Theme: It's synonymous!
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| The Thesaurus-saurus LOVED this puzzle!! Puzzling thoughts: I once again have a Zachary David Levy puzzle to recap The infamous "ZHUZH" puzzle is in the hyperlink above. Remember that one? Today, Zachary's "wordplay" used a number of synonyms to describe (clue) the five entries he squeezed into this 15x15 grid. All five entries' clues have a trio of words that reference the first part of the answer. All five of the answers are a compound word/phrase whose second half is related to a form of communication. How you ask? Well, let's examine each of them: 17-across. Ermine, polecat, mink, etc.: WEASEL WORDS. Each of these three animals are in the weasel family. Each of these three are also words. The phrase weasel words [according to Wikipedia] refers to: "a word or phrase aimed at creating an impression that something specific and meaningful has been said, when in fact only a vague, ambiguous, or irrelevant claim has been communicated." "Examples of weasel words include the phrases "some people say", "it is thought", and "researchers believe". Using weasel words may allow one to later deny any specific meaning if the statement is challenged, because the statement was never specific in the first place." Unlike, I guess, the toothpaste commercial when they claimed, "4 out of 5 dentists recommend Colgate". That's pretty specific But certainly, the ad phrase mentioned in the video below would be an example of weasel words, IMO: 24-across. Bouncing off the walls, frenzied, feverish, etc.: HYPERTEXT. Or is it HYPER TEXT? (two words). When describing the word "hyper" the synonyms you might use include those in the clue. One of those synonyms - "bouncing off the walls" - actually fits both the compound word hypertext and the compound phrase hyper text. Click this hyperlink to see how! 34-across. Sodium chloride, potassium cyanide, calcium phosphate, etc.: SALTY LANGUAGE. NaCl, KCN, and Ca3(PO4)2 are all salts. They are also words "in the language". But most of us (when confronted with salty language) have a different image in our minds:  46-across. On the house, gratis, comped, etc.: FREE VERSE. Does this need to be further explained or are y'all starting to see how today's puzzle works?? If you're still confused, I will try to 'splain it with a Moe-ku: When I write my blog 56-across. Violaceous, heliotrope, mauve, etc.: PURPLE PROSE. For those not familiar with the term "purple prose", click on this link My three "nits" with today's puzzle are: 1) HYPERTEXT. Despite my discovery of a book (text) called "Bouncing off the Walls", hypertext is a compound word; all of the other entries use a compound two-word phrase 2) The phrase purple prose is defined as "excessive use of adjectives, adverbs, and metaphors". It would have been nice to have had something other than two adjectives and a noun in the clue. I wish Zachary/Patti had used "shrinking violet" instead of violaceous when he/she finalized the clue 3) Anytime a constructor uses 50 or more characters for their entries (or uses 5 entries), it usually means that the grid will be rife with the dreaded TLW (3-letter word) Sorry Irish Miss; today's puzzle has 25 of them (if I counted correctly). More on those, later All-in-all I will rate this one: ⭐⭐ 1/2⭐'s Here is the grid, and then a brief recap of the other clues/answers. My intro today took quite a while to write and edit ...  Note before we get started: you will notice that a couple of today's words (UTES / FOOLS) appeared earlier this week |
4. Luxurious: UPSCALE. Can you think back to what was the most upscale item you've ever owned? For Miss Margaret and me it was an automobile. Hers, a Chrysler Sebring Convertible; mine, an Audi 2-door sports coupe
11. "The Marvels" director DaCosta: NIA. (TLW #2 - Proper name #1) - this filled via perps as I was unfamiliar with this director. Here is an interview with her:
14. Contented sigh: AHH. (TLW #3) This expression is not a contented one when the doctor sticks a tongue depressor into your mouth and asks you to say it
15. As requested: TO ORDER. What I enjoy about dining out - especially for breakfast - is being able to have my eggs, e.g., made to order. Like this, maybe?
19. Tats: INK. (TLW #5) This is becoming a crossword staple (clue/entry)
20. Red shade: CERISE. When I was a kid, my crayon box had 8 colors. Period. Cerise wasn't among them. And technically, cerise is a pink shade
21. Less than zero: Abbr.: NEG. (TLW #6) I am pos. about this
22. Citrus drinks: ADES. Isn't this just another 3-letter word made plural?
23. Prince in "The Little Mermaid": ERIC. Aka, Jonah Hauer-King
26. Quaint contraction: TIS. (TLW #7)
27. Salon job: DYE. (TLW #8)
29. Muse of poetry: ERATO. How does Erato even show up, anymore, in crossword puzzles? I would've thought that she was banished alongside the likes of Ott, Orr, and Alou
30. Dolts: TOM FOOLS. A better clue for our regular bloggers would be: What TTP or desper-otto does on April 1st?
33. Bird: Pref.: AVI. (TLW #9) If Zachary or Patti had clued it as this it would have been more difficult to solve, IMO
38. Past: AGO. (TLW #10)
39. Not plugged in: WIRELESS. I so enjoy the newer models of cars these days. Wireless connection means not having to use the power cord attached to my iPhone (Apple Play)
41. Help desk staffer, briefly: IT PRO. Somewhat similar to (8-down. Seller of TV spots:) AD REP.
44. __ Cruces, New Mexico: LAS. (TLW #11)
45. Toll rd.: TPK. (TLW #12)
50. Wells race of the future: ELOI.
51. + or - particles: IONS. Isn't this just another 3-letter word made plural?
52. Fawn mama: DOE. (TLW #13)
55. __ drop: MIC. (TLW #14) and Moe-ku #2 (slightly political):
When former Pres. said
He would dismiss his VP,
Was that a MIC drop?
as an aside, I find it an interesting coincidence that the 2024 VP choice for this former Pres. has a last name that is also five letters in length, and ends in the letters "nce" ... another interesting coincidence is the first and middle initials of the party candidates: DJ and JD
58. Cover letters?: AKA. (TLW #15)
59. Nail polish remover: ACETONE. As somebody who doesn't use nail polish, this one was a bit unfamiliar to me, but it makes sense
60. Vast body: SEA. (TLW #16)
61. Sharp bark: YAP. (TLW #17)
62. Doesn't just ask for: DEMANDS.
63. The Oilers, on ESPN tickers: EDM. (TLW #18, and a CSO to CanadianEh!) A timely entry as the Edmonton Oilers were vying for the Stanley Cup just a month ago. Alas, the Oilers succumbed to the Florida Panthers in game 7
BLOG INTERMISSION ... (if you need to refill your coffee/tea mug/cup, or go to the restroom, now's a good time. When you return, I have a little "challenge" for you
Are you back? OK, here is the challenge: Please sing out only the vowels in this Canadian pop artist's name:
CELINE DION
Down:
1. Big name in 1970s Angels: FAWCETT. Who else was thinking about the Los Angeles baseball team? I was. But this woman was well-known as being one of Charlie's Angels (ABC hit TV series co-starring actress Farrah):
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| Back in her "big hair" days |
2. General Mills staple: CHEERIOS. As an aside, how did General Mills allow Quaker Oats to come up with the Cap'n Crunch brand?? 😉
How about Moe-ku #3, instead? A bit sophomoric (sorry, Yellowrocks):
The British toddler
Was weaned from tata(s), and now
Prefers, CHEERIO(s)
3. Personal magnetism: CHARISMA. A must these days for political candidates
4. Heavy-duty vehicles, for short: UTES. Or how about this for a clue? Appropriate rental vehicles for fans of a Salt Lake City-based University?
5. Global extreme: POLE. Am I the only person to wonder why Santa Claus doesn't live at the South Pole?
6. Plant: SOW. (TLW #19) Moe-l'ick #1:
Johnny Appleseed wanted to know
That his fame as a planter would grow.
After planting his trees
He waived all of his fees:
No one's yet called him, "you SOW and SOW"
7. Lifelong pal: CRONY. [dictionary dot com] shows the origin of this word as follows: "mid 17th century (originally Cambridge university slang): from Greek khronios ‘long-lasting’ (here used to mean ‘contemporary’), from khronos ‘time’."
9. High precipice: LEDGE.
10. Urgent care ctrs.: ERS. (TLW #20 - another abbr. pl.)
11. "Beats me": NO IDEA. Not today; I definitely had an idea about where this puzzle was heading as I solved the entries
12. "Wait your turn!": I'M NEXT.
13. Invites for: ASKS TO.
18. [Not my mistake]: SIC. (TLW #21) The [brackets] gave this one away
22. Related to a heart chamber: ATRIAL. Or (if you separated atrial into two words), what there would be if the A-Team was sued and taken to court? An A-TRIAL. No? How about this? What Iranian banker said to Jerry Maguire when he returned with some dollars? "You had me AT RIAL!"
24. Alternative to high water: HELL. I kind of liked this one:
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| Does anyone remember when they called those type of pants, high waters?? |
25. Variety shows: REVUES.
28. Go up and down: YO-YO. Like many fad diets
31. Solar phenomena: FLARES.
32. Spotted: SAW. (TLW #22) "Pied" (as in a spotted horse) wouldn't fit
33. Uttar Pradesh tourist site: AGRA. Uttar Pradesh is a state in N. Central India - in which the city of Agra is located (Taj Mahal is the tourist site there)
35. River fed by Lake Victoria: NILE.
36. Break out: GET LOOSE. My first thought was Cut Loose - anyone else??
37. Embraced: ESPOUSED. Moe-ku #4:
Instead of a ring
Frugal guy decided to
ESPOUSE his ESPOUSED
40. Group that's always looking for a lift?: SKI TEAM. Ha Ha!
41. Polite interjection: IF I MAY. Miss Margaret is at times frustrated (or maybe confused) when I ask her a favor and begin the request with "May you please ... ?"
42. Three-horse ride: TROIKA.
47. Draw out: EDUCE. Or, what is the lowest playing card in an on-line deck?
48. "Our Town" composer Ned: ROREM. On a positive note, today's puzzle did not have many proper names. Rorem adapted his opera (Our Town) from Wilder's play in 2005
49. Anatomical dividers: SEPTA. This is what Bing shows when you type the word "septa" into the browser. Hmm. Let's dig a little deeper ... when you enter the word "septa anatomy" the word septum appears. Septa is its plural (see the clue - "dividers"). Sometimes, folks, I just research these to inform myself ... and if you don't believe me, then look at this image of a lingual septum 😛
50. Fumble: ERR. (TLW #23)
53. Stave (off): FEND.
54. Parrots: APES. As in mimics; not bird-related. We had that earlier with avi. And yet another 3-letter word pluralized
56. Paw cushion: PAD. (TLW #24)
57. Chaney known as "The Man of a Thousand Faces": LON. (TLW#25) Here is just one of Lon's many faces:
And that's a [stole, scarf, boa].
On a personal note, I have a plethora of puzzles that have not been published. As a treat to anyone here who might want more crossword puzzles to solve, please send me a private email message (my email is in my profile) and I will be happy to share them. You will need to download the Across Lite software in order to solve (either on your computer, or by printing them out). The puzzles will come as an attachment (.puz). Just click on it and enjoy; no strings attached!
On another personal note, if you are interested in hearing a recent (2022) recital featuring my daughter, please click on this link as it will take you to Fred Childs' Your Classical Today on NPR
