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I was very frustrated about 'toiled' cluing for "RANGOUT" -- until I put on my glasses and found 'tolled.' Never mind!
Last time I checked, "obscure" and "vague" were not synonyms for "challenging." Got 'er done but what a slog.
A general comment here from a seven day a week player who ALWAYS reads the Thursday, Saturday and Sunday Wordplay columns -- I know a number of people who do not and never would -- they consider it cheating. But that's them. At the moment I am in a lengthy recovery from RSV (mask up!), feeling extremely weak, but this crossword allowed me to check that my brain is still working. Now, back to bed ...
Wow, Timothy, that was really next-level for your NYT debut! I especially liked the clue "companionship." I look forward to seeing more of your work in these pages.
Years ago my son, just out of college, applied to rent an apartment. I was among the references he provided to the landlord. After this man had phoned me and we had a nice chat, I voice-texted my son, "Just talked to Mr. Apartment, he says you're in." You can imagine how the text came through. Hope that brought a chuckle to your day!
I am shocked, shocked I tell you, that YOKO ONO or a variant was not in this puzzle.
Another reminder of how old I am came as I was wracking my brain to recall who played Vesper Lynde in the original "Casino Royale" and wondering how many solvers could remember that far back (it was 1967, I was in college). The answer is Ursula Andress.
The cluing on this puzzle is next level, a real joy to behold and solve. Thank you, Mr Donaldson, keep 'em coming!
@Andrzej I agree completely! Additionally, I am pretty sure one comprehends and remembers unknown words or abbreviations far better by looking it up and gaining some understanding of its etymology as opposed to just plugging in letters out of frustration.
Cute theme, well done. I have longtime friends, a married couple, named Ken and Sandy, and for unknown reasons I always think of them as Sen and Kandy, sometimes even saying it aloud. Not quite a spoonerism but close. Anyone else?
I just want to mention that the word "slag" was clued in both yesterday's and today's NYT Crossword puzzles. That is all.
Here's one trivia and wordplay fan who loved this puzzle, great cluing.
I enjoyed learning about Abe Lincoln's past as a bartender.
Does this mean no rebus tomorrow? You know that's what some of us are hoping, er, thinking?
Fun puzzle, but I kinda thought the whole grid would erupt in pine trees at the end.
Exceptionally good and fun cluing.
@Jess Just remember if you're ever in Chicago and take LSD -- you're on Lake Shore Drive!
@Courtney This is a pretty nasty illness and I think has not been covered by the media as much as it should be, plus the general public is becoming inured to these waves of contagious airborne viruses. I coughed so violently I thought I'd cracked a rib. I send wishes for your daughter's speedy recovery.
@MFSTEVE IMO, 'dearer' is an antiquated term. I'm 75 and the last person I knew who used it regularly was my grandmother, who died in 1971. If you're a youngster under 50 yo, it's unlikely you would ever have been exposed to it.
I cannot find the Saturday, October 11, 2025 Crossword There's always a line-up of the week's puzzles by day showing which you have done and which you have not. Has the NYT changed its puzzle format?
It's been a very long time since I've observed Lent, but I'm sure there were no fish-frys involved.
@Helen Wright I can no longer deal with the"news." The murder of Renee Goode; the attempts to "buy" other countries; and that crazy Maria Machado giving a her Nobel Prize to Trump have just broken me and and I have retreated into obsessively watching a British TV show set in a busy hospital emergency room. They manage to deal with very lethal situations in an hour and with good humor. Mentioning this only because you are in the UK.
@john ezra I was hoping that I would finally find out what dyed hard-boiled eggs, chocolate bunnies, and ribboned baskets have to do with Jesus being crucified and raised from the dead. Sixteen years of Catholic education didn't answer that burning question!
Cute, may love reign o'er us all! I do believe we've gone an extended time without a rebus. Not a complaint, just a comment.
@Tim In the U.S. we also use the terms restroom, powder room, and half-bath, and probably a few others regionally.
I had no idea that babaganoush, which I ate many times while in Iran in the 1970s, was considered a Mediterranean dish.
@Trish I agree completely , but I believe we are in the minority. I find that, generally, men are much more into quantitative measures than women are. I mean, if you find something pleasurable, why would you rush through it? Makes me wonder what the speedsters are like in the sack.
Some really good cluing here and I finally found out why I needed to take Latin (jk, every time I do a word puzzle I am reminded of that!)
Recovering English major here (as I suspect many of you are). I have always been in love with words, primarily my own, but others as well. My concerns about the NYT crossword run to things like -- why are there occasional explosions on the grid when I get a word correct? Don't worry, I solve on my laptop, so this is not happening IRL. I have been unable to discern a pattern. Also, if what is offered here is not challenging enough for you, I assume you know there are other puzzles out there -- I'm heading over to "The New Yorker" online right now to do another.
@Jared I agree but, then, I'm a bit of a purist on spelling. I found it meaningful that this word crossed with "I'm doomed," emphasis on the second word.
@Andrzej Very handsome. I've had four Standard Poodles in my life, all were beautiful, smart and sweet-tempered. It's easy to get very attached to this breed. I, for one, would love to see the occasional update on Lucek!
@Anya Thanks so much for the history lesson. Just FYI, my first choice was "hussars."
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