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Puzzles for January, 2022
with Jim Horne comments

Sat 1/1/2022
WINNERPLANBS
WHOOPIMAOSUIT
IAMBICDOUGHBOY
TOUCHSENSOR
CERTSWAKEAPPT
LIESSITESMORE
ATFCATHYASTIN
WHOZXCVBNMADD
SERTAHARESTEA
ARMORBLEWCOPY
TEESLALACASAS
PEACEDOLLAR
CLEARSKYPILLAR
SEARATSUNMADE
IGUESSSEEDED
Sun 1/2/2022 COLOR MIXING
PAPERSOLANGEELSA
AGREEFOREWORDGOTAT
REINDEERCALVESOSIRIS
INDTUNEICESERODE
STEWARDDOGCOLLARNIX
POGOFAVREITSABET
CARSALTERSADENUDE
GERMANBEERRENOSTRUT
IDALOADSMARINECORPS
FADERSFORUMMIN
TREEMENTALIMAGEYAWN
GPAAIDANERRSRO
STARCLUSTERPAIGETEA
HOLESBALDPEACEMARCH
ELMSPOLELITHOIMOK
ADASTRABETASSTAN
FARHOTCEREALLETSOFF
ELSIESILOMARAMEL
DIAPERVEGETARIANMENU
ELANDINAPANICCIRCE
ADDSCANARDSEASES
Mon 1/3/2022
HARMNOMSGEASE
OREOARENAGRAM
MINDREADERGERI
ESTEESETSBAIL
YESLETSZETA
SLEEPERAGENT
AAATEAMETER
ALLOVERTHEPLACE
HIPPOIOSSKY
STOPITYOUTWO
OCHORAINMAN
BADSEEDSLEONI
ACAIGUTFEELING
LINTADIOSARIE
EDGEPEROTPEEL
Tue 1/4/2022
ESCCRAMPSSBA
GELREGALETOP
OXOOCELOTEXT
YOUCANTTHINK
VENNPTASACID
SLEDSSMITE
OFYOURTROUBLES
LOVEYA
WHILESOLVING
PHONYECARD
BOGSSUNSEMIR
JAWOHNEATEDY
ACROSSWORD
MARGARETFARRAR
ANTITALISODA
CDSSTETPOP

I was charmed by this one. The first NYT puzzle editor already understood something important about why people love crosswords. Her sentiment is still true today.

Wed 1/5/2022
HECHTBETFEAST
AROARAXEADLER
SMILEWAXMICRO
HALFFULLIFSAY
EONTAWNY
COMMITLIEZEN
HOOPLAWENPOGO
EMITPEACEERGO
SPRYPARLISBON
SHESETINSANE
ANDSOSCI
PARMAOPTIMIST
USAIRUZOTITHE
SHINENETESTOS
SYNODIDSSTYES
POW Thu 1/6/2022
SPANMEEKHALO
CAMOISLAAXON
AVIDCCCMYSTERY
LILPDASAMESEX
LLLMONTHKIT
BOLOTIETODOS
BRUNEIKOBEOVA
LOCKSCENEOMEN
ASKSEASASPIRE
BASICDUSTPAN
MOMPENALAAA
TUGBOATWITHAH
GROUPTHINKLACE
IDLEZEROANIM
FUDDOMANODDS

"Cup holder, usually" — I love it! Two clues are different in print:

  • 55-Down : "Language written as اردو in its script" : URDU
  • 62-Down : "Language written as ລາວ in its script" : LAO

Speaking of collective nouns, William Shakespeare is credited with coining two good ones. One is the name of a play. The other is from his most famous soliloquy. You'll know when you get them.

Fri 1/7/2022
ACNEGAMERUSTS
THOROPENIDAHO
TONITHATSSOYOU
ICANDOITCENSUS
COPENDSRA
HORSECOINFLIP
SOLOSWARPDRIVE
ELOPEERRSIMON
TIGERLILYHAIRS
ICYSTAREDIRTY
WMDTONECO
ANEMIASHEEPDOG
DOZENROSESURAL
AGREEUNTOMUSE
MOATSISAKANTS
Sat 1/8/2022
PASCALSTRIANGLE
INTIMATEAPPAREL
TOOTIREDTOTHINK
SSNSCREEDSMGM
AMIDHOURSFATE
WINESIMSSACHA
SAGCARDSPHTEST
IPOSMART
AIMLOWTAKEACAB
TRUERSIRWILLA
LESSPARISLULL
APEARMANISBEL
SETAGOODEXAMPLE
EATDESSERTFIRST
STEADYASSHEGOES
Sun 1/9/2022 FOOD FOR THOUGHT
SOWNGIFNIMBLEADAGE
CREATIVEACHIERBORAX
ANISETEAJAZZVOCALIST
RAGTAGROARIDOOGRE
ETHMOUNTFUJIELTRAIN
ETCTOTSAMDAHTNT
YOUBETDEODEFOGS
MMMBOPGALAAFFAIR
SEAEELVIVONFLREFS
RETORTAGESRANEONS
ATTNEMPIRESTATEFRAU
SUEDDIESLIMWHACKS
PRODEKETAMPMELEES
WHENINROMECARLOS
CATNAPTOOTERRIF
ALAKIDKENWARNNW
TAXSALEIGETITNOWAAH
ABITOAFWRITBOWTIE
LAWOFGRAVITYLOOKOUTS
OMANITRICOTEYESORES
GAYERHECKNODESLEDE
Mon 1/10/2022
COPSYOGABEST
DRAWAROSEMYTH
CEREALBOWLWEAR
GEESEEATSRI
PANTSBILLYJOEL
ANTPALLRURAL
LOSTSOULVALETS
HELMAONE
EMBEDSEXITPOLL
SORTACREDREP
CLEANCOALSCATS
ADASAPHOOTS
POKEPIGEONHOLE
EVILSEALSERIN
DANKSPITNYPD
Tue 1/11/2022
PROTONSSTAVING
GENERICOUTCROP
AMERICAFERRERA
NOELISIS
PBJLIEADACAM
ERODEDALGORE
TORIEDIFYRUES
ENDSANNUSANYA
ZAHNADDINTO
MENONSIGHTRUM
UMPDATASETYAO
FEERERAISESLR
ADELAARCARTOO
SALEMNILMEANS
ALEXADEESPREE
POW Wed 1/12/2022
HALLEGADSARMS
IDEALEGITLOCH
KEVINKLINEFADE
ELIDESNARFDOE
RESORTGREATFUN
FOULORALB
TGIFBARBGOALS
MANWARHEROREI
ISTOODONEREST
THROBZACH
FREEDIVEPAYCUT
ROZSNITSSMORE
IPODGLUESTICKS
TUNAELDERNOEL
OBEYDEEDSGALA
Thu 1/13/2022
ASAPBRATSPST
NADARABIESOHS
ODOROMELETWOE
SPOILERALERT
ANGLEDSPIRES
TOWERCEOLAPSE
THEYFOUNDNEMO
NONABODESEA
SHEKILLEDBILL
ACTONCAYIONIA
PLEADSBADGES
HEFREEDWILLY
IRAAVERSEOATS
DINREVELSIDEA
SCININESLEAP
Fri 1/14/2022
BANDMATECST
MOUSEOVERCHAR
TEATASTINGRIMA
OTTOKHANRULED
GUESTSINEXILE
OPRAHOASISDOW
VERBIAGEOVA
WIRELESSCHARGER
ADEOMELETTE
RADRISESEARLS
CRAVATSADDOIL
RELAXOPERUPTO
AYESEVILEMPIRE
FORTTELLNOONE
TUTCREATING
Sat 1/15/2022
SMACKDABASLANT
EAGLEOWLMOOCOW
IHEARYOUENTIRE
ZOOMBOMBINGDIE
EMUSGABSWRIST
SETPANELTRUCKS
SOHOREOIL
FETEDTOTEM
ATEITERAS
SWIVELCHAIRKTS
MINERTENTNEAP
USBMOUNTSHASTA
REEBOKOHBOTHER
FUTURAREALTALK
SPACEYMMDDYYYY
Sun 1/16/2022 PLAYING THE HITS
THEMANAMIGOSMOGAWW
BOVINETAROTEIREBYE
SHESNOTTHEREALCAPONE
POSHINIILLBEAROUND
AHABALLIESCUTEY
THEPOWEROFLOVECALF
HUMPETUNIAPOSTAGE
AMESABETCHROMECAT
WARTORNLIEINREBA
ENGAGEDEVILINSIDE
DEEPENUNITINGLUSTER
LETSGOCRAZYICEAXE
RAKETUTEECATCHON
ELICRIPESTERITIDE
FISCHERSWEETIETUG
SAABJUDYINDISGUISE
DJINNNOPESTZOOS
RUMOURHASITPREFARE
LIMEKILNCOMEONEILEEN
ACEAMENELATESMARTY
OYEHERASEXESPAGODA
Mon 1/17/2022
UPSADAMSWACKO
NHLGIJOEILHAN
JOANOFARCCLINE
ANNORETICENT
MYGOSHSCAR
BOOBYENGELS
WIGALOESIKEA
ADROPINTHEOCEAN
REALDIANASHE
MADDOWSMOKE
SPASWYVERN
SUPERPACACAI
SARINASIFICARE
TRACESITARREC
PALEDMAINSDRE
Tue 1/18/2022
OHSOMISTACHY
FOWLLAKETREE
TWOINKMINIMUMS
NONEMUMSLIM
TINILLPRACTICE
ICEFLOEECONAS
CEDEAIMELENA
UMMACHINE
ASIDESODATTA
POWETSNEWSIES
BEATTOTHEAWRAP
SXSWTAUITEM
THEDOCTORISOUT
RAREKCUPKUSH
ADENSHIMSTAY
Wed 1/19/2022
DRAGSTARSROCK
ROLOTHREEOXEN
OATSREINSLETO
PREEMIETALLYUP
REAPAMIESE
YINLEAFLETS
ADAPTSTOOTOE
NOTESERRSHORT
GLEECATWOMAN
PETPEEVEALA
MIXGROGEST
ACESOUTBUTTONS
TANSEAPOEOREO
CMONSTEWSKEEN
HENSTOASTEDDY

Speaking of D&D, XWord Info has a feature for constructors that helps them polish their work. Drag & Drop a .puz file here to see a statistical analysis of your crossword and generate private test links for your beta testers.

Thu 1/20/2022
FITBITAMPTURK
IMPALACOOONAN
JEKYLLTHEVOICE
IDEALISAINTEL
RIOSNOSIEST
FLEETWOODMAC
LILACMANEGGO
OKSHOMESINOOO
PEASRAGADBIZ
MICHAELCAINE
PICASSOMILD
OFALLGISTJAVA
UNCLESAMMOORED
TOTEANAUNKIND
STIRGYMSTEADS
Fri 1/21/2022
AMPUPGALAMAGS
RAISEHAVOCAURA
EATENALIVEGDAY
AMYSUEDEBIRDS
BITSBRACE
SHROVEBEARCLAW
TRADEBLACKHOLE
ARTYSEEDYARIA
GETSALLASARDEN
SPECIALKLUMENS
RANGYCONS
TURNTAFOOTADA
GRINSCRAPMETAL
ISEETHATSAMORE
FARRYETIYIPES
POW Sat 1/22/2022
BASALADDLED
PARADEFREEGAN
HORCRUXLONGORIA
OUCHIEMOLTOBENE
TREESMEALHODOR
COLDPASTSOO
OVOVINSSLUSHIE
MENTALGYMNASTICS
BRAILLEEASEREP
MESMACHSECT
SALONKINKPADRE
PLOTTWISTSINGES
FASHIONSTHEGOAT
SEENOTEBOTTOM
REELEDSPYON
Sun 1/23/2022 TURNS OF PHRASE
ATTICTABTUBISCLC
FRODOARACHNIDSTOOD
DRAWERSOFCHESTSCAMPS
RADIANTSHIFTSJAIME
AMENPIPEARAUDRA
BEDHONOROFMAIDSWNBA
OPTIONPFFTADAM
ENBIESSLIDOERYOLO
MORNSFOOTOFFLEETFDR
INONEONARIDLANCE
RETINUEDAFOEYAMAHAS
THEOCNEILSEXGAGE
BAEMANOFRIGHTSLAILA
OKRALOLPOORBOTNET
NESTYETIGOOGOO
KNOTPLENTYOFHORNWOO
FRATSFAASODSAID
ABACIOUTRANFERTILE
EXACTABSENCEOFLEAVES
GENTSOVERSHOELAGER
ODDSKIDSENDOPEDS

Reader Pete Campbell sent us this comment that I thought was interesting:

For Australians, the plural of our "gum trees" is eucalypts (drop the u) — one of those unusual plurals that is shorter than the singular but, in this case, not because of a Greek ending such as -us to -i or Greek/Latin -on to -a.

Mon 1/24/2022
SAPSALISTHAG
ELLATASTEPURR
QUICKBREADOGRE
UMAEAGERBEGIN
INNNYETHYAVA
NITROQUEENBED
OBEURLELSE
QUILTINGBEE
SPUNVATAID
QUADBIKELYMPH
URNUSEMAOILO
ASTERSPANXNAB
LUISSTARTINGQB
LIFTEERIEFLUE
STYWAKESLEES
Tue 1/25/2022
SMIRKTAPOPERA
LEVELERAORGAN
ATONERESHIGGS
WAROPERATION
SLYTAOSOCCER
SORRYOTHELLO
ASSESSUFOEMS
ROPEACTBASE
ORATSKSPORTS
MONOPOLYRISK
ASKSOFEDYNEE
CLUECHECKERS
CLOAKAREHORNS
COBRASAMINDIA
SWISSTBSCASEY
Wed 1/26/2022
BIBBOPEDSOPEC
CHAILADENURDU
CONGRATULATIONS
SPYIFSIPOMAP
ASPBBQ
ONPASSINGYOUR
ANTIPASEONEAR
BARTFLOATZETA
LIESLTNTSONIC
EREEYETESTSOY
UNADORNED
ALTPOPEMENDS
SOHOPENNECOIL
AVONEMBERANNE
PEREDUCTSFOOD
Thu 1/27/2022
SINKGAUSSPUBS
ISEEUPSETONIT
NOWWHEREWEEDGE
BLTARESREMOTE
ADORNSHERSAP
DENALIGEORWELL
LECARSINKY
NOMANISLAND
BLAHSTEELE
ROMATOESGUSHER
ATEAILARMAXE
ITGIRLEVENNAP
SEARRIDESADDLE
ERMAINERTALTA
DYESGENTSPEST
Fri 1/28/2022
HITUPORSOQIN
INAPTPOOLANO
JAKESLADLETAB
ATENSIREDPASO
BRADPITTFEARED
SACHMMSOSPICY
PAJAMAPARTY
BASEJUMPERS
ZEROGRAVITY
FUZZIERAREROT
ABOUNDRITZBITS
COOPDOOMSICEE
IAMCONDIGOTAT
ATEOWIEITEMS
LSDONTOFAROE
POW Sat 1/29/2022
SPATIGAALOHA
ARIAGOLDMEDALS
HORNLOADEDDICE
APBCOUNTSRAN
REARLOTHULLS
ALGAEFREERIDE
CARPOOLLANE
MINEALLMINE
NANCYPELOSI
SOYOUSAYTURBO
AVASTISOMERS
RINSENDUPBOP
ICANRELATEDOOR
SERENASLAMROME
STEAMAGEETSY
Sun 1/30/2022 WATCH YOUR STEP!
SCREAMOFOLDUPFROS
INEXPERTAVERSELEIA
BESTALBUMCEASESYANK
STUOSMOSINGTRICKS
ROANOILSUPANTS
FORINSTANCEEARWIG
ONENDESLORCHESTITS
SECTTPISTSKOBETIE
SITSONTWOBITSHEHER
ELSROOKIRONEDAZERA
BADDESTUNNERVE
ACORNSPICERTACOPMS
DORAGSTAHINIACCRUE
DNAEXECONECUPHERA
STLESSGOWNALEMADAM
MOWGLIVONTPFAMILY
TOADDISOWNRIPS
SIMIANMISSOULAPOP
NOELONTILTTRAPDOORS
INGELEANTOESPOUSES
TSARATRISKSEXIEST
Mon 1/31/2022
LOAMSPAMANGER
ANTEELIENOUSE
HEADSTANDNBATV
RADIOSTATION
CLAMLIEDTO
DATATABLEYARD
ATRIUMRESTNOW
VOIDSLIDOBAMA
IMPBLOTCRAMER
SILTSLATEROOF
CEREALALEC
PARTINGWORDS
PALINPASSEDOUT
OPALSONUSETSY
TRYSTPOPESITE
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