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Puzzles for January, 2023
with Jim Horne comments

Sun 1/1/2023 In Play
TREEJAPANSPAMSACTS
YENSAIOLIAERIELOIN
RECTANGULARPRISMELMO
ALERTRELOSIMPLER
LOVEWILLTEARUSAPART
DRAGNOTEDOESCOB
AIDETWOSWINGATOPA
MOUNTAINSTATESOUTRUN
ETSHIEPARFINEART
TELDOCTORDOLITTLE
AXIOMTOOKZEROCRESS
GETBACKINSHAPEGOA
INSIGHTERRSURPAT
LONNIEBREAKOUTINSONG
ENOMANUALSNANASTI
BBSLAICSOLELEIF
FRIENDSINHIGHPLACES
LEGROOMSUREDINAR
URGEPICTUREINPICTURE
BAITETHOSSNEEREDEN
SNESSHINESEDGEMEAT

We haven't done this in a while, and I know many find these notes annoying, but for the few who like to learn this stuff, It's time once again to play Fun with the Finder™.

Jeff mentioned that the X IN Y pattern is broad, and it certainly is, but suppose you were on the lookout to find interesting ones. Our Finder can help. Click the links below to see the results.

  • The standard Search button doesn't know about word breaks, so it's not that useful. Searching for *IN* reveals words like COINED. Not what we want.
  • Fortunately, the OneLook Search button does know about word breaks. The pattern **IN** finds phrases that include the word IN. Much better, although phrases like FILL IN or IN COLD BLOOD are less interesting. We'd like IN to be in the middle of a phrase.
  • The pattern *? IN ?* (note the spaces) guarantees at least one word before or after IN.

See our Finder Tips page to learn more.

Mon 1/2/2023
BOBMORNAWARD
EPITABOOBASIE
LEGARISEORSON
TRIBUTEALBUM
SAFARIATEASE
BUNSENBURNER
LACKSTRIESTAO
ELLAPINGSFOLD
CIAGENIETENSE
HAMBURGERBUN
ESPRITORCHID
ITHADTOBEYOU
PRADAPRIMAATE
SOLARTAKENTAT
TELLSSTIRTSO
Tue 1/3/2023
RIMSNARFCAPO
OWEATONERORAL
SAGMOVEFASTAND
ESCROWENTMIA
THANKSFORCOMING
TABSINSROSIE
ADOSOLEAMA
THEWESTWING
EELTEENEWE
ISLAMLAMSNAG
THATSSURPRISING
SATOUTATTUNE
BREAKTHINGSSAD
AINTROONEYEGO
DATEARSESSON
POW Wed 1/4/2023
MUGGLEACCENT
AMORESDROOLER
SNOOTSBIGDUMMY
SONOSPUTEPEES
MAGENTAERAT
ROBTAPOIL
AWAYSSNROCKET
CELESTIALBODIES
EDITORPUNLARK
XIACBSSOS
SASSCUBISTS
TITHEDIAROSEN
OREOTHINHERETO
WEIRDOSAERATE
ERNESTSTYLUS
Thu 1/5/2023
LIARCATHELLIS
INCAOGRENAURU
LETECLEASINAI
ABSTHESTAURANT
CLOSESTRTES
SENNASPARSMAY
ORCASIVISA
CURBYOURHUSIASM
ONUSRNAMAV
DOGSTOLITROTS
JEEPSOBERUP
SQUEEZEPLAYALI
OUSTSNEARCCAN
PIETAETTEULNA
STRAWDEEDPEEL
Fri 1/6/2023
ITSJUSTMEWILCO
NATATORIAACORN
FURBABIESLEVEE
OPUSKNEEDEEP
REMLTEPOSSES
YOUAVICPA
COURTSIDESEAT
JUDITHHEUMANN
TREASURETROVE
OPSRUNARE
YAHEARSLYCBS
CELLOBOWMOAN
SMELLRIOGRANDE
RATIOILLMANAGE
INSETEYEOPENER
Sat 1/7/2023
GOSHDARNITBED
OUTOFTOUCHJAVA
ONAPLATTEREKED
SCREAMSTUNNERS
EEKTINANDY
SNOADDICTS
MISTITALIANLIT
ONCEMINEDGAMY
STANDUPGUYSMEE
SHROOMSTOM
EEROSUEHEM
PLASMATVHELENA
IOWATHESEPARTS
COAXMENIALWORK
SPYSUNDRESSES
Sun 1/8/2023 Do You Hear That?
HEROESIGUESSDAMSTY
AMILLIBONSAITREEOHO
SERIESMODELTRAINLIU
PRINCESSDIAUCOURANT
ETNAEDERIOUARGH
PHOIOWANCIENOBEYS
EUPHORICROSEGARDEN
AGAINNETTLESXEDGAT
TOLEDOTHEIRDIPSTICK
ASTORSSPELLINTO
CANDYCANEALLACCESS
AMOREPEESASIANA
BIGSHOTSCAREWTROPHY
ODEALACONTORTPALEO
NONAPOLOGYAUTOFILL
MYTHSLETSAPBIOELK
RELOLEDSTATELLS
TAEKWONDOGOLDILOCKS
OHMECTOMOBILENAMEIT
ANALARGEBILLSGNARLY
DONPLYNICESTSEDATE
Mon 1/9/2023
ASKEWSSNCOLD
SPIREATEBYLAW
SACREDCOWANDRE
ARKSAHIGRIEVE
YESCRACKEDCRAB
BLOTELS
PLAINTHAIPLIE
BACKGROUNDCHECK
JOKEETTUAIMEE
PIEOSLO
JACKANDCOKENAP
ALTERSOUIASTO
PERSEACTEDCOOL
AXLESPOEODDLY
NAVYEARSCALP
Tue 1/10/2023
MIMIVOILATGIF
ODORMOPPETELSE
PINKPANTHERNAPE
TOSSINOCEANS
OTTTONYTHETIGER
PIEDOOOASONE
SCRAPEBYSISWON
HELLOKITTY
SODTIEANTEATER
ENOLATRAHOME
COWARDLYLIONPAM
NODEALDOMINO
WEPTCHESHIRECAT
IPASATRAINMATE
TATEFISTSOLES

It's still close to New Year, so 46-Across gives me an excuse to link to this New Yorker classic: New Year's Resolutions for an Anteater.

Wed 1/11/2023
JOGSSAFESARIA
ANEWADULTCOMB
BETACARGOSHIPS
TPSYALIE
OPIWOORELMAP
SANPEDRONOLITA
MEGADEALSASHY
OLLIELEIANSEL
SLOGBONDRATIO
EASELSSCALIEST
DSTOHMEYEETS
AROARSON
DANGERSIGNHULU
ELIETONTOISIS
LIESUNDEROATH
Thu 1/12/2023
PARRAMPMNAGS
ALOECOILVILLA
STUFFINGSTOCKER
TOGEDAMOCEANS
ASHMIMEFAT
SAUCINGFLYERS
SATYRTEEFOO
TRANSAMMEGAFAN
AIRTEAEBONY
BETTINGGETTER
UNOEMUSTSA
STERNONOLALEE
NUMBINGTRACKERS
ONTOEIRANISTO
BASSTYPEASAP

Jeff's Quick Search link simulates entering ???*ING???*ER and clicking the standard Search button, but here's another case where our OneLook search button can also be useful since it knows about word spaces. Using the pattern *ING *ER (note the space) finds consecutive words that end with ING and then ER.

Fri 1/13/2023
PEIDAMESSCARF
INDUETIMEALTER
STEPSONITMULTI
CRACKPOTBEARD
EELSATSEANIA
SESPANERASTAY
MIRRORQUAL
BRETTBURNS
LETTERCOAF
PATHSNOBBYPCS
ICHSTARRAARP
SKATENEATIDEA
ACTIVSEALADDER
NACRERACEWALKS
OTHERASHESESE
POW Sat 1/14/2023
MAAMSWHAPS
GALPALHIGHER
HOSTILETAKEOVER
ESCALERTEDIPO
ALASSPECSFLEX
DORISLAHSALLY
WALKIETALKIES
KORSMOOR
NOTRESPASSING
BEFITNECHEART
LIFEVIRALSPEW
AGSDOGSLEDSEE
THEBACHELORETTE
STAYATINURES
SNOBSTIGER
Sun 1/15/2023 Abridged Too Far
INFOSCALYELNINOSSN
NEALTALIAMATTEREEO
AMIDSUMMERNIGHTSDREAM
PERILPANDERSEANCE
PAYSOFFBIANCAAUTOS
THEWINDINTHEWILLOWS
BAADRYERELLEN
APLUSEGADSSUCKLE
TREPIDISLAMGOLEM
CRIMEANDPUNISHMENT
AWRYROCCOASKMEPETS
THECATCHERINTHERYE
MEALYKORMABITROT
SERENEMEGANPEONS
CIGARYAWEDAOK
FORWHOMTHEBELLTOLLS
ALOHAPOSTITWHEATEN
TENORSUNESCOESPNU
TOMAKEALONGSTORYSHORT
ELIERMINETORTEEROS
REXNAPLESSPAHNDKNY
Mon 1/16/2023
SAGSJONGMAIN
AMATAVERHORDE
LOWERCASELETTER
TIKTOKGOAHEAD
OUTAORR
PASSPORTSTAMP
ALLOTPARESEAR
MAILSOBERITIN
PICELFINARENA
TERMOFADDRESS
EMUNYET
ARTDECOLIBRAS
PUSHTHEENVELOPE
ONPOTNAPEOPEN
PESTOURSTEXT
Tue 1/17/2023
BAMAVCRSLOGS
AMENTORAHEXAM
NOTONEIOTATENS
DIAMONDWEDDING
APTDIET
AMBLEDAGNABBIT
NARYTISELECTS
ALADENTISTCEL
CIGARSINSDEMO
TAGSALONGMIDST
AGARPAL
LETSCALLITADAY
SAVEOCEANSTATE
IKEAILOSEETON
TERMLENTSAPS
POW Wed 1/18/2023
EBBHANDINUMNO
LEEELOISEBRAN
ITSMYTREATERGO
OCEANITPRO
THEGOATALIBUY
ANSWERTHEPHONE
OOHEATUP
CLEANYOURROOM
FRONDSPY
DOYOUNEEDARIDE
RCALOLONETIME
LOTSAALVIN
JEFFPICKUPLINE
OLAFINVITENOW
BINSNESTEDERS

Ms. McBride joins our Teenage Constructors page.

Thu 1/19/2023
PALSNATOORCAS
ESAUBOWLTARDY
TOYPIANOSSPOOF
FIESTSETBABY
TRIESNEGATE
PROAAHSANT
HENCHMANSUTRA
DEMOMACLUIS
LEMMASUBGENRE
BARSBINUSA
DEARTHAGASP
PASTSRIBROAD
ONTAPESCALATOR
SCENEWENTMAZE
HERTZDENSIBEX
Fri 1/20/2023
TARPCRAGSOPTS
ALEEHAGENDARE
HATETOEATANDRUN
INAROWRIPOSTES
NOISOMETOTIDO
INNTECHNASCAR
SILOSBOLT
COINAPHRASE
CODETIRED
CAMERANEHIROD
ORBORSDADTOBE
ZOOMLENSSEATER
YUVALNOAHHARARI
USESARGUETROD
PERKSEAMSSYNE

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind is a fascinating book. Very hard to put down once you start it.

Sat 1/21/2023
AGRAHAILSICK
TRIPACMESACHE
TINSELTOWNBEEN
INDEXFUNDWIPE
CDSTSPBITERS
SRIDEETLIU
SHABBATSHALOM
PEOPLEWATCHES
NOTDOINGSOHOT
ASHINTSFEY
STRONGUSECAB
DOLTWINESAUCE
LOGENATIVESOIL
ACESELITEACDC
MSNOLSENPOSH
Sun 1/22/2023 With Ease
THAWSPROOFSGABISLE
LOVINLAPTOPACEFOOD
CHILIFACTORYSTRAYDOG
ODDDUCKHIPPIEBOOTY
GENESCENESALUMS
BRISKREORGSSLEW
POINTYOUTIETILISLA
AGOGRILLNOSYBESTIE
MOTELANIBASSLAHIRI
RESTSLRSUFOSLAO
CDSSWEETIETREATYLSU
REPLISPMAYATSAI
OLLIESSPEDTICSTREP
WHINYSTORYETNACARL
SITSANTCRAFTYFAIRY
TARTALASNOHANDS
CHINASLOPESLENT
PHONYBOOKIEHEATHER
LOGCABINTESTYGROUPIE
ERATINNESTADODRESS
DENSSKYRHYMESSTEEP
POW Mon 1/23/2023
EAVECHEMOGLE
CROCAUTOHUEY
HELLMEANGIVE
ONTIMEGEODES
TAPERECORDER
SHOEHORN
POLEOLESOPEN
IMOANSWERIDO
TACITEATIN
CHAMPAGNEFLUTE
HALFRAINGIST
DONTBLOWIT
OSIRISCHEATS
LEVITYHURRAH
DEETSPSYCH
Tue 1/24/2023
BASKPITAWAGS
CAPOCMONEQUUS
CHEAPSHOTAIMTO
SELAELECTSUB
CASTROOHSURE
NAHSEENHELPER
CLAWATGENRE
IDIOMADSBABAR
SODOIDIPAZURE
FLOODFLYBYS
CAREERNEILBAT
AVERSETAROIL
LINTOURSONES
MATZOREIGNITED
STEINGALANEAR
EDGEEDYSKALE
Wed 1/25/2023
LISZTWELDICED
ONTOEOKAYNAME
AVIONMEINSTUN
FANTASYDRAFTS
EDTBENSEAMAN
RESOLECUTEERE
PENALTYSHOTS
ASHESIAOWES
STARPITCHERS
AIDAMOKLETSUP
PRIMPSAMCUNA
TRIPLEDOUBLES
PRAYEUROSATAT
ACLUNAIRABASE
WALKTUNELANES
Thu 1/26/2023
GGGGBEAUTFFFF
RAULAMINOARTY
ANNESTROPKCUP
MADRESSHEENA
PRESETSSHARPER
SYDLUCHEYSST
BASIL
SNOWBALLEFFECTS
ATBAYAYSOMAHA
CHATTERTRAPPED
MEETOMAR
AFARSSSSSNIKE
PLEBEEATHASIT
PARERETEADULT
SPADETYRWANNA
Fri 1/27/2023
SCRAMSPECIOTAS
THESOCIALNETWORK
JUSTINTIMBERLAKE
ONTILTRICKYMAE
EKESOLOSFONZ
SYDWAFTSLOUSY
SEESFITOSSA
CHEERSIRISES
ROILEONLINE
NEONSSPILTIRL
BALEICEUPGEE
AMILIANEARENAS
JAGGEDLITTLEPILL
ALANISMORISSETTE
MENUSANYASEEYA

Jeff's trick to find 30-character phrases that split exactly in half is clever. He didn't mention that it also comes up with HAVING KANGAROOS / IN THE TOP PADDOCK — a colorful Australian phrase meaning being eccentric or foolish.

Today's grid is 16 wide, so perhaps we should look for 32-letter phrases that split in the middle. Again, sort by length to see the real 32s. That's THE GREATEST THING / SINCE SLICED BREAD.

Sat 1/28/2023
JUNETEENTHPOPS
ARISHAPIROOBOE
MALTESECATMIST
BLEHTEEDPOETS
EWEREALNAME
MASTERSGOAWAY
OLLIELACEDALE
OPECPAIRSPROS
CHEWAYMOGODNO
HAPPENCOARSEN
EVILDEADUSE
DINESTEASOKOK
OLGAMOESTAVERN
FLITONTHEFENCE
FENSDESERTROSE
Sun 1/29/2023 The Final Frontier
MAPSBOSUNMAHOMES
BEERYSEATRIPISOLATE
ADIOSLASAGNASPRAYON
LOOMOVERREELDESANT
KCUPPODMCSZONES
OSOMEHCGITSAPRE
BODSMOANABOUTRELAYS
IHEARNEURONSSENORES
ONALERTTLCDOESOK
GETSABITESUGARENAMI
AAHSPACETRAVELVAN
STEERTROPEREFASTENS
ALISONIREENTENTE
FATIGUEELEVATEPAULA
ALETAPGOODEARTHSEEM
DAREMEENGNAYEKE
SARANBTSRFIDTAG
SIMRBILILACATCHAIR
INAMOODCOOLMOMKARMA
ROYALWEDUALIPAMITES
SNIVELSSTYLEERSE
Mon 1/30/2023
WISPREBASHARP
AREAACERTILER
SKATEDONTHINICE
TMIHARDCAP
AUDIOINPUTINS
SHEOERBEAT
SUVBURNBERG
THISISANOUTRAGE
LINEABBAROD
TENDDMVZAG
CODLIEINSTATE
IBERIANOUI
RIGHTBETWEENTHE
CAGESREALGOOP
ASSAYSAGSEYES
Tue 1/31/2023
PEPSUPTOASTS
STROVEFIRSTUP
THOMASHALOHALO
IVETHONTAR
TOEDENTOMINT
OPRAHREAPACES
LIBYAOYSTER
LASSIFLYLISTS
OREOOSMAORI
COMOORCASHRUG
OMANSHUGCONN
SATISAWARC
THATHURTAERIAL
CATCAFEYVETTE
ONAUTOSAYYES
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