Kat's Practice Blog: 24-Jul-26

Kelsey Dixon and Sarah Sinclair bring us a red-hot Friday puzzle to start the solving weekend. 

The four theme answers are all familiar two-word phrases, fair enough. But wait, the entries in the grid don't match the clues provided. In fact, each clue refers only to the first word of the corresponding answer, while the second word, related to bright pigmentation, is extraneous. All becomes clear with a surprising and delightful reveal at the end. 

Theme entries:

16A. *Lesser: SECONDARY COLOR. Secondary means "lower in rank, importance, or value", while the secondary colors (orange, green, purple) are specifically combinations of the three primary colors (red, yellow, blue).

 

20A. *Fit for a queen: ROYAL FLUSH. The term royal means pertaining to a king or queen. It can refer to a monarch him/herself, or to something owned by a monarchy, like a royal palace or a royal crown. In standard poker, a royal flush is a five-card hand that contains the ten, jack, queen, king, and ace of a single suit. It is the highest-scoring hand.

 

Bet the farm!

 33A. *Home of the Magic and the Magic Kingdom: ORLANDO BLOOM. The city of Orlando, Florida is the home of Disney's Magic Kingdom and the NBA's Magic. Orlando Bloom is an English actor who made his breakthrough playing the character Legolas in the Lord of the Rings films (2001 - 2003).

Orlando Bloom as himself (l) and as Legolas (r).

46A.  *Relay rod: BATON ROUGE. Baton translates literally (from the French) as "stick." In track and field competitions, relay runners pass a baton from one runner to the next for each leg of the race. A team that drops its baton is eliminated from competition. The city of Baton Rouge ("red stick") is the capital of Louisiana. 

 53A. Tendency to overuse a certain cosmetic, or what has caused a mismatch between the starred clues and their answers?: BLUSH BLINDNESS. The reveal - Aha! "Blush blindness" is the seeming inability to realize that one has applied too much rouge makeup - leading to overly flushed cheeks. While I had not heard this cute term before, it is all over social media, and I have certainly seen plenty of examples of the tendency out in the real world. In each theme entry, an unnecessary synonym of "blush" (color, flush, bloom, rouge) is applied to the answer. I found this theme to be clever, fresh, and fun.

Tone it down!

In order to maintain symmetry in the puzzle while including the 12-letter ORLANDO BLOOM in the middle row, the width was reduced to 14 columns, so the puzzle was slightly undersized. Fitting 60 theme-related squares into a 15x14 grid imposed a lot of constraints on the fill, which showed in the relatively high three-letter word count (26) and a few iffy entries. The degree of difficulty was definitely at a Friday level for me, with numerous unknown (or misspelled) names that I had to look up. But different generations of puzzlers have different cultural references, and that is as it should be. 

Across: 

1. 7-Eleven convenience: ATM. Most 7-Eleven stores have Automatic Teller Machines inside.

4. Bubble tea "bubbles": BOBA. Bubble tea, which originated in Taiwan in the 1980s, is commonly made with chewy tapioca pearls known as "boba." While the green and black teas often used in the drinks have numerous health benefits, high levels of added fat and sugar can increase health risks with regular consumption. 

8. Influencer devices, for short: MICS. Short for the microphones that influencers use to record their thoughts as they move through the world. Influencers with their cameras and mics are a common sight near popular tourist destinations worldwide.  

 

12. Olympic sprinter Richardson: SHA'CARRI. 26-year-old track star Sha'carri Richardson has won numerous Olympic and World Championship medals in the individual 100- and 200-meter running events, along with the sprint relays with her USA teammates. Sha'carri does not drop the baton!

USA! USA! USA!

 

14. ID on a map: IDAHO. Clever clue! The two-letter state abbreviation for Idaho is ID.

16. [Theme entry]

18. Transcript fig.: GPA. With "fig" abbreviated in the clue, we know to look for an acronym or abbreviation in the answer. GPA stands for Grade Point Average. At most schools, GPA ranges from 4.0 (straight As) down to 0.0 (all Fs).

19. Beyonce song about the joy of human existence: BE ALIVE. The song was written and produced by Beyonce for the 2021 film King Richard. This biopic focused on Richard Williams, the father and coach of tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams. 

20. [Theme entry]

24. Corp. title for Jane Fraser of Citigroup: CEO. British American banker Jane Fraser is the Chief Executive Officer of Citigroup, the third-largest banking institution in the United States by assets. A borderline clue for a familiar acronym - how many solvers would have actually heard of Jane Fraser?  That said, it was easy to guess.

25. BBC competitor that airs "Love Island": ITV. Another acronym, probably less familiar to American solvers. Originally branded as Independent Television. 

26. 1980s cool: RAD. Short for "radical." 

27. Unspoken agreements?: NODS. Horses sometimes nod when excited and happy. My beloved horse used to nod with great enthusiasm when encountering a new treat that met with his approval. 

 

28. "You wish!": DREAM ON. A slang retort conveying skepticism. 

31. Fed. south of Iran: UAE. The United Arab Emirates are familiar to regular crossword solvers. And to anyone who reads the news.

33. [Theme entry]

37. With 30-Down, Paul Rudd role: 37A ANT,  30D MAN. Paul Rudd played the titular character in the 2015 superhero film Ant-Man. Based on characters from Marvel Comics, the movie received mostly positive reviews and was a worldwide hit. 

38. Pride symbol: RAINBOW. The six-stripe rainbow Pride flag was first introduced in 1979; its colored stripes reflect the diversity of the LGBTQ community. Various other versions use different color schemes to convey similar sentiments. 

40. 1975 thriller with a two-note leitmotif: JAWS. A summer blockbuster based on Peter Benchley's best-selling novel about a man-eating great white shark attacking beachgoers in a New England resort town. The iconic music by John Williams won the Academy Award for Best Original Score. When visiting the coast, I like to swim in the ocean. So I have studiously avoided viewing this movie.

 

43. Roughly: ISH. A slangy suffix to indicate imprecision: "smallish", "greenish", "noonish."

 
44. Ring spot: TOE. Toe rings have been worn in India since ancient times, but are a relatively new fashion in most of the west. 

Exotically beautiful

45. Accessibility law, for short: ADA. The Americans with Disability Act of 1990 is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability, requires covered employers to provide reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities, and imposes accessibility requirements on public accommodations. 

46. [Theme entry]

50. Online friends, colloquially: MUTUALS. Refers to people who follow one another on social media. Learning moment for me as I was not familiar with this usage. Apparently some people have now started shortening this to MOOTS. So beware of that phrasing in future puzzles!

52. Apple platform: IOS. Formerly known as iPhone operating system, iOS was developed by Apple for its smart phones. 

53. [Theme entry]

58. Far from shore: AT SEA. This expression can be use literally, or figuratively to signify a state of bewilderment. 

59. Like farmers market produce: IN SEASON. What's not to love about the farmers' market?

A treat for all of the senses

 

 

60. Apple assistant: SIRI. Siri is the virtual assistant and chat bot developed by Apple. It is included in the iOS operating system. As AI becomes ubiquitous, many people have started relying on suggestions and "opinions" from bots instead of developing their own educated perspectives. I fear that this does not bode well for the future.

61. Title derived from "caesar": TSAR. A crossword staple, tsars were former imperial rulers of Russia. The last tsar, Nicholas II, abdicated in 1917. He and his family were executed by the Bolshevik government in 1918.

62. Smallest prime number: TWO. One is not considered prime because it has a single factor, itself. Two has two factors (one and two) and is thus the smallest prime. 

Down:

1. Donkey: ASS. While I adore all equine animals, donkeys are just exceptionally cute. They are also smarter, calmer, and more stoic than horses. 

Totes adorbs! (sorry . . .)

2. English article: THE. The most common word in the English language.

3. Jury-rig with what's on hand, informally: MACGYVER. A reference to the 1980s television show of the same name, starring Richard Dean Anderson as a creative and generally non-violent problem solver. MacGyver aided vulnerable populations throughout the series. This is one of two answers that I had to look up. As a runner, I was aware of SHA'CARRI Richardson, but confidently misspelled her name. This left me starting 3D with MeCGY - and I threw in the towel. I hope that you did better here!

4. Not just unoriginal: BANAL. Insipid, dull, bland - you get the idea. 

5. Chicago airport code: ORD. O'Hare International Airport has been serving the greater Chicago area since 1944. It was named Orchard Field in the mid-1940s and assigned the airport code ORD. When it was re-named after naval aviator and Medal of Honor recipient Edward "Butch" O'Hare, the code was unchanged.

O'Hare is one of the busiest airports in the world.

6. Bandeau, e.g.: BRA. A bandeau is strapless, sleeveless top that is usually part of a bikini swimsuit. 
 
7. "Ain't no rule say the dog can't play basketball" film: AIR BUD. A 1997 sports comedy/drama film from Disney Studios, featuring a dog who can play basketball. It looks silly but sweet. Has anyone in the Corner seen it?

8. Parsons who was NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2021: MICAH. In college, Micah Parsons was an All-American linebacker at Penn State. He joined the NFL in 2021, spending four seasons with the Dallas Cowboys before moving to the Green Bay Packers. He has made first team All-Pro three times. 

9. Megastar: IDOL. In addition to megastars, idols may be personal heroes who have inspired others through their actions, words, or attitudes. 

10. Multicolored cat: CALICO. The word originates from the city of Calicut in southwestern India, famous for its colorful printed fabric. I am strongly allergic to cats, so I've never really made friends with any. But I think that the calicos are lovely. 

11. Pushed: SHOVED. Inappropriate playground behavior.

13. Club in a Manilow hit: COPA. The Copacabana nightclub opened in New York City in 1940, featuring Brazilian decor, Latin-themed orchestras, and Chinese food. It was known for its chorus line, "The Copacabana Girls," and for its affiliation with the mafia. Barry Manilow's insipid 1978 earworm was about a fictional Copacabana show girl named Lola.  

15. Cookies with a "design your own" option: OREOS. Who knew that this was possible?

17. Ouija board word: YES. Ouija boards, also known as "spirit boards", are flat boards marked with the letters of the Latin alphabet, the numbers 0 - 9, and the words "yes" and "no", along with various symbols and graphics. 19th century spiritualists used Ouija boards to spell out messages during seances. Paranormal and supernatural claims associated with Ouija boards have been debunked by modern science. 

20. Free (of): RID. After years of frustration with Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Becket, King Henry II of England is quoted as having said "Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?" When the Archbishop was murdered in 1170 by four knights interpreting Henry's statements as a call to arms, the King was generally thought responsible. Thomas was canonized just two years later.

Earliest known depiction of the murder of Thomas Becket

21. Bad Bunny's "__ Atardecer": OTRO. The second entry that required me to tap Google. The title translates to "Another Sunset." I was not familiar with this song by Bad Bunny and the Marias about wanting to re-kindle an old love. So I dutifully watched a concert video on You Tube and greatly enjoyed it. Vastly better than Copacabana!! Judge for yourself: 

22. Phony persona: FRONT. A person "puts on a false front" by assuming a persona that does not reflect their true self. This might be an actor, an undercover operative, or a scammer. 

23. Touch down: LAND.  

This type of touch down              Not this

27. Gas in an inner tube?: NEON. Neon is a gaseous chemical element discovered in 1898. It is commonly used in tube signs, producing bright reddish-orange light when an electric current passes through under low pressure.   

29. "Welp!": ALAS. An informal remark expressing resignation. 

 31. German equivalent of the Tube: UBAHN. The London Underground, a rapid transit system serving the British capital, is also known is "The Tube." The electric U-Bahn system is its counterpart in the German capital of Berlin.

32. Romance novelist Hazelwood: ALI. A new take on a familiar entry. Ali Hazelwood is a best-selling Italian romance novelist and former neuroscience professor. She left her academic career in 2022 to focus full-time on her writing. Many of her works center on women in STEM fields and academia. 

Hot times in the chem lab

 

34. Roughly: OR SO. A casual phrase denoting approximation. 

35. Most dense: OBTUSEST. Technically correct, and a legal scrabble word. But not likely to be used in conversation. 

36. Synthesizer pioneer: MOOG. Robert Moog was an American electronics engineer and electronic music pioneer. When they debuted in the mid 1960s, Moog synthesizers were smaller, more musician-friendly, and vastly less expensive than other available synthesizers. 

Bob Moog c. 1974

39. Atomic: WEE. I had not heard the word "Atomic" used as a generic adjective for "small" before, but it is right there in Merriam-Webster. 

40. Brand that dropped "Juice" from its name in 2019: JAMBA. Jamba, formerly Jamba Juice, is an American quick-serve restaurant and juice bar chain selling blended fruit and vegetable juices, smoothies, and other food products. It was founded in San Luis Obispo, California in 1990. 

41. Grown-ups: ADULTS. In the U.S., people who have reached the age of majority are considered adults and can be held legally responsible for their  actions. For most states this age is 18, with exceptions for Alabama (19), Nebraska (19), and Mississippi (21). 

42. 1960s dance: WATUSI. An energetic dance that enjoyed popularity in the early 1960s, the Watusi is named for the Tutsi people of Africa, whose traditions include spectacular dances. 

 43. Party line?: ITS LIT. According to the slang dictionary, this phrase means that something is intense,  fun, or exciting. Like dancing the Watusi?

46. Faith based in Haifa: BAHAI. The Baha'i faith teaches the essential worth of all religions, and the unity of all people. Founded in the 19th century in Iran and Western Asia, it is now headquartered in Haifa, Israel. 

47. Clerical tunic: ALB. An alb is a ample white gown coming down to the ankles, resembling the long white tunic worn by ancient Romans. 

48. One subject to a height requirement, say: RIDER. To ensure passenger safety, many fair and theme park rides have minimum height requirements. 

49. Chaplin of the Netflix miniseries "Treason": OONA. Familiar to me only from previous crossword puzzle exposure. Ms. Chaplin is a Spanish-born actress known in the U.S. for her roles in Game of Thrones and Treason. She is named for her grandmother Oona O'Neill Chaplin, the widow of comic actor Charlie Chaplin. 

51. App ad target: USER. Apps provide users with a wide range of capabilities, and provide advertisers access to a wide range of users. 

54. Geico's bus.: INS. Abbreviation for "insurance." While the name is an acronym for Government Employees Insurance Company, GEICO has always been a private company. I vastly prefer their gentle spokes-gecko to the annoying emu of a competitor. 

 55. Intel org.: NSA. The National Security Agency, headquartered in Fort Meade, Maryland, is an intelligence agency in the U.S. Department of Defense. 

56. Piglet's mother: SOW. A typical sow's litter will have 8 - 12 piglets. 

57. __-cone: SNO. Sno-cones are popular ground-up ice desserts that come in many flavors. 

Ending just where we started - with bright colors.  

 

Here's the full grid, with theme entries outlined: 

 

Happy weekend, everyone!

- Kat