WEDNESDAY PUZZLE — Some English words have so many meanings that it can be hard to know where a straightforward definition ends and wordplay begins. Monday’s crossword by Max Schlenker, for instance, used the phrase “I’ve seen the light” to reveal a theme about electricity. “Light” is already a metaphor for “clarity,” so the distinction is hazy. Today’s crossword, constructed by Peggy Sue Marlin in her New York Times debut, also toes a faded line between literal and figurative meaning.
In a different puzzle, this wordplay might seem tired, but Ms. Marlin’s canny approach to the theme’s cluing and its format keeps those wordy twists fresh and entertaining.
Today’s Theme
Digital solvers can identify the puzzle’s theme entries — at 17A, 26A and 43A — because they appear highlighted in yellow. Even if you’re solving on paper, though, you can tell which clues are themed because they all reference 56A, which hints at an expression that means [“That spells trouble!”]. The answer there is IT’S NOT A GOOD SIGN.
The themed clues offer little information aside from where their entries can be found. At 17A, for instance: [56-Across on a store] is SORRY WE’RE CLOSED. (Note: If you’re a newer solver wondering how the heck one arrives at this answer after starting with such a vague clue, allow me to introduce you to the magic of crossing entries.) 26A’s [56-Across on an elevator] is OUT OF SERVICE. And [56-Across on an interstate], at 43A, is EXPECT DELAYS. To wit: Each of these entries represents a physical sign — and not a good one! — that you might see posted in the cited locations.
Tricky Clues
11A. The Times Crossword gets trickier as the week goes on, so there are fewer indications of sneaky wordplay on a Wednesday than there might be on a Monday. [Lines at a supermarket checkout, for short] seems to refer to queues of people, but instead describes a bar code, or UPC, that is scanned.
21A. This plural abbreviation for [Major rds.] known as HWYS — as in, highways — is a relative rarity in the Times Crossword, having appeared just seven times over the past two decades or so.
36A/25D. Even for those familiar with Greek mythology, the references in these clues to “The Argonautica,” an epic poem written in the 3rd century B.C., might be obscure. The [Magical ally] in question is MEDEA; the [Divine protector] is HERA.
62A. [Sourdough starter?] ends in a question mark, so there’s a pun to be found here. The “starter” in this case is the first letter of the word “sourdough,” which, phonetically written, is ESS.
4D. This is the first I’ve heard of this [Foot joint sprain, familiarly] known as TURF TOE — so named, presumably, because it can be caused by hard contact with turf.
33D. [Some messenger bags and satchels, jocularly] may be referred to as MAN PURSES. According to Jerry in “Seinfeld,” mind you, these are just European carryalls. Either way, it’s a Times Crossword debut.
53D. It seems almost comical to conceive of an AGER, the [Antiquing substance] sometimes used to give natural materials the appearance of being older than they are. I can think of a much cheaper way to do it: Wait.
Constructor Notes
I got the idea for this puzzle when I heard the expression IT’S NOT A GOOD SIGN and found myself wondering about actual, physical signs. What makes a sign good or bad? Is a sign inherently bad just because it delivers bad news? Or should we give it some credit for letting us know? Then again, is there anything worse than taking an all-caps gut punch from the universe when you’re already running late? I hope that you enjoyed the puzzle and that you encounter only good signs, whether literal or figurative, for the rest of the day.
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