Wincing moments in NYT crosswords

[prog]

classicaljunkie and I were working through that big book of NYT crosswords tonight. At point we found ourselves looking at:

Man in the 'hood - N _ _ _ A

I was like, Oh... please tell me that isn't so.. It ended up being MISTA (we had a letter wrong at first), which seems kind of weak, but OK.

True fact: I wasn't completely aware that "ordinary" crosswords tend to have themes until I saw Word Play last February. The pleasure of watching each puzzle's theme emerge from the grid is a new one for me, and rather addicting!

Comments

[modpixie.livejournal.com]

the hell is a 'mista'?

[prog.livejournal.com]

I guess an ebonicized "mister"? It's not the best clue/answer in the world.

[metahacker.livejournal.com]

Nay-ba? :D

(Of course I still have "Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood" in the back of my head...)

[radtea.livejournal.com]

Oughta be Ketch.

[radiotelescope.livejournal.com]

I'll bet the puzzle designer was setting you up for that mistake (and reaction).

[prog.livejournal.com]

I don't buy it... the real answer's in the same sphere as what I was thinking, and my first reaction was dependent on my making a spelling mistake earlier.

If it was in fact KETCH, though, I'd agree with you, and applaud a clever clue.

:D

[(Anonymous)]

Hahaha... That was a very funny moment; thank you for sharing this. It reminded me of an episode of South Park, where Stan's dad was on Wheel of Fortune, he had to guess the word for a category of "People who annoy you". He guess some letters and he ended up with N_GGERS; the answer was actually NAGGERS.