Darling childhood friend? - The Atlantic Crossword Clue

The answer "OPS" completes "Co-OPS," short for cooperatives. Cooperatives are democratically controlled businesses where members collectively own and operate the organization, making decisions together. The prefix "Co-" signals collaboration, accurately describing the nature of these businesses.

The answer "SIC" is a notation editors use to indicate that an error in a quoted text is intentionally left as is to reflect the original source. ["Not my error"] aligns with this, as "SIC" implies the mistake isn't the quoter's fault.

The answer is VEEP because it is the title of the HBO political satire starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Selina Meyer, a fictional U.S. Vice President (nickname "Veep"). The show humorously explores the chaos and absurdity of political life. "Veep" is a common informal term for Vice President.

The clue references the musical Pal Joey, where "Pal" completes the blank. Pal Joey is known for featuring the song "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered." The capitalization of "Joey" hints at the proper name in the title, making "PAL" the correct answer.

The answer is ETTA, referring to Etta James, a legendary singer known for blending R&B, gospel, blues, and rock influences in her music. Her powerful voice and hit songs, like "At Last," significantly shaped the transition between R&B and rock during her career.

LSU is the solution because Angel Reese played college basketball for Louisiana State University (LSU). "Alma mater: abbr." signals the answer is the abbreviation of the university's name, and LSU is widely recognized as Louisiana State University's abbreviation.

The phrase "Close but no cigar" represents an attempt that is almost successful but falls short. A "near miss" precisely describes such a situation—something narrowly avoids hitting or achieving its target, metaphorically aligning with the clue’s meaning. Hence, NEARMISS fits perfectly.

The solution is MRPEANUT because this is the full name of the iconic mascot for Planters peanuts. Mr. Peanut, a monocle-wearing anthropomorphic peanut, is widely recognized, and his formal, sophisticated name—Bartholomew Richard Fitzgerald-Smythe—reflects his refined persona. This directly ties to the clue.

IPA is the solution because it stands for India Pale Ale, a type of beer known for its strong hop-forward flavor profile. Hops provide the beer’s bitterness and floral or citrusy aromas, making IPA synonymous with hoppy beers, perfectly matching the clue "Hops-forward beer."

The answer "ITME" is shorthand/slang for "It's me," a common online reaction to a relatable meme. When someone sees a meme that describes their experience, they often identify with it by humorously saying "It's me!" This clue uses wordplay around internet lingo.

The clue "La Brea gunk" refers to the La Brea Tar Pits, a famous site in Los Angeles where natural asphalt (TAR) seeps from the ground. The "gunk" in the pits is TAR, making it the fitting solution to this clue.

The answer is DEER because they are well-known for their "freezing" behavior when startled by car headlights. This is a natural reaction, as their night vision causes the bright lights to disorient them, making "freeze in headlights" a common stereotype tied to deer.

TNT, or dynamite, "blows" things up due to its explosive nature. The playful phrasing connects the literal sense of an explosive creating a blast, which aligns with "blows."

The clue "Surfaces for the tired?: abbr." plays on the word "tired," hinting at car tires. Roads (RDS) are the surfaces on which vehicles, with tires, travel. The abbreviation "RDS" matches the clue's "abbr.," making it the fitting solution.