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New York Times, Thursday, December 18, 2025

Author:
Joseph Gangi
Editor:
Will Shortz
Blog:
25-Down : Rae of "Insecure"
TotalDebutLatest
83/16/20224/29/2026
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
0007100
CircleScrabDebutFlowFresh
21.623830.931%
Joseph Gangi

This puzzle:

Rows: 15, Columns: 15 Words: 78, Blocks: 38 Missing: {VWZ} Scrabble average: 1.98 This is puzzle # 5 for Mr. Gangi. Grid flow: 26.8 Thursday freshness: 44%
Jim Horne notes:

QQ, that is two Qs, sounds like "cues". Interpret QQ in each theme answer with that sound to get a common phrase.

1
B
2
O
3
A
4
S
5
T
6
S
7
P
8
I
9
E
10
L
11
I
12
S
13
P
14
E
N
O
K
I
15
T
O
R
S
I
16
N
C
O
17
D
A
R
I
N
18
G
R
E
S
Q
Q
19
N
A
M
20
S
I
T
21
E
A
T
22
U
23
S
U
R
P
24
R
A
25
I
26
L
A
T
27
S
28
M
O
K
E
Y
29
S
Y
R
A
30
Q
Q
O
R
A
N
G
31
E
32
O
33
F
34
U
S
E
35
U
F
O
S
36
D
O
X
37
N
A
N
A
38
B
39
R
E
T
T
40
H
O
O
P
41
C
U
E
42
E
R
I
E
43
M
I
S
D
O
44
E
X
Q
45
Q
M
Y
F
R
46
E
47
N
C
H
48
B
U
T
A
N
E
49
X
E
S
O
50
U
51
T
52
L
E
A
R
N
53
S
I
X
54
N
O
55
D
56
I
R
L
57
U
58
N
59
J
U
S
T
60
L
61
Y
A
Q
Q
62
A
G
E
63
E
B
E
R
T
64
S
E
G
U
E
65
R
E
D
66
L
A
N
E
S
67
D
R
I
E
D
© 2025, The New York Times12/18/25 ( No. 27,799 )
Across
1
"We're the best!," e.g. : BOAST
6
Lengthy pitch : SPIEL
11
Web access co. : ISP
14
Mushroom in ramen : ENOKI
15
Trunks : TORSI
16
Platoon sgt., e.g. : NCO
17
Feats performed on knights' quests : DARINGRESQQ
19
"Platoon" setting, for short : NAM
20
___ tight : SIT
21
Dig in : EAT
22
Appropriate inappropriately : USURP
24
Go off on : RAILAT
27
Bear with a message : SMOKEY
29
"Colorful" Atlantic Coast Conference team : SYRAQQORANGE
32
Helpful : OFUSE
35
Some radar blips : UFOS
36
Reveal private data of, in modern lingo : DOX
37
Mama's mama : NANA
38
Jake's love in "The Sun Also Rises" : BRETT
40
Bit of aerial arts equipment : HOOP
41
Word with ball or card : CUE
42
Lake ___, body formerly known as Lac du Chat : ERIE
43
Botch : MISDO
44
Follow-up to an oath : EXQQMYFRENCH
48
Fluid for a lighter : BUTANE
49
Crosses off : XESOUT
52
Get schooled : LEARN
53
Volleyball team count : SIX
54
OK signal : NOD
56
Off-line, online : IRL
57
Point at the wrong person : UNJUSTLYAQQ
62
The time of one's life? : AGE
63
He said "Every great film should seem new every time you see it" : EBERT
64
Smooth transition : SEGUE
65
Visibly embarrassed : RED
66
Alley components : LANES
67
Preserved, in a way : DRIED
Down
1
Some queens : BEDS
2
Live : ONAIR
3
It comes from the heart : AORTA
4
Glide down a piste : SKI
5
___ soldier : TIN
6
Levels : STRATA
7
One versed in verse : POET
8
Agcy. that takes many forms : IRS
9
Title for a J.D. : ESQ
10
Spirits : LIQUORS
11
"That's what she said" and others : INNUENDOS
12
Beyond impressive, informally : SCARYGOOD
13
Ceremony : POMP
18
One of several in a watch : GEAR
23
Caribbean music genre : SKA
25
Rae of "Insecure" : ISSA
26
NaOH : LYE
27
About 35,000 for the Taj Mahal: Abbr. : SQFT
28
No longer relevant : MOOT
30
___ Nation (activist organization since 1990) : QUEER
31
Fair : EXPO
32
T.H. White's "The ___ and Future King" : ONCE
33
Knockoff version of a bejeweled Imperial egg, e.g. : FAUXBERGE
34
In a class by oneself : UNEQUALED
38
___ Mawr : BRYN
39
Teeming (with) : RIFE
40
Greeting from Kermit : HIHO
42
Name that sounds like a computer guidebook : EMANUEL
43
Hosts, for short : MCS
45
N.F.L. div. : QTR
46
Lives : EXISTS
47
Coming right up : NEXT
50
Eel, at a sushi bar : UNAGI
51
"Ratatouille" topper : TOQUE
52
Fabrication expert : LIAR
53
"I guess so" : SURE
55
Barred from competing, for short : DQED
58
Trail Blazers' grp. : NBA
59
"Severance" actress Tullock : JEN
60
Microdosing drug : LSD
61
"Quit ___ yappin'!" : YER

Answer summary:
5 unique to this puzzle, 1 debuted here and reused later, 3 unique to Modern Era but used previously.

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