An easy puzzle from Norma Johnson, with an easy-to-see theme. Since they didn't give it a title, I'm calling it... Make it snappy!
The three theme answers were all gimmes, so that made for a fast solve:
20A: Deeply hurt (cut to the quick)
36A: Ramadan observance (religious fast)
54A: Gulliver's creator (Jonathan Swift)
Despite the easy theme, there was some fresh fill...a couple that bordered on exceptional.
I always like to see multiple word answers in the grid, and there are plenty of them in this puzzle.
41A: Be testy with (snap at)
48A: Attached, in a way (tied on)
5D: "Come on, that's enough!" (oh, stop!)
49D: "Finally finished!" (I did it!). I remember that feeling when I completed my first Sunday New York Times puzzle.
I guess 6D: Doll for boys (GI Joe) also counts as a multiple word answer. For that matter, so does 3D: Semiformal (black tie), 39D: Excursion diversion (side trip), and 44D: Bit of humor most people can't get (in joke).
Clever cluing at 23A: Benevolent fellow (Elk), 33A: Ark complement (pair), and 40D: Cel character (toon).
I wonder about 26A: Quitter's cry (uncle). Has anyone ever heard anyone cry that...other than in a movie?
It was nice to see 13D: Pulitzer winner studs (Terkel) in the grid. I don't remember any details, but I know I heard his radio show when I was growing up. I just looked him up at Wikipedia...he's 95 years old and had open heart surgery at the age of 93. He probably has more energy than I do.
The Scots appear twice in the puzzle clues...attire at 64A (kilt) and turndowns at 68A (naes). I would definitely turn down a man wearing a kilt.
I just noticed 32A: Partner of poivre (sel). I didn't have a clue but got it from knowing all of the downs. I know Spanish...somewhat. I'm guessing this is French for salt, the partner of pepper.
And I have to point out a favorite word. 22D: Drink heartily (quaff). It's just such a cool word...partly because of the Q, partly because of the double F.
I've finally gotten back to the ACPT puzzle packet that's been sitting on my desk for months now. There's no deadline for returning them, so I might as well finish them and send them off. Today I did puzzle #5, with a clever theme that I figured out PDQ. I finished what I knew in about 22 minutes, but spent the last 8 staring at three or four answers that just eluded me. I don't know if the level of difficulty increases with each puzzle, but this one didn't seem as difficult to me as some I'd already done. Maybe they just mix it all up...you know, so you don't get burned out.
It's only 9:00, but I think it's time to call it a night. Hope to see you tomorrow.
Linda G
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7 comments:
When you say "Maybe they just mix it all up...you know, so you don't get burned out" that is mixing your metaphors and that is a no-no!
Anonymous Green Schoolmarm
Ooh -- I've arrived!
Anonymous Green Schoolmarm,
Would you prefer "Maybe they just burned out...you know, so you don't get mixed up."
Good luck with your robots!
At the ACPT, puzzles #2 and #5 are the hard ones. #1 and #4 are the easiest, and #3 and #6 are fairly easy but bigger. #7 is also big, but not too hard (Sunday NYT level or a little easier). This year's #5 was worlds easier than the previous year's #5 by Byron Walden, which only about 30 or 40 contestants were able to finish correctly within the time limit. Merl Reagle's #5 this year was fun rather than jaw-gnashingly tough.
And yes, they try to let solvers finish out a three-crossword solving session on a high note by making #3 and #6 easier than their predecessors.
*I wonder about 26A: Quitter's cry (uncle). Has anyone ever heard anyone cry that...other than in a movie?*
linda g- are you an only child?
i grew up with 2 older sisters and, well...it's not a movie line to me. it was not only common, but also mandatory utterance.
No, I'm not an only child. I have an older sister, but she wasn't allowed to beat me up. She did throw a shoe at me once and gave me a black eye, but it was an accident. I lied to my mother to protect my sister, who I adored...still do. I also have two younger brothers. One of them might say I used to beat up on him, but it was all in fun ; )
well, my sisters weren't *allowed* to beat up on me either, but i still knew how to holler, "UNCLE!"
(once i retaliated physically. once. i learned at a very young age, in one easy lesson, that no matter what, a boy Never strikes a girl.)
despite all that, nowadays...i adore them both.
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