11.30.09 -- TRAP



Monday, November 30, 2009

Puzzle by Oliver Hill, edited by Will Shortz

TRAP (66A. Word that can follow the ends of 18-, 25-, 43- and 58-Across), LIGHT SPEED (18A. 186,000 miles per second), AS QUIET AS A MOUSE (25A. Not making any sounds), BLUE-FOOTED BOOBY (43A. Seabird native to the Galápagos Islands) and GEORGE SAND (58A. French novelist who had an affair with Frédéric Chopin), e.g., speed trap, mousetrap, booby trap and sand trap, are the interrelated group of this post-tryptophanic-leftovers-weekend Monday crossword.

Seven- and eight-letter entries include AL DENTE (35A. Not too soft, as pasta), NOT A BIT (42D. Zilch), PLAYMATE (20A. Child’s friend), ROD CAREW (54A. Only American League player to win a batting crown without hitting a home run) and TRAYFUL (4D. Amount of food at a cafeteria).

Six-letter -- APERCU (10D. Hasty glance); BOUGHS (43D. Tree branches); DADDY-O (47D. Cool cat); E BONDS (46D. Old U.S. gov’t investments); ENLACE (5D. Intertwine); LONERS (44D. Recluses); NURSED (14A. Breast-fed); QUIT IT (6D. “Cut that out!”); SEEN AS (11D. Perceived to be); STERNA (22A. Breastbones); TRENDY (62A Chic); UNMASK (51A. Reveal); UPDATE (12D. Supply with more recent info); UPMOST (45D. Like Brahmins in the caste system).

Five -- AGENT (28D. 15-percenter); 41D. CESAR Romero, onetime player of the Joker); CROON (41A. Sing like Bing Crosby); 5. EQUAL sign (=); GALAS (33A. Fetes); 65A. PESOS (19D. Mexican moolah); RATSO Rizzo, Dustin Hoffman role).

Short stuff -- ALT, APE, ARF, ASH and ASU, AVER, BAIT, BETE, BIC, DOO and LOO, DST, ETTA, EVIL, EXO, FOCI, HRS, IATE, INB, KERR, LETS, MAE, “Après MOI le déluge”NONO, OOPS, PAUL, PEP, QUO, RANT, RIGA, SAN and SAX, SCAT, SEA, SEGA, SGT, SST, SCAT, RANT, REAR, TOY, URGE, WARP, WEEP, WEST, ZIT and ZOO.

One more trap! 

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Remaining clues -- Across: 1. Sunset direction; 10. Tempe sch.; 13. State as fact; 16. Vigor; 17. Latvia’s capital; 23. Central points; 24. Nonsense singing; 32. Left-handed Beatle; 34. Prefix with skeleton; 38. Clearasil target; 42. Taboo; 49. “My bad!”; 50. Worms, for a fisherman; 60. ___ noire; 61. 60-min. periods; 63. “I can’t believe ___ the whole thing!”; 64. Fast jet, for short. Down: 1. Twist out of shape; 2. Blackhearted; 3. Dreamcast game company; 7. Feel the ___; 8. Cigarette’s end; 9. “___ Go Crazy” (#1 Prince hit); 21. “Après ___ le déluge”; 25. Mimic; 26. “Wailing” instrument; 27. Status ___: 29. ___ Fernando Valley; 30. PC key; 31. Fannie ___ (home financing group); 35. Terrier’s bark; 36. London lavatory; 37. Scooby-___; 38. Where to see elephants and elands; 39. Schubert’s Symphony No. 8 ___ Minor; 40. Many an item in Santa’s bag; 48. Inexpensive pen; 52. ___ Pepper; 53. Deborah of “The King and I”; 54. Diatribe; 55. Derrière; 56. Jazzy James; 57. Bawl; 59. Adriatic or Aegean.



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