Theme: "WRITE-UPS"- The first word of each theme entry is a newspaper.
3. Pride and joy of many an audiophile: RECORD COLLECTION.
8. One who takes the snap and the spotlight: STAR QUARTERBACK.
13. Insist on a debate, perhaps: PRESS THE ISSUE.
48. Memorization aid in math class: TIMES TABLE CHART.
56. Cultural movement of the 1960s and 1970s: POSTMODERNISM.
Reveal:
41. Editorial essays, or what 3-, 8-, 13-, 48-, and 56-Down are: NEWSPAPER COLUMNS.
The theme answers are placed in Down slots, forming literal newspaper columns.
This puzzle only has 13 three-letter entries. Amazing. I often find myself with 24 or 25 before I know it.
Across:
1. Dragon roll wrap: NORI. Dragon rolls are typically inside-out rolls, with the nori hidden inside.
5. X-ray specs?: REMS. Radiation dosages. Great clue.
9. Sea anemone, e.g.: POLYP.
14. Spanakopita cheese: FETA.
18. Equally matched: EVEN.
19. Awards achievement completed by Steven Spielberg in 2026: EGOT. Only 22 people have achieved this status.
20. Thin layer: VENEER.
21. Keen: AVID.
22. Suggestions, for short: RECS.
23. Fizzy beverage: SODA.
24. Chilling: AT EASE.
25. K, in the NATO alphabet: KILO.
26. Give up: DROP.
27. Layer: TIER.
28. Rogan josh bread: NAAN. Rogan Josh is a curried lamb or mutton dish.
29. Gets a whiff: SMELLS.
31. Caramel candies: ROLOS.
33. Feathery pen: QUILL.
35. Kaplan prep course subj.: PSAT. 53. Kaplan prep course subjs.: APS.
36. Up in the air, briefly: TBD. To Be Decided/Determined.
38. Biceps exercise: ARM CURL.
40. Falcons city: ATLANTA. NFL.
44. Mysterious to many: ARCANE.
46. Marimba player: MALLET.
49. Black eyes: SHINERS.
50. Ecological community: BIOME.
51. FYI part: FOR.
52. Fly: AVIATE.
54. Whack, as a fly: SWAT.
55. Without a partner: SOLO.
56. 1492 ship: PINTA.
58. Damage: IMPAIR.
60. Pre-1991 atlas initials: SSR.
61. Teased: LED ON.
63. Escapes the notice of: ELUDES.
65. Lyric poet of Lesbos: SAPPHO. Lesbian comes from Lesbos.
67. Corrupt: DEBASE.
68. Landscaping tools: RAKES.
69. Off course: ASTRAY.
70. "That's impossible for us": WE CAN'T.
71. Missing class: ABSENT.
72. Prepare to play: CUE UP.
73. Canadian prov.: ONT.
74. Empire Builder operator: AMTRAK. The Empire Builder runs daily between Chicago and Seattle or Portland.
76. Small sip: TASTE.
78. Target of a brood parasite such as the cowbird: NEST. Cowbirds lay their eggs in other birds' nests, leaving the host parents to raise the chicks.
81. Best-__ plans: LAID.
83. Mine vehicle: ORE CAR.
85. Mass transit option: BUS.
86. American Eagle Outfitters loungewear brand: AERIE.
87. Home of Jupiter: FLORIDA.
89. Uses a prayer mat, e.g.: KNEELS.
91. Much of the heart: MUSCLE.
92. Powerfully built: SINEWED.
93. Gorillagram costume: APE SUIT.
95. Blesses: OKS.
96. Bluetooth device's lack, often: WIRE.
97. Bare-bones: BASIC.
99. Sneak around: PROWL.
101. Composer Bach: JOHANN.
104. "Alice's Restaurant" singer Guthrie: ARLO.
105. "Very funny": HA HA.
107. Large lump: HUNK.
110. Declare: AVOW.
111. For nothing: IN VAIN.
113. Eager: AGOG.
114. Sign of things to come: OMEN.
115. Last name of sisters Rooney and Kate: MARA. Rooney Mara is married to Joaquin Phoenix.
116. Meshes in the kitchen: SIEVES.
117. Dominate: RULE.
118. In the know about: ONTO.
119. Crush it on the runway, say: SLAY.
120. "Circles Around This Town" singer Morris: MAREN.
121. Smidgens: TADS.
122. Hushed "hey!": PSST.
Down:
1. Deep member of a fandom: NERD.
2. Concluded: OVER.
4. Motivation, in hashtags: INSPO. Short for "inspiration".
5. Put back: RESTORE.
6. Extreme self-involvement: EGOISM.
7. Mean relative?: MODE. Another fun clue.
9. "She loves me, she loves me not" piece: PETAL. My little garden is thriving. I'm so happy to see Boomer's lilies flourishing again.
10. Lakers legend Shaquille: O'NEAL.
11. Like ground turkey: LEAN.
12. "100%!": YES.
14. Sunless glow-ups: FAKE TANS.
15. Wicked: EVIL.
16. Cultivate: TILL.
17. Ruckuses: ADOS.
20. Spice native to Mesoamerica: VANILLA. Pandan is often called "Asian vanilla".
30. Senegal neighbor: MALI.
32. "Stay in your __!": LANE.
34. Clickable link: URL.
35. Carbonara ingredient: PASTA.
36. Browser units: TABS.
37. Pizzazz: BRIO.
39. "Shake a leg!": C'MON.
42. Tawdry: TRASHY.
43. Houston pro: ASTRO.
45. Single-celled creature: AMOEBA.
47. Barefaced: EVIDENT.
51. "Whatever": FINE.
57. Fairbanks resident: ALASKAN.
59. Grade: RATE.
62. CNN anchor Bash: DANA.
64. Luau instrument, informally: UKE.
66. Dried plums: PRUNES.
67. Koyukon name of North America's tallest peak: DENALI. Meaning "The Great One".
69. Play parts, or plays a part: ACTS.
70. Gobbles (down): WOLFS.
71. Exist: ARE.
75. Take stock?: TRADE. Stock here refers to "shares" rather than "inventory".
77. Work (out): SUSS.
79. Lingerie fabric: SILK.
80. Some gym tops: TEES.
82. Recoiled: DREW AWAY.
84. Works (out): REASONS.
86. Camera setting: AUTO.
88. "Victory is mine!": I WIN.
90. Prefix with Pen: EPI.
91. Desert deceptions: MIRAGES.
94. Sustain: UPHOLD.
97. Lionhearted: BRAVE.
98. Rocky of "Project Hail Mary," for one: ALIEN.
100. Joyful holler: WHOOP.
101. Preserves: JAMS.
102. Like some coffee tables: OVAL.
103. Jewish wedding dance: HORA.
104. Declare: AVER.
106. Oaxaca water: AGUA.
108. Team that shares an arena with the Liberty: NETS. Same owner. Joe Tsai.
109. Binding loop: KNOT.
112. Vardalos of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding": NIA.
C.C.
Shouldn’t that be
ReplyDelete“Write-downs” instead of write ups?
Anyway, FIR, so I’m happy.