October 22, 2025

Title: DAYDREAMING (Freestyle)

Constructor: Rafael Musa

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

Theme synopsis:

DAYDREAMING (Freestyle): There's no theme today, as this is a freestyle, or themeless puzzle. The title is a nod to WHAT-IFS (34A: Hypothetical scenarios).

What I learned from today's puzzle:

• FIRE (62A: Pokemon type that's weak against water-type attacks) My Pokémon knowledge comes almost exclusively from crossword puzzles. So while I'm aware there are different types of Pokémon, I am not able to tell you what those types are. However, it makes sense that a FIRE type of Pokémon would be weak against water-type attacks, since FIRE and water are generally not compatible. Therefore, I was able to figure out this answer with some help from crossing answers.
• COD (8D: Fish in bacalhau) Bacalhau is the Portuguese word for COD. Bacalhau dishes, made with dried and salted COD, are common in Portuguese cuisine.
• HINGE (49D: Dating app with roses) I am familiar with the dating app HINGE (though not personally), which markets itself as "designed to be deleted." Today I learned that HINGE users can send roses – a "super-like" of sorts – to profiles that most appeal to them.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• ZOOMIES (1A: Bursts of intense activity in cats) Oh, I am most definitely acquainted with the ZOOMIES! What is it that makes cats suddenly dash around all over the place as if they've seen a ghost. (Have they seen a ghost?) My cat, Willow, is unwilling to shed light on the reason for her ZOOMIES, preferring to remain mysterious.

• CASH APP (8A: Venmo alternative) CASH APP and Venmo are mobile payment systems that allow users to transfer money to each other using their mobile phones.
• OREO PIE (16A: Dessert with a cookie crust and creamy filling) I would definitely not turn down a piece of OREO PIE.
• KAUR (29A: "Milk and Honey" poet Rupi) Poet Rupi KAUR has a large social media following, particularly on Instagram, where she has over four million followers. She self-published her first poetry collection, Milk and Honey, which was then re-released by Andrews McMeel Publishing.
• EAR (30A: Organ with a Eustachian tube) The Eustachian tube connects the nasopharynx (the upper part of the throat) with the middle EAR.
• Geography review:
• JAPAN (48A: Osaka's country) Osaka is the third-most populous city in JAPAN, following Tokyo and Yokohama. It is located on Honshu, the largest of JAPAN's four main islands.
• IRAN (52A: Tehran's country) Tehran is the capital and largest city of IRAN.
• INDIA (5D: Ahmedabad's country) Ahmedabad is the most populous city in Gujarat, one of INDIA's 28 states. (In addition to its 28 states, INDIA also has 8 union territories.)
• ATL (31D: GA's capital) Atlanta (ATL) is the capital of Georgia (GA). The abbreviation in the clue alerts solvers the answer will be an abbreviation.
• ORO (2D: Bronce, plata, ORO) In both Portuguese and Spanish, "bronce," "plata," and "ORO" are the words for "bronze," "silver," and "gold."
• SEEMS (10D: "Looking at it now / It all ___ so simple" (Taylor Swift lyric)) "Out of the Woods" is a 2014 song by Taylor Swift, from her album 1989. The song begins with the lyric, ""Looking at it now / It all SEEMS so simple."
• SAPPHO (37D: Lyric poet from the island of Lesbos) SAPPHO was a Greek poet known for her lyric poetry. The 7th century BCE poet from the island of Lesbos wrote about her attraction to women. One of her most known poems is "Ode to Aphrodite."
• MIRANDA (43D: "iCarly" star Cosgrove) The sitcom iCarly (2007-2012, 2021-2023) is a TV show about making a web show. MIRANDA Grove plays the title character, social media influencer Carly Shay.
• I AM (55D: "___ … Sasha Fierce" (Beyonce album)) This is a great clue to add interest to a simple, short, two-word answer. Sasha Fierce is Beyoncé's on-stage alter ego. I AM...Sasha Fierce, Beyoncé's third album, was released in 2008 and marketed as a double album. The two discs are titled I AM... and Sasha Fierce.
• A few other answers and clues I especially enjoyed:
• OOH LA LA (40A: "So fancy!")
• IKEAS (21D: Furniture stores with mazelike layouts)
• SUPERHEROES (23D: Many protagonists in the Marvel Cinematic Universe)

HERE'S THE THING (49A: Words that may precede an explanation), this is a lovely themeless puzzle. NOT GONNA LIE (26D: "If I'm being straight up …"), I tend to prefer my puzzles with a theme. But I'll happily solve a crossword full of interesting answers and enjoyable clues – like this one – and not miss having a theme (well, not too much…). Thank you, Rafa, for this delightful puzzle.