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Puzzles for November, 2024
with Jim Horne comments

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Constructor (3)Editor (4)Jim Horne (9)Hide comments
Fri 11/1/2024
OVALMOMSASPS
LESBIANBARDELI
DEESCALATESNAP
EPAASISLEADTO
CLANJILLION
CHARLIEBUCKET
HIJABPODSBTU
AVOWSORGSPAYS
DEBSKEEKICKS
IVOTEDSTICKER
SISENORREDS
INAROWBONOIMA
DOJOEGOBOOSTER
LIONDRYERSHEET
ELBAROSSEMTS
Sat 11/2/2024
ARCLAMPSCASITA
COLDCALLOPENER
CLASSROOMROSTER
ELSSTEEPINA
SUSSMITTSGMAN
SPITIVESBRAGG
COAXEDTOATEE
FEARLESSLEADERS
AVLABSPOSTED
LEGGSEASTREDS
TRUEJETESSTOP
EMISEOULARE
ROTATECLOCKWISE
ERASERASSAILED
DERATSSETLISTS
Sun 11/3/2024 Can I Have a Raise?
GLUCOSEBELUGASFEAST
RUMBALLOPENAIRRASTA
ALASKAPENINSULAETHOS
BLMSLANGTAGNOONE
SIBOSSOTIEONCURED
AMMOGODDAUGHTER
ABRAIAMSTEP
FREQUENCYSHIFTTRISHA
IRAIRULEAMAUSEDCAR
BETSADOUDDERSORTS
SEALGUTENBERGSLED
STAGEEDICTRIPSWAM
RESENTSTHECANOEINA
ODESSAMOODCONGRUENCE
FLOEBODRAGE
CIVICMINDEDODOR
PANELGRAINELLYSOB
INSETGTADIDNTPEP
STORESWITCHEDPARTIES
ABLERKILOTONAMOUNTS
NEEDSAMASSESLONGEST

The shaded letters spell PAY BUMP. Circled letters that bump over those squares spell American slang terms for money.

Mon 11/4/2024
PSSTREPOCHOW
OPALORALLOLA
WATCHCAREFULLY
GENEOKSLIEIN
ORGIREICANSEE
BELTOUTASONG
ODIOUSMINKTBD
OUSTBITBRIE
MPHSCATFIBULA
SUITYOURSELF
SAVINGSDRSNYE
ALIGNADOCOIN
FASHIONFORWARD
EMITHORNASTO
ROTSOBOEDAHL
Tue 11/5/2024
SAIDISSAINCH
ANDSONOTVTOUR
SOILSSALESREPS
AGEEZIPMAULS
SUTRASMAGS
OPTARETHA
INSPOELIYALE
CALIFORNIAROLLS
KPOPREDBUOYS
SPIRALOPI
NOLOBUSHSR
HIGHCEGGAPES
NEDBEATTYASANA
AREAROANWADED
BRAGEELSSTEW

Unrolling the spirals reveals SAN DIEGO, CUPERTINO, LONG BEACH, and PASADENA. That makes 34 squares that are part of three answer words each.

Wed 11/6/2024
ASSSODEDUHEM
TOTPLATINUMELO
OUIEDMONTONALP
MSNBCALDOOLLIE
SAKESLIMETSY
BLACKSABBATH
APOLLORIBBIT
SOMALIALIMEADE
TUBFRITOSREV
ITSINIDOLBOSSA
MEADOWLARK
BIKINGCIGARS
LONGANDSHORTOFIT
OTOHEUROPEOATY
WATTSHINESDRAX

Both the full words and the shaded sub-words satisfy the clues.

Thu 11/7/2024
TANSECTERSATZ
UFOOGRETOUPEE
LOTBRINGSSPEED
SUHWEETAYER
ALIITINYEGOS
NITCONDIMENT
ITGURUTOADETTE
VOLOSBORNETOW
BROSPEAKGASHES
AMSTERDAMSEE
GEEREYREAPSE
EASYBEPROUD
COMETHEWIREING
IDOTOOALITNNE
SEISMOPLEATIS

The shaded TOs are above, below, left and right of the theme answers. To match the clue, those theme answers need to include both TO and the direction.

So, BRINGS (UP TO) SPEED, NOTHING (LEFT TO) LOSE, GET (RIGHT TO) THE POINT, COME (DOWN TO) THE WIRE.

Fri 11/8/2024
FACTSPASMSWOK
EUROELLIOTPAGE
EDAMWAITREALLY
DIFFRENTSTROKES
TOURSGIL
ABBOTSZEALOTRY
REELSRIDGEREI
IRESBINGEMETE
ERRPIGGYBASIL
LASVEGASCURLED
ORBOUTIE
CULTURALATTACHE
CHEESECAKECHAT
ENTREATIESHEIR
DOSSKINNYISLE
Sat 11/9/2024
KICKSTARTSPEA
ICANTAKEITTOMS
THREENAGERALIA
CINEADULTING
ARALIANGUTTER
ROLAIDSAGELINE
TOOTALLECCE
PARSWELTEROED
ALECHALIBUT
NONREALMUTANTS
DOTOATGASCORA
AGRARIANOVAL
COOKCRAWLSPACE
ABLYACTIONITEM
MILNOSEBLEEDS
Sun 11/10/2024 From Start to Finish
LGBTHOWTOSTOPSFOB
EERIEALARMOHWOWUNO
STANDARDSUBPENSIVEEX
MANAGEDMICROWESTELM
ITAARTEKENMORESLOB
ZIGROOEARSPINE
PHILPENULTIMATEANTE
MEWLOTIONRONEHS
GRADEALUANNWROTE
RACYWEIGHTWIIILOSE
AFRICANPANSOLVINGDIS
STENOESTMTNDEWROMP
GLARECARTAICERUN
AUKMSGSHREDSNRC
APOCALYPTICPOSTOOPS
ASWANHARHRSOTS
STANYESBABEARESPAP
ALTTEXTCOMPLETEAUTO
VISIONPROHEATEDSUPER
IRKSTEINRECAPTRAIT
PSIHELPSSTORMADDY

Common words or phrases swap first and last parts to match the clues.

Mon 11/11/2024
INSTABETIKEA
NEPALMOTHGRAB
CARIBBEANCRUISE
ARIULTRAEASEL
NAMEANN
BIGBADWOLFANTS
ASTERIBARSURE
MAITIDEPODTAC
BAMAFESSENACT
ICERFREESTYLES
CAYHAUL
ARIALAZTECEGG
TOMDICKANDHARRY
OPIEPINTEDGAR
MENSANYSAYSO
Tue 11/12/2024
OPALKIDDOJAZZ
RILEINCURACAI
SNOGCLAMSCHIP
KNICKERBOCKER
YEOHTELEASE
NAYSAYERS
ETRADEATSIGN
THARSTRUTETNA
ARBYSOATESSAY
LOBARMPADSNSA
WINNIETHEPOOH
TEEMTNUT
HORSESMOUTH
IHOPHELIXAILS
VOLEOLINEGNAT
FEETTYPEDEGGY
Wed 11/13/2024
ARIZONAFLAGS
MEDICALCRUELLA
PROPHETDUSTRAG
OLIOALLISEDU
NUITDIONEVADA
UTZPORNOSIDER
NEESONGPANYRO
TENNESSEE
ASTAAIDNADIRS
CIRROAFTERRAH
ALASKAOARPOME
CELSLURPIANS
INASUITIMPLIES
ATLARGENOSENSE
STATEGEORGIA
Thu 11/14/2024
LASWARDSLAP
HEMEISEETOFU
OMITPINEKEBAB
OUTSEATDRIVERS
KRYPTONICE
VEAUTANKJAY
DIDNTHOLDBONE
SALADERETEBOW
FULLLESSDRESS
OBEFIDORACE
SLOMACHETE
BACKINBLACKKOS
ATEUPMENUNEXT
BELLWAILERIE
YELLSPCAESC

A 2013 puzzle by Alan DerKazarian had a similar theme, except his long answers went right through the BACKs.

Fri 11/15/2024
BLINIYESWILD
RARINGTOGOAVIA
ICANSEEYOUSENT
MENINTOPRAGUE
OGREICEBOX
EVERHEARDOFIT
REACTTEENSTIP
MARAGERMSCAMI
ALLLETUPSAGAN
YOURENOTWRONG
EVICTSTAIL
CLOSERHERSBLT
LUTEUPINTHEAIR
IDEADONTTELLME
PERUEXTRIDES
Sat 11/16/2024
DORKBANSHASTY
APIASAMOAUSHES
TALLCHIEFSHOAL
ALLAHSLACKERS
MUCHROISTER
HALOSITEORO
JAZZORCHESTRAS
COMOKORANADDS
FAMOUSPOTATOES
ONESEEDNAIR
SORBETSBTUS
FEELSILLPETES
LADLENEAREARTH
ORALSTAKESCARE
ACTASOPEDHEED
Sun 11/17/2024 Nothing But Blue Skies
WEBBVICEVERSATILL
AWOLMACARONIARTAGUA
REDOUPUPANDAWAYKERI
DRYWINEBSMETER
SLINGARIGATOMUTTS
ANSSMALLTOWNSHH
SNITHOMEALONETEAS
COGNATEANNALWASHTUB
ABUTACEEDSHBOIAGO
LEAHTAROBOILGLAM
LIGERTINYHOUSESHORE
STEWIEEMAILMEMARTYR
INREELVESBOGO
SHINDIGSLESGETSATAN
TENDVOLTJOSTDALE
ARKHOTAIRBALLOONPLS
NEWDOPLAYGODAUDIS
WEELASSBRAMINIVAN
HELLYEAHANTIDARENOT
UGLIONOTEENESACNE
BOSSNETEATSEED

Readers informed me there's a bug at 34-Down. The statue outside 30 Rockefeller is PROMETHEUS, not ATLAS. The bronze Atlas is at 45 Rockefeller Plaza.

Mon 11/18/2024
RELAXCORGIEWW
AXIOMAREASLEO
BECKANDCALLCAR
BRIANAPLACARD
ITTYDESANAP
JACKANDJILL
SHARDHALTOTOE
NONOSOTTSLAPS
ALECSEEPNENES
PICKANDROLL
DEMOSPATORI
EROTICAWEAVED
BATCOCKANDBULL
AVEUNDIDALLIE
YESSECTSMEETS
Tue 11/19/2024
GAVELDRIPCHIP
ALIVEYODAGAGA
SAVETHEDAYISNT
CRINGESHIMHOT
AMCODDONADARE
PSASGAHGRINER
TIEREDTRAIN
SPENDTHENIGHT
SHALLSIMONE
CARLOSMOPSHAH
OCTAVIASRSOLE
FANEXECONEALL
FREETIMEBUDGET
ERRSHOOPBEIGE
DISCSUNSSNEER
Wed 11/20/2024
AMPSOSLOGLARE
SOONSPEWRULER
CROLACRONENLAI
OERBATSSECEDE
TEMPURACATHY
SLEDNSFWTWAS
QUAPORTRALS
USBATLASESYEN
STAGEMOMDAB
CRCRFUSSRBAN
TAMEDPULSATE
CHERIECANEROW
OAREDSHRINKRAY
ALIASAUTOMISO
LEASTXMANSOTU

It's tough to dream up new revealer justifications for rebus entries. SHRINK RAY is a nice find.

Thu 11/21/2024
ABFABISPSAQABA
BRAVAMOOTDUBAI
DAVIDCOPPERFIELD
UKEKAPOWVETTES
LESMISERABLES
ITENROOSTERS
JOISTSINOTAREA
PATSYMMESARIEL
EKESJEERICICLE
GYMCLASSCMON
ATLASSHRUGGED
SCARCEELIASETA
TOOLONGDIDNTREAD
URKELPUCEIONIA
BESTSAPESCOALS
Fri 11/22/2024
SANTAGALPAL
TROOPOLDNORSE
AEIOUSLEPTLATE
ISITSPITSIDED
DONTBEEVILNARS
SOEXCITING
IDIOCYABLEKAY
PESTOPREABIDE
ACTOHIOCREDOS
BLINDDATES
STYEMEREMORTAL
HEATSLIFEHALO
ASTROLOGYTABOO
PLEASEGOALLOT
EASYASCLEFS
Sat 11/23/2024
SCRUFFYGLOSSY
ILOVEYOURECIPE
TIBERIUSANDRES
SQUABNUTSONAM
BUSSAGARSWOKE
YETSTALEJASON
THATSABIGIF
POOLHUSTLER
BATTLESUITS
SAGASAPRESREF
ARALGREERREAR
INNDUTCHMACRO
DOGSATTUNACANS
SWOONSSNAKEPIT
OLDBAYTHIRSTY
Sun 11/24/2024 Shape Up or Ship Out
REFSFINEMALLOPER
UVEAIRANJOLIEBRAVA
BEEFADOBOORANGAGLET
LEMONSCBASKETBALLS
DAISYHISSNAAN
INNTIERDASCDDRIVE
EGGAMNESICIRAZAPF
HENNOTALOTBARKEEPER
ALUMIDOLOMGYESEEO
ROMANRETELLSRID
DUBLINERCIDBARGESIN
ETASTEADEDNECCO
ALAENSUESSUSSDIET
SUBTRACTSFTMEADESHE
KNEEHEHLIBELERSOL
ADMIRESJAMNEINOLE
PRAMEVEREGRET
SEALOFAPPROCOMESAC
TEXANTUDORCHESTBUMP
UNITYIMAMSAHASOTTO
NYSECASERINORSVP

There's a lot going on here, but the trick is explained in the title.

"Shape Up" means that the four vertical circles reading upward spell shapes (cone, star, oval, and cross) that get appended to horizontal answers: LEMON SCONE, BASKETBALL STAR, SEAL OF APPROVAL, and COMES ACROSS.

"Ship Out" means the four horizontal ships (or at least water vessels) are eliminated to match the clues: BEEPER, DUB, SIN, and TRACTS.

Note that "Nickname" at 64-Across is a verb.

Fun fact: SCUMBAG (used only once) is no longer considered acceptable at the NYT. Yet, 110-Across reads as COMESAC.

Fun fact 2: The answer RINO has been used twice before. In 1983, the clue was "Epicarp". Didn't know that one? Perhaps the 1952 clue "Money: slang" would be easier for you.

Mon 11/25/2024
LOOFASHERAPAR
ACRIDHANOIANO
SHAREHOLDERTKO
HOLEAWESBAILS
MAZEGARNET
LIKEHERDINGCATS
ARENAUMASS
BEGSWEPTALA
ATEATAIMED
FOLLOWYOURBLISS
OREGONPESO
RIVALALDAVETS
MOISOCIALMEDIA
ALEEVENTRIDES
LEDTASTESTASH
Tue 11/26/2024
TURFSAPPSTAR
WHOOPKNEELUNA
OUTOFORDERIMIN
SHEDWOOLWEBMD
CONCRETESLAB
PROMSETTE
ASAMIBOARWEE
MARATHONDANCERS
PSIEXESAHEAP
NAILRAIDS
EGGMCMUFFINS
GUTSYSELFEASE
RIOTAUTOFILLED
EDGEGREWMEDAY
TOOLEPSODORS
Wed 11/27/2024
ACHEANNECLAPS
COMICBOOKHASIT
CHARLOTTEEMILY
REREADESCPALE
ANTREGATS
PASADENAICU
HOPETORTOISES
THETHREESISTERS
THESAHARASEAR
PINKOURTNEY
SANZENKIM
SOFTEONSELENA
KHLOEROOTWORDS
IMINGBELESPRIT
TYPEOSLEDEYES
Thu 11/28/2024
CHASEOTOHAVA
HUMUSSZEROSIC
ELECTSSTANTIVE
TURKEYSTOOFAR
ILSEADORN
PACETATEREPIC
ABASIRONHRIDE
RUNSSOMAHSEED
STOPSMADEHDAE
ESSOBANALCALS
ODISTMEAT
USFLAGSSCREEN
GOESUPINSLARGO
LOUBUMASAFROS
YTDSNOGTEETH
Fri 11/29/2024
SCRATCHTHATRNS
AREYOUAWAKEEAU
NOTIMETODIEAMP
TSABUTNUCLEI
ASISPILSPATON
FELTSPUNKNONE
ESSENEMACABRE
WAXFIGURE
COMPILEPARKAS
SATETARSBRITA
ALTARPEERANTI
LOOTEDRASPUN
ARMCASEINPOINT
RIAOVERABARREL
YENNEARLYREADY
Sat 11/30/2024
HAFTSOWHAT
HERESATHOUGHT
DOYOUKNOWWHOIAM
IMBADTRAMSSKA
WEARSAMIEDIEZ
AMTFRETMESSY
LATHEREDJOINT
IDEATESLENGTHS
ERREDWETONWET
ABBRSSEESORO
DRAYWHITBORER
HETSHOGIOAKIE
DATEWITHDESTINY
DELICATESSENS
RIGHTYPANG
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