02.08.10 -- The Hots

Monday, February 8, 2010

Puzzle by Paula Gamache, edited by Will Shortz

HOT (38A. Word describing the answer to each of the starred clues), SEXY / BODY (9A. *With 68-Across, lingerie model’s asset), STOLEN CAR (16A. *It may end up in a chop shop), BOILING WATER (27A. *What you drop uncooked spaghetti or a tea bag into), TABASCO SAUCE (47A. *Bloody Mary seasoner) and THIRD RAIL (63A. *Supplier of electricity to subway trains) make up the interrelated group of this post-Super-Bowl-Sunday Monday crossword, a welcome waft of warmth this frigid February.  The best Super-Bowl commercial?  HERE.

Other -- AGREED TO (32A. Accepted, as a proposal); CONFESS (25A. Own up to one’s sins); DELICACY (44A. Caviar or frogs’ legs); ECOLE (10D. Élève’s school) and LONDRES (45D. Capital of England, to Parisians); 5D. “… one giant leap for MANKIND”: Neil Armstrong; 49A. Mount PALOMAR, California observatory site).

Mid-size -- ADVIL, AFRICA, ARETHA (48D. Franklin known as the Queen of Soul), AT WORK, AUDIO, CLOAK, DEAR ME, ERNIE, FRESCA, ISLED, LEGATO, LIVED, NIECE, PLAN B, SACRO, SENATE, SCENE I, TAMALE, “Whose WOODS these are I think I know”: Frost, X-RAYS, YIELDS and YOKES.

Short stuff -- APES, ARNO, AROW, ASOF, AYES, BAGS, BUTT, COTY, DCCC, DICE, EBAY, ELKS, ESC, EURO, GOAD, GROG, ICY (62D. Slippery, as winter sidewalks), HIKE and IKE, IRON, LGTH, LUAU and LUI, LYE, MBAS, MEGA and MESA, MICE, NIL, NICK, OGRE, ONES, RAIN, SAL and SNL, SHIP, SKYE, SOLO, SUCK, TECS.

Hot and Cold? -- HERE! 

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at


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Remaining clues -- ACROSS: 1. Harvard and Wharton degs.; 5. ___ Millions (multistage lottery); 13. Continental coin; 14 Starting on; 15. Prefix with iliac; 18. Outerwear for an operagoer; 19. On the job; 20. Equipment in craps; 22. Caustic drain opener; 23. It means nothing; 33. Gives in; 37. Old Navy libation; 40. Drink through a straw; 41. Assembly of 100; 52. Where the Blues Brothers got their start, familiarly; 53. Him: Fr.; 54. Affirmative votes; 56. “But what to do?!”; 61. Popular pain reliever; 65. Sister’s daughter; 66. Scouting outing; 67. Shaving mishap; 69. Imitates; 70. Change for a five. DOWN: 1. Mini-plateau; 2. Thing in an ashtray; 3. Lined up, after “in”; 4. All alone; 6. PC bailout key; 7. Egg on; 8. Sahara’s place; 9. Gal in an old song standard; 11. Dentistry photos; 12. Joins, as oxen; 15. Start of an act; 17. Bert’s Muppet buddy; 21. Mass-market fragrance maker; 24. Width’s opposite: Abbr.; 26. Citrus soft drink introduced in the 1960s; 27. Diamond bases; 28. Grimm figure; 29. Cast-___ stomach; 30. Smooth, in music; 34. Hawaiian wingding; 35. 800, to Caesar; 36. Kind of terrier; 39. Private eyes, for short; 42. Husk-wrapped Mexican dish; 43. Online auction house; 46. Stranded in the middle of the ocean, say; 49. Alternative strategy if things don’t work out; 50. The “A” in A/V; 51. Existed; 55. Frigate or freighter; 57. River through Florence; 58. Cause for a game delay; 59. Cursor movers; 60. Fraternal group; 64. Prez after Give ‘em Hell Harry.