This web browser is not supported. Use Chrome, Edge, Safari, or Firefox for best results.

Thumbnails

Puzzles for December, 2021
with Jim Horne comments

Wed 12/1/2021
CZARCACTIFETE
LOCOATHOSARID
ERRONTHEGSTRING
FRIDAEWEEMCEE
SODPWNTORE
CLEANHEIRACT
SOLOEDEERSHOO
IRONSMIRSTAIN
FELTMUGUNABLE
TOAIRISHUMAN
NECKNATTWA
DEIGNEOSCORAL
EYRETOTHETHRONE
MEANARIASAPEX
ISNTKYOTOLEDA
Thu 12/2/2021
SWATPASTAAVIS
RICHELFINMARE
INTERNLOCKATON
CIOLATINA
JAMAALAMERICIT
AMOSOCTETSICE
MINTNOESORB
BETRAYSMINERAL
ROWIBETLACE
ABEANGERSARMS
DRAGKINGSAYYES
VOLOESOAR
EGANSALTSHAKER
RUDEAGORACITE
BEARNOTEDEXAM
Fri 12/3/2021
BOTHOSIRISHBO
RHEAUPTONOGOOD
AIMSSECONDWIND
TOPNOTCHDESKS
TONESGLINTS
IFFIERLOAN
READSBABYGATES
KATETAPASSURE
STEADYGIGDIXIE
EKESDEFEND
RAFAELVALID
WORLDGAYICONS
ADIOSAMIGOACAI
RESPECTFULRAID
MOETEASEDETRE
POW Sat 12/4/2021
CHEFSKISSCLIFF
YOGAPANTSHENRI
BORNAGAININDEX
EKEYARNANDIE
RAGANOTETOSELF
CHICKWELLSBAA
ABODESDIASANK
FAUCETSASKANCE
ERSPARESANDES
SITINETS
BIDETSGOTASEC
ACRIDHABANEROS
SAYNOMOREAROMA
ELLEWOODSSIDED
SLYNOFEEFETE
Sun 12/5/2021 COME AGAIN?
CBSASLEEPUPSETGMC
LAIDNEURALNOONEOAR
ALLANEVERENDINGSTORY
USEDCARUAELONE
SANSABEARSREPEATING
EMTMARIMBADRAGSEGA
PERPETUALMOTIONSOY
KANYEWESTAGENTS
FARMSEOSASPCA
ETTANANAPOPARTISAY
TANSADINFINITUMKERR
INESGOLDENGEEZHUME
DAREIWEDTIDES
SHARPEIMPOSESON
NBCRECURRINGDREAMS
ORALRAFENAMASTECIT
NONSTOPFLIGHTSGUIDO
CIAOACRALGREEN
CONTINUITYOFCARESNAG
ODELETMEURCHINACLU
YESSTEPSPOSIESESE
Mon 12/6/2021
SHAGSORALTAMP
TABOODEMIAREA
AREAROLIGARCHY
BILLOFRIGHTS
IRACOTEDOE
INTEARSEUREKA
CARLETTERPRESS
ETATYAYSMUT
PACKAGEDEALERE
ONTOURSMOLDER
PTSTOEDMSU
YOUVEGOTMAIL
SAFESPACEABODE
AWOLEDAMRENEW
PEELREFSTREAD

Film snobs will go on and on about how You've Got Mail is a poor remake of Ernst Lubitsch's masterpiece The Shop Around the Corner, and that Tom Hanks is no Jimmy Stewart and blah, blah, blah. So annoying.

But, yes, they're right.

Tue 12/7/2021
TONLOGINSAND
AVEOUNCESTRIO
DECPICKLEJUICE
ANKLESPENDER
PIZZAJOINT
SKIPILANAMMA
OYLSTEMHEARS
POLITICALJUNKIE
STONYISEEEEL
OWSDECAFWILL
PRIVATEJET
ACREAGEEDWIN
MATCHINGPJSODE
FRETTIPOUTREX
MESSFACTSKAT
Wed 12/8/2021
SWABTWANGEDIT
HOSEAIRERAIDA
OMITINTROSAAB
ABATTLEOFWITS
LAGEROSLOPAC
STORIEDSNOOTY
BOARDEROS
SARGENTPORTRAIT
AREAAMOCO
GOBLETMARIMBA
EDURUSTSNEAK
TSARNICHOLASI
ANTEBATHEANET
WRAPOILERITSA
SALTSLEWSDOTS
Thu 12/9/2021
ASADAMPPEYOTE
MTNEVERLOANED
OAKLALALANDING
NILLADOCITTY
GREENBOOKING
STORMIDEFBI
ACTSANAAARON
JURASSICPARKING
ABATECUEISEE
RAPALEGRONK
KNIVESOUTING
OBOEPIETONER
KILLBILLINGECO
ADDLEDESAUSKA
YESYESDOWNSSN
Fri 12/10/2021
BEDINABAGMALAR
ENROUTETOALONE
LEANRIGHTGOTTA
GISTEOLITHIC
PRIZERITAAFT
RENEPUSHUPBRAS
EATMONTEREY
PRONOUNREDUCED
GENERALSHAY
SHOOTCRAPSTIRE
AOLESPYPOOLS
CHIRASHITERM
ROVEDINDIAPERS
AHEADGONEROGUE
LORDSHEARTRATE
POW Sat 12/11/2021
AIRGPASTEPTO
PREQUELSHATERS
TAQUERIAALANIS
QUESTWIKICOO
ISSUESUSHI
AGRARUMORMILL
BLEDBRATATSEA
LEDINORONOHOW
EARLEZINEPANE
MELATONINFRED
AARONCHEAP
DODSEEMARDEN
ORISITLENIENCY
DENADABACKSEAT
DOGLEGTEARAD
Sun 12/12/2021 JOB SHARING
ATOMTALEMASHUPTART
CORAALOTARCANAODOR
LOCKSMITHMOUSEROLAY
UNSEATRENAULTTVDADS
MWAHLABSPECIALIST
COPEMOBDIETPELE
ORONOSIRFIREOPAL
BAGGAGEHANDLERTOOLE
SLOUGHODEAXILSLIP
SLUEDALPACABYTE
OUTPATIENTCOORDINATOR
URISTOMCATSLASH
NBCONEAMSTSOVIEDO
CAKEDNAILTECHNICIAN
ENSNAREDORATESTY
TREEWISEVANSTAX
CIVILENGINEERPORE
ANORAKREALTORPOETIC
TATEICANSOBASECOACH
CNETNAVIESEGOTFLEE
HEDYGREECESEWSFLEX
POW Mon 12/13/2021
EBBSCRABDETER
AEROFOIEIMAGE
RAILROADSTATION
STEVEMETALLSD
LEAPICET
ANAMARKETCRASH
FARSWANTONYA
LOSSSPORTTORT
AMOURWIRETIE
CINNAMONBUNHAD
SPANEDGE
PAZIWISHEUROS
STOPDROPANDROLL
STOOLNILEUNDO
TASTYSNOWSEEP
Tue 12/14/2021
WONKCHANGSASK
ERSEROBERTMIA
SCANDINAVIAINN
KOBEEGGIEST
ESSEXRIG
LOWNESSFINLAND
ODEDETERGOLOW
PODSCOMETOGRE
EPEESCURIEOWL
DENMARKENTHRAL
IVEHUEYS
PERSISTPAIR
AXENORDICCROSS
LILGREENEARIA
STYSTEWEDHAMM

Coincidental discovery is common in science, and coincidental theme ideas happen in crosswords too. Ross Trudeau published Six Flags Europe on his personal site a couple of weeks ago.

Wed 12/15/2021
ALLSHASATEUP
ROOTHELPLEDGE
ACREAREABEIGE
BADINVESTMENTS
LINEAARC
APTONEWAYTRIPS
CROWALITAUDEN
TIVOSILTSSIRI
ADELASLITHOST
SERVICEACESTIS
ERAVESPA
SORRYNORETURNS
JULIAUDONLOCI
OMANILEASFOAM
TOYEDLSDAFTS
Thu 12/16/2021
AGREESALOTIRE
BREATHBEWILDER
BEMUSESONNETEER
YEAGNUSIDED
TREEBOAGUNS
RELIEFMAPSROB
MAINISSUESBARB
OBEYDEWBERRIES
BEDHARDLINERS
POSYILLYRIA
SHEDSSNLNFC
OPERATINGBOGGLE
BEFUDDLECASUAL
EXTSAKEERUPTS
Fri 12/17/2021
BIBIMBAPVISAGE
ORATORIOIMPROV
BESTRODESOLUTE
ASSYRIAMINIBAR
BILJOGTATS
SEMISGENOA
ICETHOTSTREAKS
THATHITSTHESPOT
HOLYSMOKESTOFU
TAPIRSAPID
APRSLESLET
FREEGANLINEMAN
LOVELYSABOTAGE
ANEMIAAVERAGES
CELEBSGALAXIES
Sat 12/18/2021
ACTSRANTSADDS
RAVEALOHATOOT
INSTANTWINATTA
WELLDAMNBLINI
PERIODOKBOOMER
ANISETRAINSETS
POETBEEGEES
ITSNOSTARSCPA
DIGTHISBRAY
FRYINGPANSUITE
LEAVESINBEGETS
ETHERLEMONADE
TIERCOVERSTORY
CRAGSTERETUNA
HEREISREDITSY
Sun 12/19/2021 SEASON TO TASTE
ACTSARIPJSHAITIAN
THRUBUSROUTEUNNERVE
PEANUTBBUTTERDEGREES
FINNANIARPNORA
SLITSSNICKERHDOODLE
INITSMOSDEFDRYAD
GINGERTSNAPLETSORG
ENGATANYTOLLAHOUSE
ANATDANEREMTOAD
RAWRARCKERNSPETS
STAUBTHINSMINTETHER
EYEROTOESORBTELE
SAGSTWAFRAUABES
FIGENEWTONOLEICENO
ILECLEOSHORTCBREAD
DINAHLOGJAMSELES
OATMEALMRAISINRACKS
RADSYESMEASINE
COINOPSCOOKIECUTTERS
DRFAUCIONIONDIPAERO
CRYSTALSLOYDSLSAT

We don't exactly duplicate the grid here. If you have an NYT Games Subscription, you can view the PDF which uses images of the cookie-cutter shapes — an elegant idea.

I don't get to pick the POWs around here, but this is my favorite crossword of the week. The gimmick is seasonal and pretty and apparently obvious, until the deeper levels reveal themselves. It's unique and clever, yet easy to understand. That seems perfect for a group solve around the kitchen table after overindulging in a family holiday meal.

Mon 12/20/2021
WELCHDAMPANAL
OMAHAAMIECURE
ROYALRESPECTED
STITCHINTIME
TENYEATUSHIE
HOESEASENT
HEMANDHAWLAH
ALASSOLESUGLY
RIDDARNITALL
STARWADODE
HETEROARTPHI
COMMONTHREAD
THROBBINGEERIE
HOURALESFLORA
OPEDTESTTONYS
Tue 12/21/2021
TSARKISSNASAL
OTTOINCHYETTO
GRABAJARCROON
AERIEURALAPP
WINTERSPORTS
SATENOTEDLY
SPOOLSBETSEYE
EARNMELBARN
EARWEEDSPADES
KRISHNADOOR
SPOONBENDING
URLSTABSTORE
SPOILIRONOVER
TOONSMENUNEER
ANTEDEDENELKS
POW Wed 12/22/2021
RATSOCTALSYFY
ECHONAOMIKOBE
CHRISTMASSPIRIT
ALKAZONK
LOSTOPPORTUNITY
OTHERADOTYPEA
ARESBIOTADORK
MARTIANMISSIONS
SNLDAP
UHFTEAROOMNOM
MORBIDCURIOSITY
BREAMTIEANGIE
YANKEEINGENUITY
ECCELIEONBRIE
EHSDIDNTSIS
Thu 12/23/2021
BLAHETRADEZAP
EASENAILITEGO
ACHRISTMASCORAL
NEEDNOTCHROME
SHRIMPEDGES
ERICAEUROS
VITALARGONSINE
EASTERCOTTON
RAYSCAFFEMACHO
LOYALETHOS
AMORESTAPLE
SONATATHEHEAT
TAKESTWOTOTONGA
ONEBOWMENODOR
NAYEMIGREDOGS

RegEx is the wrong tool for what Mr. McCarthy was trying to do but a quick Python script would do the trick.

We have some templates here to help you get started.

Fri 12/24/2021
DREWBACKOMIT
NEURALNETMEME
AFRIKANERSATON
LIEGESPATNAVY
ANKHSLACESDEE
BEATBOCKTIARA
COWLSASTIR
YEAHABOUTTHAT
POSSEASIDE
HUCKSLETSGASP
SAOSOLESTOSCA
TWOSREYTASSEL
RATEGREWASPINE
IKEASOILTESTS
PERMNICELIST
Sat 12/25/2021
PHOTOAPPS
THENEWBLACK
SHORTSWEATHER
PLINTHSTSELIOT
IONIZETSETSE
TALCRAIMIPEEN
ANYJAMPACKLSD
GODFORBID
OOHIMSCARED
RHINOGIVES
TEENSMAPNICAD
ATMSMOMOAALLY
MEGACORPORATION
ELENADELLEDONNE
SLEEVELESSDRESS
Sun 12/26/2021 PEST CONTROL
ORDAINAPACHEIMIGHT
COULDAUSOTOURMOTHER
HORSEBACKRIDEROPPOSE
OMAHAPLSTIVOSRUSE
ATSEANORTHPOLE
REGRETTWIGYEAS
PREPATRAINGERMGEO
MITTPUBLICHOUSESOAP
SCHOOLTIESEWEBOOZE
INSETBRISKOBGYN
ARTTRUEFALSETESTLES
BOCCETRACTNICHE
ABHORIVEMAINTHEMES
COEDSPEARHEADEDDATA
ITDTEESENHALOGPAS
ANNASPASWRESTS
SOFTDRINKNANAS
PAIRLOOIETOPCANAL
ICLOUDWORKOUTTHEBUGS
CHEESEANTENNAAMENRA
SADDENNESSIEGETSAT

The clue for 16-Down seems to be an error. The Thriller lyric is "I can thrill you more than any GHOST could ever dare try." The word "ghouls" does occur later in the song, but in a different context. And no, the A TRAIN (43-Across) doesn't quite make it all the way to Kennedy Airport.

Mon 12/27/2021
ILLSAYSTIRCOY
PEOPLEARSEAVA
AABATTERIESPEN
SPECAAMEETING
EMITNIT
ALEKEGAARDVARK
TAXTUSSLEOLIN
RUGAAMILNEOVO
IRONNODSTONAB
AAVERAGEANGELS
ERAELSA
AARONPAULSHEA
SUNDOUBLEATEAM
IDOOGREPHRASE
AIRSOARSHORTS
POW Tue 12/28/2021
ZESTCHAPCHEST
ARTYHARELONER
GRIPIBARULTRA
LOGCABINSYRUP
ALEPANSOTEMS
COTTAGECHEESE
TOTEORUSRO
STORMABCSATUP
RINEERKALE
RANCHDRESSING
CHEDAYAPPLAS
HOMEMADEMEALS
ANODERAINAPES
NOVELASSTRIGA
TRENDSETSKNOX
Wed 12/29/2021
ORALBOATCHEST
PITAARCHHILLS
EMMYEMCEEITSOK
CESARYOGAMATS
NARCAPE
SHOECAGEYENEMY
WINGALLSETLEE
OMEGALOPSALES
LOUMEMOIRRITE
EMPTYTEPEEMESS
OATSPAR
SLAMDUNKBEARD
CIRCAEASYESSAY
ATEAMALOETAKE
BEATSTEXTSPED
Thu 12/30/2021
ROTIGRADEATHA
AHABREPEALHAD
BYTEADULTTEETH
BEATSMEOARED
IAMIMACOSCAR
THIRTYROCKHVAC
YESEOSEDU
APSESXXXSANER
SETWIIDIP
HEADKISSESBUTT
PYROSTICSNRA
OHWOWGAYICON
BOOZEHOUNDNOUN
ILKTIPTOENOPE
TEEOTTERSSLED
Fri 12/31/2021
FRUITTARTGASPS
OOMPAHPAHADORE
TUNAMELTSRUBON
OXOAPATORLESS
XRAYLABTREE
APPEALELSAS
BEEREASIERVIM
LETSTHINGSSLIDE
ERAWOMANSANNA
BARAKELWOOD
JOELSTEPDAD
INROMEBLOTFEW
LEICAVIAVENETO
TACKYATTENUATE
SLAYSREARTIRES
XWord Info Home
XWord Info © 2007-2024, Jim Horne
107 ms