LA Times Daily Crossword Answers Today March 22, 2026
L.A. Times Crossword Answers Today: Sun, Mar 22, 2026 – “WE DID IT!”
Table of Contents
- Today’s Overview
- Grid Strategy & Intersection Analysis
- Theme Breakdown & Crosswordese
- Today’s Top Answers
- Frequently Asked Questions
Today’s Overview
Hello, puzzle fans! Today’s LA Times Daily Crossword, published on March 22, 2026, is a delightful Sunday challenge. This grid, titled “WE DID IT!”, comes from the clever mind of constructor Jeffrey Wechsler. Editor Patti Varol brings us a puzzle packed with puns and wordplay. Get ready for some creative alterations to common phrases. It’s a fun one!
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Grid Strategy & Intersection Analysis
Sunday puzzles are big. This 21×21 grid can look intimidating. But don’t worry. Start with the shorter, easier clues first. Look for those three- and four-letter entries. They often provide quick footholds. These early solves create crucial intersections. They help you chip away at the longer, more complex answers.
Today’s grid has a fairly open center. This means many long answers crisscross. The theme entries are quite long. They span across the grid. You will likely need several crossing letters to confirm them. Don’t force a theme answer too early. Let the surrounding fill guide you. Common crosswordese can be your best friend here. Words like ENE, ALA, or ORES appear frequently. They are great for getting started. Look for proper nouns too. Names like JOAN BAEZ or BRIAN ENO can unlock large sections. The puzzle’s corners are also good starting points. They often have self-contained sections. Work systematically. Move from one solved area to another. This approach makes the large grid manageable.
Theme Breakdown & Crosswordese
The theme for today’s LA Times Daily Crossword is a playful one. It’s titled “WE DID IT!”. This title hints at the core mechanic. Common phrases are altered. They include the letters “WE” or a “WE” sound. This creates a humorous new meaning. It’s a classic pun theme. Let’s break down the main theme entries:
- 22-Across: I WILL FEAR NO WEEVIL (Motto of an intrepid cotton farmer?). This plays on “I will fear no evil.” The addition of “WEE” creates the pun.
- 33-Across: TWEED TALK (Presentation on professorial fashion trends?). This comes from “Sweet Talk.” The “Sweet” becomes “TWEED,” incorporating the “WE” sound.
- 38-Across: COBWEB SALAD (Light lunch in a haunted cafe?). This alters “Cob Salad.” The “WEB” is added, which contains the letters “WE.”
- 66-Across: YOURS FOR THE WEAKING (Like text anyone is allowed to edit?). This is a twist on “Yours for the taking.” The “taking” becomes “WEAKING,” adding the “WEA” sound.
- 96-Across: TWEEN SPEEDS (Data from a middle school track meet?). This is a pun on “Twin Speeds.” “Twin” changes to “TWEEN,” bringing in the “WE” sound.
- 100-Across: SWEET SAIL (“I like the cut of your jib!”?). This one is a homophone. It plays on “Sweet Sale.” The word “SWEET” itself contains “WE.” The pun is in “Sale” becoming “Sail.”
This theme is clever. It requires you to think about sound-alikes and letter additions. The title “WE DID IT!” celebrates these successful word transformations. It’s a fun way to engage with language.
Beyond the theme, today’s puzzle features some classic crosswordese. You will see familiar terms. For example, ALA (21-Across: Patterned after) is a common prefix. NPR (25-Across: “Fresh Air” broadcaster) is a frequent initialism. ORSAY (46-Across: Paris’s Musée d’__) is a well-known museum. AYE (75-Across: Assent asea) is a nautical yes. These common words are helpful. They provide easy entries into the grid. Knowing them can speed up your solve. Keep an eye out for them!
Today’s Top Answers
Here are some of the most interesting or challenging clues and their solutions from today’s LA Times Daily Crossword. We’ve focused on the theme entries and other tricky bits.
| Clue Number | Direction | Clue | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | Across | Motto of an intrepid cotton farmer? | I WILL FEAR NO WEEVIL | A pun on ‘I will fear no evil,’ adding ‘WEE’ to create a cotton-farming context. |
| 33 | Across | Presentation on professorial fashion trends? | TWEED TALK | A clever twist on ‘Sweet Talk,’ changing the sound to ‘TWEED’ for a scholarly fashion theme. |
| 38 | Across | Light lunch in a haunted cafe? | COBWEB SALAD | Plays on ‘Cob Salad,’ adding ‘WEB’ (which contains ‘WE’) for a spooky meal. |
| 66 | Across | Like text anyone is allowed to edit? | YOURS FOR THE WEAKING | A pun on ‘Yours for the taking,’ altering ‘taking’ to ‘WEAKING’ to suggest editable text. |
| 96 | Across | Data from a middle school track meet? | TWEEN SPEEDS | A pun on ‘Twin Speeds,’ changing ‘Twin’ to ‘TWEEN’ for a youth-focused event. |
| 100 | Across | “I like the cut of your jib!”? | SWEET SAIL | A homophone pun on ‘Sweet Sale,’ with ‘SWEET’ containing the theme’s ‘WE’ sound. |
| 111 | Across | With 116-Across, useful tool for some crossword solvers | ERASABLE | Part one of a two-word answer. Essential for correcting mistakes. |
| 116 | Across | See 111-Across | PEN | The second part, completing ERASABLE PEN. A solver’s best friend! |
| 117 | Across | Take new profile pics at the gym? | SWEATFORAPORTRAIT | A fun, descriptive phrase for working hard to look good for a photo. |
| 125 | Across | One-for-one deals | SWAPS | A straightforward term for exchanges. |
| 1 | Down | Crossword component | GRID | The fundamental structure of any crossword puzzle. |
| 4 | Down | Site for maligning poor dining | YELP | A popular online review platform. |
| 32 | Down | Treat quite poorly | ABUSE | A direct synonym for mistreating someone or something. |
| 41 | Down | “The Bear” award | EMMY | The prestigious television award, relevant to the popular show. |
| 67 | Down | Cartel founded in Baghdad in 1960 | OPEC | The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, a key global entity. |
| 89 | Down | Capital of Vietnam? | HANOI | A common geographical clue. |
| 97 | Down | “It’s time, everyone! Break a leg!” | GOFORIT | An encouraging exclamation. |
| 98 | Down | “Despite that … “ | ALBEIT | A formal way to say “although” or “even though.” |
| 102 | Down | Judy Jetson’s brother | ELROY | A classic cartoon character. |
| 115 | Down | “Tell Mama” singer James | ETTA | The legendary blues and R&B vocalist. |
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the theme of the LA Times crossword for March 22, 2026?
The theme for today’s LA Times crossword is “WE DID IT!”, which involves altering common phrases to include the letters ‘WE’ or a ‘WE’ sound, creating humorous puns. - Who constructed the LA Times crossword for March 22, 2026?
Jeffrey Wechsler constructed today’s LA Times Daily Crossword, with Patti Varol serving as the editor. - What are some common crosswordese words in today’s puzzle?
Today’s puzzle features several classic crosswordese entries, including ‘ALA’ (Patterned after), ‘NPR’ (“Fresh Air” broadcaster), ‘ORSAY’ (Paris’s Musée d’__), and ‘AYE’ (Assent asea).