Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Scratch That!
Constructors: Emily Biegas & Sala Wanetick
Editor: Amanda Rafkin
DES (28A: Boston Marathon winner Linden) Desiree "DES" Linden is a long-distance runner, author, and podcaster. She won the Boston Marathon in 2018. Earlier this year, DES Linden announced that this year's Boston Marathon – which she ran in 2:26:19, finishing 17th – would be her final professional road race. Since 2023, DES Linden and fellow runner Kara Goucher have hosted a podcast about running called Nobody Asked Us.
MESCAL (9D: "Gladiator II" actor Paul) The 2024 movie Gladiator II is a sequel to the 2000 movie Gladiator. Paul MESCAL stars as Lucius Verus Aurelius, the grandson of the former emperor Marcus Aurelius. Lucius had been exiled from Rome as a child to protect him from assassins. He becomes a prisoner of war and is sold into slavery to become a gladiator.
MADAM (5A: "___ Secretary" (TV drama)) MADAM Secretary is a TV series that originally aired from 2014 to 2019. Téa Leoni portrays the title character, Elizabeth McCord, a former CIA analyst and political science professor who becomes the U.S. Secretary of State.
ANYA (14A: "The Gorge" actress Taylor-Joy) The Gorge is a 2025 sci-fi action movie. ANYA Taylor-Joy and Miles Teller portray elite snipers who are ordered to guard opposite sides of a gorge, without being told what the gorge contains.
LYNN (17A: Country singer Loretta) We saw Loretta LYNN as a theme answer just two days ago, which is a fun coincidence. Loretta LYNN's country music career has spanned six decades; she has had 24 number one hits and 11 number-one albums.
LIDS (19A: Retailer that sells hats) There are currently over 1100 LIDS stores, mostly located in malls and factory outlets.
AERO (35A: European chocolate bar with bubbles) AERO chocolate bars are manufactured using a process that was patented in 1935. The chocolate is heated and aerated to create small bubbles. These bubbles expand as the chocolate cools, creating the chocolate bars characteristic bubbles.
DUO (42A: Dynamic ___) It feels appropriate to see "dynamic DUO" in a puzzle made by a pair of constructors.
BLT (43A: Sandwich that sometimes adds an "A") The A sometimes added to a bacon, lettuce, tomato (BLT) is avocado.
CODA (58A: Person whose first language may be ASL (Abbr.)) CODA here stands for "child of deaf adult." Whether or not they themselves are deaf (ninety percent of CODAs are not deaf), a child of a deaf parent may grow up speaking ASL (American Sign Language).
SUEZ (61A: ___ Canal (Egyptian waterway)) The SUEZ Canal, which is 120 miles long, connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea. It runs through the Isthmus of SUEZ, dividing Africa and Asia.
RAILS (65A: They often run down the stairs) This is a fun, slightly tricky clue. The answer is not a person in a hurry, but rather the RAILS that often run alongside stairs.
DEMI (66A: "The Substance" actress Moore) The Substance is a 2024 movie in which DEMI Moore portrays a 50-year-old movie star whose fame is fading. She purchases a black market serum (the titular substance) in an attempt to counteract the aging process. The Substance is a horror movie, so as one might imagine in such a film, using the drug does not go well.
MCDREAMY (5D: Nickname for a swoon-worthy character on "Grey's Anatomy") Derek Christopher Shepherd, M.D. is a character on the TV medical drama Grey's Anatomy (2005-present). Patrick Dempsey portrayed Dr. Shepherd from 2005-2015 and 2020-2021. Dr. Shepherd is often referred to as MCDREAMY by the other characters (and thus, by fans as well).
DUST STORM (7D: Common weather event at Burning Man) Burning Man is a week-long event held annually in the Western United States. Burning Man aims to facilitate a network of people interested in the "pursuit of a more creative and connected existence in the world." The name of the event comes from the burning of a large wooden effigy each year on the Saturday evening before Labor Day. Burning Man is held in the Black Rock Desert in Nevada, and DUST STORMs are common.
SALE (10D: Square transaction) Square is a system that helps merchants accept credit card payments for SALEs.
GOD (12D: Allah or Ganesha, e.g.) Allah is an Arabic term for GOD. It is used by followers of Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. Ganesha is a Hindu GOD whose image is recognizable by his elephant head and four arms. Ganesha is a widely revered and worshipped deity who is thought to bring good luck.
ELTON (21D: NBA All-Star Brand) ELTON Brand is currently the general manager of the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers. He is a former NBA player. During his playing career he played for the Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers, Dallas Mavericks, and Atlanta Hawks, and he was a two-time NBA All Star.
MED (34D: "Chicago ___" (NBC drama)) The medical drama Chicago MED premiered in 2015. Set in the emergency department of a Chicago hospital, the show is part of the Chicago franchise, along with Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D., and Chicago Justice.
ATTILA (47D: Hun ruler) The Huns were a nomadic people in Central Asia between the 4th and 6th centuries. Little is known of their culture. Perhaps the most widely known Hun was King ATTILA. Under the leadership of King ATTILA, the Huns made frequent raids on other peoples.
ORE (59D: Rock smelted in Stardew Valley) Stardew Valley is a role-playing video game first released in 2016. Players assume the role of a character taking over their grandfather's farm in the titular Stardew Valley. Players can socialize with townspeople, grow crops, raise livestock, smelt ORE, and participate in activities such as cooking, crafting, and fishing.
LOTTERY TICKET (20A: Purchase for someone who's feeling lucky)
VINYL RECORD (36A: Item in a DJ's collection)
MOSQUITO BITE (54A: Itchy "souvenir" from a warm summer night, perhaps)
SCRATCH THAT: Each of the theme answers is something that can be SCRATCHed.
An exclamation point in a crossword clue is an indication to solvers that there is a bit of trickiness going on, and the clue should be interpreted literally. The exclamation point in today's title is serving a similar purpose. Each of the theme answers is literally something that might be SCRATCHed. (We all know we're not supposed to SCRATCH a MOSQUITO BITE, but it happens.) I really enjoyed this theme. Thank you, Emily and Sala, for this delightful puzzle.
USA TODAY's Daily Crossword Puzzles
Sudoku & Crossword Puzzle Answers
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Crossword Blog & Answers for May 23, 2025 by Sally Hoelscher
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