November 5, 2025

Title: IT'S UP TO YOU!

Constructor: Catherine Cetta

Editor: Amanda Rafkin


Theme synopsis:
  • I MUST INSIST (3D: "You really do have to")
  • JUST IN TIME (10D: "You almost missed the deadline!")
  • ANONYMOUS TIP (14D: Information volunteered to a hotline, perhaps)
IT'S UP TO YOU!: Each vertical theme answer contains the letter string U-S-T-I, which when read going UP, is the letter string I-T-S going UP TO the letter U: I MUST INSIST, JUST IN TIME, and ANONYMOUS TIP.

Random thoughts and interesting things:
  • FAT (7A: 7A: It has the highest concentration of calories of any macronutrient) Macronutrients are the chemical compounds that humans consume in the largest quantities and which provide bulk energy – namely, carbohydrates, proteins, and FATs. Protein and carbohydrate each provide four calories per gram, while FAT provides nine calories per gram.
  • CAUSAL (16A: Casual anagram?) CAUSAL is not a laidback anagram, but rather "CAUSAL" is literally an anagram of "casual." I quite enjoyed this clue.
  • END (25A: "At the ___ of the Day" ("Les Miz" song)) Les Miz, or Les Mesérables is a musical that tells the story of a French peasant named Jean Valjean. It is based on the 1862 novel of the same name by Victor Hugo. "At the END of the Day" is a song sung in the first Act of Les Miz, just before the song "I Dreamed a Dream." 
  • TEMPEH (32A: Tofu alternative) TEMPEH and tofu are both soy products. TEMPEH is made from fermented soybeans, which are then made into a cake form. Tofu is prepared by coagulating soy milk and pressing the resulting curd into blocks. 
  • KOSHER (44A: Suitable for a Seder) Food deemed KOSHER adheres to a set of Jewish dietary laws. The Seder is a ritual meal marking the beginning of the Jewish holiday Passover. 
  • PEEPER (62A: Spring ___ (tiny chorus frog)) Spring PEEPERs are small chorus frogs that live throughout the eastern U. S. and Canada. These tiny frogs are able to survive below freezing temperatures because their livers produce a special substance that acts like an anti-freeze and allows their organs to enter a protected dormant state. (Science is cool!) Spring PEEPERs are named for the chirping calls they make in the spring.
  • ADAM (2D: "Madam I'm ___" (palindrome)) "Madam I'm ADAM" is a classic example of a palindrome, a word or phrase that is spelled the same forwards and backwards. 
  • OSLO (6D: Kon-Tiki Museum city) Kon-Tiki is a raft that was used for a 1947 expedition across the Pacific Ocean from Peru to Polynesia The expedition was led by Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl. The raft, which was constructed of balsa wood, is now housed in the Kon-Tiki Museum in OSLO, the capital of Norway. The museum is also home to other vessels as well as maps and a library of about 8.000 books.
  • ALASKA (27D: Denali National Park's state) Denali, located in ALASKA, is the highest mountain peak in North America, with a summit elevation of 20,310 feet above sea level. Denali is the centerpiece of Denali National Park.
  • TEAPOT (28D: "I'm a little ___, short and stout") "I'm a little TEAPOT / short and stout / Here is my handle / Here is my spout / When you hear my whistle, / Hear me shout, / "Tip me over and pour me out!" Thank you for that moment of childhood joy, puzzle.
  • CULTURED (39D: Like operators and yogurt) This clue made me chuckle. Two different kinds of CULTURE here.
  • RHINOS (45D: Large horned herbivores) There are five species of RHINOS, two native to Africa, and three native to Asia. RHINOS are large animals that weigh over a ton, with some species weighing over three tons. The name rhinoceros means "nose horn," a reference to the RHINO'S distinctive feature.
  • TIN (56D: Sn, to a chemist) TIN is a soft, silver-colored metal with the atomic number of 50. Its chemical symbol is Sn, from the Latin word "stannum."
  • KID (58D: "You're on Your Own, ___" (Taylor Swift song)) "You're on Your Own, KID" is a 2022 song by Taylor Swift, from her album, Midnights.
  • A few other clues I especially enjoyed:
    • GOT ONE (20A: Happy exclamation from a claw machine player)
    • ANY (29A: "Press ___ key to continue")
    • SPICY (40A: Like a dish with chili pepper icons next to it on a menu)
This is an extremely clever theme. The exclamation point in the title alerted me that the theme would interpret the title literally, and it definitely did. I noticed the word ITS reading up each theme answer first. I then had a nice "Aha!" moment when I noticed that each ITS had a U topper. Nice! Thank you, Catherine, for this delightful puzzle.

One more thing today: If you are a fairly new crossword constructor, or you've thought about getting into constructing, I encourage you to check out this opportunity. 

  • Lil AVCX is part of the AVCX family of puzzles (more info at  https://avxwords.com) and publishes boundary-pushing, bite-sized crosswords every week. Lil AVCX is currently seeking new and emerging constructors to be a part of their mentorship program in 2026. Constructors who are selected will work with an experienced editor to make midi puzzles for Lil AVCX over the course of the year. Applications for this program are due November 14 and you can find more information at this link: AVCX roster call


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