Crossword Cute Clues -- 2001

Here are the New York Times Cute Clues I liked in the year 2001.  What you see below is what the answer might look like with only one or a few letters filled in, just as it might be if you were working a puzzle.

To enjoy the table below best, resist the temptation to click the answer cell till you've played with the clue for a while.  To appreciate the clues and answers from a different perspective, imagine that as the constructor you have a particular answer filled into the grid, and you need a clue for it.  If you don't understand why a particular answer makes sense, let me know.

Join of arc?	W _ L _	Date:  07-11-2001 Constructor:  Richard Silvestri
Pleasant drives?	_ I _ I D O S	Date:  07-15-2001 Constructor:  Elizabeth C. Gorski This puzzle also includes the second of two errors involving Adolph Rupp, someone I've never heard of.
Be in another form	A _ E	Date:  07-17-2001 Constructor:  David J. Kahn
Semi-colon?	_ O T	Date:  07-18-2001 Constructor:  Elizabeth C. Gorski
Checks for letters?	R _ N _ S	Date:  07-27-2001 Constructor:  Brendan Emmett Quigley
Sort of a disaster?	T _ I _ G _	Date:  08-08-2001 Constructor:  Sam Bellotto Jr.
Hun-armed bandit	A _ I _ L _	Date:  08-05-2001 Constructor:  Peter Gordon
Closing act?	S _ L _	Date:  08-05-2001 Constructor:  Peter Gordon
Odd couple?	_ E E S	Date:  08-08-2001 Constructor:  Sam Bellotto Jr.
Turn green	_ E A _ E	Date:  08-10-2001 Constructor:  Manny Nosowsky
Shot putter?	S _ R _ N _ E	Date:  08-012-2001 Constructor:  Nancy Nicholson Joline
Pisa dough	L _ R _	Date:  08-14-2001 Constructor:  Randall J. Hartman
Rough problem to face?	A C _ _	Date:  08-16-2001 Constructor:  Joe DiPietro
They can be produced by shifting	_ A _ I _ A L S	Date:  08-18-2001 Constructor:  Rich Norris
It's game	_ A G	Date:  08-23-2001 Constructor:  Peter Gordon
Big cuffs?	_ O S	Date:  08-26-2001 Constructor:  Richard Silvestri
Morsel a horse'll eat	_ _ T	Date:  09-09-2001 Constructor:  Harvey Estes and Nancy Salomon This clue cracks me up every time.
It may be found under the counter	_ R A _ I _ M O R E	Date:  09-14-2001 Constructor:  Mark Diehl
It allows you to pick a number	_ U _ E _ O X	Date:  09-15-2001 Constructor:  Michael Shteyman
I movement?	_ G O T _ I P	Date:  09-20-2001 Constructor:  David J. Kahn
Burger topper?	_ E _ R Y M A _ _ N	Date:  09-20-2001 Constructor:  David J. Kahn
Y to the max?	_ E S T	Date:  09-23-2001 Constructor:  Randolph Ross
Supplicant's supporters	K _ E _ S	Date:  09-27-2001 Constructor:  Manny Nosowsky
Spy rings?	P E E _ _ O L E S	Date:  10-05-2001 Constructor:  Elizabeth C. Gorski
Piece advocates?: Abbr.	N _ A	Date:  10-05-2001 Constructor:  Elizabeth C. Gorski This clue is rendered in my newspaper exactly as follows: Piece a dvocates?: Abbr.
Delicious leftover?	C _ R _	Date:  10-07-2001 Constructor:  Patrick Berry
Possible result of pathological lying?	_ E D _ O R _	Date:  10-07-2001 Constructor:  Patrick Berry
Union man?	A _ E L _ N _ O _ N	Date:  10-12-2001 Constructor:  Manny Nosowsky
Unexciting, low-paid work, in modern lingo	M _ J O _	Date:  10-13-2001 Constructor:  Jim Page I especially like this one because I'd never heard it before.
			Update of November 8, 2003: Here's an article from today's Kansas City Star. A way to define 'trouble' CHICAGO -- McDonald's objects to the way the latest Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary depicts its job opportunities . . . . . . . McDonald's called the term "a slap in the face to the 12 million men and women" who work in the restaurant industry.
Animated speaker?	M _ L B _ _ N _	Date:  10-19-2001 Constructor:  Joe DiPietro
A gate may be attached to one	S _ A N _ A _	Date:  10-19-2001 Constructor:  Joe DiPietro
Plot cover-ups?	S O _ S	Date:  10-19-2001 Constructor:  Joe DiPietro
Flip response?	_ A I _ S	Date:  10-24-2001 Constructor:  Sarah Keller
Sign of freshness?	S _ _ P	Date:  10-28-2001 Constructor:  Michael Ashley
Cologne mister	_ E R _	Date:  10-31-2001 Constructor:  Mary Pat Hidding
Get the best of	C U _ _	Date:  11-02-2001 Constructor:  Mary Jung
It's placed on the bottom	D I _ _ E R	Date:  11-10-2001 Constructor:  William I. Johnston
Start of a race?	_ V _	Date:  11-11-2001 Constructor:  Joe DiPietro
Signs up?	_ O _ I A _	Date:  11-16-2001 Constructor:  Elizabeth C. Gorski
Physical conductors: Abbr.	_ R S	Date:  11-17-2001 Constructor:  Bob Peoples
Single fist	_ U K E	Date:  11-17-2001 Constructor:  Bob Peoples This puzzle also uses the answer PHFFFT to the clue "Sound of a dud."
Subordinate Clauses?	_ L _ E S	Date:  11-20-2001 Constructor:  Kelly Clark
John, to Ringo	_ O O	Date:  11-22-2001 Constructor:  Richard Silvestri
Catcher in the wry?	_ E R R _	Date:  11-25-2001 Constructor:  Bob Klahn and Harvey Estes
Copy cats	M E _	Date:  11-25-2001 Constructor:  Bob Klahn and Harvey Estes
Flip one's lid?	B _ I N _	Date:  12-07-2001 Constructor:  Joe DiPietro
Shrink rap?	_ S _ E	Date:  12-08-2001 Constructor:  Rich Norris
Not going on	T _ _ S E	Date:  12-08-2001 Constructor:  Rich Norris
Gets under someone's skin?	_ P E _ A _ E S	Date:  12-15-2001 Constructor:  Frank A. Longo
Maker of pit stops?	_ R _ M	Date:  12-21-2001 Constructor:  William I. Johnston
Stop at the door, perhaps	_ A R _	Date:  12-21-2001 Constructor:  William I. Johnston
Is on the bottom?	_ _ T S	Date:  12-21-2001 Constructor:  William I. Johnston
Company that cares for the face and hands	_ I M E _	Date:  12-23-2001 Constructor:  Frances Hansen
Like a blind spot?	S _ _ _ T E D	Date:  12-28-2001 Constructor:  Manny Nosowsky
Semi-service station	_ R _ C K S _ _ P	Date:  12-28-2001 Constructor:  Manny Nosowsky
Shot past?	T E _ _ I S A _ E	Date:  12-29-2001 Constructor:  Bob Peoples
Super dupers?	F _ _ U _ S	Date:  12-30-2001 Constructor:  Elizabeth C. Gosrski
Hard to fathom	_ E _ P	Date:  12-31-2001 Constructor:  Nancy Salomon and Harvey Estes

Crossword Cute Clues -- 2001