L.A. Times Crossword Thursday, August 21, 2025 Sean Ziebarth

Theme: Finger Noises.  Each multi-word theme fill contains an example of one.

17 A. "Turn that frown upside down": CRACK A SMILE.    To begin to smile, or to smile slightly, often unexpectedly. It implies a subtle or brief smile.  One can also CRACK one's knuckles.

30 A. "Get your head on straight": SNAP OUT OF IT.   Quickly recover from a negative emotional state, such as sadness, anger, or a bad mood.   Perhaps someone can pull you out of it by snapping their fingers at you.

45 A. "Get on that stage and wow the crowd": KNOCK 'EM DEAD.  Clearly, this is not literal.   It is said to someone to increase their confidence before they appear or do something in public, especially something formal such as giving a speech in front of a crowd.  Literally, KNOCK means to strike a surface noisily to attract attention.  Often, this is done with the knuckles.

61 A. Words of wisdom, and what 17-, 30-, and 45-Across could be called?: SOUND ADVICE.  Guidance or recommendations that are reliable, sensible, and likely to lead to a positive outcome.  The other theme fill employ the other meaning of SOUND - vibrations that travel through the air or another medium and can be heard when they reach a person's or animal's ear.  In context here, the sounds are generated by one's fingers.

Hi gang, Jazzbumpa here, happy to avoid other kinds of finger references.  On to the puzzle - let's knuckle down and finger it out.

Across:

1. Best effort: A GAME.  One's best performance. 

6. Fools: CLODS.  Dummies.

11. Make a mend: SEW.  Using  needle.  Make like a tailor, and be swift.

14. Like much of central Illinois: RURAL.  Away from towns and cities.

15. "The Raven" writer, briefly: E A POE.  Edgar Alan, longly.  He also wrote mystery stories.

16. "Better. Guaranteed." gadget brand: OXO.  A brand known for its kitchen and home products, particularly its "Good Grips" line. They are recognized for their ergonomic designs and focus on user-friendliness.

19. Whopper: LIE.   A statement at odds with the truth.

20. Luau performance: HULA.

 

21. Medium ability: ESP.  Extra Sensory Perception.  ESP is the purported ability to perceive information through means other than the five senses (sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste).  This includes abilities like telepathy (mind-to-mind communication), clairvoyance (seeing things not present), and precognition (knowing future events). 

22. Notes equivalent to C sharps: D FLATS.  These are known as enharmonic equivalents.  They occur when two notes have the same pitch but are represented by different letter names and accidentals.  This of course, depends on your tempering system.

24. Immediately following: UPON.  It ensues shortly thereafter.

26. Earlier: PRIOR.  It precedes shortly there before.

27. Word with shell or shore: SEA.  A vast expanse of water with shell bearing creatures, bordered by land.

34. Late: TARDY.  Failure to get there on time.

36. Sleep acronym: REM.  Rapid Eye Movement, one of four stages the brain moves through while sleeping. In REM sleep, the eyes move rapidly in various directions and dreams can occur..

37. Peel: PARE.  Trim something by cutting away its outer edges.

38. Naan flour: ATTA, a whole wheat flour from the Indian subcontinent, having a high gluten content and used to make chapati and other traditional flatbreads.  The person working with it is an atta boy, or atta girl.  

39. Addresses timeline errors, perhaps: EDITS.  Make needed corrections, not necessarily to a time line.

41. Timeline units: ERAS.  Long and distinct periods of history with a particular features or characteristics.

42. Like much 1980s fashion: NEON.  Neon fashion, characterized by bright, electric colors, is experiencing a resurgence, particularly among Gen Z, after being a dominant trend in the 1980s and 90s. Fashion publications like Vogue suggest the trend is making a comeback, with a modern twist. 

< 43. "C'est la __!": VIE.   The iconic French phrase c'est la vie literally translates to “that's life” or "such is life." In other words, “This is how it is” – often with the implication that there's nothing you can do about it.  In other words: "Oh, well."

44. Fess up (to): ADMIT.  Confess to be true or to be the case, typically with reluctance.  "I'm the one who let him in," Tom admitted.

49. __ as a fox: SLY.  an idiom that describes someone as clever, cunning, and often deceitful. It implies that a person is skilled at getting what they want, sometimes through underhanded means, and is adept at navigating tricky situations. The phrase draws on the historical perception of foxes as intelligent and tricky animals. 

50. Brand of riding mowers: DEERE.   John Deere offers a wide range of equipment for various industries, including agriculture, construction, and forestry. Their product line includes tractors, combines, forestry equipment, and construction machinery like excavators and loaders. 

51. YouTube journal: VLOG.  A personal website or social media account where a person regularly posts short videos.

53. Too: OVERLY. To a higher degree than is desirable, permissible, or possible; excessively.

55. Needlework on a sleeve, for short: TAT.   A shortened, informal way to say tattoo, particularly in American English. 

56. Turkey neighbor: IRAN.  Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran  and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the northeast, Afghanistan to the east, Pakistan to the southeast, and the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf to the south. Iran ranks 17th globally in both geographic size and population and is the sixth-largest country in Asia. 

60. Burrito option: WET.  A wet burrito is generously smothered in a savory sauce. Red enchilada sauce is a common choice, but salsa verde or a creamy cheese sauce can also be used.

64. Melissa of "The Fighter": LEO.  Melissa Chessington Leo [b. 1960] is an American actress. She is the recipient of several accolades, including an Academy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and two Critics' Choice Awards.

65. Come next: ENSUE.  Follows closely, as per 24 A.

66. Moves closer: NEARS.  Approaches.

67. Cheap tix option: SRO.  Standing Room Only tickets should cost less than even the cheap seats.

68. "The Wild Swans at Coole" writer: YEATS.  William Butler Yeats [1865 - 1939] was an Irish poet, dramatist, writer and literary critic who was one of the foremost figures of 20th-century literature.

69. Selling point: ASSET.  A useful or valuable thing, person, or quality.

Down:

1. Foot part: ARCH.   The curved part of the sole of the foot, formed by bones, tendons, and ligaments. It acts as a natural shock absorber and spring, distributing weight and impact during movement.

2. Hindu teacher: GURU.  In Hinduism and Buddhism, a spiritual teacher, especially one who imparts initiation.

3. North __ Sea: Central Asian lake: ARAL. The North Aral Sea is the portion of the former Aral Sea that is fed by the Syr Darya River. It split from the South Aral Sea in 1987–1988 as water levels dropped due to river diversion for agriculture. 

4. Hong Kong neighbor: MACAU.   Macau is an autonomous region on the south coast of China, across the Pearl River Delta from Hong Kong. A Portuguese territory until 1999, it reflects a mix of cultural influences. Its giant casinos and malls on the Cotai Strip, which joins the islands of Taipa and Coloane, have earned it the nickname, "Las Vegas of Asia."

5. Utah's state animal: ELK.   The elk or wapiti, is the second largest species within the deer family, Cervidae, and one of the largest terrestrial mammals in its native range of North America and Central and East Asia.

6. General aviation company owned by Textron: CESSNA.  An American brand of general aviation aircraft owned by Textron Aviation since 2014, headquartered in Wichita, Kansas.   It started as an independent company in 1927.

7. Lava __: LAMP.   A decorative lamp that contains a glob of special wax in a clear liquid, typically mineral oil, within a glass vessel. The heat from a light bulb at the base of the lamp causes the wax to heat up, making it less dense and causing it to rise. As it cools, the wax becomes denser and falls back down, creating a slow, flowing, and mesmerizing effect. 

8. Maker of Talk to the Hand press-on nails: OPI.    A professional nail care brand, and a subsidiary of Wella Company. Founded in 1981 as Odontorium Products Inc., it has become a global leader in nail polish and related products. 

9. Blues: DOLDRUMS.   A state or period of inactivity, stagnation, or depression.

10. Find appropriate: SEE FIT.   To consider something to be the right or appropriate thing to do.

11. Green energy sources in some desert regions: SOLAR FARMS.    Large-scale installations of solar panels designed to generate electricity for the power grid. These farms convert sunlight into electricity using photovoltaic (PV) cells, which are then fed into the electrical grid for distribution to consumers. 

12. Way out: EXIT.  A portal or passage used to leave a place.  Alternatively, "way out" is an expression indicating something is extremely unconventional, unusual.  So using, frex, the ductwork as an exit would be a way out way out.

13. Heartaches: WOES.   Great sorrow or distress.

18. Very long time: AEON.   An indefinite and very long period of time.

23. Like a lasso: LOOPED.   Folded back in upon itself to form a closed quasi-circle.

25. Therapist's maj.: PSYchology: the scientific study of the mind and behavior. It explores how people think, feel, and act, encompassing a wide range of topics from individual thoughts and emotions to social interactions and mental health. 

26. 68-Across, for one: POET.   A person who writes poems.   Here is one of my demented sonnets.

PASSIONATE PRETENSE

Her throat, no longer perfect, but still white,

Invokes the crimson from the sunset glow,

As she awaits the dark - to taste, to know

Carnality incarnate in the night.

       The sun's suffusion stains her skin to pink

       With its last russet bloom, as if she were

       A blushing maiden, innocent and pure,

       On satin sheets where white and scarlet link.

What has her throat to do with being white?

Like thorn and petals torn they two entwine,

But not as lovers do -- instead, to dine

In sweet engagement of an ancient rite.

Her white throat is a passionate pretense

That now, twice pierced, belies her innocence.

27. Performed terribly: STANK.   Literally, had a bad odor.  Figuratively, failed miserably.

28. All gone: EATEN.  Said of a meal.

29. Luke Skywalker's loyal droid: ARTOO DETOO - A resourceful astromech droid, R2-D2 served Padmé Amidala, Anakin Skywalker and Luke Skywalker in turn, showing great bravery in rescuing his masters and their friends from many perils..  

31. Snooped around: PRIED.  Inquired too closely into a person's private affairs of into things intended to remain hidden.

32. Letter-shaped beam: I-RAIL.  OK, I guess. Not a term I'm familiar with.

33. On edge: TESTY.  Easily irritated; impatient and somewhat bad-tempered.  "On edge" seems a little off the mark.

35. Wearer of tap shoes: DANCER.  A person who dances or whose profession is dancing.  Also one Santa's lead reindeer.

39. With no exceptions: EVERYONE.  Or every thing.

40. Small coin: DIME.  It is the smallest in size, but not in value.

44. Scene: ADO.  Commotion, stir, tumult suggest a great deal of fuss and noise.

46. Plum who was the WNBA All-Star Game MVP in 2022: KELSEY.   Kelsey Christine Plum [b 1994] is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association. Nicknamed "Plum Dawg", she is a four-time WNBA All-Star and was named the WNBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player in 2022. 

47. Sidesteps: EVADES.   to escape or avoid something, often by using cleverness or trickery.

48. Baja's opposite: ALTA.   Low and high, en Español.

52. Caves in: GIVES.  Capitulates.

53. Parliament birds: OWLS.   The most common collective noun for a group of owls is a parliament.

54. Suddenly shift direction: VEER.   Exactly as defined.

55. Letter-shaped fastener: T-NUT.   A type of fastener used to create a threaded insert in materials like wood or plastic. It features a barrel with external threads and a flange with prongs that dig into the material when installed. This allows for a secure screw or bolt attachment. 

57. Coastal inlets: RIAS.    Long, narrow inlets formed by the partial submergence of river valleys.

58. Part of a plot: ACRE.  A plot is a  small area of land.   A standard acre contains 43,560 square feet or 4,047 square meters. A common plot size in some regions is 50 feet by 100 feet, which is 5,000 square feet. Therefore, in this case, an acre could potentially hold approximately 8 or 9 such plots. 

59. Small tree house: NEST.  This home is for the birds.  Or, perhaps, a squirrel.

62. Jenny Thompson's team: USA.   Jennifer Beth Thompson [ b. 1973] is an American former competition swimmer. She is one of the most decorated Olympians in history: twelve medals, including eight gold medals, in the 1992, 1996, 2000, and 2004 Summer Olympics.

63. Genetic blueprint: DNA.   DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the molecule that contains the genetic instructions for all living organisms. It's often described as the "instruction manual" for cells, dictating how they function and develop. DNA is a double helix structure made up of nucleotide bases (adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine). These bases pair up in a specific way (A with T, and C with G) to form the "rungs" of the DNA "ladder". 

So we end on that genetic note.  Your DNA is as unique as your fingerprint.  Did you nail this puzzle?  If so, I have to hand it to you.  

Cool regards, see you in September,

JzB

L.A. Times Crossword Wednesday, September 20, 2025 Rebecca Goldstein

Theme:  Geography Lessons, and geography expansions.   As we travel through the locations, they get increasingly larger

16 A. Stop on a fall foliage tour?: LEAVES TOWN.  Ordinarily, this means departing from a TOWN.  Here, it suggests a TOWN with many colorful leafy trees.

30 A. Stop on a victory tour?: PARTY CITY.  This was a retail chain stocking a wide range of themed party supplies, plus costumes & holiday decorations.  It has gone out of business in the U.S., but is still active in Canada.  Here, though, it is a city full of revelry.  Note also, a city is larger than a town.

44 A. Stop on a wine tour?: DRY COUNTY.  This is a county in the United States where the sale and public consumption of alcohol is prohibited.   It's unclear why anyone on a wine tour would visit there, unless it's a place to stop drinking?  At any rate, a county is generally larger than a city.

58 A. Stop on an apology tour?: SORRY STATE.   This indicates being in a situation or condition that is poor, neglected, or unfortunate, often one that is deserving of pity or regret.  Here,  though, it is a place containing many counties where contrition is prominent.  

Hi, Gang, JazzBumpa here with a puzzling travelogue.  Let's embark, and see where it takes us.

Across:

1. Some cuff links: STUDS.  Formal jewelry worn at the shirt cuff in place of a button.  The stud portion is a short metal bar connecting a decoration to a fastener.

6. Passover mo., often: APR.  April.  Passover is a major Jewish holiday and one of the Three Pilgrimage Festivals. It celebrates the Exodus of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.

9. Genesis brother: ABEL.  He was murdered by his twin brother Cain.

13. Number of strands in a simple braid: THREE.  

14. Creative development: IDEA.   The thought before the brainstorm.

15. Proper partner: PRIM.  Stiffly formal and respectable; feeling or showing disapproval of anything regarded as improper.

18. Roman robe: TOGA.  A loose flowing outer garment worn by the citizens of ancient Rome, made of a single piece of cloth and covering the whole body apart from the right arm.

19. The upper crust: ELITES.   A select group that is superior in terms of ability or qualities to the rest of a group or society.   Or so they would have you believe.
 
20. Packers' pts.: TDS.  Touch downs.  The Packers are the team from Green Bay in the National Football League.

22. "Don't know her": WHO?   What or which person or people?

23. Shiny fender material: CHROME.  Chromium plate as a decorative or protective finish on motor-vehicle fittings and other objects.

25. "Critique of Pure Reason" philosopher: KANT.  Immanuel Kant (1724 – 1804) was a German philosopher and one of the central thinkers of the Enlightenment. Born in Königsberg, Kant's comprehensive and systematic works in epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, and aesthetics have made him one of the most influential and highly discussed figures in modern Western philosophy.

27. "Well, shucks": AW, GEE.  Expressing genial self-deprecation or gratified embarrassment.

33. Epic battles: WARS.   A state of armed conflict between different nations or states or different groups within a nation or state.  In a war there may be many distict battles.

34. Section of a race: LEG.   A specific, defined part or section of the race. 

35. Call from a treehouse: UP HERE.  Telling you where to look
 
36. One day __ time: AT A.  To deal with each day's problems as they come instead of worrying about the future.

37. "Restore + Strengthen" shampoo brand: FINESSE.  Finesse shampoo, specifically the Finesse Restore + Strengthen Moisturizing Shampoo, is designed to rejuvenate dry, damaged, or stubborn hair by providing a moisturizing and strengthening treatment. 

39. Announcement makers in HS classrooms: PAS.  Public Address System, a system of microphones, amplifiers, and loudspeakers used to amplify speech or music in a large building or at an outdoor gathering..

40. Criticize harshly: REVILE.   Criticize in an abusive or angrily insulting manner.

42. "Uh-uh": NAH.  Nope, no way, aint gonna happen.

43. Treadmill setting: PACE.  Consistent and continuous speed in walking, running, or moving.

46. Los Angeles restaurant with hot dogs named for celebrities: PINKS.

47. Overnight recipe: STEW.   A stew is a hearty dish that consists of solid food ingredients, such as meat, seafood, and/or vegetables, cooked slowly in liquid and served in the resulting gravy or thickened broth. 

48. Talk and talk and talk: YAMMER.   Talk foolishly or incessantly.

50. Shutterbug's initials: SLR.  Single Lens Reflex, a camera design where the photographer views the scene through the lens itself, using a mirror and prism system to direct the image to the viewfinder. This allows for accurate framing and focus, as you see exactly what the lens sees. 

51. Mule on the Erie Canal: SAL.  A reference to the mule featured in the American folk song, "Low Bridge, Everybody Down," also known as "The Erie Canal Song". The song tells the story of a mule named Sal who works on the Erie Canal, hauling barges filled with various goods. She is portrayed as a reliable and hardworking animal, and the song highlights the close relationship between the mule and its driver.

53. De-lightful time?: OUTAGE.  A time period when electric power is disrupted.  This is often due to storm-related infrastructure damage.  But not always. 

56. One struggling to face facts, maybe: LIAR.   A teller of untruths.  My universal theory of why this happens is that the truth is not compatible with the LIAR's agenda.

61. All-father of the Norse gods: ODIN.   A prominent figure in Norse mythology and Germanic paganism, revered as a god associated with wisdom, magic, death, prophecy, and victory in battle. He is often depicted as an old, one-eyed man with a long beard, wearing a cloak and a wide-brimmed hat, and carrying a spear. Odin is known for his insatiable thirst for knowledge, his role as the leader of the Aesir tribe of gods, and his connection to Valhalla, the hall where fallen warriors reside. 

62. Joint above an ankle: KNEE.   The largest and one of the most complex joints in the human body, connecting the thigh bone (femur) and the shin bone (tibia). It's a hinge joint that allows for bending and straightening of the leg, and it's crucial for weight-bearing and movement. The knee joint is made up of bones, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, and muscles, all working together to enable a wide range of motion and stability. 

63. Pamplona pooch: PERRO.   "Dog" en Español.  Pamplona is a city in Spain.

64. Implements in a lab coat pocket: PENS.  For copious note taking.

65. Vane dir.: SSW.  South, southwest, the compass point or direction midway between south and southwest.

66. Home to the annual Food & Wine Classic: ASPEN.  Aspen, in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, is a ski resort town and year-round destination for outdoor recreation. It's also known for high-end restaurants and boutiques, and landmarks like the Wheeler Opera House, built in 1889 during the area’s silver mining boom.  We missed this year's classic, but can try again next year.

Down:

1. Home of the Blues, for short: ST. L.  St. Louis, Mo. is home to the Blues, a professional hockey team.

2. You, once: THEE.  Archaic or dialect form of you, as the singular object of a verb or preposition.

3. Russian range: URAL.  A mountain range in western Russia that forms a traditional boundary between Europe and Asia. 

4. Tech gadgets: DEVICES.   Things made or adapted for a particular purpose, especially a piece of mechanical or electronic equipment.

5. Stay mad: SEETHE.   Be filled with intense but unexpressed anger, by analogy to a slow boiling liquid..

6. Big fuss: ADO.  A state of agitation or fuss, especially about something unimportant.

7. Alloy in some costume jewelry: PEWTER.   A gray alloy of tin with copper and antimony (formerly, tin and lead).

8. South African currency: RAND.  The basic monetary unit of South Africa, equal to 100 cents.  The rand takes its name from the Witwatersrand ("white waters' ridge" in English, rand being the Afrikaans and Dutch word for 'ridge'), the ridge upon which Johannesburg is built and where most of South Africa's gold deposits were found. 

9. Fitting: APT.  Appropriate or suitable in the circumstances.

10. Dessert tray?: BROWNIE PAN.    A type of baking pan specifically designed for making brownies. It's typically rectangular, with a non-stick surface, and often features a removable bottom or a divider to help with even baking and easy removal of the finished brownies.   The clue is a misdirection, since it usually refers to a collection of sweet treats, typically displayed on a tray or platter, served at the end of a meal as a final course. 

11. Format before cassettes: EIGHT TRACK.    A magnetic tape format popular for music distribution from the late 1960s to the early 1980s. It's characterized by a continuous loop of ¼-inch magnetic tape housed in a rectangular cartridge. Each tape contains eight tracks of audio, arranged in stereo pairs, allowing for four stereo programs on a single tape. 

12. "Ur hilarious!": LMAO.  Laughing My Ahem-buttocks Off, maybe.  Cf. 31D.

14. "Come on in": IT'S OPEN.  Open door invitation to enter.

17. __ and estar: Spanish 101 lesson: SER.  In Spanish, both "ser" and "estar" translate to "to be" in English, but they are used in different contexts. "Ser" is used for permanent or defining characteristics, while "estar" is used for temporary states or conditions, location, and actions. 

21. Service replaced by Microsoft Teams: SKYPE.   An online platform that enables users to make voice and video calls, send instant messages, and share files over the internet. The name "Skype" is derived from "sky" and "peer-to-peer," reflecting its initial design as a peer-to-peer communication tool. 

24. Fuchsia relative: MAGENTA.   A light purplish red that is one of the primary subtractive colors, complementary to green.  Fuchsia is a vivid purplish-red color like that of the sepals of a typical fuchsia flower.

26. "Bah," in Berlin: ACH.  Expressions of contempt or disagreement.

27. Oscar, but not Elmo: AWARD.  The "Oscar" is the common name for the Academy Award of Merit, a golden statuette awarded annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for outstanding achievements in the film industry. It's one of the most prestigious awards in the world of cinema.  Also Oscar and Elmo are Sesame Street muppets.

28. Way to make an entrance at a pool party: WATER SLIDE.  A slide into a swimming pool, typically flowing with water and incorporating a number of twists and turns.

29. Source of easy money: GRAVY TRAIN.   Used to refer to a situation in which someone can make a lot of money for very little effort.

31. Bottom: TUSH.  The buttocks - either of the two round fleshy parts that form the lower rear area of a human trunk.  Cf. 12D.

32. Green lights: YESES.  Grants permission or approval.

34. Stead: LIEU.  The place or role that someone or something should have or fill (used in referring to a substitute).

37. Streams: FLOWS.    Moves along or out steadily and continuously in a current or stream.

38. "I'm listening": SAY MORE.  Yes, I'm interested.  Keep talking.

41. Apply a cold pack to, say: ICE.  Use cold therapy on an injury.

43. Home team at PNC Park: PIRATES.  The Pittsburg team in the National League of Major League Baseball.

45. Pantyhose: NYLONS.  Clothing for women made of thin material that fits closely over the feet and legs and goes up to the waist.  Do they even exist any more?

46. Spot's grooming spot: PET SPA.   A grooming service that offers more than just basic bathing and clipping. It provides a range of specialized treatments designed to pamper and relax pets, promoting their overall well-being. These services often include aromatherapy, calming music, and gentle handling techniques to create a stress-free environment. 

49. Very, in Venezuela: MUY.   Literal translation from English to Español.

50. Unappetizing plateful: SLOP.  A derogatory way to talk about food that doesn't look very tasty.

52. Requests: ASKS.  Says something in order to obtain an answer or some information.

54. Irving character: GARP.   Protagonist in The World According to Garp.  I read this book decades ago and have only vague recollections of a few scenes.

55. 17-Down, in French: ETRE.   To be [or not, I suppose] in any language.

57. Some ER staff: RNS.  Registered Nurses.

59. VCR button: REWind.   It winds a tape or film back to the beginning.

60. Geologic age: EON.   An indefinite and very long period of time.

So, after al that time, we've reached our destination.  Travel broadens one, it's said, and this trip did grow on me  Hope the journey enlarged your enjoyment.  See you in September, a definite and rather short time period way.

Cool regards!

JzB