Okay, this was hard for me today. But Saturday’s usually are. Many long answers, lots of cross-solving which is enjoyable, a good challenge for a Saturday morning. A few too many proper nouns for my taste but overall solvable.
There was some curious cluing going on here – ritzy feels like it should be swanky instead of SWANK, OHME I simply cannot imagine anyone ever saying (what happened to alas?!), AHEM feels more like a way to get attention than to be a smartass? Also three Western European language clues (NADA, ALTA, ELLE) felt like a lot. On the plus side no super “contemporary” clues in this one which I have come to loathe for some reason.
Is MASS EMAIL something people say? English is far from my first language but I have for years in UK and US organizations and I swear to god never heard this one before. Also never regret a Reply All, we all love a good email tsunami <3
Stats: 63% top-tier – great Saturday!
Delighted by:
- ”___ ME” (humorous “sign”) (27-Across): If you accused me of having a childish sense of humor, you would not be the first one to do so. I love silliness, I love puns (see: my delight at MATT)
- Reduced price? (31-Across): I only noticed this one when I went through the puzzle again. Top-notch.
- Sarcastic response to boasting (63-Across): One of the clues you can just hear in your head.
- Diminishing return? (62-Down): These are the clues that bring me back to the crossword, no matter how simple they are. It is, you know, a diminished return. Also I’m an economist so any subversion is welcome in my field!
Well at least I learnt something:
- ”Infection” common among schoolkids (38-Across): I’ve never heard of COOTIES and I would have put it automatically in US-isms, but turns out this one was brought back to the US by soldiers and got popularized in the 1950s. Way to turn something referencing lice into something vaguely cute.
US-isms:
- Cracker alternative to Ritz (7-Down): Is ZESTA popular in the US? I have a weird diet so I’ve missed this one in the grocery stores, I guess.
- Game on a car trip (48-Down): Once again I would like to thank pop culture for getting this one.
Please retire:
- Valley with gentle slopes (18-Down): I had seen enough GLEN, dell, lea clues for a lifetime. Make it related to the wonderful Glenn Close next!
- ”We’re alike in that way” (56-Down): Maybe in a Saturday one with a little modification you can clue Finland in Finnish (Suomi)? Or is that too much?
And the tiers…
The top 4 makes up 64% – above the magical 50% territory!
Delightful (9/70): MAGMA, WASH, AMT, ARENTYOUSPECIAL, CONGA, MATT, GENERALELECTION, LONGE, ECHO
You made me learn something (2/70): COOTIES, OTHERS
You made me think a bit (14/70): SCHMOOZED, WHOATHERE, ALLTHOSEAGAINST, ETNA, LION, PLOT, CHLOE, EREADER, DONOTIRON, OSLO, UNCOUTH, ALLELE, TAR, PAK
Okay, you can stay (20/70): BLEAT, TALL, KEY, IDOL, DALAI, LULU, ELLE, POM, LAME, CALL, LIMO, LETON, SHAKEONIT, DEAL, ALIST, MASSEMAIL, NADA, ALTA, ICEPALACE, ATSEA
I’m afraid this will age (0/70)
Absolute meh (15/70): NOLTE,ROAD, ENTREE, MORE, ENDAT, ATOLLS, ENTER, SWANK, OHO, MBA, ATTHETIME, TEAL, AHEM, ITLL, INLET
US-isms (5/70): ANAHEIM, STEALHOME, ZESTA, NULL, ISPY
Please retire (5/70): SESH, CSI, GLEN, OHME, SOAMI
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