If you’re familiar with the NY Times’ puzzles, you expect Thursdays to have the trickiest themes.  Not this one.  There is something in common among the two long across and two long downs, but, at least as far as I can tell, nothing fancy.  Most often you’d see one clue that ties the theme answers together.  Not here.  So I’ll give you one:  99-Across:  A commonly sung syllable…and a hint to each of the four long answers.   There’s two more letters that the four long answers have in common, but I’m not going to say any more about it in this article.

Five specific hints:

1.  1-Across  “Chiquita import”:  It is the first thing you associate with Chiquita;  remember how some plurals don’t end in “s,”  well some singular clues…

2.  30-Across “Word before and after “yeah”:  Not a phrase you want to hear, particular if it’s a cop saying it!

3.  49-Down “You’re welcome, amigo”:  The “amigo” part tells you it’s Spanish.  It’s two words.  You don’t have to thank me, it’s nothing.

4.  54-Down “Consistent with”:  2 words.   Alternative clue:  “According to…”

5.  64-Across “Pair”:  Just a pair, but it takes 3 words to say it.

I don’t assume you’ll instantly go from struggling through an early-in-the-week puzzle to being able to sail though them by reading these hints and tips.   The idea here is only to make progress.   So each day I give a few hints that might help you with an answer you were struggling with and make the process more fun.

The idea here is to avoid just telling you straight out what the answer is.   There a lot better alternatives to mine, easily googled, once you’ve stopped trying to solve the puzzle yourself and just want to know what an answers or what all the answers are.

I give a few hints a day.   An occasional tip.  I do repeat myself because I can see how many folks are finding this site for the first time or coming back to it.  So you will sometimes say to yourself, “yeh, he already said that” or “I’ve known that factoid forever,”  but, forgive me, not everyone does.   But over time, you’ll find your facility increase.  You’ll see you’re solving more of the puzzle yourself and that’s always a good feeling!   That’s the idea.

I hope to also give you an occasional chuckle.

And it’s designed with the thought that you’ll sometimes poke around and read what else I’ve written on “myriad and sundry” topics.

Since it’s Wednesday, we know it will be themed, a bit more difficult (only a couple gimme/crossword-ese answers) than a Monday or Tuesday and not as tricky a theme as a Thursday.  This is one of those themes where you can’t possibly figure out the theme answers 19-, 29-, 35-, 42- and 52-Across without getting a number of the letters from the crossing down clues.  In fact, none of the theme answers is obvious, but the idea the same for all of them.  One hint is that once you get one of them, you’ll instantly know at least the first letter of all the other clues.  All are two words.  What kinds of things always have (except for xword favorites like ENYA) at least two words?

The answers have nothing, so far as I can tell, to do with each other besides the basic pattern.  Note the ? at the end of each telling you it’s some kind of play on words.  Maybe it would be easier if you thought that It girl? could have been clued as IT girl?  Nothing to do with Information Technology, nor does Po boy have anything to do with either food or poverty.  The P.R. man isn’t from Puerto Rico either.   It’s simpler than that.    Speaking of the P.R. man:  The answer to this clue would be a lot more on people’s tongues on today’s historic date had things gone differently a couple months ago.

5 specific clues:

1. 21-Down (Pickled Delicacy):  Commonly found in sushi bars.

2.  26-Down (Way in the distance):  Two words.  Not way like TAO but way like away from where you are.

3.  46-Down (Cell body):  Really should have a question mark at the end to warn you that the kind of cell they’re talking about isn’t about an organism even if the “body” part is.

4.  14-Down (Like many éclairs):  Despite the accent aigu over the e, the answer is not en français.  And, just to save you a misstep I made, it doesn’t end in e, though it could.

5.  Give or take:  1 word, though you might think more easily of a two word answer that’s a common answer to this clue. Note there’s no, e.g. at the end so it’s not something really generic like VERBS.  Nor does it have anything to do with bargaining.

This Tuesday’s hints and tips are particularly for relatively new solvers.   In case you’re new to the NYT puzzles, Mondays are the easiest and build up through to Saturday.  Tuesday’s always have a “theme.”  This is simply a common idea that runs through (generally) the longest answers in the puzzle, in this case, a serious of plays-on-words (the question mark tells you that a play on words is going on).  A very common phrase is found once one solves the literal clue that’s given.

In 17-Across, for example, (“Byproduct of a sad dairy cow?”) the answer is a two word phrase that is (1) a word meaning “sad” follow by  (2) a product of a dairy cows.  The common two-word phrase is very familiar. 25-Across (“Byproduct of a homely dairy cow?”) follows exactly the same patter (1) a word meaning “homely,” (or at least not strikingly pretty) and (2) an ordinary dairy product.  37-Across is the same, but the word synonymous with “exhausted” is a little slangy.  52-Across and 61-Across likewise.

A couple of other hints and tips:

1-Across “Part of WWW”:  Note that it doesn’t say Abbr. (abbreviation), so this has to be one of those famous three letters that is, itself, only three letters long.

28-Across “Oman man”:  Or Qatar man, or Egyptian woman, for that matter.

30-Across “Capote, to pals”:  “to pals” means it’s a nickname.  Do you know Capote’s first name?  This is a short version of it.  Also the name of a Broadway play about Capote.

6-Down “Attacks”: 2 words.   This and variations, e.g. RUNS ___ are very frequently seen in early week NYT puzzles.

8-Down “Start of a Cheer”:  A cheer that sometimes ends with “Hit ’em again! hit ’em again! Harder! Harder!”   Or it could be what you call a female sibling.

40-Down “Shade of White”:  2 words.  Or: Something you may have to throw out after you eat breakfast.

68-Across “Does a fantastic stand-up”:  Similar to SLAYS.

67-Across “Band in Road Runner cartoons”: Or:  Where you are when you’re at the top.

70-Across: “Film _____ “:  Well, these aren’t comedies, not even if they’re “black” comedies.

So maybe because it’s MLK Day and you have the time off, for once, you’ve decided to try Brendan Emmet Quigley’s Monday puzzle.  Always themeless, nearly always labeled “Hard.”

Today’s is no exception.

With Quigley we can expect:

1.   Some clues that are much easier for people familiar with current pop culture.  These words are sometimes “logical” enough in their own way, that you can sometimes figure out all or part of the answer by a reasonable guess about what it might be.  Unless you’re a champion solver (in which case, you surely don’t need my hints!), I’d strongly suggest using the Pencil mode in Across Lite or an object commonly known as a pencil in the “analog” or “real” world.    (Isn’t amazing, to anyone over forty, that we now hear  normal wristwatches described as being  “analog” wristwatches, as opposed to digital watches.  Analog?  What is it analogous to???  But I digress.)

2.  Names of people you never heard of and whose names can’t be spelled by those who have heard of them.   Whether it’s to top hip hop star, rock icon, actor, sports figure, part in a movie, award winner, etc., etc., Quigley will always have one that you don’t know and can’t really “guess.”  (Today’s, for me, was Wu-Tang Clan member.   Hint:  an odd name;  the last three letters of which suggest aspirations to the Highest Power.

3.  Words or phrases you often hear spoken, but rarely see written down.  (8-Across Cold drink bought at gas stations).  Hint:  Perhaps more associated with 7-Elenvens.

So Use pencil.   Move one if you have no idea who someone is.  Wonder about it if you think you might be able to guess part of the answer.

1-Across is a perfect case of that last idea.  Portmanteau is a word all puzzlers have to learn how to use in a sentence.  In this case, defining portmanteau isn’t giving away the answer, you still have to figure that out.  (And now that I’ve got the answer, I’m still going to have to look up exactly why it is.)  A portmanteau was originally kind of all purpose suitcase (You’ll note I’ m not shuffling you off to Wikipedia as if you were a hyperactive puppy!)  that “gentlemen” and “ladies” used to carry various and sundry things that felt they needed while away from their home for an extended period.  It had drawers in it and so might contain an unlikely combination of the things, from clothes, say, to a cherished toy from childhood.  And so the portmanteau as it is used today: a single word that merges the letters of two other words to form a combination that makes logical sense.   So what would have to combine to get a “larger than-average mobile device”?   So if you didn’t know this current jargon, once you’ve solved it, you do.

Commuter Rail terminus:  Well, it’s not GRAND CENTRAL STATION ! (for a moment I tried: BIG CITY, but that didn’t pan out.  The suburbs won’t fit.  Where the heck could you being going?  It’s a less familiar word for it, but it’s in this same category.

They keep bugs out:  This time, note the lack of a question mark.  This is just simple and literally what these things do.

48-Across;  Ah, yes, did I forget to mention that BEQ, as he’s called by all his close friends, likes to throw in a movie with a famous star that you’ve never heard of or vice versa.   Big hint:  Two words.  First word:  Little word.

It’s good in Latin class:  Yeh, da Romans.  Well, the Italians still same da same ting.

French Game with a 32-card deck:  Not ECARTE, apparently.  Hmm.   It’s a portmanteau describing a “proper” outdoor game, in this case played by mathematicians.

Blubber spot

Hi Xword fans!  Monday’s the day I put in the most tips for those just getting started on NYT crosswords.  Monday’s the easiest of the week building up to Saturday (Sunday’s bigger but its clues are about Wednesday/Thursday level.)

Monday puzzles always have “themes.”  The long clues have something in common.  In this case, we’re talking about 17-, 25-, 34-,  50-, and 59-Across.  In this case it’s just kind of a “cute” word play, nothing fancy, but once you get one of these, you’ll see the pattern for the others.

Dynasty vixen:  The first 4 letters of this woman’s name is usually a man’s name…or a woman’s

Whole bunch:  No, not a TON, but close

Soccer star Mia’s meats?:  Or what Mia does if she overacts?

Sgt. for one:  A very common xword answer.  3 letters.  Remember that sgts don’t go to officer training school.

Theme:  Well, not too inspired, as themes go.  Worth trying to get one of the long (across or down) clues because it’ll help with the others.

(In case you don’t know: Question marks mean wordplay is involved.   This puzzle fits the most common type:  Well-known phrases are altered in some consistent way throughout the long answers.  The clue accurately defines the actual answer rather than the well-known phrase.)

I got “Prince’s pottery equipment” last.  More common to think of the well known phrase as associated with a king rather than a prince.

Only other across theme clue/answer is 104-Across.  3-Down, 14-Down, 36-Down, & 58-Down  are the othertheme-related clues.  Unusual to have so few Across theme clues.

Other hints on the theme:

Stop proceeding in the maze when you reach the end?:  Boy is this a stretch for a small amount of word play!  You’re not going to get your $200. this way!

Strategy employed by a Siberian Hansel and Gretel?:  Since they wouldn’t have bread crumbs, what would they use?

Haymakers?:  The “phrase” in this case, is quite appropriate for this Sunday, if you follow this category of event.

Other hints:

Like some church matters:  Various forms of the root of this word are very common in xwords.  Remember that not all church matters are matters of the church.

Dr. Moreau’s creator:  He’s also the creator of xword-land’s favorite human species of the future, the ELOI.

It can be shocking: Well, EEL is too short.  No matter how shocking this is, it can’t electrocute you.

Ginger Spice’s first name:  It isn’t Ginger?  What if you had to make a girl’s name out of Ginger but could only use 4 letters.

Good-sized musical group: What’s a good size?   Depends, doesn’t it.  For a symphony, this wouldn’t be “good-sized” and the answer, ironically, sounds like it doesn’t have anyone in it at all.

Det. Bonasera on CSI: NY  — In my mind, I hear Marlon Brando calling to her now.

“The Player” director — One of the most well-known Hollywood directors.  He’s famous also for his famous Hollywood actors per movie ratio, but his most well-known movie takes place a couple thousand miles east of LA.

Feats of construction:  Ah, the agony of da feat!  Really, calling these constructions “feats” is a bit overstated.  We’re not talkin’ pyramids, here, something much more mundane.

Hawker:  Most commonly, of fish.  As in “fish ______”

Ten, for openers:  Sometimes you’ll see a question mark after clues like this.  It’s not about an ANTE, what it “opens” isn’t a game or a door.

If you enjoyed these hints, bookmark this page.  I try to post every night (the on-line puzzle comes out the night before the printed puzzle).  And while you’re here, check out the rest of the site!  

Rose on stage:  the “on stage” might throw you off.   It’s true, but most people associate this person with a particular kind of stage performance.  No, not a striptease, Gypsy Rose Lee died long before this Rose rose to fame.

What goes before that goes?:  Three words.  Think of “What goes before” as though it were a ________.

Period of radio silence:  Well it can’t be the dark side of the moon, but it’s in that same general arena.

Needlework?:  Lots of needles, but no thread.

Measure of progress:  How many hours of modern of life are spent watching this measure inch along?

Reason to end an engagement:  This one deserves a question mark at the end, IMHO.  Anyway, it doesn’t have to do with love and marriage, at least not literally.

Alpine stream:  Well, more commonly Alpine river, and actually a specific river that appears not infrequently in xwords.

Jerks:  The NYT continues to get a little more liberal about what can be an acceptable puzzle word.

Carleton College rival:  This one looks very weird if you get 29-Across first.  Think Scandinavian.

Backwater, in Australia:  Remember Waltzing Matilda?  If not, pray you get enough down clues to help you out.  Could be the invoice you produce when you sell a particular piece of “paraphernalia”

It’s worth 8 points in English and 10 points in French:  This was the last answer I solved.  Forget the “in English and 10 points in French” and it might be easier.   This isn’t something many of us mere humans have ever tried in French (or seen tried, for that matter).

Another Friday killer.  Maybe doing these late at night isn’t the best idea I ever had.  Anyway, here we are, Friday and themeless, with some giant long answers, very few obvious answers, but at least none the long answers is hopelessly obscure.  It could be worse!

Key target of resolution:  Think problem, not photograph

Last single blasts:  Think young men, but not baseball players

Unlikely to develop clothing lines:  I kept thinking it would be something like a synonym for nerd, but it’s not about the fashion scene

Pirate: 2 words.  Think the noun, not the verb

Reaches, as a vacation resort:  2 words.  I expected it to be something like flies in or takes a cruise ship, but it’s more general than that.

Does some flattering:  and might help those aching bones, too.

Relaxes:  Figuratively.  It’s a 4 word phrase, and not the most common expression for this either.

Like many new couples:  They probably aren’t ready for 16-Across yet.  3 words!

Eschews the draft?:  Don’t over think this one, we’re talking draft like SSS and ONE-A, not air currents.

Relative of a fjord:  And one of the few overused crossword-ese answers in this puzzle!

Crop killing caterpillars:  2 words.  When you figure it out, you’ll realize they do sound like they could do some damage on the ground.

Line to wrap things up with:  If you don’t 28-Across (that answer, by the way, is a word I’ve never heard before), you’ll probably heave a big sigh and say this.

Oh, boy, they want you do it on paper.  Afterwords, I went back to check if I got it all right by plugging into Across Lite.  I actually think it would have been easier to do that way, though you lose a bit of the visual effect.

Anyway, we find the “key” clue at 62-across.  I think I began to be able to say [the answer to 14-Across] (“gotcha” in this case denotes understanding, not some kind of scam or joke) when 39-Across “Preparing to be shot, say” came into focus.

Remember there are many kinds of tubes that might contain warnings.  Some of them, including these, aren’t very close to these shores.

Lots of trick clue/answer combos here.  What I’d call misdirection.  Often your first association to the clue isn’t the meaning the puzzle writer is using.  Some have question marks to alert you to the word play, many don’t.  Ring, Capital of Australia (note the spelling of capital), Shipwreck cause, lightly roast and a couple others fit this description.  So don’t get too hung on a particular meaning of the clue, there may be others.

Private business, in slang:  or “in a phrase”

Knock on wood, say:  Think the sound you make, not the superstition

Face seen on many tee shirts:  If it was 3 letters, you’d know it right away, right?  Same face.

500, e.g.:  As in the ______ 500.

Medical subject of Time magazine:  Note the years, particularly the first one;  2 words

Échecs pieces:  Ok, it’s French.  It’s a game that has pieces.  Each of  these pieces have names you’re familiar with.  The French word here is a very common one.

Melancholy, say:  or joy, you could also say.

Food with an inedible center?:  Very clever.  The puzzler’s right, you can’t eat it, but once you’re done eating, it will be gone!

Very clever, tricky puzzle.  If you had trouble with it, don’t fret, it’s definitely trickier than an average tricky Thursday puzzle.

This afternoon I found myself reading some advertising supplement that cam with the daily newspaper.   I found myself reading a snippet about Barbara Hale, the actress who played Della Street in the Perry Mason TV series.  I found myself trying to memorize this factoid.  Something similar happens at the checkout line in the grocery store (they move much too fast these days to really read anymore!) picking up the Star to see if I might pick up a couple names of who plays who in what TV show.

Why on earth am I trying to retain this information?

…because it might come up in a crossword, of course.

As if, in a lifetime, I haven’t stored up enough useless information!

I can’t write any more now, I have to go watch The Simpsons re-runs ’cause I’ve forgotten Grampa’s name.  Abe, right?

Theme:  This is one of the those themed puzzles where it pays to look over the clues to see if there’s a “key” clue, one that tells you something about the other theme clues.  In this case, it’s 28-Across (hint to the meaning of the bracketed clues).  This puzzle is loaded with theme clues.

In a puzzle like this, you’ve gotta start with the non-theme answers before going after the theme.  Since the bracketed numbers are relatively short, you will probably need to get a few of them before the long hint clue will come into focus.  Once you do get the idea, you’ll probably find it  smooth sailing after that.

Some clue hints:

Sporty auto, for short:  Keep in mind that it’s letters or a nickname (“for short”) and think brand not type of car.

Couldn’t help but:  2 words

Feudal lord:  I always though this guy was lower than a lord, on bended knee, I apologize, my  ________.

Climber’s goal:  Yes, I though it was PEAK at first too.  Same idea, different word.

Combine name:  No, not a portmanteau. (Sorry, I just like that word!)  They make lots of stuff that you find nearby the combine, if you had one.  You know the name.

Garden pest genus:  Don’t get thrown by “genus,”  it’s not a weird scientific word you’ve never heard of.  Just one letter (pssst, it’s the last letter) is different from the more familiar common name.

He and she:  Don’t think too deep  about this one.  If he and she went, then _______ went.

Like some checking accounts: yeh, I thought JOINT, too, but this one is two words.

Faux fat:  Faux?  Give me a break.  It’s synthetic, not French.