Theme: "SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERIES" - A chemical element is added to each common phrase. This element pairs nicely with the following word to form a valid phrase also.
22. *Cowardly Lion or Scarecrow, probably?: TIN MAN'S BEST FRIEND. Tin Man. Man's best friend.
33. *Question on a history test about westward migration in the 1840s?: WHY THE BIG GOLD RUSH. Why the big rush. Gold rush.
49. *Surviving Victorian society, for a Dickens character?: COPPERFIELD GOAL. Copperfield. Field goal.
65. *Useful download for archaeologists?: CARBON DATING APP. Carbon dating. Dating app.
87. *Plea for a way to advertise a business that is open all night?: GIVE ME A NEON SIGN. Give me a sign. Neon sign.
100. *Primate habitat banner when the zoo acquires a new gorilla?: WELCOME SILVERBACK. Welcome back. Silverback.
Reveal:
112. Unexpected twist, or what's found in the answers to the starred clues: ELEMENT OF SURPRISE.
Husker Gary mentioned a while ago that Chandi is a full-time puzzler out of Cambridge, MA. Her puzzles are always fun and witty.
Have any of you solved the Slate crosswords? Chandi is one of the regular constructors there.
Across:
1. Climb: ASCENT.
7. Fancy car upgrades: RIMS.
11. One who's crossed a line?: SCAB. Picket line.
15. Old AOL missives: IMS.
18. How crêpe suzette is served: FLAMBE.
19. Stew-thickening pod: OKRA.
20. __ platter: PU PU. Never heard of this until I started solving crosswords.
21. Wray of "King Kong": FAY.
26. Feminine concept in Taoism: YIN. I eat a ton of Yin food in
the summer: cucumbers, tomatoes, etc. Time for Yang food now: sweet
potatoes, kabocha squash, etc.
27. Whirling water: EDDY.
28. MMA decision: TKO.
29. Hit the jackpot: WIN.
30. Kevlar creator: DUPONT.
32. Marina del __, California: REY.
38. Surface: ARISE.
40. Solemnly swear: AVOW.
41. Cease and __: DESIST.
42. Used a "Safe!" word?: UMPED. Also loved this clue: 59. Square figure?: AREA.
44. Kapoor of Hindi cinema: ANIL. Wikipedia says he has appeared in more than 100 films.
45. Membership fees: DUES.
47. Actress Kate or Rooney: MARA.
53. Tinkered (with): TOYED.
54. Laze about: LOLL.
55. Stately 110-Downs: ELMS. 110. Shade provider: TREE.
56. Words of warning: OR ELSE.
58. __ trombone: SAD.
60. __ check: GUT.
61. Some critical care pros: EMTS.
63. Witch costume props: BROOMS. I saw a few guys digging stuff near our post office. The company is called "Ditch Witch".
70. Eager student's cry: ME ME ME.
73. Preternatural glow: AURA.
74. Poetic preposition: O'ER. This is the only word where V's is contracted, right?
75. Parliament members?: OWLS.
79. Language suffix: ESE.
80. Font option: ITALIC.
83. Cat's "Thanks for petting me": PURR.
84. Mule, e.g.: SHOE.
85. Group of eight: OCTAD.
91. "Storage __": reality TV show: WARS.
92. Document option: SAVE.
93. Omar of "House": EPPS.
94. Exposed: OUTED.
95. Many a soda can: POP TOP.
97. Without charge: FREE.
98. Tundra or taiga: BIOME.
104. Scot's denial: NAE.
107. Glinda portrayer: ARIANA. Ariana Grande. Ethereal.
108. Savings option, for short: IRA.
109. Computing pioneer Lovelace: ADA.
110. Word in sloth names: TOED. Three-toed sloth.
111. Peyton or Eli, to Archie: SON. Time for Arch to shine.
118. "Lenore" poet: POE.
119. Shortcut image: ICON.
120. One who's really trying?: BRAT. Stressful "trying".
121. Applies to: USES ON.
122. Texting tech: SMS.
123. High-grade: A ONE.
124. Organization that chases Carmen Sandiego: ACME.
125. Makes tea: STEEPS.
Down:
1. Renovation photo caption: AFTER.
2. Waterpark feature: SLIDE.
3. Sticky carnival treat: CANDY APPLE. We eat candied hawthorns during Chinese New Year.
4. Primetime award: EMMY.
5. Org. for James and Durant: NBA.
6. Dimes, to dollars: TENTHS.
7. Alicia Vikander's "Ex Machina" role: ROBOT. Learning moment for me.
8. 1950s prez: IKE.
9. "And here's to you, __ Robinson": MRS.
10. Parked it: SAT.
11. Bit of thyme: SPRIG.
12. Prompting an actor: CUING.
13. Chimp, e.g.: APE.
14. Heaps: BUNDLES.
15. "Suuuuure": IF YOU SAY SO. And 16. Opposite of indie: MAINSTREAM. 71. Activity where people are really locked in?: ESCAPE ROOM. 72. Subway network: METRO LINES. Two pairs of paralleled 10's. Amazing grid work.
17. EDM instrument: SYNTH.
23. Inner Hebrides isle: SKYE.
24. Texter's "This might be useful": FWIW. For What It's Worth.
25. Getup: DUDS.
31. Top-ranked: PRIMO.
33. Like a panoramic view: WIDE.
34. Fruit of the Loom rival: HANES.
35. Very bad: EVIL.
36. Font option: BOLD.
37. NFL star __ Beckham Jr.: ODELL.
39. Swap out: REPLACE.
42. Jackie Robinson Stadium sch.: UCLA.
43. Tie up, as a boat: MOOR.
44. Have the objective of: AIM TO.
45. Latissimus __: back muscle: DORSI.
46. Fed. with artificial archipelagos known as the Palm Islands: UAE. This looks surreal.
48. Contributes: ADDS.
50. Feel sorry for: REGRET.
51. Drop the ball: FLUB.
52. "You __ try this!": GOTTA.
53. U. of Maryland athlete: TERP.
57. Food court pizza chain: SBARRO.
61. Evoke: EDUCE.
62. Make a dent in: MAR.
64. American marsupial: OPOSSUM.
66. Among: AMID.
67. Not world-weary: NAIVE.
68. People, places, things, etc.: NOUNS.
69. "Sommersby" star: GERE. Not familiar with the movie.
70. Cat's "Please pet me": MEOW.
76. Neutral sound that may be a sleep aid: WHITE NOISE. Been a blissful few months. No weed. No noise. The company that owns 5501 decided to sell the house. Pending right now.
77. Theater section: LOGE.
78. Chat box button: SEND.
81. Visibly shocked: AGAPE.
82. Actress Tyler: LIV.
83. Rock, __, Scissors: PAPER.
86. Rescue rehoming org.: ASPCA.
88. Game show creator Griffin: MERV.
89. Fencing option: EPEE. The pride of Hong Kong: Vivian Kong. She won gold in women's epee in Paris.
90. Cozy reading spot: NOOK.
92. Kenya neighbor: SOMALIA.
96. "Don't you take that __ with me!": TONE.
97. Custard dessert: FLAN.
98. Singer Erykah: BADU.
99. High-flying guy of myth: ICARUS. His wings melted.
100. Winged stingers: WASPS.
101. Pegg of "The Boys": SIMON.
102. Sherlock adversary Adler: IRENE.
103. Roast turkey instruction: BASTE.
105. Greek fabulist: AESOP.
106. Unblemished spots: EDENS.
113. Green prefix: ECO.
114. Abbr. on an unfinished schedule: TBA.
115. Hobbit enemy: ORC.
116. Nearest and dearest, colloquially: FAM.
117. Oregon hrs.: PST.
C.C.
2 comments:
Although I didn’t
remember the title of this puzzle after I read it, the gimmick of the theme was easy to figure out from the first themed solve. And the puzzle went (relatively) smoothly from there. FIR, so I’m happy.
Good morning!
Started right off with an error -- ASCENd, and kept making them: tsa/GUT, AIM at/TO, bff/FAM. Even misread the clue as "Bit of rhyme." It wasn't d-o's finest hour. Found all the elements without difficulty, and managed to finish under 20 minutes, better than an average Sunday. Enjoyed the exercise, Chandi, and your expo, C.C.
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