Constructor: David Kwong
Relative difficulty: Challenging
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THEME:"A FAREWELL TO ARMS" (38A: W.W. I novel … hinted at by 17-, 24-, 52- and 64-Across) — theme answers are familiar phrases which have had "ARM" removed from them, creating wacky phrases, clued "?"-style.
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Theme answers:
I don't even know where to begin, so I won't. I can't. Well I can. But I won't. I can't and won't.
The basic theme is a fine one.
This is not a Tuesday puzzle. It's a hard Wednesday.
I honestly can't say anything more. Maybe someday I'll be able to explain why. But not today.
I will say, though, that I had zero idea what BWI stood for (47D: Home of the Bahamas, once: Abbr.). Or, rather, I assumed it stood for the airport. That "I" was a guess based Solely on the airport's existence, as I also have never ever seen ISA as an abbr. for (I'm guessing) Isaiah (57A: Old Testament prophecy book: Abbr.). Never. I just … again, I can't. Won't and can't. And won't. Good day.
Signed, Rex Parker, King of CrossWorld
P.S. Hope all you non-"Fringe" watchers liked that 42D clue. Gimme for me, but I was like "… wow. Tuesday? OK, then."
Relative difficulty: Challenging
THEME:"A FAREWELL TO ARMS" (38A: W.W. I novel … hinted at by 17-, 24-, 52- and 64-Across) — theme answers are familiar phrases which have had "ARM" removed from them, creating wacky phrases, clued "?"-style.
- BURGLAR AL (17A: Home-invading Gore?)
- GENT DISTRICT (24A: Area for aristocrats?)
- DEATH WED OVER (52A: Exchange of vows again for the Grim Reaper?)
- SNAKE CHER (64A: Emmy, Oscar and Grammy-winning reptile?)
The British West Indies were the islands and mainland colonies in and around the Caribbean that were part of theBritish Empire. In 1912, the British West Indies were divided into eight colonies: The Bahamas, Barbados,British Guiana, British Honduras, Jamaica (with its dependencies the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Cayman Islands), Trinidad and Tobago, the Windward Islands and the Leeward Islands. (wikipedia)
• • •
I don't even know where to begin, so I won't. I can't. Well I can. But I won't. I can't and won't.
The basic theme is a fine one.
This is not a Tuesday puzzle. It's a hard Wednesday.
I honestly can't say anything more. Maybe someday I'll be able to explain why. But not today.
I will say, though, that I had zero idea what BWI stood for (47D: Home of the Bahamas, once: Abbr.). Or, rather, I assumed it stood for the airport. That "I" was a guess based Solely on the airport's existence, as I also have never ever seen ISA as an abbr. for (I'm guessing) Isaiah (57A: Old Testament prophecy book: Abbr.). Never. I just … again, I can't. Won't and can't. And won't. Good day.
Signed, Rex Parker, King of CrossWorld
P.S. Hope all you non-"Fringe" watchers liked that 42D clue. Gimme for me, but I was like "… wow. Tuesday? OK, then."