WSJ Crossword

September 30, 2022

Patrick Berry

What do the following word and phrases have in common?

1. LAMINATES

2. BILGE RATS

3. DELIVERY VAN

4. MADE TO ORDER

Answer:

 

When parsed in a certain way, they can be read in reverse:

 

1. LAMINATES - SET ANIMAL

2. BILGE RATS - STARE GLIB 

3. DELIVERY VAN - NAVY REVILED

4. MADE TO ORDER - RED ROOT EDAM 

 

Note from JA: This puzzle has a whole other level - using the parsed words as clue starters and the initial letters of the answers to those clues as the answer to a final clue. This is an example of a feature of WSJ crosswords - a contest within a puzzle. Edited by Mike Shenk (also a constructor), these puzzles are very complex and very clever.