Jump to: Tricky Clues | Today’s Theme
SUNDAY PUZZLE — Will Shortz, in his print introduction to this grid, writes: “Daniel Grinberg, of Philadelphia, researches user experience for an energy company. Rafael Musa, of San Francisco, is a software engineer at Airbnb. They met last year at a crossword tournament and hit it off. This is Daniel’s seventh crossword for The Times and Rafael’s 16th. Most of Rafael’s puzzles here have been collaborations. He says co-constructing ‘is a great way to get to know someone.’”
Both of these constructors come up with congenial, inventive solves, and they match up well for today’s witty theme, which consists of cute, twinned entries that are perfect for a collaboration.
Today’s Theme
There are four pairs of theme entries, at 23-/30-, 46-/56-, 67-/79- and 91-/104-Across. In each case, the second clue is straightforward, and its solution has a series of circled letters within; the first clue has a straightforward component and a reference to the second clue.
For example, take the first set in the puzzle, 23-/30-Across. 23-Across is [What a tight deadline might require … or what’s found in 30-Across?]; 30-Across is [Question when leaving a grocery store, perhaps]. Note the run of five circled letters near the end of 30-Across.
These clues aren’t terribly difficult, especially with a few letters filled in from crossing entries. 23-Across solves to QUICK TURNAROUND, which sounds like a spin but really refers to returning a completed task to its assigner in less time than it should take. 30-Across applies to people who drive to shop: WHERE DID I PARK?
How do they relate, though? Those circled letters in 30-Across are D-I-P-A-R; read them in reverse, or turned around, and you get RAPID, or quick. This is the equation to solve for each of the pairs. The first entry is an idiom that plays on the idea of turning back, and its first word is a synonym of the word in the circled letters of the second entry, read from right to left.
Therefore, all of these entries work with the puzzle’s title, “In the Rearview,” since they each incorporate the idea of looking back. The entry at 67-Across is particularly apt and funny, though, and is also a New York Times puzzle debut. Its clue is [Totally the wrong way … or what’s found at 79-Across?], and it solves to ASS-BACKWARDS. It’s an odd expression that describes something incredibly disorganized, although to me, it conjures an image of someone chasing their tail, so to speak. (The expression ASS-BACKWARDS has been around for close to a century, according to the dictionary, but Abraham Lincoln used “bass-ackwards” in a series of spoonerisms in a letter from the 1840s, so it really had to be in use by then.) This entry’s twin in the grid, at 79-Across, is [“It’d be my pleasure”]. This solves to I’M HAPPY TO OBLIGE; of course, the circled squares reverse to form BOOTY.
Tricky Clues
49A. [Collectors of signatures?] solves to CASTS here. Actors in a play coming around with a petition came to mind before I thought of plaster CASTS, which can be inked up with sympathetic comments that are signed by well-wishers, I guess.
90A. [Occasions for self-indulgence] are unapologetically called ME DAYS in modern parlance; this term has been in the puzzle since 2018 and makes me think of “Parks and Recreation.” (I know little else about this show but endorse the idea of ME DAYS whenever possible.)
5D. I scratched my head at this one. [Receive severe criticism] solves to TAKE HEAT. In my mind, this equates to “if you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen,” and is more often a reference to stress or pressure than to a harsh critique. (For that, I think of “getting called onto the carpet.”)
36D. [Amusingly incongruous outcomes] solves to IRONIES here. This clue also seems a little odd to me, but it’s the dead of winter and many of my ironic observations are bitter and sad. Irony can be very much in the eye of the beholder, after all.
77D. The [Singer whose 1985 song “Running Up That Hill” became a top 10 hit in 2022 after being featured on “Stranger Things”] is KATE BUSH, and if this clue included news to you, join the club! This song makes me think of modern dance and palazzo pants.
Constructor Notes
Danny: I enjoy goals and challenges, so when I attended my first American Crossword Puzzle Tournament, I set the goal of connecting with a constructor and proposing a collaboration. As a fan of Rafa’s puzzles, I knew he was my top pick. I waited for a lull between competition rounds and approached him, citing answers from his greatest hits. Flash-forward to a few months later, and we were emailing theme entries and drafts of fill. It felt invigorating to debate the merits of one entry over another. It was a treat to send off my optimal version of a grid, see his response and then work to improve on that. As Rachel Fabi has noted, collaborating is a chance to “double [your] brain power,” and it definitely felt like that. In addition to working together, the highlight of this puzzle was the opportunity to debut entries like QUEERBAIT, “TOP CHEF,” KATE BUSH and ASS-BACKWARDS.
Rafa: Like many others, this collaboration started out at the hallowed lobby of the Marriott in Stamford, Conn. Sunday puzzles are particularly fun to collaborate on because there is so much theme ideation and so many gridding possibilities. Working together on this one was an absolute dream from start to finish. As always, we were lucky to have lovely edits from the Times team … but justice for PURR [Aaron ___ (punny name for a cat)]!
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