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

Thumbnails

Puzzles for December, 2010
with Constructor comments

View these same grids with comments from:
Constructor (2)Jeff Chen (1)Jim Horne (7)Hide comments
Wed 12/1/2010
WOODYBEAMATCH
ASIRECALLSTOLA
RADIODAYSROMAS
MISSTEPCST
ALICEIONBASE
RAMONMANHATTAN
AMAHKANAWW
BANANASSLEEPER
BATANOLALA
ANNIEHALLAVION
AOUTIDIZELIG
ANCPERGOLA
MOLTOINTERIORS
ANEARFEBRILITY
POINTTDSALLEN
Thu 12/2/2010
FAREASTSITUATE
AVIATORONESPOT
DEGRADEBENEATH
ERALOSESUTES
ALISTSTP
SEWSDOPEABC
PRONOUNNUMERAL
ENTENTEEMPATHY
WEAROUTRETREAD
SSNURSAPLIE
ERNSNAGS
SLAWSAYSOBAH
LIBERALATLARGE
AVERAGESIGNIFY
GETSMADARISTAS

It's hard for me to pick out a favorite puzzle, but this one is probably in my top five. This is the puzzle one should pull out when challenging anyone who claims he/she can solve a puzzle with only the Across clues.

This puzzle exists thanks to the clue database which Matt Ginsberg provided to the crossword community. The database has a nice feature of displaying all other entries — of the same length as the word being queried — having an identical clue. So, for instance, if I type TABLE into the database I find that it and two other words — DEFER and DELAY — have been clued as [Put on hold]. So, when I saw this feature for the first time, I immediately conceived of the current puzzle concept. From there I just frantically hunted down all the 7-letter entries which shared a common clue.

Fri 12/3/2010
ATWOSHEATBAR
LEADCHILLHOMO
TELEPHONICELMS
APELOADHARLEY
RESTARTHERMIT
SEAICELUMMOXES
MESSILYPURL
FREEDTECGYPSY
LAVAPINESOL
UTENSILSQUAHOG
INDENTCUREALL
BOOTEDGOADNEA
ANDIOPENSEASON
LADDWENCHGOLD
ELSENASHAMES
Sat 12/4/2010
LJUBLJANAPABLO
AUNATURELTROOP
BRIMSTONEALICE
SETSEMERYELAN
ASATASSELS
SWIRLSTINTDIE
PAMELAINKSPOTS
ALMABUDGEAVIA
CLARISSAESTEEM
EATSCALDTERSE
SWEARATAOL
HARMMOANSOMAN
ILIADDRZHIVAGO
PLAZAALIENATED
SALEMYOGACLASS
Sun 12/5/2010 ON A ROLL
QUAFFSOMAHASAPPIER
ANGOLAASEVERINAHOLE
TERRORCUTONBOLDLINES
AVEPARTENSRVSLIME
REEKJESTSONEOFZEN
INDOEBONSAPORIDENT
INVENTHURTEXISTS
NAMAOLBONAIDES
OPENSSHADETHECIRCLES
DONOTOMARVETOLLA
OLDSSEPOYBOOTSLAPD
FLEEOROCASKNOMAD
FOLDALONGDASHESERASE
IVESLINKAGOSON
PEEVESCORDOOLONG
RULERPHOTOONTOASPS
ERESCRAMSHREDGELT
SAVEAIRJAIURNSWAR
USETAPEONEDGESENLACE
MINUTESOHOHOHSIEGES
EASIESTBUSTSSPEEDS
Mon 12/6/2010
CAJUNLIPPAST
ORATEAMAACMES
LIKEDSHIPSHAPE
EDENPEERATREA
SHARPSHOOTER
ARTIESRAM
SHELLSHOCKFOBS
CELPARTIIINEA
HALTSHORTSHEET
MOOELAYNE
SHEEPSHEARER
YAMTHORNSDAZE
SHOESHINESHREW
TARSISIRSACRE
SEENTEAETHOS
Tue 12/7/2010
IRAQMAPLERINK
NANUIWILLOMAN
CHIEFTEXANAPSE
MEETMISDEAL
STAGEGIANTBILL
EATLAUDOIL
RBISBIOSLOCOS
FOOTBALLMATCHUP
SONARTIERKATE
GYMZACHMIA
JETPACKERUPPER
ARRANGEPLEA
ROARRAMCHARGER
EDITACRIDINFO
DENYWHIGSLEGO

ANDREA:

As mentioned in the constructor comments for Mon 11/2/2009, my neighbor Kent Clayton and I decided to collaborate again after his reveal of BELIEVEITORNOT saved my bacon. Kent was watching football, so we decided to do a sports theme, which might surprise many of those who follow my anti-sports comments on certain blogs. However, I am NOT anti-sports. I am anti the overuse of baseball and the presumption that solvers will know the most obscure MVP of 1953, yet will not know who HELLOKITTY is, or whatever girl-centric topic comes up. And I like to be a thorn in the side of those who overdose on sports clues. I have nothing against sports itself.

This puzzle focused on team names. We decided to combine them and have a nice reveal of FOOTBALLMATCHUP 15 going across the grid. It was a lot of fun to mix and match the team players and coming up with clues. There were many that were so natural, like RAMCHARGER or JETPACKER (though I don't think our Boba Fett clue made it to the final version).

Wed 12/8/2010
JADEOSHAWASNT
APOPRATSALTAR
YPSILANTIREATA
CALYPSOMUSIC
ACTILOVOTIVE
GOAWRYSLAVSER
AMMOCOOLIO
APOCALYPSENOW
FAMOUSENID
ATVLUTZKPDUTY
SHAWLSLAISHE
SECRETAGENTS
USAIRGYPSYMOTH
CENTIAREAOWIE
HATEDROWSGENX
Thu 12/9/2010
PLODSCAMSPSAT
ELHIHOVELOCTO
RAYEEMILETROY
CNOTEBLOWOPEN
HOUSEBOATLIE
OLAVTALENTS
BAWDNEWNASDAQ
OSHADRAMASOSU
MCIMASCOTSOSA
BITTENOROPROD
SIERRASALII
TILHOLYCROSS
FREEBIRDHIMOM
YEASANGUSTARO
AMSOSTATEONEK
ZAHNSONYAFIRE
Fri 12/10/2010
NARCSSALESTAGS
AMOLEPOOLTABLE
PECANALLSEWNUP
INKSTERSETA
EROSIVEINSGAR
RANAMOKNETAMA
ENEMORITAT
JOHNNYONENOTE
BORATESTASERED
LEERHTS
ITSABEMIRED
POTSASARULE
PRESCHOOLRENES
ERIECANALKNICK
DEADSPOTSSECTS
Sat 12/11/2010
CTSBEBENOTHIN
DELIRIUMOCEANO
CLEMENZATHANKS
LUCREZIABORGIA
ESTOSELLEGENL
SAHLFREEGARDE
PLEDABRAXAS
OLDLIEJOBIBO
MIRAMAXTMAX
TAMEDTACOHERE
OMANZEITDRAIN
SOUTHERNACCENT
SUNHATMERCATOR
ENDORAASTATINE
STYLESNTSBTEX
Sun 12/12/2010 THE WISH
ALTASTUBMASHERMCCL
SHAMTUTUASPERAALAE
HARPSPEEDTHINSISTERS
ESPANADOZENSSITARS
NASSAUOHIOLINEN
GLOBALHARMINGSTS
ASPSIVAESCORTADHOC
SPAMSUMERACHESEERO
SARILAXDDAYABLEST
TRACHEAAMOIDECREPIT
HASTEMANAGEMENT
DESERTEDLANABROILER
EMILIEGILTRCANOTE
BALLREINASPOREGOAL
RIVESINGRAMAGALPLY
ALEHINGEDVICTORY
RHINEELOITRIAGE
ETHANSTHERESHITMEN
READYTOHEARMAGICHAND
GEREELOISEOBOEALOE
ONESPARREDSCARDEAD
Mon 12/13/2010
JETSRISENMAP
ATOPRETINAILL
NETEARNINGSNBA
ESSENSLEET
SCUDSWASTEAREA
CASSIOHORN
ADOGRADERASAP
DEFINITEARTICLE
STANOSIRISULT
ISLEDEBBIE
WYATTEARPTRANS
HESSEERASE
ELKPLANETEARTH
ALEPOMELOSURE
TOWEXPELTEAR
Tue 12/14/2010
MORALPEWCHESS
ELOPEODELEGAL
SELESWILLINGLY
HOLDTHEFLOOR
AURISTYEA
HITTHECEILING
MINEDETOXRET
OTHERSNIKONS
PEAPOSSEALTO
CLIMBTHEWALLS
HECBEARER
EXERCISEROOM
SUNSTROKENORMA
ONAIRILSATEAT
DONNADETSHONE
Wed 12/15/2010
KITHFLEXATBAY
ABRALAVESHUTE
NOIRODINSERTA
JOCKFULLONUTS
IKEONESAMATOL
TLCWIEORA
JEERLEADERSPIT
ALLEYQUESCENT
MITEJUMPCHANGE
USOMIAHAM
PENPALGLADSTP
JESTPROTECTOR
BRONCOORTALPO
ETHNOPUCEPEAL
TENETSTAROOZE
Thu 12/16/2010
ARIAORVALINKY
MAWRNAIVENONE
THATREMAINSSEEN
NYETETOILES
OPTBORNWILD
NRAATEELUELLA
BELWASTTRUES
AMONOTTOBECSI
SINGEALKYKIA
EXERTSEARSYON
ITHADYOUANS
PAMELASNEIL
YOUVEGOTKIDDING
RUNEGRITSOVER
OTISYEASTLEER
Fri 12/17/2010
LAGCAPPCLOSER
ALEHOUSERIPPLE
TINACTINEASELS
TATTOOCBERCSI
ESSENBIRDSIBS
UVULAMAMET
MOTORSCOOTERS
PAROLEHEARING
WALKIETALKIES
ETAILTRESS
BRYNKEPTSIMBA
CIARISERECALL
ALLOUTNEATENUP
MEANIEEGGTEETH
SYMONSROSEDOA
Sat 12/18/2010
ECHOSOUNDERPBJ
SHARONSTONEORU
MANBITESDOGLIN
EKGLIMBLIBIDO
ASSUMEMANATEE
IREMEGAHITS
MADGERAHALCOQ
ELANNATTYSABU
APTTIBIAGELEE
THETEXANDOC
CAMELOTBETTOR
AMYTANYEAHLEM
SAMVENUSDEMILO
ELOIRAROLLOVER
SEMVANITYPLATE
Sun 12/19/2010 HOPE FOR CLEAR SKIES
ONTAPEDAHLADZETHINLY
BOUTONAVIASIAMAENEID
STRIPEMANYMSAGOCROWNS
AFTERDDEIONDHORSE
HOWYOMTURNREDASIDAW
ONADEAPOSGTMUGCDAGE
VERAONERSVICESLYES
GAPPEABRAINSCEY
BENCELESTIALBODIESALB
INUTEROTOORDERONASSIS
DARESAYMEAWAIKIKI
ERSTATTHEESCOREICED
AMERELIRAPLOYJESSE
AMATEURASTRONOMER
TAJBRYANMOEGSUITSAG
ALOMARKENNEDYSWANNS
LITERATITIAMOMAHARANI
LASAGNESTOTEMXRAYSPEX
TOTALLUNARECLIPSE
AGASREOAVGNAME
CASTINGGOESDERASHADOW
OPHELIAINBUILTTEELINE
PEEWEESCOWPOKEONESTAR
Mon 12/20/2010
LEAPMCCOOREST
OSLOARAILOTTO
CATSCRADLETHAI
HUSTLINGQUILL
MONKEYSUNCLE
MRHANEYATAD
BEENEADAAFAR
AMADOGSAGEACE
SOLOZAPZAIRE
SEMIUMPIRED
ELEPHANTSEAR
PEARSREASSIGN
SORELIONSSHARE
ONLYARIELOGOD
MESSPASTYWOWS
Tue 12/21/2010
REACTOPTEDTIN
ALLAHLLANOHBO
PLANEBOARDSISM
TENKERNASSES
MINDBLOGGING
SECANTODETS
PLANKEREITBA
CHRISTMASCLAROS
AIRYENSAMUSE
YEARNICIEST
BLOTTEDWATER
LANCEITARILE
ORBADAMSLANDER
OVASNAPETILES
MAGEASYAEXERT
Wed 12/22/2010
FAVORPALMOTIS
READEASIAOHNO
OILEDCHERLEFT
GOODTIMESNAFU
SURANAABELARD
FINNLARAMIE
SMALLSCERFIAT
CADYONEALTE
ACABTENSPRYER
LAYDOWNSURF
ARSENIOPLOFRO
TWEENYOURHEAD
SHORKHANAERIE
PURELUNGTEAMO
ARKSEDGYALLIN
Thu 12/23/2010
ITSHOMERZEBRA
SETOFAGEOBOES
THEGHFROMENOUGH
HELLOSILENT
MELISSATORYISM
IDASEGGSQED
TORAHKAUAI
THEOFROMWOMEN
SEENOTRISH
ARRFIEFENDS
PRELUDEDETROIT
WATERYOSTEO
THETIFROMNATION
BAGELEDGESCUE
SNORETAROTETD
Fri 12/24/2010
HMMARCHGASCAP
EAURARAESPANA
NUSCHURCHHYMNS
RIOTDIRPAT
MICHAELCAINE
MTSINAIGETAT
EATCELTOUCH
NAUGHTYORNICE
INSOOSLOIRE
ADAGEEASEDIN
CHRISTMASEVE
AVAOAKLONI
SILENTNIGHTTEN
SCENEITREEARE
TICTACSEEDLAW
Sat 12/25/2010
CBSNEWSDECIMAL
RATATATEMANATE
ONADARELILLIAN
CATALINAISLAND
NONSOY
DAZINGDOINJAM
IVORYARNOPURE
MONICAMOUNTAINS
LIESDEMSINCAS
YDSRUSESNEEZY
AOLDOT
ANITARACETRACK
ANIMATETREACLE
DONATESENDPLAY
DNATESTTOSSUPS
Sun 12/26/2010 HEY, MISTER!
EXCELAMPSSHOPATSEA
VERVESOOTWAKEGEARS
INEEDMYSPACEMANLANAI
TOENAILBADLYCASTS
ENDTUBATEEBUREAUS
BATMANSINTHEBELFRY
CUMINRICOALISEED
OPENDOORMANPOLICY
MSNFLEETEPEEEPACT
ITSSAFEDAISMARIAH
CARTMANBEFORETHEHORSE
ATEOUTOCATUSSWASP
LEAPSSLURPAULOCOO
TAKEARAINMANCHECK
PROSCURBLOBHUSKY
JACKMANOFALLTRADES
SGTYORKEDOEASYCUT
DOBIEIDIOMKARAOKE
NOBLEGOODMANASNEWMAN
ALEUTATRAYOGIBLAST
ELREYBAASOMENASSES
Mon 12/27/2010
BATMANRPMSEE
AROUSEAEROTAX
BENCHWARMERATA
SASHSCALALIL
CASHPAYMENT
STOPUPTSE
MILLERLITERARE
UNDIDEREUMIAK
TEENRIVERSEDGE
TOETENSES
NASHRAMBLER
IZECREEPWOKE
PUTHERESJOHNNY
PROINITEDITOR
YENDDTDEMOTE
Tue 12/28/2010
SHELFSGTSNARE
LEVELPOETONES
ARENAOWEASIDE
MARATHONMINI
TANSSCRAMS
SCAREDETEVIE
MARINESUBSMILE
ENCLSARANCAEN
AAHEDFINEEXTRA
RPIISEHALEST
SEESAWFORT
PRECIOUSSEMI
ATARIARMOILED
MOVIEISPUTILE
STAGSNTHTESTS
Wed 12/29/2010
PODRENAMEBLAM
ACEEMINORLAVE
BENPINACOLADAS
LASVEGASDAHLIA
ONEEARSTEPELS
SLAPASTA
APATTIKIOMBRE
JALAPENOPEPPERS
ANGLOASEAHASP
STATISTO
BAPISAOTHREAT
AMIGOSMARIACHI
MANANASENOROYL
BIOLDOGOODNED
ANNASPASMSOSE
Thu 12/30/2010
ASHSLOPIANO
CHARTERMEMBER
OUSEATCOCALEB
PLANTMANAGER
STEVIEORNO
WINETASTER
JAPESAVOWARNO
OPERATINGROOM
KIASOTAYAMPLE
EARTHANGEL
FISCOOLONG
FORTHERECORD
NONETEMMAKWAI
NOTRESPASSING
ELVERTNTNTS
Fri 12/31/2010
JALOPYTHEWIRE
JEANIETEENIDOL
ARISENIMSOGLAD
BOLSTOMPSIDE
RNAABETSNIS
AAAISLAWIDGET
MULANAFLAME
STICKITTOTHEMAN
TEPEESITALO
SSTARSREAPPOW
TAUASTIRQUA
ORRSAITCHUEY
PTBARNUMHAVETO
BROMANCEERESTU
YESISEESEXTET
XWord Info Home
XWord Info © 2007-2024, Jim Horne
108 ms