Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Hold It (Freestyle)
There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solve today's puzzle before reading further! Hold It (Freestyle)
Constructor: Zachary Edward-Brown
Editor: Anna Gundlach
Zachary: I'd like to thank Amanda and the USA Today team for helping me make this puzzle as good as possible. For any future collaborations, email me at zacharyedwardbrown@gmail.com. I'd love to do more collaboration work.
MONROE (8D: "Longlegs" star Maika) Longlegs is a 2024 horror movie (set in the 1990s) about an FBI agent tracking down a serial killer. Each case involves a father killing his family and himself, and the killer leaves behind a letter signed by "Longlegs." Maika MONROE stars as an FBI agent assigned to the case.
ALL (5A: The "A" in GOAT) GOAT stands for "greatest of ALL time."
MOONS (8A: Saturn has over 140 of them) This is a timely clue, because just this month, astronomers confirmed the presence of 128 additional MOONS orbiting Saturn. This brings the number of confirmed MOONS for Saturn to 274. Hooray for science in the crossword!
SPONGEBOB (16A: Fry cook at the Krusty Krab) This is a reference to the animated TV series SPONGEBOB Square Pants. On the show, which is in its 15th season, SPONGEBOB works as a fry cook at the Krusty Krab, a fast food restaurant owned by Mr. Krabs.
NAME DROP (20A: Casually mention having lunch with Taylor Swift, say) Ha! This clue definitely made me laugh.
ONEIDA (22A: Nation in the Haudenosaunee Confederacy) The Haudenosaunee are an indigenous confederacy comprised of Six Nations: the Mohawk, Onondaga, ONEIDA, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscarora peoples. The ONEIDA people refer to themselves as Onyota'a:ka, which means "People of the Standing Stone."
EMU (31A: Bird in Australian Aboriginal rock art) Aboriginal people (Indigenous peoples of the Australian mainland) used rock surfaces as a canvas. Rock art has been discovered in rock shelters and in caves. The artwork often depicts stick figures. Some pictures contain representations of EMUs, including EMU tracks and eggs.
ACME (34A: Company that supplies Wile E. Coyote with invisible paint) The ACME Corporation is a fictional business featured in the Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote cartoons. The company is the source of many devices used by Wile E. Coyote in his attempt to outwit the Road Runner, such as invisible paint, anvils, exploding tennis balls, dehydrated boulders, rocket-powered roller skates, and, well, you get the idea.
IKEA (40A: Furniture chain that sells lingonberry jam) This clue made me smile. I don't go to IKEA often, but when I do, it's fun to browse their section of Swedish food products. Lingonberries, which are native to boreal forest and the Arctic tundra, grow wild in the Nordic countries, including Sweden. Lingonberry jam is traditionally served alongside Swedish meatballs (you can also buy those at IKEA).
MILK MOUSTACHE (52A: "Facial hair" that results from a certain drink) The iconic ads of celebrities sporting MILK MOUSTACHEs grew out of a 1990s ad campaign for the California Milk Processor Board. The first MILK MOUSTACHE ad, accompanied by the iconic "got MILK?" slogan ran in 1995. It featured model Naomi Campbell.
ABBA (58A: "Dancing Queen" group) Every single time "Dancing Queen" is referenced in a clue for ABBA, I get this song stuck in my head. There are, admittedly, much worse fates. Good thing I'm a fan of this song, originally released by ABBA in 1976. "You're in the mood for a dance / And when you get the chance / You are the dancing queen..."
HANOI (3D: Capital of Vietnam) Time to review some geography. Vietnam is a country in Southeast Asia. Its neighbors are China, Laos, and Cambodia, and it has coastline along the Gulf of Thailand and the South China Sea. HANOI is the capital of Vietnam, and the country's largest city is Ho Chi Minh City.
EGG (4D: Easter ___ (video game secret)) This is a fun clueing angle for EGG. The term "Easter EGG," referring to some secret message or content, is used not only in the world of video games, but also in movies, music videos, social media posts, computer software, etc. Programmers have been creating hidden surprises in video games since at least 1973, but the term "Easter EGG" didn't come into use to refer to these secrets until programmer Warren Robinett hid his name in the 1980 Atari game Adventure in response to Atari not including programmers' names in the credits. When his name was eventually discovered, Atari realized it was going to be too expensive to remove it. Instead, they kept it, referred to it as an Easter EGG, and encouraged the inclusion of Easter EGGs in future games.
ALBA (5D: "Fantastic Four" actress Jessica) Jessica ALBA plays the role of Susan Storm/ Invisible Woman in the movies Fantastic Four (2005) and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007).
OREOS (9D: Cookies filled with "Stuf") The other day I was at a gathering where cookies were being served, and some of those cookies were OREOS. I took one to my husband and said, "Have a crossword's-favorite-cookie."
DRY (21D: Like some deserts and some humor) I was extra careful to avoid a typo here. Deserts are DRY, but desserts should generally not be.
EMMA (25D: "Superbad" actress Stone) Superbad is a 2007 coming-of-age movie. Jonah Hill and Michael Cera star as teenagers Seth and Evan who want to party and lose their virginity prior to graduating from high school. EMMA Stone plays a supporting role as Jules, a friend of Seth's. Superbad was EMMA Stone's movie debut.
DENIM (30D: Jorts material) Jorts are DENIM shorts. The term "jorts" is a portmanteau of "jeans" and "shorts."
TIBET (49D: Nepal's neighbor) A little more geography review today. TIBET is an autonomous region located in the southwestern part of China. The capital of TIBET is Lhasa. Mount Everest is located on the TIBET-Nepal border.
ROE (57D: ___ v. Wade) ROE v. Wade was the landmark 1973 Supreme Court decision that protected the right to have an abortion. In 2022, ROE v. Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. The last time I wrote about ROE v. Wade, I learned that the ROE v. Wade hearing included what is widely considered to be one of the "worst jokes in legal history."
HOLD IT (Freestyle): There's no theme today, as this is a freestyle, or themeless, puzzle. The title is a nod to DON'T GET ANY IDEAS (35A: "No funny business").
There are a lot of fun entries in this themeless puzzle. I'm also enjoying the "boots" (the black squares at the bottom of the grid) and antennae (the black squares at the top of the grid) that are making me think of ALIENS (41A: "Little green men"). Congratulations to Zachary Edward-Brown making a USA TODAY crossword debut! Thank you, Zachary, for this excellent puzzle.
USA TODAY's Daily Crossword Puzzles
Sudoku & Crossword Puzzle Answers
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Crossword Blog & Answers for March 23, 2025 by Sally Hoelscher
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Eater
an hour ago
- Eater
Inside Marcus Samuelsson's Bright, Berbere-Blasted D.C. Debut
NY-based celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson finally gets to do a D.C. restaurant on his terms. Marcus DC, his first in the nation's capital, opened Tuesday, June 3, in NoMa's Morrow Hotel (222 M Street NE) . The acclaimed restaurateur behind Harlem's hot Red Rooster oversaw every last detail at the 200-room hotel's anchor dining attraction, from the Ethiopian and Swedish influences on the menus, the colorful textured mural by Brooklyn-based artist Derrick Adams above the stunning bar, down to the waiters' custom patchwork aprons. The result: a fun and lively atmosphere that prepares diners to sample Samuelsson's one-of-a-kind dishes. 'This is the first restaurant that we are doing on our terms,' Samuelsson tells Eater. 'We just wanted to connect, to keep the guests curious and to make them feel like 'Wow, this is an experience that I want to come back to.'' With the bounty of the Chesapeake Bay supplying local oysters, rockfish, and, of course, blue crabs, Samuelsson knew his seafood-centric restaurant had to have a local chef who knows its waterways well. He immediately reached out to his longtime collaborator chef Anthony Jones, a Maryland native that worked at Miami's Red Rooster Overtown in 2020 and most recently led the kitchen at Dirty Habit, who adds his own twists to Marcus DC's dishes. Jones infused the menu with the flavors of D.C., from the mambo sauce on the Chuck B's roast chicken (named after one of the original founders of Go-Go) to the addictive Mel's crab rice, Jones's homage to his summers growing up in Calvert County picking up fresh crabs with his family from Mel's crab truck. 'Every summer we would stop by and get a few bushels of crabs from Mel's Truck that we would drive past in Huntington, Maryland,' says Jones. 'We would all dig in, crack open a few beers, have some sides, and music would be playing. And that was just like a fun summer time experience for me and now I've taken that and mixed it with rice.' The 153-seat newcomer with a 12-seat bar was already packed on the first night of service. Samuelsson says he has many opening favorites, notably that crab rice, but recommends starting with his signature blue cornbread served with yassa butter and berbere honey; followed by his Swediopian, a cured salmon served with a goldenberry broth, fennel mustard, and teff crisp; and fluke crudo served in an apple cucumber aguachile with a crispy plantain. After that the options are endless, diners can chow down on mains like the roasted rockfish served with an octopus-based chili (a homage to Ben's Chili Bowl), the Chuck B's Roast Chicken, and, of course, that signature Mel's Crab Rice with pickled okra and uni bernaise. Try to save room for dessert. Executive pastry chef Rachel Sherriff, formerly of Rooster & Owl, has created a selection inspired by her Jamaican heritage that will not be found anywhere else. The Thai basil rice pudding accompanied with lime cake, ginger lime jelly, and yogurt sorbet is habit-forming. Her praline coconut cake is showcased with a table-side retro trolley where the final dish is theatrically built in front of guests. 'Once you go through the meal, then you come to Rachel, there's another level of discovery,' Samuelsson remarks. 'So that is for me, what I'm extremely excited about… it's the biggest privilege when you can work with young people that are committed to our craft.' The cocktails menu here was crafted by master mixologist Glendon Hartley, of award-winning Causa/Amazonia and Service Bar, to specifically compliment the food. Options such as a spicy Abyssinian Blaze made with gin, Campari, and the Ethiopian spice berbere or the light Velvet Detour made with tamarind, cognac, and lemon juice do not disappoint. While Samuelsson honed his techniques working in Italy, France, Japan, and Sweden, he said many of the foods and decor at his newest restaurant are inspired by the continent of Africa. He hopes the restaurant will serve as a lively cultural destination that 'showcases the richness and diversity of the Black culinary experience' in a modern setting. 'I want the guests to feel a sense of joy and warmth in the place once they enter and as they dine and discover chef Anthony's food, how delicious and extremely thoughtful it is. But it's also craveable, made with great techniques,' he says. Samuelsson said he always felt a close connection to D.C.'s vibrant Ethiopian community and the 'mom-and-pop' shops that line neighborhoods like Adams Morgan. He started exploring the city in the mid-90s, making frequent weekends trips from New York and, as his notoriety grew, returned to cook for high-stakes dinner and eventually for the Obamas at the White House. He was drawn to the Union Market area because it feels vibrant and layered, plus he says other chefs at the surrounding restaurants have been 'super welcoming.' He also enjoys just strolling through the buzzing neighborhood and checking out vintage stores whenever he gets a chance. After a Marcus DC meal, a nightcap or at least a quick peek of the view at his rooftop bar Sly is a great way to end the evening. Related Best Places to Dine in NoMa and Around Union Market Samuelsson has a few words of advice for aspiring chefs: Try your hand at every position in the kitchen and front of house, 'learn about new cultures and food languages', and take advantage of social media, but it all comes down to having a 'love for the craft.' 'The chefs that truly love the craft will be successful, because it's not only an external affirmation, it's an internal affirmation,' he says. 'I was cooking when no one was watching, and I loved it. And it just makes me happy.' Sign up for our newsletter.
Hamilton Spectator
2 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
FanDuel bans bettor over heckling incident with Olympic champion sprinter Gabby Thomas
A sports bettor who heckled Olympic champion sprinter Gabby Thomas during a Grand Slam Track event in Philadelphia over the weekend has been banned by the betting site FanDuel Sportsbook. In a statement sent to The Associated Press on Wednesday, FanDuel wrote it 'condemns in the strongest terms abusive behavior directed towards athletes. Threatening or harassing athletes is unacceptable and has no place in sports. This customer is no longer able to wager with FanDuel.' Last weekend, Thomas finished fourth in a 100-meter race won by Melissa Jefferson-Wooden. The bettor wrote in a post on social media that he 'made Gabby lose by heckling her. And it made my parlay win.' He posted a picture of his parlay that had Jefferson-Wooden winning the 100. Thomas, the 200-meter champion at the Paris Games last summer, explained the heckling incident on X. She wrote: 'This grown man followed me around the track as I took pictures and signed autographs for fans (mostly children) shouting personal insults — anybody who enables him online is gross.' Grand Slam Track, a track league launched by Hall of Fame sprinter Michael Johnson this spring, wrote in a statement it was 'conducting a full investigation into the reprehensible behavior captured on video. 'We are working to identify the individual involved and will take appropriate action as necessary. We will implement additional safeguards to help prevent incidents like this in the future. Let us be clear, despicable behavior like this will not be tolerated.' ESPN first reported the bettor had been banned by FanDuel. The Grand Slam Track season wraps up with the fourth and final meet in Los Angeles on June 28-29. The Thomas incident is the latest in a string of stalking and abuse of female athletes. Frida Karlsson , a Swedish cross-country skiing world champion, recently brought her experience with stalking into public view when she went through a trial. A man in his 60s was given a suspended sentence and ordered to pay 40,000 kronor ($4,100) in damages after being convicted of stalking Karlsson for a year and four months, according to Swedish news agency TT. The man, according to the indictment, called Karlsson 207 times, left her voicemails and text messages and approached her, including outside her apartment. In February, police in the United Arab Emirates detained a man who caused British tennis player Emma Raducanu distress by exhibiting ' fixated behavior ' toward he at a tennis tournament. Raducanu had been approached by the man at the Dubai Championships where he left her a note, took her photograph and engaged in behavior that caused her distress, according to the government of Dubai's media office. ___ AP Sports Writers Mark Anderson and Schuyler Dixon contributed to this report. ___ AP sports:
Fox Sports
3 hours ago
- Fox Sports
FanDuel bans bettor over heckling incident with Olympic champion sprinter Gabby Thomas
Associated Press A sports bettor who heckled Olympic champion sprinter Gabby Thomas during a Grand Slam Track event in Philadelphia over the weekend has been banned by the betting site FanDuel Sportsbook. In a statement sent to The Associated Press on Wednesday, FanDuel wrote it "condemns in the strongest terms abusive behavior directed towards athletes. Threatening or harassing athletes is unacceptable and has no place in sports. This customer is no longer able to wager with FanDuel.' Last weekend, Thomas finished fourth in a 100-meter race won by Melissa Jefferson-Wooden. The bettor wrote in a post on social media that he 'made Gabby lose by heckling her. And it made my parlay win.' He posted a picture of his parlay that had Jefferson-Wooden winning the 100. Thomas, the 200-meter champion at the Paris Games last summer, explained the heckling incident on X. She wrote: "This grown man followed me around the track as I took pictures and signed autographs for fans (mostly children) shouting personal insults — anybody who enables him online is gross.' Grand Slam Track, a track league launched by Hall of Fame sprinter Michael Johnson this spring, wrote in a statement it was "conducting a full investigation into the reprehensible behavior captured on video. 'We are working to identify the individual involved and will take appropriate action as necessary. We will implement additional safeguards to help prevent incidents like this in the future. Let us be clear, despicable behavior like this will not be tolerated.' ESPN first reported the bettor had been banned by FanDuel. The Grand Slam Track season wraps up with the fourth and final meet in Los Angeles on June 28-29. The Thomas incident is the latest in a string of stalking and abuse of female athletes. Frida Karlsson, a Swedish cross-country skiing world champion, recently brought her experience with stalking into public view when she went through a trial. A man in his 60s was given a suspended sentence and ordered to pay 40,000 kronor ($4,100) in damages after being convicted of stalking Karlsson for a year and four months, according to Swedish news agency TT. The man, according to the indictment, called Karlsson 207 times, left her voicemails and text messages and approached her, including outside her apartment. In February, police in the United Arab Emirates detained a man who caused British tennis player Emma Raducanu distress by exhibiting ' fixated behavior ' toward he at a tennis tournament. Raducanu had been approached by the man at the Dubai Championships where he left her a note, took her photograph and engaged in behavior that caused her distress, according to the government of Dubai's media office. ___ AP Sports Writers Mark Anderson and Schuyler Dixon contributed to this report. ___ AP sports: in this topic
