Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword, Get Moving! (Freestyle) (2024)

Sally Hoelscher, USA TODAY

·6-min read

There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solve today's puzzle before reading further! Get Moving! (Freestyle)

Constructor: Claire Rimkus

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

What I Learned from Today’s Puzzle

  • TREAT (43A: Little ___ culture (form of self-care that involves rewards)) Although the term "little TREAT culture" is new to me, the practice isn't. I'm a firm believer in treating myself! Little TREAT culture is exactly what it sounds like, indulging in a small TREAT (maybe a coffee drink, a walk to a park, or solving a crossword) as a reward (perhaps for running errands, completing a work assignment, or paying bills). The term "little TREAT culture" emerged on TikTok, where there are many videos encouraging folks to TREAT themselves. If used correctly, little TREATs can provide a mental boost and play a role in self-care; it's science.

Random Thoughts & Interesting Things

  • MALE (15A: Like bright-red cardinals) As is the case with several bird species, MALE and female cardinals have different coloring. MALE cardinals are bright red, while female cardinals are a light brown with a reddish tint on the wings, crest, and tail feathers. Young cardinals have a coloring similar to female cardinals, regardless of their sex. A MALE cardinal only acquires the characteristic red coloring after it molts and grows adult feathers.

  • GYMNASTICS (18A: Simone Biles' sport) During the Summer Olympics in Paris that are happening now, there has been a lot of news about Simone Biles doing GYMNASTICS. Simone Biles will be coming home from Paris with three gold medals and one silver medal. That brings her total number of Olympic medals to 11. Simone Biles has also won 30 World Championship medals. She is the most decorated athlete in the history of GYMNASTICS.

  • WAGS (22A: Swishes back and forth, like a tail) My cat, Willow, has an extremely fluffy tail, and when she WAGS it, she doesn't always pay attention to where it's going. She's been known to sweep things off the table with her tail, and occasionally I've gotten a face full of tail.

Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword, Get Moving! (Freestyle) (2)

  • TIP (26A: "Ugh, it's right on the ___ of my tongue!") The older I get, the more words seem to get stuck right on the TIP of my tongue!

  • OSLO (34A: Norway's capital) In addition to being its capital, OSLO is the most populous city in Norway. OSLO is located at the northernmost end of Oslofjord, one of the many fjords that make up Norway's coast.

  • SOY (40A: Tamari ingredient) Tamari is a Japanese sauce made from fermented soybeans. It is similar to SOY sauce, but slightly thicker (and gluten-free)

  • CBS (52A: "The Equalizer" TV network) The Equalizeris a crime drama TV series that premiered on CBS in 2021. The show is a reboot of a series of the same name that aired on CBS from 1985-1989). In the reboot, Queen Latifah stars as the title character, a former CIA operative acting as a vigilante to help those with the odds stacked against them to obtain justice. The fifth season of The Equalizer is scheduled to air later this year.

  • ARTS (56A: The "A" in STEAM) In education, the acronym STEAM stands for science, technology, engineering, ARTS, and mathematics. STEAM programs incorporate skills associated with the ARTS – such as design and creative thinking – into the teaching of STEM skills.

  • WASP (58A: Ant-Man's partner) Ant-Man and WASP are Marvel Comics characters. In the Marvel movies Ant-Man and the WASP (2018), and Ant-Man and the WASP: Quantumania (2023), the characters are played by Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly respectively. Ant-Man and WASP both have suits that allow them to shrink or grow in scale while increasing in strength.

  • TODAY (68A: Day before tomorrow) I thoroughly enjoyed this clue! I had to think about it a moment, and then, "Aha!"

  • SVEN (70A: Reindeer in "Frozen") In the Disney animated movies Frozen (2013) and Frozen II (2019), SVEN is Kristoff's reindeer companion. (Kristoff is an iceman living in the mountains.) During the making of Frozen, Disney brought a live reindeer into the studio so animators could study its movements. They learned that reindeer scratch their heads with their hind legs, similar to dogs. Although SVEN is not a talking animal, Kristoff sometimes "talks" for him, voicing what SVEN might be thinking. Jonathan Groff who voices Kristoff, also provides SVEN's voice for those moments.

  • GINA (3D: "Suits" actress Torres) GINA Torres played the role of Jessica Lourdes Pearson in the legal drama,Suits (2011-2019). She reprised the role in the spin-off TV series,Pearson, that aired in 2019 for one season.Currently, GINA Torres is playing the role of Emergency Medical Services Captain Tommy Vega on the TV series,9-1-1: Lone Star.

  • ALMA (7D: "___ and How She Got Her Name" (children's book)) ALMA and How She Got Her Name is a picture book by Juana Martinez Neal. It is about a young girl named ALMA Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela. She thinks she has too many names, until her father tells her the story of each of her names. Fun fact: We have previously seen this book title used to clue the words GOT, HER, and NAME.

  • ASIA (19A: Angkor Wat's continent) Angkor Wat, located in Cambodia, is a complex that was originally constructed as a Hindu temple for the Khmer Empire in the early 12th century. It was gradually transformed into a Buddhist temple towards the end of the century. Angkor Wat is spread across 400 acres, andtheGuinness World Recordsconsiders it the world's largest religious structure. Although it is no longer used as a temple, Angkor Wat attracts numerous visitors, and is still considered by many to be a spiritual place. This is the first appearance of our crossword-friend ASIA this month.

  • PIE (27D: Dessert eaten on Pi Day) I'm always happy to see mentions of Pi Day and PIE in the grid.

  • SLEEP STUDY (31D: Procedure that can diagnose apnea) SLEEP apnea is a condition where a person's breathing temporarily stops more often than normal (defined as more than five times per hour) while they are sleeping. As you might imagine, SLEEP apnea disrupts normal SLEEP. A SLEEP STUDY, which records bodily activity during SLEEP can diagnose SLEEP apnea, as well as other conditions such as SLEEP-related movement disorders, seizure disorders, or grinding of the teeth.

  • IAGO (37D: "Aladdin" parrot) In the Disney animated movie Aladdin (1992), IAGO is a talking parrot voiced by Gilbert Gottfried. IAGO is the sidekick of Jafar, the movie's villain. In the sequels and TV series in the Aladdin franchise, IAGO is reformed into a better character. IAGO is named for the Shakespeare villain in Othello.

  • SNAP (57D: Provide validation at a slam poetry event) As I've mentioned previously, a SNAP is used as a way to show appreciation at poetry slams, as SNAPs are less likely to distract the performer.

Crossword Puzzle Theme Synopsis

GET MOVING! (Freestyle): The word freestyle in the puzzle lets us know there's no theme today. The title could be a nod to MUSICAL CHAIRS (29A: Game where you sit when the tunes shut off). It could also be a nod to GYMNASTICS, as that is a sport that certainly requires one to GET MOVING!

Since I learned the term "little TREAT culture" today, it's appropriate that this puzzle was a TREAT to solve. In addition to the answers I've already highlighted, I enjoyed the ADDITIONAL answers PLAYING IT COOL, SOUNDS GOOD, THINGS TO DO, and YOGA POSE. Thank you, Claire, for this delightful puzzle.

For more on USA TODAY’s Crossword Puzzles

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Crossword Blog & Answers for August 8, 2024 by Sally Hoelscher

Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword, Get Moving! (Freestyle) (2024)

FAQs

What is hardest day of week for crossword? ›

The crosswords are designed to increase in difficulty throughout the week, with the easiest on Monday and the most difficult on Saturday. The larger Sunday crossword, which appears in The New York Times Magazine, is an icon in American culture; it is typically intended to be a "Thursday-plus" in difficulty.

Is USA Today crossword app free? ›

Download the USA TODAY Crossword & Sudoku app today and enjoy hours of mind-bending puzzle fun. The app is free to download and play, with premium features available through in-app subscriptions.

How much is USA today crossword puzzle clue? ›

Unlimited Digital Access to USA Today Crossword: $19.99/year*

What is National Crossword Puzzle Day? ›

Crossword Puzzle Day on December 21st commemorates the birth of a challenging word game enjoyed by millions worldwide.

What is the easiest day of the NYT crossword? ›

In case you didn't know, the daily New York Times Crossword has a difficulty curve as the week goes on. Monday is the easiest puzzle, and then Tuesday is a little harder, climbing up to Saturday, which is the hardest day of the week.

What is the hardest crossword in the world? ›

A renowned British crossword maker called Marc Breman created in 2018 what's thought to be the world's hardest cryptic crossword to date. Not only are the clues fiendishly hard, but the crossword itself is rather large, with 64 clues.

Are crosswords good for your brain? ›

These features mean that crossword puzzles cause large areas of your cortex to be active, and stimulate new connections in your brain. The hippocampus will then remember those new connections, strengthening both your hippocampus and cortex.

What is the best free crossword site? ›

Check out these 20 best online crossword puzzles to get started.
  • Merriam-Webster Universal Daily Crossword.
  • BestCrosswords.com.
  • Rockwell Museum Crossword Puzzles.
  • Crossword Puzzle Free.
  • The New Daily Quiz Crossword.
  • Mind Food Daily Online Puzzle.
  • Daily Crossword Puzzle From Vox.
  • Boatload Puzzles.
Dec 12, 2023

What does eg mean in a crossword? ›

For example – EG (e.g., short for the Latin exempli gratia) Force – F, G (gravity), N (newton) Former – EX. Four – IV (Roman Numeral)

How do I cancel my USA Today crossword subscription? ›

You can cancel your subscription at any time by calling 1-800-872-0001. Residents of California, Maine, New York, or Vermont can cancel anytime, online. We do not provide refunds prorated for the remainder of the current month for Crosswords subscriptions. Sales tax may apply.

Does China have crosswords? ›

Chinese Crosswords uses the established crossword puzzle format loved by millions worldwide; however, the clues are given in English whereas the answers must be completed using Chinese characters.

What is the world's largest crossword puzzle? ›

The largest published crossword has 66,666 clues in total with 33,018 clues across and 33,648 clues down, created by Nikoli Co., Ltd. (Japan) in Taito, Tokyo, Japan, and published on 30 June 2016. The crossword consists of 244,971 squares and measures 12.042 m² (129.61 ft²).

What are crossword lovers called? ›

Cruciverbalist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cruciverbalist.

What is the hardest day of crossword? ›

The Saturday crossword is actually the hardest puzzle of the week. Mondays have the most straightforward clues and Saturday clues are the hardest, or involve the most wordplay. Contrary to popular belief, the Sunday puzzles are midweek difficulty, not the hardest. They're just bigger.

What is the most famous crossword puzzle? ›

The most famous Schrödinger puzzle, and maybe the most famous crossword puzzle in American history, was published on the morning of Election Day in 1996. The clue for the two central entries read “Lead story in tomorrow's newspaper (!).” A bold clue indeed!

Does the LA Times crossword get harder through the week? ›

About LA Times Crossword

Edited by Patti Varol, the LA Times Crossword puzzle is full of music, TV, and film references. This typically themeless crossword puzzle gets harder as the week goes on.

Are Tuesday crosswords easier? ›

The Monday New York Times Crosswords are the easiest, and the puzzles get harder as the week goes on. Solve as many of the Mondays as you can before pushing yourself to Tuesday puzzles. You can thank us later. This is probably a beginning solver's most common mistake.

Are weekend crosswords harder? ›

The easiest puzzle is on Monday and the most challenging puzzle is on Saturday. The Sunday puzzle is a significantly larger puzzle (with a 21x21 grid, versus the Monday-Saturday 15x15 grid), but has a difficulty level of a Wednesday or Thursday.

What is the difficulty of the New York Times crossword puzzles by day of week? ›

Our difficulty scale increases through the week, with the easiest puzzles on Monday and hardest on Saturday. Sunday puzzles should reflect midweek difficulty levels. Clues should be fresh, colorful and precise. Try to be original, and inject humor where possible.

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