New York Times, Monday, December 25, 2023, Clues and Answers
Author:
Amie Walker
Editor:
Will Shortz
“Your response is what I hoped you’d say”
Across
1
Device that might be confused with a router : MODEM
6
Essayist Didion : JOAN
10
Things in Easter baskets : EGGS
14
Honda luxury brand : ACURA
15
Taking ___ account : INTO
16
Money that’s borrowed : LOAN
17
1976 song by the Runaways with the lyric “Hello world, I’m your wild girl” : CHERRYBOMB
19
Not all : SOME
20
Spicy : HOT
21
Caviar, e.g. : ROE
22
Feeling tense : ONEDGE
24
Not worth a ___ : SOU
25
Walk in water up to one’s ankles, say : WADE
27
___ Lingus : AER
28
1996 Deana Carter hit with the lyric “My first taste of love, oh, bittersweet” : STRAWBERRYWINE
33
“Warts and all,” in an ad : ASIS
34
Mideast title : EMIR
35
“American Dad!” network : TBS
36
“Mad” run : DASH
37
Lugged around : TOTED
39
Furry “Star Wars” creature : EWOK
42
Hawaii’s Mauna ___ : KEA
44
Rip : TEAR
45
Lesbian icon played by Lucy Lawless : XENA
46
1985 Prince hit with the lyric “And if it was warm she wouldn’t wear much more” : RASPBERRYBERET
49
Race, as an engine : REV
50
Frees (of) : RIDS
51
Chicago trains : ELS
52
“Be that as it may …” : EVENSO
54
___ Lanka : SRI
55
In the style of, on a menu : ALA
58
Lose energy : TIRE
59
“I love this song!” … or a doubly apt description of 17-, 28- and 46-Across : THATSMYJAM
63
Take a snooze : REST
64
57-Down’s state : IOWA
65
Inner ___ (goal of meditation) : PEACE
66
Is in the hole : OWES
67
Novice, informally : NEWB
68
Jazzy instruments : SAXES
Down
1
Physicist Ernst : MACH
2
Dos x cuatro : OCHO
3
Song for two : DUET
4
Slip up : ERR
5
It’s in your bones : MARROW
6
Be in harmony : JIBE
7
Musical artist Yoko : ONO
8
Bank lobby sight : ATM
9
Completely insignificant person : NOBODY
10
Otherwise : ELSE
11
“Your response is what I hoped you’d say” : GOODANSWER
12
Samwise ___, companion of Frodo Baggins : GAMGEE
13
Villain’s expression : SNEER
18
“Sure thing!’ : YOUBET
23
Aquatic salamander : NEWT
24
Cloth strips on military uniforms : SASHES
25
Ones involved in a 2023 Hollywood strike : WRITERS
26
Overdue debt : ARREAR
28
Unhappy : SAD
29
Airport org. : TSA
30
Reluctant, as an investor : RISKAVERSE
31
Acted too broadly : EMOTED
32
Large-horned mountain goats : IBEXES
38
Appliances with lint traps : DRYERS
40
Number of times Rose tells Jack she loves him, in “Titanic” : ONE
41
Kit ___ bar : KAT
43
Auto financing figs. : APRS
46
Critic’s piece : REVIEW
47
Vitamin that contributes to hair and nail growth : BIOTIN
48
Goodyear aircraft : BLIMPS
49
In style once more : RETRO
53
Makes after taxes : NETS
54
Wild guess : STAB
55
Hero in the Trojan War : AJAX
56
Wedding dress material : LACE
57
City north of Des Moines : AMES
60
Weeding tool : HOE
61
“So cu-u-ute!” : AWW
62
Vote in favor : YEA