Constructed by: Jonathan Kaufman
Edited by: Will Shortz
Not your puzzle? Try today’s …
… syndicated NY Times crossword
Today’s Theme: None
Read on, or jump to …
… a complete list of answers
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Bill’s time: 14m 16s
Bill’s errors: 0
Today’s Wiki-est Amazonian Googlies
Across
17 Part of un giorno : ORA
In Italian, an “ora” (hour) is 1/24 of “un giorno” (a day).
20 Sports stat that’s best when it’s below 2 : ERA
Earned run average (ERA)
27 Japanese garden denizen : KOI
Koi are fish that are also known as Japanese carp. Koi have been bred for decorative purposes and there are now some very brightly colored examples found in Japanese water gardens.
Nowadays we use “denizen” to mean simply “resident”, but historically a denizen was an immigrant to whom certain rights had been granted, somewhat like today’s resident alien.
33 Benny Goodman jazz standard with the opening line “April skies are in your eyes” : DON’T BE THAT WAY
Clarinetist and bandleader Benny Goodman was known as the King of Swing.
37 Japanese lunch option : BENTO
A bento is a single-person meal that is eaten quite commonly in Japan. A bento can be purchased as a take-out meal, or it may be packed at home. A bento is usually sold as a “bento box”.
39 Jewelry chain : ZALES
The first Zales jewelry store was opened by Morris and William Zale and Ben Lipshy in Wichita Falls, Texas, in 1924. Zales became successful largely by offering credit to their customers, a revolutionary concept at the time.
41 Host city for the annual Øyafestivalen : OSLO
The Norwegian capital of Oslo is located at the northern end of a fjord known as Oslofjord. The fjord is home to 40 islands that lie within the city’s limits. Oslo also has 343 lakes.
42 City where Gerald Ford and Malcolm X were born : 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.
President Gerald Ford was well known for his athletic prowess. He was the star football player both in his high school and later at the University of Michigan. After graduation, President Ford received two offers to play in the NFL, from the Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers. He turned down both teams opting instead to take a coaching position at Yale giving him the opportunity to apply to Yale Law School. But young Mr. Ford’s plan backfired as Yale Law School turned him down because of his full-time commitment to sports, coaching football, boxing and teaching JV cheerleading. It took three years for President Ford to make it into Yale Law School, but he finally got there, in 1938.
Malcolm X was born Malcolm Little in Omaha, Nebraska in 1925. He told his own life story in the incredibly successful book “The Autobiography of Malcolm X”, on which he collaborated with author Alex Haley. Malcolm Little changed his name when he joined the Nation of Islam, choosing “X” to represent the African family name that he could never know.
46 Introductory books : PRIMERS
A primer is a textbook used to teach the alphabet and basic reading. When “primer” is used in this sense in the US, it is pronounced with a short letter I (giving “primmer”). I’ve never understood why such a pronunciation would be used …
51 High fortress : CITADEL
A citadel is a fortress built to protect a town or a city. Both the words “city” and “citadel” come from the Latin word “civis” meaning “citizen”.
54 Kind of address : KEYNOTE
The keynote is the lowest note in a musical scale, as one might imagine. The term started to be used to mean a leading idea in the late 1700s, and the expression “keynote address” dates back to 1905.
56 Winners of 13 Stanley Cups, familiarly : LEAFS
The Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team was founded way back in 1917. As members of the National Hockey League, the Maple Leafs have won the Stanley Cup championships thirteen times, the second best record in the league. Having said that, the last championship the team won was in 1967, and the resulting “drought” is the longest in the NHL.
The Stanley Cup is named for Lord Stanley of Preston, the Governor General of Canada from 1888 to 1893. Lord Stanley’s sons became avid fans of ice hockey while in Canada, and so he donated the trophy in 1909, originally as a challenge cup for the country’s best amateur club.
Down
1 Siobhan Roy of “Succession,” e.g. : HEIRESS
“Succession” is a very popular dark comedy-drama series that premiered in 2018. It’s about a family-owned, global media company. The “succession” in question is who will get to run the empire after the passing of the ailing family patriarch. The marvelous Scottish actor Brian Cox plays the head of the company Logan Roy. Great stuff, albeit quite depressing and terrifying …
5 Show appreciation at a ramen bar, contrary to Western etiquette : SLURP
Ramen is a noodle dish composed of Chinese-style wheat noodles in a meat or fish broth flavored with soy or miso sauce. Ramen is usually topped with sliced pork and dried seaweed. The term “ramen” is also used for precooked, instant noodles that come in single-serving, solid blocks.
8 One might be hazy, for short : IPA
Hazy IPAs tend to be unfiltered, and so retain some yeast sediment. These days, I am almost forced to drink IPAs (what else is available?!), and usually opt for a hazy IPA. Please, please, brewers, bring back hefeweizens …
14 Engages in some repartee : SPARS
Repartee is conversation that includes witty remarks. “Repartee” comes from the French “repartie” meaning “answering thrust”, originally a fencing term.
19 N.F.L. practice squad : SCOUT TEAM
The scout team (or “taxi squad”) is a group of football players whose job is to play like future opponents for the main team. The scout team may not be the best athletes, but they learn particular plays designed to help the main team prepare for an upcoming game.
22 Acted as a segue for : LED INTO
A segue is a transition from one topic to the next. “Segue” is an Italian word that literally means “now follows”. It was first used in musical scores directing the performer to play into the next movement without a break. The oft-used term “segway” is given the same meaning, although the word “segway” doesn’t really exist. It is a misspelling of “segue” that has been popularized by its use as the name of the personal transporter known as a Segway.
26 Brand of cutting-edge equipment : X-ACTO
The X-Acto knife was invented in the thirties by a Polish immigrant, although his intention was to come up with a scalpel for surgeons. The knife couldn’t cut it as a scalpel though (pun!), because it was difficult to clean. The inventor’s brother-in-law suggested it be used as a craft knife, and it is still around today.
31 Green ___ : TEA
The process for making most teas involves oxidation. During oxidation, the leaves become darker in color as chlorophyll breaks down and tannins are released. The oxidation step is skipped when producing green teas.
33 Ones unlikely to rule in your favor : DESPOTS
A despot is a ruler with absolute power, and often one who wields that power oppressively. “Despot” is an old French term from the 14th century that is ultimately derived from the Greek “despotes” meaning “master of a household, absolute ruler”.
37 Pears originally from Europe : BOSCS
Bosc is a cultivar of the European pear that is grown mainly in the northwest of the United States. It is named for French horticulturist Louis Bosc. The cultivar originated in Belgium or France in the early 19th century. The Bosc is that pear with a skin the color of a potato, with a long neck.
40 Fracking target : SHALE
“Fracking” is a familiar term describing “hydraulic fracturing”. Fracking involves the injection of chemicals and sand in water at high pressure into a wellbore. This creates cracks in layers of rock deep in the earth allowing perhaps oil or natural gas to flow more freely to the surface.
42 Instrument heard in the iconic intro to the Who’s “Baba O’Riley” : ORGAN
The song by the Who that is commonly called “Teenage Wasteland” actually has the title “Baba O’Riley”. “Baba O’Riley” is used as the theme song for the television show “CSI: New York”.
43 “The Tempest” spirit : ARIEL
Ariel is a spirit, and a character who appears in William Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” and who becomes a servant of the magician Prospero. Ariel was actually viewed as a male character when the play was first staged, and the text of the play supports this assumption. Many believe that the part was originally played by a boy actor, and over time the tendency has been to use female actors, but not exclusively.
47 What might make one less likely to flip one’s lid? : STYE
A stye is a bacterial infection of the sebaceous glands at the base of the eyelashes, and is also known as a hordeolum.
50 Cheap ticket specification : SRO
Standing room only (SRO)
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Complete List of Clues/Answers
Across
1 Praises loudly : HAILS
6 Drops : OMITS
11 “___ down!” : PENCILS
13 Summaries : WRAP-UPS
15 Becomes uncomfortable, in a way, as underwear : RIDES UP
16 Drank discreetly : HAD A NIP
17 Part of un giorno : ORA
18 Buying opportunity for die-hard fans : PRESALE
20 Sports stat that’s best when it’s below 2 : ERA
21 Producer of some wedding rings : BELL
23 They might restrict arms : PACTS
24 Bygone autocrat : TSAR
25 Poet Hemphill of the 1980s Black gay cultural renaissance : ESSEX
27 Japanese garden denizen : KOI
28 Complains loudly : WAILS
29 They’re full of pop : SODA FOUNTAINS
32 “It’s not clear to me” : I CAN’T TELL
33 Benny Goodman jazz standard with the opening line “April skies are in your eyes” : DON’T BE THAT WAY
37 Japanese lunch option : BENTO
38 “Like I said!” : SEE?!
39 Jewelry chain : ZALES
41 Host city for the annual Øyafestivalen : OSLO
42 City where Gerald Ford and Malcolm X were born : OMAHA
44 “Well, I’ll be darned!” : GOSH!
45 One who may bug you : SPY
46 Introductory books : PRIMERS
48 ___ plancha (cooking style) : A LA
49 Give over to another’s care : CONSIGN
51 High fortress : CITADEL
53 Retailer’s promo : STORE AD
54 Kind of address : KEYNOTE
55 Like testimony at trial : SWORN
56 Winners of 13 Stanley Cups, familiarly : LEAFS
Down
1 Siobhan Roy of “Succession,” e.g. : HEIRESS
2 “Not to mention …” : AND ALSO …
3 Put away for good : ICE
4 Challenge for a speech pathologist : LISP
5 Show appreciation at a ramen bar, contrary to Western etiquette : SLURP
6 Defense mechanisms? : ORALS
7 Have it ___ : MADE
8 One might be hazy, for short : IPA
9 Catches some waves, say : TUNES IN
10 Dazzling air show displays : SPIRALS
11 Get personal, say : PROBE
12 Say how you really feel : SPEAK ONE’S MIND
13 “Surely that can’t be possible?!” : WHAT IN THE HECK?!
14 Engages in some repartee : SPARS
19 N.F.L. practice squad : SCOUT TEAM
22 Acted as a segue for : LED INTO
24 Dog’s show of excitement : TAIL WAG
26 Brand of cutting-edge equipment : X-ACTO
28 Breeze (through) : WALTZ
30 Awesome, informally : FAB
31 Green ___ : TEA
33 Ones unlikely to rule in your favor : DESPOTS
34 Just this second : ONLY NOW
35 Countless : A LOAD OF
36 “Why, I’d love to!” : YES, LET’S!
37 Pears originally from Europe : BOSCS
40 Fracking target : SHALE
42 Instrument heard in the iconic intro to the Who’s “Baba O’Riley” : ORGAN
43 “The Tempest” spirit : ARIEL
46 Walk on water? : PIER
47 What might make one less likely to flip one’s lid? : STYE
50 Cheap ticket specification : SRO
52 Get ___ (score highly) : AN A
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18 thoughts on “0714-23 NY Times Crossword 14 Jul 23, Friday”
Comments are closed.
22:47, no errors. Got the jingle when I changed HADASIP to HADANIP. Otherwise, a typical Friday with plenty of fits and starts.
13:56 after … wait for it … changing HAD A SIP to HAD A NIP. Note to future self: Remember to check all the crosses before moving on!
Sigh … 🙂.
🤣
In other words, since you yourself were still participating in that unpopular discussion as late as yesterday with Glenn and Anon Guy, do you mean to say you had 2 errors, as Bill would score it (TUSES/HAD A SIP)?
Yes, Nick. I think I made it totally obvious that, when I entered the final letter, another letter, somewhere in the grid, was in error, and, when I found that letter, I corrected it. Notice that, in my comment, I did not add “no errors”.
I will let Steve speak for himself, but I think he also made it obvious that what he meant was “no final errors after correcting a rather silly oversight”.
My point remains that, if someone reports exactly what they did and you then criticize the way in which they reported it, it comes across as a sort of ill-tempered harassment. I, for one, am particularly sensitive to this issue because of a poster who used to frequent this blog and has now moved to the LAT blog. (Curiously, that poster has now begun to use an on-line solver and frequently makes use of “check” features – something I have never done and will never do.)
These exchanges were actually instigated by you awhile back, Dave. The fact that my comments awhile back that I considered looks-ups cheats goat your goat and others’ peaked my interest as to why that is, so I’ve been trying to get to the bottom of it. All in good fun and open discussion, which you actually provoked. I would not have picked on you otherwise, like Anonymous Guy.
26:05, no errors. A day when I just threw stuff at the wall to what would stick. Some wild guesses were fortuitous like RIDES UP. Some were way off, like TIPPLED before HAD A NIP.
17:38. Fun exercise after a crazy 48 trip. Got home late last night, and I’m still recovering.
I’m with Bill on the odd pronunciation of the word PRIMER.
Supposed to hit 117 degrees here in Las Vegas this weekend. Anyone up for running a marathon?
Best –
23:35 also sipped when I should have nipped!
Time: 32:09.
Errors: 0.
I had a heck of a time with the last few squares in the NE corner, spending 12 min. or over 1/3 of the time on that before finally cracking it.
Re 56 Across: I was born in Toronto and have lived here all my life. I cannot believe of all NHL Teams the one team they chose as having won x number of Stanley Cups, with a straight face, was the Leafs. You gotta be joking. The Leafs have not even appeared in a Stanley Cup final since 1967. Any Torontonian would laugh or spew at what a crock that is. I could hardly believe it as I filled in the crosses spelling L-E-A-F-S, and it took me awhile to get over the disbelief.
Guess that would be kinda like including a clue for Red Sox in a puzzle in 2002, say, “MLB Team that has won 5 World Series”. Bostonians would no doubt find that derisory since the drought would have been around 84 years at that point I believe.
15:17, no errors. Good at all considering I did it with a big headache after trying and failing to get the mic to work properly for a couple of hours.
Fast fill for this one.
Getting 42A right away was huge. I knew Ford and Malcolm X were born in Omaha. Lots of words fell into place for me. Started with WHAT IN THE HELL for 13D but soon learned HECK was the word.
I’ve had a Stye on the inside of my eyelid for a couple of months. Even went to eye doctor. He wasn’t too concerned. Apparently, there are 30 some tear ducts in your lid. So having one plugged didn’t bother anyone.
Bad day eh Nit-Pick Nick ?
Give it up and get a life there hoser …
😁
Rich your mother’s ugly.
Who would have thought a blog for people who engage in such a stuffy pastime like crosswords would be such a hotbed of infighting, potshots and insults. It’s hilarious.
The funniest part is people who do crosswords and frequent blogs about crosswords constantly telling other people who do crosswords to “get a life.” The irony of that is pretty amusing.
I rest my case …