Theme: "IT'S NOT LIKE THAT" - Each common phrase is re-imagined as description of two things being contrasted.
22. Ice versus Stone?: AGE DISPARITY.
30. Cotton versus silk?: MATERIAL DIFFERENCE.
46. Dibbling versus broadcasting?: SOWING DISSENT.
67. Stilton versus cheddar?: SHARP CONTRAST.
90. Octopus versus starfish?: ARMED CONFLICT.
105. Foil versus saber?: POINTS OF CONTENTION. Both have pointed tips.
118. Agar versus broth?: CULTURE CLASH.
I got a chuckle out of ARMED CONFLICT clue. I didn't know "dibbling" is a planting method or that "broadcasting" can mean scattering seeds.
In each theme entry, the first word is taken literally instead of in its usual figurative sense. That shift lets the phrases capture the "verse" setup in the clues.
Across:
1. Be a nuisance: IMPOSE. For 3 or 4 days last week, I didn't get any of your comments in my email box due to a blog glitch.
7. Natters: GABS.
11. Places to kick back: SPAS.
15. Reservoir structure: DAM.
18. Xylophone tool: MALLET.
19. Comic strip unit: PANEL.
20. __ in a blanket: PIGS.
21. JFK fig.: ETA.
24. Lena of "Romeo Is Bleeding": OLIN. Don't know the movie.
25. Good bit of French?: BON. "Good" in French.
26. Brewer's supply: YEAST.
27. Date tree: PALM. Chinese dates just grow on trees.
28. Penalty kick target: GOAL.
29. Common sacrifice: BUNT.
35. Italian beer brand: PERONI. Named after the founder Francesco Peroni.
38. Sticks together: CLEAVES. Or Splits apart.
39. "Family Matters" nerd: URKEL.
40. Pequod captain: AHAB.
41. Zilch: NIL.
44. Talked privately, for short: DM'e
45. __ Arbor, Michigan: ANN.
50. Inheritance law subjects: ESTATES.
54. Jacked, slangily: SWOLE.
55. With great skill: ABLY.
56. Lower leg fronts: SHINS.
58. Have another go: REDO.
59. Pet in a 51-Down: NEWT. 51. Home for a pet skink: TERRARIUM.
61. Impossibly long stretches: EONS.
63. Dec. 31: NYE.
64. Tiny amount: DRIB.
65. __ tai: MAI.
72. "The Crying Game" actor Stephen: REA. He was married to an IRA bomber.
73. Cupid counterpart: EROS.
75. Finish off: EAT.
76. Unadorned: BARE.
77. Hindu god: SIVA.
79. Port, e.g.: WINE.
80. __ Canyon National Park: BRYCE. 83. Utah city northeast of 80-Across: MOAB.
85. Pumps (up): FIRES.
88. Final leg: LAST LAP.
93. Bygone space station: MIR. In operation from 1986 to 2001.
94. Director Kazan: ELIA. Saw his "East of Eden".
95. __ polloi: HOI.
96. Pixar film set by the Ligurian Sea: LUCA. 2021 movie.
97. Massage targets: ACHES.
100. Five-time Emmy winner Laurence: OLIVIER.
103. Seinfeld neighbor: KRAMER.
109. Country where the Amazon originates: PERU.
110. __ tikki: potato patties: ALOO.
111. Taylor-Joy of "Emma": ANYA.
112. Got together: MET UP.
116. Poetic preposition: ERE.
117. Deli side: SLAW.
121. "The Late Great Johnny __": Paul Simon tune: ACE.
122. "That's a __ order": TALL.
123. Inuit craft: UMIAK. They also gave us Kayak.
124. Worked, as clay: MOLDED.
125. Article in a French paper?: LES. Definite article.
126. Bygone organizers, for short: PDAS.
127. Abandon ship: BAIL.
128. Smudges: SMEARS.
Down:
1. "It's possible": I MAY.
2. Sorcerer: MAGE.
3. Court response: PLEA.
4. Carmaker whose last new model was the Alero: OLDSMOBILE.
5. Meat substitute: SEITAN. Made from gluten. We call it mianjin in Chinese.
6. Sci-fi figures: ETS.
7. Cook's clove: GARLIC. And 37. Sliced burger toppings: RAW ONIONS.
8. Cracker shape: ANIMAL.
9. Casino action: BET.
10. Foxy: SLY.
11. Lampooned: SPOOFED.
12. Rice sides: PILAFS.
13. Light on one's feet: AGILE.
14. 1040 fig.: SSN.
15. Put to bed, as a rumor: DEBUNK.
16. En masse: AT ONCE.
17. "The Mirror & the Light" novelist Hilary: MANTEL. The last of the Cromwell trilogy. This is the first one.
19. Pre-Carson host of "The Tonight Show": PAAR.
23. 120-Down's face shields, masks, etc.: Abbr.: PPE. Personal Protective Equipment. And 120. Ambulance crew, briefly: EMS.
28. Hand out, long ago: GIVETH.
29. Saint __: dog breed: BERNARD.
31. Sound that may ring a bell?: TING. Bell sound.
32. Intro, in journalism jargon: LEDE.
33. Curses: DAMNS.
34. Smallest of a litter: RUNT.
35. "No thanks": PASS.
36. DIY help site: eHOW.
42. Nev. neighbor: IDA.
43. New York WNBA team: LIBERTY.
45. Put a value on: ASSESS.
47. Ticker info: NEWS.
48. Food in a trough: SLOP.
49. Bring into alignment: SYNC.
50. Singer born Eithne Pádraigín Ní Bhraonáin: ENYA. Seal even has a longer name.
52. Falco of "Nurse Jackie": EDIE.
53. Noodles in dashi: SOBA. I like cold soba.
57. At hand: IN REACH.
60. Future lawyer's hurdle, colloquially: THE BAR.
62. Cry loudly: SOB. And
65. Cry softly: MEWL.
66. Opera highlight: ARIA.
68. Senior advocacy group: AARP.
69. Driver's license line: NAME.
70. Walked over: TROD.
71. Little disagreement: TIFF.
74. Prix fixe feature: SET MENU.
81. Patchy cat: CALICO.
82. "Wicked" actress Cynthia: ERIVO.
84. "You stink, ump!": BOO.
86. __ homo: ECCE.
87. Headliner: STAR.
89. Planning aid: LIST.
91. Water source: MAIN.
92. Director Caro of 2020's "Mulan": NIKI. New Zealander.
94. Tiny predatory birds: ELF OWLS.
97. Post-verdict challenge: APPEAL.
98. Strong-arm: COERCE.
99. People brought on board: HIREES.
100. "Well, look at you!": OO LA LA.
101. Latin "and others": ET ALII.
102. Many a prom tux: RENTAL.
104. "The Hating Game" genre: ROM COM.
106. Food from a bar: SALAD.
107. Stooge's signature laugh: NYUK.
108. Paving gunk: TAR.
113. "That was my trick!": TA DA.
114. __ interface: USER.
115. Advanced postgrad degs.: PHDS.
117. Oil treatment brand: STP.
118. Ursa minor?: CUB. Cute.
119. Thurman of Hollywood: UMA.
C.C.
2 comments:
Some parts of this cw
were a little spotty, such as the crossing of “seitan” and “Peroni” as well as certain obscure names. Nevertheless, I managed to get through this. At least, all the themed answers were common in-the-language phrases so I’ll give them that.
Anyway, FIR, so I’m happy.
Good morning!
Thought "Jacked" meant STOLE, but it was the cross of SEITAN and PERONI that sent the bus over the cliff. Interesting theme, though. Thanx, ZDL and C.C.
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