Theme: "SUPPLIES ARE LIMITED" - Familiar phrases are re-imagined as literal office supply items in the specific setting described in each clue.
23. Writing tablet at a cleaning service?: SCOURING PAD.
29. Copier sheets at a French restaurant?: CREPE PAPER.
45. Writing implements at a biotech lab?: GENETIC MARKERS.
66. File holder at a music store?: ACCORDION FOLDER.
93. Metal fasteners at a culinary school?: KITCHEN STAPLES.
107. Adhesive roll at a watch factory?: TICKER TAPE.
117. Measuring device at a toy store?: PUPPET RULER.
Six entries follow a consistent pattern in which the final word is a common office supply item (PAD, PAPER, MARKERS, STAPLES, TAPE, RULER). ACCORDION FOLDER differs slightly in structure: instead of ending with the supply, the entire phrase is itself the office item. Does it also have a non-office meaning I'm not aware of?
Across:
1. Commotion: FUSS. And 25. Commotions: ADOS.
5. Hat for Carmen Sandiego: FEDORA.
11. "A Boy Named Sue" singer: CASH (Johnny)
15. Peppa and Petunia: PIGS.
19. Break __ song: INTO.
20. Resume business: RE-OPEN.
21. City northeast of Mauna Loa: HILO. 26. Coffee district west of 21-Across: KONA.
22. "I think I goofed": UH OH.
27. Castle tower: TURRET.
28. Highest part: TOP.
31. Foul territory?: STY. OK, disgusting "foul".
32. Unspecified amount: SOME.
34. Self-satisfied: SMUG.
36. Spots for daith piercings: EARS. I didn't know the meaning of "daith": an ear piercing in the inner cartilage just above the earhole.
37. Antique photos: SEPIAS.
39. Research specialties: AREAS.
41. Catherine of "The Studio": O'HARA. A wonderful actress who passed away last month.
49. Fight show for more than 30 years: WWE RAW.
50. Keep an eye on: OVERSEE.
51. New Mexico art hub: TAOS.
52. However, briefly: THO.
54. Succotash bean: LIMA. I grew some on our deck years ago. I had a small harvest.
55. Fishhook projection: BARB.
56. Buster: BUB.
57. Does in a forest: DEER.
58. Dragon's retreat: LAIR.
59. __ pale ale: INDIA.
61. "Grand Hotel" star Greta: GARBO.
63. Eurasian range: URALS.
65. Counterculture drug: LSD.
70. Bit of hair gel: DAB.
73. American Red Cross founder Barton: CLARA.
74. Old record players: HIFIS.
75. Blubbers: WEEPS.
79. "The Young and the Restless" actor Braeden: ERIC.
81. Beauty brand: OLAY.
82. "Don't lose any sleep over it," in a text: NBD. No Big Deal.
83. Colombian metropolis: CALI.
84. Overdo the praise: GUSH.
86. Fill completely: SATE.
88. Advil alternative: ASPIRIN.
91. "All __!": ABOARD.
96. Decaf brand: SANKA.
97. Part of an EGOT: OSCAR. 44. 97-Across, e.g.: AWARD.
98. Call it a day: RETIRE.
99. "Thunderstruck" band: AC/DC.
101. Nights of anticipation: EVES.
103. Have a chat: TALK.
104. "Groovy!": FAB.
111. French affirmation: OUI.
113. Gloomy Milne character: EEYORE.
115. Home of the NHL's Mammoth: UTAH. The Utah Mammoth and the Utah Jazz have the same owner.
116. Jedi who becomes a Force ghost in "Return of the Jedi": YODA.
119. Software test version: BETA.
120. __ fail: EPIC.
121. Chaperone: ESCORT.
122. "Mulan" voice actress __-Na Wen: MING. Mulan means "magnolia".
123. "Praise be!": AMEN.
124. Place for curlers: RINK.
125. Texas congressman Joaquin: CASTRO.
126. Circus routines: ACTS.
Down:
1. Clenched hands: FISTS.
2. Not censored at all: UNCUT.
3. "Likely __!": STORY.
4. Whiskey cocktail: SOUR.
5. Chili-and-chips dish: FRITO PIE.
6. Nightfall, poetically: EEN.
7. Iditarod crew: DOG TEAM.
8. Dirt on a campaign rival, briefly: OPPO. Opposition research.
9. Brings in: REAPS.
10. "... __ a bottle of rum": AND.
11. Juice box?: CHARGER. Power "juice".
12. Assistant: AIDE.
13. Spots for sledding: SLOPES.
14. Book before Joel: HOSEA.
15. Beadlike piece on a Hawaiian necklace: PUKA SHELL. Puka is "hole" in Hawaiian.
16. Denny's rival: IHOP.
17. Vanished: GONE.
18. __-pei: wrinkly dog from China: SHAR.
24. Moves back to zero: RESETS.
29. Preserves in salt: CURES.
30. Clipper's front: PROW. Opposite STERN.
33. Attic pests: MICE.
35. Powerful shark: MAKO.
37. Novak Djokovic's nation: SERBIA.
38. Middle of some long weekends: SATURDAY.
40. Orbiter smaller than a planet: ASTEROID. Also 49. Planet: WORLD.
42. Common typeface: ARIAL.
43. Director Harold: RAMIS. He directed "Caddyshack".
45. Mongolian desert: GOBI. Across northern China also. Inner Mongolia is an autonomous region in China.
46. "Dear __ Hansen": EVAN.
47. Socially awkward type: NERD.
48. Talmudic scholar: RABBI.
53. Gets all better: HEALS.
56. Quarters on a base: BARRACKS.
57. Brew served at Moe's Tavern: DUFF BEER.
60. Clemson's athletic gp.: ACC.
61. Hockey scores: GOALS.
62. "That's really impressive!": OOH.
64. Work on "Project Runway," say: SEW.
67. Bringer of rain: CLOUD.
68. Third of a third: NINTH.
69. Chef's road map: RECIPE.
70. "Dancer Adjusting Her Slipper" artist: DEGAS. 77. Ballet bend: PLIE.
71. Oranjestad's country: ARUBA.
72. Animal on old nickels: BISON. This eBay seller wants $65K for this coin.
76. Rapper __ Sweatshirt: EARL.
78. Transgressions: SINS.
80. Singer with the 1984 hit "I Feel for You": CHAKA KHAN.
86. Barrel component: STAVE.
87. Unit of forestland: ACRE.
88. "The Thin Man" dog: ASTA.
89. Spiky heel: STILETTO.
90. "Spider-Man" surname: PARKER.
92. Talladega event: RACE. Talladega Superspeedway.
94. Sprain soother: ICE PACK.
95. Nasal cavity cleansing vessel: NETI POT.
97. Tentacled mollusks: OCTOPI. With garlic sprouts.
100. Salon appliance: DRYER.
102. "The March King": SOUSA.
104. __ acid: FOLIC. I take this every day to reduce the side effects of methotrexate.
105. Isn't for you?: AREN'T.
106. Icy obstacles: BERGS.
107. Polka band horn: TUBA.
108. Individual thing: ITEM.
109. Actress Blanchett: CATE.
110. Score after deuce, at times: AD IN.
112. Market IDs: UPCS.
114. Sonoran Desert city: YUMA.
117. Torso muscle, for short: PEC.
118. Go wrong: ERR.
C.C.
2 comments:
It wasn’t too tough,
in spite of some fairly long and
semi-obscure “down” answers.
Anyway, FIR, so I’m happy.
Good morning!
Very straight-forward puzzle. I can't think of any misdirection in the clues, and d-o finished with plenty of time left on the clock. ERIC could've been clued as "Gray's Anatomy actor Dane" -- he passed away last week from ALS. Doug is becoming a regular Sunday visitor. Thanx to him, and thanks also to C.C. for the expo.
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