7/8/21
Top 40 Thursday
Are you stuck with the Crosswords With Friends Puzzle Today? Stuck No More. We offer complete solutions as well as “no spoiler” mode to give you that little extra push. Or simply use this cheat sheet to help you get the best and fastest completion time possible.
1A
Basketball official with a whistle, for short
Ref
4A
Number in a pair
Two
7A
Edges of mugs and hats
Brims
12A
Second-tallest bird on Earth
Emu
13A
Lowe who starred on “The West Wing”
Rob
14A
Event with barrel racing and calf roping
Rodeo
15A
2021 #1 hit song that was teased in a Super Bowl commercial
Montero
17A
Don’t stick to the scripted dialogue: Hyph.
Ad Lib
18A
Extend, as a magazine subscription
Renew
20A
Female chickens
Hens
21A
Monica who retired from tennis in 2008
Seles
24A
Not-for-profit group that assists stranded motorists: Abbr.
AAA
26A
Cereal with puffed pieces in six colors
Trix
27A
With 35-Across, subtitle of 15-Across that is also the title of a 2017 romance film: 3 wds.
Call Me By
32A
Grow older, as fine wine
Age
33A
Con artist’s accomplice
Shill
34A
Group that’s smaller than a trio
Duo
35A
See 27-Across: 2 wds.
Your Name
37A
Benevolent
Kind
38A
“A Nightmare on ___ Street”
Elm
39A
Former Chicago Bears coach Mike
Ditka
40A
Gives an affectionate embrace
Hugs
43A
Comic strip segment
Panel
46A
Broadcasting live: 2 wds.
On Air
48A
“Old Town Road” artist who released 15-Across: 3 wds.
Lil Nas X
52A
You might order one from Domino’s
Pizza
One Clue Crossword
WordBrain
WordBubbles!
Word Whizzle
Words Crush
53A
___-rock (music genre of Bastille)
Alt
54A
On ___ (when an actor should say his lines)
Cue
55A
Having a sharp incline
Steep
56A
Chilean ___ bass
Sea
57A
Bill’s friend in three time-travel comedy movies
Ted
1D
“Everybody Hurts” band
Rem
2D
Mopey type of music
Emo
3D
Good times
Fun
4D
They grow leaves and bark
Trees
5D
___ out (exhausted)
Worn
6D
Musical instrument that rhymes with “lobo”
Oboe
7D
Sports ___ (undergarment for some athletes)
Bra
8D
Hillary ___ Clinton
Rod Ham
9D
Like a car waiting at a red light, say
Idle
10D
Chow ___ (Chinese dish)
Mein
11D
Bawls
Sobs
16D
Ferocious “Jurassic Park” dinosaur: 2 wds., abbr.
Trex
19D
Pixar film about a garbage-sorting robot: Hyph.
Walle
21D
___-at-home dad
Stay
22D
“And thus …”
Ergo
23D
In ___ of (in place of)
Lieu
25D
Final word in the Pledge of Allegiance
All
27D
Trophy winner
Champ
28D
Marksman’s skill
Aim
29D
Make changes to a rough draft
Edit
30D
Narrow, stacked bed
Bunk
31D
Small, green Jedi master
Yoda
33D
Sketch show with “Weekend Update”: Abbr.
SNL
36D
Alter the dimensions of
Resize
37D
Ceramicist’s oven
Kiln
39D
Airline that merged with Northwest in 2008
Delta
40D
Moves like a bunny
Hops
41D
Intensive care ___ (part of a hospital)
Unit
42D
Long, long look
Gaze
44D
“Sorry to say, but …”
Alas
45D
River that Khartoum and Cairo are on
Nile
47D
Perform like Cardi B
Rap
49D
Do something
Act
50D
“K Is for Killer” author Grafton
Sue
51D
___ out (crossed through)
Xed