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Oof… that was a ROUGH Tuesday! Totally not in my wheelhouse- seemed to be a lot of Star Trek and sports trivia, which is like a foreign language to me. Hardest Tuesday for me in a long time…way above my average. I found it hard to find a foothold and I didn’t understand the theme, even after I got the revealer. Oh well…on to Wednesday! Hopefully it’ll be easier on me.
A Thursday puzzle with a theme about Scrabble, an easy rebus, nary a Spanish word nor a Simpsons clue, fun wordplay, new-to-me words (HOARY?! Made me laugh!), fun clues (24D), and some Scottish fun? Count me in! Didn’t get my personal best, but I certainly did much better than I typically do on a Thursday! Very fun puzzle, despite its ease!
@Dan D welcome! I typically do my best with the puzzles and when I struggle, look at the column and the comments. Mondays and Tuesdays I’ve limited myself to not looking until after I’ve solved (personal rule), but give myself carte blanche for Wednesday-Sunday. Have fun!
I am all for this!!! One of my best Sunday and I have the Olympic theme to thank for it. As I typically solve Sundays the first go-around online in just the “clue” form, I was slower because I didn’t catch onto the color “help” right away. Once I switched back into normal view, I solved much faster. As a huge Olympic nut, I loved the imagery of this, as well as the ingenious and fun clueing, of the theme! Oddly enough, I got stuck on the “revealer” clue, which I kept returning to OLYMPICring instead of the real answer. Still solid and loved the nod to my favorite tile of year (despite the negativity- I love the ideal that the world can come together to compete and love one another/support another through some of our most poignant and powerful times in a life. One only needs to look at the times we have as a human race have congratulated and consoled each other during the Games to know that all is not lost.
Slightly disappointed in myself for not picking up on the puzzle theme more quickly. Like many others, I saw Frost and went straight to “less travelled,” even though I read this poem only about a month or two ago when helping a student with their homework. Still stuck on 7 and 8 down, though, and I’m at a loss! Hoping I can get it done…very proud of myself when I got 20 across right away. I also don’t know whether to be upset or glad that Deb’s column didn’t actually help me at all (though always entertaining) because I got all the “tricky” clues! I think after a few years, I’m definitely picking up on the misdirects.
I loved this Sunday! I laughed along with all the themers once I got the trick (I tend to skip through the long ones first go-around and have the crosses help me out). It was such a cute theme and was fun from start to finish!
I petition that the Gray Lady finally adopt the Oxford (SERIAL) comma! I learned many years ago that the reason that they didn’t was because someone ran the numbers back in the day and realized they could save money on ink by omitting it. While I don’t know for sure, I’d wager that most subscriptions are digital, and therefore ink cost isn’t as crucial for them anymore. Bring on clarity and consistency! As for the puzzle, I thought it was cute! I struggled with some of the theme words, and not always consistently (didn’t remember what HELLO in Chinese is, but got MAHJONG before BRIDGE), but was able to get the revealer on the first pass thanks to having enough crosses. POTHEADS made me chuckle and I wasn’t sure if it was right at first…
@HeathieJ I’m so sorry for your loss. As someone who also recently lost someone extremely important to me, I understand needing the distraction of a puzzle (even if said person didn’t understand my love of them and got exasperated every time I asked for help with a clue). I’m glad you were able to smile today.
@David Connell I disagree with your assertion that it was a “Monday-level solve” and that the trick was “obvious from JJ on.” That level of arrogance turns off newer and older solvers/writers alike who come here for guidance, clarity, and community. I, for one, thought it was Wednesday-appropriate. And quite frankly I didn’t even get to the JJ part because I didn’t get 1A. I enjoy Elvis and listen to his music, but I hadn’t even heard of his song at 1A. To assume that everyone knows that piece of trivia (or 13A for that matter, or indeed the restaurant chain to which the JJ is in reference to) to be slightly belittling. I actually found your comment, especially as a reply to an open and forthright comment from someone complimenting the construction and commenting on their own doubts as a solver, to be quite disheartening and demeaning to another solver. Please, for the sake of our community (of which I’m a very tiny voice), let’s keep this beautiful corner of the internet to encouragement, engaging, and enlightening. With a bit of entertainment dashed in as well.
@Ted W We still use this phrase in 2025…just used it this past week… a colleague and I were talking and the phrase “dropped trou” transpired.
Dear Deb, I came here looking for help…and boy did I find something else, and yet something akin to help. I’m so sorry for your loss, but having gone through almost exactly what you went through- a few years prior- I can empathize (down to holding hands until very end). However, unlike your father who gave you the gift of crossword joy, my father (for still some unfathomable reason) did not care for crosswords. Anytime I would shout out a clue I didn’t know, but thought for sure he would know, I’d get either an answer, a question as to why I wasn’t solving the thing by myself, or both. What made this all the more mysterious to me as to why he didn’t seem to enjoy crossword puzzles was this was the very man who instilled in me a love of words and literature and the power of knowledge (and many other invaluable lessons and incredible memories of what it means to be a loving and caring parent). So, without having even gotten to the “tricky clues” portion, thank you Deb for bringing your wit and wisdom and thank you for your father for creating that special bond that brought you to all of us who look forward to your column every week!
I don’t get all the hate today…and I had a hard time figuring out the theme. Sadly, had to come here to figure it out (GRADEINFLATION made sense, but I stupidly thought that JFK was talking about the “ides,” not the EDGE- with the date in the clue “confirming” my guess)- and WOW to see Will on the byline! Deb will be missed, but it was cool to see him pop up! Loved the idea of the theme, especially personally having seen the world of grade inflation besmirch the name of education…but for some reason still struggled today with the actual trick of the revealer (didn’t think it was a rebus, bit couldn’t figure it out, idiotically), and just had too many wrong answers that seemed right. I think it was my headspace today, as work was a nutty day and my brain is fried. A real shame, because I think I could have really embraced this puzzle if I were thinking straight…especially since Thursdays are becoming, if they aren’t already, my favorite day for puzzles. When I finally did get the theme, it flowed better, but I still got stuck in the northwest corner. C’est la vie. This one is on me, not the constructors (and I think we could be on the same wavelength, anyway). Hopefully I’ll get to see more from them so I can properly enjoy their work!
@David Johnson Interesting- I had Cyndi Lauper there for a bit myself. Interesting how many names fit there!
@KidA I was also soooo confused because I was convinced that it was WHYTHELONGFACE, but crossing it was COMA and the two just didn’t fit together. Very tough Wednesday for me! And definitely would have expected (and welcomed) this trick on a Thursday. Ah, I guess you live and you learn. Still trying to figure out the southwest.
@Harri I can’t speak to OVOID, but ROMEO is, indeed, the one who said the quote in 4D. He said it right after he drank the poison. Juliet woke up not long after that and stabbed herself with his sword.
@Peter C. That’s the perfect way to describe it! Thursdays at first were such a bear, with my times being so much higher than all the other days because I just couldn’t seem to figure out where to put those rebuses! Now, however, I look forward to Thursdays the most because of that fun “buried treasure”! This puzzle was still above my average, and it took my a while to figure out the theme (although I got DOUBLE NEGATIVE fairly early), but it was such a fun puzzle!
Gosh, do I love me a rebus (now that I know how to find one…for the most part)! Surprised to see one on a Wednesday, but I thought the timing was perfect…was this moved up a day on purpose to fit with the intense heat we’ve been having (at least on LI) for the past 3 days (with predictions of it breaking tomorrow)? MAGNACARTA was my foothold into the rebus trick, although it took me a few more rounds to get the right phrase for the revealer. A few misdirects and figuring out exactly where the other rebuses were sent me a few minutes above my Wednesday average, but well worth it for a rebus surprise treat!
@Barry Ancona I ask you to refer back to the original Wordplay post for this puzzle where Sam Corbin states, “New York Times style omits it.” Additionally, I have read many, many articles over the years where they have omitted it (I scratch my head in thought of when they *have* used it because it probably would have struck me as odd knowing their stance and purpose for it). My statement’s intent was to postulate that their style guide should now include the noble Oxford comma since it seems as if NYT’s only reason for omitting it in the first place was to save money. Admittedly, while I cannot confirm the absolute truth of this statement, it certainly sounds plausible. And I agree with you- they absolutely *should* include it! And at all times! Consistency, Barry!
@John Sturmi I agree! The crossword is the cornerstone of the NYT Games suite, and as such, it deserves to continue to be placed on top! Additionally, like you, I will usually return to crossword when I struggle with it at my first stab. I tend to do Wordle all at once.
@Fidelio How funny! That’s the order in which I complete my morning ritual too…
Once I’ve figured out the revis trick, I do enjoy solving a puzzle with it in there. I feel like I haven’t seen a true “rebus” in a while, so this was a pleasant surprise for me. And surprise indeed! That it was a Wednesday was definitely notable (and I figured would garner a lot of comments…), but I thought it was easy enough to catch onto…however, that’s because I’m experienced enough to know when to pick up on the trick. Call me CRAYCRAY, but I loved it (even if a HS student of mine told me to “never say that again”)!
@Barry Ancona thanks! Was definitely think Acer computer as well…clever clueing!
Woof…that was tough. Definitely felt hard to get in anything through the first pass through. All I had were a few suffixes and a guess at AUSTEN something-S (upon second pass through guessed at ITE). The downs were “easier” in the first. Had to resort to some lookups for trivia’s sake (I really felt I should have known ASH CARTER, but others were new to me- MR LONELY and GALOIS), then the column, but surprisingly went through the rest of it quite easily. Still have no idea what the heck THE BARTMAN is, and I lived through the 90s…the only Bart I know of is Simpson, but I wasn’t a fan of the show, and comics superhero doesn’t make me think of a cartoon show. I didn’t read through all of the comments yet, but if someone could explain that to me, I’d appreciate it. Additionally, I love the link from the columnist for the Jane-ites vs. Austenites branches of adoration!
It took me waaaaay too long to figure out that instead of an equal sign that I couldn’t find on the keyboard for the app just to type in the word “EQUALS” in the rebus. And then it took me even LONGER to figure out that the y’s I was supposed to be turning into x’s was in the clue not the answer. I’m bummed because it was such a cute theme and I could have enjoyed it more (and gotten some of those answers must faster) had I been a bit more with it today. Not to mention I also had Chris Rock for the SNL clue for most of the puzzle that got me stuck in the northwest. Sorry to Mr. REDD (and any of his fans), I have no idea who you are… and one thing that I still don’t understand is the clue for 9A. I was able to deduce the answer from crosses, but I really don’t understand the clue at all. “Catch dead to rights”??? What is it asking? Can someone kindly educate me? Other than my own sticking points, I really did enjoy it, especially when I figured out the directions for the theme! Those clues were super cute.
This was a fun one! I especially liked the crossing of SAINT and SINFUL and the dual clueing of “often-discarded part of a fruit (though, sadly for me SEED was not the correct answer for either and lost me some time and caused some confusion). The last of the theme entries I had was CRIBNOTES, surprisingly enough as a teacher. I typically do call them cheat sheets for my students, but as soon as I was able to parse it together, crib notes struck a vaguely familiar chord. Fun theme and some good clues that made me think. Great Tuesday!
@Ben add me to the list of people under 50 who love a rebus! Was it hard when I first started and had no idea what it even was and couldn’t diss them out? Sure. But I read the columns and I *learned And there are plenty of people out there who do enjoy a rebus puzzle, so why should the Times change it if there is an audience for it?
A Disney reference crossing with a football reference? UHUH! Talk about my Achilles heel… probably should’ve have deduced KNEE, but that was definitely the last to fall for me and needed to run the alphabet to get that N there. Cute puzzle otherwise!
I should have picked up Étoile earlier than I did…disappointed in myself, not only because I took French in HS, but also I’ve fallen in love with the Amazon show of the same name!
@Ettagalevery interesting…and interesting help here too. I just noticed this this week as well, and even tough I have an Apple Games ID, I don’t like being involved in it. Now, I’ll have to see from the other helpful responses here if I am indeed able to sign out of it.
@Charles Peterson What really annoys me is that scrabble now allows “ok.” This is NOT “okay” or “OK” in my household. Ok is not a work. It’s a guttural sound…I would also like for Apple to stop with that being the default response on my watch when I want to respond to a text message using that device, especially since I never use it and I would think that it would “learn” that by now. As for “ZA,” I would also agree that that isn’t a word…I understand that language is fluid, but the only time I’ve seen/heard that as a substitute for pizza is ironically and uttered with an eye roll.
@Michelle me too! That as one of my hardest spots. The northeast was also super hard for me. I agree- maybe the theme was Wednesday-ish, but the other clues (especially the crossing you pointed out), I thought were Thursday-level difficult.
@Jill I was able to get to PERIOD DRAMA from the crosses, but your comment made me smile! My dad and I used to argue about my beloved Oxford Comma, so your comment provided me with my own giggle and fond memories of intellectual debate with my father (never mind to say the slight allusion to one of my favorite Shakespeare plays). Added bonus- my sister is also named Jill, who would often sit in silence during these dinner table diatribes with a bemused but frustrated smile. Happy Thursday and thanks for the smile!
@Getting Better I literally didn’t understand it until I read your comment…I don’t know why, but somehow taking it out of context made it click! Thank you! 😊
@John …interesting. That was one of my earlier footholds in this doozy of a puzzle! Had to swing by it a few times, but was able to suss it out with only a crossing or two.
@Brett I didn’t know it was a brand, thought I should have known it as a former competitive swimmer…but the only thing I could think of was jammers (also fairly niche)…I was able to get at least the first part of it from context. Just out of curiosity, how long did it take the brand Speedo to become part of the general lexicon to mean just a specific cut as opposed to its full array of swimwear?
@Mary Came here to say that too! It was one of my first clues that I entered confidently today. It’s a great show! Highly recommend (another Amy Sherman Palladino marvel)!
@Oaktowner Yes! I was so confused that “connections” was my most played game until I realized that it’s because there was nothing about the crossword…
Fun puzzle! It took me a little bit to figure out we were talking about football here, but then I was able to suss out more of the clues based on what I know of the sport. I was surprised to learn that the US has won twice! I only thought we’ve ever won in the women’s league. Interesting trivia- I liked some of the matching-ish clues and the little bonus of Pele as a little add-on to the theme.
I’m still stuck on how SNOT is an alternative to “tisn’t.” I tried look back in the comments, but couldn’t find an answer. It seems like everyone is in on this clueing but me. :( any help is appreciated!
@lhwp I was wondering the same thing! Sounds interesting from the title alone…
@Vaer I’m fairly certain archives count towards averages. For a whole, I couldn’t afford a Times subscription, so I would purchase “packs” so I could still play. Since I’ve been able to have a subscription and play all days regularly, my average Monday time has reduced drastically, and Tuesday and Wednesday are following suit. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are also beginning to fall. My onus is still on Thursdays because in the beginning I had no idea what a rebus was, or even if it were possible, and dimly didn’t know or get the so-called gimmick. Now, I look forward to Thursdays probably the most, but since my original average times from packs are so long, it’s taking a significant time to lower the average.
@Moops didn’t have a clue…but maybe that’s because I only swam competitively and didn’t play any other sports???
@Barry Ancona Interesting! Any idea what/when those were? I’m guessing a Thursday or maybe a Sunday. Not to ask for “spoilers,” but I’d love to see one…
@Joya haha! I’ve been off all week too! This didn’t help! 😊
@Zack I also thought they were two different philosophies. I’m not a huge history buff, so my opinion in this matter comes with a grain of salt (TAX 😂), but I thought I remember learning that these were different, possibly competing, philosophies.
@Lucia Agreed! It absolutely tickled me and was far and above the best way I’ve seen that answer clued in my recent memory!
@Stella That’s what I thought at first too! I really didn’t notice the grid art (shame on me) until the clue pointed it out, then I thought it had something to do with the movie (while I definitely saw the Roman numeral 2 as soon as I looked, I thought it could have been a scary mask or something as well). When I got to the Home Alone clue, I knew it was the movie subtitle, and in fact LOST IN NEW YORK was my foothold into the grid…couldn’t remember Sister Act right off the bat or Mamma Mia, and horror films are so not my brand of entertainment that I didn’t even try to fill that one in. Luckily, it was easy enough with crossings to get. Very clever! And I liked how the constructor made me pay attention to the grid art. It’s something that I personally pay too little attention to…
@Marc THANK YOU! I had the “a” and checking it had it blue, then entered AND in the rebus…still blue, but not getting the solve. Didn’t think to use the ampersand for whatever reason…which is silly because that’s what’s on the packaging!
@dutchiris Wow, I do the same thing for later-week themes. Unless the first theme clue really jumps out at me, I’ll pass it by until I get a turn at the Downs. Then I’ll try to dig into the theme and figure it out.