Nuts!
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Puzzle by Peter A. Collins, edited by Will Shortz
“Pecan“, “filbert“, “cashew“, and “almond” are the anagrammatized nuts being referred to by the entry MIXEDNUTS (55A. Party snack [and a hint to this puzzle’s circled letters]); and its inter-related entries, SAUCEPANS (18. Faberware set); FILTERBASKET (22A. Coffee maker component); CHEWSAT (36A. Bothers); and SAMDONALDSON (44A. Longtime ABC newsman) in this Thursday thistle bush of a puzzle.
Stuffed with three-letter junk-fill, e.g.: ABA, ALI, ATA, CAT, CIN and SIN, ELM, FRS, IDO, NWT, NOU and QUA, OTT, SEL,TDS and ETC (4D. Abbr. that may precede an ellipsis), etc…? Its four-letter words include AIWA, ARID, APED, ASKS, ATAD, BAUM, ELIS, ISEE, LARD, LOAD, NAYS, OINK, OPAL, ORLE, PSAT, QUIT, ROBE, RUSE, SASS, SKIL, THIS, UPAT, UTES, and UTNE -- ughh!
Longer, less trouble-some entries include ASIANMONEY (28D. Yen or yuan) and HARDKNOCKS (10D. Providers of life lessons); along with the seven-letter entries ARIANNA (29A. Huffington of the Huffington Post); CONCERT (41A. It may fill a hall); CREOLES (36D. Some bayou residents); REPAINT (15D. Puts a new coat on).
Six-letter entries continue with the familiar -- ABROAD (21D. Overseas); AHERNE (31D. 1939 Academy Award nominee Brian); AMNION (31A. Embryonic membrane); BALBOA (27D. Sighter of the Pacific, Sept. 25, 1513); CDROMS (42D. Software backups, typically); ENTAIL (24D. Require); ISAACS (26D. Susan who wrote the best seller “Compromising Positions”); RESTED (39A. Post-vacation, say); TATTLE (25D. Get in trouble, in a way, with “on”); and Mother TERESA (9D.).
Five letter entries fill out that old stale mixed-nut feeling of the puzzle with AANDE (7D. Owner of The History Channel); CANOE (53A. It’s often turned upside down when not in use); DIXIE (46D. Classic song with the words “Look away! Look away! Look away!”); ERROL (18A. Film director Morris); IBARS (26A. Some beams); ITEMS (57A. Bullet followers); LAIRS (45D. Hideouts); LISLE (43A. Twisted thread); MESTA (32D. Political hostess Perle); PAPAL (5D. Like a certain court); RAISE (23D. Summon up); READE (15A. “Hard Cash” author Charles); START (6D. Sign of fright); and SWEDE (47D. Singer of the anthem “Sang till Norden”).
I’m not great on nuts, especially if I have to crack them open -- at least these nuts and the words belong to someone else -- I don’t have to eat them!
-----------------
For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.
To go to the original post with illustrations and the completed puzzle, or to leave a Comment, click on the TITLE at the beginning of today's or any day's commentary.
