Constructed by: David Steinberg
Edited by: Will Shortz
Today’s Reveal Answer: Roundabout Route
Themed answers come in three parts. Each one of the three starts with CAR, but has a different ending depending on which exit you take from the black square (ROUNDABOUT) abutting that CAR. Complicated, I know …
- 6D Indirect path taken 12 times in this puzzle : ROUNDABOUT ROUTE
- 26A First exit: Milk containers • Second exit: Rebounded, in billiards • Third exit: Wheeled (away) : CARTONS – CAROMED – CARTED
- 54A First exit: Salad bar bowlful • Second exit: French watchmaker • Third exit: Thanksgiving role : CARROTS – CARTIER – CARVER
- 5D First exit: Floor covers • Second exit: Addition signs? • Third exit: Checking the IDs of : CARPETS – CARETS – CARDING
- 66D First exit: Writer Lewis • Second exit: Santana of Santana • Third exit: Dead meat : CARROLL – CARLOS – CARRION
Bill’s time: 12m 42s
Bill’s errors: 0
Today’s Wiki-est Amazonian Googlies
My wife and I are in Ireland right now, for Christmas and the New Year with family. I just managed to slip away to solve the puzzle, and write up this abbreviated post. I will get to the full post just as soon as I can.
Thank you for your understanding.
Bill
Complete List of Clues/Answers
Across
1 Whom Abraham nearly sacrificed : ISAAC
6 Softball stat : RBI
9 Concrete example? : SLAB
13 Sykes of “The Upshaws” : WANDA
14 Something to toss but not throw away : COIN
15 Org. in 2016’s “Hidden Figures” : NASA
16 What smoke coming out of the ears may signal in a cartoon : ANGER
17 Investments that can’t be recovered : SUNK COSTS
19 Pedometer unit : STEP
20 [Correct!] : [DING!]
21 Cheri once of “S.N.L.” : OTERI
22 Back-exposing top : HALTER
24 Show, briefly : DEMO
26 First exit: Milk containers • Second exit: Rebounded, in billiards • Third exit: Wheeled (away) : CARTONS – CAROMED – CARTED
27 Tuna that’s often seared : AHI
28 “Later!” : TA-TA!
30 Creative, in a way : ARTSY
32 Dapper ___, iconic hip-hop couturier : DAN
33 Stick with a soft tip : SWAB
34 -speak : -ESE
35 Dinosaur bone preserver : TAR
37 John ___ : DOE
39 June gift recipient : DAD
42 Blight victim : ELM
45 Some history listings : URLS
48 Thousandth of a gig : MEG
50 One going to court : LOVER
52 The Powerpuff Girls, e.g. : TRIO
53 Dude : BRO
54 First exit: Salad bar bowlful • Second exit: French watchmaker • Third exit: Thanksgiving role : CARROTS – CARTIER – CARVER
55 Ticket specification : TIER
57 English king called “the Great” : ALFRED
59 Maker of the 2600 game console : ATARI
61 Hard-boiled film genre : NOIR
63 Bun : ROLL
64 Skip a round : SIT ONE OUT
66 Funny O’Donnell : ROSIE
67 Pretzel feature : KNOT
68 Has a role : ACTS
69 Big sportswear brand : ASICS
70 Knights, e.g. : SIRS
71 French beverage : THE
72 Chinwags : CHATS
Down
1 Cry after getting fooled : I WAS HAD!
2 Top of the holiday season? : SANTA HAT
3 Name derived from the Greek for “messenger” : ANGELINA
4 Very capable : ADEPT
5 First exit: Floor covers • Second exit: Addition signs? • Third exit: Checking the IDs of : CARPETS – CARETS – CARDING
6 Indirect path taken 12 times in this puzzle : ROUNDABOUT ROUTE
7 ___-watch : BINGE
8 Sign : INK
9 Obnoxious sort : SNOT
10 Cutting beams : LASERS
11 One way to be led : ASTRAY
12 Universal ___ income : BASIC
14 Forensic inits. : CSI
18 Molson’s partner in beer : COORS
20 No-win situation : DRAW
23 “We come in peace” speakers, in brief : ETS
25 Follower of Fannie, Ginnie or Sallie : … MAE
29 Little bit : TAD
31 California congressman ___ Lieu : TED
36 Crank (up) : REV
38 Go wrong : ERR
40 Those who consume it become immortal, according to myth : AMBROSIA
41 Broken-down : DERELICT
43 Admit : LET IN
44 Noisy scan, for short : MRI
46 One avoiding eye contact, maybe : LIAR
47 Note that sounds like a music genre : SOL
49 Unholy : GODLESS
50 Course in which you might learn “cave canem” : LATIN I
51 Delivery specialist? : ORATOR
54 Winery supply : CASKS
56 Methuselah’s old man : ENOCH
58 First class, informally? : FROSH
60 Goes bad : ROTS
62 “___ time” : IT’S
65 “Let’s ___!” : EAT
66 First exit: Writer Lewis • Second exit: Santana of Santana • Third exit: Dead meat : CARROLL – CARLOS – CARRION
