Constructor: Joe Deeney
Relative problem: Straightforward
THEME: “Fan Membership” — acquainted phrases are reimagined as verb phrases finished by “___-philes” (i.e. by lovers or “followers” of … no matter some made-up phrase with semi-familiar Greek roots signifies):
Theme solutions:
- LOVE TRIANGLES (21A: “Geometrophiles…”)
- PRIZE DRAWING (31A: “Imagophiles…”)
- FANCY RESTAURANTS (46A: “Gastrophiles…”)
- GET OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT (63A: “Dextropodophiles…”)
- DIG THEIR OWN GRAVE (79A: “Autotumulophiles…”)
- GO FOR THE GOLD (94A: “Aurophiles…”)
- LIKE CLOCKWORK (109A: “Chronomechanophiles…”)
Phrase of the Day: WHATNOTS (82D: Cabinets for knickknacks) —
A what-not is a bit of furnishings derived from the French étagère, which was exceedingly in style in England within the first three-quarters of the nineteenth century. It often consists of slender uprights or pillars, supporting a sequence of cabinets for holding china, ornaments, trifles, or “what nots“, therefore the allusive identify. In its English type, it’s a handy piece of drawing room furnishings, and was hardly ever valued for its aesthetic. (wikipedia)
• • •
I assume the theme is constant sufficient, however it simply would not come off as very entertaining. I assume the star attraction is meant to be these preposterous Greek-rooted phrases within the clues, those indicating which form of “lovers” or “followers” we have been coping with. In that sense, the puzzle ended up feeling like a vocabulary check: “Are you aware your Greek phrase roots?!” Imagined -philes someway did not actually gentle my fireplace. The wordplay is fascinating, in that every one the primary phrases within the acquainted phrases are reimagined as very verbs or verb phrases that means, roughly, “take pleasure in” or “are a fan of” (LOVE, PRIZE, FANCY, and so on.). I preferred the highest half significantly better on this regard, since there gave the impression to be a consistency there, a selected shift of the that means of the primary phrases from adjectives to verbs. However when you get to the center that consistency goes away and also you get a sequence of phrases which are verb phrases by nature—the clues simply change the that means of the verbs. I preferred it higher when the reimagining concerned a change each in that means and in a part of speech. However like I say, at a normal stage, the gimmick is constant sufficient. The made-up clue phrase angle did nothing for me, however among the reimagined phrases are a minimum of just a little humorous, esp. GET OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT. Foot fetishry within the marquee place of the Sunday NYTXW! Daring. The remainder of the puzzle: not almost so daring. Wait, these clue phrases are made up, proper? I assumed “Gastrophile” was an actual factor … [looks it up] … it’s! “One who loves good meals.” However “autotumulophile”!? That may’t be actual! … [looks it up] … nope, it completely just isn’t. Search that phrase and also you get crossword websites (websites referring particularly to this crossword). Hmm, that is one other ding towards this factor. Ding for “gastrophile”—make up all the “-phile” phrases or do not trouble with the gimmick.
The longer solutions on this puzzle typically felt wasted, within the sense that ITALIAN HERO simply felt … redundant. It is a HERO. That is sufficient. ITALIAN HERO is … meh. And as for TSETSE FLIES and JAI ALAI, that is simply prolonged crosswordese. Crosswordese: The Unexpurgated Model. An excessive amount of actual property to present to overfamiliar stuff. ARMY LIFE feels authentic, and I like “DEAR JOHN” fairly effectively too (esp. the clue: 79D: Announcement of a cut up choice?). However THE NILE!? THE NILE!? Oof. Extra prolonged crosswordese, and a painful particular article insertion as well. THETHAMES, THERHONE, THESEINE, THEMISSISSIPPI … you see how dumb that is, proper? Do not give NILE a go simply because it is brief and (from a crossword perspective) hyperfamiliar.
[Follow Rex Parker on Twitter and Facebook]