0405-19 NY Times Crossword 5 Apr 19, Friday

Constructed by: Ryan McCarty
Edited by: Will Shortz

Today’s Theme: None

Read on, or jump to …
… a complete list of answers

Bill’s time: 13m 17s

Bill’s errors: 0

Today’s Wiki-est Amazonian Googlies

Across

13 Michael of “Caddyshack” : O’KEEFE

Michael O’Keefe played Danny Noonan in the film “Caddyshack” (I’m not a big fan of that movie). He also appeared in the George Clooney film “Michael Clayton”. O’Keefe was married for several years to singer Bonnie Raitt.

14 Went berserk : RAN AMOK

The phrase “to run amok” (sometimes “to run amuck”) has been around since the 1670s and is derived from the Malay word for “attacking furiously”, “amuk”. The word “amok” was also used as a noun to describe Malay natives who were “frenzied”. Given Malaya’s troubled history, the natives probably had good reason for that frenzy …

Our word “berserk” meaning “deranged” comes from the “Berserkers”, Norse warriors described in Old Norse literature. Berserkers were renowned for going into battle in a fury, and some believe that they consumed drugged food to get themselves worked up for the fighting ahead.

17 ___ Virtue, 2018 Olympic ice dancing gold medalist : TESSA

Tessa Virtue is a Canadian ice dancer who won the 2010 and 2018 Olympic gold along with her partner Scott Moir. Virtue and Moir have been skating together since 1997, when they were seven and nine years old respectively. That makes them the longest-standing Canadian ice dance team in history.

19 Brightly colored fish : OPAH

“Opah” is the more correct name for the fish also known as the sunfish, moonfish or Jerusalem haddock. I’ve seen one in the Monterey Aquarium. It is one huge fish …

20 According to : A LA

The phrase “in the style of” can be translated into “alla” in Italian and “à la” in French.

24 Gangland weapons, quaintly : GATS

“Gat” is a slang term for a gun that is derived from the Gatling gun, the precursor to the modern machine gun. The Gatling gun was invented by Dr. Richard J. Gatling in 1861. Apparently he was inspired to invent it so that one man could do as much damage as a hundred, thereby reducing the size of armies and diminishing the suffering caused by war. Go figure …

28 Clink : PEN

The Clink (also “the Clynke”) was a celebrated prison in Southwark, England owned by the Bishop of Winchester. The prison was given the name “the clink”, probably from the sound made by metal keys in metal locks and metal chains around ankles. The prison was closed down in 1780, and around the same time “clink” entered the English language as a slang term for “jail”.’

29 Bona fides from fellow cool people : HIPSTER CRED

“Bona fide(s)” translates from the Latin as “in good faith”, and is used to indicate honest intentions. It can also mean that something is authentic, like a piece of art that is represented in good faith as being genuine.

36 ___ Miguel, largest of the Azores : SAO

São Miguel Island is the largest island in the archipelago known as the Azores. It is known locally as “the Green Island”.

The Azores is an archipelago of nine volcanic islands in the North Atlantic lying about 1,000 miles west of Portugal. The Azores are an autonomous region belonging to Portugal.

44 Slacks : PANTS

The term “pants”, meaning “trousers”, is an abbreviated form of “pantaloons” and first appeared in the 1840s. Pantaloons were a kind of tights named for a silly old male character in Italian comedy named “Pantaloun” who always wore tight trousers over skinny legs.

The term “slacks” was introduced in the early 1800s with the the meaning “loose trousers”. Those early slacks were part of a military uniform.

49 Fanfare : ECLAT

“Éclat” can describe a brilliant show of success, as well as the applause or accolade that one receives for that success. The word “éclat” derives from the French “éclater” meaning “to splinter, burst out”.

51 Cold carnival treat : SNOW CONE

A sno-cone (also “snow cone”) is just a paper cone filled with crushed ice and topped with flavored water. Italian ice is similar, but different. Whereas the flavoring is added on top of the ice to make a sno-cone, Italian ice is made with water that is flavored before it is frozen.

53 Title for Eva Perón : SENORA

Eva Perón was the second wife of President Juan Perón who was in office from 1946 to 1955. The Argentine First Lady was known affectionately by the people as “Evita”, the Spanish language diminutive of “Eva”. “Evita” is also the title of a tremendously successful musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice that is based on the life of Eva Perón.

56 Chocolaty Post cereal : OREO O’S

Oreo O’s were made by Post from 1998 to 2007. Oreo O’s were basically O-shaped (like Cheerios) but chocolate-flavored, dark brown in color and with white sprinkles on them. Oh, and lots of sugar.

Down

2 2006 film “___ and the Bee” : AKEELAH

“Akeelah and the Bee” is a 2006 movie about a young girl participating in the National Spelling Bee.

5 Big insurance acronym : AFLAC

In 1999, Aflac (American Family Life Assurance Company) was huge in the world of insurance but it wasn’t a household name, so a New York advertising agency was given the task of making the Aflac brand more memorable. One of the agency’s art directors, while walking around Central Park one lunchtime, heard a duck quacking and in his mind linked it with “Aflac”, and that duck has been “Aflacking” ever since …

10 Genre for Fall Out Boy : EMO POP

Fall Out Boy is a rock band from Chicago that formed in 2001.

11 1957 Jimmy Dorsey hit : SO RARE

“So Rare” is a song that first became popular with a recording by Guy Lombardo in 1937. “So Rare” became a major hit for Jimmy Dorsey twenty years later, in 1957.

The brothers Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey headed up a studio band in the early thirties and had a lot of success together, including two number one hits. The pair had a very acrimonious relationship though, and split up in 1935, each forming his own band. They did even better after the parting of the ways, with Tommy having seventeen more number one hits, and Jimmy ten.

22 Parent company of Philip Morris : ALTRIA

Philip Morris changed its name to Altria in 2003 as part of a reorganization. The reasons for the name change are the subject of speculation but industry commentators agree that the company wanted to distance itself from the historical negativity associated with the Philip Morris name due to the many legal and social issues created by its tobacco products.

23 Radio-era dummy : SNERD

Ventriloquist Edgar Bergen’s most famous character was Charlie McCarthy, but Bergen also worked with Mortimer Snerd.

30 Alternative to Tempur-Pedic : SERTA

Serta was founded in 1931 when a group of 13 mattress manufacturers came together, essentially forming a cooperative. Today, the Serta company is owned by eight independent licensees in a similar arrangement. Serta advertisements feature the Serta Counting Sheep. Each numbered sheep has a different personality, such as:

  • #1 The Leader of the Flock
  • #½ The Tweener
  • #13 Mr. Bad Luck
  • #53 The Pessimist
  • #86 Benedict Arnold

31 Snoop ___ : DOGG

“Dr. Dre” is the stage name of rapper Andre Romelle Young. Dr. Dre is known for his own singing career as well as for producing records and starting the careers of others such Snoop Dogg, Eminem and 50 Cent.

35 2015 crime film with Emily Blunt and Benicio del Toro : SICARIO

“Sicario” is a 2015 crime thriller starring Emily Blunt, Benicio del Toro and Josh Brolin. Blunt stars as an idealistic FBI agent who is part of US government task force charged with bringing down a Mexican drug cartel. The word “sicario” is Spanish for “hitman”.

37 Camper manufacturer : ALINER

Aliner is a line of trailed popup campers that have a clever A-frame construction when erected.

41 Worker with a seal : NOTARY

A notary public is a public officer licensed to perform specific legal actions in non-contentious legal matters. The main duties are to administer oaths, take affidavits and witness the execution of documents.

50 Website with gadget reviews : CNET

c|net is an excellent technology website. c|net started out in 1994 as a television network specializing in technology news. The host of “American Idol”, Ryan Seacrest, started off his career as host of a c|net show.

52 Board appointee, for short : CEO

Chief executive officer (CEO)

Complete List of Clues/Answers

Across

1 Order to stop the presses? : GAG LAW
7 In this manner : LIKE SO
13 Michael of “Caddyshack” : O’KEEFE
14 Went berserk : RAN AMOK
15 Resolve : SETTLE
16 Sore loser : BAD SPORT
17 ___ Virtue, 2018 Olympic ice dancing gold medalist : TESSA
18 Tap sites : KEGS
19 Brightly colored fish : OPAH
20 According to : A LA
21 “Pretty please?” : CAN’T I?
23 Promised : SWORE
24 Gangland weapons, quaintly : GATS
26 Prepare to divulge a secret, maybe : LEAN IN
28 Clink : PEN
29 Bona fides from fellow cool people : HIPSTER CRED
32 Luxury car of the early 20th century : PIERCE-ARROW
34 Ones going through the motions? : TRIAL JUDGES
36 ___ Miguel, largest of the Azores : SAO
39 Post on a wall, say : TAPE UP
40 Beam : GRIN
42 Series opener : ALPHA
44 Slacks : PANTS
46 Prefix with car or conscious : ECO-
47 “Holy moly!” : YIPE!
48 Poor reception? : HISS
49 Fanfare : ECLAT
51 Cold carnival treat : SNOW CONE
53 Title for Eva Perón : SENORA
54 Little something to help later on : NEST EGG
55 Mate’s response : AYE, SIR
56 Chocolaty Post cereal : OREO O’S
57 Ball of yarn, maybe : CAT TOY

Down

1 Attend without a partner : GO STAG
2 2006 film “___ and the Bee” : AKEELAH
3 Is rewarded for service : GETS A TIP
4 “___ party!” : LET’S
5 Big insurance acronym : AFLAC
6 With 7-Down, Scottish boys : WEE …
7 See 6-Down : … LADS
8 Entry points : INS
9 Comic book sound effect : KAPOW!
10 Genre for Fall Out Boy : EMO POP
11 1957 Jimmy Dorsey hit : SO RARE
12 “Well, that was weird” : OK THEN
14 Athletes at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette : RAGIN’ CAJUNS
16 Early distribution of a piece of software : BETA RELEASE
18 Punishment used by some hit men : KNEECAPPING
22 Parent company of Philip Morris : ALTRIA
23 Radio-era dummy : SNERD
25 Hot rod? : SPIT
27 Intrude suddenly : IRRUPT
30 Alternative to Tempur-Pedic : SERTA
31 Snoop ___ : DOGG
33 Worrisome comment from a navigator : WE’RE LOST
35 2015 crime film with Emily Blunt and Benicio del Toro : SICARIO
36 Refuses : SAYS NO
37 Camper manufacturer : ALINER
38 Challenge : OPPOSE
41 Worker with a seal : NOTARY
43 Uphold : HEW TO
45 “Ta-ta!” : SEE YA!
48 Selfish sorts : HOGS
50 Website with gadget reviews : CNET
52 Board appointee, for short : CEO
53 ___ fly : SAC

8 thoughts on “0405-19 NY Times Crossword 5 Apr 19, Friday”

  1. 18:15, no errors. IRRUPT was a new word for me as well, and caused me to spend some time looking for a possible rebus to form interrupt.

  2. Irrupt was new to me also. Don’t think I have ever seen any other spelling besides Sno-Cone, at least here in the Midwest.

  3. Pretty happy to get through this one with no errors. Several leaps of faith due to unfamiliar territory. My guessing is getting more educated 😉

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