Constructed by: David Alfred Bywaters
Edited by: Rich Norris
Quicklink to a complete list of today’s clues and answers
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Theme: G is T
Today’s themed answers are common phrases in which a letter G IS now a letter T, in which a letter G is replaced by a letter T:
- 69A. Essence … and, read differently, a hint to six puzzle answers : GIST … and G IS T
- 17A. Sports geek get-togethers? : STAT PARTIES (from “stag parties”)
- 25A. Halloween decoration? : PAPER BAT (from “paper bag”)
- 32A. Longhair cat’s inability to move on? : PERSIAN RUT (from “Persian rug”)
- 43A. Last one left angrily carrying on? : LONE RANTER (from “Lone Ranger”)
- 48A. Imperfection in a pointillist painting? : STRAY DOT (from “stray dog”)
Bill’s time: 8m 07s
Bill’s errors: 0
Today’s Wiki-est, Amazonian Googlies
Across
14. It replaced the Cypriot pound : EURO
The Cypriot pound was named for the pound sterling, which the British introduced on the island in 1879. The Cypriot pound broke parity with the pound sterling some twelve years after Cyprus gained independence from the UK in 1960. Today’s Republic of Cyprus replaced the Cypriot pound with the euro in 2008. However, the breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus continues to use the Turkish lira, which was introduced following a unilateral declaration of independence for that part of the island in 1983.
15. Go back : RENEGE
To renege on something is to back out of it. It’s a verb commonly used in card games like bridge and whist. A renege is when a player doesn’t follow suit, even though there may be a card of the suit led in his/her hand.
17. Sports geek get-togethers? : STAT PARTIES (from “stag parties”)
Back where I come from, bachelor parties are called stag parties, and bachelorette parties are known as hen parties.
22. Pesters online, in a way : SPAMS
Apparently the term “spam”, used for unwanted email, is taken from a “Monty Python” sketch. In the sketch (which I’ve seen) the dialog is taken over by the word Spam, a play on the glut of canned meat in the markets of Britain after WWII. So “spam” is used for the glut of emails that takes over online communication. I can just imagine nerdy Internet types (like me) adopting something from a “Monty Python” sketch to describe an online phenomenon …
24. Wall St. event : IPO
An Initial Public Offering (IPO) is the very first offer of stock for sale by a company on the open market. In other words, an IPO marks the first time that a company is traded on a public exchange. Companies have an IPO to raise capital to expand (usually).
25. Halloween decoration? : PAPER BAT (from “paper bag”)
All Saints’ Day is November 1st each year. The day before All Saints’ Day is All Hallows’ Eve, better known by the Scottish term “Halloween”.
27. Western city named for a Suquamish chief : SEATTLE
The Washington city of Seattle was founded on a site that had been occupied by Native Americans for over 4,000 years before the first Europeans arrived in the area. The name “Seattle” was chosen in honor of Duwamish Chief Seattle, who had a reputation for welcoming white settlers.
32. Longhair cat’s monotonous routine? : PERSIAN RUT (from “Persian rug”)
The Persian is that long-haired cat with a squashed muzzle. The breed takes its name from its place of origin, namely Persia (Iran).
39. Early computer : ENIAC
The acronym ENIAC stands for Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator (although many folks insist that the C was for “Computer”). ENIAC was introduced at the University of Pennsylvania in 1946, at which time it was the first general-purpose electronic computer, and dubbed “Giant Brain” by the press. Its original purpose was the calculation of artillery firing tables, but it ended up being used early on to make calculations necessary for the development of the hydrogen bomb. Given its uses, it’s not surprising to hear that development of ENIAC was funded by the US Army during WWII.
40. Hound over a debt : DUN
“To dun” is to insist on payment of a debt. The etymology of the term is unclear, with one suggestion that it dates back to a famous debt collector in London named Joe Dun.
43. Last one left angrily carrying on? : LONE RANTER (from “Lone Ranger”)
“The Lone Ranger” was both a radio and television show, dating back to its first radio performance in 1933 on a Detroit station. The line “Hi-yo, Silver! Away!” was a device used in the storyline to signal that a riding sequence was starting, so cue the music!
45. Job ad abbr. : EOE
Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE)
48. Imperfection in a pointillist painting? : STRAY DOT (from “stray dog”)
Pointillism is a style of painting that grew out of Impressionism. The pointillist technique calls for the artist to use small, distinct dots of bold color to build up the image. Pointillism was developed in the late 1800s by the great French painter, Georges Seurat. You can go see his magnificent work “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte” at The Art Institute of Chicago the next time you’re in town.
53. Corp. leaders : MGT
Management (mgt.)
57. Printemps month : MAI
In French, the month of “mai” (May) is in the season of “printemps” (spring).
60. Addams family cousin : ITT
In the television sitcom “The Addams Family”, the family had a frequent visitor called Cousin Itt. Itt is a short man with long hair that runs from his head to the floor. Cousin Itt was played by Italian actor Felix Silla.
They’re creepy and they’re kooky,
Mysterious and spooky,
They’re altogether ooky,
The Addams Family.
61. Moral? : TALE WARNING (from “gale warning”)
A gale is a very strong wind, a wind that is defined by Beaufort Wind Scale as a wind with speeds from 50 to just over 100 kilometers per hour.
64. Tasseled hat : FEZ
A fez is a red cylindrical hat worn mainly in North Africa, and by Shriners here in the US. The fez used to be a very popular hat across the Ottoman Empire. The etymology of “fez” is unclear, although it might have something to do with the Moroccan city named Fez.
65. Pair of ones? : ELEVEN
Down
5. Tropical Rain Forest seller since 1993 : CRAYOLA
In the year 2000 the Crayola company, very cleverly I think, held the “Crayola Color Census 2000” in which people were polled and asked for their favorite Crayola colors. President George W. Bush chose “Blue Bell” and Tiger Woods chose “Wild Strawberry”.
13. Take forcibly : WREST
The verb “to wrest” can mean to obtain by violent twisting and pulling. The word “wrest” derives from the Middle English “wresten” meaning “to twist”. Our word “wrestling” has the same etymology.
23. Administrative district : PRECINCT
A “precinct” is a defined area, often in a city, that is established for administrative purposes. For electoral purposes in the US, the term “precinct” is sometimes used interchangeably with “election district”. Famously, the city of New York uses the term “precinct” for its police stations. The term comes from the Medieval Latin word “precinctum” meaning “enclosure, boundary line”.
26. Winter hrs. in Berkeley : PST
Pacific Standard Time (PST)
The University of California, Berkeley (Cal) is the most difficult public university to get into in the world. The school opened in 1869 and is named for Anglo-Irish philosopher George Berkeley.
29. “Nessun dorma,” e.g. : ARIA
“Nessun dorma” has to be the tenor aria that most tugs at the heart strings. It is taken from the last act of Puccini’s opera “Turandot”, and translates as “None shall sleep”. Back in my part of the world, “Nessun dorma” became a hit in the popular music charts, with a version by Pavarotti being used as the theme song to the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy. No other classical recording has ever done better in the charts.
30. Prefix with scope : ENDO-
An endoscope is an instrument used to make a visual examination of the inside of an organ or cavity of the body.
46. Bivalve at a bar : OYSTER
Bivalves are marine and freshwater molluscs that have bodies enclosed in a two-part hinged shell. Examples are clams, oysters, mussels and scallops. The taxonomic name “Bivalvia” comes from the Latin “bis” meaning “two” and “valvae” meaning “leaves of a door”.
49. Spud : TATER
The word “spud” is used as a slang term for a potato and was first recorded in the mid-1800s, in New Zealand would you believe?
50. Posh : RITZY
No one really knows the etymology of the word “posh”. The popular myth that POSH is actually an acronym standing for “Port Out, Starboard Home” is completely untrue, and is a story that can actually be traced back to the 1968 movie “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”. The myth is that wealthy British passengers travelling to and from India would book cabins on the port side for the outward journey and the starboard side for the home journey. This trick was supposedly designed to keep their cabins out of the direct sunlight.
52. Rome’s Fontana di __ : TREVI
The Trevi Fountain (“Fontana di Trevi”) is a huge fountain in Rome, the largest constructed in the Baroque style. The tradition is that if one throws a coin in the fountain then one is guaranteed a return visit to the city. Tourists throw in an amazing 3,000 euros (over $4,000) every day. The money is collected and is used to stock a supermarket for the needy of the city.
59. “__ Rhythm” : I GOT
“I Got Rhythm” is a song composed by George and Ira Gershwin in 1930 for the musical “Girl Crazy”. The song was performed by Ethel Merman in the original production on Broadway. “I Got Rhythm” makes another appearance in a George Gershwin work, in the 1951 musical film “An American in Paris”. Gene Kelly sang the song in the movie, while tap-dancing.
63. Frothy quaff : NOG
It’s not really clear where the term “nog” (as in “eggnog”) comes from although it might derive from the word “noggin”, which was originally a small wooden cup that was long associated with alcoholic drinks.
Complete List of Clues and Answers
Across
1. Dirt removal method : BATH
5. Like much religious music : CHORAL
11. Uncooked : RAW
14. It replaced the Cypriot pound : EURO
15. Go back : RENEGE
16. Stumble : ERR
17. Sports geek get-togethers? : STAT PARTIES (from “stag parties”)
19. Gardening tool : HOE
20. Upper part : TOP
21. Keep an __ : EYE ON
22. Pesters online, in a way : SPAMS
24. Wall St. event : IPO
25. Halloween decoration? : PAPER BAT (from “paper bag”)
27. Western city named for a Suquamish chief : SEATTLE
31. Witness : SEE
32. Longhair cat’s monotonous routine? : PERSIAN RUT (from “Persian rug”)
35. Throw : CAST
39. Early computer : ENIAC
40. Hound over a debt : DUN
41. Agile : LITHE
42. Group of two : DYAD
43. Last one left angrily carrying on? : LONE RANTER (from “Lone Ranger”)
45. Job ad abbr. : EOE
47. Feature of many negative reviews : SARCASM
48. Imperfection in a pointillist painting? : STRAY DOT (from “stray dog”)
53. Corp. leaders : MGT
54. Greets : HAILS
55. Feel around : GROPE
57. Printemps month : MAI
60. Addams family cousin : ITT
61. Moral? : TALE WARNING (from “gale warning”)
64. Tasseled hat : FEZ
65. Pair of ones? : ELEVEN
66. Wary of : ONTO
67. Test : TRY
68. Fight against : RESIST
69. Essence … and, read differently, a hint to six puzzle answers : GIST … and G IS T
Down
1. Leading : BEST
2. Car : AUTO
3. Door in the floor : TRAP
4. Sweating, maybe : HOT
5. Tropical Rain Forest seller since 1993 : CRAYOLA
6. “__ we go!” : HERE
7. Leading : ON TOP
8. Spanish queen : REINA
9. Birthday count : AGE
10. Car user, maybe : LESSEE
11. Detox locale : REHAB
12. Draw from the oven : AROMA
13. Take forcibly : WREST
18. Digestive : PEPTIC
23. Administrative district : PRECINCT
24. Words spoken while shaking : IT’S A DEAL
26. Winter hrs. in Berkeley : PST
27. Went fast : SPED
28. Bitty : EENY
29. “Nessun dorma,” e.g. : ARIA
30. Prefix with scope : ENDO-
33. Race : RUN
34. Quelques-__: a few, in French : UNES
36. “__ boy!” : ATTA
37. Females : SHES
38. Period : TERM
41. Like L vis-à-vis XL, in some cases : LARGER
43. Set the pace : LED
44. Widespread : RAMPANT
46. Bivalve at a bar : OYSTER
48. Nine to five, e.g. : SHIFT
49. Spud : TATER
50. Posh : RITZY
51. Looks at in a bad way? : OGLES
52. Rome’s Fontana di __ : TREVI
56. Is indebted to : OWES
57. Revealing attire : MINI
58. Social climbers? : ANTS
59. “__ Rhythm” : I GOT
62. Pub offering : ALE
63. Frothy quaff : NOG