07.20.12 — TÊTE-À-TÊTES



Judi Dench as Barbara Covett in the film Notes On A Scandal (2006)

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Friday, July 20, 2012

Puzzle by Martin Ashwood-Smith / Edited by Will Shortz

Six fifteen-letter answers constitute the main feature of this very friendly Friday crossword:

GENERAL ELECTION (31A. Primary counterpart)
AS STUPID AS CAN BE (37A. Unable to get any thicker)
NOTES ON A SCANDAL (38A. Film for which Judi Dench was nominated for Best Actress)
WILMA FLINSTONE (6D. Maker of gravel berry pies)
I MARRIED AN ANGEL (7D. “Spring Is Here” musical)
FAMOUS LAST WORDS (8D. “Like you’re really going to do that”)


Cate Blanchett and Andrew Simpson in the film Notes on a Scandal (2006)

Other — AM I TO BLAME (17A. Scapegoat’s query), IN STEP WITH (27D. Conforming to), LOG-ROLLING (53A. Back-scratchers’ activity), PROTESTANT (10D. Congregationalist, e.g.), TÊTE-À-TÊTES (28D. Private powwows), YORBA LINDA (11D. Richard Nixon’s birthplace).

Mid-size — ASTRO, AT NOON, EBBED, EMORY, EMPTY, JUROR, MEALY, MECCA, MORRO, NASAL, NIMROD (21A. Klutz), ON LOW, ORONO, OTARU, OUNCE, RUSTY, SAW TO, WISER.

Short stuff — AGER, AJAX, ALOE, APO, BINS, BOA, BOWE, BRIT, DOHS, EAT, EELS, EGAN, EMIT, ERTE, ESL, EXED, Hi-FIS, IMAX, LUI, MESO, NELS, OBAD, ONCE, ONE D, OR SO, PYNE, ROAM, ROT, SUMO, TADS, TBAR, TNT, TOO, TRIX, WIFE, XOX.

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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. Pirate battler, at times; 6. Not a single person; 10. Christie detective Parker ___; 14. Peer review participant?; 15. Big movie fan’s option?; 16. Lack direction; 19. Nearly; 20. Certain losing line; 22. Boarder’s way up; 23. City on Ishikari Bay; 24. Granular; 25. Shoot out; 30. It fosters bilingualism: Abbr.; 39. Parent’s diner order?; 40. Things bust when it booms; 41. Young ‘uns; 42. Dangerous thing to run on; 44. Carried out; 47. He took Holyfield’s title away in 1992; 48. When shadows are shortest; 49. Camp accessory; 52. Programme watcher, say; 55. “Athena” artist; 56. Like lines, briefly; 57. Modicum; 58. Head slappers’ cries; 59. Some nonkosher fish; 60. Having learned things. — DOWN: 1. Sophocles tragedy; 2. Rikishi’s specialty; 3. Multicolored breakfast food; 4. Biodegrade, say; 5. Black Bears’ home; 9. Struck out; 12. Snooty?; 13. The Eagles of the N.C.A.A.; 18. Shtick; 24. Vegas, vis-à-vis gambling; 25. “Diaspora” author Greg; 26. American leader?; 32. In need of brushing up; 33. Major mail handler?: Abbr.; 34. Bailout button; 35. Book after Amos: Abbr.; 36. Marlon Brando’s “I Remember Mama” role; 42. Fell off; 43. Havana’s ___ Castle; 45. When doubled, affected; 46. Barely running; 48. Soap additive; 49. Bargain basement lineup; 50. Head of a tale?; 51. Heavy drinking, e.g.; 54. Elle’s counterpart.


 

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