08.02.12 — Duck, Duck, Goose

Duck Duck Goose - Joy DiNardo Bradley 

————————

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Puzzle by Xan Vongsathorn / Edited by Will Shortz

Duck, Duck, Goose or Duck, Duck, Gray Duck is a traditional children's game The object of this game is to walk in a circle, tapping on each child's head until one is finally chosen to be the new picker. ~ Wikipedia

DUCK in five squares and GOOSE in one constitutes the main feature of this playful Thursday crossword:

• SITTING [DUCK] (1A. Vulnerable one) with [DUCK] PIN (8D. Something short found in an alley
• PEKING [DUCK] (26A. Dish often served with hoisin sauce) with LAME [DUCK] (14D. Kind of session)
• [DUCK]WALKS (22A. Makes like Chuck Berry) with [DUCK] SOUP (22D. A cinch)
• [DUCK]-BILLED (50A. Platypus-like, in a way) with [DUCK] POND (50D. Centerpiece of many a park)
• DAISY [DUCK] (53A. Disney character with long eyelashes) with DEAD [DUCK] (36D. Toast, with “a”)
• [GOOSE]BERRIES (68A. Relatives of currants) with MON[GOOSE] (56D. Animal in a Kipling story)

Other — ANDRETTI (17A. Racing legend who voices a character in “Cars“), DIARIST, ICE SKATE (5D. Go in circles, in a way?), NO REALLY, OBLATES, ONE SCOOP, ON THE DOT, PLEATHER (40D. Non-deluxe sofa covering), SHOULD I, SPARROW.

Mid-size — ALONG, ANSEL Adams, AXILLA, BARER, Raison D'ÊTRE, DRESSY, ELLEN Page, ELMER’S, Open-ENDED, HIT TO, I’M SET, IN AWE, IRENE, LARVA, NEW ERA, NO DEAL, NOTES, ONSET, ORATED, OX-LIKE, OY VEY, PANAM, SEANS, SHARES, SLALOM, SONIA, WARDS, WONKA.

Short stuff — ANI, AUTO, AYE, DLI, EAR, “… ERE I saw Elba“, GALE, “I’ve GOT A Woman“, HIRE, INN, LIE, NAS, OLE, PALO Alto, SNOB, “SO A wise guy, eh?”, TED, TSR, TWO-D, TYS, UKE (37A. Something you might pick in Hawaii).

————————

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 9. “THAT’S your offer?!”; 15. Start of a small sundae; 16. Armpit; 18. Take turns skiing?; 19. Bean and Combs; 21. Memorable 2011 hurricane; 28. First name on the Supreme Court; 29. Exchange units; 31. Kickoff; 32. Get to work?; 33. Like a plane, for short; 38. Self-gratifying episode; 41. Response that’s often doubled; 44. Camera setting; 45. Doodlebug, e.g.; 47. More than shout; 54. “Catch Me If You Can” airline; 55. “That’ll do me”; 58. Presented an address; 60. Precisely; 65. Revolution brings it; 66. Sarcastic reply to the obvious; 67. Somewhat formal. — DOWN: 2. What a keeper keeps; 3. Annual conference with the slogan “Ideas worth spreading”; 4. Original Dungeons & Dragons co.; 6. Classroom writing; 7. #1 Ray Charles R&B hit “I’ve ___ Woman”; 9. “Illmatic” and “Stillmatic” rapper; 10. Strong, say; 11. Anne Frank, e.g.; 12. Actress Page of “Juno”; 13. Together (with); 20. Word with house or song; 22. A cinch; 23. Candy man played by Depp; 24. Photographer Adams; 25. Piece of fiction; 29. Question of self-doubt; 30. Give ground-ball practice, maybe; 34. Hospital divisions; 35. “Oh brother!”; 39. Air force?; 43. Monastery residents who have not taken monastic vows; 46. Young Skywalker, informally; 48. Glue with a bovine logo; 51. Not so well stocked; 52. More than impressed; 57. One who’s always looking down; 59. One revolution; 61. Organ that’s sensitive to vibrations; 62. Half of MCII; 63. Soccer stadium cry; 64. Cobb and Treadway.