72A: Get to know your water swirls. The word EDDY has been in the New York Times Crossword a total of 342 times.

Today’s Theme

The long Down entries are phrases that end with a dog breed, even though they mean something else within the context of the base phrase.

For example, the answer to the clue at 3D, “Air-punching pugilist,” is SHADOW BOXER. Similarly, at 9D, the answer to the clue “Place with beakers and Bunsen burners” is CHEMISTRY LAB, as in Labrador retriever.

Ms. Gray ties her theme together with the revealer DOWNWARD DOG, the yoga pose.

Constructor Notes

After watching the Westminster Dog Show in February 2018, my crossword theme ideas immediately started going to the dogs. I had a puzzle published in another venue with the title “Top Dogs” — down phrases that started with a dog breed — and then I came upon the phrase “Downward Dog,” which I thought would be fun as the revealer for another puzzle, with Down entries ending with a dog breed. My first grid included “GOOGLE DOODLE,” which was rejected because the editors did not think that “Doodle” was a well-known breed on its own (as opposed to, say, “Goldendoodle” or “Labradoodle”), so I reworked the grid and the puzzle was accepted in October 2018. With the dog days of summer upon us, I think today’s publication timing is just perfect. Hope you enjoy!

The Tipping Point

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