The LA Times Crossword for today, October 4, 2024, promises a mix of fun and challenge for puzzle enthusiasts! As always, this iconic puzzle blends clever wordplay with a variety of topics, pushing your vocabulary and general knowledge to the limit. Whether you're a seasoned solver or new to crosswords, today's grid is sure to provide an engaging mental workout, filled with puns, clues that require lateral thinking, and a dash of wit. Grab your pencil (or device) and dive in—each clue brings you one step closer to that satisfying final fill-in!

LA Times Crossword Answers for October 04, 2024

Across:

• Floor it: SPEED
  (To accelerate rapidly, often in a car.)
• Grasps: SEES
  (To understand or comprehend something.)
• Exchange: SWAP
  (To trade or switch something with another person.)
• Eighth Greek letter: THETA
  (The eighth letter of the Greek alphabet, represented by the symbol θ.)
• Do roadwork: PAVE
  (To cover a road with asphalt or concrete.)
• Deli sandwich: HERO
  (A type of large sandwich made with various meats, cheeses, and vegetables, often called a sub or hoagie.)
• Die-hard independent?: PARTY HATER
  (A play on words combining "party hat" and "er," referring to someone who dislikes political parties.)
• Came to rest: ALIT
  (To land or settle on something, like a bird on a branch.)
• Alpine cheese from Italy: ASIAGO
  (A flavorful cheese from the Veneto region of Italy, often used in salads and pasta.)
• Vexes: RANKLES
  (To irritate or cause lasting resentment.)
• Support on a course: TEE
  (A small device used to hold a golf ball in place before hitting it.)
• “Stay” singer Lisa: LOEB
  (Lisa Loeb, a singer-songwriter best known for her hit song "Stay (I Missed You).")
• Ode or haiku: POEM
  (A short literary composition with a rhythmic structure, expressing emotions or ideas.)
• Baked potato?: HOT TUBER
  (A pun combining "hot tub" and "er," referring to a baked potato, a "tuber.")
• One of Bo Peep’s charges: EWE
  (A female sheep, one of the animals Bo Peep looks after in nursery rhymes.)
• Incident that hurts one’s credit score: REPO
  (Short for repossession, which can negatively impact a person’s credit.)
• Hence: ERGO
  (Latin for "therefore," used to show a logical conclusion.)
• Place atop: SET ON
  (To place something on top of another item.)
• “To the stars,” in mottos: AD ASTRA
  (Latin for "to the stars," often used in mottos of space exploration organizations.)
• Facility that’s in a constant state of ferment: BREWERY
  (A facility where beer is produced through fermentation.)
• Kitchen gadget: RICER
  (A tool used to press cooked potatoes into rice-like pieces, often for making mashed potatoes.)
• Carp kin: DACE
  (A small freshwater fish related to the carp.)
• Writer Bombeck: ERMA
  (Erma Bombeck, a humorist and columnist known for her witty writing about suburban life.)
• Comics shriek: EEK!
  (A sound of alarm or surprise often used in comic strips.)
• Diamond heist?: ICE CAPER
  (A pun on "ice cap" and "er," referring to a heist involving diamonds, often called "ice.")
• Rolling in dough: RICH
  (Wealthy, often used to describe someone who has a lot of money.)
• Henry VI’s school: ETON
  (A prestigious boarding school in England, known for educating members of the British royal family.)
• Apollo vehicle, briefly: LEM
  (Short for Lunar Excursion Module, the vehicle used to land astronauts on the moon during the Apollo missions.)
• Netflix title role for Lily: FRANKIE
  (Lily Tomlin stars as Frankie in the Netflix show Grace and Frankie.)
• Gender-neutral ethnic identity: LATINE
  (A gender-neutral term for people of Latin American descent, often used in place of "Latino" or "Latina.")
• Ninth Greek letter: IOTA
  (The ninth letter of the Greek alphabet, also meaning a very small amount.)
• Problematic dental patient?: DRILL BITER
  (A pun on "drill bit" and "er," referring to a dental patient who bites during a procedure.)
• “Couldn’t agree more”: AMEN
  (A word used to express strong agreement, often at the end of a prayer or statement.)
• Country whose name comes from a Gaelic goddess: EIRE
  (The Gaelic name for Ireland, derived from the goddess Ériu.)
• Not fully trusting: LEERY
  (Suspicious or cautious about something.)
• Shredded: TORE
  (To rip something apart forcefully.)
• “Out!”: SCAT!
  (A command to leave, often said to animals.)
• Barnett of CBS News: ERROL
  (Errol Barnett, a journalist and news anchor for CBS News.)

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Down:

• Mid-Mar. figure: ST PAT
  (Short for St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, celebrated on March 17th.)
• Lunar cycle component: PHASE
  (A stage of the moon’s cycle, such as a new moon or full moon.)
• Supercreepy: EERIE
  (Spooky or unnerving, often describing a strange or unsettling atmosphere.)
• Blues guitarist Baker: ETTA
  (Refers to Etta Baker, a renowned blues and folk guitarist.)
• Company that invented black-light fluorescent paint: DAY-GLO
  (A company known for creating fluorescent and neon paints.)
• Upscale bathroom installation: SPA
  (A luxurious bathroom feature, such as a whirlpool tub or steam shower.)
• Down: EAT
  (To consume food.)
• At any time: EVER
  (Meaning at any point in time, often used in questions or negative sentences.)
• Oaxacan wrap: SERAPE
  (A brightly colored woven blanket worn as a shawl or cloak, traditionally from Oaxaca, Mexico.)
• Lose: SHAKE
  (To evade or get rid of something or someone, often by moving quickly.)
• Gauge on an oil rig?: WELL METER
  (A pun on "well-met" and "er," referring to a device that measures the amount of oil produced from a well.)
• “Songversation” artist India.__: ARIE
  (India.Arie, an American singer and songwriter known for her soulful music.)
• Double boilers, e.g.: POTS
  (Cooking vessels used for gently heating food, such as in double boiling.)
• Owl: HOOTER
  (An informal term for an owl, based on the sound it makes.)
• Like Vikings: NORSE
  (Relating to the people of ancient Scandinavia, known for their seafaring culture.)
• Robinhood alternative: E-TRADE
  (An online brokerage service used for trading stocks and other securities.)
• App issue: BUG
  (A flaw or glitch in software or an application.)
• Socks: HOSE
  (Stockings or long socks, typically worn under clothing.)
• Excavator-maker: BOBCAT
  (A company known for manufacturing construction equipment, including excavators.)
• Compost bin helper: WORM
  (Worms help break down organic matter in compost to create nutrient-rich soil.)
• Grammy winner from Donegal: ENYA
  (A popular Irish singer known for her ethereal music and hits like "Orinoco Flow.")
• Uncommon: RARE
  (Not frequently found or seen.)
• Actress Falco: EDIE
  (Edie Falco, known for her roles in The Sopranos and Nurse Jackie.)
• Quality-control inspector at a knapsack factory?: PACK RATER
  (A pun on "pack rat" and "er," referring to someone who rates or evaluates knapsacks.)
• Amphoralike vessel: EWER
  (A large jug or pitcher, often used for holding water.)
• Take in: TRICK
  (To deceive or fool someone.)
• Get a second opinion?: REPOLL
  (To conduct a second poll or survey.)
• Part of the upper deck?: ACE
  (A high-ranking card in a deck, often representing the best or top choice.)
• Takes to task: CHIDES
  (To scold or reprimand someone.)
• Empower: ENABLE
  (To give someone the authority or means to do something.)
• Idiotic: INANE
  (Lacking sense or meaning, often describing something foolish or silly.)
• Soda purchase: LITER
  (A unit of measurement for liquids, commonly used to buy soda.)
• Año Nuevo month: ENERO
  (Spanish for "January," the month when the New Year begins.)
• Streep of “Only Murders in the Building”: MERYL
  (Meryl Streep, a renowned actress known for her versatility and awards in film.)
• Order: FIAT
  (A formal decree or command, often issued by an authority figure.)
• Tony who holds the Cowboys record for most touchdown passes: ROMO
  (Tony Romo, a former quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys.)
• Playwright Bogosian: ERIC
  (Eric Bogosian, an American playwright, actor, and novelist.)
• Layer: TIER
  (A level or row, often used in a structure or organization.)
• 401(k) rollover target: IRA
  (An Individual Retirement Account, commonly used to roll over funds from a 401(k).)
• Tennis mulligan: LET
  (A serve that hits the net but lands in the service box, resulting in a do-over.)

Thanks for Checking Out Today’s LA Times Crossword Answers! 

In conclusion, today’s LA Times Crossword for October 4, 2024, offers an enjoyable and stimulating puzzle that keeps your mind sharp and entertained. Whether you breezed through or found yourself stuck on a tricky clue, each step in solving contributes to that satisfying moment of completion. Crosswords like this not only test your knowledge but also improve your problem-solving skills with each new challenge. So, if you haven't finished it yet, keep at it—each clue is a small victory waiting to be won! Happy solving!