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Puzzles for December, 2023
with Jim Horne comments

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Editor (5)Jim Horne (8)Hide comments
Fri 12/1/2023
SAGATNTGAOL
UPONSHOOALCOA
ROCKCLIMBGLEAM
FLOATONAIRTANG
ELLATMNOTONCE
RODSCISYEOMAN
THANKSAHEAP
QUANTUMLEAP
BUNNYSLOPES
ARETOOLOAYAYS
REEFINGTLCGEM
EARLSASHAOBAMA
ATEINVOICEOVER
SHYERISEEBENT
SERANOSASIS
Sat 12/2/2023
ATWARHALSTECH
WHATABEASTACAI
ROSEPARADEKORN
YUPGOBSPRESET
SOBSSOOTHE
AGENDADONOHARM
MISOBALDTEMPO
UNCONSCIOUSBIAS
SMAZEINITANTE
TAPENADETHIGHS
REFERSMEET
ATRESTNARYSKA
BIOSSHARENTING
INOTEASYDOESIT
TIMSTHAIWAITS
Sun 12/3/2023 Freestyling
WHATELSEISNEWCLONING
HELENAMONTANAAIRASIA
ESTROGENPATCHDRAGONS
TSARSLIENLLBEANGET
SERAPLANROBOTSDOHA
TEENMASERSTENON
OSWALDSATIREPRTALK
DOLIKEINNINGMEASLES
OLINETRYINGJUAN
WACKADOODLEHELLSCAPE
SLEEPAPNEAFORCEFIELD
EARDOCTORFIRSTDEGREE
WHENTONNESRAINN
RAMADANCRIKEYARRETS
ELITESMAULEDCLASSY
DONORTERMEDTAIL
COINSOGLADJILTSIVA
EGGBETSONHULUHURON
DOORONEREMINDMEAGAIN
ABLEISMFRONTENTRANCE
RIFFLESFANTASYSERIES

This puzzle ties the record for the fewest blocks in a 21x21 grid. The seed entries Will Shortz mentions in his notes are ESTROGEN PATCH, WACKADOODLE, HELLSCAPE, and REMIND ME AGAIN.

"Walk in place" is a brilliant clue for FRONT ENTRANCE. Does it need a hyphen? Nah.

Mon 12/4/2023
STEALASPSBOLT
KARMAFLEAEVEN
AMISSROAMCENT
SETANEWRECORD
EGOSDUO
TURNTHETABLES
POSEASLAYSMIA
OTTOAIRNANA
LEOPSSTSTOICS
MOVETHENEEDLE
ERAEGAD
DONTMISSABEAT
DELTIBETADMIT
JADENAMEGAMER
SLEDARIDSTORY
Tue 12/5/2023
ASAPMASCASH
MILERADIODNA
PRINTORDERRON
POCKETDOORS
SHRANKRESPITE
KEELJUSTTYL
IANSOSFBI
STOCKCHARACTER
OAKREDEVA
ABBAGEEONIT
FRECKLEGIRDLE
FASHIONLINE
ANTOUTOFSORTS
IDOSPLATOAHU
ROWKEENSTEP
Wed 12/6/2023
MASSSCAMCHOIR
ERMACOCARANBY
HEAVYHANDEMCEE
REVEREDWHETS
KITEMSASNO
ANYSEESPECTRA
RAPHICKHOP
AKABAMELKASS
CNNEVOSTSTEC
HOTHEADSOO
ITSATIEBOYSIR
TALLEREOLE
FISHYSTEWART
ONEALHIGHHORSE
POLIOIDEACUTS
STARRPEETKEEP

Every clue starts with the letter H. The only H's in the grid are those in the theme answers. Bryant White had a similar idea in 1994.

Thu 12/7/2023
OSCARPEARPUFF
LEASEELLEOSLO
DEFIBROOFTOAAR
EYESSITEELSIE
RAAATTLEFATAL
LIARSLIMO
IHADTOPERYMCA
SUIALCHEMYAHI
HTTPLUXNECKED
EMITBEALE
STAINPUSHUARA
SPECSPENSSTAN
POAOTTLESSTUNG
OKRAWOVEHERDS
TENTOPENORNOT

This puzzle's ALCHEMY changes lead (PB) into gold (AU).

In the rebus squares, the Across clues use PB, and the down ones use AU.

The app accepts any of these as correct in the rebus squares:

  • PB/AU
  • AU/PB
  • PB
  • AU
  • P
  • A
Fri 12/8/2023
SHIPMENTS
WHODOESTHAT
NARROWSTHEGAP
BONUSSADSATAN
RANGESCENTRE
IPAYAMAHASOTT
COMATAMEDGOYA
KLAYCREEDEATS
YOKEHINDIERRS
AGEAMASSESTIE
RIALTOSTRICT
DEBITBIDRISKS
SENIORMOMENTS
TURNEDHEADS
SEEDBANKS
Sat 12/9/2023
ACTNATURALSTEW
BLUEDANUBEAHME
CANCONFIRMDEBT
TREKSONOREAIR
VARALSACEPGA
HANDDUCKEGG
SKITTERRHIMES
NOTTODAYSATAN
BOWMENWOOLENS
ARTEMISURLS
TKOPOETRYCAL
PEWITROTPARSE
OLINTABULARASA
LENDOPERACAPES
EDGYWHYNOTBOTH
Sun 12/10/2023 Political Pun-ditry
MUDCATCARDIOOVUM
ACRONYMSAWBUCKOBESE
ALONGPARTYLINESNONOS
MAPSOSHASPAAETNA
NUBHOTBUTTONISSUES
CLAMORARIPASTOR
LAMEDUCKBILLSPALEST
IREBOOREBBRODEO
CASIOMOIUPLOADOUR
SPEAKERSOFTHEHOUSE
BRITAEELKENTS
GRASSROOTSMOVEMENT
LUCPALATEELISOPOR
ANIMATELGONGIDO
MONAMICAMPAIGNCHAIR
GROVESBRACRANNY
CABINETPOSITIONUZO
AGINGRIMFROSASIA
BAKESANACTOFCONGRESS
AVERTDENSELYBIODATA
LESSEDITEDPOSTOP

Including his one acrostic, this is Jeff Chen's 150th NYT puzzle. Congratulations, Jeff!

Mon 12/11/2023
RAMPSPASMDAHS
OPALPANKOEXAM
MEGAMERGERFILE
EDITEDLETSROLL
COTMETACOMET
DABADOSLRS
ARESORBATSEA
MEATTHERMOMETER
SANAARAWDALI
IHOPKEGLSD
METRONOMEATE
ANISETTEBLIMPS
ISNTITSMEAGAIN
LUGEMESASETNA
SEEPEDICTREAP
Tue 12/12/2023
LEGALXRAYTUNA
PARTIBONOONES
GRUMPYOLDMENSCH
ANNLAXLYPIECE
THINPIGEON
SEWINGKITSCH
CLOSEEROSTRAM
AIRRESENTSICE
BAKUGENEKINDS
STAYEDPUTSCH
GIDEONELSE
ADORNSKOALSPA
FINISHINGSCHOOL
FONDODORAMUSE
ETASPETEPOTTS
Wed 12/13/2023
PLODPROFSHAGS
LOVETIARAAVON
OCEANSPRAYLAVA
WORDEDPSALTER
DREVAPORWARE
CLOUDNINEEARNS
VEINYETPAY
SITDESIRESTAB
BETWANSAGA
CMERERAINMAKER
RIVERCARDADE
INAWEOFGREASY
NUDEWATERCYCLE
GEERLEVEEEURO
ETSYSLYLYSESH
Thu 12/14/2023
GOOPDESIANGEL
OMNISWANMARNE
BEANSTALKENACT
LATTENEPALPHI
IRISESMAGICHAT
NAPYEADEALING
LOADSOTTO
YOUREONMUTE
ACERSOAPS
CHARIOTMRSACA
TIREMARKYELLOW
FABPRIESTABLA
ANODEPIKESPEAK
STOOLOREOSIDE
TIKISDAWNETAS

For the theme answers to make sense, you have to MUTE (i.e., ignore) TALK, CHAT, REMARK, and SPEAK.

Esha Datta is an alumna of NYT's Second Class of the Diverse Crossword Constructor Fellowship.

Fri 12/15/2023
SPARHANGTIME
PALECANYOUNOT
ASOFSALTEDNUTS
NTHBALLSREKEY
RAREGEMNYT
BYSEABARSOAT
OCHERROFLNET
CHILDLIKEWONDER
AERSASHCOSTA
FTWWHOMUPTOP
ELSLETSEAT
LIANASITATYAM
AVIDREADERCOLA
MEDIABIASDUEL
ASSEMBLYCTRL
Sat 12/16/2023
SALADBARIRA
CRIMERINGCRUX
OPTICALARTPORNO
WEELASSOHCOMEON
GRADSSURESIGNS
AGATECAPULETS
SIRECOLDPLAY
SOYCARSALESPAM
TOPRATEDWENT
RIPTIDESDARIN
FLATSODASFIRMS
LUTHERANPASTIES
AIRESSCOUTMOTTO
NGOSEARWARMER
KIDREALNEAT
POW Sun 12/17/2023 Get Over It
JOYSHANDCARBRAS
AMENSPALOALTOFUELED
CAMBUNIVERSITYARCADE
ONEONONEMASHINBUT
BINGDOTBOMBEREACE
ASTOUNDSTYDOMES
HAJIIRSURBABNART
SOBULFULLYMOUSSE
PODSIMADEITLDSPULP
OFTFEUDSROILAMPLE
USEOFMIBCEANDMENTOE
SIXTYESPNCOASTOYL
ETTUALSREARLITHYDE
SALAMIHELLAGOOBD
ALAKBAZAMEMOOPUS
MIDSTUNODELTACO
TKOOWLDUDEBROMAYI
REPOHISEEOILBASED
ANTIFAWATERUNDERTHEB
KEEPATASAGUIDEREESE
WEARBYGONESOSHA

Cross each bridge with the word BRIDGE. Skip a square on the water crossing under the bridge. Add the letters B-Y-G-O-N-E-S under each bridge in turn to make BOG, BAY, GULF, OCEAN, LAGOON, LAKE, and SEA — all bodies of water.

Don't tell Jeff, but I gave this puzzle a POW.

Mon 12/18/2023
PEWADIOSTWIST
EREREVUEAROSE
QUALIFYINGROUND
UPROARDEAN
OTISASIANGPA
DSTQUACKREMEDY
BUDGEELOPED
ECOLIABAEVENS
SHRUNKALICE
QUEENREGENTQTS
MOBONSETTREE
IONEENACTS
QUARTERLYREPORT
BANDOGEENADIE
SENSEYEASTEST
Tue 12/19/2023
ATARIBREDOSHA
CAPOSAIDENEAR
CLOTHESPUNARID
ROLEXIISPIKE
ANOPECTORALFUN
GRIDSPITA
ALIASOATTOTE
MOZZARELLASTUCK
CLEOODDLETME
READLIARS
GROCERYLUSTTIP
NIALLADEMANO
ALKAIFIWEREYOU
TEEMDELIATEIT
SSNSSWAGMADLY
Wed 12/20/2023
ABBAACREPAIRS
CLOGMOETAPNEA
KONAOCEANSPRAY
WOMENOFLETTERS
EUROAAS
ANNLANDERSDNA
TOILEITTBRIE
STEERINGCOLUMNS
EELSMOIEMOJI
ADSCANTATAMAR
EARRUSS
POINTERSISTERS
IHATETOASKROLF
BITERANTETBAR
BOERSDEARABBY
POW Thu 12/21/2023
LGBTFBIUGGS
ARLOLIONSSOLO
MOATALOFTBDAY
BUSCRATEUPORB
APTDAMRNAWEE
SHIPSEATMENSA
TUNAUNHIPRIAN
EGGYSTALLANTS
GLASSEYES
LMFAOREFRY
AIRPOPSCHARLIE
PRETOPTHISACA
TREKRABIDAMOR
OOZECRANEHELL
PREYHEROSISAY
Fri 12/22/2023
TORAHAARPOLAF
UNODOSTRESRISE
NEWSWORTHYSOIL
ASSDAIYATONAL
DORASCHISM
BBOYSCHEATS
TEAMOALIENSHIP
MACAUPANKEATS
IMKIDDINGMERIT
SNOOTSMEMES
BONITAPALS
HASATLEONACYA
ATOMPIANOTUNER
SHOEHARDRESETS
PENSINNSRETIE
Sat 12/23/2023
PINTERESTBOARDS
EMAILENCRYPTION
THREADTHENEEDLE
BENINEVENDOA
ERINSUMOSMARK
DEATYNERCANOE
HINDSCONCUR
ACDELCOHOSTESS
BLENDSTORTA
NACREBANDSRNS
ONLYBALKSHACK
RNASEALMEDIA
MARINEBIOLOGIST
AMERICANPALEALE
LESSTHANSTELLAR
Sun 12/24/2023 Wrap Stars
ARCOSTABCHISISLE
LIARCASARUNTSANTES
ACROPOLISUMBRASCOOP
SHAMELESSSEPROMOTER
MEADLEASEDSONICS
FEEORPRINTDEALSEAT
ILLLEANDERNOTEDLY
ALAGORGESRIGGESPY
TENRUSESBARREULAPP
FIDOHOTIRONOSSO
SILENTNRARESOPENTOE
SNOWINJUREDDARE
NASHEELIPSSECCOOFT
HIREIONESPEAKSFOE
GONERILRELINKSFIN
OLGASEALKANYEUSTED
DEADENMINGNABRUH
SANTASLITTLEHELPERS
GETBYSTILETRUSSESUP
ACELAKEELSAINTRHEA
POPELSATPETSBERY
Mon 12/25/2023
MODEMJOANEGGS
ACURAINTOLOAN
CHERRYBOMBSOME
HOTROEONEDGE
SOUWADEAER
STRAWBERRYWINE
ASISEMIRTBS
DASHTOTEDEWOK
KEATEARXENA
RASPBERRYBERET
REVRIDSELS
EVENSOSRIALA
TIRETHATSMYJAM
RESTIOWAPEACE
OWESNEWBSAXES
Tue 12/26/2023
BUBONESPALES
UNEDADAALBINO
GRANDKIDREEKED
LEGOSETSTATE
EELSDECAYTLDR
SLEEPDHLVOICE
SAGEMBARKON
DASDRYWALLEND
OPTIMUMSTOP
NORMACUERENAL
SPASCAPEDDOLE
DODOSYOUREIT
MTDOOMTOYBOXES
CALLMEERLEING
SUEDENEERTSO
Wed 12/27/2023
VISAAFRICAOHS
ACTSLEBRONTOE
TUFTBASALTTRI
RESETSLIPONS
ALARMISTEGOISM
PANOUTAUGER
LICITIBSENTRE
IKIDSPIESPHIL
TASSCOTSTREVI
ECASHIRISES
MARTYRANNOTATE
ERECTEDISUZU
RIAADESTEKRIS
GALLOAFEREURO
ELMEFFORTRSVP
Thu 12/28/2023
LADYSHIVAHALT
EIRETIMIDISAW
GREASEFIREPINE
AHATAINTSPADE
TOMYUMUPTIGHT
ORSOYOMOREOOS
NOUNPAULO
FROZENSOLID
BINGELOOK
DVDSETASPWOWS
MOONLITARARAT
ALOESATARIDNA
JUDEDRIVECRAZY
OMARMORONESAU
REDSSTENTCHAP
Fri 12/29/2023
OWESISSATALC
SCORNNOTYOUTOO
TANGOGLUESTICK
ELBOWROOMCUTIE
WAYBUTPGA
ARABSFURCOAT
LONELYLOSTLOVE
ATOLLOARHAZES
ITSAFACTRESECT
COEXISTSIGHS
GPAAPRCHE
WELSHVIDEOCHAT
IDONTMINDURALS
TACOSAUCECURLY
SMOGTSARHEMS

Ms. Weintraub discusses her craft and the making of this crossword in a BBC podcast.

Sat 12/30/2023
DRERECONPOETS
JUNKERVEILXII
MEDICINEDROPPER
IULSTERATARI
CERTREHABWENT
BASIEIGUESSSO
CANTABLAPASN
ONCEINALIFETIME
TERNCANOEOED
TARRAGONUSING
AQUAUNDERRISE
UNTILDRAPESF
FINANCIALCENTER
OLEKHALELAINE
PARTYMEESECOM
Sun 12/31/2023 It's Going Down
HIMIDLEESSFETA
ADAMEANTSHAKAORALB
HERBIVOREPOWERBROKER
ASIANSINNEWYEARSEVE
STELLACAPUTOALEAER
LOTIONSROBLADS
POPVIDTYPEDUPLOHAN
SPICETEACOEGRUHOSE
HEPANIGHTFOOTBATHS
ARENATREOLUCIA
WATERBILLSSATELLITES
KATIEOTBSLGAME
THATSLIFECASASGHEE
MAYOLETBARGOBEYOND
INCURSERAPESRAYEDY
ARABDELWEASLEY
DIRNORLLBEANLISTIC
ICANTDECIDEONONEWTO
TIMESSQUAREAUTOGRAPH
ZEBRASENORKATSUIRE
RAFTTPSLOOPNON

The ball drops at midnight, so to answer the "after midnight" clues, follow the BALL down and then continue to the right.

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