Theme: "Reindeer Games" - Part of each common phrase is a reindeer.
23. Men's clothing retailer: HABERDASHER.
28. Elton John hit with the misheard lyric "Hold me closer, Tony Danza": TINY DANCER.
49. Fitness method with "a springy, rhythmic way of moving forward": PRANCERCISE. Unfamiliar to me.
58. Mythological fox destined never to be caught: CADMEAN VIXEN. Also new to me.
92. Connie Francis hit with a rhyming title: STUPID CUPID.
115. Thor's son in the role-playing game Scion: ERIC DONNER.
122. German roadster that once held the world speed record: BLITZEN BENZ.
Timely theme from Robin. A bit name-heavy, but it's the nature of this theme. I'm amazed that she found a full set.
Across:
6. Unrefined: CRUDE.
11. Devilish creatures: IMPS. Spitzboov was one.
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| August 23, 2014, Washington County Fair |
15. Like some reports: ORAL.
19. Swap: TRADE.
20. More vast: HUGER.
21. Awkwafina's real first name: NORA. Nora Lum. Lum is the same character as Lin, meaning "forest".
22. Fried cornbread: PONE.
25. Action in Uno: DRAW.
26. Sicilian volcano: ETNA.
27. 2-Down accompaniers: OVATIONS. 2. "Great show!": BRAVO.
30. Not the worst: SO SO.
31. "__ I say more?": NEED.
33. Give comfort to: REASSURE.
34. Lunch hours, e.g.: MEALTIMES.
37. Messy handwriting: SCRAWL. Mine is so messy.
41. Teakettle output: STEAM. I invited the nice church couple Bill and Margret to our home for a
Christmas lunch last week. They loved my matcha. Bill said my almond-crusted walleye was
"perfection". They also enjoyed my wild rice salad. I put in black olives,
sun-dried tomatoes, roasted bell peppers, sliced green onions and the
amazing mixed nuts Agnes gifted to me. So good. Sure wish Agnes lived closer by.
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44. Hanover Ivy: DARTMOUTH.
48. __ alai: JAI.
53. UPC bar code developer: IBM. Great trivia.
54. Public persona: IMAGE.
56. Cereal grain: OAT.
57. "Orinoco Flow" singer: ENYA.
61. Circle widths: DIAMETERS.
64. Agnus __: DEI.
65. Org. created by the 1957 Treaty of Rome: EEC.
66. Suffix akin to -ule: ETTE.
67. Physicist Newton: ISAAC.
69. Permanent marks: SCARS.
72. Longtime PBS "Mystery!" host Diana: RIGG.
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76. Digital asset: Abbr.: NFT. Non-Fungible Token.
78. Dent or scratch: MAR.
80. Office supplier: STATIONER.
88. Sign: OMEN.
89. Singer DiFranco: ANI.
90. "Middlemarch" novelist: ELIOT.
91. Polish tennis champ Swiatek: IGA. Currently the No. 1 player. She was born in 2001.
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95. Wall St. takeover: LBO.
96. Some errand runners on a yacht: CABIN BOYS.
99. Starts a fresh pot: ANTES.
100. Tungusic people of northeast China: MANCHU. I did not know
the word "Tungusic". Wikipedia says they are "native to Siberia, China,
and Mongolia". They're called "man zu" in China. Chinese map is shaped
like a rooster.
102. Cat hair, pollen, dust mites, etc.: ALLERGENS.
106. One held for questioning: DETAINEE.
110. Plastic shoe wearer: DOLL.
111. __ Bora: Afghan region: TORA.
118. Greeted with a ceremonial bow: SALAAMED.
120. Dublin Murder Squad series novelist French: TANA.
121. "Shining Vale" actress Sorvino: MIRA.
125. Trains for a marathon, say: RUNS.
126. U.S. passport holder: AMER.
127. Flood defense: LEVEE.
128. Tank nuisance: ALGAE.
129. "What __ can I say?": ELSE.
130. Turner and Knight: TEDS.
131. Stadium levels: TIERS.
132. Marsh ducks: TEALS.
Down:
3. Rum-soaked cakes: BABAS.
4. Tribute in "Antigone": ODE TO MAN. Sophocles tribute. Learning moment for me.
5. Hatcher of "Lois & Clark": TERI.
6. Fashion house whose logo is two interlocking C's: CHANEL. Their most iconic bag.
7. Oft-baked potato: RUSSET.
8. "That's gross!": UGH.
9. Low grade: DEE.
10. Make the team's blooper reel, perhaps: ERR.
11. Home to more than 1.4 billion people: INDIA.
12. Eves' counterparts: MORNS.
13. Appeals to a higher power: PRAYS.
14. Carpentry debris: SAWDUST.
15. Game 1: OPENER.
16. Campus mil. group: ROTC.
17. Celebrity chef Burrell: ANNE. Known for her spiky hair.
18. King who says to Cordelia, "Nothing can come of nothing": LEAR.
24. Portuguese title: DONA.
28. End-of-unit classroom event: TEST.
29. Gmail option: ARCHIVE.
32. "Rugrats" mom: DIDI. Pickles.
33. Go back to Chapter 1: RE-READ.
35. Ceremony host: EMCEE.
36. Counterpart of fem., in grammar: MASC.
38. "Stronger than dirt" brand: AJAX.
39. Payment for labor: WAGE.
40. Property claim: LIEN.
41. Name in fine china: SPODE.
42. Eye color, e.g.: TRAIT.
43. Trouble: EAT AT.
45. Does impressions: MIMICS.
46. Honor given by HM King Charles III: OBE. Order of the British Empire. HM (His Majesty) suggests an Abbr.
47. Actress Thurman: UMA.
50. Thing: ENTITY.
51. Some deli loaves: RYES.
52. Irene of "Fame": CARA.
55. Extremely small: MICRO.
59. __ Moines, Iowa: DES.
60. Fit snugly inside: NESTED.
62. __ Park: Edison lab site: MENLO. New Jersey. The Facebook HQ is Menlo Park, CA.
63. Polynesian language: SAMOAN.
68. Word with sky or spy: CAM.
70. Upon: ATOP.
71. Malek of "Oppenheimer": RAMI.
73. Hardly appropriate: INAPT.
74. "Your wish is my command" speaker: GENIE.
75. Formula 1 starting positions: GRIDS.
77. Went to collect: FETCHED.
79. Fix a worn-out shoe: RESOLE.
81. Quechua speaker: INCAN.
82. Command post: HELM.
83. "Dark Angel" star Jessica: ALBA.
84. King of the jungle: LION.
85. Member of the fam: SIB.
86. Like the dinos in "Jurassic Park": CGI. Computer-Generated Imagery.
87. Texter's "I'm out!": TTYL.
93. Thrift shop condition: USED.
94. Not firmly fixed: UNSTABLE.
97. Bygone coin-op eatery: AUTOMAT.
98. Boxer Max: BAER. Have not seen this name for a long while.
101. Jewel box: CD CASE.
103. List: ROSTER.
104. Sugarcoats: GLAZES.
105. Vogue rival: ELLE.
107. "Demon Slayer" genre: ANIME.
108. How Santa dresses, mostly: IN RED. Our Santa.
109. Approaches: NEARS.
112. Luxury timepiece: OMEGA.
113. Kidney-related: RENAL.
114. Carving tools: ADZES.
115. Raison d'__: ETRE.
116. "The Addams Family" actor Julia: RAUL.
117. Road-trip stops: INNS.
119. Future dr.'s class: ANAT.
122. Diner fave: BLT.
123. Luau neckwear: LEI. Probably the most delicate gift I've
ever received. JimmyB had it delivered from Hawaii directly the day our
puzzle was published. So beautifully wrapped. Jim still solves the LAT
every day.
124. "__ seen worse": I'VE.
Merry Christmas, everyone. I hope you're with your loved ones and your house is full of love.
C.C.
27 comments:
Like C.C. said, amazing that our constructor found them all. And you want to know something else interesting? In the grid, from top to bottom, left to right, they’re in exactly the same order as In Clement Moore’s great poem that starts, “‘Twas the night before Christmas…”! How timely and appropriate can you get? Anyway, FIR, so I’m happy! And Merry Christmas to you all!
Good morning!
Zipped right through this one. Often Sunday grids can be a slog, but not today. I didn't notice the reindeer names were in the same order as in the poem. But I did notice they are in the same order as in the first 15 seconds of Gene Autry's Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (which probably cadged 'em from the poem). Well done, Robin and C.C.
DIDI: The only "Pickles" I'm familiar with are Earl and Opal. Today's cartoon strip.
SCRAWL: D-o's penmanship would have to improve considerably to qualify as a SCRAWL.
Merry Christmas to all cornerites, and to Round John Virgin.
I was astonished to discover that no one had ever explored the theme of hitching up Santa's reindeer! Putting them into the grid in the proper order was the easy part; finding a DONNER that didn't break the Sunday Morning Breakfast Rule was the hard part. Deciding to make a Christmas-themed crossword was a no-brainer. This past month, my husband and I dressed up as Santa and Mrs. Claus to visit a dozen or so preschools, handing out toys and candy canes and taking lots of pictures. We also attended a local band concert where Santa was invited to conduct "Sleigh Ride." I'd love to be able to top this puzzle, but I think this one may be untoppable. Merry solving!
A very enjoyable solve this morning, and apropos for the day! This really showcases your talents Robin, and thanks for visiting the Corner, always nice to see the constructor’s take on their creation! Sadly though, poor Rudolph didn’t make the cut, again. I guess he was just a fly-by-night, used for his beacon for one gig on a foggy Eve.
Thanks C.C. for another fine expose’…have you ever collaborated with Robin on a grid?
Merry Christmas to all who celebrate! 🎄
What? No Rudolph? As soon as HABERDASHER was filled the theme was obvious, but CADMEAN was all perps. I just filled the reindeer names in advance of reading the theme clues and only had to move BLITZEN. ERIC DONNER was unknown.
IBM- maybe. NCR was the first to put scanners in groceries.
Awkwafina (Aquafina) & NORA, TANA, DIDI, ODE TO MAN, ANNE, SPODE- perps got them.
HUGER- sounds like a non-word only to fit a Xword puzzle.
MANCHU was a guess. I was thinking of Manchurian but it was too long.
LION- lions don't live in jungles, just open plains. TIGERS live in 'jungles' and forests.
Max BAER,Jr., aka Jethro. Sr. was the boxer.
C.C.- flowers around your neck and on your sandals.
Mrs. Claus, aka ROBIN STEARS- glad to see you made a visit to The Corner. And always take Cornerites' griping with a grain of salt.
Took 17:03 today for me to dash away, dash away, dash away all.
Very clever & timely theme.
I knew today's actresses (Teri & Alba), but didn't know many of the other ladies, such as chef/cook (Anne), the writer (Tara), or host (Rigg).
"Cadmean" or "cad mean" was also unknown.
Merry Christmas (Eve), everyone.
FIR. I got the theme with the first answer when I saw the name of Dasher. That helped greatly with the solve since a few of the answers were unfamiliar, like cadmean vixen and Eric Donner.
For me, except for the reindeer names, this Sunday puzzle was a tad crunchy. Lots of unknowns and several tricky clues.
FIR, but erased dian for DIDI, adams for MORNS, leer for LEAR (UNTIE!), and hai for JAI (UNTIE!).
Today is:
NATIONAL EGGNOG DAY (best when spiced and spiked)
CHRISTMAS EVE (the night when many are reminded that assembly of bikes isn’t easy)
If an ABBOT heads a monastery, what does a Costello head?
I was looking for a brand name when HABERDASHER butted in.
I'm pretty sure that if I invested in an NFT, it would immediately funge.
CSO to Bill's "She Who Must Be Obeyed" at TERI.
CSO to moi at UNSTABLE. (But I ate at the AUTOMAT in NYC as a kid, so I got THAT goin' for me.)
I wanted "DMV" for "home to more than 1.4 billion people."
Shakespeare said it well, but Billy Preston declared Nothing From Nothing leaves nothing.
I get the boxer, Jethro, and Wojo (Max Gail) confused.
DW's coworker from Hawaii presented us with LEIs for our ceremony, hand made by his auntie and flown into California. What a wonderful gift.
To add to D-O's Christmas carol lyrics, I'll just wish a merry Christmas to those three kings of Orientare, and to everyone else around the world.
Thanks to Robin for the terrific Christmas Eve puzzle, and for stopping by to toot your own horn. It ain't braggin', just fact. And thanks to CC for the interesting review, and for jogging my memories of our wedding.
Good Morning:
As DO said, Sunday grids can be a slog but not this one. I agree wholeheartedly. And as SubG pointed out, the names were in their proper order, a nice touch. And, YooperPhil and BigEasy, Rudolph joined the octet long after the poem was written which, BTW, is also known as A Visit from St. Nicholas, and was first published anonymously in 1823 in the Troy, NY Sentinel. 🤗 The only phrases I knew were Haberdasher, Halley's Comet, and Stupid Cupid, so it was fun trying to parse the other five names. I knew all of the many proper names, except Didi and Nora and was pleased that I finally remembered Iga. I needed perps for Manchu and Ode To Man. Otherwise, the grid was junk-free and had a low (22) three letter word count.
Thanks, Robin, for making our Christmas Eve very special and for stopping by the Corner and thanks, CC, for your comments and especially for the photo of that scrumptious-looking Wild Rice Salad and, most of all, for your sweet sentiments. Also enjoyed the photo of you and your beautiful lei and the ones of Spitz and Argyle (almost 10 years ago!) and our dear "Santa". May they RIP.
Enjoy your Christmas Eve celebrations and don't forget Santa's cookies and milk! 🎄
The only reason I know Santa's Reindeer's names is from Arnold Schwarzenegger chanting them as he runs down the street to go answer the radio quiz at the radio station in the movie "Jingle All The Way" - I chant them the same way!
Fun puzzle!
Great Christmas Eve puzzle. Thank you Robin.
And thank you Zhouqin.
A very merry offering for our Christmas holiday salute. Thanks, Robin for your entertaining grid. Only a couple of incorrect vowels marred my final answer. C.C. set me straight. (I still don't like made-up words, PRANCERCISE, indeed!)
The reason for the season!!
Alleluia
Musings
-Even picking the wrong vowel at impossible R_UL/T_NA failed to diminish my admiration for this amazing puzzle; made even more delightful by having Santa’s hoofed helpers in order!
-CADMEAN VIXEN and BLITZEN BENZ were impressive “gets”!
-Will a SCRAWL on an electronic device really hold up in court?
-Many of us will remember Ms. RIGG as this crime-solving VIXEN
-I have learned that IGA has replaced our grocery organization
-The Dallas Police could not protect America’s #1 DETAINEE for two days in 1963
-Spy COCO was Abwehr Agent F-7124 aiding the Nazis in WWII
-The first appearance of the CGI dinosaurs in Jurassic Park made my face look like theirs
-Grandson has been chosen be an intern at UNL and will teach an ANAT course next term
-I also very much enjoyed Robin’s visit with us today!
Addendum
-We may need this mode of transport as snow, rain and ice are OMENS in our forecast. Whether we go to Lincoln is the subject of IM’S flying back and forth this morning.
Husker, I don't think your face looks like a dinosaur... :)
Can't complain about any nits, especially with Santa so close...
But did anyone else have poles for formula 1 starting positions?
Also, Where's Rudolph?
Also, in other Gnus...
No problems. Perps took care of anything needed. Theme was definitely helpful. Nice Christmas puzzle. Well done. Merry Christmas to all. GC
May you all have a warm and wonderful Christmas…. kkFlorida
Big Easy here. I had never heard the term GRIDS, only Pole position but the perps eliminated it.
The phrase "Hold me closer, Tony Danza" is knows as a Mondegreen, when lyrics are misheard. From a Scottish ballad with the phrase "They have killed the Earl of Moray, and laid him on the green" and a girl who grew up hearing it differently wrote an article asking "Who killed Lady Mondegreen?"
Another mondegreen would name a tenth reindeer in the Rudolph song - Olive, the other reindeer who used to laugh and call Rudolph names.
Awkwafina/NORA Lum, rapper and actress, won a Golden Globe Best Actress in 2020 for the Farewell, graduated from the University at Albany
Thank you Robin for a Christmas Eve ride in Santa's sleigh and thanks to Patti for gifting us with a quite FIRable puzz.
And thank you C.C. for calling out their names. I guess Rudolph was still a twinkle in Santa's eye in 1823 when the poem 'A Visit from Saint Nicholas' (or most commonly known as 'Twas the Night before Christmas') by Clement Clarke Moore arrived on the scene.
The meal you served for your friends Bill and Margret, looks delicious and is definitely worth reverse engineering. And thanks for the memories of Spitz and Argyle.
Can't stay for any favorites, as I've got promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep!
Cheers and a very Merry Christmas to you all! ⛪✝🎅🎄❄
Bill
Happy Xmas eve, everyone.
Excuse me while I kiss the sky (Mondegreen: this guy).
Hola!
It's been an eventful day today! My daughter and granddaughter won't allow me in the kitchen while they cook. It's hard for me to not be in control! However, I don't mind having someone else do the cooking.
For the first time since my childhood I did not attend midnight Mass. But 10 A.M. worked well for me. I watched "Sunday Morning with Jane Pauley" and then the family came over and commandeered the kitchen. The turkey should be done soon.
Meanwhile, I finished Robin's lovely puzzle. Thank you, Robin and C.C. for entertaining me while I await dinner.
Believe me, anyone who attended my class left it with good handwriting and not a SCRAWL.
Diana RIGG's most recent appearances were in "All Creatures Great and Small" on PBS.
MIRA Sorvino was unforgettable in "Mighty Aphrodite".
It was wonderful to have all my SIBS here although for a sorrowful occasion.
It's ironic to see HALLEY'S COMET next to OMEN.
I hope all who observe it are enjoying a special Christmas EVE. My family and a friend are here. Even without decorations, it's all very special.
I wish you a merry and blessed Christmas, everyone!
Happy Christmas to all … whether you celebrate it or not …. May love and happiness surround your lives for the coming year.
Lovely CW …. Thank you Robin for writing in … thank you CC for your blog as nd explanations…. And a nice picture!!
I had a good time despite my temporary ignorance of the reindeer and their respective orders…..
Happy to read if The regular contributors and of course Lucina …. Despite the fact that she’s not cooking !!?!!!!
We went out for lunch to meet the survivors in a funeral parlor … and the INDIAn food was lousy (;-(. )
But I hope tomorrow will be a better day !!! ;-). :-)
Thanks for stopping by, Robin. Loved your puzzle!
Thanks, also, to C.C. for another enjoyable tour!
For those unfamiliar, check out Prancercise on youtube. Very, uh, trippy!
Always nice when the creator of our entertainment stops by to say “howdy!” — thanks, Robin, for an enjoyable (and apropos) theme today!
I’m with you, @Big Easy, about the King of the Jungle not being a denizen of said terrain, but rather of the savannas of Africa. But that’s what they call the cat, and I’m sure he doesn’t care 😎
Qualifying sets the starting grid for any motor race, although the result is referred to as the grid (singular). Was the clue perhaps talking of multiple events…?
Ahhh yesss…Diana Rigg, the original Avenger, heartthrob of every hormonal male teen of the era. We were all fantasizing about pulling that big ring on the front of her jumpsuit…
Merry and Happy to all of you!!
====> Darren / L.A.
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