Theme: "EXTRA PADDING" - P is added to each common phrase.
23. Jaunty coast-to-coast race?: CROSS-COUNTRY SKIP. Cross-country ski.
39. Arizona running back's evasive maneuver?: CARDINAL SPIN. Cardinal sin.
58. Incomprehensible peace treaty?: A HARD PACT TO FOLLOW. A hard act to follow.
80. "Sesame Street: Sing the Alphabet," perhaps?: BEST-SPELLING ALBUM. Best-selling album.
99. Painters who specialize in portraits of imps?: SCAMP ARTISTS. Scam artist.
120. "Better not throw a changeup"?: SCRATCH THAT PITCH. Scratch that itch.
You need to read the title as P-ADDING. Very clever. When I first glanced at the title, I thought the letters EXTRA were orderly added to each common phrase.
A nice variety where P is added to the start, the end and the middle. You can't get free letter fill-ins.
Katie, Patti's assistant, is also a terrific constructor. She's been generous with her time and guidance to all constructors.
Across:
1. Noise that repeats nine minutes after snoozing: ALARM. The default snooze interval is 9 minutes.
6. Home of the NWSL's Royals: UTAH. The National Women's Soccer League.
10. La __: Italian opera venue: SCALA.
15. Good spot to check for loose change: SOFA.
19. Red __: playground game: ROVER.
20. Bond villain with an underwater lair: DR NO.
21. Islamic dietary standard: HALAL. Opposite of haram.
22. Video game franchise set on ring-shaped worlds: HALO.
26. Shiraz's land: IRAN.
27. Attached with thread: SEWED ON.
28. Cassowary relative: EMU.
29. Tried something new: HAD A TASTE. Have you had hÅjicha tea before?
31. Tic-__-toe: TAC.
32. Scrapping: AXING.
34. Legitimate: LICIT.
35. Relax completely: BLISS OUT.
44. "Good to go!": A-OK.
45. American short story writer Bret: HARTE.
47. Padre's hermana: TIA. Father's sister.
48. Shot administrator: NURSE.
49. Hosted, for short: MCED.
51. Skewed view: BIAS.
53. "Licorice Pizza" setting: ENCINO. LA area.
57. "Close this program" key: ESC.
62. __ it up: YUK.
63. Beijing money: YUAN. Here's one Yuan. My dad's salary was 49
Yuan ($8) per month for a long while. I learned to take care of my
clothes at an earlier age, as we didn't get new clothes until the
Chinese New Year.
64. "Oh boy": MAN.
65. Midflight info: ALT.
66. "What difference __ it make?": DOES.
67. Tidy up: CLEAN.
69. Turned off?: WENT BAD. And
72. Gets even?: IRONS. Fun clues.
74. "__ she blows!": THAR.
75. Arriving soon: DUE.
77. Vegan milk choice: OAT. Grew up drinking soy milk.
78. Years, in Italian: ANNI.
79. Bowl edge: RIM.
87. "Midsommar" director Aster: ARI.
88. Photoshop tool: ERASER.
89. Absence: LACK.
90. Time long past: YORE.
91. Latest fad: MANIA.
93. Year divs.: MOS.
95. Maldon and Himalayan pink: SALTS. Never tried Himalayan pink salt.
98. In the past: AGO.
104. Beef stroganoff, e.g.: MEAT STEW.
106. Romantasy novelist __ J. Maas: SARAH. She wrote the "Throne of Glass" series.
107. "__ been warned": YOU'VE.
109. Co. founder's second title, often: CEO. Not co-founder. Company founder.
110. Literary 1-Down: PLOT LINES. 1. Characters' journeys: ARCS.
114. Cocktail shaker noisemaker: ICE.
115. Tubes: TEEVEES.
119. Actor Liu: SIMU.
123. Blueprint detail: SPEC. This P is the only non-theme P in the grid.
124. Rock opera by The Who: TOMMY.
125. Chemist's building block: ATOM.
126. __ de tigre: ceviche marinade: LECHE. Tiger's milk. Google
result: "Leche de Tigre is usually made using lime juice, sliced onion,
chillies, salt, pepper and of course the wonderful juices of the fish it
helps to marinate. It's sometimes served with the ceviche and sometimes
in a separate glass." No milk is involved.
127. Totally flop: TANK.
128. Got going: AROSE.
129. Looks at: SEES.
130. Shared values: ETHOS.
Down:
2. Ancient tales: LORE.
3. Swear: AVOW.
4. Unplugs and plugs back in, say: RESETS.
5. Low-sodium seasoning brand: MRS DASH. I have this bottle.
6. Japanese noodle: UDON.
7. "Ur correct": TRU. Too lazy to add an E.
8. Additional wing: ANNEX.
9. Source of some political gaffes: HOT MIC.
10. A little short: SHY. And
11. Till filler: CASH.
12. Basic compound: ALKALI.
13. Stored up: LAID IN.
14. Fleecy camelid: ALPACA.
15. Acupressure massage: SHIATSU. Literally finger pressure.
16. Couple of rowers: OARS.
17. London apartment: FLAT.
18. Primo: A ONE.
24. Brown shade: COCOA.
25. Cost: RUN AT.
30. Up to the moment: TIL NOW.
32. Story accessed by ladder, maybe: ATTIC.
33. Sorrow: GRIEF.
35. Iron Bowl team, familiarly: BAMA. Iron Bowl is the rivalry between Alabama Crimson Tide and Auburn Tigers.
36. Highlands water: LOCH.
37. Malm bed seller: IKEA.
38. __ Outfitters: URBAN.
40. "Pantheon" voice actor Paul: DANO.
41. Target, as for a con: PREY ON.
42. Magazine productions: ISSUES.
43. Bottle parts: NECKS.
46. Words on a Wonderland cake: EAT ME.
50. Wash day appliance: DRYER.
52. Superfan: STAN.
54. Covered (in): CLAD.
55. Sick: ILL.
56. Paying careful attention to: NOTING.
59. With 111-Down, "Illusion" singer: DUA. 111. See 59-Down: LIPA.
60. Insincerely aim to please: PANDER.
61. Using pointe shoes: ON TOE.
66. Fancy mat: DOILY.
67. French president before Sarkozy: CHIRAC. Jacques Chirac (1995-2007). Nicolas Sarkozy (2007–2012).
68. Thin coating: LAMINA.
69. Preps, as a Slip 'N Slide: WETS.
70. Marble, for one: BALL.
71. Mercator projection book: ATLAS.
73. Vaccine molecule: RNA.
74. Amusement park rides: TRAMS.
76. Winners of the first FIFA Women's World Cup: USA. 1991. USA defeated Norway 2-1 in the final in Guangzhou.
78. Maxi skirt terminus: ANKLE.
80. "Little help here": BE A PAL.
81. Not entirely: SEMI.
82. Like tedious text: PROSY.
83. Start of a classic boast: I CAME. I saw. I conquered.
84. Craft sometimes shaped like a swan: BOAT.
85. Strong impulse: URGE.
86. Mouser's call: MEOW.
92. "Little help here": I'M STUCK.
94. Showing no feelings: STOIC.
96. "Don't play," in music: TACET. Related to tacit.
97. Church topper: STEEPLE.
100. Record label launched by Clive Davis: ARISTA.
101. Deep hatred: RANCOR.
102. Dynamics prefix: THERMO.
103. "An example being ...?": SUCH AS.
105. Part of USSR: SOVIET.
108. Chevy sports car, for short: VETTE.
110. "Hey, can you keep a secret?": PSST.
112. Sign from above: OMEN.
113. __ Club: SAM'S.
115. Scots' bonnets: TAMS.
116. Make a nameplate, perhaps: ETCH.
117. Sound in an empty room: ECHO.
118. Patrick Swayze's "__ Like the Wind": SHE'S.
121. Sheridan of "Mud": TYE. He also starred "Ready Player One"
122. Garden tool: HOE.
C.C.
