03.30.10 — 5-O



Confetti fills the air at Madison Square Garden during 2009 NYPD graduation.

Calling police officers "5-O" comes from a TV show of about 25 years ago called "Hawaii 5-0." This show was set in Hawaii, and the unit the show was about was 5-0." From that time until today (and probably forever!) law enforcement officers and correctional officers are referred to by criminals as "5-0." On the streets and in prison, when people who are up to no good see a police officer or corrections officer coming their way, they softly say "5-0" to alert others that the law is coming their way. This is not an offensive or disrespectful phrase; sometimes law enforcement officers and correctional officers use it themselves — blurtit.com 

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Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Puzzle by Elizabeth C. Gorski, edited by Will Shortz

A phonetic five-some, AU, EAU, OH, OWE and O, or FIVE-O (9A. Cops, in slang … or a hint to this puzzle’s theme), AU COURANT (17A Up-to-date), EAU DE COLOGNE (23A. Brut or Paco Rabanne), OH TO BE IN ENGLAND (41A. Browning opening line preceding “Now that April’s there”), OWE BACK TAXES (52A. Be indebted to the I.R.S.) and O PIONEERS (65A. Willa Cather novel) are the interrelated group of this Tuesday crossword.

Other — BABA WAWA (42D. Gilda Radner character), BUDDY LIST (70A. Computer setup to facilitate instant messaging), EMINENT (26D. Distinguished), FAR-FLUNG (9D. Widespread), WHIPPED UP (14A. Made quickly, as a meal).

Five-letter — ARYAN (16A. Indo-European), DALIS (25D. Some Surrealist paintings), EAT IN (12D. Have dinner at home), 54D. ECONO Lodge, ETHOS (59A. Spirit of a group), 69A. “So what else IS NEW?”, KNOBS (55D. Door handles), NADIA (37A. Gold-medal gymnast Comaneci), ON AIR (52D. Broadcasting now) and ON THE (13D. Words before rocks, ropes or run), OPTIC (8D. Eye-related), OVALS (27D. Egg shapes), PUMAS (15D. Alternative to Nikes), RAITT (18A. Singer Bonnie), RHODA (71A. Mary’s upstairs neighbor, in 1970s TV), SEE YA (36D. “Adios!”), SPORE (4D. Fungus production), STELE (56D. Inscribed pillar), TEENY (50D. Wee), THERM (19A. Gas bill unit), TOSCA (44A. 1900 Puccini premiere), VOCAB (34D. Lexicon contents, for short), VYING (11D. Competing), WELSH (53D. Like the name “Bryn Mawr”).

Short stuff — ABE, ADAY, AHS, ALOT, ANY, DATA, ECO, ELIS, EROS, GUV, HED, HEIR, HIHO, IDA, INF, INON, LIVE, MER, MISO, NEC, NIH, NMEX, NOG, NYET, ODD, ORSO, PUP, SEEM, SETS, SLAM, SPED, SSTS, STOA, SUN, SUVS, SWAT, UHUH, ULEE, VICE, WON.

ALOHA (63A. “Welcome to Maui!”).




Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at


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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Explorers on a hwy., e.g.; 5. ___ soup (starter at a Japanese restaurant); 20. Gershwin’s “Concerto ___”; 22. Medical research agcy.; 28. Physical reactions?; 31. Pro wrestling move; 32. Informal British term of address; 33. Schreiber of “X-Men Origins: Wolverine”; 35. New Haven collegians; 45. Look; 46. Site of Zeno’s teaching; 47. Civil War prez; 49. Natasha’s refusal; 51 Whichever; 57. Jap. Computer giant; 58. Took home the gold; 72. Floored it; 73. Lover boy? DOWN: 1. Sultan of ___ (Babe Ruth); 2. “No way, no how”; 3. Gambling or drinking; 5. Sea, to Cousteau; 6. Civil rights advocate ___ B. Wells; 7. Light from above; 10. Nest egg for old age, in brief; 21. Eggy drink; 24 Beekeeper of filmdom; 28. Gazillions; 29. Bygone cracker brand; 30. Squash match units; 38. Facts and figures; 39. Privy to; 40. The Beatles’ “___ in the Life”; 43. Ariz. Neighbor; 48. Prefix with friendly; 60. Prince, e.g.;p 61. Roughly; 62. Former fast jets; 64. “I knew a man Bojangles and ___ dance for you …”; 66. Young dog; 67. Chemical suffix; 68. Like 1, 3, 5, 7.

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