“Uh-Oh” -- Minami-ke Okawari
----------------- Sunday, November 30, 2008 UH-OH, Puzzle by Richard Silvestri, edited by Will Shortz Substituting the sound of “oh” for that of “uh” is this Sunday crossword’s playfulness, resulting in the following entries: THERES THE ROBE (29A. Helpful comment to a judge?); PEACH FOES (47A. Fruit flies?); LOAM AND ABNER (62A. Dirty radio sitcom?); ARE WE HAVING PHONE YET (67A. Jokey question to a Verizon technician?); PERSIAN ROGUE (82A. Darius the Scamp?); FRIAR TOKE (88A. Pot-smoking cleric?); PAIN IN THE BOAT (105A. Result of excessive rowing?), reminding me of a faux pas, as with Japanese phonology, for a pain in the…!
Joining the personages of Friar Tuck and Lum and Abner in the crossword are ALAN (89D. Mathematician Turing); AMELIA (121A. Henry Fielding novel and heroine); a DOLT (110D. Dummkopf) DEODATO (39A. “Also Sprach Zarathustra” hitmaker, 1973); EARTHA (48D. Singer Kitt); ELIOT (21A. Economist Janeway); ESTELLA (90D. Miss Havisham’s ward in “Great Expectations”); EVANS (75A. Cowgirl Dale); EVITA (5D. 1979 Broadway hit with the song “On This Night of a Thousand Stars”); 115A. GWEN Torrence, American sprinter who won three gold medals at the 1992 and 1996 Olympics; ITT (113. Hairy TV cousin); LENORE (66D. Poe poem that ends “From grief and groan to a golden throne beside the King of Heaven”); a MEDIC (101A. One who may give you a shot in the arm); RAMIS (32A. “Stripes” actor, 1981);16A. Adolphe SAX, musical instrument inventor; a STAR (112D. Celeb); YUL (26A. Brynner of stage and screen); and OGOD (77D. Hymn start).
Pairings include a SLOB (37D. No neatnik) with a SAAB (38D. Volvo rival); COVET (104D. Desire) crossing CAVORT (117A. Make merry); LINE A (123A. Form beginning) and A LIST (12D. Celebs as a group); EVEN (64D. On a plane?) and ODDS (74A. Line at a track) with its’ Shortzesque partner, RUT (30D. Line at a track).
Entries longer than six letters usable in daily language include DECODES (109A. Makes clear); DEVELOP (11D. Evolve); ECOLOGIC (83D. Environment-related); GRADED (1A. Like tests and dirt roads); LATEDATE (10D. Point near the deadline); LAYSLOW (60D. Knocks down); LETTER (125A. Beth, for one); RASSLE (61A. Do some grappling’); REBATES 927A. Sale sweeteners); SALONS (73A. Beauty spots); SCOLDED (94A. Read the riot act to); STRETCHY (15D. Like Spandex); ROLLAWAY (84. Bed on wheels); TROPICAL (81D. Kind of storm).
Less likely to be used in day-to-day conversation are ABBACY (57A. Monastery office); ATONIC (23A. Not accented); IMARETS (44D. Turkish inns); LANARK (63D. Historical Scottish county); MACAWS (45D. Cousins of cockatiels); MENHADEN (9D. Herringlike fish); NOJIVE (19A. “Honestly, man!”); OOLONG (76A. Chinese brew); PARASOL (41D. Tropical drink embellishment); SHAVUOT (62D. Spring Jewish holiday); depending, of course, on one’s pursuits.
Five-letter entries -- ADULT (34A. Imago, e.g.); AIDED (87D. Backed up); ANDOR (67D. Compound conjunction); ANENT (72A. With regard to); ARRAS (58A. Polonius’s hiding place); ARUBA (17D. One o f the ABC Islands); ATOLL (119A. Set of keys?); CATER (98D. Provide the spread); CLAIM (43A. Insurance paperwork); COATI (91A. Raccoon relative); CORAL (114A. Shade of pink); DAMPS (11A. Deadens); DECAL (102D. Windshield attachment); DECEM (6D. X); DINAR (4D. Libyan money); 46A. Snowy EGRET; ELECT (50D. Send to the Hill, say); EWOKS (92 Endor inhabitants); GNATS (71A. Summer swarm); ICAME (103D. Part of Caesar’s boast); KNITS (65A. Makes a muffler, e.g.); LANCE (66A. Weapon in the Charge of the Light Brigade); OPINE (49D. Voice a view);RADII (68D. R’s, in math); RITZY (99D. Posh); SCRAP (7A. Donnybrook); SHALE (100D. Fossil-yielding rock); SIDED (28D. Joined forces with); SPIFF (97D. Spruce up); SPYON (16D. Watch furtively); STALL (100A. Engine problem); TENAM (35A. Brunch time); VISOR (25A. Poker player’s wear); XYLEM (18D. Plant circulatory tissue).
Three- and four-letter -- ACTS, AJOB, AREA, ARTY, CAB, CYTE, DET, EATS, ERIE, FEZ, FRY, GEST, GNAR (1D. Sound like an angry dog), GOLF, HAW, HTML, IANA, INSP, ITEM, KNT, LOI, LOST, MIST, NAE, NOON, NOTI, NUKE, NYSE, ORB, PACE, POOH, PLY and PRY, RANG, REEF, RIPS, ROTE, SAD, SEGA, SYNE, TAUR, TENT, TRON and TROT, USS, WONT (24A. Will’s opposite).
Uh-Oh!
------------------ For today’s cartoons, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.
Click on image to enlarge. Puzzle available on the internet at
THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games
If you subscribe to home delivery of The New York Times you are eligible to access the daily crossword via The New York Times - Times Reader, without additional charge, as part of your home delivery subscription.
Xword search information -- Across: 7. Web programmer’s medium; 20. It may be gray; 22. Open someone else’s e-mails, maybe; 36. Maine, e.g.: Abbr.; 4. A cadet might be asked to pick it up; 55. Given to show affectation; 56. Put to use; 80. Output of une legislature; 81. Bull: Prefix; 93. The story of the aftermath of Oceanic Flight 815; 96. The Tigers, on scoreboards; 118. Casbah wear; 120. Suffix for a collection; 122. Fix, as fritters; 124. Cell suffix. Down: 2. Saying again and again; 3. “Get ___” (doo-wop classic); 7. Turn to the left; 8. Home-run run; 13. Drops in the air; 14. “Fiddlesticks!”; 33. Genesis creator; 40. Scepter topper; 42. Variety show lineup; 51. Lang follower; 53. Big Board: Abbr.; 54. Tolled; 59. Criticizes in no uncertain terms; 65. Chess piece: Abbr.; 69. P.D. rank; 70. When shadows are shortest; 71. Green activity; 75. Grub; 78. Microwave; 79. Adventurous deed; 85. In the dumps; 86. Inventory unit; 95. Fleet member; 106. “Don’t look at me”; 107. 1982 Disney film; 108. Setting for many a reception; 111. War of 1812 battle site; 116. Paisley denial.
.PNG){kind=link}
