QOD: Prediction is very difficult, especially if it’s about the future. ~ Niels Bohr (né Niels Henrik David Bohr; b. Oct. 7, 1885 ~ Nov. 18, 1962), Danish physicist and recipient of the 1922 Nobel Prize in Physics
Hit the Road, Jack! Last Tuesday, we were on the Road. This week we are still on the road, but obeying the signs along our travel.
20-Across. Plan for ending a relationship: EXIT STRATEGY.
28-Across. Have a meeting of the minds?: BUMP HEADS.
38-Across. "Can it!": STOP YOUR YAPPING.
46-Across. One who's not a fast-food fan?: SLOW EATER.
And the unifier:
53-Across. Nonverbal communication, or what can be found at the starts of 20-, 28-, 38-, and 46-Across: SIGN LANGUAGE.
Here's the grid with all the Signs.
This was a strange puzzle for me. I found it both very challenging, and yet I also had more answers filled in by the perps without having read the clue.
Across:
1. Signs of healing on scrapes and cuts: SCABS. I initially tried Scars because that word appears often in the puzzles. Scabs aren't as drastic as scars, though.
6. Dedicated poems: ODEs. A crossword staple.
10. "Omg same": IT ME. Meh!
14. Ancient Aegean region: IONIA.
15. Start of a Spanish cheer: VIVA.
16. Phobia: FEAR.
17. Like grapefruit juice: TANGY.
18. Sinister: EVIL.
19. Greek salad cheese: FETA. Feta is a Greek white brined cheese made from sheep's milk or a blend of sheep and goat's milk. The brine gives it the signature salty taste.
23. Boathouse blade: OAR.
24. World's second-tallest bird: EMU. Everything you ever wanted to know about the difference between an Emu and an Ostrich.
25. Hooting bird of prey: OWL.
33. Major fad: MANIA.
36. Deg. for a CFO or a CEO: MBA. The Chief Financial Officer and the Chief Executive Officer would likely hold a Master of Business Administration degree.
37. Feathery cleaner: DUSTER.
42. Protected place for boats: HARBOR. Anyone else try Marina? And: 30-Down. Secured in a 42-Across: MOORED.
43. Pirate's cry: YAR.
44. Fib: LIE.
45. Swedish home furnishing stores: IKEAs. This company is becoming a crossword staple. Did you know that Ikea has been around since the 1940s? The company was started by a 17-year-old who began selling small office supplies.
49. Actor Beatty: NED. Although Ned Thomas Beatty (July 6, 1937 ~ June 13, 2021) appeared in over 160 films, he his probably best remember for his role in Deliverance.
50. "Last Week Tonight" network: HBO.
52. Company abbr.: INC.
59. Pesky insect: GNAT.
62. From the top: ANEW.
63. Push: IMPEL.
64. Numerous: MANY.
65. __ Millions lottery: MEGA.
66. Republic in the Himalayas: NEPAL. Since August, a series of flash floods destroyed many parts of Nepal and Tibet. Hundreds of people died or are still missing.
67. Deep black: ONYX.
69. Diary passage: ENTRY.
Down:
1. Location: SITE.
2. Gently persuade: COAX.
3. Years in old Rome: ANNI. Today's Latin lesson.
4. Circus tent: BIG TOP.
5. Opens up at a checkup: SAYS AH.
6. Eggs __ easy: OVER.
7. Aria singer, maybe: DIVA.
8. Paperless party announcements: EVITES.
9. Capital of Oregon: SALEM. Ever wonder why Salem is the capital of Oregon? It is far more interesting than one would suspect.
10. Questionable: IFFY.
11. Golf peg: TEE.
12. Gym cushion: MAT.
13. Noteworthy period: ERA.
21. Vibration: TREMOR.
22. Clog, informally: GUM UP.
25. Betting unwisely, in poker slang: ON TILT. This term originated with the pinball machine. If a player shoved or shook the machine too hard out of anger, a sensor would trigger a "TILT" warning and freeze the flippers as a penalty. It was adopted by poker players who suffered big losses.
26. Frankfurter: WIENIE.
27. More roomy: LARGER.
28. Knock down violently, as a door: BASH IN.
29. Quick on the __: UPTAKE.
31. __ Dhabi: ABU. Abu Dhabi is famous for being the ultra-wealthy political capital of the United Arab Emirates, combining massive oil reserves with world-class cultural and architectural landmarks.
32. Hannah of "Splash": DARYL. Splash was released in 1984! Can you believe it was that long ago?
34. European viper: ASP.
37. Naturalist Charles with a theory of evolution: DARWIN. Charles Robert Darwin (Feb. 12, 1809 ~ Apr. 19, 1882) was an English naturalist, geologist, and biologist, widely known for his contributions to evolutionary biology. In 1925, John Scopes (Apr. 3, 1900 ~ October. 21, 1970), a teacher from Tennessee, was convicted for teaching the theory of evolution to his biology class.
39. Org. for tenpins players: PBA. As in the Professional Bowlers Association.
40. Mario Kart and Mario Party dinosaur: YOSHI.
41. Basketball Hall of Famer Ming: YAO. Yao Ming (Sept. 12, 1980) is a Chinese former professional player. He played for the Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association, and then spent his entire nine-year National Basketball Association career with the Houston Rockets.
46. 14-line poem: SONNET.
47. "Purring" car part: ENGINE.
48. Shrewdness: ACUMEN.
51. So-so effort: B-GAME.
53. Mythical river of the underworld: STYX.
54. Bench supports: LEGS.
55. Not home: AWAY.
56. Date with a doc: APPT. As in an Appointment.
57. Clockwork part: GEAR.
58. Shortstop De La Cruz who led the majors in stolen bases in 2024: ELLY. Elly Antonio De La Cruz (b. Jan. 11, 2002) is a Dominican professional baseball shortstop for the Cincinnati Reds.
59. Bioengineering letters: GMO. As in Genetically Modified Organism.
60. Brit's grandma: NAN.
61. "__ volunteers?": ANY.
חתולה
