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Puzzles for June, 2025
with Jim Horne comments

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Constructor (6)Editor (5)Jim Horne (11)Hide comments
Sun 6/1/2025 Making Arrangements
PECANELSESTEADIFSO
IVORYPOPEVERSARIEL
GENETICALLYENGINEERED
SLEWSOFAANTDIAPERS
EDITSLRPRESSED
TADASCHANGEOFHEART
PYLONPAYSAGARTIRE
OPENDOORTMIDORMLET
MIXEDBLESSINGMEASLES
PSILOSTCOLALGA
TAKEASTABNOBRAINER
IRSODORATOPSEW
ATLANTATWISTEDSISTER
DOEOSLOICESEEDCASE
SSGTPLANNATOEATEN
SWITCHEDGEARSWARES
ALOHAOEBTUPOLE
STRATUMNSAGALLCOMP
TEMPORARILYOUTOFORDER
DREICLONEFLAWPOISE
SARAHEWEDFADSTWEAK

Anagrams!

Mon 6/2/2025
MEHTHOSECACTI
ADOHOPEDORION
SITEATMYSHORTS
KEBABSISTACAT
UDONABUELA
PUTASOCKINIT
APTSPRIGTACOS
POOFEARLSHAVE
ANNUMFBOMBMAR
SUITYOURSELF
ASCENDGEAR
NORCLASSWYATT
CLOTHESLINESHE
HAWKEPOLARHOE
OREOSSTONYYUM
Tue 6/3/2025
APPSSWIMTATAS
MEEKTONEERASE
PANICROOMAMUSE
SHEETOFPAPER
IVSOEDLOGES
POPARTSTATE
AIRCUSHIONDRIP
SCATSELFADOBO
SETICLOUDCOVER
ORALSOHNEAT
MINORCGISMS
LIGHTSLEEPER
AGLETOSCARSNUB
SHORELAIRVISA
STOODSILKPLAN

In most songs you hear on the radio in any genre, the CHORUS is the part that repeats multiple times, that carries the main theme of the song, and that often (nearly always) includes the song title. The parts leading up to the repeating chorus are called VERSEs. They're usually different each time, setting up for the impact of the chorus. It's not a strict pattern. Songs might include a contrasting BRIDGE (often leading up to the final chorus), maybe an INTRO and maybe an EXTRO, but that CHORUS is the part that gets stuck in your ear.

Wed 6/4/2025
ATITTHATISGPA
ALICEREDACTALI
JANELLEMONAEVAN
AMCSASPDNATEST
ROTINIDETROIT
TICKLEMONSTER
SOBASIANOSCARI
OPAHATADAGED
DECADEELISEODE
ANKLEMONITORS
HALFASSDAYJOB
GETSANAANODOPE
RAYMAKELEMONADE
AROETALIITENOR
BTUDENIALSYNC
Thu 6/5/2025
AMPMABBOTATRA
VERYPRIMECHER
ODESTITANTEAM
WIPERASHPUPPY
ALIENAROAR
SLYFOXATLAST
TUMTRIESITO
ICEDSATCHERIN
NINEFORRILE
GATESTOUTREED
DOEASS
ARTARKACETSO
NOIFSANDSORBUTS
TOLETOOPBANAL
ISLESWASSTENO

Have you been solving crosswords long enough to remember this puzzle from 1997?

No IFs, ANDs, or BUTs means that:

  • VERY → VERIFY
  • CHER → BUTCHER
  • TRIES → TRIBUTES
  • STOUT → STANDOUT
  • WAS → WAIFS
  • BITS → BANDITS
  • STING → SIFTING
  • TONED → BUTTONED
  • DEED → DEBUTED
  • ERRS → ERRANDS

That makes 3 IFs, 3 ANDs, and 4 BUTs.

Fri 6/6/2025
ANNDRAMACOACH
SOAPREGULARJOE
ATTAIVEGOTEARS
DOINFIRSTWORDS
ANOINTSTAP
ENCASESOLICIT
SMASHSADKEANU
COLVASCOLSD
ARTSCENEBELIE
DEVILRYSTOLID
LABHOPSTEP
BONEMARROWTADA
UPANDLEAVEODOR
CANTILEVERNAPE
SLOPPYKISSYES
Sat 6/7/2025
AMASSTSPSACRA
GATHERSTOGETHER
IKNEWITALLALONG
NEOSPOILERCEO
GAPSERNIEMOWS
FOAMMSNPILE
TRITONSGRANADA
SENILETRITIP
KSTREETSETMENU
HIESHMODUCT
SSNSBEAUTMOET
OTTWOODROTARO
FAIRISLESWEATER
ARMAGEDDONCHESS
STEWSSONHADTO
Sun 6/8/2025 Meeting Their Match
ASTOATRIACELIAMESH
BORKFRENCHOPENSALPO
SRASFIXITINPOSTBEAU
OBISEXTINGSTHOCCS
FANFICOERMILTIE
STEERTOANSELSALERNO
TEELRATSGANTDOGF
ORTEGACOEDIT
GRINERALPINESAPOGEE
RAWBATTLEROYALESOMG
ETASHEROOLAMBEG
EINAHASINDTROIARF
NONUSERSWOLEANTONIO
GNARLSGAINERSSTRATO
RASSELKNBOWLGNUY
LEAFLASSIAMAAS
EMINEMANAPISANS
ANIMALMAGNETISM
DOAJIGZIPTIESSHEESH
UPVOTEOLESTRAQUANTA
DEARERNODAFTOPTOUT

You want a good justification for answers that turn corners, and these powerful magnets do the trick. At 1-Down, Jason Momoa has ABSOFST but a magnet then pulls in the next three letters making ABS OF STEEL. Similarly, 9-Down's ACTIONS pulls in the next three letters backwards to make ACTION STAR. And so on.

Note that each pair of magnetically connected bendy words are connected in some manner, and each magnet pair connects two animals. Ambitious indeed.

Mon 6/9/2025
GASUPSABERHEH
ODORSALONEEST
BELLYOFTHEBEAST
ALTCLEARUPTOP
GEISHAAFEW
MOVABLEFEAST
GLEEBLAREVIA
AIDEDYUPDWELL
RAGROSESISLE
BREWERSYEAST
CRABBISTRO
CLAIMOOHEDRAT
LASTBUTNOTLEAST
ATEINTELELITE
YESGOOSESITAR

This theme made me laugh.

A MOVABLE FEAST (Moveable Feast if you're British) is a religious holiday, typically celebrated with a big meal, that's not tied to a specific calendar date.

Tue 6/10/2025
INTELBOOBYWEPT
DIANEARGUEICER
KARAOKEBARSNORA
OMNIUNREELED
STREAMINGSERVICE
POOLDYEARA
ENOSZIPPLOTZED
NYTGOODCALLIRE
DASBOOTANYFLAM
ETABMIALTO
WEDDINGRECEPTION
REARTIRETRIO
ANNAMIXEDSIGNAL
CITIAMIGONUTTY
KEELLETGOTEHEE
Wed 6/11/2025
ASSIDSSTOKES
STUMATDERAILS
YAPSIAMESETWIN
EKEDSTIRSHIES
TERRESENT
MOTORSKILLS
GIOVANNISEEPED
ALOEFASTSGIVE
DENALISEASONAL
STARWITNESS
BEEPWEAVE
SAGESIPASTTOP
PLAGIARISMSAWS
AVIATEDPUPLEO
MANNERSTYELM
Thu 6/12/2025
EVASTAGEPOD
WIDEWILOWPEVE
ADHDIRATEOWEN
NEONMECASLERY
OCAMGETSOFT
AGOCLASACTOHS
HAMSOUPSUPTRU
AMISAGATEOBOE
SETOFESEDLAWS
SERSHALS
TUBSSUBJ
QUADRUPLEDOUBLE
ULTAFIELDWAIT
INOTFRAMEOMEN
PAPASONARNASA

This puzzle should be featured on ACCESS HOLLYWOOD.

Other options include GREEN GODDESS DRESSING, TENNESSEE VALLEY, and CHATTANOOGA CHOOCHOO.

cf.: Previous quadruple double.

Fri 6/13/2025
HOTPANTSSASHAY
APERTUREIPHONE
SEAOTTERNOOUTS
ARTSSAGSPOSE
TASERTECHTENS
PADHAYRNA
COMESOUTAHEAD
GOESBEASTMODE
WHITERUSSIANS
HONSIRPHO
ASPSSALTARMED
TUCKTOILCORI
MIRRORUNICORNS
INSANEINFODESK
AGEGAPEYETESTS
Sat 6/14/2025
READPALMSBATS
ONCEAWEEKTENREC
GOTCHADAYVENEER
ELIAYARDSPEEDO
RANTSAIRESTMC
HAWSVETNOOK
GALUMPHEDDIANE
FRIENDLYREMINDER
AORTAEASYPEASY
LUGERECESTS
CPUTUNISSIMBA
ODIOUSNEARMOES
NATURETELEPORTS
STAINSHIBERNATE
ERSTSNAKEEYES
Sun 6/15/2025 Tossing and Turning
AWDARNVSIGNSPATULA
HEAVIESENNUILOTUSES
NETIPOTROSIEOMELETS
OPEDSINSTITCHESACS
LIBICEEDAYOANAND
DNABANKSMERTRADESON
GREEDTRIOMEMOETC
EROSASUSEMIRS
DASBOOTNOTASIGNORAS
UTEBREWSARISTADAMP
PADREHOWNICESADIE
ERGODOOMEDISLETINN
DIETTIPSABLETSELIOT
SONIARAMSEPEE
ETDDENYCATSAPART
BARCADESRKOTENSPEED
TRULYSPEWJAVARAE
TMISTOODALONECLASS
WASPIERBARONROMAINE
OREOPIEOLDMESPONSOR
WETNOSEYESESINDEBT
Mon 6/16/2025
SKATRAGSPATHS
HAZEFLEAODEON
ERASKITTENHEEL
ALTOGARDEN
JOEYFATONESALE
AKAFDADIGIT
YESDEMOBEVELS
PUPPYLOVE
ALCOTTSOSARIO
LOOPYAOLEND
ATMSCALFMUSCLE
PIRATEETUI
CHICKFLICKUSMA
HELLOACNEBABY
EPEESSANGSLOE
Tue 6/17/2025
BFFSMEALSBASH
ALITOLLIEREPO
HERECOMESTHESUN
TEMPESTTHEATRE
BIDREIASH
RENEDESCARTES
PALYELLSTOE
AVIATESEATDIRT
REESESPIECES
ELFINCPAMESSY
SPIRALLED
SUSALERTTOPIC
PRESSESTHEFLESH
ADMITTIEFELLA
SUITSIATEEN
Wed 6/18/2025
NIGHCHOOLUBE
OGLEHERSISAY
COUNTERBALANCE
ATMCARDKGBCST
NYMETTABLEHOP
DOETAPATENURE
OUROPARTUSED
COUCHSURF
JAWATEAMOWIT
ADOLPHERSTACE
BARCRAWLOWNED
SSTELODARENOT
THEFLOORISLAVA
RIGASWAMTGEL
ATOBHEMSYORK
Thu 6/19/2025
ASSETTWASPTAS
KAHLOHELMAONE
ADOBEETTUBRUTE
RATOUTGRATER
LATAPSESODES
OCTOPISOCKED
ATOPSTALER
FINESSEPERETTI
NEARBYSEAT
TSTORMPETSIT
DADSAXLESTOY
ARTOISBARHOP
NOTONEBITARRAY
EVERMIKEREESE
WEDSIBEXPOPUP

At 20-Across, parse RATOUT as RA to UT. Perform that recipe at 22-Across to change GRATER to GUTTER, which matches the clue. And so on. Answers below are transformed using the X to Y instructions.

Fri 6/20/2025
THATANSWERSTHAT
ROYALOPERAHOUSE
EVERYVOTECOUNTS
SECERSCORGIS
RATTLEWOKS
PROSTHOULEE
ARTOOMAINPOINT
ROAMCOINSMODS
FLIPPHONEPANSY
SONRENTBUNS
BIASDANISH
CDSLOTWARHIP
HATERSGONNAHATE
ONINTIMATETERMS
WORDONTHESTREET
Sat 6/21/2025
BOBSLEDSPARSE
IHAVETOARIANA
THREWONTIDIES
SIBLINGRIVALRY
ITSORARDA
GHEELETITGO
RADPOLICETAPE
AIRKISSJODIE
PLEASLOESSER
HEARTSMARTTRI
MOONINGCASE
GAHLENCUT
STOPPEDONADIME
POURERRANGOUT
ONSITEANTENNA
TEEMEDNAILSIT
Sun 6/22/2025 Bringing a Plus One
HADRONAWORDCOCKPJS
ABUELAVICARORCALEI
SHAVETHEDATECASHBARD
NONEAROSETONLATKE
TREADONWEDDINGDURESS
LENDLKEANUEAN
LAWEELERINTEREASE
GRIFTREGISTRYXRAYLAB
BONOSASHAYSUITLGA
TWERPSLEOXSPREESOY
FEATHEROFTHEBRIDE
FARSEUSSOWOEENRAPT
ALATAREPREACHASIA
ISUREDOSOMETHINGBOLD
LODEINAPPSETONNEA
ASLPRIAMSCRUM
PARITYPLANNERHASIDIM
AROMALETGLADESIRI
BEASTMANMOTHERINLAWN
SNLUNITGLEANTEENIE
TADSONYMADLYSEDANS
Mon 6/23/2025
AGOFIDOSOB
NANOSTRAPREAL
DILLPICKLEANTI
SLYDOGSANWASP
EONSIMSET
CHINATVROGER
RAHSLEEPINGBAG
INAPPAREASIDE
BEDROOMDOORLIL
SATONENDALOT
BENETSEAL
KOLAAOLSCOLDS
ADAMDRESSSHIRT
MOSSASANAAPIA
ARTYOKOSPY

Fun theme.

Tue 6/24/2025
LENAOLAFSPAT
ASAPREBAINANE
MANODOCKSDOCKS
BUNGLESEATBELT
YEARSDUAREY
DICEDICECGI
IDAENRAGEAMID
SEMISUSEANISE
CASKSMELLSNEW
ETCLIESLIES
HAROOPDEALS
OPERAFANRIOTER
FRAYSFRAYSYELP
FILETAREADRAM
ALMSSCATSSNS

Read DOCKSDOCKS as PARADOX, DICEDICE as PARADISE, etc.

Wed 6/25/2025
TARTHUMPITSON
ANAREPELBEADY
MAGNAARTAERODE
ALBATROSSARP
LOANSTOMAMAASS
EGGTOADHUTU
SOBEREXILES
SNAPCRAKLEPOP
CLINICLEEDS
PUNTEPEEOAR
AREAODEPALETTE
FLUTWOLOVERS
UBOATCENTRALAC
SALUDAVIANLIU
ANDSOTETRAONE
Thu 6/26/2025
BOOIPASASSON
JETLINERALCOVE
PATENTEEMOORED
ONOHORNBLOWER
POISEATESPA
TRESSTEEPLE
OWEITTOAROAR
PORTAUTHORITY
VERNESADNESS
ARMADASDEEP
NAHRVSDATUM
CORDCUTTERABE
PALOMAERNURSES
OPENEDPIONEERS
DESADESOSORS

This is tricky because the answers must be parsed carefully to make sense of the clues. Gimmicks often work the other way around.

  • Hurricane / Nor'easter: Those are two kinds of "blowers"—one that starts with H and one that starts with N. So we have an H or N BLOWER. Mushing that together gives HORNBLOWER.
  • Cleaver / Dagger is a C Cutter or D cutter, making CORDCUTTER.
  • Pundit / Tsar is a P or T Authority
  • Sees / Espies is S or E SPOTS.
  • Wells / Mouths is W or M HOLES.
Fri 6/27/2025
KITEPACEDSRA
ACESODORSSTAN
TEAMSPIRITPAWN
SISEPUEDEURDU
UTEOPUSREDTEA
MOSSURHAL
FANTASYNOVELS
MICROMANAGERS
SOTHEREWEWERE
TNTSENANY
AGENTSNEYOASP
NODELITHUANIA
ZOOSSUCHISLIFE
ASUSATEATEMTS
SETTERNSCASE
Sat 6/28/2025
BOWSERTAICHI
ICEPOPDAWDLED
SARONGKABLOOEY
TREKSTOILSNHL
RIDEGOOSEKEEL
ONOSOUPYCASES
SANTATRACKER
SEALEDTHEDEAL
CAMERALENSES
APHIDFOILSTAO
TROTMOONYRENO
LOGCARPSHERON
ANGELICACELINE
STEPONEPRISMS
TODATERACKET
Sun 6/29/2025 All-In-Clue-sive
IMAMDRAKESLOGBALD
TYPEAIRERCAVEALTAR
TOPRANKINGROYALGARBO
OBELISKARMFUSION
TOLKIENTREECREATURE
EDITSLYRENOELOMS
GUTSCASEYCCLEF
APENINETIMESOUTOFTEN
DESSERTTACHRONOLE
HRREPDOORDRAW
PACIFISTSRENOUNCEMENT
OSHASKIPBULGE
POEPIEETASROADIES
OURHOMENEARTHESUNCIO
ITPROOUTEDHERB
MANOILSTOGOROSES
CASTAREALLYLONGLOOK
UNSHUTOAKOUTKAST
STAINMOUSEERADICATOR
PRINTONCETHINGHERE
SALTBEHRSODOISSTS
Mon 6/30/2025
CAPOTESLACAPE
OREOADWARALES
GEEZLOUISETKOS
KEYSSSNPAPA
PHASEWHOANELLY
JOBSFOERIES
SLOGLOSASS
YOUTALKINTOME
ARKADDNUTS
ASTROLSDSRI
NOWAYJOSEEATEN
GRINAHHFAVA
LESTBYEFELICIA
ESTEBERETAHOY
STYEASADANENE

The phrase was originally intended to be Bye Felisha but the spelling at 61-Across has become standard.

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