On Mondays, I always wait for an easy grid with a minimum number of hard clues. However, today’s puzzle really surprised me. It contains some tricky clues that may force you to search the web or ask for help from another crossword fan.
Besides some hard questions, the theme of the NYT Crossword of Feb 16 is something I like to see more on the grid: the amazing flexibility of words by using one item in different ways. If you are not sure what I am talking about, let me start the NYT Crossword analysis Feb 16 to shed light on the subject.
NYT Crossword of Feb 16: Theme
Ian Livengood, in constructing the puzzle, presents a nice wordplay with the letters “ID.” The first theme clue comes at 19-Across (Longtime comic strip set in a medieval kingdom), which made me check it on the web. This clue solves to THE WIZARD OF ID, which is related to the Freudian concept of the id, ego, and super-ego.
36-Across (Capital of the Gem State, in a mailing address) was one of the easiest clues of the grid. The Gem State is Idaho (or simply, ID) and its capital city is Boise. In the mailing format, it is written as BOISE ID.
38-Across reminds us of a serious cybercrime which we all must be aware of: “Possible cybercrime, informally.” ID THEFT is a fatal crime that may cause irreparable harm to people and I highly recommend you search for ways to prevent it.
There is a surprising element in the grid which I haven’t seen in recent weeks. 54-Across is both a theme entry and a revealer! The question (“Makes no difference to me”) solves to ID GO EITHER WAY, which is a nice reflection of the whole theme.
In fact, all the IDs in the grid have their own meaning despite a similar appearance. Now you see what I meant by “the flexibility of words”, an ability to make words go “either way”! In other words, ID is in a multi-universe meaning.
Wait, there are some IDs in the grid which are integrated into the words. For example, 7-Down (Roman poet who wrote “Metamorphoses”) and 9-Down (Eschew) solve to OVID and AVOID, respectively. There is one more of this type in the grid. If you find it, let me know in the comments (It is not that hard!).
NYT Crossword of Feb 16: Tricky Clues
31-Across: Charge for airing a commercial (ADFEE).
The word “charge” often suggests an accusation or an aggressive action, which can misdirect solvers. Here, however, it means a monetary cost. “Charge” here means fee, and in combination with commercial, you reach ADFEE. The misdirection comes from the multiple meanings of charge.
31-Down: Give 0 stars in a review, say (ABHOR).
The clue evokes the action of leaving a rating, but the answer is the emotion behind that action. If you give something zero stars, you presumably hate or abhor it.
39-Down: Shortfall of exports vis-à-vis imports (TRADEGAP).
This clue uses economic phrasing which may be hard. A shortfall of exports relative to imports means imports exceed exports. This creates a trade gap. The formal wording can obscure the simpler concept unless the solver recognizes the economic term.
48-Down: Occasions for blowing out candles on cakes, informally (BDAYS).
Again, the signal is “informally,” which is a hint of an abbreviation. Birthdays become BDAYS in crossword shorthand. The clue describes birthdays indirectly through the candle-blowing tradition.
Facts of NYT Crossword of Feb 16
The puzzle grid has 15 rows and 15 columns. It contains 8 shaded squares and no rebus squares. The grid uses 23 of the 26 alphabet letters, with J, K, and Q absent. The grid follows standard rotational symmetry. This puzzle includes four distinct answer entries: BOISEID, FINEWINES, IDGOEITHERWAY, and INCROWDS.
If you need the answers for daily crossword puzzles like the NYT Crossword or the NYT Mini, make sure to check Daze Puzzle every day to find the solutions you need in record time.
