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Puzzles for December, 2024
with Jim Horne comments

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Constructor (2)Editor (5)Jim Horne (15)Hide comments
Sun 12/1/2024 Drive Around the Block
BUSSDIPSILASMISCHA
OHIOADAMSMITHUNCLOG
SURFACESCRATCHSERENE
CHITCHATSWHOSTREAKS
PEALEWAGBEATEN
ADDEDSLOWROLLINGSPF
LOUDPEEWEEGATHER
DUMASTBSDESSEETO
APPLEPIEICEDOCSECS
ERSTICEMSUSTAT
SIGNPOSTICEOUTLASTS
IDLEBUYICENEUE
LOONEERICEEMPERORS
ANSELSITDYEROBOT
GOSSIPZSAZSAYETI
ETEFROZENASSETLAYER
SPEEDODMSBASAL
ROOSTEDORBSOUTHBEND
INVAINSMOOTHOPERATOR
FEELMERAINMAKERLAVA
FARMEDINDICSSNLSAT
Mon 12/2/2024
COMMADRAWTHE
ONIONEASETREX
PASSINGFADHUMP
PSSTOATHAISLE
ESTPESSIMISTIC
DIESELORIENT
SPUDUPONSEES
PISSEDOFF
ASHETENDRUGS
DHARMASENATE
POSSIBILITYVAX
AWAITRITATERI
GENZPUSSYFOOTS
ERIEALTOADULT
SSNDESKNOTES

These kinds of themes are sometimes called "vowel movements."

Tue 12/3/2024
SETUPCOMICCAP
ALONEANONOADO
MOOSETRACKSNON
LAVEDHUMANLY
ADRIENMAPOTOFU
WOODDAISATOP
EGOBARRJAR
EMPTYCALORIES
ASSMAHILED
EDENLAWNBEER
MINITWIXCHOPPY
BARCARTSHUSH
ALIMEATTORNADO
LUCPANSYLINUX
MPHSKYPESATBY
Wed 12/4/2024
MARCOJARSWHET
ARSONELIEHULA
LEVEETEDXIMAX
PRICEESTIMATE
COOOEDNED
STRETCHOFTIME
OREAKONGIRDS
LEAKSNAFUORAL
DELISISLAONO
MAKEARUNFORIT
FCCERSARK
ROCKGUITARIST
ANONPAARCULLS
NEYOTNUTARDOR
CYSTSASSNERTS

Read the theme clues as quote, period, dash, and slash.

Thu 12/5/2024
MICSALSOCODES
AHOYNAPAOPERA
COLDSORESUSING
SPUNKALIENSIA
MEATUSSTATES
TINYWANCOG
ARIKINKALAMO
DISHINGSPARING
STUDSCOIFCIA
TSEASSARTS
REBUTTEDTOGO
OERASYETDRDRE
ORALBINSIDEOUT
FINALNCAAESSO
SEDGEGERMSEEN

Per 62-Across, shaded inside words must be moved outside (to the front) of the remaining letters to match the clues.

Fri 12/6/2024
FAITHMEREITCH
ELSIEALOETHEO
ROTARYDIALTINS
NTHDAREDPASTE
ACELATHEKISS
INTERESTRATES
TOADSWINESNOB
ENYASIPTORE
MEERKATSSITAT
SPIRITANIMALS
SWOLLENDOXED
MORALGROUPRAE
EWANDROPSAHINT
LINKRAPTCOLAS
LEOSEYESKELLY

Congratulations, Robyn Weintraub, on your 50th NYT crossword.

Sat 12/7/2024
BITOFFIAMBIC
UNITARDTHEUSA
MOTOROILSETSON
RULERRESMEHTA
AYESLEAPSDIOR
PEDMISDEEDSPY
DONTBLAMEME
ROADRALLIES
CENTRALBANK
TBDSOILINGTOM
ORALSTONEFUJI
PALESSODSEMIS
IDEALSNECKRUBS
CIRCUSROYALWE
SOTHENDELTAS
Sun 12/8/2024 Just for Fun
PUSHPOPMADAMATOOFAR
ASYOUDOORATORARCANA
COMPLIMENTSFORFISHING
PELEWISHCALLONIT
ZAHNMESPOKYTKO
ALOOPFORTHROWINGSOAP
PONTIACSEAUSTOLAF
STYNTHGRIFTLOCHTE
POSITIONFORJOCKEYS
GSPOTERSETHICSAPT
OORTLANATOGOTREE
UNELEDOFFPENSITAR
DISASTERFORARECIPE
ACTSASERIESLAOPOE
OUTGUNUNALEGOLAND
ORCSONESMONEYFORARUN
NIHJAYSTNTMESA
STANPARDIMEDECON
PUNISHMENTFORAGLUTTON
EAGLEDSEASONPARTAKE
CLOSESTYRONEANDALSO
Mon 12/9/2024
IPODTSPSFARSI
MUCHHOOPIDIOM
PLEAEDGELAPUP
ALABAMASLAMMER
IONIZELCD
RNSUNITLOUNGE
ALUMINUMFOIL
HOAXDAEORGS
ALBERTBROOKS
NASSAUANNEOLD
CBSBEANIE
YOUCANCALLMEAL
TEMPOORCAEDIT
HUNDORUTSNASA
UNIONEXITDYES

Ms. Caroll ends her Wordplay comments with, "If you'll be my bodyguard, I can be your long-lost pal." 😊

Tue 12/10/2024
ISAACMATTHEW
COSMOMETOOERA
ETHICEASTEREGG
UTEOINKSSLOE
POSENUDEAMOK
MUDUGLIITS
IMHITSPEARCHI
SWARMHANROKER
LATINERTOASES
AHHLASTARF
ARKSINCISORS
SOYAPSALMPEW
IWONTBITEAGILE
BIGDEALSGENIE
SEABASSELECT
Wed 12/11/2024
ESPORTSVEHICLE
MAEWESTCRASHER
MADEHAYRANPAST
ABIDEGOOSE
TAUTFESS
PRIORTORETESTS
EONSEAELIAHA
EMOJISSEGAMER
LENINTILHYENA
EGGEDOTEL
DISSBREADSLAM
ALEALOADOFICU
MINISUVENAMORS
PASTIMEROTATES
DEAFENSTENTS
Thu 12/12/2024
POSEJAMMUCHO
JOHNUNAARROZ
SPOTSTRANGERS
SWEETSIXTEEN
BRADAIR
SAORONSALONS
IGATIERANEW
CATCHTWENTYTWO
EVESTUBAHBO
MEDICIPANASP
RNSSECT
AREAFIFTYONE
TRATTORIADORA
LATTEERRETAS
CLEARDMSSESH

Spelled-out numbers in the theme answers must be replaced by the answers at that grid number.

  • 19-Across is SWEET SIXTEEN, and 16-Across is SPOT, so "Part of a bat that produces the best contact" is SWEET SPOT.
  • 36-Across is CATCH TWENTY-TWO, and 22-Across is AIR, so "Get serious hang time, as a skateboarder" is CATCH AIR.
  • 52-Across is AREA FIFTY-ONE, and 51-Down is CODES, so "Three-digit numbers in parentheses" is AREA CODES.

Grid numbers 16, 22, and 51 are circled.

Fri 12/13/2024
HATRACKGIFTBOX
OHHELLOONLEAVE
TOOSOONFLANKED
ERRINGMEANDER
LANGEBURYODDS
NAMESUNZIP
LETSGETITONIDA
ESAAAACARDTIC
ACTINSINCERITY
COTANATARI
HOODPONEWHOSE
TOECAPSSHARPS
SEALANETEENLIT
ARRIVALBARNONE
MSTEAMSSNEAKER
Sat 12/14/2024
SERBLEAFTECH
EXCUSEZMOIALLO
SECRETPACTPLOP
ATONEALISTEVE
MELTBSASABRES
ERADISCEREBRO
CASTPARTIES
GAYMARRIAGE
COTTAGECORE
PASTORSHUEBTS
INSYNCTASCAIN
ANIAKBARLARVA
NOPENONGMOCROP
OLESDRYERSHEET
SIRSEARSENDO
Sun 12/15/2024 Art Heist
TACTICSMONETSWAP
RADISHESPOTASHKAHLO
EASTEANDARDTIMEORION
INFSLOERECOGLED
SLATESELLSGNKEES
BUENOSAIRESINAUSN
ATAALOTSLALOMTELE
TUNATONTOLILLEBOD
ERNSTNIELSFAIRWONT
SEAHAGAXLEDHOOKUNGE
ORELTITERSUET
FROMOTENEAGERSMOCTS
LAMESHAMTAPESSNOOP
AVAWADUPSLANGGOYA
MIROIRISEDOVERKMS
KOSREGISTEREDDIET
STEAMNSTATDARIEN
DARESUMACRESTIA
ALIFEMARYHADTTLELAMB
LEAFSBITTENPOISONER
ISLESLEDSMETGALA

Across answers include names of famous painters. Down answers steal those names and replace them with single letters to match the clues.

Reading those single letters from top to bottom reveals I WAS FRAMED.

If you're wondering about 8-Down, yes, Model A came after the Model T. So the clue is wrong, right? Wrong. There was a different model that preceded the T, also confusingly called Model A.

Mon 12/16/2024
USAARBORPCS
NORASUAVESOAP
SITHSPLATTELL
CHIASEEDOUTIE
RESPRESSOFFICE
EATSATEDUCON
WRITACROSS
COFFEEBREAK
PEARLSLEAF
IFITRISLEEVE
MISSAMERICANOD
PLOPSELEGANCE
ELMOCHAINBEAR
DEETVALUEUSDA
ERRSIMMSSOL
Tue 12/17/2024
ATOPAISLEKAVA
SINELOCALIGOR
KNICKKNACKKNOCK
EGOHASTYEDGES
DENIALNEO
FLIPFLOPFLAP
GOLFSALIVAACL
OBEYSGITTBONE
OVAURANUSASEA
PINGPONGPANG
APEMESSES
ATALLLABOREXT
DILLYDALLYDOLLY
ELLEARGUEAMAL
SLAYBAAEDTAXI
Wed 12/18/2024
POSYRBICABLE
UHAULORCISLES
FANTAGREENPEAS
FRAZZLEEVEUFO
YENEARLIAM
TOSSALLSORTS
SONEPEETRAIT
CONSIDERTHEODDS
ALIENETSYSOY
FOOTNOTEPEEN
SOBSTEMTBA
IFSVIMARCHERS
SITUATIONEASES
ADAPTMLKESTEE
WORSEIDSPSST

Interesting finds. The constructors found six words where a clue could match the whole word or just the word formed by combining the odd-numbered letters. "Mendel studied them" works for GREENPEAS or GENES, etc.

Thu 12/19/2024
ROANSJEONG
VUNNELORDERS
SINCITYBADRAPS
ISLEPLEBONIT
MIAVAYLORSDNA
MOTLEYSAUTEPAN
SNEERVERMINAL
ISEEDIRT
POPSICLESELSA
RHOOHOKSCREEN
IFSNICEHOSTED
METEDISMAYSNO
PRSTUNTAREWEON
SUNRAYGESTATE
PALSESTATE

The SCREEN SHARES from 45-Across and -Down are the three TV boxes. T is used for the first word Across, and V for the second word Down. So, TUNNEL VISION, TAYLOR'S VERSION, and TERMINAL VELOCITY.

Fri 12/20/2024
ETALSPASSCORE
MARIJUANALEAVES
UNICORNSTARTUPS
GAIAWINMOO
TOPSEEDED
ACTAIRXES
THEGOLDENSPIKE
MINERALDEPOSITS
TONGUETWISTERS
REAODEDEN
SNOTNOSED
FOOMAOLOBS
IDHAVETOKILLYOU
REMAINANONYMOUS
MAYANREINABLE
Sat 12/21/2024
BENDYSTRAWACCT
OPERAHOUSEPOOH
TITOPUENTEALMA
OPTIUDSLET
NOBLYANTSINESS
URLSRITELOGAN
CIOPEKEMORESO
LOWERFORTYEIGHT
ENACTSFUNDROB
ANGIEREBAMARA
REAGANERAWADED
PBSMOMEBRR
AUKSBONSAITREE
CLEOITCANTHURT
TATSDEEPSEATED
Sun 12/22/2024 Go With the Flow
DEADLIESTCATCHCPUS
EXPRESSCHECKOUTAINT
PERISHTHETHOUGHTPELE
TTOPSENSUEPORESTRIP
HENSFLOESSEAPORT
SRSBOLOSTSPERASE
HEWEDSHOESJRS
JELLLITEBRITESFTW
COALBETATESTERROAR
LOGRIDESHAPINKBERRY
ACTSNORMALDINNERDATE
TORTILLASFIRIRONBAR
TAOSLIFESAVERSCOIN
ESTVANITYCASEHOST
MIRAUNTSASIDE
PARTBPCSCREPEMOM
BELARUSBASESFORA
LAWCLERKSMOVEDGRAIL
OTTOEQUATORIALGUINEA
SHELALTERNATEENDING
TERMLETTERSTOSANTA
Mon 12/23/2024
ORBSCBCCAROMS
KALEYAOOVERIT
SNACKMIXSECEDE
STABLESELAN
CUTMASSTRANSIT
GLOBALEASTER
INFOAWAIT
AFTERMIDNIGHT
SOOTYEARS
MOUSSESALLIE
COWBOYBOOTSFOX
ANNOARREARS
TREADSOILPAINT
TORTESNOMGEAR
YESSIRONOESPY
Tue 12/24/2024
SHEEPEARSTKO
TEXTEDTHATSAID
ESCAPECANETOAD
ATEPATHIPO
LIPBALMONDRAFT
SATEZEDAMBER
NDALOONLAY
THENUTCRACKER
TAUAGUAFEE
OREOSSPYRHEA
PAYCASHEWGROSS
HMMOSHAOPI
EUROPEANUTOPIA
ONEALARMPOLLEN
NODERIEREADS

The four black squares with graphics are nutcracker teeth chewing into PE-CAN, ALM-OND, CASH-EW, and PEAN-UT

Wed 12/25/2024
ALSCOEDRASP
PITTSUCKAEMIR
AGRAETHERVIBE
CHUMMORONSLES
HTTPSPIUAWARE
ESSAYTESTGETIN
MONTOUTEAT
GETUPSMARA
AVASTCATARACTS
RANDOASSOLLIE
LCDMANTISTEND
AUERSARGEHASA
NEMOIRENEOVEN
DESIAYESELS

O Christmas Tree is a clever way to indicate connecting O's to form the tree.

Elizabeth C. Gorski's first connect-the-dots-alphabetically puzzle was this 2003 Christmas tree.

See other connect-the-dots crosswords.

Thu 12/26/2024
ABSALECAURAS
POKEBOWLASTUTE
PAYRAISETHEBAR
ISSAPTIRT
STAKEGREATKIA
THISPENCILS
ERMABADKNOCK
PUTTIESRAYGUNS
MOIRADADOBIT
PEATBOGMETA
CELSNIDEGASSY
AXEINGWIN
SPACEKSKILIFTS
CASHISOFFLABEL
ATEINNCISICY

Follow each SKI LIFT up to complete the answers.

Fri 12/27/2024
FOLKARTISTEGGS
ETONCOLLARMILA
MORETOCOMEOVAL
HEELSVESTEMT
LITHESAVORY
FLASKETSNERO
AIDETCHASKETCH
TGIFATALLRAKE
SHORTNOTICEKEN
TSARRFSAVERS
STATICOHARE
TIMPURRBATHE
AMIDROYALCOURT
MEGASTONEHENGE
PROMTHUNDERGOD
Sat 12/28/2024
SPORTSPAGE
WHATABOUTISM
DEERSTALKERCAP
ERRSVIALNED
CELSAINTMINI
CFOSTUNGTENSE
ARCKONGBEATIT
EKEOUTLANDHO
TSHIRTRENTENT
SHORTSONGSMFA
POLEBENDSIUD
SUMELLAMRNA
TENDOLLARWORDS
SIGNEDPHOTOS
HYDROPOWER

43 blocks is a lot for a Saturday. In fact, it's a lot for any 15x15.

Sun 12/29/2024 Multi-Hyphenates
UNTOCLOAKLAGBAWL
HOOPFARGOIGERALPHA
----WORKERPETEHOPES
UNDERDINE----CHARTS
HOODEDNDAROGUETOTO
SETANTELOPEEVES
KETTLESPADLADED
TAMILSURGEDCMON
ALONETREADPHUATM
----DRIVESTRISHHASH
DEPPEMILEVENTIINTO
ALOOMOVES----DANCES
PTANEDAMOURTAINT
LAYSFRAPPETINTS
MOYERBOGSAFARIS
DIREUPARROWSDEC
ODESBESETIONWHARFS
----BACKERSNAGETHAN
RAIMIOOZEDASHEDLINE
AIDEDSUESOTTERANTE
GRANTDSMAYERSOAR

Consecutive dashes are read as LINE for Across answers. Mr. Zheng managed to fit 20 hyphenated words into the grid.

Will Shortz returns as editor
Mon 12/30/2024
SMARTZANYIMAC
TENORELIENOGO
ENJOYBUTTERCUP
PLOTARMIMOKAY
HOURGLASSMAT
ORBSONADATE
BESTIEESESIRE
ALTPROBOWLLOL
ALESTUBTOASTS
SAMOSASTOOL
CATTHINKTANK
SCENESYESODIN
HOLDWATERUSAGE
ILLSNINEBAGEL
PASODEADEXERT

This is the first Will Shortz editor byline since March 13. Welcome back, Will!

The Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump World Heritage Site is worth visiting next time you're in ALBERTA. It's about two hours south of Calgary.

Here'an explanation of SHIP at 56-Down.

Tue 12/31/2024
ASKEWSPEEDCCS
SHIVATOPSYOLE
POWERCOUPLEFEE
SPINHITSJAFAR
EPICSCORERS
MAIDENSABRES
EDTPAIROFSOCKS
LISANONWAIT
DOUBLEDIGITKEA
SPOOKYRUDEST
MATURECRATE
EMOTEPAINXMAS
DIYTWOPOINTERS
AGOTENETBEGAN
LOUABYSSCRABS
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