01.06.11 — Breaking Ranks

Garngad Gunners with Field Marshal Montgomery 1943

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Thursday, January 6, 2011

Puzzle by Mike Nothnagel, edited by Will Shortz

BREAK / RANKS (9A. With 65-Across, go against the group … or what the circled squares literally do in the answers to the starred clues) along with CAP[I]TAIN, MA[N]JOR, EN[T]SIGN and MARSH[M]AL found within PER CAPITA INCOME (17A. *Average national earnings), AMMAN JORDAN (26A. *Capital ENE of Jerusalem), PERCENT SIGN (44A. *Symbol above a 5) and MARSHMALLOW PEEP (59A. *Easter basket treat) comprises the interrelated group of this awkward Thursday crossword.

Other — AY CARAMBA (4D.Bart Simpson catchphrase), BRITPOP (39A. Genre for the Spice Girls and Oasis), EYE BANK (37A. Organ donation site), HIT and RUN (40D and 53A. Partners, traffic-wise), ICE FLOE (42D. Penguin’s locale), IT’S SIMPLE (33D. “No sweat …”), NETWORK (7D. Make some connections), SPLIT PEAS (34D. Some soup ingredients), WAR HAMMER (3D. Medieval close-combat weapon).

Mid-size — A AND E (16A. Sister of the Biography Channel), ADMEN, ELIOT, E-NOTE, EXHALE, IT’S OK, KEELS, MISDO, MORAL, OCALA, RACKS, RARIN, RELAYS, TAMER, X-RAYED (8D. Saw right through?).

Short stuff — ACAT, ACER, AHEM, ALP, AMEX, ARA and ARK, BAN, BOER, DOUG, ELEM, ELF, EPEE, ESTE, HAMM, HTS, ICI, IMAY, IOTA, IOU, JAN, JAPE, JINX, KTEL, LANE, LEER, LENT, LYE, MAYO, NMI, OPEN, POET, PORK, SEEN and SOON, SENS, SLUE, THAW, TORI, WAWA, WIPE, WYO, YOYO (63A. Jerk).

Break ranks — Fall out of line or into disorder; also, fail to conform, deviate. For example, The recruits were warned that they must not break ranks, or Harry was told to adhere to the party platform and not break ranks. This idiom uses rank in the sense of “soldiers drawn up in line,” and the term originally referred to their falling into disarray. The figurative usage dates from the mid-1800s. — The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — 1. Thirsty toddler’s request; 5. Hurl curse words at?; 14. Reply suggesting “perhaps”; 15. Big name in PCs; 20. Let it all out?; 21. Mont. Neighbor; 22. “Hooked on Classics” record company; 23. Era of ___ (period in Notre Dame football history); 24. One who works in feet and meters; 25. Chamber workers: Abbr.; 30. Olympic gymnast Paul or Morgan; 31. Something for pairs to enter?; 32. Screw up; 41. “Slow and steady wins the race,” e.g.; 42. Poker game memento, maybe; 43. Turn around; 48. Danish kroner, topologically speaking; 52. Not look so good?; 54. Nervous as ___; 55. Pole position holder?; 56. Use a portion of, as one song in another; 62. Ex-governor Spitzer; 64. Race assignment; 66. Spotted; 67. Ciudad del ___ (second-largest city in Paraguay). — DOWN: 1. Exhaust, with “out”; 2. Green card, in brief; 5. Mock; 6. French “present”; 9. Shut out; 10. Sets up, as pool balls; 11. Short online message; 12. Pro pitchers; 13. Falls (over); 18. Actor Rickman of the Harry Potter films; 19. Bit; 24. Bill bloater; 26. “Excuse me …”; 27. Lunch spread, often; 28. Qtr. Starter; 29. Application letters; 35. QB Flutie; 36. Place the first bet; 38. 2006 Winter Olympics backdrop; 39. Orange Free State settler; 45. Ca, Co or Cu; 46. Some races; 47. Get out of the cold?; 48. Circus chairperson?; 49. Florida’s ___ National Forest; 50. ___ to go; 51. “There, there”; 56. Before you know it; 57. Time to give up?; 58. Thin blade; 60. Cleveland ___, O.; 61. Caustic soda.