This web browser is not supported. Use Chrome, Edge, Safari, or Firefox for best results.

New York Times, Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Author:
Noki Trias and Lawrence Barrett
Editor:
Will Shortz
Blog:
57-Across : Uniquely American cleverness
TotalDebutCollabs
112/22/20211
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
0001000
ScrabDebutFresh
1.66564%
Noki Trias
TotalDebutCollabs
112/22/20211
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
0001000
ScrabDebutFresh
1.66564%
Lawrence Barrett

This puzzle:

Rows: 15, Columns: 15 Words: 72, Blocks: 34 Missing: {JQVWX} Spans: 5 Grid has mirror symmetry. This is the debut puzzle for Ms. Trias. This is the debut puzzle for Mr. Barrett. Jeff Chen's Puzzle of the Week pick. Wednesday freshness: 91%
Constructor notes:
NOKI: I retired to Portugal over six years ago, thinking it would be easy enough to hop back to see DC family and friends while ... read more
Jeff Chen notes:
I loved Andy Weir's latest book, Project Hail Mary. It's so inspiring to imagine humankind achieving the impossible. Also ... read more
1
R
2
A
3
T
4
S
5
O
6
C
7
T
8
A
9
L
10
S
11
Y
12
F
13
Y
14
E
C
H
O
15
N
A
O
M
I
16
K
O
B
E
17
C
H
R
I
18
S
T
M
A
S
S
19
P
I
R
I
T
20
A
L
K
A
21
Z
O
N
K
22
L
23
O
S
T
O
P
24
P
25
O
26
R
T
U
N
I
27
T
28
Y
29
O
T
H
E
R
30
A
D
O
31
T
Y
P
E
A
32
A
R
E
S
33
B
I
O
T
34
A
35
D
O
R
K
36
M
A
R
T
37
I
A
N
M
I
S
38
S
I
O
N
S
39
S
N
L
40
D
A
P
41
U
42
H
43
F
44
T
E
45
A
46
R
47
O
O
M
48
N
49
O
50
M
51
M
O
R
52
B
I
D
C
U
R
I
O
53
S
I
T
Y
54
B
R
E
A
M
55
T
I
E
56
A
N
G
I
E
57
Y
A
N
K
E
58
E
I
N
G
59
E
N
U
I
T
Y
60
E
C
C
E
61
L
I
E
O
N
62
B
R
I
E
63
E
H
S
64
D
I
D
N
T
65
S
I
S
© 2021, The New York Times12/22/21 ( No. 26,342 )
Across
1
"Darn it!" : RATS
5
In base eight : OCTAL
10
"Resident Alien" channel : SYFY
14
Sound heard in a long hall : ECHO
15
Tennis champ Osaka : NAOMI
16
City with a beef : KOBE
17
Jovial seasonal mood : CHRISTMASSPIRIT
20
___-Seltzer : ALKA
21
Take a snooze, with "out" : ZONK
22
Cost of not doing business, maybe : LOSTOPPORTUNITY
29
Significant ___ : OTHER
30
Hubbub : ADO
31
Like many a go-getter : TYPEA
32
Warrior in the Greek pantheon : ARES
33
Regional wildlife : BIOTA
35
Lovable goofball, say : DORK
36
NASA endeavors whose vehicles can be found at the ends of 17-, 22-, 51- and 57-Across : MARTIANMISSIONS
39
Sketch show since '75 : SNL
40
Fist bump : DAP
41
Walkie-talkie band, briefly : UHF
44
Place to catch up over a hot drink : TEAROOM
48
When repeated, slangy sound of eating : NOM
51
Why everyone loves a good train wreck : MORBIDCURIOSITY
54
Fish also known as a bluegill : BREAM
55
Make a bow : TIE
56
Title woman in a classic 1973 breakup tune : ANGIE
57
Uniquely American cleverness : YANKEEINGENUITY
60
___ homo : ECCE
61
Rest atop : LIEON
62
Cheeseboard choice : BRIE
63
Quizzical Quebec questions? : EHS
64
"I ___ know" (common excuse) : DIDNT
65
Member of the fam : SIS
Down
1
College app element : REC
2
"___ Tannenbaum" (16th-century folk song that inspired a carol) : ACH
3
Avid skateboarder, in lingo : THRASHER
4
Gardeners' orders, at times : SOILTESTS
5
Straight out of the barrel : ONTAP
6
Nanny ___ : CAM
7
Ode words : TOA
8
Morning hrs. : AMS
9
Composer of the piano piece played by Bugs Bunny in "Rhapsody Rabbit" : LISZT
10
Lose the suit, say : SKINNYDIP
11
Certain designer dog : YORKIPOO
12
Clarice Starling's employer in "The Silence of the Lambs," in brief : FBI
13
Nevertheless : YET
18
Hershey toffee confection : SKOR
19
Fit of sullenness : POUT
22
Fertile ground : LOAM
23
"___ vez" ("Again," in Valencia) : OTRA
24
Bother : PAIN
25
"Hamilton" actor Leslie ___ Jr. : ODOM
26
Indian flatbread : ROTI
27
Cousin of a gull : TERN
28
Gabs : YAKS
33
Like hay on a farm : BALED
34
"Same here" : ASDOI
37
Eventually : INTIME
38
___ Islands, Polynesian archipelago : SAMOAN
41
Awkward farewell : UMBYE
42
Poet who coined the term "carpe diem" : HORACE
43
Kind of kiss : FRENCH
45
Timing of the Mercutio/Tybalt duel in "Romeo and Juliet" : ACTIII
46
Unfixable : RUINED
47
Home to the deepest lake and river gorge in the U.S. : OREGON
48
Cold rice topped with wasabi and raw fish : NIGIRI
49
Likely cause of a cranky toddler's ear-tugging : OTITIS
50
"Ridiculous!" : MYEYE
52
Soaks up the hot sun : BAKES
53
Ignores : SNUBS
58
Days gone by, in bygone days : ELD
59
Fangorn Forest dweller : ENT

Answer summary:
3 unique to this puzzle, 2 debuted here and reused later, 1 unique to Modern Era but used previously.

Found bugs or have suggestions? Please let us know.

Like this puzzle? Please share this page on social media to help spread the word about XWord Info. Thanks!

XWord Info Home
XWord Info © 2007-2024, Jim Horne
126 ms