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.
It wasn’t too tough,
ReplyDeletein spite of some fairly long and
semi-obscure “down” answers.
Anyway, FIR, so I’m happy.
Good morning!
ReplyDeleteVery 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.
Doug Peterson has been creating puzzles for a ver long time and his straightforward Sundays are always fun. C.C. you are overthinking - FOLDER is the office supply and is completely consistent with the other themers.
ReplyDeleteDAITH was a complete unknown but filled easily. Today is George Washington’s Birthday or at least when we used to celebrate it. Take the day and have some. Our temps are going back into the 40’s after record 88 today. No complaints.