05.18.14 — Language Play — the Acrostic

Sunday, May 18, 2014

ACROSTIC, Puzzle by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon

Edited by Will Shortz

This Sunday’s acrostic draws a quotation from Language Play by David Crystal.

The text approaches the subject of how everyone plays with language in an informed but light-hearted way.  Beginning by showing how we all use the “hidic” (playful) function of language, the author then investigates why we do and where the impulse to break the rules of language comes from. — Book Description, Amazon.com 

The quotation:  [N]OTHING… CAN LIVEN UP A LECTURE ON ENCYCLOPEDIA CONSTRUCTION MORE THAN TYPOS… . …[T]HE WORLD WAS NEARLY INFORMED ABOUT THE “INDEX OF PROHIBITED BOOS”… AND THE NEW OLFACTORY MEANS OF LINKING BRITAIN AND FRANCE, THE “CHANEL TUNNEL.”

The author’s name and the title of the work:  DAVID CRYSTAL, LANGUAGE PLAY

The defined words:

A. Figure out, as a secret message, DECRYPT
B. “The Tenant of Wildfell Hall” author (2 wds.), ANNE BRONTE
C. Antarctica’s Mount Erebus, for one, VOLCANO
D. Accessory for a scrivener, INKHORN
E. Current in a thunderstorm, DOWNDRAFT
F. Wordsworth’s favorite flower, CELANDINE
G. Photoshop, clean up, add a little color to, RETOUCH
H. Like the Arabic spoken in Sana, YEMENI
I. Arrowroot or tapioca, basically, STARCH
J. Wee bit, tiny taste, smidgen, THIMBLEFUL
K. Gaston’s partner n early comics, ALPHONSE
L. Chest of drawers on short legs; flatbed trailer, LOWBOY
M. Piece of propaganda, perhaps, LEAFLET
N. Harvestman, scorpion or mite, ARACHNID
O. Player of Marie Antoinette in 1952’s “Scaramouch” (2 wds.), NINA FOCH
P. Fezzik in “The Princess Bridge,” for example, GIANT
Q. Exceptional, not customary, UNWONTED
R. Things Northrop Grumman manufactures, AIRCRAFT
S. Amaretto-and-vodka cocktail, GODMOTHER
T. Symbol of power?, EXPONENT
U. Constellation where the ecliptic crosses the celestial equator, PISCES
V. Eavesdrop (2 wds.), LISTEN IN
W. Shakespeare’s Venetian merchant, ANTONIO
X. Google acquisition of 2006, YOUTUBE

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05.18.14 — Oh, Who?

Thatched Roof Cottage, Ireland

Painting by Roxanne Steed 

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Sunday, May 18, 2014

“Oh, Who?” — Puzzle by Joe DiPietro / Edited by Will Shortz

Nine “Irish name/vocation” puns constitute the main feature of this sunny Sunday crossword:

ANGIE O’GRAM (22a. Irish chemist?), e.g., angiogram
WILL O’TREES (24A. Irish arborist?), willow trees
JEAN O’TYPING (32A. Irish secretary?), genotyping
COREY O’GRAPH (47A. Irish algebra teacher?), choreograph
PATTY O’FURNITURE (63A. Irish woodworker?), patio furniture
NATE O’SUMMIT (83A. Irish mountain climber?), NATO summit
JUNE O’ALASKA (96A. Irish dogsled racker?), Juneau, Alaska
MAE O’CLINIC (110A. Irish health care worker?), Mayo Clinic
MEL O’YELLOW (112A. Irish painter?), Mello Yello

Other — BIG IN JAPAN (3D. Like some bands with only modest Western popularity), CARNAP (14D. Steal, as a vehicle), CLERK’S TALE (15D, Chaucer work that invokes the book of Job, with “The”), INGEMAR Johansson, 1959-60 world heavyweight champion, Director JOSEF von Sternberg, OZARKS (48D. Springfield Plateau area), PAPER LACE (107A. Band with the 1974 #1 hit “The Night Chicago Died”), PHOTONS (4D. Light quanta), PUT ‘ER THERE (69D. “Let‘s shake!”), SAD-EYED (92D. Depressed-looking), SHOOTS UP (31D. Riddles with bullets), TARSAL (66D. Foot bone), TEN KS (85D. Some distance races), TOOK ILL (82D. Got sick), TOPEE (37D. Pith helmet), TOSS A SALAD (72D. Prepare the first course, say), UTENSILS (58D. Setting set), Harvey WEINSTEIN of Hollywood.

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05.17.14 — The Saturday Crossword

Anonymous portrait claimed to be of Jean Lafitte in the early 19th century, 

Rosenberg Library, Galveston, Texas

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Saturday, May 17, 2014

Puzzle by Brad Wilber / Edited by Will Shortz

Of interest — ACERBITY (33D. Tartness), AORTA (6D. Trunk line), AU PAIR (2D. One who puts others to sleep?), BRUCE LEE (12D. Many watch hs movies for kicks), BUGBEARS (11D. Sources of chronic annoyance), CAMEL CAVALRY (7D. Once-common desert fighting force), CAMERA TRIPOD (19D. Stand for a photo), FAST PACE (1A. Gallop), FAULT (1D. Denali National Park sits on one), FT-LBS (26D. Ballistics test units: Abbr.), GOT UPSET (55A. Couldn’t keep cool), LAFITTE (18A. Infamous settler on Galveston Island, 1817), L. A. WOMAN (35D. Classic Doors song n which Jim Morrison refers to himself anagrammatically as “Mr. Mojo Risin’”), LUCK BE A LADY (35A. “Guys and Dolls” number that ends with the rolling of dice), PAOLO VERONESE (32A. Italian artist with the largest painting in the Louvre), PRAGUE (17A. Where Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” premiered), PURITANS (32D. Group living at zero latitude?), TRADE SECRET (29A. Recipe for KFC chicken, e.g.), UP IN ARMS (16A. Livid).

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05.16.14 — General Interest

Friday, May 16, 2014

Puzzle by Martin Ashwood-Smith / Edited by Will Shortz

Four 15-letter answers constitute the main feature of this Friday crossword:

HOSTILE TAKE-OVER (30A. It often results in changes across the board)
A TEENAGER IN LOVE (38A. 1959 hit with the lyric “One day I feel so happy, next day I feel so sad”)
WHATEVER IT TAKES (39A. At any price)
GENERAL INTEREST (40A. Not meant for specialists)

Other — COAST TO COAST (20A. Like some long flights), ENTRANCE FEES (51A. Charges at the door), KITTEN CHOW (36D. Product for young spring players?), LAST HURRAH (55A. Swan song), LET IT BLEED (18A. 1969 Rolling Stones album), MOLTEN LAVA (5D. Stream on the side of a mountain, perhaps), MULTIPOLAR (10D. Like most brain neurons), SENTENCE (29D. Five to nine, maybe, but not nine to five), TETE-A-TETES (33D. Heart-to-hearts), TRAINERS (21D. They often spot people).

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05.15.14 — The I's Have It

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Puzzle by John Lieb / Edited by Will Shortz

AN I FOR AN EYE (62A. Misinterpretation of a biblical code … or the key to answering 18-, 24-, 40- and 51-Across) clues in the main feature of this Thursday crossword:

WANDERING I’S  (18A. What ladies’ men tend to have)
ALL I’S AND EARS (24A. Very alert)
LAY I’S ON (40A. Espy)
BETTE DAVIS I’S (51A. 1981 #1 Kim Carnes hit)

Other — BABY FAT (44D. Some lose it in their teens), HUGH LAURIE (3D. “House” star), RAZOR SHARP (29D. High-definition), XENON (6D. Strobe light element), ZITS (59D. Some get them in their teens).

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05.14.14 — Turning a Prophet

Moses with the Ten Commandments, 

1648, Philippe de Champaigne

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Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Puzzle by Victor Barocas / Edited by Will Shortz

TURNING A PROPHET (64A. Punny description of the circled letters in 17-, 27- and 48-Across), along with the prophets in the circled letters, e.g., MOSES, AMOS and EZRA (all spelled backwards), constitutes the main feature of this Wednesday crossword:

WIN SOME LOSE SOME (17A. Words of resignation)
ESPRESSO MAKERS (27A. Barista-operated gadgets)
SCHWARZENEGGER (48A. Governor elected in a 2003 recall vote)

Other — HAWK and KIWI (38D. Sharp-eyed sort; 52A. Chicken-sized flightless bird), “Pumping IRON” (1977 docudrama featuring 48-Across), MA BELL (18D. Old phone company nickname), MAGPIE (57A. Bird in the crow family), RWANDA (49D. Country with a gorilla on its 5,000-franc note), SKEWER (41D. Lampoon but good), ZIGGED (50D. Did part of a slalom path).

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05.13.14 — Weather

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Puzzle by Tracy Gray / Edited by Will Shortz

WEATHER FORECAST (37A. Local news feature suggested by the answers to 17-, 23-, 48- and 60-Across), along with four song answers constitutes the interrelated group of this Tuesday crossword:

HOT HOT HOT (17A. 1987 Buster Poindexter hit)
AGAINST THE WIND (23A. 1980 Bob Seger hit)
AIN’T NO SUNSHINE (48A. 1971 Bill Withers hit)
COLD AS ICE (60A. 1977 Foreigner hit)

Other — AX MEN (65A. Guitar players in rock bands, slangy), BAHIA (Brazilian state northeast of Sao Paulo), EDIT OUT (29A. Delete, as from an article or video), HELOT (25A. Spartan serf), HEPTAGON (38D. Shape of the British 50-pence piece), LIVE WIRE (9D. Firecracker), SITKA (3D. Alaskan panhandle city), SLEEP IN (44A. Go way past one’s usual wake-up time)., VIBES (19A. You might pick up good ones from people).

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05.12.14 — The Monday Crossword

A Young Lady’s Adventure, 1921, Paul Klee

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Monday, May 12, 2014

Puzzle by Gary Cee / Edited by Will Shortz

SMART, QUICK, FAST, SHARP and BRIGHT found at the starts of five answers constitutes the interrelated group of this clever Monday crossword:

SMART PHONE (17A. Samsung, Galaxy or BlackBerry)
QUICK BUCK (11D. Easily made profit)
FAST ONE (41A. Devious trick)
SHARP TURN (36D. Abrupt left or right)
BRIGHT SIDE (65A. What an optimist always looks on)

Other — ALPHABET (42D. Kindergarten learning), ATTACK (54A. “Sic ‘em!“), BRETHREN (9D. Fellow members of a congregation), KLEES (57D. Some German/Swjss artworks in MoMA), HOT FOOT (25D. Hurry, with “it”), RAREBIT (27D. Melted cheese on toast).

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05.11.14 — Mother's Day

Sunday, May 11, 2014 — Mother’s Day 

“For Mother” — Puzzle by Peter A. Collins

Edited by Will Shortz

“Happy Mother’s DAY!“, along with MOM spelled out diagonally with the black squares of the grid, two sets of unchecked squares spelling MOM within the large M’s, and the fill-in-the-blank mothers JONES, TERESA, LODE, SHIP, TONGUE, GOOSE, HUBBARD and COUNTRY constitute the main feature of this fine Mother’s Day crossword.

Other —  ALLIANCE (83A. “Survivor“ tactic), AMERICANA (123A. Smithsonian artifacts), AVANT-GARDE (59D. Pushing the envelope, say), CLARA BOW (63A. The original “It” girl), DON’T START IN ON ME (48D. Words to one who‘s about to go off), DREW BREES (29A. New Orleans Saint who was the Super Bowl XLIV M.V.P.), I’M SO SURE (8D. “Yeah, right!”), ISSY (127A. Paris suburb on the Seine), JOE BIDEN (14D. Politician who appeared as himself on NBC‘s “Parks and Recreation“), LAUGH LINES (74D. Most people don’t think they’re funny), LEUMI (74A. Bank of Israel), MATURATION (28D. Coming of age), NUTRIA (39A. Rodent that burrows near streams), OVOLO (22A. Quarter-rounded molding), PALISADES (109A. Pointed fence stakes), PLATELETS (23A. Agents in blood clotting), POLE BARN (55A. Simple storage unit on a farm), PUTTING ON WEIGHT (7D. Backsliding, to a dieter), REDHEAD (41A. Prince Harry, for one), SHIH-TZU (98A. Literally, “lion dog“), TEA CART (93A. Pot pusher’s vehicle?).

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05.10.14 — Saturday Spelunk

Saturday, May 10, 2014

Puzzle by Barry C. Silk / Edited by Will Shortz

Across — 1. Prop for Kermit the Frog, BANJO; 6. It’s big in the suburbs, MCMANSION; 15. Kind of acid, OLEIC; 16. Something you shouldn’t knock, CRAZY BONE; 17. What dots may represent, TOWNS; 18. “Stay cool!”, DON’T PANIC; 19. CHEX mix; 20. Ready to play, with “up”, CUED; 21. N.F.L. stat: Abbr., INT; 22. HAREM pants; 24. Source of the phrases “cakes and ale” and “milk of human kindness”: Abbr., SHAK; 25. Belize native, MAYA; 26. What “II” or “III” may indicate, SEQUEL; 28. Profession of Clementine’s father in “Oh My Darling, Clementine”, MINER; 29. R.A.F. award, DSO; 32. Shrimp, RUNT; 33. Small job for a gardener?, BONSAI; 34. Noble one, RARE GAS; 36. Spelunker’s aid, LANTERN; 37. High, ELATED; 38. Somethng cited in a citation, WORK; 39. Suffix with transcript-, ASE; 40. Uber ALLES; 41. Origin of the word “behemoth”, HEBREW; 43. Architect MIES van der Rohe; 44. Knockout, BABE; 45. Where Chekhov lived and Tolstoy summered, YALTA; 49. Big Apple ave., LEX; 50. Half of a matched set, HERS; 51. Inadequate, POOR; 52. Girl n “The Music Man” with a floral name, AMARYLLIS; 55. Nil, ZIPPO; 56. Desktop item, NAMEPLATE; 57. Elite unit, A-TEAM; 58. Capital on the Raccoon River, DES MOINES; 59. Something from the oven, PIZZA.

Down — 1. Mangle, BOTCH; 2. ALOHA Tower (Pacific landmark); 3. More green, NEWER; 4. Spelling problems?, JINXES; 5. Brass maker: Abbr., OCS; 6. Year that Chaucer died, MCD; 7. It follows a pattern, CROCHET; 8. Stick, MANUAL; 9. 2001-05 Pontiac made in Mexico, AZTEK; 10. Org. n 1950s-’60s TV’s “Naked City”, NYPD; 11. Govt. lender, SBA; 12. Where Syracuse is a port, IONIAN SEA; 13. Elderly, ON IN YEARS; 14. Relative of ocher, NECTARINE; 23. Where many accidents occur, MERGES; 24. Lies out, SUNS; 25. Philadelphia tourist attraction, MINT; 27. Target of a squat, for short, QUAD; 28. 1960s dance, with “the”, MONKEY; 29. State of sleep, DREAMLAND; 30. Student loan source, familiarly, SALLIE MAE; 31. Third-year hurdles, for some, ORAL EXAMS; 33. 2008 Libertarian presidential candidate, BARR; 35. Lycee breaks, ETES; 36. Temporal LOBE; 38. It may come from a cookie, WEB SITE; 41. Kentucky county in a 1976 Oscar-winning documentary, HARLAN; 42. Forest ranger?, WAPITI; 44. Melvin who was called “The King of the Torts”, BELLI; 46. Ruy LOPEZ (chess opening); 47. Relative of ocher, TOPAZ; 48. Something from the oven, AROMA; 50. Shot deliverer, HYPO; 53. Radiation unit, REM; 54. French possessive, SES; 55. Use a laser on, ZAP.

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05.09.14 — Friday Lunch

Luncheon of the Boating Party, 1880-1, Renoir

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Friday, May 9, 2014

Puzzle by James Mulhern / Edited by Will Shortz

Across — 1. Toast often given with Manischewitz, L’CHAIM; 7. Nobel-winning economist who wrote “Fuzzy Math”, KRUGMAN; 14. Precipitate, LEAD TO; 15. Longtime Tab competitor, DIET RITE; 16. In the best- or worst-case, AT MOST; 17. Like things in “Ripley’s Believe It or Not!”, ABNORMAL; 18. Psychobabble, say, MUMBO JUMBO; 20. In the 2-Down, e.g.: Abbr., ENL; 21. “AS YE do, so he shall do”: Numbers 15:14; 22. Put to work, UTILIZE;25. Hell, SHEER AGONY; 29. Like players who sweep things, UNBEATEN; 34. Digs in the snow, IGLOO; 35. Olympian in a shell, SCULLER; 36. Pitches, CAREENS; 38. “Luncheon on the Grass” painter, MANET; 39. Like much unheeded advice, TUNED OUT; 40. Pick up something common?, CATCH A COLD; 43. Line of tugboats?, TOW ROPE; 44. Dye containing indigotin, ANIL; 48. Jackasses, e.g., HES; 51. “It’s all good”, NO HARM DONE; 53. Actor with the line “Say hello to my little friend!”, AL PACINO; 56A. Take stock of, SIZE UP; 57. Feature of a Shaw show, CLARINET; 58. Ominous final words, OR ELSE; 59. Accessories purchased just for openers?, KEY TAGS; 60. Big player in the Suez Crisis, NASSER.

Luncheon on the Grass, 1863, Manet

Down  — 1. Source of very soft wool, LLAMA; 2. Whale constellation, CETUS; 3. Oh-so-dramatic, HAMMY; 4. Acrobat producer, ADOBE; 5. “IT SO happens …”; 6. Perfect expression, MOT JUSTE; 7. Pet food in the form of pellets, KIBBLE; 8. “Luncheon of the Boating Party” painter, RENOIR; 9. UTO-Aztecan; 10. [This is so frustrating!], GRR; 11. Storyteller who needs no words, MIME; 12. AT AN impasse; 13. Dickens protagonist surnamed Trent, NELL; 15. Horror film antagonist surnamed Thorn, DAMIEN; 19. King Arthur’s father, UTHER; 23. 1971-97 nation name, ZAIRE; 24. Drove (on), EGGED; 26. Pat material, maybe, OLEO; 27. Low-class, in Leeds, NONU; 28. Royals manager Ned YOST; 29. Devil dog’s outfit: Abbr., USMC; 20. Org. affected by Title IX, NCAA; 31. It may be a sacrifice, BUNT; 32. Approve for office installation, ELECT; 33. E’en if, ALTHO; 36. Fault, in law, CULPA; 37. “Father Knows Best” family name, ANDERSON; 39. Like some things you can’t handle, TOO HOT; 41. Shop shelter, AWNING; 42. The Furies, e.g., CRONES; 44. Timber dressers, ADZES; 45. Nativity numbers, NOELS; 46. Not free, IN USE; 47. Shunned one, LEPER; 48. Be a high-tech criminal, HACK; 49. Allure or Essence alternative, ELLE; 50. Fix, as a pointer, SPAY; 52. Major star of 2-Down, MIRA; 54. Domain of 38-Across and 8-Down, ART; 55. Grp. With many operations, CIA.

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05.08.14 — Paradox

Relativity, M. C. Escher, 1953

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Thursday, May 8, 2014

Puzzle by Matthew Lees / Edited by Will Shortz

PARADOX (34A. What 3- and 9-Down are an example of), NINE DOWN IS FALSE (3D. Statement #1) and THREE DOWN IS TRUE (9D. Statement #2) constitute the main feature of this Thursday crossword.

Other — ANGELS (21A. Many figures of “The Last Judgment” in the Sistine Chapel), AROUSES (35D. Piques), AZORES (25A. Santa Maria is one of them), COWGIRL (8D. Lassoing lass), CREEP and SO AND SO (20D and 14D. Scoundrel), EXERCISE (19A. Hit the gym), LOST SOUL (43A. Person without direction), NOISY / SNORERS (5D. Like 4-Down; 4D. Bad bedfellows, say), OBIES (28D. Annual May announcements), PA SYSTEM (50A. Medium for school announcements), UNDERDOG (27A. David, when taking on Goliath), X AND Y (36D. Familiar axes).

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05.07.14 — Showtime

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Puzzle by Kurt Mueller / Edited by Will Shortz

IT’S SHOWTIME (63A. Possible title for this puzzle), HERE’S JOHNNY (17A. Ed McMahon intro words), A-ONE AND A-TWO (24A. Lawrence Welk intro words), LIVE FROM NEW YORK (39A. Chevy Chase intro words) and AND AWAY WE GO (51A. Jackie Gleason intro words) constitute the interrelated group of this Wednesday crossword.

Other — ARLES and HAREMS (35A. Setting for many van Gogh paintings; 70A. Settings of Delacroix and Ingres paintings), COHOE (7D. Small salmon: Var.), CRITIC (67a. Pan producer, perhaps), FORTY LOVE (3D. Score just before winning), ISN’T (71A. Ain’t fixed?), LOOSE LIPS (36D. Ship sinkers, in an old saying), MARRY ME (22D. Proposal words), All-Star shortstop NOMAR Garciaparra, NUDE (41D. Like Rodin’s “The Thinker”), POOP (58A. Inside dope), Drop TROU (start to strip),, WASTE (54D. It may be hazardous).

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05.06.14 — Summer Lilt

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Puzzle by Alex Bajcz / Edited by Will Shortz

PICK UP (47D. Learn … or a word that can precede the ends of 20-, 29-, 44- and 53-Across), along with ICE CREAM TRUCK (20A. Player of a summer lilt), CUTS IN LINE (29A. Shows rudeness at checkout), TRIVIA GAME (44A. Jeopardy! or Facts in Five) and SWIZZLE STICKS (53A. Cocktail stirrers) constitutes the interrelated group of this Tuesday crossword.

Other — AVOWING (41D. Promising), BALL PIT (42D. Colorful play area for kids), CAME EASY (38D. Was a snap), ONES and TENTHS (26D. Kind of a place to the left of a decimal; 8D. Kind of a place to the right of a decimal), PICAYUNE (6D. Paltry), PRECALC (9D. Advanced algebra class, informally), SELENA (3D. Pop star portrayed by J.Lo).

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