04.09.12 — A Matter of Taste

"The Fox and the Grapes," one of Aesop's Fables, Illustration by Milo Winter, 1919.

The phrase sour grapes is an expression originating from "The Fox and the Grapes," one of Aesop's Fables. It refers to pretending not to care for something one does not or cannot have.

————————

Monday, April 9, 2012

Puzzle by Nancv Kavanaugh / Edited by Will Shortz

SOUR GRAPES (17A. Negative reaction to failure), SALTY LANGUAGE (23A. Sort of words that sailors are famous for), BITTER ENEMIES (47A. Feuding families, e.g.) and SWEET TOOTH (57A. Sugar craving) constitute the interrelated group of this sweet Monday crossword.

Other — BEDBUGS (10D. Mattress invaders), CAPSIZE (27A. Flip over), POLISH OUT (32D. Remove, as scratches on an auto), SANSKRIT (39A. Source of the word “karma”), SITCOMS (40D. “2 Broke Girls” and “30 Rock”), SOUP SPOON (3D. Chowder eater’s utensil), T S ELIOT (45A. “Cats” poet), WINGSPAN (31A. It’s about six feet for a turkey vulture).

Mid-size — ABZUG, AVOID, BOISE, B SIDE, DEIST, DOLLS, ELIZA, ESSAY, GELID, HEAR YE (6D. When repeated, a crier‘s cry), INNER circle, NIELS, ON ICE, PEEVE, REPEL, SHRED and SHRUB, SIEGE, SMITHY, SPRITZ, Mother TERESA of Calcutta, TITAN, WELSH.

Short stuff — AGOG, AMID, AMOO and AMOS, ARLO, ASI and ASP, AVIA, “Porgy and BESS“, BR’ER Rabbit, CARS, CASA and CASK, CHEX, DES Moines Register, DIRE, EIRE, ELHI, ERNS, EVE, HIC, INEZ, INTO, IRIS, I TRY, KNEE, KOR, MOOG, NEST, NONE, OLE and ORE, OPS, PURE, RIO de Janeiro, SEAM, SIZE, STYX, SWE and WES, WIT (31D. A lively person may have a sparkling one).

————————

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Wine barrel; 5. Tear to pieces; 14. Words after “here,” “there” and “everywhere” in “Old MacDonald Had a Farm”; 15. “Pet” annoyance; 15. For grades 1-12; 19. Emergency-related; 20. Snake along the Nile; 21. Dublin’s land; 21. Former congresswoman Bella; 29. Synthesizer designer Robert; 30. Circumvent; 36. Other half of a hit 45; 38. Refinery material; 42. Ken and Barbie; 44. Deadly 1968 hurricane with a Spanish-derived name; 51. Chilling, as Champagne; 52. Purple spring bloomer; 53. Drunk’s interjection; 56. Fascinated by; 60. Sewing line; 61. Like names starting “”Fi-”; 62. Unadulterated; 63. Sea eagles; 64. English class assignment; 65. River of Hades. — DOWN: 1. Spanish house; 2. “Famous” cookie man; 3. 4. Seoul’s home: Abbr.; 5. Perfume application; 7. Ward off; 8. Preceding night; 11. “My Fair Lady” lady; 12. Shoulder gesture; 13. Long, drawn-out attack; 18. Icy cold; 22. Awestruck; 24. “___ live and breathe!”; 25. Surrounded by; 26. All’s opposite; 27. Autos; 28. Athletic shoe brand; 33. Singe Guthrie; 34. Egg holder; 37. Evaluate, with “up”; 41. Place for a football pad; 42. Certain believer; 43. Corrida cheer; 46. Horseshoe forger; 47. Capital of Idaho; 49. Largest moon of Saturn; 50. Quantum mechanics pioneer Bohr; 54. Modest response to praise; 55. Follower of Corn, Rice and Wheat in cereal names; 57. Neighbor of Nor.; 58. Craven of horror films; 59. Photo ___ (political events).