Current:Home > NewsOff the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, I Could Have Sworn... -EliteFunds
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, I Could Have Sworn...
View
Date:2025-04-12 12:25:11
There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solve today's puzzle before reading further! I Could Have Sworn...
Constructor: Geoffrey Schorkopf
Editor: Jared Goudsmit
Comments from Today’s Crossword Constructor
Geoffrey: Hope you had a freakin' great time solving this one!
What I Learned from Today’s Puzzle
- TATUM (23A: NBA All-Star Jayson) Jayson TATUM is a professional basketball player for the NBA's Boston Celtics. Jayson TATUM was drafted by the Celtics in 2017. He is a five-time NBA All-Star. Add this to the list of sports information I've learned from crossword puzzles.
- AMC (30A: MacGuffins Bar theater chain) AMC, which is headquartered in Kansas, is the largest movie theater chain in the world. Some AMC locations include a MacGuffins Bar, where moviegoers can get a cocktail to enjoy with their movie. A MacGuffin is a plot device that utilizes a normally insignificant or unimportant object, event, or character to keep the plot moving forward. Alfred Hitchcock is known for popularizing the use of MacGuffins. For example, in Alfred Hitchcock's 1935 movie, The 39 Steps, the MacGuffin was plans for a silent plane engine.
- MARS (31D: Olympus Mons' planet) Olympus Mons is a volcano located on MARS. Olympus Mons is a shield volcano, a type of volcano with a low profile. Of course, low profile is relative. Olympus Mons is three times as high as Mt. Everest, and roughly the size of the state of Arizona. Scientists estimate that Olympus Mons last erupted approximately 25 million years ago.
Random Thoughts & Interesting Things
- ELIOT (16A: "Adam Bede" novelist George) Adam Bede is George ELIOT's first novel, published in 1859. George ELIOT was a pen name of Mary Ann Evans. Adam Bede tells the stories of four characters living in a rural, small community (the fictional town of Hayslope) in 1799, one of whom is the title character.
- TONKA (19A: Toy truck brand) TONKA has been selling toy trucks since the 1940s. In 1991, the brand was acquired by Hasbro. TONKA trucks were originally mostly metal, but since the 1980s, some of the steel in their construction has been replaced by plastic. This answer reminds me of a story from my childhood (when TONKA trucks were still metal...). When I was two years old, my brother, who is a year older than me, threw a TONKA truck at me. We were both young, and I don't really remember the incident, but I do have a tiny scar near my right eye as a reminder.
- SHO (29A: "The Chi" network) The Chi is a TV series that premiered on Showtime (SHO) in 2018. The show is a coming-of-age drama centered on a group of residents of Chicago's South Side, who are "linked by coincidence but bonded by the need for connection and redemption."
- ASIA (33A: Alimathaa's continent) Maldives is an island country in South ASIA. Located in the Indian Ocean southwest of India and Sri Lanka, Maldives is an archipelagic country of 1,192 coral islands, about 200 of which are populated. Alimathaa is one of the islands of Maldives. It is known for its white sand beaches and turquoise water.
- RED (46A: Rambutan's color) A rambutan is the fruit of the tree of the same name that is native to Southeast ASIA. A rambutan has leathery RED skin covered with spines. The inside of the fruit is translucent or whitish with a sweet, slightly acidic flavor.
- CDC (47A: V-safe health org.) The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is an agency of the Department of Health and Human Services. V-safe is a program of the CDC that monitors safety of COVID-19 and RSV vaccines, by collecting data from the public. Current COVID-19 boosters became available a few weeks ago.
- CHAI (50A: Tea sometimes served in a kulhar) A kulhar is a traditional South Asian pottery cup. It is typically undecorated and unglazed, and meant for one time use. Since the cup is unglazed, CHAI served in a kulhar will have a distinctive earthy aroma.
- SEWS (69A: Does some tailoring) and HEMS (60D: Does some tailoring) Clue echo! It's fun that these two answers cross in the grid.
- SING (11D: Perform like SZA) SZA is the professional name of Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Solána Imani Rowe. The title track of SZA's second album, SOS (2022), debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart.
- POKE (12D: ___ bowl (Hawaiian dish)) A POKE bowl (POKE here rhymes with "okay" not "joke") is a dish of diced raw fish. POKE is the Hawaiian word for "cut crosswise into pieces.
- TMI (21D: "You didn't need to tell me all that!") and OH HUSH (25D: "Be quiet, you!") TMI here stands for "too much information." It made me chuckle that the clues for TMI and "OH, HUSH!" appear consecutively.
- CAT (27D: Jaguar or lion) My CAT, Willow, appreciates this shoutout to her big CAT cousins.
- I DID (35D: Possible response to "Who left dishes in the sink?") In my experience, other possible responses to this question are, "Not me," and "I dunno."
- AYO (51D: Emmy winner Edebiri) AYO Edebiri won an Emmy Award in 2023 for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her portrayal of chef Sydney Adamu on the TV series The Bear.
- LUNA (58D: Roman moon goddess) In ancient Roman religion and mythology, LUNA is considered the divine embodiment of the Moon.
Crossword Puzzle Theme Synopsis
- SHOOT POOL (20A: Play a billiards game)
- FUDGE THE NUMBERS (40A: Be a dishonest accountant)
- FLIPPING HOUSES (57A: Buying and selling residences for profit)
I COULD HAVE SWORN...: The first word of each theme answer is a minced oath. A minced oath is an expression that is similar to and used in place of a swear word.
This puzzle has a fun theme, and a clever title. Forgive me for not telling you what word each of the minced oaths – SHOOT, FUDGE, and FLIPPING – are standing in for. I'm trusting in your ability to figure that out. Thank you, Geoffrey, for this enjoyable puzzle.
For more on USA TODAY’s Crossword Puzzles
- USA TODAY’s Daily Crossword Puzzles
- Sudoku & Crossword Puzzle Answers
veryGood! (3)
Related
- Jorge Ramos reveals his final day with 'Noticiero Univision': 'It's been quite a ride'
- Trade deadline day: The Knicks took a big swing, and some shooters are now in the playoff race
- Kentucky House passes bill to bolster disclosure of sexual misconduct allegations against teachers
- New Justin Hartley show 'Tracker' sees 'This is Us' star turn action hero
- Federal Spending Freeze Could Have Widespread Impact on Environment, Emergency Management
- Brittany Mahomes Shares Message on Being Unapologetically Yourself While Making SI Swimsuit Debut
- How much are 2024 Super Bowl tickets? See prices for average, cheapest and most expensive seats
- Holly Marie Combs responds to Alyssa Milano's claim about 'Charmed' feud with Shannen Doherty
- 'We're reborn!' Gazans express joy at returning home to north
- Man accused of torching police motorcycles in attack authorities have linked to ‘Cop City’ protests
Ranking
- Chuck Scarborough signs off: Hoda Kotb, Al Roker tribute legendary New York anchor
- 'Days of Our Lives' star Arianne Zucker sues producers over sexual harassment
- Biden and Trump: How the two classified documents investigations came to different endings
- Drew Brees raves about Brock Purdy's underdog story and playmaking ability
- B.A. Parker is learning the banjo
- What if the government abolished your 401(k)? Economists say accounts aren't worth it
- Inflation is nearly back to 2%. So why isn’t the Federal Reserve ready to cut rates?
- Family, U.S. seek information from Israel on detained Palestinian-American Samaher Esmail for alleged incitement
Recommendation
Why we love Bear Pond Books, a ski town bookstore with a French bulldog 'Staff Pup'
Kristin Juszczyk Reveals How Taylor Swift Ended Up Wearing Her Custom Chiefs Coat
Goldfish believed to be world's longest caught in Australia: He was a monster
A volcano in Iceland is erupting again, spewing lava and cutting heat and hot water supplies
Former Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
PHOTO GALLERY: A look at Lahaina in the 6 months since a wildfire destroyed the Maui town
TikToker Veruca Salt Responds to Trolls Questioning Her Grief Over One-Month-Old Baby's Death
50 pounds of chewed gum: Red Rocks Amphitheater volunteers remove sticky mess from seats