LA Times Crossword 18 Apr 23, Tuesday

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Constructed by: Juliet Corless
Edited by: Patti Varol

Today’s Reveal Answer: Stick with It

Themed answers each end with a kind of STICK:

  • 38A Persevere, or a hint to the ends of the answers to 17-, 26-, 53-, and 62-Across : STICK WITH IT
    • 17A Spot for holiday decorations : FRONT YARD (giving “yardstick”)
    • 26A Component of many a 1980s dance performance : MOONWALKING (giving “walking stick”)
    • 53A Fruit-flavored loaf : BANANA BREAD (giving “breadstick”)
    • 62A “Sometimes you feel like a nut” candy : ALMOND JOY (giving “joystick”)

    Read on, or jump to …
    … a complete list of answers

    Bill’s time: 5m 58s

    Bill’s errors: 0

    Today’s Wiki-est Amazonian Googlies

    Across

    16 Backless slippers : MULES

    A mule is a shoe without a back and usually with a closed toe. The original mule was a shoe worn by the highest magistrates in ancient Rome.

    26 Component of many a 1980s dance performance : MOONWALKING (giving “walking stick”)

    The backslide dance move that we know as the moonwalk has been around at least since the 1930s. Back then, it was used by the great Cab Calloway, who dubbed the move “the Buzz”. It was Michael Jackson who popularized the backslide in the 1980s, and gave it the name “moonwalk”.

    34 Volume of maps : ATLAS

    The first modern atlas was published in 1570 by Abraham Ortelius, a Flemish cartographer. It was called “Theatrum Orbis Terrarum” (Theater of the World).

    42 __ Bath & Beyond : BED

    Bed Bath & Beyond is a retailer of domestic merchandise that was founded in 1971 as Bed ‘n Bath. During one of the few visits I’ve ever made to a Bed Bath & Beyond store, I said to my wife, “I honestly cannot understand why this store even exists” (not my kind of store). Based on recent company financials, those words might have been quite prescient …

    45 Farm tower : SILO

    “Silo” is a Spanish word that we absorbed into English. The term ultimately derives from the Greek “siros”, which described a pit in which one kept corn.

    48 Phrase from Juliet’s balcony scene : O ROMEO

    In the balcony scene in Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”, Juliet utters the famous line:

    O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?

    Every school kid must have commented with a giggle “he’s down in the garden!” Of course, “wherefore” isn’t an archaic word for “where”, but rather an old way of saying “why”. So Juliet is asking, “Why art thou Romeo, a Montague, and hence a sworn enemy of the Capulets?”

    57 Dot over an “i” : TITTLE

    A tittle is a small diacritical mark used in writing. Examples are the cedilla and tilde used in some languages, and the dot over the lowercase letters i and j in English.

    60 Quartet in many a string orchestra : CELLI

    The word “cello” (plural “celli” or “cellos”) is an abbreviation for “violoncello”, an Italian word for “little violone”, referring to a group of stringed instruments that were popular up to the end of the 17th century. The name violoncello persisted for the instrument that we know today, although the abbreviation “‘cello” was often used. Nowadays, we just drop the apostrophe.

    62 “Sometimes you feel like a nut” candy : ALMOND JOY (giving “joystick”)

    I think my favorite candy growing up was an Almond Joy, although in my part of the world it was a little different formulation (more like a Mounds bar) and was called a Bounty Bar . The Almond Joy bar has been around since 1946. Hershey’s used a famous jingle in a seventies ad campaign for the Mounds and Almond Joy:

    Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t
    Almond Joy’s got nuts
    Mounds don’t

    68 Boyfriend : BEAU

    A beau (plural “beaux”) is the boyfriend of a belle, a young lady. “Beau” and “belle” are the masculine and feminine forms of the French word for “handsome, beautiful”.

    69 Minecraft or Fortnite : GAME

    Minecraft is a video game that was released in 2011. It is the most popular video game of all time, with well over 200 million units sold.

    Fortnite is a very, very popular online game that was released in 2017. There are several versions of the game, including the original Fortnite: Save the World.

    70 Run-down : SEEDY

    We use the word “seedy” to mean “shabby”. The usage probably arose from the appearance of a flowering plant that has gone to seed.

    71 “Now!,” in the ICU : STAT!

    The exact etymology of “stat”, a term meaning “immediately” in the medical profession, seems to have been lost in the mists of time. It probably comes from the Latin “statim” meaning “to a standstill, immediately”. A blog reader has helpfully suggested that the term may also come from the world of laboratory analysis, where the acronym STAT stands for “short turn-around time”.

    72 Future platypuses : EGGS

    The platypus (plural “platypuses” or “platypi”) is one of only five mammalian species that we know of that lay eggs rather than give birth to live young. It is a native of Eastern Australia, and it is a weird creature to say the least. Its appearance is bizarre enough, with its bill that resembles that of a duck, but it is also very dangerous. The platypus has a spur on its hind foot that can inject venom and cause severe pain in humans.

    Down

    2 Happy hour locale : BAR

    I personally think that Happy Hour is best enjoyed shaken, not stirred; and with a good crossword …

    3 My Chemical Romance genre : EMO

    My Chemical Romance was an alternative rock band from Jersey City that was active from 2001 to 2013. One of the band members suggested the name, after noticing the title of the book “Ecstasy: Three Tales of Chemical Romance” by Irvine Welsh.

    4 Strong longings : YENS

    The word “yen”, meaning “urge”, has been around in English since the very early 1900s. It comes from the earlier word “yin” imported from Chinese, which was used in English to describe an intense craving for opium.

    6 “Girl in Progress” actress Mendes : EVA

    I am most familiar with actress Eva Mendes as the female lead in the movie “Hitch”, in which she played opposite Will Smith. Mendes started a relationship with fellow actor Ryan Gosling in 2011, and the couple have two children together.

    7 Long-legged wader : HERON

    Herons are birds with long legs that inhabit freshwater and coastal locales. Some herons are routinely referred to as egrets, and others as bitterns. Herons look a lot like storks and cranes, but differ in their appearance in flight. Herons fly with their necks retracted in an S-shape, whereas storks and cranes have their necks extended.

    10 Shout of discovery : EUREKA!

    “Eureka” translates from Greek as “I have found it”. The word is usually associated with Archimedes, uttered as he stepped into his bath one day. His discovery was that the volume of water that was displaced was equal to that of the object (presumably his foot) that had been submerged. He used this fact to determine volume (and density) of a crown, something he needed in order to determine if it was made of pure gold or was a forgery.

    11 Semisonic hit with the lyrics “You don’t have to go home / But you can’t stay here” : CLOSING TIME

    The most famous song recorded by American rock band Semisonic is 1998’s “Closing Time”. Apparently, band member Dan Wilson wrote the song hoping that the group could use it to “close” their concerts.

    12 Tazo beverage : TEA

    Tazo is an American brand of tea products introduced in 1983. The company’s name is a Romany word meaning “river of life”.

    13 20th century map inits. : SSR

    When the former Soviet Union (USSR) dissolved in 1991, it was largely replaced by the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The formation of the CIS underscored the new reality, that the former Soviet Republics (SSRs) were now independent states. Most of the 15 former SSRs joined the CIS. Notably, the three Baltic SSRs (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) opted not to join the new commonwealth, and in 2004 joined NATO and the EU.

    18 __-shanter: Scottish cap : TAM O

    A tam o’shanter is a man’s cap worn traditionally by Scotsmen. “Tams” were originally all blue (and called “blue bonnets”) but as more dyes became readily available they became more colorful. The name of the cap comes from the title character of the Robert Burns poem “Tam o’ Shanter”. A pom-pom adorning a tam is known as a toorie.

    24 Advice columnist Dickinson : AMY

    Amy Dickinson is the author and journalist behind the syndicated advice column “Ask Amy”. I listen to Dickinson quite often on the great PBS radio game show called “Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!”

    25 Shakira’s only #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 : HIPS DON’T LIE

    Shakira’s 2006 song “Hips Don’t Lie” broke a record soon after it was released. It became the most-played pop song in a single week in the history of American radio.

    27 2019 and 2021 Australian Open winner Naomi : OSAKA

    Naomi Osaka is a Japanese-born tennis professional who became the first Asian player to be ranked number-one in singles. She was also the first ever tennis player to light the Olympic cauldron during an opening ceremony, doing so for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

    28 Staff sgt., e.g. : NCO

    A staff sergeant (SSgt.) is a non-commissioned officer (NCO).

    29 Gift of __ : GAB

    Blarney is a town in County Cork in the south of Ireland. Blarney is home to Blarney Castle, and inside the castle is the legendary Blarney Stone. “Kissing the Blarney Stone” is a ritual engaged in by many, many tourists (indeed, I’ve done it myself!), but it’s not a simple process. The stone is embedded in the wall of the castle, and in order to kiss it you have to sit on the edge of the parapet and lean way backwards so that your head is some two feet below your body. There is a staff member there to help you and make sure you don’t fall. The Blarney Stone has been referred to as the world’s most unhygienic tourist attraction! But once you’ve kissed it, supposedly you are endowed with the “gift of the gab”, the ability to talk eloquently and perhaps deceptively without offending. The term “blarney” has come to mean flattering and deceptive talk.

    35 County div. : TWP

    Township (twp.)

    36 Feudal lord : LIEGE

    A liege was a feudal lord, one to whom service or allegiance was owed under feudal law. “Liege” was also the term used for one who owed allegiance or service to a lord. Apparently the term is influenced by the Latin verb “ligare” meaning “to tie, bind”. So, I guess both lord and servant were “bound” to each other.

    Feudalism was a legal and military system that flourished in medieval Europe. Central to the system were the concepts of lords, vassals and fiefs. Lords would grant fiefs (land or rights) to vassals in exchange for allegiance and service.

    40 Zagreb native : CROAT

    Zagreb is the capital city of the Republic of Croatia. Zagreb has been around a long, long time, and dates back to the diocese of Zagreb that was founded at the end of the 11th century.

    42 Short cut : BOB

    A bob cut is a short hairstyle in which the hair is cut straight around the head, at about the line of the jaw. Back in the 1570s, “bob” was the name given to a horse’s tail that was cut short, and about a century later it was being used to describe short hair on humans. The style became very popular with women in the early 1900s (as worn by actress Clara Bow, for example), with the fashion dying out in the thirties. The style reemerged in the sixties around the time the Beatles introduced their “mop tops”, with Vidal Sassoon leading the way in styling women’s hair in a bob cut again. Personally, I like it …

    49 Sent, as a postcard : MAILED

    The studying and collecting of postcards is known as “deltiology”, from the Greek word “deltos” meaning “writing tablet, letter”.

    52 Yemen’s Gulf of __ : ADEN

    The Gulf of Aden is the body of water that lies south of the Red Sea, and just north of the Horn of Africa.

    55 Find a new tenant for : RELET

    A tenant is a person or entity “holding” property by virtue of title or lease. The term “tenant” comes from the Latin “tenere” meaning “to hold”.

    60 “Blue Bloods” TV network : CBS

    “Blue Bloods” is a police drama series about a family of New York City police officers led by Police Commissioner Frank Reagan, played by Tom Selleck. The show first aired in 2010, and is a creation of husband and wife Robin Green and Mirchell Burgess. Green and Burgess also wrote together for the hit show “The Sopranos”.

    64 High-end British car, for short : JAG

    Auto manufacturer Jaguar started out as a manufacturer of sidecars for motorcycles back in 1922, when the company was known as the Swallow Sidecar Company (SS for short). The company changed its name to Jaguar after WWII, because of the unfortunate connotations of the letters “SS” in that era (i.e. the Nazi paramilitary organization).

    65 “No. Way.” : OMG

    “OMG” is text-speak for “Oh My Gosh!” “Oh My Goodness!” or any other G-words you might care to use …

    Complete List of Clues/Answers

    Across

    1 Outdated marriage vow word : OBEY
    5 “lol” : HE-HE
    9 Religious divisions : SECTS
    14 Renown : FAME
    15 Odd’s opposite : EVEN
    16 Backless slippers : MULES
    17 Spot for holiday decorations : FRONT YARD (giving “yardstick”)
    19 Loud, as a crowd : AROAR
    20 As an example : SAY
    21 Tons : OODLES
    23 Pep squad cheer : RAH!
    26 Component of many a 1980s dance performance : MOONWALKING (giving “walking stick”)
    30 Like dark clouds : OMINOUS
    32 Pizza __: pie without tomato sauce : BIANCA
    33 Proofreader’s catch, hopefully : TYPO
    34 Volume of maps : ATLAS
    37 Gooey lump : GOB
    38 Persevere, or a hint to the ends of the answers to 17-, 26-, 53-, and 62-Across : STICK WITH IT
    42 __ Bath & Beyond : BED
    44 Hang gracefully : DRAPE
    45 Farm tower : SILO
    48 Phrase from Juliet’s balcony scene : O ROMEO
    50 Language arts teacher’s concern : GRAMMAR
    53 Fruit-flavored loaf : BANANA BREAD (giving “breadstick”)
    56 Potato growth : EYE
    57 Dot over an “i” : TITTLE
    58 Golf peg : TEE
    60 Quartet in many a string orchestra : CELLI
    62 “Sometimes you feel like a nut” candy : ALMOND JOY (giving “joystick”)
    67 Short-lived : BRIEF
    68 Boyfriend : BEAU
    69 Minecraft or Fortnite : GAME
    70 Run-down : SEEDY
    71 “Now!,” in the ICU : STAT!
    72 Future platypuses : EGGS

    Down

    1 Away from work : OFF
    2 Happy hour locale : BAR
    3 My Chemical Romance genre : EMO
    4 Strong longings : YENS
    5 “Psst!” : HEY, YOU!
    6 “Girl in Progress” actress Mendes : EVA
    7 Long-legged wader : HERON
    8 Fund on an ongoing basis : ENDOW
    9 Sorta tiny : SMALLISH
    10 Shout of discovery : EUREKA!
    11 Semisonic hit with the lyrics “You don’t have to go home / But you can’t stay here” : CLOSING TIME
    12 Tazo beverage : TEA
    13 20th century map inits. : SSR
    18 __-shanter: Scottish cap : TAM O
    22 Blot with a tissue : DAB AT
    23 Biodegrade : ROT
    24 Advice columnist Dickinson : AMY
    25 Shakira’s only #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 : HIPS DON’T LIE
    27 2019 and 2021 Australian Open winner Naomi : OSAKA
    28 Staff sgt., e.g. : NCO
    29 Gift of __ : GAB
    31 “__ on my watch!” : NOT
    35 County div. : TWP
    36 Feudal lord : LIEGE
    39 Call by name : IDENTIFY
    40 Zagreb native : CROAT
    41 Belief system suffix : -ISM
    42 Short cut : BOB
    43 Memorable historical period : ERA
    46 Install, as tiles : LAY
    47 Mined metal : ORE
    49 Sent, as a postcard : MAILED
    51 Snitch on : RAT OUT
    52 Yemen’s Gulf of __ : ADEN
    54 Says too much : BLABS
    55 Find a new tenant for : RELET
    59 One of 12 on a cube : EDGE
    60 “Blue Bloods” TV network : CBS
    61 Before, in classic poetry : ERE
    63 Goat’s bleat : MAA!
    64 High-end British car, for short : JAG
    65 “No. Way.” : OMG
    66 “That’s right” : YES