Explore daily insights on the USA TODAY crossword puzzle by Sally Hoelscher. Uncover expert takes and answers in our ...

Explore daily insights on the USA TODAY crossword puzzle by Sally Hoelscher. Uncover expert takes and answers in our ...

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE: The last word of each of the three theme answers can be followed by the word PLEASE to create a common phrase: YES, PLEASE; PRETTY PLEASE, and CHECK, PLEASE. Isn't this ...

BOSS AROUND: The word BOSS is split and found AROUND (at the outer edges of) each theme answer: BASKET TOSS, BOARDING PASS, and BOSTON POPS. This may be the only time I've enjoyed having someone ...

That is, the letters of the word CORN have been mixed up, or CREAMED: EXTENSION CORD, AIR CONDITIONING, and IMITATION CRAB. Happy Thanksgiving! Are you having CREAMED CORN today? We are not ...

Explore daily insights on the USA TODAY crossword puzzle by Sally Hoelscher. Uncover expert takes and answers in our ...

Today we're delighted to bring you the second puzzle of this set. The seed theme answer here was STUDIO GHIBLI. As always, it's a joy to collaborate with Olivia! FIRST DANCE: The FIRST word of ...

MEAT CLEAVER: The word MEAT is split, or CLEAVEd by each theme answer: MIDDLE SEAT, MEHWISH HAYAT, and MEAL TICKET. Today's title allowed me to guess exactly what to expect theme-wise. I ...

HEADPHONES: The first word (i.e. the HEAD) of each theme answer is a type of PHONE: ROTARY PHONE, FLIP PHONE, and PAY PHONE. It occurred to me after solving that this puzzle has a retro vibe ...

LOW BOOTS: The LOWest word of each vertical theme answer is a type of BOOT. Today's LOW BOOTS are KNEE BOOTS, MOON BOOTS, and GO GO BOOTS. I am a fan of all kinds of BOOTS, so I definitely enjoyed ...

HEART OF GOLD: The word GOLD is found at the HEART OF (inside) each theme answer: GETTING OLDER, MONGOL DERBY, and GEORG OLDEN. Yesterday's puzzle was KINDHEARTED, and today's has a HEART OF GOLD.

THE BACK NINE: Each theme answer contains the letter string E-N-I-N, which is the word ... Midwest Crossword Puzzle Tournament in Chicago, and she told me she had an upcoming USA TODAY puzzle.