NYT Crossword Answers for July 30, 2024

Jump to: Today’s Theme | Tricky Clues

TUESDAY PUZZLE — Jeffrey Martinovic and Will Nediger are having a party, and we’re all invited! Date? To be determined. Place? No idea. All I know is that, according to today’s crossword, the constructors have already sent their invitations and are eagerly awaiting our responses.

First, though, we had better solve the puzzle. I’d count it as another toughie of a Tuesday — and, frankly, I’d expect nothing less from these two crossword-constructing powerhouses — but I have faith in all of you. What’s more, I have spoilers.

Today’s Theme

By [Acknowledging an invitation] from the constructors — R.S.V.P.-ING (60A), that is — we get [a hint to the starts of 19-, 32-, 39- and 49-Across]. Hmm. We’d better take a look at our themed entries and then come back to the interpretation.

• The [“And in this corner …” speaker] (19A) is a RING ANNOUNCER.

• To [Use non-lead pipes?] (32A), in a bit of witty misdirection, is to SING BACKUP.

• My solve was nearly thwarted by VING RHAMES (39A). I had only _ _ NGRHA _ _ _ for some time, and I sensed that the [Actor who plays Luther Stickell in the “Mission: Impossible” franchise] probably wasn’t the North Georgia Relic Hunters Association.

• PINGPONG BALLS (49A) are the [Projectiles tossed into cups of beer, in a drinking game].

You’ll notice that we can spell R.S.V.P. using the first letter of each of these entries. But there’s a second dimension to the cleverness: Each letter is followed, in its entry, by ING. Thus, R.S.V.P.-ING.

Tricky Clues

16A. The [Restaurant handout that might come with crayons] is a KIDS’ MENU, though my first guess was an all-ages “place mat.” I see that I may be the only one who thinks adults should also be encouraged to doodle at restaurants.

42A. Note the hyphen in [Uber- relative], which signals that we’re not looking for a competing ride-hailing app. Instead, this clue refers to a synonymous prefix: MEGA.