0123-23 NY Times Crossword 23 Jan 23, Monday

Constructed by: Adrian Johnson
Edited by: Will Shortz

Today’s Reveal Answer: Don’t Blow It

Themed answers each end with a homonym of an instrument that one plays by BLOWING:

  • 51A Advice to a musician with a 23-, 26- or 43-Across? : DON’T BLOW IT
  • 23A Device with Rewind and Fast Forward functions : TAPE RECORDER
  • 26A Aid for squeezing into a tight piece of footwear : SHOEHORN
  • 43A Glass frequently used for toasting the New Year : CHAMPAGNE FLUTE

Bill’s time: 5m 20s

Bill’s errors: 0

Today’s Wiki-est Amazonian Googlies

Across

13 Holey shoe : CROC

Crocs are foam clogs that were originally designed as shoes to be worn at health spas. I recently bought my first pair of crocs, and now my kids won’t talk to me …

15 Cartoon brother of Dewey and Louie : HUEY

Donald Duck’s nephews are identical triplets called Huey, Dewey and Louie, and they first appeared on the screen in 1938. Once in a while, due to errors in production, a fourth duck can be seen in the background. This little “mistake” is affectionately called “Phooey Duck” by folks in the industry.

17 5, for the set [2, 4, 6, 8] : MEAN

In a set of numbers, the mean is the average value of those numbers. The median is the numeric value at which half the numbers have a lower value, and half the numbers a higher value. The mode is the value that appears most often in the whole set of numbers.

18 Be philanthropic : GIVE

Philanthropy is a concern for human welfare, and the act of donating to persons or groups who support such concerns. The term “philanthropy” derives from the Greek “phil-” meaning “loving”, and “anthropos” meaning “mankind”.

21 Crystal-filled rocks : GEODES

A geode is a rock in which there is a cavity that is lined or filled with crystal formations.

30 World Cup cheers : OLES

The FIFA World Cup is the most prestigious tournament in the sport of soccer. The competition has been held every four years (excluding the WWII years) since the inaugural event held in Uruguay in 1930. The men’s World Cup is the most widely viewed sporting event in the world, even outranking the Olympic Games. And, the women’s World Cup is fast catching up …

35 “If you ask me …,” online : IMO …

In my opinion (IMO)

43 Glass frequently used for toasting the New Year : CHAMPAGNE FLUTE

The narrow bowl of a champagne flute is usually preferred over the wide bowl of a champagne coupe as the smaller surface area of the wine helps retain its carbonation.

54 Egyptian counterpart of Hades and Pluto : OSIRIS

Osiris was the Egyptian god of the underworld. Osiris was the son of Geb the Earth god, and Nut the sky goddess. His wife Isis was also his sister. Osiris was killed and mutilated by Set, his own brother. Isis reassembled Osiris and revived him, just long enough that they could conceive their son Horus.

Hades was the god of the underworld to the ancient Greeks. Over time, Hades gave his name to the underworld itself, the place where the dead reside. The term “Hades” was also adopted into the Christian tradition, as an alternative name for hell. But, the concept of hell in Christianity is more akin to the Greek “Tartarus”, which is a dark and gloomy dungeon located in Hades, a place of suffering and torment.

In classical mythology, the god of the underworld was named Hades. Over time, “Hades” came to mean the underworld itself and the name for the god became “Pluto”. Pluto’s character was more positive than the god Hades, and he represented a more rewarding afterlife compared to that offered by the darker Hades.

61 Juicy bits of info : DEETS

“Deets” is slang for “details”.

Down

3 Alessandro who invented the electric battery : VOLTA

Alessandro Volta was the physicist who invented the first battery, way back in 1800. One of Volta’s first applications of his new invention was to use a battery (and a very long run of wire between the Italian cities of Como and Milan) to shoot off a pistol from 30 miles away! The electric potential unit “volt” is named for Volta.

4 High-level cover-up? : ECLIPSE

A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon passes into the shadow cast by the Earth from the light of the Sun, in other words when the Earth is positioned directly between the Sun and the Moon. The more spectacular solar eclipse takes place when the Moon passes in front of the Sun, so that the Earth falls into the shadow cast by the Moon.

5 Country between Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea : CAMEROON

The Republic of Cameroon is on the west coast of Africa. One of Cameroon’s claims to fame is having a great national soccer team, one that often seems to do well in the FIFA World Cup.

7 Prediction of a flight tracker app, for short : ETA

The Republic of Cameroon is on the west coast of Africa. One of Cameroon’s claims to fame is having a great national soccer team, one that often seems to do well in the FIFA World Cup.

8 African mammal that’s resistant to snake venom : MONGOOSE

The mongoose has no relationship with the “goose” as such, as “mongoose” is derived from “mangus”, an Indian name for the beast. The mongoose does indeed eat snakes as part of its diet, along with other small creatures. However, it usually avoids the dangerous cobra, although humans have used the mongoose to fight cobras for sport and entertainment. The mongoose fares well against poisonous snakes because it is agile and wily, and has a thick skin, literally.

24 Jellied fish in some British pies : EELS

Jellied eels are a traditional British dish associated with the working class East End of London. Historically, the eels used were caught in the River Thames. The dish is prepared by boiling up eels that have been chopped into rounds in a seasoned stock and then allowing it to set. The eel contains a lot of gelatinous protein so the stock forms a jelly as it cools.

25 Enjoy, as gum : CHEW

Chewing gum has been around for thousands of years, but bubblegum only dates back to 1928. It was developed by Walter Diemer of the Fleer Chewing Gum Company. Diemer was a Fleer accountant, and apparently an accountant who liked to mess around with gum recipes in his spare time.

27 Marketing spiel : PITCH

A spiel is a lengthy speech or argument designed to persuade, like a sales pitch. “Spiel” comes to us from German, either directly (“spiel” is the German for “play”) or via the Yiddish “shpil”.

28 Largest city in Nebraska : OMAHA

Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska. It is located on the Missouri River, about 10 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River. When Nebraska was still a territory Omaha was its capital, but when Nebraska achieved statehood the capital was moved to the city of Lincoln.

29 Neighborhood spot for cheap booze : LOCAL DIVE

We’ve been using the word “dive” in American English for a run-down bar since the latter half of the 19th century. The term comes from the fact that disreputable taverns were usually located in basements, so one had to figuratively dive into them. I’m a big fan …

32 So-called “master gland” of the endocrine system : PITUITARY

The pituitary gland is found at the base of the brain and is about the size of pea. The pituitary secretes nine hormones in all, and so affects many aspects of bodily function.

36 Sports org. for Nadal and Djokovic : ATP

The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) is an organization that looks out for the interests of male tennis professionals. The equivalent organization for women is the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA).

42 Capital of Africa’s largest country : ALGIERS

Algeria is a huge country, the largest in Africa, and the largest on the Mediterranean. The capital of Algeria is Algiers, and the country takes its name from the city.

45 Gift of ___ : GAB

Blarney is a town in County Cork in the south of Ireland. Blarney is home to Blarney Castle, and inside the castle is the legendary Blarney Stone. “Kissing the Blarney Stone” is a ritual engaged in by many, many tourists (indeed, I’ve done it myself!), but it’s not a simple process. The stone is embedded in the wall of the castle, and in order to kiss it you have to sit on the edge of the parapet and lean way backwards so that your head is some two feet below your body. There is a staff member there to help you and make sure you don’t fall. The Blarney Stone has been referred to as the world’s most unhygienic tourist attraction! But once you’ve kissed it, supposedly you are endowed with the “gift of the gab”, the ability to talk eloquently and perhaps deceptively without offending. The term “blarney” has come to mean flattering and deceptive talk.

47 Cain’s eldest son : ENOCH

According to the Bible’s Book of Genesis, Enoch was the son of Cain, and therefore the grandson of Adam and Eve. Enoch’s mother was Awan, who was also Enoch’s aunt (Cain’s sister).

57 Tic-___-toe : TAC

When I was growing up in Ireland we played “noughts and crosses” … our name for the game tic-tac-toe.

Complete List of Clues/Answers

Across

1 House overhang : EAVE
5 Sci. class that might have controlled explosions : CHEM
9 Look at rudely : OGLE
13 Holey shoe : CROC
14 Camera setting for novice photographers : AUTO
15 Cartoon brother of Dewey and Louie : HUEY
16 Heaven’s opposite : HELL
17 5, for the set [2, 4, 6, 8] : MEAN
18 Be philanthropic : GIVE
19 Not delayed : ON TIME
21 Crystal-filled rocks : GEODES
23 Device with Rewind and Fast Forward functions : TAPE RECORDER
26 Aid for squeezing into a tight piece of footwear : SHOEHORN
27 Extreme point in the Arctic or Antarctic : POLE
30 World Cup cheers : OLES
31 Store sign displayed from 9 to 6, say : OPEN
35 “If you ask me …,” online : IMO …
36 True or false, on a true/false test : ANSWER
38 Promise in front of a judge : I DO
39 Unsaid yet understood : TACIT
41 Have dinner at home : EAT IN
43 Glass frequently used for toasting the New Year : CHAMPAGNE FLUTE
48 Two quarters : HALF
49 Wet forecast : RAIN
50 Meat of the matter : GIST
51 Advice to a musician with a 23-, 26- or 43-Across? : DON’T BLOW IT
54 Egyptian counterpart of Hades and Pluto : OSIRIS
56 Deals from the bottom or marks cards, say : CHEATS
59 Lack of seriousness about a serious situation : LEVITY
60 “Yay!” : HURRAH!
61 Juicy bits of info : DEETS
62 Future therapist’s major, for short : PSYCH

Down

1 “HELLO … Hello … hello …” effect : ECHO
2 “Well, ___ you clever?!” : AREN’T
3 Alessandro who invented the electric battery : VOLTA
4 High-level cover-up? : ECLIPSE
5 Country between Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea : CAMEROON
6 Shade of color : HUE
7 Prediction of a flight tracker app, for short : ETA
8 African mammal that’s resistant to snake venom : MONGOOSE
9 “What a terrible, awful idea!” : OH GOD NO!
10 Tour leader : GUIDE
11 Bar used on a fulcrum : LEVER
12 “Blinkers” or “peepers” : EYES
20 Passable, at best : MEH
22 Make a mistake : ERR
24 Jellied fish in some British pies : EELS
25 Enjoy, as gum : CHEW
27 Marketing spiel : PITCH
28 Largest city in Nebraska : OMAHA
29 Neighborhood spot for cheap booze : LOCAL DIVE
32 So-called “master gland” of the endocrine system : PITUITARY
33 Revises, as an essay : EDITS
34 Nine-person combo : NONET
36 Sports org. for Nadal and Djokovic : ATP
37 Official with a whistle : REF
40 “Sounds good to me” : I’M FOR IT
42 Capital of Africa’s largest country : ALGIERS
44 Pretentious : ARTSY
45 Gift of ___ : GAB
46 Zero, in a soccer result : NIL
47 Cain’s eldest son : ENOCH
52 Tiny faults : NITS
53 Beat decisively, informally : WHUP
54 Aged : OLD
55 “Catch my drift?” : SEE?
57 Tic-___-toe : TAC
58 [Excuse me, this is a library …!] : SHH!