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Puzzles for April, 2024
with Jim Horne comments

View these same grids with comments from:
Constructor (4)Editor (4)Jim Horne (10)Hide comments
Mon 4/1/2024
WAFTSMGMNANA
AWAITANALORAL
DEEREMINIDONUT
LEERATSAMOSA
DAWDLECHANDLER
OREOCIAOTADAS
RANFROMBEEB
MBAOURBRANAE
DOPELANSING
OWERSARESTANG
BELITTLEEMOTES
TREBEKVISION
UNCERTAINSPURS
SETHSILOSTOUT
ERSTDONMOMMY

April Fool's Day crosswords are bound to include some sort of trickery. (See past April 1 puzzles here.)

I have reversed the theme answers in the list below the grid, but that's only half of what this puzzle has up its sleeve. We also need to imagine some extra information to justify the answers reading upwards.

  • FAELWENA ⇒ Turn over A NEW LEAF
  • GNITCA ⇒ ACTING up
  • NOOMDAB ⇒ BAD MOON Rising
  • NIATNUOM ⇒ MOUNTAIN climbing
  • DRIBEHT ⇒ Flip THE BIRD
  • REVILO ⇒ OLIVER North
Tue 4/2/2024
RAFTBLABEMOJI
ELLATIARANAKED
DOORBUSTERDRINK
IHOPENOTONE
DADLINEOFCREDIT
ETCUIESODE
DARESMETTLEKIN
ETALHOLDITBIOS
CODMOTIONSEEME
ALIRUTHEWE
FLOORROUTINEICY
EMOORALEXAM
SIDEBMAYOCLINIC
AMIGOEVENTNANA
GOTATLADYEYES
Wed 4/3/2024
ACREACETICRIB
HOESCASINOEMU
INSTANTTEASGPS
CHATEAUSATLAS
GRADEPAULYULE
REPOPURPLEPEAS
UTERELYAGE
BEDRESTTMOBILE
OATPRATLEG
BUMBLEBEESFOGG
OREORUDETIVOS
ABETSDARKALES
RAMSMILINGEYES
DNANICENETOTO
SEWSLEDGESUSS

Sound out the T's, P's, B's, and I's.

Thu 4/4/2024
INSVALPSIEBB
DOHEWERECLEO
ERARAGTIMEIRS
ASKMYALGICXES
SEETOLDSUNITY
NEUTERTBAR
SINATRATOEPOKE
IGOHIGGINSFEN
TUTSOLIVEDQED
CASTEENOCOUPE
ONTILTPUNIER
MAILERSBATTERS
REGALIDBET
MARTINIBRAVURA
EYETESTSECEDED
REDOSKNEAD

It's hard to come up with a grid visual that Elizabeth Gorski hasn't already used. Hers has champagne bubbles,. Mr. Curry includes a martini olive.

Fri 4/5/2024
ONICEBANCPAT
LOCALCOLORPORE
GOOBSOLETELIED
ANNOMOXIEONYX
OHMAPPLYTO
LASSIEYESBUT
SILENTDISCOLOO
LOLSTIMORJAKE
UNOGOESBANANAS
ESPRITSWANKY
SPYSHIPLEE
WHODENOKIETNA
EASEBANNERYEAR
BRERINDISARRAY
BEDTESTHENNA
Sat 4/6/2024
BUBBLYCZARISTS
AHISEEHOMECOOK
DOGIESEMINENCE
THUDSPABSTNOW
HOPELAPISMEME
IRSWALLECITED
NEEDISAYMORE
GOTASECOPENMRI
RESERVEDSEAT
HOSERGUIDODIS
INHDDUNESPINT
ADOCRAPSCROCI
TORABORATOYCON
UPTRENDSANORAK
SEACRESTBERETS
Sun 4/7/2024 Double Duty
ITSONCABOOSESIQTEST
VOILEOMELETTEPUENTE
EONDOWNTHEROADSEASON
ACESIGORCLAMSCONE
TUBAFROARKTABOURET
ETAREEBLACKEYEDP
NERVESTAYMANOHIOANS
AYESIRRIPAPOGEE
SENORVESTFOURDEAN
BENUITORLOSEITLIRE
ESCAPEEUDOAMNESIC
TSARAWORDTOTHEWTSA
CINCWRENYODAMARSH
HOTTIEETCINTEND
ANOINTSWAVESKIKASEM
CTHEMOMENTDOEANI
ANTIHEROPETNEVEMTA
ZAIREBRISCOPEFARM
TOMCATASIGHTFORSOREI
EMILIOLITTEREDPAREN
CIDERYSTEEPLESFLASK

Double-letter squares act as normal rebuses going down but need to be pronounced going across. EE stands for ease, YY for wise, etc.

Mon 4/8/2024
HAIKUTMANTIFF
OLDERHIDEODOR
MOONSHADOWMIRO
EELIONSKENTS
INTOTHENIGHT
HARNESSAMI
ALITBRISKETS
STARINGATTHESUN
POLONIUMASTI
ALASEENOUT
TOTALECLIPSE
EMAILOPECTAU
NERDOFTHEHEART
OGRENATOEVITA
RAYSETONWELSH
Tue 4/9/2024
STABCABSTEMPS
LAVAOHOHIMOUT
APEDRAGAKITTY
WARRENBUFFIT
STOKESTAROWE
MELLOOPER
GOYALYLELOVEIT
IVANAAILMERGE
JEDCLAMPITRAHS
ORDEALIMP
ETACOMANAACP
CATEBLANCHIT
RAZORCHEFKILO
EXERTCONEELLE
PENNEARTYDISS
Wed 4/10/2024
YOUTOOPADSHEX
MANIACAWAYEAR
CHICKENPARMASA
AUXAPPLEBETTY
HENRYKNOX
IMTOASTOLEATE
NOOBSOASTPOM
CURSETOTCHARM
ATMKEKEAORTA
SHERRIADRATES
PENCILBOX
HOTMAGENTAAIR
ERRCRASHCOURSE
LEETASEKISMET
POXSTETSLAYED
Thu 4/11/2024
FOODREPRATION
ANNOINAUNABLE
LICEOLIVETREES
COURTIDEEATS
ONESIESIDS
RETINASTAB
FORSAKENSCARCE
ALOUDDAPAGING
SECRETPASSAGES
TOKEINTROS
JLOENIGMAS
MANETINSHARK
POLOSHIRTSORGY
COARSEMAESLOP
PRIMERALETATE

The "secret" letters spell PASSAGES.

Fri 4/12/2024
THATTRACKSIMPS
IOWEYOUONETIRE
BLANKETHOGSNIT
ELITEHATEWATCH
TATSCOBLAPSE
CURIEGLADE
ARTLABTBAAURA
LARAMIEBRONCOS
FIATTANSLEEPY
ANVILTAHOE
DENIMSONDISS
PALMPILOTRUNUP
ANKADONTMINDME
NCISSWEETONION
SETSTEXASTOAST
Sat 4/13/2024
PANGSSKIPNCAA
AVAILANGELHAIR
DERBYYOUTELLME
IMWELLAWARELIP
DAHYOGINIBONA
DRAGLANAGONG
LILACIGGOO
EASYMANHOTMICS
BOTGADECON
PTASGAPEDEMO
POORJASPERDEW
ELMDOLLYPARTON
DIAPERPINSIENA
ISTHATANOPLAID
SHOOSLEWYESNO
Sun 4/14/2024 Savings Plan
ALANISELWAYABLUSH
TITANICKOHLSCREASES
SMACKEREMAILOTTOMAN
ILLEGALACEFRETSAW
UTADESILANOPRYROW
SONGDHLIMAROYMIRA
ANTESITSNOTFARWANLY
EATSINADLEREFILED
INOTPAESEARIL
TMANSOAPIDLYSEWS
BILGECHICAGOGATOR
STEEPCHINASHOPINTRO
EXACTACOMETORATED
ROSSIROCARENA
ATMTUTTESLEPTIRA
SHAGOVERDUEANOD
ARCEDGOEXTINCTBLABS
TOENAILRUSTSAPOLLOI
ENDANGEREDSPECIESACT
AGOCOARSEYORKERROE
MSNERNSTTESTSMPS
Mon 4/15/2024
CLASSWITHSPAM
AESOPASEAURDU
DAIRYSONICBOOM
SPATCPLFOLDS
NAILAGATE
YIPPESTOSASS
ESESATEENSOHO
ASABOVESOBELOW
HURLEFFACEAWL
ESOSFETASRNS
SQUIDSOUP
BASINOOHMAAM
MASONJARSSANTA
ALUMALASIMEAN
DISSMISOTILDE
Tue 4/16/2024
ELATEORBSRAT
RELICWEAKTYRE
STEPHENFRYRAIN
TOSSBYLINES
TACOCUBAEAGLE
OCHERPICCOLO
PHASESGOOSSNS
PORMANBABYLOT
SOLEKOIBIKINI
ENDEARSNINER
COSTAHDTVSGTS
SPLINTSRIBS
PEATSAMUELCOLT
ARMYPROMTAPIR
NABSKISSMITE
Wed 4/17/2024
FLORASMATHPOD
LEVELAACREARE
AGATESICANTSEE
POLYPHEMUSATOP
PHATSHEBA
MEREATEASSET
ALASKAURLSALA
DONODYSSEYLEX
APEROOKGARAGE
MERGEUSSEDYS
ROASTASAP
ORALTHECYCLOPS
WANDEREDSTABLY
ENDPURECOCOON
STSAMENONEEYE
Thu 4/18/2024
AIDPLUMESMAW
PSIDEFUNCTCFO
ELECTIONDAYCON
SAGAROMPAUG
MOTHEROFPEARL
SOLESALT
ASHAHEADINON
SEARIVIERAEWE
KITSEMBERYET
CUSPRIAN
THECRETANBULL
AOLRISEMOOS
SKIASTARISBORN
AYNPOETICAMRI
POGNESTEDSET

Parse 63 Across as A STAR IS B OR N to make sense of the asterisk clues.

  • 17-Across is Ballot time
  • 23-Across is Nacre on the ocean floor
  • 40-Across is Nice is found on it
  • 53-Across is Bovid of Greek mythology.
  • 10-Down is Bassist in a foursome
  • 32-Down is Nascent stage for a bird

A bovid is a member of the cattle family. Cows, buffaloes, and antelopes are bovids

Fri 4/19/2024
AHABPGSFLAK
DEBUGCREWAURA
VIBRAPHONEUNIT
IDONTHAVEALLDAY
LITTATERTOT
CASSIOPLEBE
PALACETUTIDEA
RHUBARBSADNESS
OMNISUMPUENTE
MEANTSADIES
FELTGOODSHU
SOMETHINGCAMEUP
OLAVANIMATIONS
JETESOFAELUDE
USSRANYALOT
Sat 4/20/2024
EGOSHEARAWED
LESBIANBARROME
FRIENDDATEMOAN
HARDENSIDEKIT
ALISOCHOROILS
TDSBOONOFEE
BOOMROASTED
WARMFUZZIES
CRISPYBACON
BELCHWANLOS
BRASHZEALLORE
OAKTAILIMOVIE
ODINSPOONERISM
TINSAPPLETINIS
YOGAYEESHGTO
Sun 4/21/2024 Get Cracking
CCLEFGASCANSGSUIT
LAIDUPOBLIGEESPENCE
ADVERBTEENAGEPAIDAD
MIENSTREESAPYKENT
BLASETARPSTABAORTA
ELMJGAYIRSSTEL
RAMSECONOTTOPOLK
SCOOPERTIMONELFOWLS
MIRONANADOS
CHUMSWPLATTLMITZI
STREAKMOIARKNOTION
ITSCPEPPACLOX
SPAMMERQUEENPOSSESS
YESYOUASTRAWS
CCLAMPLIPSIRTANTRA
OREEADZLTABNWIN
LOANDAMBASIOUTOPS
BOPOSOLARPUNKOFEW
ENDIVENUGGETSURBANE
REAPERETIENNESAUCER
TRYONEYETTETALTERS

Click anywhere on the grid below to start the animation that cracks the safe.

Mon 4/22/2024
COALATALLADAM
ANNEROXIEFAVA
RAKEGREENPOWER
ERACOOLHON
TURBANSTRITEST
SNAILWOOLDNA
PERSONAWOOD
GLOBALWARMING
FOODNIELSEN
ABUFONDTOSCA
DISHINGDIESOUT
EONFINDMEH
FOSSILFUELNADA
ABUTAORTAOLIN
RIPSBOSSYWIND

This is remarkably sophisticated for a Monday crossword. Besides the eight-part word ladder transitioning from dirty to clean energy, the three long Across answers also relate to the theme.

Tue 4/23/2024
MAGIKAPUTSIS
ACERUPONEABE
OHNOEWHEISMYEX
EXCLAIMTASTY
VIDSEEP
SOISITCPRRIP
INCASDOASWEDO
GAELARMYISIS
HIMAIMUPALTOS
TRAKEGUPTOME
CONSSPA
TAHOEAPRICOT
OKIFWEGOINONIT
FINICERSSLEW
UNETORTETYRO
Wed 4/24/2024
JAMWESTELMHAM
USAARCADIAOLE
TAUIMODIUMION
SPILTPATMETED
HAWKESCALY
SAYHIEMITS
EWWAPOLLOIOTS
LEASTPIEADIEU
SLITMRMOMATVS
ELIEWANNARYES
WOAHAXLE
ISAIAHIAMSAM
LATERALSYMMETRY
LGASHAPEUPUMS
SADABYSMNYT
Thu 4/25/2024
PICWOEPACECAR
SC O WLEMOTIVE
THRONESENRAGED
HUTSPIN
SIMONC O WELL
PLANBAASALOE
HEDGEDINEDSELS
ENDREFTMICIS
NOLOSSCASSETTE
OVERWAXMCRAE
MOSC O WIDAHO
SUSSENO
ONEIOTAATTEMPT
FANDUELHOLYCOW
THEATREHOEIDO

Holy COW! Three COWs have holes (circles) that are just gaps going across, but need to be read as HOLE going down.

Empty sqaures in a solved grid is rare, but there is some prior art:

Fri 4/26/2024
CREMASCADS
MAILINBALLOTS
TINCANTELEPHONE
OCTTAILORSPOD
WRITEHANKAGOG
NONOHEYSBLAZE
SNAPPERSHELPER
DINOFOLD
APRONSFULLOFIT
PLUGSTENDNODE
RIDSLEIFBENIN
ENDMETGALADOS
SKELETONCOSTUME
ORIGINSTORIES
SPANSSPATS
Sat 4/27/2024
LOCALPAPERNAST
INOVERTIMEETTA
BIMETALLICGAEL
STERWALTHERPPK
ANNSADORBS
DEGASAWRYEYE
COXESFLAGSMSN
LOTSBOOZESITS
ERRBORNESQUEE
AKALOMECLUMP
REEBOKSIRI
TEXACOSTARROKU
APTSNOTCRICKET
PERKCHORUSLINE
ERASDOPESHEETS
Sun 4/28/2024 The Sounds of Music
SHERAMESABROBOBCUT
TUXEDONESCOOPAGLARE
INTWOPAVAROTTDRAMAS
RARERSCENECINDERELL
NADIRTRASHCURELSA
NIKESCIOBEE
SHINGLEDTENTHABITOF
CONIFERLINKTOMARACA
AMANAITOLDYOUSYOKEL
LEMANSHALODOTNEAL
EMOSIRENSSKIBIBANT
DOMOPOPSEANCOPSTO
OVENSWIZKHALIFTAPIN
WINKLEPINOLEASTRIDE
NETPAYSPEWSBICORNES
PEGSECCAROM
ACTIBUBLATINWHOAM
THATSAMORSEEYAELLIS
HAMILLREFERRALADELE
ONENILGLISSANDVIXEN
STRAPSEONESSOYEAST

The gray solfège notes descend through an octave from DO down to DO. Eight Across answers end with a note, also descending, so tuxed becomes tuxeDO, etc.

Mon 4/29/2024
WAREABBAOUSTS
EBAYSOARUBOAT
BLUEWHALETEMPE
SELFIEDOGTREAT
ULNALEA
TALCBLACKBALL
BETOGREKEENLY
REARRATIODOOR
ETRADEITSYDYE
WHITEWINEOWED
LOTMAUI
AUDIENCEMISAIM
BRUNTHUEANDCRY
USAGEEROSOMIT
TALESSONSMESH
Tue 4/30/2024
PEASNILLAEGO
CAPNOREOSPSAT
BREADFRUITTARO
SPRIERNOTSURE
LYINGRED
ATOLAMESAYTD
GIBRALTARSHEER
AGAINSTOREGANO
TEMPIELDESTSON
ERASTREETTRE
NEAISITI
KETOSISTINCTS
NOORWIGGLEROOM
ENYAANNIEECRU
ESSNOUNSMONT
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