New York Times, Sunday, December 24, 2023, Clues and Answers
New York Times, Sunday, December 24, 2023
Author:
Drew Schmenner
Editor:
Will Shortz
One who’s not afraid to brag
Across
1
Using the bow, in music : ARCO
5
Guesstimate : STAB
9
XXX : CHIS
13
Private retreat, of a sort : ISLE
17
Charged exclamation during a court trial : LIAR
18
“La ___ de los Espiritus,” debut novel for Isabel Allende : CASA
19
Littlest sucklings : RUNTS
21
Contents of a pot : ANTES
22
Ancient landmark whose name translates to “high city” : ACROPOLIS
24
Shadow : UMBRA
25
Reporter’s coup : SCOOP
26
One who’s not afraid to brag : SHAMELESSSELFPROMOTER
29
Fermented honey concoction : MEAD
30
Let : LEASED
31
Bygone Seattle hoopsters : SONICS
34
Sympathize with : FEELFOR
36
Computer command : PRINT
38
What you might get when you purchase Christmas ornaments on December 26 : DEAL
40
Part of a sleigh : SEAT
41
Contraction that’s a homophone of 13-Across : ILL
42
Lover of Hero, in Greek myth : LEANDER
44
With significance : NOTEDLY
46
In the manner of : ALA
47
“Ithaca is ___” (punny slogan) : GORGES
48
Actress Diana of “The Avengers” : RIGG
51
Arthur Ashe Courage Award, for one : ESPY
52
Number of lords a-leaping : TEN
53
Surprise birthday parties often involve them : RUSES
54
Quantity of beer … or monkeys? : BARRELFUL
56
Max or X : APP
58
Name of Lincoln’s favorite dog : FIDO
59
Branding need : HOTIRON
60
___ buco : OSSO
61
End of autumn? : SILENTN
64
Highly prized collectibles, in lingo : RARES
65
Bad design feature for a Christmas stocking? : OPENTOE
67
Fourth word in “Jingle Bells” : SNOW
68
Hurt : INJURED
70
Take a risk : DARE
71
“Illmatic” rapper : NAS
72
Skateboard tricks started by kicking with the back foot : HEELFLIPS
73
Dry, as Italian wine : SECCO
75
O’er and o’er : OFT
78
Bring on board : HIRE
80
Actress Skye : IONE
81
Barks, perhaps : SPEAKS
82
Mr. Potter vis-à-vis George Bailey, in “It’s a Wonderful Life” : FOE
83
“King Lear” daughter : GONERIL
85
Fixes, as broken 93-Down : RELINKS
87
Scary sight at the beach : FIN
88
Olympic gymnast Korbut : OLGA
89
Sign of approval : SEAL
92
Kim’s ex, in tabloids : KANYE
93
Formal “you,” in Spain : USTED
95
Muffle : DEADEN
97
Actress Wen of “The Mandalorian” : MINGNA
99
Dude, in modern slang : BRUH
100
Workers seen in five squares in this puzzle? : SANTASLITTLEHELPERS
106
Make ends meet : GETBY
108
End of turn? : STILE
109
Binds tightly : TRUSSESUP
110
Speedy Northeast train : ACELA
111
Topples (over) : KEELS
112
“___ Misbehavin'” : AINT
113
Relative of a cassowary : RHEA
114
Midnight Mass leader : POPE
115
Hurdle for a prospective J.D. : LSAT
116
Some cats, chameleons and chinchillas : PETS
117
Locale of the final scene in “Vertigo” : BELFRY
Down
1
“Regrettably …” : ALAS
2
Like Ebenezer Scrooge : RICH
3
Sweet custardy concoction : CARAMELFLAN
4
Start of a well-known address in Verona : OROMEO
5
Dress down : SCOLD
6
“The Winter’s ___” : TALE
7
Clearance sale warning : ASIS
8
Iconic features of “Under Pressure” and “Come Together” : BASSLINES
9
What awaits a tragic hero : CRUELFATE
10
Bactrian pair : HUMPS
11
Hereditary : INBRED
12
Walked assuredly : STRODE
13
Brings to a boil : INCENSES
14
Colorful background : STORIEDPAST
15
Uncle ___ (“Seinfeld” character) : LEO
16
Madrid’s home, in the Olympics : ESP
20
Uncle ___ : SAM
21
Regarding : ASTO
23
Tree in “The Twelve Days of Christmas” : PEAR
27
Dispatches : SENDS
28
Capital just below the 60th parallel : OSLO
32
Musical style associated with Harry Belafonte : CALYPSO
33
What a filthy mess! : STY
34
Order : FIAT
35
Magazine based in Paris : ELLE
36
Record kept on an employee : PERSONNELFILE
37
What transforms Bruce Banner into the Hulk : RAGE
39
Spongy dessert : ANGELFOODCAKE
42
Article of clothing that might be decorated with candy canes : LOUDTIE
43
Full of sex or profanity, maybe : RRATED
45
Business card no. : TEL
47
Beam : GRIN
49
Goddess of the rainbow : IRIS
50
[I’ve had enough!] : GRR
54
Puts to sleep, say : BORES
55
Analyzes, as a metaphor : UNPACKS
57
“The Bells” poet : POE
58
Two or three : FEW
59
Big name in book publishing since 1817 : HARPER
60
“God bless us, every ___!” : ONE
61
1040 fig. : SSN
62
Down, at the casino : INAHOLE
63
No longer at the top of one’s game : LOSINGASTEP
64
Destruction : RUIN
66
Aphrodite’s frequent companion : EROS
69
“Hustlers” star, familiarly : JLO
72
She/___ : HER
73
Fictional band fronted by David St. Hubbins : SPINALTAP
74
Start of a playground rhyme : EENY
75
Not custom, as merchandise : OFFTHESHELF
76
___ gras : FOIE
77
Incline : TEND
79
Breezy, as a book : READABLE
81
Incline : SLANT
83
Word added to the Pledge of Allegiance in 1954 : GOD
84
“___ everyone?” : ISNT
86
Heart diagnostic, in brief : EKGTEST
90
Heineken brand : AMSTEL
91
Floral symbols of purity : LILIES
93
See 85-Across : URLS
94
First-class : SUPERB
96
Mononymous Irish singer : ENYA
98
Wafer brand : NILLA
99
Tops : BESTS
101
Pose : ASK
102
Member of a wet quintet : ERIE
103
Word with witch or treasure : HUNT
104
Repentant sort : RUER
105
Neuter : SPAY
106
Hiatus : GAP
107
Prefix with friendly : ECO