Theme: "Activewear" - Each clothing item is humorously rephrased fitting the starting *ING part of the clue.
21. Article of clothing that provides warmth and comfort?: NURSING JACKET.
35. Article of clothing that calls for compliments?: FISHING PANTS.
37. Article of clothing that shouldn't be dry-cleaned?: BATHING SUIT.
59. Article of clothing that tends to run?: JOGGING SHORTS.
82. Article of clothing that binds in certain places?: WEDDING GOWN.
84. Article of clothing that may be striking?: BOWLING SHIRT.
102. Article of clothing that gives a pop of color?: PAINTING SMOCK.
What a great title: "Activewear", with all the first words in *ING form.
MaryEllen Uthlaut is a veteran constructor who has made puzzles for the ACPT. Read her bio here. See Kelly Clark on the list? That's the Kelly who comments on our blog.
Across:
6. Selfie taker: CAMERA.
12. Grinding club: PESTLE. I don't think I grind anything.
18. Peak in the Cascades: SHASTA.
19. Protective charm: AMULET.
20. Seychelles currency: RUPEES. Seychelles is the smallest country in Africa.
23. Like a venerated object: TOTEMIC.
24. Animal with the thickest fur of any mammal: OTTER.
25. Hurry: RUSH.
26. Left empty: VACATED.
28. Key __, Florida: WEST.
29. Cacophonies: DINS.
30. Better with electronic devices: TECHIER. Like all the T's on our blog.
31. "How __ doth breed a habit ... ": Shakespeare: USE.
34. Great sorrow: WOE. And 68. Source of 34-Across: BANE.
43. Church structures: STEEPLES.
44. Tree-dwelling lizard: IGUANA.
45. Obsolete PC component: CRT.
46. Say the kiddush, for example: BLESS. From Google: "Kiddush is
Jewish benediction and prayer recited over a cup of wine immediately
before the meal on the eve of the Sabbath or of a festival."
48. Bee complex?: HIVE. 69. Cost of a plug?: AD FEE. Love these clues.
49. Document filed annually: TAX RETURN.
51. Beatle McCartney: PAUL.
52. Excavation locations: SITES.
53. Blunted sword: EPEE.
54. Glass of public radio: IRA.
55. Lipstick smearer: KISS.
56. Settled a debt: PAID.
58. Hi-__ graphics: RES.
62. "Queen __": pop nickname: BEY. Beyonce.
65. Nada: NONE.
66. Building block of Denmark: LEGO.
67. Washington MLBer: NAT.
72. Overly suave: OILY.
73. Office circulations: MEMORANDA. Plural of memorandum.
75. Grocery section: DELI.
76. Purple Heart, e.g.: MEDAL. Our Dennis has one.
78. Drained of color: WAN.
79. Bitter feeling: RANCOR.
80. Malted milk mix: OVALTINE. 4. Verb on an 80-Across package: STIR.
87. Born in France: NEE.
88. Nonpartisan trio?: ENS. The three N's in Nonpartisan.
89. Containing dried grapes: RAISINY.
90. Like some camisoles: LACY.
92. Frontier figure Crockett: DAVY.
96. Winter cap features: EARLAPS.
97. "Flashdance ... What a Feeling" singer Irene: CARA.
98. Sound transmission: AUDIO.
99. Granted, as by a judge: AWARDED.
105. Deep red: GARNET. I can't tell the differences.
106. Commencements: ONSETS.
107. Exuberant cry: YIPPEE.
108. More than enough: EXCESS.
109. Midsize sofa: SETTEE.
110. Ship's poles: MASTS.
Down:
2. Hinds' counterparts: HARTS. Also 9. Moose, in Europe: ELK.
3. Cash or property: ASSET.
5. "Holy smokes!": MAN.
6. Louisianan of French Canadian descent: CAJUN.
7. Pile up: AMASS.
8. "I figured as __": MUCH.
10. "John Wick" actor Keanu: REEVES.
11. Develop a bond: ATTACH.
12. Mentored students: PROTEGES.
13. Muse of music: EUTERPE.
14. Drove over the limit: SPED.
15. President pro __: TEM.
16. Gift presented with an "aloha": LEI.
17. "Close this window" key: ESC. What kind of keyboards are you using? So upset that Microsoft stopped their Comfort keyboards.
18. Ball or fall preceder: SNOW.
22. "Peer Gynt" composer: GRIEG.
23. Sullies: TAINTS.
27. Woodworker's tool: CHISEL.
29. Charitable act: DONATION.
30. __ for tat: TIT.
31. Like neon signs in the daytime: UNLIT.
32. Entrepreneur Wozniak: STEVE. Co-founded Apple with Steve Jobs.
33. Snaky turns: ESSES.
34. Beaujolais, e.g.: WINE.
35. Tailor's concern: FIT.
36. Plant-sucking insect: APHID.
37. Reactive dog: BITER.
38. Open-mouthed: AGAPE.
39. Prom rentals: TUXES.
40. __ Krishna: HARE. The Hare Krishna movement is a branch of Hinduism. Learning moment for me.
41. Rawboned type: SCRAG.
42. Coffee server: URN.
46. Word before continuo or profundo: BASSO.
47. Grown thick and green: LUSH.
50. Drive forward: URGE.
51. __ bank: PIGGY.
52. Auntie, to dad: SIS. The lady in red is my aunt, my dad's
younger sister. The other guy is my dad's younger brother. The simple
structure under the tree is my grandma's tomb.
55. Ring somberly: KNELL.
56. Brit's baby carriage: PRAM.
57. Legalese interpreter: ATTORNEY.
59. Diner mugful: JOE.
60. Pelvic bones: ILIA.
61. Set upright: ON END.
62. Baccarat term: BANCO. Spanish for "bank".
63. Give as a gift: ENDOW.
64. Long (for): YEARN.
65. Dern's "Jurassic Park" co-star: NEILL. Sam.
68. Sharp noise: BANG.
69. Sun-dried brick: ADOBE.
70. Red cattle breed: DEVON.
71. Blemishes: FLAWS.
72. Permian Basin city: ODESSA. Wikipedia says Permian Basin is "the highest producing oil field in the United States". Another learning moment for me.
73. Satirical magazine since 1952: MAD.
74. Fury: RAGE.
76. Mosque structures: MINARETS.
77. Make shiny, in a way: ENGILD. Not a word I use.
78. __ blanket: killjoy: WET.
81. Scolding speeches: TIRADES.
82. Twisted: WRY.
83. Quechua speaker: INCAN.
85. Animals also known as river horses: HIPPOS.
86. Unthinkably high-risk, as a plan: INSANE.
90. Milky coffee order: LATTE.
91. Spring up: ARISE.
92. Unloads: DUMPS.
93. Take as one's own: ADOPT.
94. Bad practices: VICES.
95. Harness for oxen: YOKE.
96. Coastal raptor: ERNE.
97. Gadget news website: CNET.
98. Location of the world's highest and lowest points on land: ASIA. Mount Everest and the Dead Sea.
99. Stage of life: AGE.
100. Wane's partner: WAX.
101. __ de Triomphe: ARC.
103. Ideal or fatal ending: IST.
104. Place for sweaters?: GYM. Sweat-ers.
C.C.
23 comments:
I wonder if there is any such word as “techier”? I kind of doubt it. Other than that, I had no problem with this puzzle. FIR, so I’m happy.
Good morning!
Gotta love a puzzle by someone whose last name begins with "UT." Tried LIMOS for TUXES, and wondered about that milky coffee drink -- RATTE. Oops, that camisole was LACY, not RACY. D'oh. ENGILD and TECHIER were odorous entries, but you do what you gotta do. Thanx, MaryEllen and C.C. (Is that tomb on property that your family owns?)
OVALTINE: Reminds me of Marlene Dietrich and Rosemary Clooney singing Too Old To Cut The Mustard (@1:39): "He said I'd like to play the scene, but it's time to drink my OVALTINE."
Permian Basin: Very productive...but also very, very polluted.
Took a little over 40 minutes to claim victory and put on my dancing shoes. Needed an A-run for my last fill of the T in the EUTERPE/TOTEMIC crossing. Quickly backspaced out of LIMOS. TECHIER and ENGILD? All perps for NEILL, DEVON, BASSO, BANCO and GRIEG. “Peer Gynt’s mother” used to be a standard CW clue but I haven’t seen it for awhile. Shouldn’t it be EAR FLAPS and not LAPS? All in all, an enjoyable Sunday solve, thank you MaryEllen, and to C.C. for the recap.
FIW, missing my WAG @ EUlERPE x TOlEMIC (the "l" is a lower-case L. Hate this crappy font.) Erased aisle->CHASM (misread the clue,) and silk->LACY. I'm kicking myself that I didn't see TOTEM in TOTEMIC, but just wasn't aMUSEd by EUTERPE.
"Grinding club" had to be PESTLE, because "Girls, Girls, Girls and Beer" wouldn't fit.
I saw on TV yesterday that LEGOs are the most requested Christmas gifts for boys again this year. That's staying power!
I read that calling Mr. Crockett DAVY would result in a fight. He went by DAVid.
It drives me crazy when TV talking heads refer to the president as the veep's boss. I've even heard VPs refer to the President as "the boss." The VP doesn't report to the President, and doesn't serve at the pleasure of the President. The VP has only one absolute responsibility - to be President of the Senate. Since the VP rarely attends the Senate, President Pro TEM is an important responsibility. Jobs given to the veep by the President can be accepted or rejected, with the only penalty for nonacceptance being getting dropped from the ticket during the next nomination cycle.
What the Sam Hill are EARLAPS? This the first time in more than a decade that I've spent winter north of Florida - do I need to buy be some EARLAPS?
Thanks to MaryEllen for the Sunday funday, and thanks to CC for the interesting review. Are citizens allowed to own land in China?
An easy Sunday puzzle today, with just a few unknowns solved by perps. NURSING JACKET and TOTEMIC took perps but the INGs made things easy to guess.
USE- did anybody really 'know' that?
Queen BEV- I had BEE until HIVE showed up
OVALTINE- that's an old one from my elementary school days
RAISINY- easy to fill but I'd never heard it called that.
ESC-Keyboard I use? The one C.C. wants, a Microsoft Comfort Keyboard.
LUSH would describe some of DW's friends
ODESSA- where Pres. George H.W. Bush moved after WW-II and Pres George W. Bush grew up.
FIR. I found this Sunday puzzle just a tad crunchy. I'm not liking some answers like techier and engild. But maybe that's just me.
Got slowed down a bit in the center when I had rip before fit. But fishing pants solved that.
The theme was fun and I got every one with little problem.
So overall, it wasn't all that enjoyable, but it's done, so there's that.
Fell into the same trap as Jinx and had an "L" at the intersection of EUTERPE/TOTEMIC. I solve on paper don't get any wrong letter hints.
Looked up NURSING JACKET to see if if it was something a new mom would wear, but no, it's just a jacket for a hospital nurse. And everywhere I looked, it's simply called a Nurse Jacket.
"I love these oatmeal cookies. They're so RAISINY," said no one ever.
Queen BEY. That's what they call that singer Bouncy, or whatever her name is.
Queen BEV would be that late, great Sills lady who sang opera.
Mom added oatmeal to her chocolate chip cookies -- still my favorite type.
Good Morning:
Aside from the three thorns, Techier, Raisiny, and Engild, the grid was clean and free from pop culture references and obscure entries, a welcome reprieve from the usual Sunday fare. The theme was cute and well-executed and the fill and clung were very solver-friendly. I think the only unknown, to me, was the Devon cattle. All in all, a pleasant Sunday diversion.
Thanks, Mary Ellen, and it’s nice to see you again, and thanks, CC, for the always spot-on insider’s opinion.
Have a great day.
Oops, Cluing, not Clung.
I generally have no interest in themes, but in this case they were easy and helped speed up the fill. I am unfamiliar with the kiddush, harts/hinds, scrag as a noun, and Euterpe.
I have my doubts about the likelihood of “techier,” or “engild,” being used in conversation or writings. In fact, both word triggered my phone’s spellcheck function. “More tech-savvy” and “gild” are the more common usage.
I’m also baffled by “earlaps.” (Whoops, my spellcheck just came on again!) Google came up with zero results for this word. I have winter hats and am thankful for their earFLAPS.
I uttered an epithet when I saw that we were going to be dealing with clothing as today's theme, because I am out of my depth when it comes to fashion and related topics. But things turned out OK because there were so many friendly (easy) perps, and all of the long themes had "-ing" in them.
I appreciated that MaryEllen eschewed obscure "celebrities." Thank you!
There seemed to be quite a few peculiar and farfetched clues. Like "Drive forward" (URGE). Huh? Or answers that seemed clunky and made-up, such as "Better with electronic devices (TECHIER), or "Containing dried grapes" (RAISINY). I may try those on my family just to see their puzzled looks.
So I survived a puzzle--FIR, in fact--that did not feature my beloved sports, but clothing!
Speaking of sports, tonight's NFL game is a can't miss between two of our better teams, the Baltimore Ravens and Los Angeles Chargers. AND they are coached by brothers, John and Jim Harbaugh. The last time they faced each other was in the Super Bowl!
Thanks again, MaryEllen, for a well-designed and -constructed puzzle that was straightforward and fun to solve.
Smooth enough puzzle, cute theme that I enjoyed filling. WEES about some dubious clueing like ENGILD, RAISINY, EARLAP. For the latter I even thought there was an error in the grid. There were a few clever clues like AD FEE, AUDIO. So this CW makes up for yesterday’s utter defeat.
Thank you CC and you must treasure that photo of your relatives.
Managed to FIW. Crashed and burned in the euterSpe/techieS intersection, but on the whole, an enjoyable outing. A few nose-wrinklers, such as ENGILD, EARLAPS, (?) and "Holy Smokes" for MAN. Perps were mostly fair, and the names were pretty much well-known, even by me!
Easier than the usual Sunday, although I had two bad cells, the A in BANCO and so I missed the BA in BANE.
On the Oregon Trail the pioneers URGED (droved forward) the hardy oxen up almost impossible inclines.
I use earlaps, raisiny and techier with no qualms. Earlaps and earflaps are both found in print. I see earflaps are likely more common. (By extension)I found evidence for techier, too. "He is very techy".(common) Some people on this blog are techier than I am. I found raisiny in the dictionary. Only raisiny is flagged by my spellcheck, but I use it myself. I found no examples.
TTYL.
Today's puzzle was a welcome change from Sadistic Saturday, but I still FIW in square 97 where _ARA met _NET. Oh, CNET! Would never have thought of that, and didn't know CARA. Was just explaining to my mom about a Natick, which was complicated by her familiarity with the town of Natick!
Also never heard of a NURSING JACKET, EARLAPS, or SCRAG.
Still, a pretty good time was had -- thanks, Mary Ellen -- and I like C.C.'s non-nonsense reviews. The photo of your relatives in China is touching and makes us want to know more about the little memorial site!
In my newspaper, the Seattle Times, “Edited by Patty Varol “ was shown twice at the top and then again as the title. If Activewear was the title it wasn’t shown anywhere, nor was the actual author ms Uthlaut. Even so, it was a fairly smooth solve.
Hola! Yes! I agree that the absence of names, obscure or otherwise, is a welcome treat in today's puzzle. Thank you, MaryEllen Uthlaut. It's curious that a country in deep Africa would use RUPEES; I'll have to research that. Perhaps it was colonized by people from India where RUPEES are used.
Though easy to fill, I did have one change, RHINOS to HIPPOS. And learning moment that they are called river horses even though I often watch nature films. It may be one of those things I knew and forgot. Ah, aging is not fun.
ENGILD and RAISINY surprised me, too, though I can see the root meaning.
Have a great Sunday, everyone!
Hand up I enjoyed the ACTIVEWEAR theme. Well constructed. Last to fill was BEY/BANCO as a WAG.
I got this nice photo in Morocco of a MINARET through a horseshoe arch. I have not shared this before.
From Yesterday:
Hand up it was a rare case where I just gave up. I used Google to fill in missing bits of OKCTHUNDER. Impressed with those who FIR. Learning moment about I'M HERE ALL WEEK. And IT BAND. I thought the SIGMA clue was clever.
Yesterday I did not finish the puzzle. It was our Book Club meeting day and though I started solving in the morning before I left, I was not motivated to continue it. And, in case anyone is interested, our next book is: ALL THE BROKEN PLACES, by John Boyne. I always look forward to a new book!
I very much enjoyed this puzzle, for all the same reasons you all have mentioned. I would add that, for me, there were a few true learning moments ("true" meaning that I will likely remember them), namely RUPEES, OTTER (I would have thought yak), BLESS, and DEVON.
My keyboard is the one that came with my Dell PC. Quite basic.
I met STEVE Wozniak briefly many years ago at a Computer Club conference in San Francisco, back just before they started Apple.
Thanks for that photo, Picard.
Good reading you all.
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