There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solve today’s puzzle before reading further! That Feels Familiar (Freestyle)
Constructor: Amanda Rafkin
Editor: Amanda Rafkin
What I Learned from Today’s Puzzle
REHEATING NACHOS (35A: Slang term for unsuccessfully attempting to recreate someone else’s vibe) REHEATING NACHOS is a phrase used to criticize someone for unoriginality. It is particularly used with respect to artists that produce a lesser version of an earlier song or album (either their own work or someone else’s).
FELICIA (32D: Woman who’s bid goodbye in the movie “Friday”) Friday is a 1995 comedy movie starring Ice Cube and Chris Tucker as unemployed friends who find themselves indebted to a drug dealer. A scene in the movie gave rise to “Bye, FELICIA” as an internet meme and a phrase used to dismiss an inconsequential person. I’ve heard the phrase, “Bye, FELICIA,” but I was not familiar with its origin.
Random Thoughts & Interesting Things
MEGA STUF (16A: Oreo ___ cookies (treats packed with creme)) MEGA STUF Oreos were introduced in 2013 and have even more creme filling than Double Stuf Oreos.
MEOW (23A: “Hi, hello, you just bought me a toy, but I only care about the box”) Cats do like boxes! This picture was taken a few years ago when our daughter’s cat, Toby (the gray cat), was visiting. Toby and our cat, Willow, got along when they were in their own boxes. (To be clear, Toby gets along with Willow just fine, but Willow is not a fan of other cats.)
ARO (39A: Like some people in queerplatonic relationships, for short) ARO is short for aromantic, and describes people that do not feel romantic attraction. Queerplatonic relationships are friendships with a deep commitment, and are often not romantic or sexual in nature.
AKA (45A: Wanda Maximoff ___ The Scarlet Witch) Wanda Maximoff AKA The Scarlet Witch is a character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). She first appeared in a mid-credits scene in Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014). Elizabeth Olsen has played the character in five MCU films so far, and also in the Disney+ series WandaVision.
NINE (48A: Number of lives cats are alleged to have) It’s a good day when the puzzle has not just one, but two cat references.
IT’S (50A: “___ never just a shape alone / Love is a kaleidoscope”) “IT’S never just a shape alone / Love is a kaleidoscope” is a lyric from Chappell Roan’s 2023 song, “Kaleidoscope.”
THOR (63D: Odin’s son) In Norse mythology, Odin is a god associated with wisdom and healing. He is married to the goddess Frigga. One of their sons is THOR, the god of lightning, thunder, and storms.
THAT (1D: All’s well ___ ends well to end up with you”) “All’s well THAT ends well to end up with you” is a line from Taylor Swift’s 2019 song “Lover.”
ALDA (3D: “Marriage Story” actor Alan) Marriage Story is a 2019 movie about a married couple (played by Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver) navigating a divorce. Alan ALDA portrays lawyer Bert Spitz.
ARM (5D: Limb near the rotator cuff) The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons in the shoulder. The rotator cuff stabilizes the shoulder and allows for the extensive range of motion of the ARM.
ENTS (10D: Docs that might treat sleep apnea) and WAS I (24D: Possible response to “You were just snoring”) I’ve paired these two clues together because sleep apnea – a sleep-related breathing order in which a person experiences brief episodes of cessation of breathing – can contribute to snoring. ENTS (ear, nose, and throat specialists) treat many conditions, including sleep apnea.
MOCHI DONUT (31D: Fusion pastry that comes in a Pon de Ring style) As you might guess, a MOCHI DONUT is a fusion of MOCHI and a DONUT. MOCHI is a pounded sticky rice that is molded into cakes. It often has a sweet filling. A MOCHI DONUT is made of glutinous rice flour or tapioca flour, and is generally shaped into a ring of eight small balls, referred to as Pon de Ring” style.
ANYA (36D: “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.
GRID (37D: Part of a crossword) It’s always fun to see a self-referential clue.
FACES (43D: Body parts that display micro expressions) Microexpressions are expressions that appear on FACES for a brief moment (typically less than 1/2 of a second). Often a microexpression is an involuntary reaction that displays a true emotion, which is then covered up with another reaction.
SAAG (51D: ___ aloo (potato-and-spinach dish)) Aloo is a South Asian term for potatoes. SAAG is a South Asian dish made with leafy greens such as spinach. SAAG aloo, therefore, is a spinach and potato dish.
ECHO (54D: “HELLO … Hello … hello” effect) I enjoyed the use of uppercase and lowercase letters combined with ellipses in this clue to convey the ECHO effect.
ISP (57D: AT&T or Verizon, e.g.) An ISP is an Internet service provider.
Some other clues I particularly enjoyed:
SEA (27A: Blue part of a board game’s map)
GROWTH (34A: Ideal outcome of therapy, for many)
ANY IDEAS (56A: “Got some thoughts you wanna pitch in?”)
GUESS WHAT (14D: “Do I have a story for you!”)
Crossword Puzzle Theme Synopsis
THAT FEELS FAMILIAR (Freestyle): There’s no theme today, as this is a freestyle, or themeless puzzle. The title is a nod to REHEATING NACHOS (35A: Slang term for unsuccessfully attempting to recreate someone else’s vibe).
This is a lovely freestyle puzzle. There’s a ton of interesting entries, not the least of which is the grid-spanning REHEATING NACHOS. This phrase is new to me, and when I finally figured it out with the help of crossing answers, I started laughing. It’s so evocative! I will be looking for a way to use this phrase in conversation, which is sure to elicit some eye rolls from my friends. Thank you, Amanda, for this delightful puzzle.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Crossword Blog & Answers for June 7, 2025 by Sally Hoelscher
