Theme: Pun Next Door - Each of the four 2-word common expressions is interpreted literally and clued as if the first words all mean "nearby".
17A. Young woman next door?: NEAR MISS. perhaps this ONE .
24A. Adjoining floor?: TOUCHING STORY. In addition to SHADOWLANDS watch another true story, THE BLIND SIDE .
53A. Proximate coins?: CLOSE QUARTERS. For all you city people, there is always a SUBWAY RIDE .
66A. Chess piece within reach?: HANDY MAN. Since I do not have access to pictures of Windhover, would you settle for HIM ?
Happy September all, and it is the return of Lemonade and Mark Bickham, who has started to appear as a regular contributor, and whose last puzzle was the first puzzle blogged by C.C. as an American citizen.
To me this puzzle was a contradiction, with many new words, and almost a pangram, but also lots of three and four letter fill. This is the nature of the puzzle, I guess, somewhere there is sacrifice.
Across:
1. Energy: ZIP. A “Z” in the first word, a hint at a scrabbly puzzle that is missing only the letter J, hmmm. J?
4. It's an example of itself: ABBR (Abbreviation). Very clever.
8. Pure: CHASTE. They are often chased, and need to remember to use PROTECTION . Which kind of fits with 59A. Loosen, as laces: UNTIE.
14. Suffix with verb: OSE. Suffix to the word Verbose.
15. "Star Trek: T.N.G." counselor : TROI. DEANNE was on The Next Generation.
16. Bring about sooner: HASTEN. When I was little, one of the torments of my little friends was this fine poetic turn, “Hasten Jason, get the Basin; Oops, Plop, Get the Mop.”
19. Green light: ASSENT. What you do not get from the CHASTE girl above.
20. Architect Saarinen: EERO.
21. Earth pigment : OCHER. From the Greek, meaning yellow.
23. Hide-hair link: NOR. Neither hide nor hair. Never understood the phrase.
28. Fireside emanation: WARMTH. Do things ever really change FIRESIDE CHAT ?
30. "__ me!": DEAR.
31. '50s White House nickname: IKE.
32. Certain fisherman: EELER.
35. Annoys: MIFFS.
39. __ Piper: PIED. Loved the 60s .
41. Police sting, say: SETUP.
43. Grimace: MOUE, which rhymes with 44. Happen as a result: ENSUE, which follows.
46. "Who Can It __?": Men at Work hit: BE NOW and of course the 80s.
48. Exhaust, with "up": USE.
49. [see other side]: OVER. So simple, but also clever.
51. Brought up: REARED.
58. Spell: HEX. Did anyone see the MOVIE ?
60. Emerald City visitor: TOTO. My ex-wife owned a Cairn terrier, who could have been the stunt double. Yes, she called him TOTO; I said she was my ex!
63. List of things to discuss: AGENDA.
68. Dividend, e.g.: PAYOUT.
69. Germany's von Bismarck: OTTO. An under-appreciated historic LEADER .
70. Letter opener?: ELL. Opener to the word letter. Did anyone fall for this old trick?
71. "When a Man Loves a Woman" singer Percy __ : SLEDGE. Oh yes, this is a SONG .
72. Insolence: SASS.
73. Generous limit?: SKY. Not sure why it is generous, but certainly ambitious.
Down:
1. Area: ZONE.
2. "Got it" : I SEE.
3. Bosc sources : PEAR TREES. Which come near by 6D. "The Garden of Earthly Delights" artist: BOSCH, who 600 or so years ago saw lots of nakedness in his Eden, but no partridges.
4. 24-hr. cash source: ATM. I had trouble with this one, because around my house the three letter word that fits is DAD.
5. French breads: BRIOCHES. If you want, here is a RECIPE .
7. Hindu poet: RISHI. This was my lesson for the day. HISTORY .
8. Old battlefield shout: CHARGE. Old? Still very common at the war zone called the mall.
9. Is suffering from: HAS.
10. Beast of burden: ASS. Okay, I will control myself.
11. Court figure: STENO; I was thinking more along these lines after watching the US Open CENTER COURT .
12. Pavarotti, notably: TENOR. Sometimes my brain is crooked, but my first thought was OBESE, sorry Luciano.
13. Datebook notation: ENTRY.
18. Part of a Clue accusation: ROOM. I amy be the world’s best Clue player.
22. Football play also called a sweep: END RUN; which is balanced nicely by 33. Charles __, major decorator of the Palace of Versailles : LEBRUN, of whom I had no knowledge.
25. Adaptable truck, for short: UTE. Oh, sure, I am going to out my UTE and convert it back.
26. "Casablanca" pianist: SAM. So BEAUTIFUL .
27. Request to a barber: TRIM.
28. Use a napkin on: WIPE, good thing we did have than next to 10D.
29. Like, with "to" : A KIN, not CLAY .
34. Somme season: ETE.
36. Links groups: FOURSOMES. Don’t tell me I am the only one who thought of THESE .
37. A hothead has a short one: FUSE.
38. Future plant: SEED.
40. Couples: DUOS. After foursomes, I wanted FRED.
42. Omens: PORTENTS, not to be confused with 56D. Pal of Porthos: ATHOS.
45. "The Three Faces of __": 1957 film : EVE.
47. Very small: WEE.
50. Treat as the same: EQUATE.
52. Affectedly cultured: ARTY.
53. Biker leggings: CHAPS.
54. Corporate department: LEGAL. Okay, one clue for me.
55. Daisy variety: OXEYE. This is more properly knows as Leucanthemum vulgare, which does not sound very PRETTY .
57. Calf catcher: RIATA.
61. Chitchat: TALK.
62. Part of SRO: ONLY. SRO = Standing Room Only.
64. Doze: NOD.
65. Grooved on: DUG.
67. Elaborate affairs: DOS.
Answer grid.
Well I am outta here; like they say in Florida Click It or Ticket. Ciao.
Lemonade
17A. Young woman next door?: NEAR MISS. perhaps this ONE .
24A. Adjoining floor?: TOUCHING STORY. In addition to SHADOWLANDS watch another true story, THE BLIND SIDE .
53A. Proximate coins?: CLOSE QUARTERS. For all you city people, there is always a SUBWAY RIDE .
66A. Chess piece within reach?: HANDY MAN. Since I do not have access to pictures of Windhover, would you settle for HIM ?
Happy September all, and it is the return of Lemonade and Mark Bickham, who has started to appear as a regular contributor, and whose last puzzle was the first puzzle blogged by C.C. as an American citizen.
To me this puzzle was a contradiction, with many new words, and almost a pangram, but also lots of three and four letter fill. This is the nature of the puzzle, I guess, somewhere there is sacrifice.
Across:
1. Energy: ZIP. A “Z” in the first word, a hint at a scrabbly puzzle that is missing only the letter J, hmmm. J?
4. It's an example of itself: ABBR (Abbreviation). Very clever.
8. Pure: CHASTE. They are often chased, and need to remember to use PROTECTION . Which kind of fits with 59A. Loosen, as laces: UNTIE.
14. Suffix with verb: OSE. Suffix to the word Verbose.
15. "Star Trek: T.N.G." counselor : TROI. DEANNE was on The Next Generation.
16. Bring about sooner: HASTEN. When I was little, one of the torments of my little friends was this fine poetic turn, “Hasten Jason, get the Basin; Oops, Plop, Get the Mop.”
19. Green light: ASSENT. What you do not get from the CHASTE girl above.
20. Architect Saarinen: EERO.
21. Earth pigment : OCHER. From the Greek, meaning yellow.
23. Hide-hair link: NOR. Neither hide nor hair. Never understood the phrase.
28. Fireside emanation: WARMTH. Do things ever really change FIRESIDE CHAT ?
30. "__ me!": DEAR.
31. '50s White House nickname: IKE.
32. Certain fisherman: EELER.
35. Annoys: MIFFS.
39. __ Piper: PIED. Loved the 60s .
41. Police sting, say: SETUP.
43. Grimace: MOUE, which rhymes with 44. Happen as a result: ENSUE, which follows.
46. "Who Can It __?": Men at Work hit: BE NOW and of course the 80s.
48. Exhaust, with "up": USE.
49. [see other side]: OVER. So simple, but also clever.
51. Brought up: REARED.
58. Spell: HEX. Did anyone see the MOVIE ?
60. Emerald City visitor: TOTO. My ex-wife owned a Cairn terrier, who could have been the stunt double. Yes, she called him TOTO; I said she was my ex!
63. List of things to discuss: AGENDA.
68. Dividend, e.g.: PAYOUT.
69. Germany's von Bismarck: OTTO. An under-appreciated historic LEADER .
70. Letter opener?: ELL. Opener to the word letter. Did anyone fall for this old trick?
71. "When a Man Loves a Woman" singer Percy __ : SLEDGE. Oh yes, this is a SONG .
72. Insolence: SASS.
73. Generous limit?: SKY. Not sure why it is generous, but certainly ambitious.
Down:
1. Area: ZONE.
2. "Got it" : I SEE.
3. Bosc sources : PEAR TREES. Which come near by 6D. "The Garden of Earthly Delights" artist: BOSCH, who 600 or so years ago saw lots of nakedness in his Eden, but no partridges.
4. 24-hr. cash source: ATM. I had trouble with this one, because around my house the three letter word that fits is DAD.
5. French breads: BRIOCHES. If you want, here is a RECIPE .
7. Hindu poet: RISHI. This was my lesson for the day. HISTORY .
8. Old battlefield shout: CHARGE. Old? Still very common at the war zone called the mall.
9. Is suffering from: HAS.
10. Beast of burden: ASS. Okay, I will control myself.
11. Court figure: STENO; I was thinking more along these lines after watching the US Open CENTER COURT .
12. Pavarotti, notably: TENOR. Sometimes my brain is crooked, but my first thought was OBESE, sorry Luciano.
13. Datebook notation: ENTRY.
18. Part of a Clue accusation: ROOM. I amy be the world’s best Clue player.
22. Football play also called a sweep: END RUN; which is balanced nicely by 33. Charles __, major decorator of the Palace of Versailles : LEBRUN, of whom I had no knowledge.
25. Adaptable truck, for short: UTE. Oh, sure, I am going to out my UTE and convert it back.
26. "Casablanca" pianist: SAM. So BEAUTIFUL .
27. Request to a barber: TRIM.
28. Use a napkin on: WIPE, good thing we did have than next to 10D.
29. Like, with "to" : A KIN, not CLAY .
34. Somme season: ETE.
36. Links groups: FOURSOMES. Don’t tell me I am the only one who thought of THESE .
37. A hothead has a short one: FUSE.
38. Future plant: SEED.
40. Couples: DUOS. After foursomes, I wanted FRED.
42. Omens: PORTENTS, not to be confused with 56D. Pal of Porthos: ATHOS.
45. "The Three Faces of __": 1957 film : EVE.
47. Very small: WEE.
50. Treat as the same: EQUATE.
52. Affectedly cultured: ARTY.
53. Biker leggings: CHAPS.
54. Corporate department: LEGAL. Okay, one clue for me.
55. Daisy variety: OXEYE. This is more properly knows as Leucanthemum vulgare, which does not sound very PRETTY .
57. Calf catcher: RIATA.
61. Chitchat: TALK.
62. Part of SRO: ONLY. SRO = Standing Room Only.
64. Doze: NOD.
65. Grooved on: DUG.
67. Elaborate affairs: DOS.
Answer grid.
Well I am outta here; like they say in Florida Click It or Ticket. Ciao.
Lemonade
