COMPOUND LINKS XXXII 

Fill in the blanks with a compound word or two-word phrase so that the first two words and the last two words make up other compound words or two-word phrases.

Ex. EVERY ________ PRESS

Ans. everyMANDRILL press

 

1. SWEET ________ BOX

2. HOME ________ ARTS

3. ROAD ________ GAME 

4. TOUR ________ SMART 

5. HUMAN ________ FACE 

6. FACE ________ COURSE

7. OPEN ________ HUSTLE

8. BARBER ________ FIGHT

9. WILD ________ PACKAGE

10. ELEVENTH ________ SLIPPER 

 

Answers:
 

1. sweet CORNBREAD box

2. homeBODY LANGUAGE arts

3. road HOGTIE game

4. tour GUIDEBOOK smart

5. human TOUCHSTONE face

6. faceLIFTOFF course

7. open ROADSIDE hustle

8. barber POLECAT fight

9. wild CHILD CARE package

10. eleventh HOURGLASS slipper 

Universal Crossword
July 16, 2026

Drew Schmenner 

 

The first three clues have something in common that is hinted at by the fourth clue. Can you determine what it is?

 

1. ADIEU, ADIEU

2. MEDIEVAL STUDIES

3. AN OLDIE BUT A GOODIE 

4. Ideal vacation spot

 

HINT:

4. Homophone

 

Answer to Clue 4:

PARADISE (PAIR OF DIES) - - - Each of the three clues has DIE twice:

 

1. aDIEu, aDIEu

2. meDIEval stuDIEs

3. an olDIE but a gooDIE 

  

       

NY Times Crossword

July 16, 2026

Zhou Zhang and Mallory Montgomery

 

The first four clues below are answers a question hinted at by the fifth clue. What is the question, and what things are the clue answers referring to?

 

1. Yes, three arduous ones

2. Yes, sometimes more than 1,000

3. Yes, but just one

4. No, but it has three feet 

5. Question about an idea during a brainstorming session 

 

Answer to Clue 5:

Does it have legs?*

 

What the clue answers refer to:

1. Ironman triathlon

2. Millipede

3. Direct flight

4. A yardstick  

 

*The question, "Does it have legs?" is asking if an idea can stand on its own, if it has the potential to last and succeed 

 

 

 

PHYSICAL PHRASES

Dell PennyPress Variety Puzzles

Volume 342 (1-4)

 

Answer each clue with a phrase containing a body part.  

 

1. Agree

2. Pay a tab

3. Memorize

4. Hitchhike 

5. Snobby 

6. Advantage 

7. Supplicating 

8. Very close (2) 

9. Follow directions

10.  Well-informed, alert

11. Bit of encouragement

12. Struggle to the utmost 

 

Answers:

 

1. See eye to eye

2. Foot the bill

3. Learn by heart

4. Thumb a ride

5. Nose in the air 

6. Have a leg up

7. On bended knee

8. Hand in glove / Joined at the hip

9. Toe the line

10. Ear to the ground

11. Shot in the arm  

12. Fight tooth and nail 

  

 

POINTS TO PONDER CXXXIII

No vessel can compare in romantic interest and patriotic reverence with the properly accorded fame of the "Mayflower". Her name is linked with the fundamentals of American democratic institutions. She was the wave-rocked cradle of our liberties.

Henry B. Culver

The Book of Old Ships  

COMPLETE-A-WORD XXXI

Fill in the dashes with 4-letter answers to the clues to complete 7-letter words.

1. Mailed, for example         _ _ GME _ _

2. Fossil fuel                         _ _ MIC _ _

3. Settled up                          _ YR _ M _ _

4. Mild oath                          _ _ ULA _ _

5. "Pick up the ....."              _ _ N _ AK _

6. Plunge                              _ ECE _ _ _

7. Rave                                 T _ _ _ SI _

8. Houston University         A _ T _ _ L _

9. Equine dam                   CO _ P _ _ _

10. Italy, with "the"             _ _ _ S _ ER

11. Floor square                  CU _ _ C _ _ 

Answers:

1. SENT - SEGMENT

2. COAL - COMICAL

3. PAID - PYRAMID

4. GOSH - GOULASH

5. PACE - PANCAKE

6. DIVE - DECEIVE

7. RANT - TRANSIT

8. RICE - ARTICLE

9. MARE - COMPARE

10. BOOT - BOOSTER

11. TILE - CUTICLE  

CRYPTO CLUES CCXXXIV

GAMES Magazine

March/April, 1982

Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon (1, 4, 7, 11)

October, 1982

Mike Shenk (2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9,10, 12, 13)

 

1. Ms. Oakley is awfully inane

 

2. Friends strike back

 

3. Reduces homework assignments, we hear

 

4. Moonstarer, possibly!

 

5. Watch monarch going on a hunt

 

6. Votes for President after Grant is beheaded

 

7. Animal doctor is terribly naive trainer

 

8. Wax from Warsaw

 

9. That messy assortment of jewels

 

10. Driver, if young, has to give proof

 

11. A demon horribly wailed

 

12. Wise man goes through US employments

 

13. Turned silent to hear a speech  

 

HINTS: 

1, 4, 7, 9, 11, 13: Anagrams

2. Definition - Reversal

3. Homophone

5. Two definitions - two words

6. Beheadment

8. Homophone

10. Hidden word

12. Container 

 

Answers:

1. ANNIE (inane)

2. PALS (friends) [reverse of SLAP (strike)]

3. LESSENS (lessons = homework)

4. ASTRONOMER (moonstarer)

5. SEEKING (watch = see / monarch = king)

6. AYES (votes for) [HAYES = President after Grant]

7. VETERINARIAN (naive trainer)

8. POLISH (capital P - from Warsaw / small p - wax)

9. AMETHYSTS (that messy) 

10. VERIFY (give proof - driVER IF Young) 

11. MOANED (a demon) 

12. USAGES (employments) [U SAGE S]

13. LISTEN (silent)