02.10.08 -- English Reverse

Sunday, February 10, 2008

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REVERSE ENGLISH, Puzzle by Bill Zais, edited by Will Shortz

A dozen across entries play on opposites:

TOPSBOTTOM (22. Part of a blouse that touches the waist?);

FATSSKINNY (23. The real scoop about lipids?);

MAJORSMINOR (33. Under-age child of a military officer?);

BEARSBULL (38. Nonsense of a market pessimist?);

PLAYSWORK (53. Toil of a Broadway show?);

HEAVYSLIGHT (55. Match for a bad guy?);

SPRINGSFALL (78. What can produce a “boing!”?);

HIRESFIRE (82. Ardor of a new employee?);

GOSRETURN (93. Comeback of a Japanese game?);

CASHSCHARGE (95. Singer Johnny’s gallop?);

LEFTSRIGHT (113. Privilege of liberals?);

PARKSDRIVE (115. Road in Yellowstone?).

For a dissertation upon the above inter-related entries, check Rex.

The remaining Across: 1. Inferior; 10. Puzzle page favorite; 15. S. Amer. land; 19. Like some addresses; 20. Communist’s belief; 25. Portion of a drag queen’s wardrobe; 26. Bumptious; 27. Toy company that launched Rubik’s Cube; 28. Bad REP; 29. Snowmobile parts; 31. Professional with an x-ray machine: Abbr.; 44. Affirm; 45. Oven maker; 46. Caught in ALIE; 47. Biblical birthright seller; 48. Oscar winner Hunt; 50. Glad Wrap competitor; 51. Pianist Dame Myra; 52. Missy Elliott’s “DATS What I’m Talkin’ About”; 58. Owns; 59. Fine-tune; 60. Italian port on the Adriatic; 61. Make AMESS of; 62. Sam’s Club competitor; 64. Watchdog org.?; 72. Fixes; 74. Hair behind the ears, maybe; 75. E-mail directive: Abbr.; 84. Bookstore sect.; 85. “Our Gang” affirmative; 86. Stop early; 88. Botulin, e.g.; 89. “IRMA la Douce,” 1963 film; 90. Charlie’s Angels, e.g.; 91. Tally mark; 92. Torn; 98. It can be measured in gigs; 99. So; 100. “Yo!”; 101. Over; 105. Moliere’s Harpagon, e.g.; 108. Prosperity; 110. Go the other way; 118. Become level; 119. Darlin’; 120. Give it ATRY; 121. Say yes; 122. Reason to take Valium.

Nice to see LINDA in the puzzle -- Madness... Crossword and Otherwise!

The Downs: 1. Trampled; 2. Accidents; 3. “ITS Alive!” (1974 thriller); 4. One looking for a lift?; 5. Wilts; 6. Comic Rudner; 7. New Testament book; 8. “The way of nature”; 9. Popular street name; 10. Patriot Putnam of the American Revolution; 11. When planes are due, for short; 12. Equivocator’s choice; 13. Child-raiser’s cry?; 14. Start of a cheer; 15. City WNW of Stillwater; 16. Francois Truffaut’s field; 17. West Point rival, for short; 18. AMYL nitrate; 19. Polo Grounds legend; 21. Words sung before and after “is just”; 26. Literally, “Fish tooth”; 28. Rambunctious; 29. Lewis Carroll creature; 30. Hawaii’s KONA Coast; 32. Habiliments; 33. “Happy Days” character; 34. Province of central Spain; 35. Villain in “Martin Chuzzlewit”; 36. National Treasure” group; 37. Turkish hospice; 38. Believers in the spiritual unity of all people; 39. Roadside sign abbr.; 40. Obscure; 41. Gas bill info; 42. Roofing items; 43. Years (for); 49. Refuse holder; 54. It’s pitched; 56. Times gone by; 57. Current; 60. Be angry; 63. It’s kept within the lines, usually; 65. Sully; 66. “At the EARTHS Core,” 1976 sci-fi film; 67. Laredo-to-Fort Worth dir.; 68. Comparable in size; 69. Veep after Hubert; 70. Destinations of some limos; 71. Perfecto, e.g.; 73. One taking a quick look; 75. Handyman; 76. Squeeze-dry; 77. Al DENTE; 7. Must, informally; 80. Ukulele activity; 81. Playable; 82. HOTSY-totsy; 83. Venture; 87. Erymanthian BOAR, fourth labor of Hercules; 94. Artist Max; 96. Pure; 97. Restrained; 99. Sports car since ‘53; 101. Italian wheels; 102. Moola; 103. Miles away; 104. ITTY-bitty; 106. “The Lay of the Host of IGOR” (old Russian epic poem); 107. Elisabeth of “Leaving Las Vegas”; 108. Small warbler; 109. Makes (out); 110. Speeds; 111. Alamo battler?; 112. 1,000 smackers; 114. Actor Stephen; 116. West Coast hrs.; 116. Wow; 117. “Riddle-me-REE”.

Although I wasn’t thrilled with this one, it’s an innocuous and inventive crossword best solved on a lazy Sunday afternoon -- and, well, isn’t that exactly when it’s meant to be done!

ANSWERSQUESTION (TV game show twist?)?

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