I found the rest of the puzzle challenging as well, but, ultimately, gettable. Regular blog readers will know that "quote" clues such as 14A: "'Not to worry ...'" (THERENOW), 7D: "'Good riddance'" (NOLOSS), and 15D: "'It's a date!'" (WEREON) are a SORESPOT for Frannie. Not that she HATESON them, but almost invariably, the "equivalent" expressions in puzzles don't leap to HERS mind.
I enjoyed both the clues and answers at 16A: "Chichi" / SWANKY, and 37D: "Goofballs" / KOOKS. Also good were "It might bring you to tears" (ONION) and "It's a wrap!" for SARAN. I thought WHENINROME for "Comment from one who's going along" was clever and fun. SLIPS follows MOORS in the puzzle, but they are not tied together. Ha.
In the QMC category "One away from one's duties?" (TAXEXILE) required a bit of calculation, but that's what we like in a QMC. :) I also liked STARTERKIT for "First gear?" and SINKHOLE for "Great depression?" However, I thought the QMC at 44A: "Really nasty fall?" (ICESTORM) was less successful.
TWOS as the answer for "All slam dunks" didn't score so well with this non-sporty solver, and neither did its neighbor at 10D: "Accessory turned down on a cap." I assume some people must call that an EARLAP or it wouldn't be in the puzzle, but I am more familiar with an ear flap. Also, "hair stylist's concern" for PART seemed a bit over the top. That is pretty much the least of one's worries at the salon, non?
A demain! That's my "French exit" - SORTIE.
~Frannie.
As a relatively new puzzler, I take no shame in turning on auto check for anything Thursday and beyond. I get as far as I can without it, and then once I'm completely stumped I put the training wheels on. Today that was only with about 20% of the puzzle complete. Even with the help from auto check, I found this puzzle to be a steep climb up the stair-shaped grid. Agree with your analysis on all points - glad to see you back at the blog!
ReplyDelete- JENNIE
This was definitely the hardest Friday in a while! Glad you're pushing yourself into the late-week puzzles. Thanks for reading, and thanks for commenting!
DeleteThis one took me about twice as long to solve as recent Fridays (over 25 minutes), but it was satisfying because of the challenge. I feel for you, Frannie, AWMAN and THERENOW. I enjoyed WHENINROME, but wholeheartedly agree with EARLAP, which I've never heard anyone say. I tried tAssel in there at first, but the crosses made me erase that. At 55D I tried idea, then PLan, and finally wound up with PLOT. MANIOC is completely unknown to me, and if it turns up again, I won't know it then, either, and RONDA is also in that category. I did like TWOS, though, for its simplicity. I loved 47A Date unlikely to be on a calendar (TRYST) and I thought Frannie would have enjoyed 1D It's usually followed by an "s" (HTTP) for its computeriness. SEXMANUALS is pretty racy.
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