September 16, 2025

Title: AND THEN SOME

Constructor: Matthew Luter

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

Theme synopsis:

• ON THE WHOLE (17A: "Considering everything...")
• GIVE ME A HAND (35A: "A little help here?")
• FINE YOU WIN (54A: "Okay, already, I concede!")

AND THEN SOME: The word SOME can be added to the last word of each theme answer to create a new word: WHOLESOME, HANDSOME, WINSOME.

And now a word from our constructor:

Matt: This one started with the title. I heard the term "and then some" used, and thought, hmmm … and then it was a matter of finding words that become something new when the suffix -some is involved (unlike, say, trouble / troublesome, or bother / bothersome, which are semantically related). It’s a pretty small list of words that fit the bill, it turns out, which is what makes this feel (I hope) like a pretty tight theme set.

Two things I like about this grid: I worked to make the 8-letter down entries fun and evocative, and I’m really pleased with how those turned out. I also love to go to song titles for fill-in-the-blank clues on less exciting common words, so maybe I got the (great) tunes mentioned at 30-Across or 59-Across stuck in your head.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• COB (10A: Middle ear?) The question mark at the end of this clue alerts solvers that the clue isn't referencing the middle ear where the tiny bones referred to as the hammer, anvil, and stirrup are located. Instead this clue is pointing to COB, the middle of an ear of corn.
• AIM (21A: William Tell's strength) William Tell is a Swiss folk hero. Legends about William Tell describe him as an expert mountain climber and recall his skill as an archer. Perhaps the most well-known tale about William Tell is the story of him having such precise AIM that he could shoot an apple off his son's head using an arrow.
• ODD (25A: Like 2025) A couple of things amused me here. First of all, it's fun that this clue is 25-Across and the ODD number given as an example is 2025. Secondly, while the number 2025 is definitely ODD, the same might be said about the year 2025... 
• IT'S (30A: "Don't Dream ___ Over" ('80s pop hit)) "Don't Dream IT'S Over" is a 1986 song by Crowded House. "Hey now, hey now / Don't dream IT'S over..." As Matt mentioned in his notes, the use of song titles as clues is a great way to add interest to common words.
• RUNS (33A: Competes like Sha'Carri Richardson) Sha'Carri Richardson is a track and field sprinter. She RUNS the 100 and 200 meters. At the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, she was part of the USA relay team that won a gold medal in the 4 x 100 meter relay. She also won a silver medal in the 100 meters.
• BANE (37A: The ___ of one's existence) "The BANE of one's existence" is such a dramatic, hyperbolic phrase, and I must admit I have a tendency to use it. More than once when filling a crossword grid I have said, "Dupes are the BANE of my existence!" referring to the appearance of similar words (referred to as dupes) in a grid. When I came to APHID (6D: Tiny garden pest) in this grid, I thought, "Ugh, APHIDs are the BANE of my existence!" (We have battled APHIDs on our cherry trees, and they are quite pesky.)
• HAT (49A: Kentucky Derby fashion accessory) The Kentucky Derby is held at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky on the first Saturday of May. It is one of three horse races – along with the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes – that comprise the Triple Crown. There are several traditions associated with the Kentucky Derby: singing "My Old Kentucky Home," drinking mint juleps (made with Kentucky bourbon) and wearing HATs. Wearing HATs to the Kentucky Derby has been a tradition since the race began in 1875. Some of the HATs, particularly the women's, are elaborate and extravagant.
• DOSA (52A: South Asian lentil-and-rice dish) DOSA are crepes made from a fermented batter of lentils and rice.
• LET'S (53A: "___ Make a Deal") I was aware of the game show LET'S Make a Deal that premiered in 1963 with Monty Hall as its host. What I learned from doing research to write about the show is that it is still in existence; I had no idea LET'S Make a Deal was still around. The current version of LET'S Make a Deal premiered on CBS in 2009, and Wayne Brady is the host. 
• WOULD (59A: "I ___ Die 4 U" (Prince hit)) "I WOULD Die 4 U" is a 1984 song by Prince and the Revolution, from the album Purple Rain. PRINCE was an answer in yesterday's puzzle, clued as ["Raspberry Beret" singer]. Fun to see him make an encore in a clue today.
• LONE (61A: Like the star on Texas' flag) The state flag of Texas features a single – or LONE – star. Texas' nickname of "The LONE Star State" is a reminder that Texas was previously an independent republic after it broke away from Mexico in 1836 until it became a U.S. state in 1845.
• ESPYS (62A: Awards like Best Breakthrough Athlete and Best Coach/Manager) The ESPYS are awards recognizing athletic achievement. They have been presented annually since 1993. ESPY is an acronym for Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly. In 2025, the winner of the ESPY for Best Breakthrough Athlete was rugby union player Ilona Maher. The ESPY for Best Coach/Manager hasn't been awarded since 2021. I wasn't able to find a definitive answer as to why this ESPY has apparently been discontinued. 
• PANAMA (2D: Country northwest of Colombia) PANAMA is located at the southern end of Central America, bordering South America. (Central America is a subregion of North America.) PANAMA is located east of the Central American country of Costa Rica and northwest of the South American country of Colombia. The capital of PANAMA is PANAMA CITY. Geography is not one of my strong suits, so I always welcome a nudge from the crossword to do a little geography review.
• ADHD (4D: Form of neurodiversity with an inattentive type) Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is currently divided into three types: 1) predominantly inattentive, 2) predominantly hyperactive-impulsive, and 3) combined presentation. I say currently, because as with many types of neurodiversity, research is ongoing and scientists continue to update classifications.
• OPEN MIND (11D: One might help you consider many viewpoints) I'm highlighting this clue simply to note that I really like it.
• WADDLE (18D: Walk like a penguin) I live in Iowa, and although it is in the 80s as I write this, Iowa winters can be quite cold, and icy conditions are not uncommon. I have slipped and fallen on the ice more than once, so I try to remember the advice that the best way to walk on ice is to WADDLE like a penguin. 
• SWEAT (26D: It gets broken during a workout class) When I read this clue, my first thought was "break a SWEAT." My second thought was, "Hopefully that's all that gets broken in a workout class." Given my general klutziness, you just never know!
• ODIN (28D: Chief Norse god) In Norse mythology, ODIN is associated with wisdom and healing. He is portrayed as one-eyed, long-bearded, wearing a cloak and broad hat, and wielding a spear named Gungnir. One of ODIN's name is Allfather, or Father of All. ODIN is married to the goddess Frigga. One of their sons is Thor, the god of lightning, thunder, and storms. 
• UNDO (34D: Ctrl+Z) Just noting that I am grateful for this UNDO shortcut. It has saved me from my errors many times.
• GAMESTOP (35D: Retail chain that sells consoles) GAMESTOP, headquartered in Grapevine, Texas, is the largest video GAME retailer in the world. When it was founded in 1984, the company was named Babbage's. The company changed its name to GAMESTOP in 1999. A number of GAMESTOP stores have closed over the last year, a result of a consumer shift to online marketplaces.

As I've mentioned previously, when I read the title of a puzzle, I try to guess the puzzle's theme. Then I solve the puzzle to see if I'm right. I didn't really have a guess after reading today's title. My mind got stuck thinking, "AND THEN SOME what...?" I had a nice, "Aha!" moment, therefore, when I filled in ON THE WHOLE and immediately thought, "Oh! WHOLESOME!" Thank you, Matt, for this delightful puzzle.