Mr. Katz that was a really fine puzzle. Even if you did have to follow an amazing act of yesterday's offering, I liked it a lot.
@Francis You said you'd like it even if you didn't like it! And you are true to your word!
Some of the cleverest clueing I've seen in a while. I was particularly fond of the clueing for EPEE, UMP, OWLETS, and NYET. On the other hand, crossing ANAIS and SAHIB, not so much...
I know SAHIB and I know ANAÏS NIN, which should have been the tough crossing. But no; what defeated me was the crossing of SI_S THE DOG ON and _AL. I wasn't familiar with either, and I'm not one to run the alphabet, though I did try kAL, hAL, sAL and tAL before I threw in the towel. I googled "sic the dog on them." This is the answer I got: "I can't sic a dog on anyone, but I'm here to help you get the actual information you need. If you are dealing with a dangerous situation or a dispute, your best move is to contact local authorities. For non-emergencies in, you can reach the Sheriff's Office at 311 or use their online reporting portal.How can I help you resolve what's going on?" Oy vey. AI. 🤦🏻♀️ The problem was in adding the "them" to the phrase. With just "sic the dog on," I was able to get an appropriate definition. Other than my last square fiasco, the puzzle had a bite I enjoyed, with clever clueing and interesting fill. Thank you, Rich! WHO(m...) DO WE APPRECIATE? You, of course!
@sotto voce I left you my accidentally funny accidental interaction with AI recently but the emus do not see fit to post it. 😕
@sotto voce That is hilarious with a capital "high"!
@sotto voce "Sics the dog on" is a new one to me. I originally had "set" but had an idea that ANAIS was correct. And baseball is a sport very few people follow over here, so most of famers are unknowns to me.
@sotto voce Wow I never thought of asking AI for a crossword answer. Oh now you have corrupted me!
How often do we get a tribute puzzle honoring a famous chant? Not often at all, I suggest, and props to Rich for bringing that punch of freshness. Not only that, but also for figuring out a wordplay way to do it. I liked seeing CUTIE sharing the box with OPOSSUM and OWLETS, which indeed, to me, are adorbs. I loved seeing MISO, whose umami flavor I never tire of. Before uncovering the revealer, my brain saw that the theme answers started with number homonyms – it rarely catches things like that, and let me tell you, that puffed up my pride for a moment. So, Rich, you pushed many happy buttons for me today; ‘twas a most lovely outing. Thank you!
Crossnerd addendum: Props also to Rich for skillfully incorporating a dense theme. The four long theme answers would be a typical length for a theme, but adding FOR REAL and WHO DO WE, make the grid much harder to fill cleanly.
Just commenting to note British markets don't use GRAMS or kilograms, it's still pounds and ounces. In fact, it's even used as an example of where imperial usage survives...you might give your own weight or the weight of a package in Kgs and Gs, but then go buy half a pound of apples from a grocer stall.
@Elaine In southwest Ontario, where most of my in-laws live, the official measurements are metric, but many grocery stores will advertise in terms of pounds and ounces, the adjustment being made at the register: a store will advertise "Locally Grown Asparagus $2.95 per pound!", but will ring in at $6.49/kg.
@Elaine Yes! This clue really threw me off. I kept looking at for a long time, wondering if a Thursday - style answer had crept in.
@Elaine I actually tried DRAMS first, was thinking about old pharmacies
Surprised there aren’t more comments yet. 2, 4, 6, 8, WHO DO WE APPRECIATE? instantly transported me back to childhood. Every sport I ever played, we did that cheer to recognize the opposing team. I always thought it was strange that we cheered for our opponents. I think it might have been my hometown thing. As we moved around the country as an adult, it was used exclusively for the home team. At any rate, fun puzzle with some good clues for a Tuesday. Thanks, Rich.
@Jacqui J Nah. It's an end-of-the-game other-team acknowledgement on the east coast, too. Was, anyway, in the 70s and 80s. In at least three states, based on my own athletic endeavors.
Since today, Tuesday, is my birthday, I claim the appreciation on the grounds of Synchronicity. Can't remember a song to match the number but think piano keys.
@Al in Pittsburgh Happiest birthday!!! 🥳
@Al in Pittsburgh So, 13? Think Schroeder in 'Peanuts'.
@Al in Pittsburgh Blue Monday 88 <a href="https://youtu.be/9GMjH1nR0ds?si=av4D0rrdSOeCI6sB" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/9GMjH1nR0ds?si=av4D0rrdSOeCI6sB</a> Rocket 88 <a href="https://youtu.be/Gbfnh1oVTk0?si=5laI0Hcx_30S-9N3" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/Gbfnh1oVTk0?si=5laI0Hcx_30S-9N3</a> Happy Birthday!
@Al in Pittsburgh I just turned on my music machine and found one more: 88 Basie Street <a href="https://youtu.be/nruo4skgSXs?si=rXZZWOjQrm9xz-Rm" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/nruo4skgSXs?si=rXZZWOjQrm9xz-Rm</a>
@Al in Pittsburgh Your 2,468th birthday, I hope? HBD!
@Al in Pittsburgh Happy Birthday! Best wishes for a healthy and happy year!
2, 4, 6, 8 WHO DO WE OPOSSUM? Tee hee, I was misreading the clue and trying to parse the phrase with 60A instead of 63A.
@Linda Jo You reminded me of an elementary school teacher of mine. Upon finding a possum playing dead, she had us gather in a circle & count off, “I One the opossum, I Two the opossum…” until we got to the unfortunate & unsuspecting second grader who said, “I Eight the opossum.” Such silly laughter as the pun dawned on us!
@Linda Jo Magnolia's a blossom, And roses are red, If you're playing possum, You look like you're dead! I don't know why, but WHO DO WE OPOSSUM inspired me. Maybe I need more coffee.....
Cute and fun. “Decline of Russia” especially.
WON TREE FIFE NEIN... Ah, never mind...
@Matt Man! Not only don't I get today's theme - I'm puzzled by the comments, too. I don't think I've ever before felt more like the odd man out on this board.
@Matt Who's trying to cross the Maginot line?
I was doing so well until the dog clue, with the crucial 'c' crossing a baseball player. My investigations reveal it comes from 'seek', although I would simply say 'set' the dog on. I've not heard of UBER POOL. Ride share, called trip-splitting, exists but I've never heard of anyone using it. I know of 2,4,6,8 etc but it's not used much. Football and rugby matches usually have singing. At Liverpool matches they sing "You'll Never Walk Alone, and at Scottish rugby they sing "Flower of Scotland; the Welsh are famous for harmony singing - it's astounding.
@Jane Wheelaghan I would love to hear the harmony singing at a game/match! Do you say “car pool” (or carpool) in London? That’s my guess for Uber pool - but just a guess
I understand the constructor’s critique of the phrase, “I appreciate you” as opposed to the formerly more common, “it” as overspeak. Admittedly, I use the ‘you’ because I feel it is important to tell people regularly that we do value their existence. I would always rather over-appreciate than under. That being said, I appreciate all of YOU because coming here for the comments is my second favorite part of finishing the daily crossword! 🫶🏼
Actually, most birds eat up to half their body weight, daily. Hummingbirds need to eat 100% of their body weight in nectar, to sustain their metabolism. 48A always gets a chuckle around our dinner table.
Breezed right through this Tuesday, it was fun besides the crossing of ANAIS and SHAHIB. That ruined the vibe for me.
@Andrew. You will see a lot more of both of them in these crosswords before the year is out.
Well Rich, I know yesterday's puzzle was a tough act to follow, but this had it's own charms. Decades ago, I volunteered at Camp Anchor, a summer camp for children with various challenges, where we used the rhyme to celebrate them. This brought back memories of days at the beach with those wonderful kids. I suspect you triggered many happy thoughts today.
Fun theme, although I find the placement of the themers vaguely unsettling. As usual, Sam, great job with the photo and caption. +100 aura
@ad absurdum Aw hey, thanks! I love knowing it adds a little something.
Because I'm stupid (but not dumb) I managed to finish the puzzle without revealing the revealers. "Who'd owe appreciate?" really got me scratching.
@Nicholas You do that who do (that you do so well).
My version of the avian metaphor—or simile—at 48A is said when it’s pointed out that someone fits that answer. I say, “Yeah, I eat like a bird, too. A vulture.”
@Steve L <a href="https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1706751464030632&id=100040873849221" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1706751464030632&id=100040873849221</a>
@Steve L LOL.... that made me remember DHubby's chagrinned observation when my appetite increased dramatically (pregnancy boosted my intake)...
The theme took me back 60+ years to my brief, far-less-than-stellar stint in little league baseball when, after each game, we’d give a cheer for the other team, win or lose: TOO FOR SICS ATE WHO DO WE APPRECIATE? (Fittingly, then there were several baseball-related clues/fills…and I was delighted to learn that the AREA of a baseball infield is around 8100 square feet, which I should’ve known, given the distance between the bases, but never thought to do the math.) Early on, I thought I’d end up with a personal best, but ran into snags as I moved toward the south. Still, I finished around 40% under my Tuesday average. Enjoyed a number of the clues along the way: “One who might call you out if you’re home late,” for UMP. “The decline of Russia?” for NYET.
Just a note about amend and emend. Clearly similar roots and related meanings (something's going to change in both), but they are not not identical words. With amend there is a substantive change as in an amendment to the Constitution. Emend involves changing words so as to improve the text without changing the substance. Was I misled by my teachers?
Today's poem made from words found in today's puzzle<br> a/ from sweet beginnings of you, of me—who made crucible d/ of the night until the longing collapsed to release… what? a storm? a kind of oil? and a/ we fell down down down the rain
As a french native speaker, I protest amicably to the so-called "obviousness" of the song (nursery rhyme ?) mentionned in this puzzle. It goes without saying that for someone non immersed in anglo-américan culture from the youngest age, it is more of a hurdle than not. Also had never encountered the verb "sics" before. I'll try to remember that. Gave me a lot of trouble. And I really "hate" baseball references.
@Fred Frère Jacques Frère Jacques Dormez-vous? Dormez-vous? Sonnez les matines Sonnez les matines Din, din don, Din, din, don.
@Fred Welcome to the New York Times Crossword! I would likely feel the same attempting a French puzzle! But this is an American publication, so a cheer (NOT a nursery rhyme) used throughout the United States is pretty straightforward. If you decide to keep trying these puzzles, get used to baseball references — a LOT of baseball references. Learning some of the lingo will help a lot!
Crossing ANAIS with SAHIB was diabolical. Fun puzzle, though!
@IronicBaguette Only diabolical if you're a rather new solver. They're both crosswordese.
In addition to appearing in crosswords, they also appear in (and about) literature.
@IronicBaguette Yes, I had ANAIn at first, was willing to believe that nAHIB was just a word I had not heard!
There’s something so… humoursly awkward about a clue like “wash with a glycol spray, as an airplane wing”. Accurate, sure, but weirdly over-so. It’s the “as a(n)” phrasing following a very specific action; to me, it sort of suggests there are all kinds of things that we might wash with a glycol spray, and imagine in those cases we are DEICing an airplane wing. Am I the only one getting aeroerotic overtones? Possible clue for 2D SLOMO: [Method used to replay scenes involving someone washing something with glycol spray, as an airplane wing, perhaps as in Top Gun]
@JohnWM I get you, but it's only Tuesday, and if you don't know what glycol or a glycol spray are, you need the mention of an airplane wing to get the clue. Also, I'm sure people do stuff you would never have imagined with glycol spray.
@JohnWM "Ground Control, all systems are go. We're coming in for a landing!" Happy Aeroerotic Pride month, all!
@JohnWM I wonder if the constructor was originally planning the clue to be “______ Citizens bank” to recognize the protest movement started last fall against that bank which finances companies that build ICE detention centers. The clue might have been seen as too political, or this growing movement not yet well-known enough for a Tuesday.
@JohnWM That reminds me, I need to DE-ICE my freezer chest...and not with ethylene glycol.
A lovely Tuesday. Clever clueing, and a theme I didn’t get until I finished. Great fun!
Groan. I don’t mean a mean groan, like I hated it, just one of the more groan worthy themes I can remember. More than the usual theme fill for a Tuesday,, nicely done.
As for part of Sam's comments, I say that you're never too old to use younger generation slang. It's very helpful for torturing your young loved ones. My favorite 14-year-old, who will soon be my favorite 15-year-old likes it when I go along with her favorite slang... (67 has only just hit Honduras.) Until I decide tomildly torture her by using slang, like, boom!, that's no longer in fashion and she starts laughing uproariously and yelling how cringy I am. Today was more tears then laughter though because of a school bully that in particular targets her but somehow it's her who gets in trouble for it because she doesn't want to just take it. Never physical, though. Ugh! I can't say I'm always grateful to be 54 because it has its own not fun challenges, but I'm sure as heck glad to not be that age anymore. Thought the puzzle was very fun! Enjoyed the theme a lot and I really needed the good cheer! Tough and long day here in sunny Utila!
@HeathieJ The absurdity of 6-7 (and outsized reactions of all sorts that it provokes) is fabulous. I feel compelled to share: <a href="https://xkcd.com/3184" target="_blank">https://xkcd.com/3184</a>/
Cute puzzle! Idk but ANAIS was an obvious one and I got SAHIB with crosses. Am I really the only one who had to change labia to LABOR to complete the solve??
@Omols Hah! That's a good one. I had no crossing letters when I got to that clue, so no nudges in the wrong direction, but I did put BIRTH at first.
@Omols Hah! That's a good one. I had no crossing letters when I got to that clue, so no nudges in the wrong direction, but I did put BIRTH at first.
A pet peeve in 60 across: it’s worth noting the the “opossum” and “possum” are actually distinct species on different continents, not the same animal with two accepted variant spellings of its name.
@Jean The opossum native to North America (Didelphis virginiana) is usually refered to by us as a possum.
@Jean II's really simple. An oppossum is an Irish possum.
@Jean Wha? Now you got me falling down a rabbit-, or rather 'possum-hole! Per OED, The word entered the English language from Virginian Algonquin about 1600. Curious--variants which begin with a vowel, which begin with a "p," or which begin with "'" are all of equal age--IOW, "possum" is not a later shortening of "opossom" by lazy rurals (I just backspaced the first noun I typed). About 1770, "possum" began to be applied to various similar, but unrelated, species Australian marsupials. Of course, there were a lot of variations, before the spelling(s) became standardized. The first citation from the OED of the exact spelling "opossum" is from 1763, from Wesley's Compendium of Natural Philosophy: "The tender young of the Opossum are delicate Morsels." Yeow! From Wikipedia, here's an image of a Virginia Possum with her tender young--who could be so heartless to imagine eating them?: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opossum#/media/File:Didelphis_virginiana_with_young.JPG" target="_blank">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opossum#/media/File:Didelphis_virginiana_with_young.JPG</a>
@Jean G’day mate. Although your location line is completely unhelpful for telling anyone where your point of view comes from, I have to assume l, because of two minutes of read each I just did, that your Australian, since you have mentioned the use of POSSUM as a distinct species. This is only true in Australia. As you can see in the cite below, Americans have been using POSSUM as a shortening of “opossum” since 1613, long before Australia was even known to English speakers. Aussies borrowed a word that referred to the American species to apply to a local animal, but that doesn’t negate that the word refers to the American animal as well. But I do like your confidence. <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/possum" target="_blank">https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/possum</a>
Another theme that's so silly as to be adorbs. Well done.
@Sam Corbin The father in the old rhyme you cited didn’t cry tears bc the snake died, he cried as in a shout: 2, 4, 6, 8. Cried out.
Fun Tuesday and a clever theme. Typical slow start for me, but finally tumbled to the trick and then it all fell together fairly smoothly. And.. puzzle find today: A Sunday from August 25, 1974 by Jack Wherry with the title "K rations." Some answers in that one: KNIFEANDFORK ACKACKFIRE KANKAKEE KIOSK KNAPSACK FRANKKNOX BOKKEEPERS TALKINGBACK KRISKRINGLE SKEPTICS LEAKIEST RIKKITIKKI PICKUPSTICKS And several more. Here's that link: <a href="https://www.xwordinfo.com/PS?date=8/25/1974&h=140a" target="_blank">https://www.xwordinfo.com/PS?date=8/25/1974&h=140a</a> ....
easily some of the cleverest early week cluing in recent weeks.
I was half hoping the final revealer would be “Schlemiel Schlimazel Hasenpfeffer Incorporated!” like the beginning of the Laverne & Shirley theme. But then I remembered that they actually count all the numbers up to eight. I’ve never read Anais Nin but I have read Henry Miller, and they seem to get compared a lot, so I knew the name. Fun puzzle!
I don't usually comment during the week, but I did last night, in a thread that was (justifiably) deleted. For anyone interested, now that the accounts glitch is fixed and we are able to comment again, I have commented again to yesterday's column and provided a little more information about my two great aunts.
@Lynn, Thanks for telling us about it here. Comments are already closed there, you must have gotten in just under the wire. That’s an interesting story. Very kind of your family to at least quietly accept it, even if they didn’t say so publicly. Those were very different times.
@NYC Traveler My sister has studied more about the mores in 1940s and 1950s South and helped me understand why it was never talked about, just accepted. And it seems as though their relationship really was accepted. Or maybe folks were in denial, but Aunt Fran was given the seat of next-of-kin at Aunt Charlie's funeral and my mother said no one blinked an eye. And when we visited, my aunt would talk of Aunt Charlie as her partner but never actually _say_ it. My sister explained to me that she would not have welcomed my asking about it--it was something too private to talk about.
@Lynn I was wondering what was emu'd but I get some of it now. I'm not going full-Andrzej on this but it seems as though the bi-auntal relationship was discussed with some appropriate delicacy. Any explanation for the emu-age? It seems that you approved the deletion.
A very easy puzzle, but with clues that are so clever and charming, who cares? I especially appreciated the baseball fill, which I assumed we be a mom or pop reference to yesterday. Thank you, Rich, you did cheer me up.
If you click through the Wordplay column and read about the Diverse Crossword Constructor Fellowship, and then click on the comments there, you'll see that there is a big discussion about whether women are underrepresented in crossword construction. Well, this happened to remind me of something I read yesterday--that the number one job title is home health aide. After that are (from the internet): "Home Health and Personal Care Aides: ~4.0 million jobs Retail Salespersons: ~3.8 million jobs Fast Food and Counter Workers: ~3.8 million jobs General and Operations Managers: ~3.6 million jobs Registered Nurses: ~3.3 million jobs" Also, by the way, 87 percent of home health aides are female. What do you think?
Rich Katz, I, for one, appreciate you (not it)!
Nice puzzle, Tuesday fit I thought. But, like @Andrzej I didn’t know/understand the theme, not being au fait with the rhyme. It didn’t stop me completing the crossword, but I needed Wordplay to explain it. 25A had me looking at the resident Shiba. He looks like a smiley ball of floof, but we have Beware Dog signs at every gate as he imitates the cartoon Tasmanian Devil if anyone tries to approach. He’s drawn blood on more than one occasion; usually from one of us as we throw ourselves in front of his intended victim. He’s not even sorry after the fact. Yes, we’ve had professional trainers look at him. They’ve all backed away and advised more signs and good insurance. Fortunately he’s a complete lamb away from home, otherwise I don’t think he’d have reached adulthood.
@Helen Wright I'm surprised that SIC ON and variants of same appear so frequently, as it has a strong negative connotation with the Civil Rights movement. Or that mean old man down the street who sits on his porch and drinks beer all day. But in this case, it was necessary for the theme.
This is the kind of puzzle that makes me want to run for Governor of Cali. But I chose a different write-in candidate instead. I voted for Gargamel. Sure, he hasn’t beaten the Smurfs yet, but he’s tenacious, a cat lover, and with that patch on his boot you know he’ll be frugal with the funds brah.
That was fun! Brought back fond memories of cheering at our local Pop Warner games in the 60’s. I appreciate you (not it), Rich!
As I solved and then stared at the completed puzzle, first I could not parse the first half of the revealer, but even once I did, I had no idea what the theme was about - I haven't been that clueless about one in... Months? Years? I checked the column but I still don't get it. What is a "counting rhyme"? How does the revealer question relate to the themed entries? Why is there a phonetic element? Is the latter just the constructor's device, or does it meaningfully correspond to whatever it is that's being revealed? So many questions.
@Andrzej I believe a counting rhyme is used to teach kids math (sorry, friend!) skills by making it fun and memorable. They can also be used to like select who is "it." As in who has to go first . I think that's the one that shows up frequently enough in the puzzles - eeny meenie miny mo.... The theme today is also used as a sports cheer by cheerleaders. I think the phonetic element is just for puzzling fun. Normally the rhyme is just "2, 4, 6, 8, who do we appreciate!? Andrzej!! Gooooo Andrzej!!" 📣👏
@Andrzej @Heathie Oh, right. It hadn't occurred to me that chant might be peculiar to America.
@Andrzej. @HJ, @FiGM, et @lii: I don't think you've captured the essence of a "counting rhyme": it's (main or original) purpose is not to teach numbers, but to select an individual from a group as "It"--whether as the protagonist in a game of tag, or as the scapegoat in a ritual act of death by stoning. As such, it doesn't necessarily need to involve number words--"Eenie Meenie Miney Moe" would qualify Andrzej, do you have something comparable in Polish? (Since most counting rhymes have syllables, or stresses, in even numbers, it really only works when the group of individuals is of an odd number. By that definition, IMO, "Two, four, six, eight . . ." doesn't quite, um, count as a counting rhyme, at least as I've ever heard it.
As I was filling in this puzzle, this didn’t feel like a Tuesday puzzle. This felt like a Monday puzzle and yesterday felt like a Tuesday. I must be getting better at these. An enjoyable theme and me guessing on some answers which turned out to be correct. I had no idea an opossum was a marsupial.
@Frank Sartori In my experience, whenever you think to yourself "I must be getting better at these" you're guaranteed to see a slew of people in the comments complaining that the puzzle was too easy.
A metaphor is saying something IS something. A simile is saying something IS LIKE something. 48 across is therefore an avian simile, not an avian metaphor. Do better next time NYT
@Jessica Please stop with the "do better" snark. Especially when you haven't checked either a dictionary nor previous comments on a subject. All similes are metaphors. Not all metaphors are similes. As an earlier commenter described, like the relationship between squares and rectangles. Get it?
@Jessica It's been covered. You are incorrect.
Sad how many people reco'd the OP...
I rather think this one belongs in the "I can't believe I fell for that" Department. The most excitement the puzzle generated was at Square 50, where I had entered a sloppy D that looked like a P, causing all manner of confusion, consternation, and complication, until "Oh, duh." Enjoyed the disguised baseball clues! The "grand slam" one was tricky--so many things claim this special 'event'--tennis, bridge, etc. Welp, on with the day!
This made me laugh out loud when I got it - an excellent puzzle.
Love to see that there are other picky grammarians out there! Enjoyed the puzzle!
@Leon S. If you just found that out, stick around for a while. You ain't seen nothin' yet.
Goodness, where is everyone? Usually, by the time I get here, the commentariat has reached three digits. This feels like stepping into a subway train and discovering it's empty. 😯
@SBK in TO It is eerie. For the first time ever, I had the first post, unless it's gotten taken down. Does this feel at all like the start of a horror movie to anyone?