Theme: "POSITIVELY CHARGED" - ION is added to each common phrase.
23. Literary takeaway?: READERS DIGESTION. Reader's Digest.
31. Riches of the Vatican?: PAPAL BULLION. Papal bull.
48. Blessing over breakfast?: EGGS BENEDICTION. Eggs Benedict.
64. Strong affection for school auditoriums?: HALL PASSION. Hall pass.
81. Drink to forgive and forget?: ABSOLUTION VODKA. Absolut Vodka.
91. Army of Istanbul?: TURKEY LEGION. Turkey leg.
107. Lamaze class lectures?: CONTRACTION TALKS. Contract talks.
Two IONs are added to the end of the first words, five are added to the last words.
It's hard to believe, but our label shows that this is Andrea's first LAT Sunday. Michael had his last Sunday puzzle in March, a collaboration with Kevin Christian, who's a frequent collaborator of Andrea.
Across:
1. Give for free: COMP.
5. Carpenter's compressor: C CLAMP. Quite a few letter entries: 41. Letter-shaped construction piece: I BAR. 36. City NNW of H-Town: BIG D. 61. Letter-shaped construction piece: H BEAM.
11. Chow: EATS.
15. Fall blooms, for short: MUMS.
19. Olympic fencing event: EPEE.
20. Card carrier?: DEALER. Playing cards.
21. Yankee preceder in the NATO alphabet: X-RAY.
22. "Gotcha": ON IT.
26. Sorry! or Scrabble: GAME.
27. Poison remedies: ANTIDOTES. I often confuse this word with ANECDOTES.
28. Cut (down): PARE.
29. Carpenter's drill: AUGER.
30. Vellani of "The Marvels": IMAN.
34. Spheres of influence: ORBITS.
38. Courses: WAYS.
39. New Year's __: EVE.
40. Soviet first lady Gorbacheva: RAISA. She was born in Siberia.
43. Combed: SEARCHED.
53. Feudal baron: THANE.
54. Bronze finishers: MEDALISTS.
55. JFK postings: ARRS.
56. Cutting edges: BLADES.
57. Kin of -kin: ETTE.
58. Zone: AREA.
59. Postpone the inevitable: BUY TIME. Also love these few entries: 75. Past the point of no return: IN TOO DEEP. 101. "We're doomed!": ALL IS LOST.
60. Salsa support: CHIP.
67. River Achilles was dipped into: STYX.
68. Rubs the wrong way: ABRADES.
70. Buck passers?: ATMS. Fun clue. See also: 88. Oxford heads?: LOOS. 117. Rolls out the green carpet?: SODS.
71. Lena of "Chocolat": OLIN.
73. Farm machine: REAPER.
74. Put up, in poker: ANTE.
80. "Hasta la vista": LATER.
83. Retired professor's designation: EMERITUS. Emerita for our Misty.
85. Gorilla expert Fossey: DIAN.
86. Sitcom actress Georgia: ENGEL.
87. __-eyed: DOE.
90. Isn't colorfast: BLEEDS.
97. Avianca airlines destination: CALI. Avianca is the largest airline in Colombia. Learning moment for me.
99. Swings around: SLUES.
100. Not fake: REAL.
106. Last Stuart queen: ANNE.
110. Amtrak track: RAIL.
111. The Jonas Brothers, e.g.: TRIO.
112. Appeared ominously: LOOMED. Always large.
113. Cry for worms: PEEP.
114. D.C. group: SENS.
115. "That remains to be __": SEEN.
116. Convent superior: ABBESS. Here are my classes for the next few months. I already had a video lesson with Bill & Margret yesterday. Four more next week.
Down:
1. "Arrested Development" star Michael: CERA.
2. Tournament type: OPEN.
3. Spam, lamb, or ham: MEAT.
4. Cab prefix: PEDI.
5. Old PC drive inserts: CD ROMS.
6. Jai alai basket: CESTA. Very athletic.
7. Weighed down: LADEN.
8. Boxers Muhammad and Laila: ALIS.
9. Storage unit, for short: MEG.
10. Settle in advance: PRE-PAY.
11. Overdramatic: EXTRA.
12. Mermaid who sings "I wanna be where the people are": ARIEL.
13. Philosophy often translated as "way": TAO. Dao in Mandarin.
14. Thesaurus entry: Abbr.: SYN.
15. Business bigwig: MOGUL.
16. Eel in nigiri: UNAGI.
17. Old-fashioned copier, briefly: MIMEO.
18. Back in the navy?: STERN. Navy ship.
24. Ready for making emends?: EDITABLE.
25. Drains, as strength: SAPS.
29. With ears pricked up: ALERTLY.
31. __-mutuel: PARI.
32. "How've ya __?": BEEN.
33. The Cavaliers of the NCAA: UVA.
34. City near Utah Lake: OREM. Next to Provo.
35. Indignation: RAGE.
37. Actress Rae: ISSA.
38. Fistfuls of dollars: WADS.
41. Accounts on the 'gram: INSTAS.
42. Palm with chewable nuts: BETEL.
43. "I need a rescue" letters: SOS.
44. Gabs: CHATS.
45. "I've __ with you!": HAD IT.
46. Archrival: ENEMY.
47. Neuter: DESEX.
49. "Take your pick": EITHER.
50. Sweet popcorn coating: CARAMEL.
51. Ringlet, maybe: TRESS. Margaret took me to her favorite stylist Angie on Tuesday. My new do.
52. Nest egg funds, for short: IRAS.
56. Toe woe: BUNION.
58. Likely will, with "is": APT TO.
59. "Said I Loved You ... But I Lied" singer Michael: BOLTON. He was super popular when I lived in Shanghai.
60. "The Very Busy Spider" writer/illustrator: CARLE.
62. Seeing red: IRATE.
63. Origami medium: PAPER.
65. PC connections: LANS.
66. Ancient Greek region: IONIA. AI Overview: In ancient Greece, Ionia was the central region of the west coast of Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey).
69. Lampoons: DERIDES.
72. Storyteller: NOVELIST.
74. V-up muscles: ABS.
75. "No kidding?": IT IS.
76. Kaput: DONE.
77. Jigsaw puzzle starting point, often: EDGE.
78. Squeezed (out): EKED.
79. Chums: PALS.
81. "Clan of the Cave Bear" author: AUEL.
82. Japanese noodle: UDON.
84. Cracker Jack bonus: TOY.
88. "That's not true!": LIAR.
89. "C'est magnifique!": OO LA LA. Andrea speaks fluent French.
90. Hunters' hideaways: BLINDS.
91. Winter Palace rulers: TSARS.
92. Arm bones: ULNAE.
93. Quarrel: RUN IN.
94. Collapses, with "over": KEELS.
95. Muppet who is fond of bubble baths: ERNIE.
96. Climb aboard: GET ON.
97. Atmosphere: CLIME.
98. Burn-soothing plants: ALOES.
101. From __: one step: A TO B.
102. Places for napkins: LAPS.
103. Plant-based spread: OLEO.
104. Quick itinerary?: SKED. Schedule.
105. Baking soda amts.: TSPS.
107. Short change?: CTS. Short indicates an Abbr.
108. Resource in Minecraft or Catan: ORE.
109. Male swan: COB.
C.C.
I neglected to read the
ReplyDeletetitle. However, the gimmick was evident from the first themed solve, so no problem. In fact, no problem whatsoever. FIR, so I’m happy.
Good morning!
ReplyDeleteCESTA is an old-timey cw entry that emerged from brain cells I thought were long dead. BULLION was one letter too short for my first guess. Who knew that READER'S DIGEST was still "alive?" It used to be a staple in the doctor's waiting room. Yes, BIG-D (Dallas) is NNW of H-Town (Houston), but it's 240 miles away -- not really in the neighborhood. Interesting puzzle, but I wasn't enthralled with the theme. Thanx, Michael, Andrea, and C.C. (I'm surprised you've decided to take those classes.)
FIR but just barely. Some “challenging” clue/answer pairings. CESTA, BIGD, RAISA, EXTRA, CLIME…all either arcane or clued strangely, and I always thought it was ooh la la. Clime and atmosphere as SYNs seem to befuddle online thesauri. Fortunately, perps and a little luck served as my ANTIDOTES to these stretched entries (was she Mama Dotes’ sister?)
ReplyDeleteSKED and INSTAS (along with its clue) should be put in a box with SESH and taken out and buried. Did get a kick out of EGGSBENEDICTION.
FIR. I loved the theme and got it early on when I filled eggs benediction. I wasn't paying much attention to the theme before that.
ReplyDeleteThere were a few knotty spots in today's puzzle but the perps were kind.
Overall an enjoyable puzzle.
Good Morning:
ReplyDeleteI’m pretty fussy when it comes to Sunday puzzles, but this one tickled my fancy, possibly because of the amusing and spot-on themers, particularly Eggs Benediction and its perfect clue. Even though the title and the first theme entry gave away the gimmick immediately, the solve was still fun and enjoyable because the C/As were not forced or foolish, IMO. There were a few unknowns, i.e., Iman, Carle, and Cali, but the perps were fair and the grid was free of the usual obtuse pop culture references.
Thanks, Michael and Andrea, for a lovely Sunday stroll and congrats, Andrea, on your Sunday debut. Thanks, also, to CC, for the always informative insider’s view on the nuts and bolts of crossword construction. Your new “do” is very attractive!
Have a great day.