Constructed by: Spencer Leach & Jem Burch
Edited by: Will Shortz
Not your puzzle? Try today’s …
… syndicated NY Times crossword
Today’s Theme: None
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… a complete list of answers
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Bill’s time: 45m 14s!
Bill’s errors: 0
Today’s Wiki-est Amazonian Googlies
Across
1 Headache helper : ADVIL
Advil is Wyeth’s brand of ibuprofen, an anti-inflammatory drug.
13 Palate cleanser in a multicourse French meal : SORBET
“Sorbet” can mean different things around the world. Here in the US, sorbet is a non-fat frozen dessert that is made without any dairy content.
15 Source of a foul odor when wool is washed : LANOLIN
Lanolin is a greasy substance secreted from the skin of woolly animals. It is usually extracted from wool sheared from sheep for use in textiles. Medical grade lanolin is used to soothe skin in ointments. It is relatively hypoallergenic and has antibacterial properties.
16 Going after the big bucks, say : IN HEAT
The estrous cycle of mammals can be divided into four phases:
- Proestrus is the phase when the body prepares for a potential fertilized egg. In particular, the lining to the uterus starts to develop.
- Estrus is the phase when the female is said to be “in heat”, when she is sexually receptive.
- Metestrus is the phase when levels of progesterone increase. The levels continue to increase if pregnancy has occurred, but fall off if there has been no fertilization.
- Anestrus is the phase when the sexual cycle rests, before starting all over again.
17 Creature catcher in gaming : POKE BALL
In the Pokémon universe, wild Pokémon can be captured using the Poké Ball. I don’t know what that means either …
18 Position with security : STEADY GIG
Musicians use “gig” to describe a job, a performance. The term originated in the early 1900s in the world of jazz. The derivative phrase “gig economy” applies to a relatively recent phenomenon where workers find themselves jumping from temporary job to temporary job, from gig to gig.
20 N.B.A. team that shares an arena with the N.H.L.’s Stars, familiarly : MAVS
The Mavericks (also “Mavs”) are an NBA franchise in Dallas, Texas. The team was founded in 1980, and the Mavericks name was chosen by fan votes. The choice of “Mavericks” was prompted by the fact that the actor James Garner was a part-owner of the team, and Garner of course played the title role in the “Maverick” television series.
22 Major Manhattan thoroughfare, informally : LEX
Lexington Avenue in New York City is famous for many things, but my favorite fact is that it was the site of the first ever arrest for speeding in the city. In 1899 a police officer on a bicycle caught up with a cab driver who was tearing down Lexington Avenue, at the breakneck speed of 12mph …
36 “Tsk, tsk,” in textspeak : SMH
Shaking my head (SMH)
37 Bug that sounds like it was in the air? : FLU
Influenza (the “flu”) is an ailment that is caused by a virus. The virus is readily inactivated by the use of soap, so washing hands and surfaces is especially helpful in containing flu outbreaks, and other virus pandemics …
39 Port letters : USB
Universal Serial Bus (USB) is an industry standard dealing with how computers and electronic devices connect and communicate, and dealing with electrical power through those connections.
40 Traditional wedding dish in southern Italy, hence its literal translation (“brides”) : ZITI
Cylindrical pasta is known in general as “penne”, and there are many variants. For example, ziti is a particularly large and long tube with square-cut ends. “Penne” is the plural of “penna”, the Italian for “feather, quill”.
42 Most Broadway theaters have two of these : AISLES
New York’s original theater district was located around Union Square, which was called Rialto, after the famous commercial district in Venice, Italy. New York theaters relocated over time to the Broadway area. However, the term “rialto” continues to be used for the city’s theater district, and indeed for a theater district in many towns and cities.
44 Fish often served tartare : AHI
Steak tartare was first served in French restaurants in the early 1900s. Back then, the dish went by the name “steak à l’Americaine”, would you believe? It was basically raw, seasoned beef mixed with egg yolk. A later version of l’Americaine, without the egg yolk and with tartar sauce served on the side, was dubbed “steak tartare”. Over time the two versions became one, and the steak tartare moniker won out. By the way, if you order steak tartare in Switzerland, I believe you are served horse meat. There are now similar “tartare” dishes made with raw salmon, or raw tuna.
45 Nickname for Time’s 2023 Person of the Year : T-SWIZZLE
That would be Taylor Swift.
47 Pole used for extending a sail : SPRIT
A sprit is a pole that extends out from a mast, one often supporting a special sail called a spritsail.
53 Rapper ___ Cat : DOJA
Doja Cat is a singer and rapper who first gained popularity with her hit song “Mooo!” in 2018. Her real name is Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini.
62 Grumpy companion : SNEEZY
In the original Brothers Grimm fairy tale called “Snow White”, the seven dwarfs were not given any names. The names were added for the 1937 classic Disney film “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”. The seven dwarfs are:
- Doc (the leader of the group)
- Grumpy (that would be me, according to my wife …)
- Happy
- Sleepy
- Bashful
- Sneezy
- Dopey
Down
2 “You’re tempting fate!” : DON’T JINX IT
A jinx is a charm or a spell. The word “jinx” comes from an older word “jyng” from the 17th-century. A “jyng” was a wryneck, a type of bird much used in witchcraft.
3 Goggles that aren’t meant to go underwater : VR HEADSETS
Virtual reality (VR)
6 Poster’s place : BLOG
Many folks who visit this website regard it as just that, a website. That is true, but more specifically it is referred to as a blog, as I make regular posts (actually daily posts) that then occupy the “front page” of the site. The blog entries are in reverse chronological order, and one can just look back day-by-day, reading older and older posts. “Blog” is a contraction of the term “web log”.
9 Order that comes with a wide straw : BOBA TEA
Bubble tea, sometimes called “boba tea”, is a tea-based drink from Taiwan. The “bubbles” are chewy tapioca balls that are usually added to the drink.
10 Speed skater Johann ___ Koss, winner of four Olympic golds : OLAV
Johann Olav Koss is a former speed skater from Norway, widely considered as one of the best speed skaters in history.
17 Small part of a window : PIXEL
A pixel is a dot, and the base element that goes to make up a digital image.
24 Junot ___, author of “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao” : DIAZ
“The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao” is a Pulitzer-winning 2007 novel by Junot Díaz, a Dominican-American writer. Díaz was raised in New Jersey, where he chose to set his popular novel.
25 Maternity ward staffers, informally : OBS
In Latin, the word for midwife is “obstetrix”. “Obstetrix” translates more literally as “one who stands opposite” i.e. the one opposite the woman giving birth. The Latin term gives rise to our modern word “obstetrics” used for the branch of medical science concerned with childbirth.
38 Letters on a bow : USS
The abbreviation “USS” stands for “United States Ship”. The practice of naming US Navy vessels in a standard format didn’t start until 1907, when President Theodore Roosevelt issued an executive order that addressed the issue.
41 Site of a famous flag-raising : IWO JIMA
The Pulitzer-winning photograph “Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima” was taken in 1945 by photographer Joe Rosenthal. The image was used for the Marine Corps War Memorial in Washington, DC that was dedicated in 1954.
43 Head for the toilet, say? : SLANG
In old sailing ships, the toilet area for the regular sailors was located in the forward part (the head) of the ship. As a result, the term “head” has been used since then for any toilet on board a boat.
56 Southern side dish : PONE
“Pone” is another name for corn bread, and comes from the Powhatan term “apan” meaning “something baked”.
57 Barbie and Ken, e.g. : TOYS
The famous Barbie doll was created by businesswoman Ruth Handler and first appeared on store shelves in 1959. Barbie was based on a German fashion doll called Bild Lilli that was introduced in 1955. Lilli had been a German cartoon character before taking on a three-dimensional form. Prior to the introduction of Bild Lilli and Barbie, children’s dolls were primarily representations of infants.
Barbie’s male counterpart doll is Ken, and Ken’s family name is Carson. Barbie’s full name is Barbie Millicent Roberts. When Ken was introduced in 1959, it was as Barbie’s boyfriend. In 2004 it was announced that Ken and Barbie were splitting up, and needed to spend quality time apart. Soon after the split, Barbie “met” Blaine, a boogie boarder from Australia. Happily, Barbie and Ken reconciled and reunited on Valentine’s Day 2011.
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Complete List of Clues/Answers
Across
1 Headache helper : ADVIL
6 Tot’s scratches : BOO-BOOS
13 Palate cleanser in a multicourse French meal : SORBET
15 Source of a foul odor when wool is washed : LANOLIN
16 Going after the big bucks, say : IN HEAT
17 Creature catcher in gaming : POKE BALL
18 Position with security : STEADY GIG
20 N.B.A. team that shares an arena with the N.H.L.’s Stars, familiarly : MAVS
21 Predicament : JAM
22 Major Manhattan thoroughfare, informally : LEX
23 Made a lap, say : SAT
24 Playground comeback : DID SO!
26 Creepy quality : EERINESS
30 Important contacts : INS
31 Chewed (out) : BAWLED
33 Lead-in to plane : AQUA-
35 Cut : AXE
36 “Tsk, tsk,” in textspeak : SMH
37 Bug that sounds like it was in the air? : FLU
39 Port letters : USB
40 Traditional wedding dish in southern Italy, hence its literal translation (“brides”) : ZITI
42 Most Broadway theaters have two of these : AISLES
44 Fish often served tartare : AHI
45 Nickname for Time’s 2023 Person of the Year : T-SWIZZLE
47 Pole used for extending a sail : SPRIT
49 Half and half : ONE
50 Some home installations, in brief : ACS
52 Cool, in old lingo : HEP
53 Rapper ___ Cat : DOJA
55 Handling things : ON TOP OF IT
58 Very rough, as an experience : BRUISING
60 Finished, colloquially : DONEZO
61 Drinks are on me! : BAR MENU
62 Grumpy companion : SNEEZY
63 Defensive football plays, informally : QB SACKS
64 “___ seguro?” (“Are you sure?”: Sp.) : ESTAS
Down
1 Currently : AS IS
2 “You’re tempting fate!” : DON’T JINX IT
3 Goggles that aren’t meant to go underwater : VR HEADSETS
4 Construction materials named after a capital? : I-BEAMS
5 Headliner : LEAD
6 Poster’s place : BLOG
7 Barrel material : OAK
8 Like some shows and bands : ONE-MAN
9 Order that comes with a wide straw : BOBA TEA
10 Speed skater Johann ___ Koss, winner of four Olympic golds : OLAV
11 Makes quiet, in a way : OILS
12 Show with a Joke Swap segment, in brief : SNL
14 “Cya” : TTYL
17 Small part of a window : PIXEL
19 “Golly!” : GEE WHIZ!
23 Move laterally : SIDLE
24 Junot ___, author of “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao” : DIAZ
25 Maternity ward staffers, informally : OBS
27 Look within oneself : REFLECT
28 Apartment units : SQUARE FEET
29 Japanese/Italian fusion dish : SUSHI PIZZA
32 Floor : AMAZE
34 Not that much : A BIT
38 Letters on a bow : USS
41 Site of a famous flag-raising : IWO JIMA
43 Head for the toilet, say? : SLANG
46 “Sure, lemme deal with this first, though” : IN A SEC
48 Test-taking no-nos : PHONES
51 Lays down some ground rolls? : SODS
53 Dull : DRAB
54 Like communal property : OURS
55 Weight : ONUS
56 Southern side dish : PONE
57 Barbie and Ken, e.g. : TOYS
58 Chips flavor : BBQ
59 Publicity, so to speak : INK
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12 thoughts on “0217-24 NY Times Crossword 17 Feb 24, Saturday”
Comments are closed.
22:08, no errors. Hard one. Stared at “DONEZO” for a bit before filling the last square and, even though the crosses were solid and the word makes some (slangy) sense, I was a bit surprised to get the “success” message. I then found various references to the word online. Whippersnappers are hijacking the language! Whaddaya gonna do? 🤪
44:06, 3 errors: TSW(O)ZZLE; (O)N(E) SEC; DOJ(E). Too many clues today that had me scratching my head and thinking “REALLY?!?”
24:09. Same errors as Bruce. I still think he’s copying off my paper.
I will say that “No PHONES allowed” was never uttered during any test I ever took in high school, college, or grad school. That clue/answer made me feel old.
A lot of misdirectional cluing, but IN HEAT for “Going after the big bucks” wins the prize today. Was totally stumped by that until I came here.
T SWIZZLE?? She dominated Super Bowl coverage as well. Nothing against her, but the media’s and/or public’s fascination with her is lost on me completely.
Now I have to go do yesterday’s puzzle.
Best –
37:12 I’m embarrassed to put my time out there, given Bill’s time. There must be a typo in his…
This was about 47 minutes for which is good for me for a saturday.
Headscratchers —- SMH TSWIZZLE DONEZO
The rest seemed pretty straight forward.
Wow you almost beat Bill. How bout that. Some of your friends demolished Bill, even Duncan. Isn’t that something.
1:40 (100 min.), 3 errors. I’ll take it. I broke bones in my head on the upper left. It took an hour to crack it, finally. Glad I stuck it out. Big breakthrough was getting the seemingly innocuous but tricky 14D, TTYL, which blew a few erroneous guesses I had in place out of the water.
https://rumble.com/c/c-5477791
25:47 no errors. Big smile after I saw the coauthor, Jem Burch. Great Scrabble player.
Chris Cree
NASPA Chairman
A typical two setter NYT Saturday puzzle full of obscure clues, foreign crap and add a rapper clue to top it all off👎👎👎👎👎
End of rant.
Stay safe😀
15:04, no errors. Last post got gobbled up by the spam filter, I guess…
I thought I had this one down and was prepared to crow until I saw INASEC crossed with DOJA. I had ONESEC/DOJE/WOZZLE. Pen on paper; when I declare I’m done, I’m done.
Meant to add re 40 across.
I had it ending in the i in iwojima yet the clue said the etymology of the word was “‘brides.”
That’s not quite right. It means bride and groom. Feminine plural nouns in Italian end in ‘e’ , masculine plural in ‘i’ and when referring to both genders e.g. bride and groom, it takes the masculine form. That’s why it ends in i.
That threw me since I expected a word meaning brides to end in e.
But I knew iwojima was correct and eventually clued into ziti but the clue was wrong/misleading.
BTW Rex Parker rated this one medium, not easy. By comparison, he rated Friday the 16th easy and Thursday the 15, medium.