Dan Caprera’s New York Times crossword — Zachary David Levy’s write-up

Difficulty: Challenging (15m56s)

Dan Caprera’s New York Times crossword, 5/8/25, 0508

Today’s theme: BUTT OUT (“Mind your own business!” … or a hint to the four sides of this puzzle)

• RUMP above the top margin
• TUSH outside the left margin
• SEAT outside the right margin
• REAR below the bottom margin

Played very hard; might have had an easier time if I caught on to the fact that the marginalia was symmetric, which I’m just noticing at this moment.  But them’s the breaks.  Or should I say.. cracks?

Cracking: URANUS and SATURN

Slacking: O GEE, that word again!

Sidetracking: “When Chekhov saw the long winter, he saw a winter bleak and dark and BEREFT of hope..”