| Takes the L |
New York Times Mini |
16 Oct 2026 |
| Gets trounced |
Wall Street Journal |
14 Oct 2026 |
| Goes down in defeat |
New York Times Mini |
05 Oct 2026 |
| Comes out on the bottom |
New York Times Easy Mode |
09 Sep 2026 |
| Drops |
New York Times |
04 Sep 2026 |
| Doesn't get gold |
Universal |
31 Aug 2026 |
| With 65-Across, goes dark ... as suggested by this puzzle's word ladder |
Universal |
17 Aug 2026 |
| Suffers defeat |
New York Times Midi |
30 Jul 2026 |
| Fails to win (5) |
Mirror Classic |
09 Jul 2026 |
| Goes without |
Newsday |
30 May 2026 |
| Mislays sole arrangement on Sunday (5) |
Mirror Cryptic |
20 May 2026 |
| Gets beaten (5) |
Mirror Quick |
20 May 2026 |
| Misplaces |
Commuter |
11 May 2026 |
| Finishes down a hundred and suffers defeat (5) |
The Guardian Quiptic |
10 May 2026 |
| Finishes last |
Thomas Joseph |
18 Apr 2026 |
| Is defeated |
The Telegraph Quick |
23 Mar 2026 |
| Comes in last |
Eugene Sheffer |
14 Mar 2026 |
| Suffers defeat |
LA Times Mini |
07 Mar 2026 |
| Misplaces |
Commuter |
17 Feb 2026 |
| Suffers defeat, say |
|
|
| Gets trounced |
Wall Street Journal |
10 Jan 2026 |
| Misplaces |
Commuter |
20 Dec 2025 |
| Misplaces |
LA Times Daily |
26 Nov 2025 |
| Ends up in last place |
USA Today |
14 Nov 2025 |
| Does not win, say |
|
|
| Places last |
Thomas Joseph |
31 Oct 2025 |
| Comes up short |
LA Times Daily |
17 Oct 2025 |
| Suffers defeat |
Commuter |
15 Oct 2025 |
| Falls short, say |
New York Times |
15 Oct 2025 |
| Forfeits |
Newsday |
09 Oct 2025 |
| Gets beaten |
The Telegraph Plusword |
27 Sep 2025 |
| Doesn't find |
Newsday |
04 Sep 2025 |
| Doesn't make the podium |
LA Times Daily |
26 Aug 2025 |
| Suffers defeat |
Commuter |
16 Aug 2025 |
| Falls short, say |
New York Times |
09 Aug 2025 |
| Misplaces |
Universal |
26 Jul 2025 |
| Doesn't win |
Universal |
11 Jul 2025 |
| Tastes defeat |
|
|
| Gets trounced |
Wall Street Journal |
21 Jun 2025 |
| Is defeated |
The Telegraph Cross Atlantic |
15 Jun 2025 |
| Mislays the Hebrew prophet having a change of head (5) |
|
|
| So Les is not the winner (5) |
|
|
| Takes the count |
LA Times Daily |
13 Apr 2025 |
| Gets angry: - her temper |
|
|
| Comes in last |
USA Today |
23 Mar 2025 |
| Becomes unstable and incurs an overdraft (5,4,7) |
|
|
| Is unsuccessful, nothing being involved in less of a mess (5) |
|
|
| Places last |
Thomas Joseph |
21 Dec 2024 |
| Mislays sole arrangement on Sunday |
Mirror Cryptic |
21 Dec 2024 |
| Gets beaten |
Mirror Quick |
21 Dec 2024 |
| Underscores? |
Wall Street Journal |
18 Dec 2024 |
| Suffers defeat |
Commuter |
17 Dec 2024 |
| Watch as it gets slower and slower, so isn't a winner (5) |
|
|
| Fails to win in close set (5) |
|
|
| Finishes last |
Thomas Joseph |
26 Nov 2024 |
| Misplaces |
Newsday |
12 Nov 2024 |
| Comes in last |
Eugene Sheffer |
26 Oct 2024 |
| Mislays, misplaces or declines |
|
|
| Fails, mislays (5) |
|
|
| Mislays soles, sadly (5) |
|
|
| Doesn't get the W |
|
|
| Is defeated |
Wall Street Journal |
22 Jul 2024 |
| Doesn't win |
|
|
| Is defeated |
Premier Sunday |
30 Jun 2024 |
| Misplaces |
Universal |
22 Jun 2024 |
| Suffers defeat |
Commuter |
19 Jun 2024 |
| Finishes last |
Thomas Joseph |
18 May 2024 |
| Nothing less than chaos as one is unsuccessful (5) |
|
|
| Comes in last |
Universal |
09 May 2024 |
| Gets aced on match point, say |
|
|
| Misplaces |
Commuter |
01 Apr 2024 |
| Doesn't win or draw (5) |
|
|
| Throws or drops |
Newsday |
30 Mar 2024 |
| Suffers defeat |
Commuter |
20 Mar 2024 |
| Finishes last |
Thomas Joseph |
08 Mar 2024 |
| Isn't victorious |
USA Today |
07 Mar 2024 |
| Misplaces; is defeated |
|
|
| Crosses the finish line last, say |
New York Times |
26 Feb 2024 |
| Brings up the rear, e.g. |
Wall Street Journal |
10 Feb 2024 |
| Finishes last |
Thomas Joseph |
25 Dec 2023 |
| Suffers defeat |
Commuter |
21 Dec 2023 |
| Comes in last |
Commuter |
18 Dec 2023 |
| Goes astray, ... her way |
|
|
| Fails to win |
Universal |
10 Dec 2023 |
| Gets rid of |
LA Times Daily |
09 Dec 2023 |
| Gets the booby prize |
Commuter |
29 Nov 2023 |
| Misplaces |
New York Times |
20 Nov 2023 |
| Finishes last |
Thomas Joseph |
02 Oct 2023 |
| Comes in last, say |
|
|
| Comes up short |
Universal |
02 Sep 2023 |
| Goes down in defeat |
Universal |
28 Jun 2023 |
| Places last |
Thomas Joseph |
17 May 2023 |
| Misplaces |
USA Today |
02 May 2023 |
| Finishes last |
Thomas Joseph |
24 Apr 2023 |
| Misplaces |
Thomas Joseph |
09 Jan 2023 |
| Runs a close second or a distant last |
USA Today |
26 Dec 2022 |
| Finishes last |
Thomas Joseph |
26 Nov 2022 |
| Sheds |
LA Times Daily |
10 Nov 2022 |
| Is bested |
Newsday |
11 Sep 2022 |
| Places last |
Thomas Joseph |
02 Sep 2022 |
| Fails to win, nearest sides forfeited |
The Telegraph Toughie |
07 Jun 2022 |
| Topples the Jenga tower, say |
|
|
| Topples the Jenga tower, say |
LA Times Daily |
08 May 2022 |
| Misplaces |
USA Today |
03 Apr 2022 |
| Draws the short straw |
New York Times |
10 Mar 2022 |
| Gets skunked |
Wall Street Journal |
19 Feb 2022 |
| Doesn't win |
USA Today |
13 Jan 2022 |
| Does not win, say |
|
|
| Gets licked |
LA Times Daily |
20 Nov 2021 |
| Finishes in last place |
Universal |
02 Nov 2021 |
| Fails to win or mislays |
|
|
| Ditches |
Wall Street Journal |
21 Oct 2021 |
| Finishes without century and is defeated |
|
|
| Fails to win |
|
|
| Fails to win or mislays |
|
|
| Places last |
Thomas Joseph |
14 Aug 2021 |
| Close second conceals and does not win |
|
|
| Shows rock against paper, for example |
USA Today |
24 Jun 2021 |
| Comes in last |
Eugene Sheffer |
28 May 2021 |
| Isn't elected |
LA Times Daily |
20 Apr 2021 |
| Isn't elected |
|
|
| Misplaces |
Newsday |
19 Apr 2021 |
| Can't find |
Newsday |
18 Apr 2021 |
| Fails to win or mislays |
|
|
| Doesn't get the gold |
USA Today |
19 Mar 2021 |
| Places last |
Thomas Joseph |
19 Mar 2021 |
| Underscores? |
|
|
| Fails to win |
|
|
| Comes in second in a duel |
USA Today |
07 Nov 2020 |
| Comes up short |
Newsday |
27 Sep 2020 |
| Disobeys Simon, say |
USA Today |
24 Sep 2020 |
| Gets rid of |
|
|
| Gets rid of |
LA Times Daily |
22 Aug 2020 |
| Doesn't win |
New York Times |
03 Aug 2020 |
| Doesn't prevail |
|
|
| Doesn't prevail |
LA Times Daily |
03 Jul 2020 |
| Comes in last, in a race |
|
|
| Gets trounced |
Wall Street Journal |
09 Jun 2020 |
| "He is very forgetful. He ___ his belongings all the time." (misplaces) |
|
|
| Misplaces |
Universal |
18 Apr 2020 |
| Takes an 'L' |
New York Times |
12 Apr 2020 |
| Goes down to defeat |
LA Times Daily |
06 Apr 2020 |
| Goes down to defeat |
|
|
| Finishes last |
Thomas Joseph |
26 Feb 2020 |
| Doesn't win |
|
|
| Suffers a defeat |
USA Today |
23 Dec 2019 |
| Comes up short |
Universal |
13 Oct 2019 |
| Goes down |
Newsday |
14 Sep 2019 |
| Suffers the agony of defeat |
Wall Street Journal |
14 Aug 2019 |
| Gets bested |
Premier Sunday |
24 Mar 2019 |
| Goes down |
New York Times |
22 Mar 2019 |
| Gets defeated |
|
|
| Leaves follower behind with running soles |
|
|
| Comes up short |
|
|
| Suffers the agony of defeat |
|
|
| Goes down |
|
|
| Misplaces |
|
|
| Draws the short straw |
USA Today |
24 Dec 2018 |
| Trails the field |
|
|
| Ditches |
Wall Street Journal |
15 Sep 2018 |
| Blows the victory |
Universal |
31 Aug 2018 |
| Is defeated |
Universal |
02 Jul 2018 |
| Is badly beaten |
Universal |
10 May 2018 |
| Gets whupped |
USA Today |
04 May 2018 |
| Comes in last |
Newsday |
19 Mar 2018 |
| Ditches |
|
|
| Gets whupped |
|
|
| Draws the short straw |
|
|
| Gets rid of |
|
|
| Blows the victory |
|
|
| Is badly beaten |
|
|
| Is defeated |
|
|
| Doesn't win |
|
|
| Doesn't win |
Premier Sunday |
11 Jun 2017 |
| Comes up short, say |
New York Times |
24 May 2017 |
| Misplaces |
Thomas Joseph |
22 May 2017 |
| Comes up short |
|
|
| Comes up short |
LA Times Daily |
05 Mar 2017 |
| Takes a licking |
|
|
| Comes up short, say |
|
|
| Finishes with fewer votes |
New York Times |
17 Oct 2016 |
| Shakes |
New York Times |
24 Sep 2016 |
| Manages to elude |
Newsday |
10 Jul 2016 |
| Comes up short |
USA Today |
14 Jun 2016 |
| Gives the slip to |
USA Today |
22 Mar 2016 |
| Manages to elude |
Wall Street Journal |
08 Feb 2016 |
| Mislays |
Universal |
02 Feb 2016 |
| Suffers a 47-Across |
USA Today |
25 Jan 2016 |
| Mislays |
|
|
| Comes up short |
|
|
| Finishes with fewer votes |
|
|
| Shakes |
|
|
| Suffers a 47-Across |
|
|
| Gets the booby prize |
New York Times |
30 Nov 2015 |
| Misplaces |
New York Times |
20 Oct 2015 |
| Mislays |
New York Times |
26 Aug 2015 |
| Gives the slip |
New York Times |
24 Jul 2015 |
| Gets licked |
USA Today |
29 Jun 2015 |
| Gets rid of, as weight |
LA Times Daily |
27 Apr 2015 |
| Suffers defeats |
Universal |
02 Apr 2015 |
| Accepts defeat |
Universal |
06 Jan 2015 |
| Suffers defeats |
|
|
| Gets rid of, as weight |
|
|
| Gets the booby prize |
|
|
| Gives the slip |
|
|
| Mislays |
|
|
| Misplaces |
|
|
| Accepts defeat |
|
|
| Is bested |
|
|
| Gets licked, in battle of bands |
|
|
| Gets licked |
|
|
| Sheds, as weight |
|
|
| Gets beaten |
|
|
| Gets knocked off |
|
|
| Shakes off |
|
|
| Comes in last |
|
|
| Blows, perhaps |
|
|
| Forfeits |
|
|
| Comes in last |
|
|
| Shakes, as a tail |
|
|
| Suffers defeat |
|
|
| Goes down |
|
|
| Shakes off |
|
|
| Is stopped on the field |
|
|
| Squanders |
|
|
| Shakes, as in a car chase |
|
|
| Finishes second |
|
|
| Earns the booby prize |
|
|
| Comes up short |
|
|
| Suffers defeat |
|
|
| Draws the short straw, say |
|
|
| Goes down |
|
|
| What second place at battle of the bands does |
|
|
| Doesn't gain a pound, initially, on seafood, even salmon |
|
|
| Doesn't carry the day |
|
|
| Fails to prevail |
|
|
| Wins the battle of the bulge, ironically |
|
|
| Comes in second |
|
|
| Fails to prevail |
|
|
| Wins the battle of the bulge, ironically |
|
|
| Doesn't maintain |
|
|
| Misplaces |
|
|
| Takes a licking |
|
|
| Comes up short |
|
|
| Fails to show |
|
|
| Shakes, so to speak |
|
|
| Misplaces |
|
|
| Gets the consolation prize |
|
|
| Gets the consolation prize |
|
|
| Is defeated |
|
|
| Gets licked |
|
|
| Falls short, in points |
|
|
| Allows to get away |
|
|
| Goes down to defeat |
|
|
| Throws, say |
|
|
| Manages to elude |
|
|
| Goes down to defeat |
|
|
| Gets licked |
|
|
| Emulates most Las Vegas visitors |
|
|
| Gets licked |
|
|
| Finishes a close second |
|
|
| Shakes |
|
|
| Finishes second |
|
|
| Is deprived of |
|
|
| Comes in last |
|
|
| Has confiscated |
|
|
| Emulates many Las Vegas visitors |
|
|
| Diets successfully |
|
|
| Shakes, so to speak |
|
|
| Gets licked |
|
|
| Manages to elude |
|
|
| Gets the high score ... in golf |
|
|
| Gets bested |
|
|
| Comes in last |
|
|
| Takes it on the chin |
|
|
| Succeeds with one's diet |
|
|
| Forfeits |
|
|
| Gets whupped |
|
|
| Succeeds with one's diet |
|
|
| Misplaces |
|
|
| Gets licked |
|
|
| Gets licked |
|
|
| Comes in second |
|
|
| Doesn't win |
|
|
| Misplaces |
|
|
| Gets whupped |
|
|
| Takes it on the chin |
|
|
| Meets one's Waterloo |
|
|
| Gets eliminated |
|
|
| Takes a dive, say |
|
|
| Escapes from |
|
|
| Takes a dive |
|
|
| Heads for the cellar |
|
|
| Comes in second |
|
|
| Mislays |
|
|
| Fails to win |
|
|
| Leaves in the dust |
|
|
| Qualifies for the booby prize |
|
|
| Escapes from |
|
|
| Surrenders the title (to) |
|
|
| Gets bested |
|
|
| Allows to get away |
|
|
| Gets licked |
|
|
| Falls short, in points |
|
|
| Allows to get away |
|
|
| Fails to retain |
|
|
| Comes in second |
|
|
| Takes a drubbing |
|
|
| Mislays |
|
|
| Comes in second |
|
|
| Gets whupped |
|
|
| Forfeits |
|
|
| Is defeated |
|
|
| Gets beaten |
|
|
| Meets one's Waterloo |
|
|
| Comes in last |
|
|
| Comes in second, third or fourth |
|
|
| Is eliminated from competition |
|
|
| Gets the booby prize |
|
|
| Racks up zeros |
|
|
| Comes in last |
|
|
| Shakes off |
|
|
| Mislays |
|
|
| Mislays |
|
|
| Goes down in defeat |
|
|
| Diets successfully |
|
|
| Emulates most Las Vegas visitors |
|
|
| Becomes an also-ran |
|
|
| Gets the booby prize |
|
|
| Comes a cropper |
|
|
| Flips out with it |
|
|
| Forfeits |
|
|
| Suffers defeat |
|
|
| Gets whupped |
|
|
| Meets one's Waterloo |
|
|
| Gets licked |
|
|
| Comes in last |
|
|
| Finishes a close second |
|
|
| Suffers defeats |
|
|
| Falls short |
|
|
| Is deprived of |
|
|
| Misplaces |
|
|
| Fails to show |
|
|
| Is schneidered |
|
|
| Finishes last |
|
|
| Is outscored |
|
|
| Takes the count |
|
|
| Christie's "Poirot ___ a Client" |
|
|
| Outdistances |
|
|
| Blows it |
|
|
| Is bested |
|
|
| "Poirot ___ a Client": Christie |
|
|
| Gets nosed out |
|
|
| Comes out last |
|
|
| Is bested or worsted |
|
|
| Blows the game |
|
|
| Suffers defeat |
|
|
| Meets one's Waterloo |
|
|
| Becomes an also-ran |
|
|
| Wastes |
|
|
| Gets the short end. |
|
|
| Misses out on |
|
|
| Forfeits. |
|
|
| Lets slip. |
|
|
| Trails the field. |
|
|
| Misses. |
|
|
| Squanders. |
|
|
| Comes in second. |
|
|
| Mislays. |
|
|
| Ceases to have. |
|
|
| Finishes second. |
|
|
| Misplaces. |
|
|
| Gets licked |
|
|
| ___ one's head. |
|
|