Horace and Frances discuss the New York Times Crossword Puzzle

Every week I blog about the NYT crossword, I look forward to Thursday, as part of the Turn, as we like to call it here at HAFDTNYTCPFCA. It’s a chance to see how tricksy our constructor friends can get (although they don’t go as crazy as Puzzle #5 at the ACPT, typically). So, while I think this theme is pretty snazzy, I was somewhat disappointed today. But only a little.

This Post: Horace and Frances discuss the New York Times Crossword Puzzle

The concept here is standard two word phrases where each word can be parsed as the sound something makes, then is clued by those two sound making somethings. I probably could have done without the = part of each clue. It took away from the trickiness.

RED : Model Charter for Companies in Ukraine – Company Constitution Guide

So as an example, you get a cell phone, which often rings, and bubble wrap, which definitely pops, together making RINGPOP. Or, even better, a lightsaber and impatient fingers creating HUMDRUM. The revealer is apt (apt!), at 57A, SOUNDMIXING. 

AIDA
For fun clues, we get a few like 60A: It’s often included in a good deal (ACE) and 62: Watch it! (VIDEO). In the down clues, there are a couple of QMCs like 2D: A key to what’s underneath? (DOWNARROW). This is very nice, but I so wanted DOWsingrod (one letter too many). Also 32D: United way? (PLANERIDE).

For fun clues, we get a few like 60A: It’s often included in a good deal () and 62: Watch it! (). In the down clues, there are a couple of QMCs like 2D: A key to what’s underneath? (). This is very nice, but I so wanted DOWsingrod (one letter too many). Also 32D: United way? ().

I appreciate three word phrases in eight letters, which comes up twice, symmetrically, with COZYUPTO and IMALLOUT. 

RED : Tổng trở là gì

I almost had another Natick moment (a square where the letter is a guess in both directions) at the crossing of ABE and BAIDU, but B was the most likely answer.

A quick solve for a Thursday at 5:43. Looking forward to the themelesses tomorrow and Saturday!

– Colum