<p>-
- USA TODAY and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article. Pricing and availability subject to change.Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Sidesplitting</p>
<p>Sally Hoelscher, USA TODAYJune 26, 2025 at 7:00 AM</p>
<p>There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solve today's puzzle before reading further! Sidesplitting</p>
<p>Constructor: Norman M. Aaronson</p>
<p>Editor: Amie Walker</p>
<p>June 26, 2025What I Learned from Today's Puzzle -</p>
<p>ELLA (60D: "Sweetpea" star Purnell) Sweetpea is a British TV series that premiered in 2024. It is an adaptation of CJ Skuse's 2017 novel of the same name. ELLA Purnell stars as Rhiannon Lewis, an administrative assistant who is often called "Sweetpea" by her boss.</p>
<p>Random Thoughts & Interesting Things -</p>
<p>ASADA (5A: Carne ___ tacos) Carne ASADA tacos are made with barbecued or grilled meat, often beef.</p>
<p>ARKS (10A: Synagogue chests) In Jewish synagogues, ARKS are ornamental chambers that house the Torah scrolls.</p>
<p>SERTA (20A: Sealy alternative) SERTA and Sealy are mattress companies. SERTA was founded in Illinois in 1931, by 13 mattress manufacturers who joined together to license the name. The Sealy mattress company got its start in 1881 near Sealy, Texas – thus the name.</p>
<p>MANE (47A: Lion's hair) Although my cat, Willow, is not a male lion, she does have a lot of hair under her chin that I refer to as her MANE.</p>
<p>Willow -</p>
<p>OCTOPI (52A: Sea creatures with eight arms and three hearts) The word octopus has two acceptable plural forms, octopuses and OCTOPI. So maybe this clue could be [Sea creatures with eight arms, three hearts, and two plural forms].</p>
<p>SOUP (58A: Gazpacho or pho) Gazpacho is a cold tomato-based vegetable SOUP that originated from Spain and Portugal. Pho (pronounced FUH) is a soup that originated from Vietnam and consists of broth, rice noodles, meat, and herbs.</p>
<p>VEIL (72A: Niqab, for example) A niqab is a face covering VEIL worn by some Muslim women. A niqab covers the face while leaving the eyes uncovered.</p>
<p>RHEA (73A: "Better Call Saul" star Seehorn) RHEA Seehorn played the role of attorney Kim Wexler on the TV Series, Better Call Saul (2015-2022), a spin-off of and prequel to Breaking Bad (2008-2013).</p>
<p>DODO (8D: Extinct flightless bird) The DODO was a flightless bird that lived on Mauritius, an island in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar. DODOs have been extinct since the 1600s. Their extinction was a result of being hunted by sailors and invasive species, as well as destruction of habitat.</p>
<p>AMELIA (9D: ___ Bedelia (children's book character who struggles to understand idioms)) AMELIA Bedelia is the title character of a series of children's books written first by Peggy Parish (from 1963 until her death in 1988) and then by Peggy Parish's nephew Herman S. Parish III (from 1995 to 2022). In the books, AMELIA Bedelia repeatedly misunderstands directions given to her and takes figures of speech literally.</p>
<p>YEWS (24D: Evergreen trees used to make archery bows) Because of the strength and flexibility of YEWS, their wood is considered the best for making bows.</p>
<p>ISSA (27D: "Hair Love" actor Rae) Anytime the animated short, "Hair Love," is mentioned in the puzzle, I like to link to it, because it's wonderful. If you haven't seen it, it's definitely worth seven minutes of your time. ISSA Rae voices the role of the mother in the film. In 2020, "Hair Love" won an Oscar for Best Animated Short Film.</p>
<p>SEWN (28D: Like many T-shirt quilts) I have SEWN exactly one T-shirt quilt. I had been collecting my old Life Is Good T-shirts for many years with the goal of someday making them into a quilt. It finally happened in 2020 when I found I had a little time on my hands.</p>
<p>T-shirt quilt -</p>
<p>ESTER (33D: "Cuando Baila Yemaya" artist Hernandez) ESTER Hernandez is a Chicana artist in the Bay Area of California. (Chicana is a chosen identity for people of Mexican descent born in the United States.) She is known for her work that focuses on social, political, ecological, and spiritual themes. Cuando Baila Yemaya is a print that depicts the Yoruba goddess Yemọja (also known as Yemaya).</p>
<p>SIAM (39D: Thailand's former name) Thailand is a country in Southeast Asia. Historically the country was known as SIAM. The country's name was officially changed to Thailand in 1939, then changed back to SIAM in 1946, and once again changed to Thailand in 1948. The capital of Thailand is Bangkok.</p>
<p>EDNA (40D: Poet ___ St. Vincent Millay) I wrote about poet EDNA St. Vincent Millay last month.</p>
<p>LOOP (43D: Incredicoaster feature) The Incredicoaster is a roller coaster at Disney California Adventure in Anaheim, California. The ride has a theme inspired by The Incredibles film franchise. The Incredicoaster is the only roller coaster with a LOOP at the Disneyland Resort.</p>
<p>OSCAR (52D: Grouchy "Sesame Street" character) I've always had a soft spot for OSCAR the Grouch, who lives in a trash can on Sesame Street. There are certainly days when I can relate to OSCAR's curmudgeonly ways.</p>
<p>OPERA (55D: "Otello" or "Madama Butterfly") Otello is an OPERA by Giuseppe Verdi that premiered in 1887. The OPERA is based on Shakespeare's play, Othello. Madama Butterfly is an OPERA by Giacomo Puccini, based on a short story by John Luther Long. It premiered in 1904.</p>
<p>SOLVE (57D: Complete, like a crossword puzzle) I like clues like this.</p>
<p>Several other clues I especially enjoyed:</p>
<p>HI MOM (15A: Common jumbotron shoutout)</p>
<p>I SAY SO (25A: "It's my call")</p>
<p>MAP (51A: Feature of an open-world video game)</p>
<p>I DID (65D: Possible response to "Who let the dogs out?")</p>
<p>Crossword Puzzle Theme Synopsis -</p>
<p>SLEIGH RIDE (17A: Horse-drawn winter excursion)</p>
<p>SWELLS WITH PRIDE (42A: Reacts joyfully to a grandchild's performance in a school musical)</p>
<p>SLIP 'N SLIDE (68A: Toy that attaches to a garden hose)</p>
<p>SIDESPLITTING: The word SIDE is SPLIT by each theme answer: SLEIGH RIDE, SWELLS WITH PRIDE, and SLIP 'N SLIDE.</p>
<p>Today's title allowed me to make an accurate guess about the theme. That always makes me feel smart! I appreciate the consistency of the SIDE being SPLIT in the same place in each theme answer: S/IDE. Thank you, Norman, for this enjoyable puzzle.</p>
<p>For more on USA TODAY's Crossword Puzzles -</p>
<p>USA TODAY's Daily Crossword Puzzles</p>
<p>Sudoku & Crossword Puzzle Answers</p>
<p>This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Crossword Blog & Answers for June 26, 2025 by Sally Hoelscher</p>
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