03.15.12 — The "F" O’ "Of"

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Puzzle by Kristian House / Edited by Will Shortz

Four answers each being clued via leprechaun that shift the letter F from the preposition OF to the fore of the third word of a common phrase to result in an uncommon phrase constitutes the interrelated group of this elusive Thursday crossword — most likely in honor of upcoming St. Patrick’s Day:

SPEED O’ FLIGHT (20A. Impatient leprechaun’s concern on an airplane?)
MASTER O’ FLAWS (31A. Degree for a leprechaun who’s an expert at finding imperfections)
GOSPEL O’ FLUKE (39A. Leprechaun’s book detailing the truth about flounders?)
BILL O’ FRIGHTS (50A. Scary legislation introduced by a leprechaun?)

Other — ALTDORF (7D. Swiss city where William Tell shot an apple), BLUE MOON (54A. Rare astronomical event), ELAINE’S (41D. Bygone Manhattan eatery), PATRONS, PINESOL, SORORAL, TAG SALE, TROUPERS (18A. Grin-and-bear-it types).

Mid-size — AFORE, A LIST, ALOFT, AW NUTS, BAR HOP, BASQUE, BASRA, BAR HOP, BEEGEE, BEGOT, BUSTS, DIODES, EBBED, ESSEX, GUILTY, ICE AGE (34A. Period when Long Island was formed), ILLUSE, MELEES, MYSTIC, ONEIDA, QUEST, SEXPOT, SWIFT.

Short stuff — ADOS, ARNE, ARES, ASAP, “Pictures AT AN Exhibition”, AWE, BAM, BBB, CAT, DEMI, DIRT, DUMA, DYE, EAST River, EAU, EKES, EMO, ESSE and ESSO, ETS, EULA, GIST, HMOS, I DO, IMAC, LING, LOLA, MEN, NEOS and NESS, OMAN, PAUL, ROSE, SEEP, SENT, SNL, SORT, TIP, TYNE, UTEP.

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Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Language in which “hello” is “Kaixo”; 7. Chop-chop; 11. Consumer protection org.; 14. “Phooey!”; 15. Hit song with the line “When she squeezed me tight she nearly broke my spine”; 16. French word that sounds like a letter of the alphabet; 17. Rows; 22. Gossip; 25. Type; 26. Modernists; 27. Musical genre of Jimmy Eat World; 28. Southern Iraqi city; 30. Ooze; 35. Some electronic parts; 43. Basic point; 45. Show biz elite; 46. Chess pieces; 47. “The Long, Hot Summer“ woman ___ Varner; 48. Mussorgsky‘s “Pictures ___ Exhibition“; 49. New York‘s ___ River; 55. Maharishi, e.g.; 59. Score keeper, for short?; 60. Obama education secretary Duncan; 61 Part of the Iroquois Confederacy; 62. Nice ‘n Easy product; 63. 1987 Costner role; 64. Vamp. — DOWN: 1. Punch accompanier; 2. Knock over; 3. Kind of short; 4. Fantasy novel element; 5. Miners’ sch.; 6. Latin 101 verb; 7. 8. Sisterly; 9. Up; 10. Beatle who was born with the first name James; 11. Any of the singers of “Jive Talkin’”; 12 Paint the town red, maybe; 13. Goes over 21 at the casino; 19. Clorox cleaner; 21. Brand name in a blue oval; 22. Brat Packer Moore; 23. Apple choice; 24. Symbol of the Virgin Mary; 28. Fathered; 29. Aphrodite’s lover; 30. Fleet; 32. Home-shopping event?; 33. Troubles; 33. Troubles; 36. Russian diet; 37. Squeezes (out); 38. Text message status; 40. Sugar daddies, e.g.; 42. TV journalist Lisa; 43. Word from a foreman; 44. Unjust treatment; 47. Died down; 48. Previously, to poets; 49. County on the Thames; 51. Arab nation that’s not in OPEC; 52. Insurance grps.; 53. Newcastle’s river; 56. Good thing that comes to those who wait?; 57. Formal “yes”; 58. Hipster.