"Shortchanged" December 8, 2023

[hoover]

I saw ABBR in the bottom right corner and was off to the races looking for abbreviations in the clues. AGR-Rag threw me a little bit, primarily because the first T of TATTER (Rag) was the last letter I got, mostly because I had been working nearly exclusively with the across entries and had filled in NATTER/NACK. That led to VICNIMIZE and a quick course correction.

[MikeMillerwsj]

The contest answer is VICTIMIZE. Nine grid answers are abbreviations that can be anagrammed to make words that begin clues (SRTA./Star, ET AL./Late, MASC./Scam, AGR./Rag, COLO./Cool, HOSP./Posh, ECON./ Once, ABBR./Barb, NAUT./Aunt). The first letters of the answers to those clues, in grid order, spell the contest answer.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, we thought this one was breathtakingly ingenious, getting nine anagrammable abbreviations that fit the start of nine clues in perfect order. We had a good turnout of 1164 entries, and an exceptional 93% of correct entries.

Very few other entries showed up more than once--they included CHEAT (4) and SNARE (2), plus one-offs including STOLE, WITHHOLD, DECEIVED, MINIMIZE, CHASE, and CONTEST.

Congrats to this week's winner: Tom Starbird of Pasadena, Calif.!

[Tom Wilson]

Well, at least the winner is a Tom. Sigh.

[The XWord Rabbit]

Answers to The X-Word Rabbit's trivia game.


B: OTUVOI (2014) Birdman or the Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance

IAMMMMW (1963) It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World

TBOTRK (1957) The Bridge on the River Kwai

NCFOM (2007) No Country for Old Men

EEAAO (2022) Everything Everywhere All at Once

ESOTSM (2004) Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

TCCOBB (2008) The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

OFOTCN (1975) One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Next

TRACTRAC (1966) The Russians are Coming! The Russians are Coming!

WAOVW (1966) Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf

[Bird Lives]

Well, at least the winner is a Tom. Sigh.

And a Bird.

[LadyBird]

Well, at least the winner is a Tom. Sigh.

And a Bird.

But not the right bird--for my benefit, at least!

[Cindy N]

rsz_bunnyspot_laughing.png

Answers to The X-Word Rabbit's trivia game.



IAMMMMW (1963) It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World

TBOTRK (1957) The Bridge on the River Kwai

OFOTCN (1975) One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Next

TRACTRAC (1966) The Russians are Coming! The Russians are Coming!

WAOVW (1966) Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf

Other than an enjoyment of TCM, not sure why I knew each one of those without even thinking about it. First one that jumped out was TBOTRK. Other than Cuckoo's Nest, I think all of the rest have been shown in the last 3 months. Thanks for the list!

[MajordomoTom]

and not the right Tom, either.

we seem to have a plethora of Toms here.

On a different note altogether, first grandchild made his entrance into our harsh world right after noon today. Wife is currently across the state and into KS to visit, I'll likely take my WSJ puzzle from this coming week with me on my trip this next weekend.

too young for this (yet) ...

[MajordomoTom]

May I mambo dog face to the banana patch?

[DBMiller]

ESOTSM (2014) Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Ummm... 2004?

[LittleGood]

Since I was Lost at Sea for Shortchanged, I now need a 3-week streak to finish the year at .500.

[The XWord Rabbit]

ESOTSM (2014) Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Ummm... 2004?

I stand corrected. 2004