Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Root Around
Constructor: Prasanna Keshava
Editor: Anna Gundlach
SURF (32A: Drop in and ride the barrel, at the beach) I know what surfing is ... and that's the extent of my knowledge about this water sport (other than things I've previously learned from crossword puzzles). I was grateful for the "at the beach" hint, which helped me deduce that "drop in" and "ride the barrel" are SURF lingo. To "drop in" means to catch a wave that another surfer is already riding. As you might imagine, basic SURF etiquette says not to do this, as you could ruin the person's wave. The "barrel" refers to the inside tube or curl of the wave. To "ride the barrel" is to SURF inside this wave curl. I'm sure I haven't done the best job of explaining this, so I recommend watching the linked video if you want to know more.
WIFE (30D: Jessica Betts, to Niecy Nash) Actress Niecy Nash and singer Jessica Betts married in August of 2020.
COMMA (1A: Punctuation mark with an Oxford variety) This clue was a fun way to start off this puzzle. In my experience, some people (myself included) can get emotional, opinionated, and outspoken on the subject of the Oxford COMMA. The Oxford COMMA, also known as the serial COMMA, is the COMMA placed after the second-to-last item in a list, just before the conjunction. The COMMA between the words "opinionated" and "and" above is an example of an Oxford COMMA. And by the fact that I used it, you can probably guess how I feel about this punctuation mark! The Oxford COMMA is generally not used in journalism in order to save space. Fortunately, since this article is only available digitally, I am able to utilize the Oxford COMMA when appropriate.
RAY-BAN (27A: Wayfarer sunglasses brand) The sunglass brand RAY-BAN was created by Bausch & Lomb in 1936. In 1952, the company began marketing their Wayfarer line of RAY-BAN sunglasses. A number of celebrities, including Buddy Holly and James Dean, sported Wayfarers in the 1950s and 1960s, helping the brand become popular. In the 1980s when the glasses were becoming less popular, RAY-BAN invested in a product placement deal that resulted in RAY-BAN sunglasses appearing in numerous movies and TV shows. Notably, Tom Cruise wore Wayfarers in the 1983 movie Risky Business.
RHINOS (33A: Huge horned herbivores) The name "rhinoceros" means "nose-horned," a reference to the distinctive horns of these animals. The horns of RHINOS are made of keratin, the same material that makes up the fingernails of humans.
CIARA (66A: "Body Party" singer) "Body Party" is a 2013 song by CIARA.
MGS (3D: Booker T. & the ___) Booker T. & the M.G.'S were a band that played R&B, soul, funk, and instrumental rock. Booker T. & the M.G.'s were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992, and the Blues Hall of Fame in 2019.
ANKARA (5D: Capital of Turkey) Turkey's capital city of ANKARA is the country's second-largest city, following Istanbul. Historically known as Angora, the city's name officially changed to ANKARA in the 1930s. Angora rabbits (the source of Angora wool) and Angora goats (the source of mohair) were named after the city.
DARLA (9D: "Finding Nemo" girl with braces) It's been a while since I've seen Disney's 2003 animated movie, Finding Nemo, but I have seen it. I needed some help from crossing answers to remember the name of DARLA, the braces-wearing niece of the dentist in whose office Nemo ends up in an aquarium.
RENO (33D: "The Biggest Little City in the World") RENO, Nevada is located near the Nevada-California border, about 22 miles northeast of Lake Tahoe. RENO is known for its tourism and casino industry, and has earned the nickname "The Biggest Little City in the World."
OCALA (36D: Florida city near Silver Springs) OCALA, Florida is located in the north central part of the state. Its nickname is "HORSE Capital of the World" – a nod to the many thoroughbred training centers in the area.
EAST (38D: Mozambique-to-Madagascar direction) Mozambique is a country in Southeast Africa, with coastline along the Indian Ocean. Madagascar is an island country in the Indian Ocean, located EAST of Mozambique. How about a review of some capitals? The capital of Mozambique is Maputo, and the capital of Madagascar is Antananarivo.
E-BOY (43D: Alt aesthetic popularized on TikTok) The E-BOY and e-girl alternative fashion subculture emerged in the late 2010s, and was popularized by TikTok. The look may include baggy clothes, neon-colored hair, nail polish, and decorative chains.
ITHACA (47D: Cornell's city) Cornell University was founded in ITHACA, New York in 1865 by Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White. Cornell is a land grant university (an institution of higher education given federal land by the Morrill Acts of 1862 and 1890).
THETA (49D: Greek letter after eta) THETA is the eighth letter of the Greek alphabet. It follows eta and precedes iota. From the top: alpha, beta, gamma, delta, epsilon, zeta, eta, THETA, iota...
HORSE (51D: Belmont Stakes racer) The Belmont Stakes, known as "The Third Jewel of the Triple Crown," is a HORSE race held on the first or second Saturday of June. The other two HORSE races that comprise the Triple Crown are the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes. The Belmont Stakes are held at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York.
TAO (63D: "Eternally nameless" philosophy concept) TAOists follow a philosophical and spiritual tradition that emphasizes living in harmony with the natural order of the universe, a principal referred to as "TAO" or "the way." The TAO Te Ching, a fundamental text for Taoism, describes TAO as the natural order of the universe. It is considered "eternally nameless" in contrast to the countless named things in the universe.
BEST KEPT SECRET (16A: Info not many know about)
BEFORE I FORGET (35A: "Oh, also let me quickly say...")
BEAR MARKET (59A: Downward trend on Wall Street)
ROOT AROUND: The ROOT vegetable BEET is found AROUND each theme answer: BEST KEPT SECRET, BEFORE I FORGET, and BEAR MARKET.
As with yesterday's puzzle, "Picture Frame," figuring out today's theme requires an extra step. It is not the word ROOT that is found AROUND each theme answer; it's the ROOT vegetable, BEET. I had a nice "Aha!" moment when I noticed that BEST KEPT SECRET begins with BE- and ends with -ET. Thank you, Prasanna, for this excellent puzzle.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Crossword Blog & Answers for March 15, 2025 by Sally Hoelscher
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