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Puzzles for February, 2024
with Constructor comments

View these same grids with comments from:
Constructor (2)Editor (4)Jim Horne (4)Hide comments
Thu 2/1/2024
NILSROASTHAS
SINAIENSUEECO
THATANDTHERATF
RIFEOBOESADAT
ALIBABAMETTLE
DOXESTCBYAROD
TAJRAMADING
STNMASALASPEE
WHETIMESNAH
ERGOOCHSNOTPC
LEANINPGATOUR
LEWISFAIRYOLO
IPALOOPDELOOPS
NITAWGEEOGLES
GOTMESSYSADD
Fri 2/2/2024
INECSTASYCAMPS
MONOLOGUEADELE
DRMARTENSLOTUS
OMITSOKEDASA
NATSTUCSONDOM
ELYTOTOHUMANE
ARGOSMOTES
BELLYOFTHEBEAST
ALAMOFELLS
KEYSUPARMYNBC
EVATUPLESHAUL
SANBULLMAGNA
ATEUPRAINYDAYS
LEGALICEARENAS
EDGESMYSHARONA
Sat 2/3/2024
ASCENTCIGMPG
ROOMIEUNICORN
TUMBLEBBCRADIO
FREESTRIALRUNS
IBIDBAASSOLTI
LENSSKIMPLESS
MEHOMENAHI
ROCKETSCIENCE
STARTOUTSMALL
RAEREAPOKS
IWONREGANKUSH
CANALNEMOIDLY
EYELINERSDABON
HAILMARYTIRADE
UNDYINGBEINGS
TSATOYSTOKES
Sun 2/4/2024 Punch Lines
BIFLAGNAGJOBJOSIE
AREOLAEBARCODEAPING
GUILTYASCHARGEDCIRCA
ELSADREMEGSOKAYED
LETCANTCOMPLAINTEN
JARSOVATEDIGESTS
EMAILTOEKATOSIP
TELLMEIMPRETTYOLIVE
NAILNCISMIROADORED
ALABAMABEFITRCA
SIXINCHORFOOTLONG
DOTLEWISRIPSOFF
GAMELYALITVEESHARE
LLANOPLEASEBESEATED
ILKTKOSORBARSES
BEETLESTTOPSMARK
GARYOURETHEBOSSWAR
MOWERSCASTETSZETA
BRIBEGODSAVETHEQUEEN
AISLEONEAWAYSTUNKAT
SCHEDANDAXESEISMS
Mon 2/5/2024
ETSAPEDIDEA
SUNSEIDERCELL
TREESCUBAMASKS
ONEIRONTRENT
PIZZAPIEASSIST
NEINCVSHONOR
NCOEATEWE
FIGHTINGWORDS
TINSAPODE
ANKLEMALEDAM
JEWELSRUBOFFON
EASEDMINOLTA
POLKAPOWERROOF
SILTTRENDDART
ALSOMESSTSA
Tue 2/6/2024
EZRAEMMASCALD
LIARNEARTALIA
SPICEDRUMENTER
ASSETSLOVEDONE
IDRISRELY
TENATOMRELIST
INBEDLOADANTE
FORGEDALLIANCES
FLAGOREOIDEAL
SANTASSODSNDA
IDESFILET
CHIMEDINREMIND
LIKESMOVEDOVER
OVERTOPECJEAN
TEASENEXTISTO
Wed 2/7/2024
UMPIRECHILIFDR
ROOTERLUCIDLEA
LALALALALOLAYAM
STOLIOMANIGIFS
ISAWITSON
CHCHCHCHCHANGES
PREMILETESLA
RAMAETERNEROTI
OZONEAVOWLOL
MYGGGGENERATION
LEGALINON
IDOLLAIRSRADAR
SUBPPPPOKERFACE
ANIJASONPIERRE
YENSLEDSADWEEK
Thu 2/8/2024
CAPTCHASFLATTEN
OHBEHAVELINEAGE
PASSOVERUNDERGO
TIEAPBDON
ORDERINOUTLAYS
TARESEPIGRAM
TSABARUSOFA
OPPOSITESATTRACT
SEVENSMHNTH
ENGINESARTIE
HANDOFFONLEAVE
MELOLDAPP
PATDOWNUPCHARGE
ETHICALSAHARANS
GHOSTLYTWOSTEPS
Fri 2/9/2024
ALLSMILESSOBS
FLUTESOLOSANAA
TARANTULATUTTI
EMIRHIERARCHAL
RODGASLAYERS
VATPLOWLAB
ACELALETTINY
QUIETQUITTING
CURLHUGOATES
RAEPIESUFO
OLDMANTNTPUP
SUPERGROUPLANE
SNOTSALLATONCE
AGREEDISCOBALL
TSKSSNAKEEYES
Sat 2/10/2024
ATMFEEOKISEE
RECALLSSHEPARD
YEAROFTHEDRAGON
ANTTHEATERASA
TEARSTAIN
WORETENORABCS
AREASOTSLILAC
RACKEDGELATO
SNLMEGACONCDT
AGEISECONDKAT
WEANINANEPHDS
GONGXIFACAI
TAURINEEWALLET
SNEAKERROTELLE
KOSHERLESSON
Sun 2/11/2024 Bright Ideas
DOMPARTSLOTSTAMBA
UNICODEIHOPEHURRIED
GAMELANBERRAONEACRE
UIESMOVIECAMERAOREL
PROAMWHATAHOOTQUOTE
GRAINSNOPULP
MERRNSASSTSFOEHEN
IVANIVIMITATEWELOST
REPINENODULARERENOW
ASHCANCREDITSRETEST
ORTSANISESPYS
YOPLAITLOOMSPLEATED
ASHEOOPTEAKIATHAI
WHOONCEERNERNOOVA
SANDUSKYSASPITCHMEN
OARTONOTTTOA
SIGNSITESOPHESTE
NORLACEUPTINHATARM
INAFUNKTUTOROVERLIE
PIPETTEEMOJINOCOVER
SCHMEARRAMOSECSTASY
Mon 2/12/2024
BACKSTAGSPEAT
OBOEIONICOUCH
NUDGENUDGETREE
ETAMCSANYBODY
BIELNEAR
PAPERESTNOVAS
ATEASEWINKWINK
TROTPEACENOTI
HINTHINTTOILED
SASHASHEREADS
ETCHNODS
SOIHEARITOLOP
LACECOUGHCOUGH
IKEAHUGMELARD
PSSTEDGARDUES
Tue 2/13/2024
BEBESPAWNABCS
UCLAHESHETRUE
LOUTINSETWORE
KNEEPADWIDOWER
FRETZION
CALYPSOTENDBAR
USASUNKINGERE
BAMBITENOFAGE
EPEEDOGTVAROD
STUOBI
TEAMPLAYERS
GUARDIANANGEL
FORTUNRIGAXIS
ROBEMORSEMEMO
IPODSTYESESPN
Wed 2/14/2024
APLOMBASMUCH
TREEBOASEAFOAM
HORNETSYESORNO
EMOSHIELDSODD
VANCENYUEENIE
ASIAUSEMEMANS
PATSTE
LOVELETTERS
CRONEALIEGOTS
JAWEDDEMNERVE
CPRANYNEWSRAN
RAINOFAGEPECS
ENSUITEATEINTO
GUESSERPROCTOR
GISHSNSYSORS
Thu 2/15/2024
ADDFATALBTS
VERBAMORESLAW
ERIEDIMEDCOKE
RIPLENYECUSED
SEEINTOLISSOME
ENDEARAPEMEN
BUNAGO
DOUBLEORNOTHING
ARGUEFOGSINAI
TALCSEUSSMOPS
ALISKEETERNET
EPIAID
LONGODSFELINGS
SNOOKEROLESTRA
DOTTEDIPSYCHED
Fri 2/16/2024
RUNOFFSPAMALOT
APOLLOWERERICH
VOODOOICESKATE
INNERDEMONSRON
RECSSTYX
EWESOSOIBERIA
TEASMATTUNITS
HIGHWAYHYPNOSIS
IGLOOSERANENE
CHERRYRATESAT
ENOSNILE
DOHDONTTEMPTME
OHBOOHOONOSHOW
NICEWORKTROUPE
SOURNOTESENDER
Sat 2/17/2024
ADVILBOOBOOS
SORBETLANOLIN
INHEATPOKEBALL
STEADYGIGMAVS
JAMLEXSAT
DIDSOEERINESS
INSBAWLEDAQUA
AXESMHFLUUSB
ZITIAISLESAHI
TSWIZZLESPRIT
ONEACSHEP
DOJAONTOPOFIT
BRUISINGDONEZO
BARMENUSNEEZY
QBSACKSESTAS
Sun 2/18/2024 The Inside Scoop
GISSCRIMPOEMHEAP
APPSCARAFEINNOCENCE
SLOPONEPERPOTROASTS
HATERADEALYENTRUST
ENTAILSGROOMERSDIME
ATEKOSHERTIERSATTAR
TORTALIGNSAACHED
OVERSTOCKSBIER
PBSICKTOOITEMORBS
AINTSOHENNARESCUEOP
IDAHOJUDICIOUSAGGIE
REFERRALNORSEINHALE
SNUGIRAQRIPDOOLSD
RIDSUNDERTONES
FRAMEMOOREELAIDS
CLAPSDATUMYELLOWSEA
AIDEREVENUESPOOLING
TRIVIALSSNPATOOTIE
STAIRSTEPCOHORTGNAT
PENNSTATEAKINTOSOLE
ARSEASAPTIDESTSA

I know that phonetics-based themes can be hit-or-miss because people pronounce words differently. But I enjoy the unusual transformations in these sorts of puzzles. I love to imagine folks saying the answers aloud to themselves as they solve: "Judicious … judicious … ju-DISH-yus …" HEARD THROUGH / THE GRAPEVINE, with its evocative idiomaticity and constructor-friendly 12-letter/12-letter symmetry, struck me as an especially fitting revealer for a phonetic theme, with a visual component to boot.

My guess is that JUDICIOUS, hiding the word "dish," will be the toughest theme answer for most solvers to grok — because it was also the toughest for me to find while constructing. I had already placed the other four Across themers in the grid, intersecting the three grape varieties, but the center of the puzzle was looking far too light on theme material. I searched for words that phonetically encoded other synonyms for "gossip" (buzz? chatter? hearsay?), but none sounded right — and none could intersect CONCORD at the center C. In a last-ditch effort, I wrote some code to mine the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary for other options. JUDICIOUS miraculously turned up to save the day.

Thanks to the Times team for their many excellent improvements to this puzzle (the title was their idea!) and for enabling visual concepts like this one, both digitally and in print.

Mon 2/19/2024
IMPLYAWAYTERM
GEESELANEOPUS
ONEUPTWOTIMING
TSPLIARNBC
ICEBOATADSHIP
THREEMUSKETEERS
FREDOCAPRIS
COCAELFHOST
ADRIANVAPER
FOURDIMENSIONAL
ERMUNIBADNAME
BIBSPATRAM
SYLLABLESGONZO
HEELRENEORION
ENDSADDSBEANS
Tue 2/20/2024
USPSRITZMOOLA
NOOKBOREASLAN
BIKINITANDRILY
IREISAWAMIGA
NERTSLAVACAKE
DESISTSSEXREV
MAITAIACRE
CONTACTHIGH
STANCHIANG
ERRDAHSNARKED
WILDIDEATORME
FJORDBEAUACA
CLUNGHALFBAKED
VENUEASIAKEEL
SSGTSJEERANDY
Wed 2/21/2024
CLASSLETSBEGMS
AESOPARENASOAT
SAHARADESERTTRY
THEKISSSALFOIL
ITTLAKETAHOE
EWANRNAYORE
MABDOESSOUSAGE
MISSISSIPPIRIVER
ALONGSKEETSENG
FOAMACLINTO
EASTTIMORLAG
NETSRONADUNITS
JOETAUTOLOGICAL
ONEIGNOREUTERI
YSLMETERSRESET
Thu 2/22/2024
LAVAJAPEMASSE
AFARAMIDAKITA
NOPARKINGKALES
DOOBIEEWEVEE
STRIPMADASHELL
CABALSWORD
NAPAOTISAPART
BIORATTLERDUO
AROSEETALPOMP
GRADSLIFER
DUTCHOVENLITUP
RIAELIUSVISA
ATSEABEEFEATER
FATEDERGOCHOI
TREKSSAGSYENS
Fri 2/23/2024
YESMAAMMALTA
UTTERROTSTAHL
CHEESEDIPNOBEL
CENTYELLSPYRE
AROTOLDALLRAG
HAUTECUISINE
PENDSEMMYNOD
RILKEBENTS
REPLICALEACH
ATEONESWORDS
SROINSHAPECBS
SIRSTEENABRET
LEGITSACRILEGE
EVADETATTEDUP
RENEEPYTHONS
Sat 2/24/2024
LARARASPSRIRI
EVENTUALLYAHEM
GOLDENHOURCANS
SWOONSTOADETTE
NAPATHEBEST
COMENOWMITT
EPATIGONSBORG
NERONEWATSAIL
ANKHTENNISSKA
SEGOCLINKED
RETORTSYETI
HARDBOILTUGSON
ISAYSMARTPHONE
NOTECOMPOSTBIN
ONESANAISSATE
Sun 2/25/2024 Special Treatment
ASKSWETCCTVHEAVES
CHIASINEOREOUMPIRE
DIDNTMISSABEATHORNED
CADDIEUSEACEDJENNA
MADEARASHDECISION
CICEROREINERSEW
SOSOVOILANORISK
KNOWTHEDRILLELISHA
ASSERTYAPEEYORETON
CRIMPSONEONDWELT
EPEELOSTMYTOUCHIPAS
MOLDSSEOULGEODES
IREPREYONADASONOMA
LESSEEGAVEMETHENOD
TWOCARVALETRIND
KIAROTATECOPSTO
SAWRIGHTTHROUGHME
CRASSNEARCNNBRAISE
AMNIOSSTANDCORRECTED
RINGUPTACOAMIEHEAD
SCANTYSTEMPEGEMMY
Mon 2/26/2024
PEASHASTAUTAH
URDUALOUDNOGO
RIVERMOUTHDUOS
RCADOMEEMERGE
NETJUROR
LATSTWINENGINE
ANABLAMETOKEN
UGGACLAHHIWO
GLENNLOSESDEL
HESAKEEPERTYRA
MELTSQUO
SAFARISUBDUED
EXESDRINKSONME
MITTEERIEROMA
ISEESPATSSTAR
Tue 2/27/2024
SPICEITEMANEW
COCOAMARESAGA
ODORSSLINKYDOG
WINKYFACEAMASS
LASAIDATM
PSTPUSHEDIT
ACLUSTINKYTOFU
LOINALIROSS
KINKYBOOTSIMOK
ALTRUISTUSC
OCDILKMIA
TRACKPINKYRING
RINKYDINKPESTO
ACNEONCEEATEN
YEARHEADSLYLY
Wed 2/28/2024
MATHPBJSHARSH
ICETOREOAVILA
THATNEEDSATAN
COMPUTERSYSTEMS
HOPGISALA
LOLAPOWERTIE
SCARYCLOWNADT
WAYSELIILLS
AVEHOKEYPOKEY
MARADONAELSA
NASUSEHQS
WHATITSALLABOUT
RANINETTEALOE
ERECTTORTBITE
NEWSYSPASACED

I'm thrilled to be making my NYT debut! I am a dad with 3 small kids, and I work as an Assistant Controller at a hedge fund in NYC. I came up with the idea for this puzzle while listening to the Hokey Pokey on repeat with my kids (their idea). "What is ‘it' all about?" I thought to myself while dancing around the kitchen. It didn't take long before I had a theme set and the green light from my lifelong friends who I talk puzzles with almost every day.

If this puzzle resonates with you, or if you need help adjusting your Alexa's parental setting, I'd love to hear from you. You can find me at gregxword@gmail.com

Thu 2/29/2024
TIPINATUBGAZA
ESONODICEMEAL
AWWFIDDLERCRAB
SEEDEDAAREATA
HARPSEALCATAN
ORBITALSCENERY
PIADEPOSE
TRUMPETERSWAN
FIERCEBAM
SAMOSASDOORDIE
CRUSHHORNBILL
HRSAGEEDEICER
WILDPITCHESADO
AVIALAHIRITIS
SENDTSETSEETE
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