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Puzzles for May, 2024
with Jim Horne comments

View these same grids with comments from:
Constructor (6)Editor (4)Jim Horne (8)Hide comments
Wed 5/1/2024
JASMINELOTUS
TADPOLESABATED
UPMARKETSERENA
LAIRSARTYNIH
INTEONELSSOL
PSSTRAINYKIRI
EMAILSALSA
WALLFLOWERS
VIALSGLEAM
INNSFROGSAMID
OATSRAATTANA
LTSTIPSHEIDI
ERODEDEMIRATIS
TAMORALITERARY
PEONYFREESIA
Thu 5/2/2024
CABASLACMES
CALABRIALLAMA
EMPRESSMURAL
REDSEAALANIS
ILEALEEGILA
GONEPRODVDNES
PEONSICIER
FINESSES
RECAPSHELL
MEDLAOISLAMIC
ABESUNUMABU
EXILESAVERSE
RCCARTEALEAVES
OCULIORDERSIN
NAPESNSABEN

Each gray square starts with a T, but for the clues to make sense, each T(ea) LEAVES. Note that each entry, Across and Down, with or without the T's, is a legitimate crossword answer word.

Fri 5/3/2024
MEANBIGDTPAIN
ALSOACLUWEDGE
DEADTREEEDITION
ANHEIRANDASPARE
MAIBEGACTS
NITETHEYIPS
RECOATSEARCLIP
AROWHEPA
COSLEPTVALISES
ESTELLAAVEC
TIERMEAAOL
GASSTATIONSUSHI
THISISANOUTRAGE
OOZESRISEAMEN
SKEETETESLIES
Sat 5/4/2024
ASIFFASTSATIT
BANANACHIPNANA
LUCYIMHOMEDROP
ECOBIOTECHARI
REMLOSEFRON
DEARYSPAREUS
GOTTALOVEIT
WEARESODEAD
RAISEASTINK
WEBSTERASSAM
EVITEMRTNOG
CISREPAIRSIMO
ALASRANLIKEMAD
REBARISKSITALL
EDITSLEETCLAY
Sun 5/5/2024 From the Astronaut's Logbook
ISHTRYCABOJSOPT
STAYCOOLAGOOKAYSURE
LOVEMEDOKEWVIBRATOS
AMISASPENTREELOOT
MANBAGTOPTIERFLUFFY
GOYAITAKEITLOTT
TWASNTNUNSCHONEHIT
WEBSHISSHERASEGA
OILPERPMUTEBUM
BRAARIAMOOONITLAP
IDSDISCAPROWNSUNO
TOTSNEELEENAGDEAN
EGGSRANGEYOLO
SPEEDOCTALNEWTS
MILIEUCHANTANNEAL
PLANKSSKIBOOTIDTAGS
GONGTILENEAROKED
ESTCATSAJARSEE
PESTOEMMYROTIMATCH
OCEANICABASHSTARTLE
SHARONANIXONTORTLAW
HOTSWAPLENANTHEMS
Mon 5/6/2024
LOSADDSSEAT
IMPSTRIOCARNE
SNAKEEYESANGER
TIMORDOWNTOWN
RIMSANA
AMPCLASSROSTER
TIESKIWINUEVE
TACITDOTSITES
IMAGENOSHTORE
CINNAMONBUNNYT
ASAYEAH
CONTENTSSALSA
ABOUTIMONAROLL
SOARSNONEPOET
HEHEAGEDTWO
Tue 5/7/2024
ACHESRAMTECH
THANKMOVEHAHA
WILLYLOMANERAS
ALTIUMASSALL
TEESSANTACLAUS
EARTHAHAPPY
RNSAKITAIMSAD
QUASIMODO
AWFULAPPLEASH
PALAUISITME
IVANPAVLOVCHAR
ENDPEALEELLA
EDNARINGSABELL
CHERINCAHATED
OILYLYEAGERS
Wed 5/8/2024
ARCTICSINSUPS
MAESTROSATPREP
MILKSOPTSARINA
ODSCOCOABEACH
OPERAWHEN
EDGARMIATA
BUTTERFINGERS
BOOGEEOREURN
SUGARSNAPPEAS
GODNOEASYA
EMILLATER
VANILLAICEOOF
ISEEYOUOHFUDGE
CORRECTREUTERS
TNTSHONEMESES
Thu 5/9/2024
TIMIDHUMCHIN
ONINYEARSCRUDE
WALKEDIGGSHELLS
ENDSIREQUEUES
DEWPTSDURL
IMHOCARSKU
DONIIRRYABOUTIT
OATSIANBETA
THESKINOIVTEETH
SURERGEARP
DWIOPRYFIB
STRAPSRIMVINE
WVIIIHEEVIDENCE
AMOREGOONATEAR
KATYOSTBOSSY

The Roman Numerals follow the geometric progression I, II, IV, VIII, read in the Across answers as ONE, TWO, FOUR, EIGHT.

Fri 5/10/2024
ACCENTWALLPEAT
WHATTHEHEYOAHU
ALLTHERAGEWREN
ROMAREBASELMA
DESSEWTEARY
IMSOCONFUSED
ABOVEALLDESIRE
NAVELFASBEGIN
TREBLEINTERNET
STREETSMARTS
TERSEPISSUP
BARNSLACEITSO
OPAHHIGHSCORES
ASIAONEATATIME
TENDWASTEPAPER
Sat 5/11/2024
INTERNATTILA
MEETUPSMEOWED
CASHGRABINROAD
ATLASMADSTUDS
LEANTATASALDO
MRSTANTRICDON
LITTLETHING
GOTTHESHAFT
TOTALASSETS
CHANEWCARSPCP
OATSSHALEFARE
STYLEORASIREN
TOOOLDSAMESIES
ANGOLAMIXTAPE
REAPEDITSHOT
Sun 5/12/2024 Pixar Box Set
SKEWSWATCHORANGES
LALALAHUEVOSKIAREA
ALLIASKERNSTCONDALY
BEATTHEHEATTATTIDES
FERRULEMULANREDO
CABOSANLSTUBETOPS
IBARMETJIMRUTHGRE
GUNITLABELMATEICEAX
STATICLENTILSDSHARP
COBOLSECEUHORIA
MEREVEGASSOCALISNT
IDAGREEBTSHATER
SINGINCOOKPOTXEDOUT
SFOODCORNERLOTPEDRO
AYNEGANEEOWETTOAD
CRYPTOWTBNEWWORLD
HILLMIREDTHEMOON
OREADTARWHERESWALDO
TEMPURATIARADEITIES
CNUTOILERRORTNOTES
AEROSOLRESETGRETA
Mon 5/13/2024
SAGALOLCUP
TURNYODOGARE
EDITLOADSOFFUN
MINIGOLFTHO
DORKFLORIDA
CHOSEPROMDEB
CLOTHGROVEAMA
HOLEINONESHOT
ISMGHOSTPHONE
LEEROMEFLOSS
ITSDOPEALOE
OWESCOTLAND
MUTTONCHOPAQUI
ASHNOHOWCUTE
TEETOWEAST

Click the grid to show the animation solvers see when they complete the puzzle on the NYT website. Click again to stop it.

This is one of the better gimmicks the Times has crafted to add an extra element to the standard crossword format.

I've colored all the O's in the grid to show that they only appear in the quadruple-bank-shot path to the hole.

Tue 5/14/2024
AROMASBALLPIT
CORONETUNEARTH
TOASTERSIAMESE
TNTMOTHVALOR
MSGBLURBESIDE
IFIMAYUSESMDS
SONARINHEAT
TRACKSKALOTTA
SCHISMODORS
ACEOATHINDEEP
BARFLYOGRELES
ANNULWWIICOT
TIEGAMEBSCHOOL
ENSUREDBEHAPPY
DETESTSSUISSE
Wed 5/15/2024
APTAESOPDECCA
MOOBRUNOETHOS
BUMBLEBEEBEECH
UNTIELSATSKI
SCOTBABYBOTTLE
HEMHERCRONES
KAMALAGUST
BASEBALLBAT
CRABSWEARS
AEROBEUSABAR
BUBBLEBATHRUSE
INEARALMIDST
NICADHAPPYBDAY
ETUDETREATHIP
TEEMSSMASHALE

All the clues start with B.

Thu 5/16/2024
ISLEAFROACHES
SHUNLIEVTRADE
SOMENERVELARGE
ARPIVSROASTED
TOILETBRUSH
IFSSUITEBBS
CRAGICECREAM
AGOREDLEAFADS
SPARKLEDTOAT
KALEALECLEI
ROTARYJOINT
ISEENOWCINDUB
CODASALLFORONE
ELIDEREEFOWEN
DOESTEDDYINST

Substituting ALL for ONE and ONE for ALL has a long history in crosswords, but if you haven't seen it before, it's a good gimmick. Here's an example from 2012.

Fri 5/17/2024
NIKESDANACRAM
SCIENCELABHOPE
FELLINLOVEEKED
WETDOTTYFEUDS
LETSCMAS
LAHORECABLECAR
ERASETIDALWAVE
GODIMRTEBEGIN
IMONADIETADELE
TANGRAMSMCGRAW
SKYEBAKE
IDOLSSCAMPIDO
NOSECTRLALTDEL
HOLEREADSAHEAD
DROPURNSNEARS
Sat 5/18/2024
VICTORIASSECRET
IMEANITTHISTIME
CALLONTHECARPET
URIESEEKILIKE
NEBLEANEDPTAS
ATARIMALES
SCOFFSSEAL
YETIRUIN
GULPHERMIT
PEATYOATHS
HOLITRIPONREP
OPENSDREWROBE
IRANIANAMERICAN
SAVETHEDATECARD
THEREARENOWORDS
Sun 5/19/2024 Hold Your Doze
BAITDEIAMISPRIDE
ULTRAOPPONENTLOSER
GOSOLOTEAMGAMEUSHER
SHOULDTHEDEEDARISE
YAKOERSNLTENONES
OWLISHOREOSIOTA
WHATELSEISDUEILLTRY
HERODGERILAPSEPAS
ARCHDOASISAYDOTASIDO
POTANNSHOOPVICES
ITSAWRAPINSOLENT
DICESAUDRAFINUPS
ITSAHARDDOCKLIFEBRUT
MAEANDESREAMFIERY
PLATTEUSEYOURDOODLE
LILAMORPHSPOONS
EASTICUEVABODALT
THATSADOUGHBRAIDER
WAZOOOHIDUNNOSNOOPY
WHOOPPEDESTALTUBES
WHOSEIDEDSTYSORT
Mon 5/20/2024
LABORWAGSPRAY
ASANAAIRLEAVE
SHREKSNAKEEYES
SERGEANTPEPPER
ONESITEBT
BIDASATSPS
CAPTAINOBVIOUS
CHILISTDIMAGE
COLONELSANDERS
SYSTDAYOER
MENSLOGEM
YOUANDWHATARMY
PUBLISHERALICE
AMENDODEPAPER
MAYASPODESSES

Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) is an electronic system that allows a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participant to pay for food using SNAP benefits.

Tue 5/21/2024
ACEDPLIEEASES
RULERINDSAINT
CRIBNOTESQANDA
TOMPEWFUN
UGHBOTTLEGOURD
GUESSSOLADLES
GAPEPASSTO
CARRIAGEHOUSE
GENZERLETS
OHNEATVERSACE
MOBILEPHONETHX
ETARAEZAG
RAJASBABYPROOF
TIARASTEMIDLE
ARMEDTHEENEED
Wed 5/22/2024
HINDIOBITACDC
ONIONNONECLEO
ALENEEGGCREAMS
RACERAIRASYET
SWEETBREADSPAL
ESSIAMTOPLINE
AASNEWIPOS
DOUBLEMISNOMERS
ERNOTIXENO
BADONESMRTMOI
UTEENGLISHHORN
GORENAIXEAVES
GRAPENUTSLIEGE
EIREOGREAFOOT
ROMEMEETMANNS
Thu 5/23/2024
PDFTRYTAFT
TOESHOEMOVEON
AGREEONBAYAREA
BRAESLATSMRT
BEIRUTANTFEIG
ODESRISKTONNE
ASSDIMESLETGO
BOXBRAIDS
AFTERASFORFBI
BIOTATHENARLO
URNSIMOSAVEUS
ECGSPAWNRISE
LOAFPANATTACHE
ANNIESLASSOES
ESTDANYSNL

In this elegant construction, the 7-letter Down answers in the grid are all legitimate crossword entries, but to match the clues, you must "braid" the letters back and forth. The shaded boxes were given, and I've colored the other letters so they're easier to read.

I've untangled the letters in the answers below the grid.

PS. Adam Wagner mentions Python in his notes. For the Python-curious who want to scour through their own word lists looking for cruciverbal gold, I have some sample scripts here.

Fri 5/24/2024
IMSURECRISCO
MATTESTHETURN
PRIESTSWIFTIES
ATMTACTICSTOE
LIMASHACKBELT
ANITAAREBUSES
INTRACTABLY
GETTHESCOOP
SOLARNEBULA
MOTTOSKISTETS
ERESFLICKSAME
TINWAITERSSYN
REDCARDSAENEAS
ONTHREEFRIDGE
STOOPSTAHOES
Sat 5/25/2024
WAMPUMMAMBAS
IGUANASAREOLA
FESTIVUSREROLL
FOISTNESTSBEA
LUCYASCIISIAM
ETABIERECIRRI
MASTERMINDS
PULLSTRINGS
BASKETCATCH
HACKSROMEOGAP
IRKSMIDASTASE
AMITAPEDCRUST
TETRISSRIRACHA
UNIONSEPOCHAL
SUNDAEOCTETS

This is the fourth NYT crossword for Mr. Williams. They all use the same grid pattern.

Sun 5/26/2024 Roughly Speaking
AMBIGONGDANGCVS
COINSAWORDIGORSLIT
KNOCKONWOODSOMETORO
NAILSARIALSENEGAL
FISTKNITTINGNEEDLE
CECEGRASSRKOSLAV
UMAMOONPIETINSNIC
BURNAFTERREADINGACDC
ARMANISEARLSOOTIER
RASCPUSFATLENO
ARCHAEOLOGICALDIG
DIALDOTNAVEOFT
PORTENDSIRESCOURGE
DOPEBLASTFROMTHEPAST
FROSCENERYOATSDUA
BRAHNEOADOBEWIIS
PUTDOWNONPAPERFOOT
ESCAPEEISLAMAWING
ATOMIVANFRENCHROAST
REDSRENTTABLESUGAR
TREDRNONASTTAXI
Mon 5/27/2024
PINABEARDVASE
BROSCAMEOINCA
JAVASCRIPTEGOT
SNORESGEETUNA
CUEGOLDENSET
SCALPERUMA
ERIEMAIDIMPLY
EONPODCASTHUE
SWEDESUVSPORN
OEDINVITES
GIVEPROPSECO
ISISAVEGRASPS
MARKPUTONASHOW
MAGIELENASOSA
ECONRESEWOPEN
Tue 5/28/2024
SOWACCRASOARS
ERACHAOSHADAT
WASHHANDSBEFORE
ETNANAIADBEA
RETURNINGTOWORK
LOEBNENA
OVAAWAYDATA
WATERLADSIGNS
EXEDKETOETA
EVIECAPE
WARNINGHIGHTIDE
IDOEDGEDAMIE
CAUTIONWETFLOOR
CIGAROTTERUNI
ARENAGOODYTEE
Wed 5/29/2024
HIMBOOTCHARMS
MOIINCHAULAIT
MUDSLIDEMEASLY
SUETEWETAN
HDTVSHURRICANE
OURSMARYANN
OLELENORABBI
FLAMINGVOLCANO
SMITSSELLDAM
DUHAMELOMNI
RECIPEFORQUIET
OXOATLRUIN
APPALLDISASTER
DESPOTENVYOPI
SLEUTHRAPSNAB
Thu 5/30/2024
WIMPJETSSMASH
ENEROAHUACLTE
ACNESUEZDECOY
NOOGIEWELLDONE
DURANMATEYHEH
TRAPSALTANOFE
ETHIRULEFOLLY
IDOLSJESSYE
HARVEYHOLLY
ELIERCAROLJAB
TCBYJIVEONATE
TACDUNESWANES
OPALESCEASPECT
HOGANHAZYARRE
ENESTERIELOON
TESTSSSNSMEWS
Fri 5/31/2024
CAPTCHAGAMIFY
ABRAHAMONESIES
UBERIZEDNATEST
SOFTNESSALONSO
ETESECDIN
STRAPSRAMSIRE
LETTEROPENER
MANDARINORANGES
SPOILERALERT
PEISPEDLESMIS
ARTDEWANT
ITSODDDATAMINE
NUNHOODSOMALIA
TROOPERPRETEND
ETHERSSYNERGY
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