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New York Times, Tuesday, December 29, 2020

Author:
Matthew Trout
Editor:
Will Shortz
Blog:
25-Across : "Smart as a whip" and "sharp as a tack"
TotalDebut
112/29/2020
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
0010000
ScrabDebutFresh
1.5078%
Matthew Trout

This puzzle:

Rows: 15, Columns: 15 Words: 78, Blocks: 36 Missing: {BJQXZ} Spans: 2 This is the debut puzzle for Mr. Trout. Tuesday freshness: 13%
Matthew Trout notes:
The theme of this puzzle came together without too much trouble after I got the initial idea. My first thought was to create a puzzle ... read more
Jeff Chen notes:
PRINCESS, DRAGON, KNIGHT at the ends of phrases, perfectly described by FAIRYTALE ENDING? I can almost hear my six-year-old daughter ... read more
Jim Horne notes:
There's nobody better to help you understand the amazing KOMODO DRAGON than the World Renowned Komodo Dragon Authority from Upper ... read more
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L
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W
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D
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P
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W
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R
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S
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S
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C
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H
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D
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S
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M
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K
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O
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O
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O
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D
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R
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G
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O
M
A
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W
O
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O
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L
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E
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S
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L
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C
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W
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O
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A
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M
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O
N
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G
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A
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D
Y
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K
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N
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H
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N
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V
O
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C
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A
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N
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C
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A
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N
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V
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A
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F
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Y
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D
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E
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I
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O
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L
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S
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© 2020, The New York Times12/29/20 ( No. 25,984 )
Across
1
Salacious : LEWD
5
Opposite of loose : TAUT
9
Galileo, by birth : PISAN
14
___ vera : ALOE
15
Frosty coating : RIME
16
Loosen, as a knot : UNTIE
17
Xena, notably : WARRIORPRINCESS
20
Show known for its cold opens, for short : SNL
21
Cantankerous : CUSSED
22
Guard's command : HALT
23
Half of a Monopoly pair : DIE
25
"Smart as a whip" and "sharp as a tack" : SIMILES
27
Largest lizard on earth (up to 10 feet long) : KOMODODRAGON
32
Mideast sultanate : OMAN
33
Sweet-talk and send chocolates, say : WOO
34
Looks lasciviously : OGLES
38
Sass : LIP
39
Toronto landmark that's the tallest free-standing structure in the Western Hemisphere : CNTOWER
42
Cereal bit : OAT
43
Totally lost : ATSEA
45
Funnyman Brooks : MEL
46
In years past : ONCE
47
Who sang the 1973 #1 hit "Midnight Train to Georgia" : GLADYSKNIGHT
51
Request for payment : INVOICE
54
It might be brown or pale : ALE
55
Moscow turndown : NYET
56
Skulls : CRANIA
60
By way of : VIA
63
"Happily ever after" ... or what 17-, 27-, 39- or 47-Across has? : FAIRYTALEENDING
66
"Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" actress Kemper : ELLIE
67
Tablet released in 2010 : IPAD
68
Tribe that lent its name to a Nebraska county : OTOE
69
Speaks with a gravelly voice : RASPS
70
Cuts with shears, maybe : LOPS
71
"Auld Lang ___" : SYNE
Down
1
Ten Commandments, e.g. : LAWS
2
Pizazz : ELAN
3
Some classroom wall hangings : WORLDMAPS
4
___ Spiegel (German newsmagazine) : DER
5
Garment that may be "dropped" : TROU
6
Broadcasts : AIRS
7
Ones usually found at home : UMPS
8
Mother ___ : TERESA
9
Many a groan inducer : PUN
10
Moving at a snail's pace : INCHING
11
Super bargain : STEAL
12
Political division, metaphorically : AISLE
13
Locales of wasps and spies : NESTS
18
___ coffee : ICED
19
Hipster's "gotcha" : IDIG
24
Particle in a particle accelerator : ION
26
Secure at shore : MOOR
27
Kind of nut : KOLA
28
Leave out : OMIT
29
Cable channel named for a talk show host : OWN
30
One of three in a Morse "S" : DOT
31
Spacious : ROOMY
35
What the biblical Methuselah is famous for : LONGEVITY
36
A pop : EACH
37
"Keep as is" : STET
39
The Golden State, familiarly : CALI
40
Director Anderson : WES
41
Rocky Mountain National Park sighting : ELK
44
It's all about me, me, me : EGOTRIP
46
Big Alaska export : OIL
48
Bank statement no. : ACCT
49
Waylay, as a conversation : DERAIL
50
Tandoori bread : NAAN
51
Deduce : INFER
52
Spiral-horned African antelope : NYALA
53
Some bridal accessories : VEILS
57
Big name in dog food : ALPO
58
Kind of tide : NEAP
59
Modern war hazards, for short : IEDS
61
Sit ___ (audit) : INON
62
Pulitzer-winning James : AGEE
64
"You rang?" : YES
65
Salon creations : DOS

Answer summary:
6 unique to this puzzle.

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