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Puzzles for November, 2024
with Constructor comments

View these same grids with comments from:
Constructor (1)Editor (1)Jim Horne (2)Hide comments
Fri 11/1/2024
OVALMOMSASPS
LESBIANBARDELI
DEESCALATESNAP
EPAASISLEADTO
CLANJILLION
CHARLIEBUCKET
HIJABPODSBTU
AVOWSORGSPAYS
DEBSKEEKICKS
IVOTEDSTICKER
SISENORREDS
INAROWBONOIMA
DOJOEGOBOOSTER
LIONDRYERSHEET
ELBAROSSEMTS
Sat 11/2/2024
ARCLAMPSCASITA
COLDCALLOPENER
CLASSROOMROSTER
ELSSTEEPINA
SUSSMITTSGMAN
SPITIVESBRAGG
COAXEDTOATEE
FEARLESSLEADERS
AVLABSPOSTED
LEGGSEASTREDS
TRUEJETESSTOP
EMISEOULARE
ROTATECLOCKWISE
ERASERASSAILED
DERATSSETLISTS
Sun 11/3/2024 Can I Have a Raise?
GLUCOSEBELUGASFEAST
RUMBALLOPENAIRRASTA
ALASKAPENINSULAETHOS
BLMSLANGTAGNOONE
SIBOSSOTIEONCURED
AMMOGODDAUGHTER
ABRAIAMSTEP
FREQUENCYSHIFTTRISHA
IRAIRULEAMAUSEDCAR
BETSADOUDDERSORTS
SEALGUTENBERGSLED
STAGEEDICTRIPSWAM
RESENTSTHECANOEINA
ODESSAMOODCONGRUENCE
FLOEBODRAGE
CIVICMINDEDODOR
PANELGRAINELLYSOB
INSETGTADIDNTPEP
STORESWITCHEDPARTIES
ABLERKILOTONAMOUNTS
NEEDSAMASSESLONGEST

A peek behind the curtain: the first version of this theme set had SALARY BUMP in shaded squares, which I thought was a stronger meta answer for the puzzle than PAY BUMP. But that version was nearly impossible to grid, as it would have required 10 horizontal theme answers and 10 protruding "bump" letters getting in the way everywhere. So I eventually settled for PAY BUMP, which I felt was serviceable, but probably not as popular of a phrase.

Anyway, it turns out that PAY BUMP has actually been the more frequently used term since about 2017. Who knew! I'm reminded that language never falls behind — only we do, in our knowledge of how it's evolving.

Some interesting theme answers from the cutting room floor:

ALDOUS HUXLEY = DOU(G)H
SENSIBLE ADVICE = B(R)EAD
CROCODILE ROCK = DI(N)ERO
And my favorite, BERT AND ERNIE = T(E)NDER

Mon 11/4/2024
PSSTREPOCHOW
OPALORALLOLA
WATCHCAREFULLY
GENEOKSLIEIN
ORGIREICANSEE
BELTOUTASONG
ODIOUSMINKTBD
OUSTBITBRIE
MPHSCATFIBULA
SUITYOURSELF
SAVINGSDRSNYE
ALIGNADOCOIN
FASHIONFORWARD
EMITHORNASTO
ROTSOBOEDAHL
Tue 11/5/2024
SAIDISSAINCH
ANDSONOTVTOUR
SOILSSALESREPS
AGEEZIPMAULS
SUTRASMAGS
OPTARETHA
INSPOELIYALE
CALIFORNIAROLLS
KPOPREDBUOYS
SPIRALOPI
NOLOBUSHSR
HIGHCEGGAPES
NEDBEATTYASANA
AREAROANWADED
BRAGEELSSTEW
Wed 11/6/2024
ASSSODEDUHEM
TOTPLATINUMELO
OUIEDMONTONALP
MSNBCALDOOLLIE
SAKESLIMETSY
BLACKSABBATH
APOLLORIBBIT
SOMALIALIMEADE
TUBFRITOSREV
ITSINIDOLBOSSA
MEADOWLARK
BIKINGCIGARS
LONGANDSHORTOFIT
OTOHEUROPEOATY
WATTSHINESDRAX
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