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

Thumbnails

Puzzles for July, 2020
with Jim Horne comments

Wed 7/1/2020
PDFSTAPONASTO
LOOTIRONYCHEX
ONLYTESTYMANE
POLESNTHLEROY
SROTEASERSERE
WIPERBLADES
CYSTLOOIESTIR
LETONCNNOCHOA
AAHOAKDESKETS
PRECUTWAHWAH
MARTAEAPOE
SOCIALCAPITAL
JUNKCLASPFLAG
EVELKANYEOTTO
TAYESNEADRHEA
Thu 7/2/2020
SERAUNPEGMANE
OMARPOLIONICER
COMMITMENTINCUR
UPSROSSTSHIRT
TOETAPSTAYALERT
EPSONDYEROADIE
MICECPUBINS
TMSSUNCHIPSTOT
ROAREYENYET
INLETSDUEPIDAY
GASPRICESSTOOGE
LATINOMAUIGEL
TIBIASKIPSCHOOL
ISALLMENSABONE
CAREOATENODED
Fri 7/3/2020
ASSTFUELPHONO
BATHIDLEHUMOR
ACREROMATOMATO
SHARPENATARI
HAWAIIBORON
MARAUDCOSMO
WOENONSEQUITUR
ANTHONYBOURDAIN
SCOUTSHONORBRO
PENNEOYSTER
GATOSINURES
AMOCOGETBACK
IMINHEAVENBDAY
MONTELENTEIRE
PRIORAXESRODS
Sat 7/4/2020
DECKLEPFCHANGS
ONLOANRICEMILK
ODIOUSOVERPLAY
ROCKRIBBEDLEDE
JFKAGLOWYESES
ADHDNONAME
MAORIBOYCOTTS
BYLAWSSWIVEL
SEMIHARDSERTA
LETOUTRAPS
SNAILWUSHUTIT
PONDRATTERRIER
AHOYMATEBIANCA
RODLAVERBEGGED
SWELTERSCLASSA
POW Sun 7/5/2020 TO-DO LIST
TSPPSASMECCABARE
APUSOAPTIDOLSTAMER
RETHONEYMEMOSICING
DESSERTSCENESTEASES
IDLYMAFIASEAHORSE
SOIREEATMHOTHAND
PUPSQUAREFOOTITCH
RESPECTAREARSSIOU
INTEARTOOLTATTICUS
AVOWRAMISTLOHUNKS
SENIORPROMHERDEDCATS
LASSOINONTOYTALEE
TOPHATSSTASHLEDLAE
EPIYAKEDIEATEITUP
LEGONORELATIONASH
UNDRESSSVUUNLESS
ARTISTICBORONABUT
BLACKTMARTYRFARMORE
RETROPAPUAINTROXFL
ORIONAGENTENEMYEEL
STOPWEDGESENSSRA
Mon 7/6/2020
NADALMICASLID
OBAMAOPALTYNE
SALTYVANGUARDS
ELLSAIDATTIRE
JOYRIDESOSCAR
ONIONSPUPSGT
BENDPEORIA
GINGERSNAPS
NOMORERIPA
GELDANMAIDEN
ALAMOBOBSLEDS
MODIFYALASLAW
BILLFOLDSEMILE
ISEERAGETONER
TESSEDENSEEDS

"Businessman Gates" at 57-Across gave me pause. For the last 20 years, he and his wife have been focussed on philanthropy.

POW Tue 7/7/2020
SARIPEARASHEN
IMEDOMNISEALY
MUSTSTOCKSPLIT
PLEASEWHATIF
LETGOCLANATOI
ETSDNAREIIVE
BAILEDNAMED
WRAPPINGPAPER
LIETOBEERME
ONEPURROOIMP
BONDSATEOSCAR
TOASTYADHERE
SUEZCRISISOTIS
HIRERNOOKWEST
YESNOGNUSNATO

I think this 2018 puzzle by Sam Trabucco is the most recent NYT wrap-around crossword, although its gimmick is much different.

Wed 7/8/2020
BASSINEPTDRAG
LOCITONERROLO
IRANSLYLYYOLO
STRESSEATING
SAFARISTOOPTO
DAMNSLOREN
ROESPACECADETS
OPALLLOSASORE
STRIKEAPOSEPAT
SELMAESTAB
IDSAYSODROIDS
BOLDPROPOSAL
FETEAEIOUTARE
IKEAVOCABHALE
TEENSNORTSCAT
Thu 7/9/2020
STABSIPLOTSA
LOCOLPGAOTHER
ERRSEYEDSCRUM
DOESNTRTRUEESS
EESELBOWS
CDANCEMIFF
MATTORAHGNOME
OCHSTETESORAL
STEEDDOINGARF
WEEDFROOTL
HANSOMRAW
FOGTHISRISONME
EMOJINEONBOIL
LINENSMUGINNS
TESTYKITTOTE

Elizabeth C. Gorski has a history of cleverly using standard grid circles to mean round things like car wheels or, memorably, champagne bubbles.

Fri 7/10/2020
STUNTMANSTABLE
HIROHITOCONAIR
INKWELLSHOISTS
NEECHAAUNTIE
YSLHOSERSALBS
TRUEWESTIRE
ENGROSSESELCID
MARINECREATE
ASAMILATERISER
ICYCHECHNYA
LABSETCETCPOP
REEDITDARACE
ADAGESMOVEMBER
GARNETSLOWCLAP
ADDONSSESSIONS
Sat 7/11/2020
AMTRAKDIGGS
PARADISEFOUND
CROCODILETEARS
HIVEMEATSPACE
ENERGYRATGOD
MASIONASTONY
CRUELLAROCS
SOULTRAINLINE
EPUBHOMEGYM
MOTETOVUMDIA
ITSELFSEEING
RAWSCORESACME
DATACOLLECTION
METOOMOVEMENT
PESTOALEROS

Oops! The original published clue for EVA at 58-Down was [Wall-E's love in "Wall-E"] but while Wall-E pronounces the name "Eva", that robot of romance spells own her name EVE.

Sun 7/12/2020 CHORES GALORE
IGLESIASJEMIMAORATE
DUALROLEOSIRISNOTAX
TAKEOUTTHETRASHPATTI
AVECARIDOTHEDISHES
GARTHADSSEAATTEST
EINSTEINPONCHO
SWEEPTHEFLOORVSHAPED
OILSHAVENICEMETA
WIIGMESAPOORATRON
NUMEROUNOGOTOTHEBANK
SIAADMITITALE
SORTTHEMAILNIBBLESON
UDOEUROPAAGEENIKE
MIDIAROMASSAYLAW
ONENESSPICKUPTHETOYS
WEAKERHERESHOW
SCARRYAIGDIEHOSER
PAYTHEBILLSCPASURI
INIGOCLEANTHEGUTTERS
TONALCANDIDRUNSAMOK
SENSESTEEPSSECURELY
POW Mon 7/13/2020
CHERAREASTOTS
RUTHMANGOBURP
ALTOUDDERSTAR
PLUMBLOSSOMTIE
BEENREBATE
AUGUSTTWISTS
FROSTNORTHWIND
AGOHIDEYGEE
REDDRAGONLOHAN
FROTHSPANTRY
BOOYAHNANA
ERRMAHJONGTILE
ENYAWEAVEEDIT
FOODARIELALMA
STUDYELLSREES
Tue 7/14/2020
LETINARMSSHOW
OVENSLEAHCARE
RENTFREEZERISE
CREEORDERAROD
ATTRACTLIPS
EPAWHOLEHOG
PHASECRACKIRR
RANTPLONKTREE
OWNGRANDARTSY
SKIPPINGRBI
EEOCYOUANDI
ECHOEMAILNORN
SOAPWICKEDGOOD
TALLANTEOLIVE
AXLERIISTELEX

Jeff's not hot on WICKED GOOD but for me, it's the highlight of the grid.

Wed 7/15/2020
GLAMMOUNTCABS
AUTOERRORASAP
LIEUDELTANASA
AGASSISCANIN
SITSPATPHALANX
EASEEARS
ETDTHXARMCDS
SHIBUYASTEWART
PEARLSHHLIMEY
MPAAHOOALPS
LIEVCOLORLEST
OKRAALITOARCS
GABINDEEDYVOL
IDASIERRASADO
COGATMSNLNET
Thu 7/16/2020
JACKASSSODACAN
ALDENTEEROTICA
CORNDOGNEWAGEY
OHOPOISOND
BAMBIFESTGAP
ICLEIIOMAHA
STORYARCSNARED
LANDTRICKTBAR
OBLIGEAREACODE
BOOERFLOWCH
SOWOTOHTARSI
HURDENTANN
OKCUPIDYESISEE
WIIMOTEPRINTER
EDASNERDARKART
Fri 7/17/2020
SWABGAGA
STENOSAEOLUS
CHARACTERSKETCH
RATECARTSNORA
EVEGERITOLPAL
DELTALEEADAPT
NEARDISASTERS
GLOATCHEST
TILTMECHANISM
HASTORRENTSEA
ALLENSURESTAX
JOANDONE
INTIMATEAPPAREL
SOLOPERFORMER
REPUTATIONS
Sat 7/18/2020
MAINSTAYMAHLER
EXNIHILOGROOVE
DISCOSTUMITTEN
SUEDOHMAMINO
MODSATFANT
NYUDERAILED
ASHEBOTTOMLINE
TEAMADONNAFOB
VAMPIREBATPERT
SCHEDULEERI
HATSETDECA
WANDSTHCCALF
ENDOWSELDERLAW
AGEGAPRAINDATE
REDSKYEMPTYNET
Sun 7/19/2020 DOUBLES PLAY
ETSTHECOPAPANICBAR
SARAHEALSUPIRONRULE
TRAPPARTISTSCCTHEDAY
OFSORTSNITESSADE
RUHROHAGEEICETGRE
ELYTUMSDIZZCONTROL
AIRDUCTDEEYAHOOS
STRIPTTRETOUCHBRUTE
TRIMSBENEPHOTOOP
EASEOCTANESWIRETAP
ALIAMUUMENTPARKSHIE
MANOWARRAPANUIMILT
GRANDMAGABSNONET
TATERSORBETSCLOCKYY
TRIADSTMISTRAINS
OLDDSTATIONARKSCOM
POEOBOEONCEELAINE
LENASIDEADLISTER
GGLOUISESURPRIIPARTY
UPACREEKALTROCKHOWL
SAWHORSEYESISEEINO

TENSEGRITY has never appeared in an NYT crossword, but you can see an example on Wyna Liu's beautiful website.

Mon 7/20/2020
NASHASIAHAHAS
AMIEVANSENACT
RIGHTONTHEMONEY
WANUNDRESSDHL
HBOMBUSCEVIE
ALFAGOTDRAGS
LEFTINTHELURCH
OATTEN
FRONTOFTHELINE
JEEPSLEIICON
ARFSIOUELECT
BROIWASHADCAR
BACKTOTHEFUTURE
ERUPTHORAABBA
DISHYSTARBEST

Jeff Brumley is the famous bass player from the band Rise Up. (Full disclosure: I happen to know him personally.) In response to Mr. Chen's write up, Mr. Brumley sent us a video link along with this comment: "You wanted more rap involving a rhinoceros? You got it."

Tue 7/21/2020
ASKNETSSTALE
CNNICETDIALED
TIESCOREIMGLAD
SPEAKMACEFRI
NEWSMAGAZINE
DAWDLEPOWER
UGHSAVERERECT
DRAGRATIOODOR
EATUPSASHAUSA
AREASHUMPTY
VISUALACUITY
ISHIRASOMBRE
ANALOGLEAPYEAR
LOMEINLUKESKI
STEELSPANTEN
Wed 7/22/2020
PILEDPLEDBOER
OMANIACLUULNA
PAULGOLDSCHMIDT
OMGISLATALOSS
HENSONTIE
MILITARYJARGON
AMINOTOPSNOG
LPNSSWINENEMO
LEESTEMROHAN
ISNTITEXCITING
OOPSTOPIT
TRIPLEAEMITAS
SAFEENVIRONMENT
ASSTDIORTORTE
RHOSSANAONSET

Bloggers need to be prepared for a revival of the great "Is it DUCT TAPE or DUCK TAPE?" controversy. Just stay out of that one. You can't win.

POW Thu 7/23/2020
SUNSPEDRAMA
LSATMALIOMITS
UHOHERINTENSE
REMOVETHECRUEL
PRIMAYURTITAL
ARCHOUNCE
OLESHAMROAMED
STLLETTERWERA
ORACLENYECNET
BECKSETNA
TRONSITSBRAVA
BIRTHFROMCLUES
SPARETUNAOTIC
PUTINELMSSOLO
PECSDYESSST
Fri 7/24/2020
SHALEPINTSPIN
LOWERCASEITUNA
ALLTERRAINELON
BOSSBATTLEALVA
TUBMRE
HIGHSCORESBART
AMOIADULTONTO
IMINKINDAAKIN
KINGESTERTOME
UGGSSTOREOWNER
RVSINI
BAILHALFNELSON
ATRITRUETOLIFE
LEADMICROFILMS
IDLELEANFETES
Sat 7/25/2020
VICTORIASSECRET
ALLALONGTHELINE
SEALEDENVELOPES
TANKXIISASS
SARITOKE
CAPITOLUNEDGED
OPENTOESEABLUE
ALTAITOILE
TIEWRAPBROODED
ITSHEREOINKERS
IDYLNAST
AVISIPSECHO
WINPLACEANDSHOW
ONCEINALIFETIME
LEARNONESLESSON
Sun 7/26/2020 MADE-TO-ORDER
LASSMANICLEAFOVAL
ICONALEROETNABIOTA
SQUARECHINASTIALLEY
PURGEHISSEDONESEC
INSIDEHOSTINTHEDARK
LEODIMELOOPIESTNEE
ESTDIRGEANDWAIST
ACESDISMISSEDBOBCAT
ESAUTAZITSWARCALL
ADSMENUAXISSEE
ABETAROUNDTHEBUSH
SALSAGABIEBEMU
CREWREJOINOOPACTI
ACCEDEBEGINWATCHING
RABBICSAMENSAMDS
ADAMAHIMAHISTOWPOT
BELOWMACARONIOSAKAN
DMITRIMILNERRENEE
PAWATALSOOCEANDEIST
IVINSDIORVALLIPSIS
CANIEASYESSEXSTAY

Mr. Charlson notes that he's the founder of Z.J.X.Q. — Americans Against Accurate Acronyms.

Let's all hope he doesn't run afoul of the A.A.A.A.A.A.A. — the American Association Against Acronym and Abbreviation Abuse.

Mon 7/27/2020
SARASLIPSJOCK
ARALHENRIAVIA
YODAHIKINGGEAR
AMISSJAKEROT
HAIKUPOEMMSN
ADOPTWIND
CPADRESSTIGER
HIGHENDHEIGHHO
APRONSTAGETIP
PEERERASE
EATHEIDIKLUM
SPAMIENNEATO
HYBRIDCARSONTO
ELLEOHGEEUKES
DEEPSEEYATYRE
Tue 7/28/2020
PACTLOAFLOKI
FLYATENCINOMAN
FABLESEACOASTS
TRELLISITEM
MRTNEWINSPOT
FALSEHOODRIO
CARLOTOWNWELL
ARIELDPSREVEL
RYESUMPSOBERS
PANINVENTION
INDEBTREOFTS
GARSEWELAMB
OVERRULEDLIBEL
DIMESTOREFELLA
SMUTHEADSETH
Wed 7/29/2020
ATOMSTEDPACTS
TOWITIPAADIEU
MOOSEAIRSATAN
TWOPERCENTMILK
SPADOES
POTPIERENOEMU
IPHONESEVENPLUS
TIRECSISIRE
ONEMICHELINSTAR
NEWBOLTMOTELS
BANEOPS
STRONGPASSWORD
TRACKPGAEBOOK
OUNCEEEKAISLE
PETERDEATESTY
Thu 7/30/2020
WIFETOBESCRAP
IRONOPENHOUSE
FALLLINEINDIA
INKBEESKNEES
MEATPIES
PULLSHUTTHE
AISLETIRESOUT
SKISLOPEWAITA
SECROSEOILS
GOODTONE
BLOWNDOWNTWO
TOONEMADEABID
ASPENTREELAND
USERSNESTEGGS

Paper solvers don't see cross-referenced clues. We've tried to duplicate the print experience here.

Fri 7/31/2020
PROMBFFSMALTA
AEROELASTIGIRL
NCAALAYERCAKES
DONTCAREARIES
ANGRYELION
CELIEBULBPGA
HISANDHISLALAW
ALONGALTABASE
LEDGERESIDENTS
FDAWADSCIDER
POLYHENTOS
ALERTREDGIANT
AMENTOTHATTROU
DINAHSHORELIMB
ODDLYUSDALAYS

A terrific puzzle, and "Groin pulls" is a clue-of-the-year contender.

XWord Info Home
XWord Info © 2007-2024, Jim Horne
105 ms