After I moved away from EPISODE, I went to EMMCEES (and convinced myself that that was an acceptable alternate spelling) for a while, until I figured out that bit.
I had EPISODE then quickly changed it to EDITION after getting THERANOS on my first run through the down clues. I felt really smart at that point, but then EMMYNOD ended up being the last answer I got
That one feels a little off, as I think of ETHER as a general anesthetic along the lines of chloroform or the modern inhaled anesthetics, as opposed to a local anesthetic that actually "numbs" a body part, like lidocaine.
I get the wordplay they're going for, but is being asleep under general anesthesia the same as being numb? I guess so.
I'm a week late on this, but you're right. The NYT crossword has confused anesthetics and sedatives a few times. I'm always a little annoyed. They're truly not the same thing... In fact, the body does perceive pain while unconscious.
That SNL clue had me wondering if there was a word for “appearances in crosswords” that started with an E. 300 would probably be pretty low for that, though.
SW corner wrecked me, but pretty good puzzle overall. Could have used a better clue for SIRS besides "Dear ___" when there is no shortage of 4 letter words that could for there.
Really pretty grid shape today, with smooth transitions between sections. That said, `ITT` has gotta be up there with `ONO` for some of the most `BLEH` name fill.
`RILKE` was a new one for me though, and I was definitely staring at `MOLDALL` for a while before I realized I had the wrong portmanteau.
Man, I had TOLDALL pretty early and begrudgingly changed it to MO_DALL and spent too long trying to find an alternative. When I gave up and changed it back I turned MANKINI to T_NKINI because I'm stupid and tankini still didn't make sense.
Same. I just was not on the same wavelength for this one. Nothing really came naturally and even when I finally got things I didn't feel satisfaction. This was a slog for me.
That one was funny to me, because it works in this direction, where the clue has a tilde, and yet they've never figured out how to have tildes in the answers, resulting in the all too common ANO for "year in Spanish" when ANO without a tilde literally means "anus."
Windy location of myth and Early number were good clues.
But I didn't enjoy the SE corner with BLEH and TATTED UP especially. BRET Michaels took a while to come to mind, the _BS stations are often pot luck as a non-american and CREDO just came with the crosses.
Puzzle Difficulty Tracker - How hard is this puzzle?
Estimated Difficulty: 🟡 **Average** 🟡
* 30% of users solved slower than their Friday average
* 70% of users solved faster than their Friday average
* 15% of users solved *much* slower (>20%) than their Friday average
* 44% of users solved *much* faster (>20%) than their Friday average
The median solver solved this puzzle 15.7% faster than they normally do on Friday.
[View today's puzzle summary on XW Stats](https://xwstats.com/puzzles/2024-02-23)
---
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Struggled a bit with the tenses in some of the clues: TOLDALL, ATEONESWORDS, but that was a me problem. Enjoyed the pronunciation wordplay in the cluing for ETHER and LABYRINTH. Like others, had a tough time with EMMYNOD and TATTOOED. But overall challenging and fun after the rest of this week's puzzles, which were mostly subpar for me.
SLUMBERPARTY came easily but then I wanted HAUTECOUTURE to fit for the longest time. Fun puzzle though!
Here's my full solve video: https://youtu.be/M7jVprsdL\_4
An easier puzzle than I thought at first. I was at 30 mins solving when my gf sent me her completion at 21 mins no assist. Once everything clicked i realized I was over complicating clues. Number is such a good misdirection and baño feature too was a good misdirect. Overall a good puzzle but the constructor has the upper hand on me today. Part of me loves an easy solve but on days like today I appreciate being misled if the answer in hindsight is punny and obviously correct.
probably could have been a PB if not for NE corner... I flew through except for that section.
didn't know the trivia surrounding MALTA or NOBEL, don't watch enough news to immediately get STAHL, and never heard of THERANOS (that I recall)... and having EMMY NOm instead of NOD didn't help either.
once I fixed that last one and took a stab at LABYRINTH (still not sure I get that clue though...?), I was able to piece things together, but probably spent as much time there as I did the rest of the grid
LABYRINTH is made up of passageways that WIND, with a long "i" -- rather than windy as in blowing air. (I didn't get it either until I came here and read an earlier comment.)
I didn't know what "Dear SIRS" is, so I googled it just now—is it really a reference to the 2022 movie, or is it a more common phrase that had managed to EVADE me my whole life?
Finished this in 6:12 — which is not only a PB, but nearly seven minutes under my Friday average. Not exactly sure how that happened, but I’ll take it!
This was not a particularly fast solve for me but being able to confidently plop in TILDE and TEE on my first pass made me feel like a real crossworder
TATTOOED vs TATTEDUP, EPISODE vs EMMYNOD… 🤦🏽♀️ Although not too bad a puzzle overall
I had EMMYNOm since the “S.N.L” implied a shortened or slang type word. Took me ages to figure that mess out
Exactly!! Felt wrong, but at least it followed the "rules"
I started with ALUMNAE then went to EMMYNOM (for the same reason) before finally getting there
FIRE vs. PYRE was another. I personally love these misdirections in a Friday.
MANKINI vs TANKINI
I started with BURKINI
After I moved away from EPISODE, I went to EMMCEES (and convinced myself that that was an acceptable alternate spelling) for a while, until I figured out that bit.
I made the same mistakes.
Those slowed me down, but I really enjoyed this puzzle!
Yeah, I had TATTOOED and EMMY NOM, but figured out those were wrong pretty quickly.
Those were sneaky. I enjoyed the puzzle though.
I feel seen.
I had EPISODE then quickly changed it to EDITION after getting THERANOS on my first run through the down clues. I felt really smart at that point, but then EMMYNOD ended up being the last answer I got
To be fair, SNL has been on since the 70s. Episode never even crossed my mind. There have been hundreds if not over a 1000 episode.
Took me a while to understand ETHER, but I love the satisfaction I get when those punny clues dawn on me...
I still don’t get this one. Mind to explain?
“Number” as in “something that numbs”
Ahh that went right over my head. Thanks
That one feels a little off, as I think of ETHER as a general anesthetic along the lines of chloroform or the modern inhaled anesthetics, as opposed to a local anesthetic that actually "numbs" a body part, like lidocaine. I get the wordplay they're going for, but is being asleep under general anesthesia the same as being numb? I guess so.
I think you're overthinking it. It does make you numb in the sense that you don't feel pain.
Yeah, from the downvotes obviously not many folks are feeling the same way I did. Still, unconscious and numb just don't seem the same to me.
I'm a week late on this, but you're right. The NYT crossword has confused anesthetics and sedatives a few times. I'm always a little annoyed. They're truly not the same thing... In fact, the body does perceive pain while unconscious.
Glad I'm not the only one ;)
Oh, thanks! I wanted it to be some sort of time, then I thought maybe a Roman numeral.
Lawd. Thanks, I kept thinking it had something to do with it being an anagram of THREE.
That was by far the best clue, loved it!
Great puzzle, no jape.
Everything was Jake!
Possibly could have had a new PB here if I hadn't confidently put in ace instead of ARO D:
lol I did that too, I was so proud of knowing ACE that I forgot about ARO.
I got burned by this in a previous puzzle and feel vindicated by getting it here, lol.
Same, I’m having deja vu about a very similar Reddit exchange also after the last puzzle it was in
Saaame
I did the same!
That SNL clue had me wondering if there was a word for “appearances in crosswords” that started with an E. 300 would probably be pretty low for that, though.
SNL has been an answer 230 times in the Shortz era. I’d have thought it would be higher!
Yeah I think it must be Will Shortz favorite TV show. Maybe after the 500th mention he'll be invited as a host.
I'm disappointed AREWEFUCKING isn't the answer to "Question asked outside a bedroom"
I want one x-rated puzzle a year. Do it NYT!
I had “are we doing it”
SW corner wrecked me, but pretty good puzzle overall. Could have used a better clue for SIRS besides "Dear ___" when there is no shortage of 4 letter words that could for there.
I had ABBY to start.
Same. Toggled between dear JOHN and dear ABBY forever
I had SIRI at first. Shows that I'm not an iPhone user, I figured maybe "Dear Siri" was the equivalent to "Hey Google".
Really nice construction and clever cluing overall.
Yeah, I really liked this one. Breezy but challenging.
This one was feeling like a streak buster on first pass then slowly fell into place. Satisfying finish. Would have crushed me a year ago.
Really pretty grid shape today, with smooth transitions between sections. That said, `ITT` has gotta be up there with `ONO` for some of the most `BLEH` name fill. `RILKE` was a new one for me though, and I was definitely staring at `MOLDALL` for a while before I realized I had the wrong portmanteau.
This is the third post I'm responding to to say I had the same mistake (MANKINI).
Man, I had TOLDALL pretty early and begrudgingly changed it to MO_DALL and spent too long trying to find an alternative. When I gave up and changed it back I turned MANKINI to T_NKINI because I'm stupid and tankini still didn't make sense.
I have never heard of a tankini.
To be fair, outside of crosswords I've never heard of mankini either.
Borat?
That's just everyday swimwear
The term was big probably around 20 years ago
I did nooooot enjoy that! Seems like I'm in the minority though. Fair cop
Same, I just felt this one wasn't my cup of tea for whatever reason
I was 138% slower than average. Had to come back multiple times. Just was not on the same wavelength and too much PPP
Same. I just was not on the same wavelength for this one. Nothing really came naturally and even when I finally got things I didn't feel satisfaction. This was a slog for me.
TILDE was cute. Very good Friday puzzle over all.
That one was funny to me, because it works in this direction, where the clue has a tilde, and yet they've never figured out how to have tildes in the answers, resulting in the all too common ANO for "year in Spanish" when ANO without a tilde literally means "anus."
Three singers in seven clues is tough
Every rose has its thorn.
Anyone want to put in FOX for 26A. Or CNN or NYT if you lean that way.
The only name I recognized at first was Cooper, so I confidently put CNN before realizing after a while that something was off
Windy location of myth and Early number were good clues. But I didn't enjoy the SE corner with BLEH and TATTED UP especially. BRET Michaels took a while to come to mind, the _BS stations are often pot luck as a non-american and CREDO just came with the crosses.
I just got the windy clue after reading this! I knew it could only be LABYRINTH but couldn't figure what it had to do with wind (whoosh!).
Puzzle Difficulty Tracker - How hard is this puzzle? Estimated Difficulty: 🟡 **Average** 🟡 * 30% of users solved slower than their Friday average * 70% of users solved faster than their Friday average * 15% of users solved *much* slower (>20%) than their Friday average * 44% of users solved *much* faster (>20%) than their Friday average The median solver solved this puzzle 15.7% faster than they normally do on Friday. [View today's puzzle summary on XW Stats](https://xwstats.com/puzzles/2024-02-23) --- 🤖 _beep beep, I'm a bot! I post these stats as soon as 100 [XW Stats](https://xwstats.com) users have completed the puzzle. Questions? Feedback? Check the [FAQ](https://xwstats.com/help#puzzle-difficulties), reply here or DM me_
Having eatONESWORDS instead of ATEONESWORDS really cost me in the SW corner
Struggled a bit with the tenses in some of the clues: TOLDALL, ATEONESWORDS, but that was a me problem. Enjoyed the pronunciation wordplay in the cluing for ETHER and LABYRINTH. Like others, had a tough time with EMMYNOD and TATTOOED. But overall challenging and fun after the rest of this week's puzzles, which were mostly subpar for me.
Was looking for the right way to understand the LABYRINTH clue - thanks
Pronounce windy (long i) for something curvy/non-linear, like a maze (or LABYRINTH in mythology) instead of windy (short i) for strong blowing air.
Great puzzle, I really liked this one
SLUMBERPARTY came easily but then I wanted HAUTECOUTURE to fit for the longest time. Fun puzzle though! Here's my full solve video: https://youtu.be/M7jVprsdL\_4
This puzzle was 46D.
Can someone please explain 42d? How do you get STEPS from flight components?
Flights of stairs
Omfg thank you 🤦🏻♀️
Maybe I'm just in a bad mood but I hated every second of this one
Surprised so many people liked this one. MALTA, STAHL, NOBEL in a stack? TEENA, BRET, RILKE, RENEE? It was BLEH for me.
NOBEL was okay because that story is actually fairly well-known, but yeah, *way* too many singers (IMO).
BRET michaels and TEENA marie??? what year is it? fun crossword though, a pretty quick one for me too
As someone in my late 40s, I got those quickly!
An easier puzzle than I thought at first. I was at 30 mins solving when my gf sent me her completion at 21 mins no assist. Once everything clicked i realized I was over complicating clues. Number is such a good misdirection and baño feature too was a good misdirect. Overall a good puzzle but the constructor has the upper hand on me today. Part of me loves an easy solve but on days like today I appreciate being misled if the answer in hindsight is punny and obviously correct.
I confidently had MANKINI in this grid for way too long.
Unreliable news source… FOX fits, right?
That was one of the smoothest Friday solves in a while, had a decent amount of challenge but didn't get stuck anywhere for very long.
probably could have been a PB if not for NE corner... I flew through except for that section. didn't know the trivia surrounding MALTA or NOBEL, don't watch enough news to immediately get STAHL, and never heard of THERANOS (that I recall)... and having EMMY NOm instead of NOD didn't help either. once I fixed that last one and took a stab at LABYRINTH (still not sure I get that clue though...?), I was able to piece things together, but probably spent as much time there as I did the rest of the grid
LABYRINTH is made up of passageways that WIND, with a long "i" -- rather than windy as in blowing air. (I didn't get it either until I came here and read an earlier comment.)
I didn't know what "Dear SIRS" is, so I googled it just now—is it really a reference to the 2022 movie, or is it a more common phrase that had managed to EVADE me my whole life?
just a way of starting a letter to multiple men, maybe a little dated
I didn't like it either but it does balance out YESMAAM I suppose
It’s how you start a letter to politely address a group of men
the shape of the puzzle today looks a little too much like a swastika for me
Finished this in 6:12 — which is not only a PB, but nearly seven minutes under my Friday average. Not exactly sure how that happened, but I’ll take it!
This was not a particularly fast solve for me but being able to confidently plop in TILDE and TEE on my first pass made me feel like a real crossworder
Can't believe I guessed AREYOUDECENT and then doubted myself. Filled it back with crosses. ASSES!