03.22.12 — Mixing It Up

Casse-tête mécanique conçu par W. Altekruse, 1890

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Thursday, March 22, 2012

Puzzle by Alan Arbesfeld / Edited by Will Shortz

Mixed-up phrases with sound-alike endings constitute the main feature of this Thursday crossword: BELMONT STEAKS (19A. Entrees for one of Dion’s backup singers?), PARKING BREAKS (30A. Discounts at garages?), CHOPPED STAKES (36A. Severely reduced wagers?) and SERVICE BRAKES (52A. What mechanics may do as part of a tuneup?).

Other — AILERON (17A. Wing part), ATLASES (18A. Their images are out of this world), BOWED TO, COLLEEN, DIG INTO, DUELERS, ELLIPSE, EROTICA, GOES MAD, GRADUAL, GRATING, MISS USA, OHM’S LAW (38D. Current principle), ON ALERT, RAN WITH, SANTINI (7D. “Great” part for Duval), SHAKE UP, SPRITES, THE EDGE (41D U2 member).

Mid-size — CONAN, Zhou ENLAI, ITEMS, “I THEE wed”, IT IS I, Nita NALDI, OATES, OPERAS (46D. Met expectations?), OVERT, PRIEST, RASSLE, SEABEE, TOGAE, TREED.

Short stuff — APPS, ATE, “Bramble BRAE“, BURL, COB and COG, CROP, DHS, ECON, ELLE, ESTS, ETO, GEM, HOE and HOR, IRS, NAPA Valley, OKIE, ONO, OOHS, POI, RAKE, RAT, REAL, STAN, SWAK, Casse-TÊTE, TIRO, TSAR, UZI, ZAK.

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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. The Rhinemaidens in the “Ring” cycle, e.g.; 8. Cracks up; 15. Hot stuff; 16. Went for on a gut feeling; 21. Ballpark figs.; 22. “Who’s there?” reply; 23. Weapon in some raids; 26. W.W. II arena; 27. Late-night TBS show; 29. Old royal; 34. Laulau side dish; 35. Singer; 43. Circus sounds; 45. Like a line whose slope is zero: Abbr.; 48. Sweetheart; 49. Forum garb; 56. Irish lass; 58. Ones requesting seconds?; 59. Primed; 60. Not so fast; 61. Showed reverence for, in a way; 62. Orbital figure. — DOWN: One making camp?; 2. White-collar worker; 3. Antique desk feature; 4. Celebrity couples, usually; 5. Rookie: Var.; 6. Big campaign topic: Abbr.; 7. “Great” part for Duvall; 8. Danger for wearers of high-heel shoes; 9. O. Henry Award winner for “In the Region of Ice” (1967) and “The Dead” (1973); 10. China’s Zhou ___; 11. Valentine letters?; 12. Wearer of a crown since 1952; 13. Absorbed the cost of; 14. Some A.L. batters; 20. “South Park” boy; 24. Ringo’s drumming son; 25. Grp. With a complex code; 27. Shorten; 28. 1930s migrant; 29. Casse-___ (French brainteaser); 31. Many downloads; 32. “Bramble ___” (book of Robert Bridges poems); 33. Casino collector; 36. Certain tooth; 37. Flat-headed tool; 39. Start chowing down; 40. Opposite of legato: Abbr.; 42. Disturb; 47. Brawl in the backwoods; 49. In a tough spot; 50. Plain; 51.
Silents star Nita; 53 Palindromic magazine title; 54. Small knot; 55. Very, informally; 56. Ear piece?; 57. Celebrity widowed in 1980.