X's and O's

a cryptic puzzle by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon

Solution grid
O's spell DROP THE BALL; X's spell TIMES SQUARE.

Across

  • 1.
    STROPS
  • 3.
    SARCASM
  • 5.
    MILADY
  • 9.
    NEWYEARSEVE
  • 10.
    ADIEU
  • 13.
    FOSTER
  • 14.
    AMULET
  • 15.
    CHALET
  • 16.
    SATIRES
  • 17.
    MADAME

Down

  • 2.
    TEAR
  • 4.
    ANON
  • 6.
    BADGER
  • 7.
    ANODES
  • 8.
    AVATAR
  • 11.
    ABUT
  • 12.
    TEEM

X's

  • a.
    OMIT
  • b.
    AQUINAS
  • c.
    LARDS
  • d.
    TALE
  • e.
    MOUSSE
  • f.
    POLITE
  • g.
    REGULUS
  • h.
    GRATIS
  • i.
    LEANTO
  • j.
    HOISTING
  • k.
    CAVIAR
  • l.
    SLIGHTS
  • m.
    SEDANS
  • n.
    LEMMON
  • o.
    MAILED

O's

  • a.
    GELATO
  • b.
    GARBO
  • c.
    DALLAS
  • d.
    EARL
  • e.
    LEARNER
  • f.
    INEPT
  • g.
    ELNORTE
  • h.
    YOUNGER
  • i.
    ARETHA
  • j.
    NEROLI
  • k.
    THORNTON
  • l.
    LEAD
  • m.
    THROES