. Time for our first tune....
21. Graphic consulted before a cross-country road trip, for short: U.S. MAP.
 |
| Hand up if you like these U.S. MAPs made out of license plates! |
22. Paid for a poker hand: ANTED.
24. Anticipate: FORESEE. Def.: to see (something, such as a development) beforehand.
26. Linger: STAY.
35. Book of Genesis shipbuilder: NOAH.
36. Belonging to us: OUR.
37. Blueberry desserts: PIES. Time for our first tune....
Fats Domino performs Blueberry Hill on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1956.
It must have been difficult to play the piano while maintaining eye contact with the camera.
He makes it look easy!
38. First Nations carving: TOTEM.
40. Boring: DULL. and 30 Down. Break in the action: LULL.
Side note: The village of Dull, Scotland became sister cities with Boring, Oregon in 2012. Bland Shire, Australia joined them in 2013, creating what some people call the "Trinity of Tedium".
42. Uncommon: RARE.
43. "My, my!": GOLLY.
48. Charged particles: IONS.
49. "Try a sample!": HAVE ONE.
53. Black-and-white bamboo eater: PANDA. I recently heard on Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me! a news story about a zoo that drew criticism for painting dogs to look like PANDAs. They look pretty convincing to me!
55. Letter-shaped skirt style: A-LINE.
57. Quarterback Tagovailoa who led the NFL in passing yards in 2023: TUA.
58. Obamacare, initially: ACA. Affordable Care Act
62. Feline: CAT. and 65 Across. Tuxedo accessory: TIE.
63. Offer a perspective: OPINE.
64. "Practice makes perfect," e.g.: ADAGE.
66. Poet John known for 61-Downs: KEATS.
67. Affirmative answers: YESES.
Down:
1. Hard to form a bond with: ALOOF.
2. Admit guilt in: COP TO. I cannot say for certain; but, a quick web query seems to indicate that COP TO is short for "COP TO a plea (bargain)". The latter is specific to when the accused admits to a lighter crime to avoid the likelihood of a more severe sentence. Eventually, "COP TO" became slang for admitting to doing something.
3. Academic coach: TUTOR.
4. Nail polish brand with a Barbie collection: OPI.
5. Self-disqualification: RECUSAL. Def.: to remove (oneself) from participation to avoid a conflict of interest.
6. More relaxed: CALMER.
7. Chichen __: Mayan ruins: ITZA. In 1988 Chichen Itza was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site and in 2007 it was voted in a global survey as one of the New Seven wonders of the World. UNESCO website Perhaps we can dispatch Picard to go take some photos for us?
8. Yucky muck: GOOP.
9. "That's __-brainer!": A NO.
10. Competitor's chance for redemption: REMATCH.
11. Spilling red wine on the host's white couch, say: PARTY FOUL. We had this answer in this recent puzzle by Irish Miss and C.C. 😄
12. __ vera gel: ALOE. Have you tried the ALOE vera drinks with little pieces of gel at the bottom? I like them.
13. Dandelion, e.g.: WEED. How Dandelions Benefit You and Your Yard
18. "Just __": "Be right back": A SEC.
23. Scottish refusal: NAE.
25. Those, in Spanish: ESAS. Spanish uses different words for "those", depending on whether it is functioning as a pronoun (esos) [How much are those?], an adjective for a masculine noun (eses) [How much are those tacos?], or an adjective for a feminine noun (ESAS) [How much are those apples?]. Without any hints in the clue, we are left waiting for perps.
26. Former name of Thailand: SIAM. "Siam" changed to "Thailand" on June 24, 1939. It was briefly renamed "Siam" from 1946 to 1948.
28. Prefix with net or com: INTER-.
29. Adversary: FOE.
31. Every 12 mos.: YRLY. "Months" is abbreviated, so is "YeaRLY".
32. Oil cartel acronym: OPEC. Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries
33. Italian goodbye: CIAO.
34. Conclude: TERMINATE. This ended up being a nice, 9-letter symmetrical partner to PARTY FOUL.
38. Body ink, casually: TATS. Perhaps you have heard Groucho Marx sing Lydia the Tattooed Lady, but have you heard Kermit's version?39. Mine find: ORE.
40. Quick snooze: DOZE.
42. Go wild: RUN AMOK. "AMOK" is a fun word.
43. Buckle: GIVE WAY. Tricky, tricky! Here is a famous video (1:10 min.) of a bridge BUCKLing.
45. Edamame component: POD. "Mame" (pronounced mah-mayh) means "bean" in Japanese. Edamame are soybeans. They are a popular appetizer in Hawaii (and elsewhere). This is how I prepare them: Heat a box of frozen edamame still in their PODs in the microwave. Sprinkle with sea salt and serve. Super simple, right?!
46. Complains petulantly: WHINES.
47. Put up, as curtains: HANG.
50. Others, in Spanish: OTRAS. Again, we need perps to know the last vowel.
51. Prod gently: NUDGE.
52. Makes less complicated: EASES.
53. Treaty: PACT.
54. Berry in some purple smoothies: ACAI.
55. Adidas competitor: AVIA. Both are sport shoe companies.
42. Uncommon: RARE.
43. "My, my!": GOLLY.
 |
| Jim Nabors played PFC Gomer Pyle from 1964 to 1969. He could stretch out GOLLY to five syllables. |
48. Charged particles: IONS.
49. "Try a sample!": HAVE ONE.
53. Black-and-white bamboo eater: PANDA. I recently heard on Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me! a news story about a zoo that drew criticism for painting dogs to look like PANDAs. They look pretty convincing to me!
55. Letter-shaped skirt style: A-LINE.
57. Quarterback Tagovailoa who led the NFL in passing yards in 2023: TUA.
 |
| He plays for the Miami Dolphins. |
58. Obamacare, initially: ACA. Affordable Care Act
62. Feline: CAT. and 65 Across. Tuxedo accessory: TIE.
 |
| A black & white cat is often called a "tuxedo CAT". This one is sporting a bow TIE. |
63. Offer a perspective: OPINE.
64. "Practice makes perfect," e.g.: ADAGE.
66. Poet John known for 61-Downs: KEATS.
67. Affirmative answers: YESES.
Down:
1. Hard to form a bond with: ALOOF.
2. Admit guilt in: COP TO. I cannot say for certain; but, a quick web query seems to indicate that COP TO is short for "COP TO a plea (bargain)". The latter is specific to when the accused admits to a lighter crime to avoid the likelihood of a more severe sentence. Eventually, "COP TO" became slang for admitting to doing something.
3. Academic coach: TUTOR.
4. Nail polish brand with a Barbie collection: OPI.
5. Self-disqualification: RECUSAL. Def.: to remove (oneself) from participation to avoid a conflict of interest.
6. More relaxed: CALMER.
7. Chichen __: Mayan ruins: ITZA. In 1988 Chichen Itza was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site and in 2007 it was voted in a global survey as one of the New Seven wonders of the World. UNESCO website Perhaps we can dispatch Picard to go take some photos for us?
8. Yucky muck: GOOP.
9. "That's __-brainer!": A NO.
10. Competitor's chance for redemption: REMATCH.
11. Spilling red wine on the host's white couch, say: PARTY FOUL. We had this answer in this recent puzzle by Irish Miss and C.C. 😄
12. __ vera gel: ALOE. Have you tried the ALOE vera drinks with little pieces of gel at the bottom? I like them.
18. "Just __": "Be right back": A SEC.
23. Scottish refusal: NAE.
25. Those, in Spanish: ESAS. Spanish uses different words for "those", depending on whether it is functioning as a pronoun (esos) [How much are those?], an adjective for a masculine noun (eses) [How much are those tacos?], or an adjective for a feminine noun (ESAS) [How much are those apples?]. Without any hints in the clue, we are left waiting for perps.
26. Former name of Thailand: SIAM. "Siam" changed to "Thailand" on June 24, 1939. It was briefly renamed "Siam" from 1946 to 1948.
28. Prefix with net or com: INTER-.
29. Adversary: FOE.
31. Every 12 mos.: YRLY. "Months" is abbreviated, so is "YeaRLY".
32. Oil cartel acronym: OPEC. Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries
33. Italian goodbye: CIAO.
34. Conclude: TERMINATE. This ended up being a nice, 9-letter symmetrical partner to PARTY FOUL.
38. Body ink, casually: TATS. Perhaps you have heard Groucho Marx sing Lydia the Tattooed Lady, but have you heard Kermit's version?39. Mine find: ORE.
40. Quick snooze: DOZE.
42. Go wild: RUN AMOK. "AMOK" is a fun word.
 |
| Perhaps he should try some 55-Downs. |
45. Edamame component: POD. "Mame" (pronounced mah-mayh) means "bean" in Japanese. Edamame are soybeans. They are a popular appetizer in Hawaii (and elsewhere). This is how I prepare them: Heat a box of frozen edamame still in their PODs in the microwave. Sprinkle with sea salt and serve. Super simple, right?!
 |
| Eat them as a finger food. You can "pinch" out the beans. Do not eat the PODs! |
47. Put up, as curtains: HANG.
50. Others, in Spanish: OTRAS. Again, we need perps to know the last vowel.
51. Prod gently: NUDGE.
52. Makes less complicated: EASES.
53. Treaty: PACT.
54. Berry in some purple smoothies: ACAI.
55. Adidas competitor: AVIA. Both are sport shoe companies.
This is the final word beginning with the letter "A". Today's grid had three 3-letter, four 4-letter, and six 5-letter words that begin with the letter "A". Not that there's anything wrong with that....
56. Dryer buildup: LINT.
60. Midwestern exclamation of surprise: OPE. Perhaps someone from The Midwest can elaborate?
61. Poem of praise: ODE. Here is a delightful poem of praise by Mingyu Y. entitled, Ode to crosswords: Are you down for a cross?
That's all for today. Please be extra safe & smart if you are traveling this holiday weekend!
56. Dryer buildup: LINT.
60. Midwestern exclamation of surprise: OPE. Perhaps someone from The Midwest can elaborate?
61. Poem of praise: ODE. Here is a delightful poem of praise by Mingyu Y. entitled, Ode to crosswords: Are you down for a cross?
You know, all this moving talk makes me think we will need some moving boxes. You will find more than enough below:
