Chop, Chop. The first word of each theme answer describes a form of cutting.
3-Down. Yahtzee, craps, et al.: DICE GAMES.
9-Down. Mysterious designs in fields: CROP CIRCLES.
20-Down. Portable writing surface: CLIP BOARD.
23-Down. Fruit-filled breakfast treat: PRUNE DANISH.
And the unifier:
34-Down. On the next level, or what 3-, 9-, 20-, and 23-Down literally have: A CUT ABOVE. Notice that each theme answer is in the Down position, thereby allowing that the "Cutting" word is "Above" the rest of the answer.
Here's the Grid:
Across:
1. "One last thing ... ": AND, ALSO ...
8. Gadget for a seafood chef: SCALER. A fish scaler is a tool designed to remove inedible scales from fish while keeping the skin intact. A good one will have a lid to contain the scales instead of making a mess on the table.
14. Chewy bits in some oatmeal cookies: RAISINS. I would prefer chocolate chips in my cookies.
15. Estrogen, e.g.: HORMONE.
16. Noisy insects that emerge in summer: CICADAS. There is a species of cicadas, known as periodical cicadas, that live underground for years, only to appear every 17-years, make loud noises, mate, then die.
17. Small crustaceans: ISOPODS. Isopods are a diverse group of crustaceans, related to crabs and shrimp. They have segmented bodies, a hard exoskeleton, and seven pairs of legs. Some species can to roll into a ball for defense. Not all isopods are small. They can range in size from tiny to the giant deep-sea isopods, which can be over a foot long, and play important roles as scavengers in their ecosystems.
18. Luge, for one: SLED.
19. Get stuff ready for vacation: PACK UP.
21. Series of reps in the gym: SET.
22. Empty spaces: GAPS.
24. Sponged (off): LEECHED.
26. "__-ching!": CHA.
28. "Bohemian Rhapsody" Oscar winner Malek: RAMI. Rami Said Malek (b. May 12, 1981) portrayed Queen lead singer, Freddie Mercury (né Farrokh Bulsara; Sept. 5, 1946 ~ Nov. 24, 1991), in the movie Bohemian Rhapsody.
30. "O Sole __": MIO.
31. Target: AIM.
32. Sch. that hosts the Sun Bowl: UTEP. As in the University of Texas, El Paso. Before becoming a part of the University of Texas System, the school, which was founded in 1913, was known as the State School of Mines and Metallurgy. Hence, the they are the Miners.
33. To-do list trip: ERRAND.
37. Fuss at the mirror: PREEN.
39. "Euphoria" cable network: HBO. Home BoxOffice.
41. Chocolate source: CACAO. Everything you ever wanted to know about cacao and chocolate but didn't know to ask.
42. Made a cozy home: NESTED.
44. Not written down, as a contract: ORAL.
46. Official who calls balls and strikes: UMP.
47. Laudatory poem: ODE. These poems are crossword staples.
48. Ready, willing, and __: ABLE.
49. Driver's seat?: TEE. Think golf.
50. Snack brand named for a Roman moon goddess: LUNA BAR.
53. Dept. of Labor div.: OSHA. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is a federal agency that ensures safe working conditions by setting standards and enforcing them.
55. Equinox mo.: SEP. Equinoxes occur twice a year, in March (around the 20th–21st) and September (around the 22nd–23rd). The equinox marks when the sun crosses the celestial equator, resulting in nearly equal day and night lengths all around the world.
56. Fool around (with): NOODLE.
58. Kimono sashes: OBIs.
61. Consider anew: RE-THINK.
63. Seasonal quaffs: EGG NOGS.
65. Awakens: AROUSES.
66. Take revenge: GET EVEN.
67. Electronic keyboards, informally: SYNTHS.
68. Appetizer-size burgers: SLIDERS.
Down:
1. Rainbow shapes: ARCS.
2. Get just right: NAIL.
4. Carne __ tacos: steak dish: ASADA. Yummers! Carne asada is a Mexican dish of marinated, grilled, and thinly sliced beef.
5. Tupperware top: LID. In the mid-1940s, Earl Tupper (July 28, 1907 ~ October. 5, 1983) came up with a flexible and airtight polyethylene plastic containers, famously featuring a "burping" lid. In the 1950s, Tupperware parties were all the vogue. It was a kitchen staple when I was growing up. I may still have some my mother's Tupperware pieces/
6. Gets short with: SNAPS AT.
7. Mount of Greek myth: OSSA. While it may be associated with Greek mythology, Mount Ossa, is a real mountain in Thessaly, Greece.
8. Offender's defiant challenge: SO SUE ME.
10. Concert device: AMP.
11. Start to change?: LOOSE.
12. Came to a stop: ENDED.
13. Sit for a spell: REST.
15. Long walk: HIKE.
25. Jewish wedding dance: HORA.
26. Crunch's rank in the cereal aisle: CAP'N. Cap'n Crunch has been around since the early 1960s.
27. Fill a job opening: HIRE.
29. "It's alright, I suppose": MEH.
35. First entry on many a form: NAME.
36. Suss (out), informally: DOPE.
38. School attended by many English statesmen: ETON. Prince William (b. June 21, 1982) and Eddie Redmayne (b. Jan. 6, 1982) were classmates at Eaton.
40. Poetic sphere: ORB.
43. Fillets, as a flounder: DEBONES.
45. Soothing balm for a sunburn: ALOE GEL.
50. Suspicious (of): LEERY.
51. "The Jungle" writer Sinclair: UPTON. The Jungle is a novel that exposed the harsh realities of immigrant life and labor in Chicago's meatpacking industry. The 1906 novel was instrumental in Congress passing the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act of 1906. Many books by Upton Sinclair (né Upton Beall Sinclair Jr.; b. Sept. 20, 1878 ~ Nov. 25, 1968) focused on social reform literature. He was considered a muckraker journalist and political activist. His novel Oil! is as relevant today as it was when it was first published in 1926.
52. NASA go-aheads: A-OKs. NASA gave Artemis II the go-ahead just last week.
54. Made sharper: HONED.
55. Sp. titles: SRAs. Today's Spanish lesson.
57. Staying power: LEGS.
59. Disney CEO before D'Amaro: IGER. Just last month, Josh D'Amaro (b. Feb. 10, 1971) became the CEO of Disney. His predecessor was Robert Alan Iger (b. Feb. 10, 1951). Interestingly, Bob Iger is exactly 20 years older than Josh D'Amaro.
60. Hyphenated personal IDs: SSNs. As in Social Security Numbers.
62. Crude dwelling: HUT.
64. VW hatchback: GTI. GTI stands Grand Touring Injection. It refers to a performance-oriented, fuel-injected car, famously utilized by Volkswagen since the to signify a fast, practical "hot hatch" suitable for long-distance driving.
חתולה
12 comments:
There were a few
obscure names and terms, but on the whole, I didn’t think this was a difficult puzzle; no, not at all.
FIR, so I’m happy.
Good morning!
Hmmmm, looks like an unusual theme-free Tuesday. I skated right through this one, avoiding a fall on my triple-axel. Mom based her chocolate chip cookies on an oatmeal cookie. I loved 'em. I asked dw what she was planning for Saturday, and she told me she was going to sit down and make a to-do list. I can certify that LOOSE change is a thing of the past. We used to find a few coins every day on our march through the 'hood. No more. I enjoyed Michael's puzzle, even if I didn't totally "get" it. Super expo, Hahtoolah.
Good Morning:
Another theme that kept me guessing until the reveal, which usually happens with vertical themers. I like the reveal and the themers are solid, as well. Interesting fact about Luna Bar, but I can’t imagine anyone saying Synths but, then again, shortening of words seems to be very popular these days. Overall, a pleasant Tuesday solve.
Thanks, Michael, and thanks, Hahtoolah, for the numerous chuckles and the in-depth facts about so many different subjects. My favorite comic was the one for Eggnog and the off-duty Ump was a close second.
Have a great day.
FIR, but soft c->LOOSE, and mar->SEP. I usually see September abbreviated "Sept," but I'm sure there are applications out there that restrict it to three characters.
There are also 13-year cicadas and annual cicadas.
DNK LUNA Bar. Mr. Google tells me that they were introduced in 1999 and designed primarily for women. I'll stick with KitKats, but I'd really prefer homemade white chocolate / macadamia nut cookies (if it's not too much trouble.)
I've only heard NOODLE mean "fool around" in reference to guitar play. The late Eddie Van Halen used the phrase in a more familiar context in his Beautiful Girls:
What a sweet talkin' honey with a little bit o' money
She turn your head around
A creature from the sea with the looks to me
Like she like to fool around
Thanks to Michael for the fun Tuesday. I enjoyed it all, but I thought the cluing for TEE was, well, MEH. And thanks to Ha2la for another fine review. Couldn't list a single favorite, but I really enjoyed the little doll being the middle child, the waaaiiiting room, and the fresh take on ALOE.
My Mom's oatmeal cookies were also made with Chocolate Chips. They were the best!
QOD: Diplomacy is the art of letting somebody else have your way. ~ Sir David Frost (né David Paradine Frost; Apr. 7, 1939 ~ Aug. 31, 2013), British journalist and television personality
FIR. Easy Tuesday puzzle. Zipped through with no problems whatsoever.
For some reason I didn't get the theme right off and after staring at the finished puzzle for a while, I suddenly had my aha moment. Very clever theme!
Overall a most enjoyable puzzle.
Neat CW for this fine morning. I had to wait for the reveal to get the clever theme. Thank goodness very few people names, although I committed a faux pas at first confusing Sinclair Lewis and UPTON Sinclair. The LUNA BAR saved me.
Thank you Hahtoolah for another fun and informative review. Interesting about UT EP’s history.
I ALWAYS mix up Sinclair Lewis and Upton Sinclair, and I'm not alone. For those of you who have figured out how NOT to confuse the two, what is your secret?
We could try remembering there’s a U in Jungle, so the author must be UPTON Sinclair.
I, too, confidently wrote in Lewis. Same number of letters. The perps quickly corrected the error of my ways. I have read books by both authors. Sinclair Lewis is a more gentle writer.
Musings
-I went about as fast as I can type (no red letter help) and sliced my way to a 7:30 time.
-I just read yesterday’s late comments and enjoyed the conversation about solving modes. I switched to online solving because the Omaha World Herald stopped publishing the LA puzzles.
-Believe it or not, Stella Zawistowski has a Daily Commuter Puzzle in our paper that is barely “Mondayish” in difficulty.
-Oatmeal raisin cookies are my fav, especially when they are slightly over-baked.
-LUGE – Going 90 mph on a cafeteria tray does not appeal to me
-This great and provocative movie tells the story of how UTEP, then known as Texas Western, won the NCAA National Championship in basketball by daring to start 5 black players.
-The NCAA basketball championship ENDED with a loss for every team but Michigan during March Madness this month
-All my doctors now use iPad forms and have quit paper and pencil ones. Yay!
-My “TO DO LIST” now includes putting the snow blower back as the 4” of snow predicted for last night was a bust
C ut my way through this one in 4:30 today.
H ad a hard time coming up with "Ossa."
O atmeal cookies without raisins are better than with raisins.
P rofessional basketball player Tim Hardaway had a move called the "UTEP two-step." Naturally, he played collegiate basketball at UTEP.
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