Dave
Here
I'm baffled that this would be considered a tough puzzle: I usually skip puzzles starting around Thursday because I typically find them too difficult for my small brain. But today's went smoothly and quickly (for me, in about 14 minutes). I forgot to even pay attention to the theme. I guess even those of us in the "less clever" category get lucky once in a while!
It's always such a pleasure when somehow you find yourself on the same wavelength as the constructor. A real pleasure to work on this one; thanks!
Since when are sled considered "toys"?
One of the few places I expect to find proper usage is here. I guess that should now be "was here." "Since" relates to time, not causation. "Follow the herd"? In what universe? And "Briticism"? The only people that apparently use that term are the constructors. While it may be technically correct (someone else mentioned its appearance in a dictionary), I have never once in a very long life heard or read it. Just a dismal exercise.
Uh..."groovy" is from the 60s (and 70s). "Daddy-o" is from the 50s. Pretty unlikely they would be used together.
@Sara Someone who is "too nice" to others is frequently walked all over (i.e. taken advantage of) and thus may be considered a "doormat."
@Barry Ancona Thanks. In fact, I generally do understand that. In my defense, "flask" was the first word that occurred to me. And then my next thought was that "flask" wasn't a "stretch"...it was just not right. I ended up sticking with it because it fit the cross-clues, but I still dislike it.
@Dave Never mind. After staring at it and staring at it, the gimmick finally became clear. Not impressed, sorry. You may now return to your regularly scheduled comments.
While it is technically called a college, I thought using that word as the clue--particularly given the fact that it is in fact a secondary school and the fact that "college" has a distinct (post-secondary school) meaning in the US--is a bit misleading. But then, that's me.
"BLASTOFF"? Not from any launch countdown I've ever heard. It's "LIFTOFF."
"Chance to see the big game." "the" big game? My first instinct was the solution but the definite article threw me off. I have never in my life heard it described as anything but the noun without an article of any kind. A chance to see "the" big game" would make far more sense if it referred to something like the Super Bowl or Game 7 of a World Series, with "the" directly modifying the word "game." My two cents
Okay, I'm baffled. How is a FLASK a hip "spot"? A flask may kept kept in (or at) a hip spot, but a flask, itself, is not a spot. What am I not understanding?
@Gina D Agreed 100%. I admit that I much prefer puzzles that use actual English words, but hey, that's just my preference.
@Amy Merely because some people use "since" for "because" doesn't make it any more correct than those who have turned "impact" into a verb. Popular usage ain't the same thing as proper usage.
At the risk of being accused of picking nits, "because" and "since" are not synonyms: the former relates to causation and the latter to time. They may often be confused but they do not mean the same thing, popular imagination to the contrary.
@Barry Ancona Thank you. I neglected to recall it; my error.
@heironymous Thank you. Much appreciated.
FWIW: there is no AP Lit course; AP English, yes; AP Lit, no.
Sorry...but even with the explanation and the gimmick understood, I still simply fail to understand why the answer is SIMULATE and not SIMULCAST.
Completely baffled at the answer to "smart sort." Could someone please explain the solution to me? (I worked it out but I do not understand it.)
Since when is SP3 spelled without an "e"?
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