Constructed by: Rebecca Goldstein & Adam Wagner
Edited by: Will Shortz
Not your puzzle? Try today’s …
… syndicated NY Times crossword
Today’s Reveal Answer: Common Core
Themed answers are pairs of answers, pairs that share their CORES in COMMON, overlap:
- 52A Set of educational standards … or a hint to 17-, 23-, 34- and 46-Across : COMMON CORE
- 17A Brouhahas / Most appalling : MOB SCENES & OBSCENEST
- 23A “The Incredibles” costumer / Science class display : EDNA MODE & DNA MODEL
- 34A Lock up for the night / Despairs : CLOSE SHOP & LOSES HOPE
- 46A Like some activities at a mountain lodge / Marketing fodder : APRES SKI & PRESS KIT
Read on, or jump to …
… a complete list of answers
Want to discuss the puzzle? Then …
… leave a comment
Bill’s time: 10m 27s
Bill’s errors: 0
Today’s Wiki-est Amazonian Googlies
Across
14 Taylor-Joy of “The Queen’s Gambit” : ANYA
Actress Anya Taylor-Joy had quite the international upbringing. She was born in Miami, and raised in Buenos Aires and then London. She is perhaps best known for playing the title character in the 2020 film adaptation of Jane Austen’s “Emma”, and the lead role in the Netflix miniseries “The Queen’s Gambit”.
“The Queen’s Gambit” is a wonderful 2020 miniseries based on a 1983 novel of the same name by Walter Tevis. Anya Taylor-Joy plays a young chess prodigy who has a tough upbringing in an orphanage, and who then struggles with alcohol and drug dependency. The series was so popular with viewers that it sparked a renewed interest in the game of chess, with sales of chess sets and chess books increasing dramatically.
17 Brouhahas / Most appalling : MOB SCENES & OBSCENEST
“Brouhaha”, meaning “ado, stir”, was a French word that back in the 1550s meant “the cry of the devil disguised as clergy” . Wow!
21 First half of a two-volume encyclopedia on physics, aptly? : A TO M
An encyclopedia is a compendium reference work containing summary information about a branch of knowledge, or about all knowledge. The word “encyclopedia” comes from the Greek “enkyklios paideia” meaning “general education”, or literally “general rearing of a child”.
22 Org. for important adults in a child’s life : PTA
Parent-Teacher Association (PTA)
23 “The Incredibles” costumer / Science class display : EDNA MODE & DNA MODEL
“Incredibles 2” is a 2018 movie that is a sequel to 2004’s “The Incredibles”. Both films were written and directed by Brad Bird. Bird was also a cast member for “Incredibles 2” as he voiced Edna Mode, a fashion designer for superheroes.
Francis Crick and James Watson discovered that DNA had a double-helix, chain-like structure, and published their results in Cambridge in 1953. To this day the discovery is mired in controversy, as some crucial results collected by fellow researcher Rosalind Franklin were used without her permission or even knowledge. In 1962, along with molecular biologist Maurice Wilkins, Watson and Crick were awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine.
26 Smallest bit : WHIT
Both “whit” and “fig” are used to describe a trivial amount, a mere trifle.
30 Singer/songwriter ___ Reznor : TRENT
Not only is Trent Reznor the founder and frontman of the rock band Nine Inch Nails, he also collaborates with fellow band member Atticus Ross in writing film and television scores. The pair scored some very famous movies, including “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”, “Gone Girl” and “Patriots Day”. They won the Best Original Score Oscar for “The Social Network”.
36 Woodwinds that are usually black : OBOES
The oboe is perhaps my favorite of the reed instruments. The name “oboe” comes from the French “hautbois” which means “high wood”.
39 Sent a reminder text, in lingo : PINGED
In the world of computer science, a ping is a test message sent over a network between computers to check for a response and to measure the time of that response. We now use the verb “to ping” more generally, meaning to send someone a message, usually a reminder.
45 Cornhole action : TOSS
Cornhole is a game in which contestants throw bean bags towards a tilted-up platform with a hole in it. Bags that land in the hole score 3 points, and bags that land on the board score 1 point.
46 Like some activities at a mountain lodge / Marketing fodder : APRES SKI & PRESS KIT
“Après-ski” is a French term meaning “after skiing”. It refers to the good times to be had after coming off the slopes.
52 Set of educational standards … or a hint to 17-, 23-, 34- and 46-Across : COMMON CORE
The Common Core State Standards Initiative lays out what K-12 students should know in English and mathematics. The standard is intended to standardize requirements across all states.
56 What follows T.S.A., weirdly : … PRE
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) operates its precheck program known as “TSA Pre✓” (or “TSA PreCheck”). Members of the program receive expedited screening at most airports. In order to become a member, a traveler must apply online, appear in person at a designated office for a background check and fingerprinting, and pay a fee for a 5-year membership.
57 Capital east of the Jordan River : AMMAN
Amman is the capital city of Jordan, and one of the oldest continuously-inhabited cities in the world. Amman has been occupied by a number of different civilizations over the centuries, including the Greeks. The Greeks called the city “Philadelphia”, a name retained by the Romans when they occupied the city just after 100 AD.
61 Genesis creator : SEGA
Genesis is a video game console sold in the US by the Japanese company Sega. Genesis is sold as Mega Drive in the rest of the world, as Sega couldn’t get the rights to the Mega Drive name in the US.
62 Like cabernet sauvignon wine, typically : DRY
The cabernet sauvignon (often just “cab”) grape has been around since the 17th century, and is the result of a chance crossing in southwestern France of the cabernet franc and sauvignon blanc grapes.
Down
2 Part of a summer swarm : CICADA
Cicadas are insects that are found all over the world. Although they resemble locusts, cicadas are an unrelated family. The name “cicada” is Latin and translated as “tree cricket”. However, the name is imitative of the clicking sound the insect makes using parts of its exoskeleton known as “tymbals”.
4 Sticky stuff : JAM
Jelly is made using strained juice from crushed fruit. Jam is similar, but the whole crushed fruit is used, and often includes seeds.
5 Point value of any vowel in Spanish Scrabble : UNO
The game of Scrabble has been produced in many international versions, and each of these editions has its own tile distribution to suit the local language. For example, in English we have two tiles worth ten points: one “Q” and one “Z”. If you play the game in French then there are five tiles worth ten points: one “K”, one “W”, one “X”, one “Y” and one “Z”.
7 Wasabi or miso : PASTE
Sometimes called Japanese horseradish, wasabi is a root used as a condiment in Japanese cooking. The taste of wasabi is more like mustard than a hot pepper in that the vapors that create the “hotness” stimulate the nasal passages rather than the tongue. Personally, I love the stuff …
Miso is the name of the seasoning that makes miso soup. Basic miso seasoning is made by fermenting rice, barley and soybeans with salt and a fungus to produce a paste. The paste can be added to stock to make miso soup, or perhaps to flavor tofu.
8 Something a meter reader reads? : POEM
The meter of a poem is its rhythmic structure.
12 Covered in marginalia, maybe : NOTATED
Marginalia are comments and scribbles that are written in the margins of a book.
18 Soft drink named for a nut : COLA
The nut of the kola tree has a bitter taste, and is loaded with caffeine. Despite the taste, the nut is habitually chewed in some cultures, especially in West Africa where the tree is commonly found in the rainforest. Here in the US we best know the kola nut as a flavoring used in cola drinks.
31 Original Super Mario console, in brief : NES
The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) was sold in North America from 1985 to 1995. It was the biggest selling gaming console of the era. Nintendo replaced the NES with Wii, which is also the biggest-selling game console in the world.
32 Equivalent of 16 pinches: Abbr. : TSP
In cooking, the terms “dash”, “pinch” and “smidgen” can all be used for a very small measure, one that is often undefined. However, you can in fact buy some measuring spoons that define these amounts as follows:
- a dash is 1/8 teaspoon
- a pinch is 1/16 teaspoon
- a smidgen is 1/32 teaspoon
34 Something to put stock in : CONSOMME
A consommé is a clear soup made from clarified stock. Egg whites are used in the clarification process, to remove fat and any sediment.
37 Housing bubble? : BIODOME
A biodome is an enclosed ecological system, and usually a man-made structure. I visited one of the more famous biodomes a few years ago, namely Biosphere 2 in Oracle, Arizona. The Arizona facility was built as a closed-system experiment and used during the nineties as home to two small teams of people for extended periods. Both experiments ran into problems. The first group confronted insufficient generation of food and oxygen. The second group generated sufficient food, but oxygen eventually had to be injected into the habitat.
47 Goal seekers? : PUCKS
Before wooden and rubber pucks were introduced in the late 1800s, ice hockey was played with balls. The first rubber pucks were made by cutting down rubber balls into the shape of discs.
48 River through Lyon : RHONE
The city of Lyon in France is sometimes known as “Lyons” in English. It is the second-largest metropolitan area in the country, after Paris, and is located just to the north of the confluence of the Rhône and Saône Rivers.
50 What a good fillet of fish isn’t : BONY
A fillet is a boneless cut of meat or fish. The term “fillet” comes from the Old French “filet” meaning “small thread, filament”. Apparently, we applied the term to food because the piece of fish or meat was tied up with string after it was boned. Here in the US, we tend to use the French spelling “filet”.
55 H : ETA
Eta is the seventh letter of the Greek alphabet, and is a forerunner of our Latin character “H”. Originally denoting a consonant, eta was used as a long vowel in Ancient Greek.
Read on, or …
… return to top of page
Complete List of Clues/Answers
Across
1 Gaming ___ (console alternatives, for short) : PCS
4 Command to a skydiver : JUMP!
8 Make a quick appearance : POP IN
13 Bad sound to hear while bending over : RIP!
14 Taylor-Joy of “The Queen’s Gambit” : ANYA
15 Have a loan from : OWE TO
16 Unfriendly, as a relationship : ICY
17 Brouhahas / Most appalling : MOB SCENES & OBSCENEST
19 Letters put in boxes : MAIL
21 First half of a two-volume encyclopedia on physics, aptly? : A TO M
22 Org. for important adults in a child’s life : PTA
23 “The Incredibles” costumer / Science class display : EDNA MODE & DNA MODEL
26 Smallest bit : WHIT
27 Roasts : RAGS ON
28 In : AT HOME
30 Singer/songwriter ___ Reznor : TRENT
33 Worked (up) : RILED
34 Lock up for the night / Despairs : CLOSE SHOP & LOSES HOPE
36 Woodwinds that are usually black : OBOES
38 It’s all wound up : SPOOL
39 Sent a reminder text, in lingo : PINGED
41 Weird flexes? : SPASMS
45 Cornhole action : TOSS
46 Like some activities at a mountain lodge / Marketing fodder : APRES SKI & PRESS KIT
49 Affirmation not usually spoken at a Jewish wedding : I DO
50 “My man!” : BRUH!
51 Grow a team, say : HIRE
52 Set of educational standards … or a hint to 17-, 23-, 34- and 46-Across : COMMON CORE
56 What follows T.S.A., weirdly : … PRE
57 Capital east of the Jordan River : AMMAN
58 Like some fabrics : KNIT
59 Early tech giant : AOL
60 Not too sure : LEERY
61 Genesis creator : SEGA
62 Like cabernet sauvignon wine, typically : DRY
Down
1 Part of a makeup routine : PRIMER
2 Part of a summer swarm : CICADA
3 Getting a sneak peek? : SPYING
4 Sticky stuff : JAM
5 Point value of any vowel in Spanish Scrabble : UNO
6 “That’s on me” : MY BAD
7 Wasabi or miso : PASTE
8 Something a meter reader reads? : POEM
9 Take responsibility for, as a mistake : OWN
10 Lookout point : PEEPHOLE
11 “Let’s do this thing” : IT’S TIME
12 Covered in marginalia, maybe : NOTATED
18 Soft drink named for a nut : COLA
20 Final race stretches … or what racers may be on by then : LAST LEGS
24 Down in the dumps : MOROSE
25 Infrequently counterfeited bills : ONES
26 “What just happened?” reaction : WHIPLASH
29 North Korea has the fourth-highest number of these, after China, India and the U.S. : TROOPS
31 Original Super Mario console, in brief : NES
32 Equivalent of 16 pinches: Abbr. : TSP
34 Something to put stock in : CONSOMME
35 Sprinkler attachment : HOSE
36 Vision-related : OPTICAL
37 Housing bubble? : BIODOME
40 “Phooey!” : DARN!
42 Button clicked to advance to a YouTube video : SKIP AD
43 Aid in self-reflection : MIRROR
44 Unflinching : STEELY
47 Goal seekers? : PUCKS
48 River through Lyon : RHONE
50 What a good fillet of fish isn’t : BONY
53 Word that becomes its own synonym if you add a “k” to the end : MAR
54 Fix the wrong way? : RIG
55 H : ETA
Leave a comment (below), or …
… return to top of page
17:25 after finding and fixing an error: initially, for 50-Across, I went with BRAH (which I recall from other puzzles) instead of BRUH (which I don’t recall) and forgot to check the clue for 47-Down.
I messed up BRAH/BRUH as well. Hade to look up a few answers, so DNF. Brain disengaged today.
I put “steady” in for 44D so didn’t get 56A & 59A. Did get “Bruh” but never heard of it. Thought the theme was a bit weird.
18:09, no errors.