Friday, January 24, 2025, Matthew Luter

 

Good Morning, Cruciverbalists.  Malodorous Manatee here with the recap of a Friday puzzle by Matthew Luter.  Matthew has his own website:  Matthew Luter Crosswords .   

Let's start right off with the reveal:

60 Across:  Suffer disgrace, or what the starred clues must do as a set to match their answers?: LOSE FACE.

This solver had to ponder things for a while until the "gimmick" reared its not-so-ugly head.  It turned out to be quite straight forward.  We are asked to drop (LOSE) parts of the FACE from the following clues and to then use what remains as the hint.  All of the answers to the starred clues are comprised of two words:

17 Across:  *Evil eyes: SUPER BAD.

24 Across:  *Stuffy nose: STRAIT LACED.

36 Across:  *Smart mouth: WELL DRESSED.

50 Across:  *Double chin: MIRROR IMAGE.

This is how it all looks in the grid:

Here are the other clues and answers:

Across:

1. Billiard table accessory: RACK.

Nice

5. Natl. Pizza Mo.: OCT.  Isn't every month?

8. Stay behind: SHADOW.  FOLLOW would have fit the space and the OW would have worked but sent the solver off on a tangent.

14. Sultanate on the Arabian peninsula: OMAN.   A frequent destination in our puzzles.

15. Massage: RUB.

16. Ford model named for a city: TORINO.

19. Less prosperous: POORER.

20. "Whenever you're done talking ... ": I'LL WAIT.

21. Word with cat or power: NAP.

22. Course for intl. students: ESL.  Abbreviated clue . . .  English as a Second Language

23. Driving aid: TEE.  A golfing reference.

27. Story that might be dark and creepy: ATTIC.  Not a ghost story.   The uppermost level of your house.

29. Unrefined resource: ORE.  What did the Wicked Witch of the West say when she extracted metal from ORE?  I’m smelting!  I’m smelting!

30. Pays to play: ANTES.  Amounts often paid up front in puzzles.

31. Closest pals: FAM.  Not sure if FAM-ily equates to pals.  Perhaps, slang-ily.

33. Channel that often airs films in letterbox format: TCM.

35. HS proficiency test: GED.

39. Cleveland pro: CAV.  An National Basketball Association reference.  Abbreviated clue . . .

40. Sketch on a dust jacket: BIO.  Not a work of art.   A brief description (sketch) of the author's life.

41. Semisolid hair product: GEL.

42. Render unreadable, in a way: SHRED.

44. Grasped: GOT.

46. Yogurt-based dip: RAITA.  Yogurt, cucumber, onion, herbs, spices.

53. Flash __: MOB.  A relatively recent phenomenon.

54. __ whim: ON A.

55. After expenses: NET.

56. Party bites: CANAPES.

58. Ride for a few days: RENTAL.  Hand up for first trying LOANER.

61. __ planning: ESTATE.

62. Electric guitarist's need: AMP.

63. Mathematician Turing: ALAN.  A frequent visitor.  ALAN Turing

64. Insect's legs, e.g.: SESTET.  By definition.

65. "As I __ saying ... ": WAS.

66. Riveted: RAPT.  Not as in Rosie The Riveter.

Down:

1. Guitar-playing "Sesame Street" Muppet: ROSITA.

2. Protective talisman: AMULET.

3. Coated pill: CAPLET.

4. "Who __?": KNEW.  We did.

5. Go around: ORBIT.  Scientists recently spent 24 hours observing the moon ORBIT around earth.  Then they got bored and called it a day.

6. Dos y dos: CUATRO.   Today's arithmetic lesson en español.

7. Short "We'll announce this later": TBD.  To Be Determined.  

8. Parade VIP: ST. PAT.  Abbreviated . . .

9. Brouhaha: HOOPLA.

10. Person who prefers platonic relationships, for short: ARO.  From AROmantic.  An ARO person may never develop a crush on a person, or envision themselves entering a romantic relationship with someone.

11. Led: DIRECTED.

12. Bracket favorite: ONE SEED.  A sports reference.

13. Best of both __: WORLDS.

18. Mischievous type: RASCAL.  A dog comes limping into the old west saloon.  The bartender asks if he can help the dog with anything.  The dog says, "I'm lookin' for the low down RASCAL  who shot my paw."

21. Female kin: NIECE.

25. School space that's full of drawers: ART ROOM.  Not drawers as in your kitchen or bathroom - or drawers as underwear.  Used here literally.   People who draw pictures,.

26. Actress Bassett: ANGELA.  One T is the hound.

28. "In the event that ... ": IF EVER.

32. Org. with a summer All-Star break: MLB.

34. Umami source, briefly: MSG.  Umami is the fifth basic taste (bitter, sweet, salt, sour, umami). It is a complex and savory flavor that comes from glutamate-rich foods like cheese, seaweed, and mushrooms (or added MonSodium Glutamate).

36. Calls for: WARRANTS.  As in this WARRANTS a closer look.

37. Numeral: DIGIT.  Choose any number between 2 and 8. Multiply by 4, and then add 3.  Now reverse the DIGITS and close your eyes.  Dark, wasn’t it?

38. Pleasantly calm: SERENE.

39. One official language of the U.N.: CHINESE.

42. Gooey sandwiches: S'MORES.

43. Act charitably: DONATE.

45. Seattle's airport-sharing neighbor: TACOMA.

47. Chevy model named for an animal: IMPALA.

48. Steel part of a work boot: TOE CAP.

49. __-minded: ABSENT.

51. Sublease: RE-LET.

52. Shocked sounds: GASPS.  A Tibetan monk was preparing his morning toast when he saw, in the margarine, the face of Jesus. He GASPED and said, "I can't believe it's not Buddha."

57. Nowhere near: AFAR.  Whence the three kings traveled.

59. Ink spot?: TAT.  ... and a good excuse for a song.

60. Grisham's field: LAW.

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