Theme: "FIVE STARS" - Each phrase that starts with a synonym of "excellent" is rephrased as a glowing review of the work/product/performance associated with people/group/place in the clue.
23. Glowing review for a groundskeeper's work?: FLAWLESS DIAMOND.
41. Glowing review for a preprandial prayer?: AMAZING GRACE.
60. Glowing review for a wrestling team?: PERFECT MATCHES.
69. Glowing review for a cheerleading squad?: GREAT PYRAMIDS.
81. Glowing review for a purchase from a vintage music store?: SPOTLESS RECORD.
96. Glowing review for a bootlegger?: AWESOME SAUCE.
120. Glowing review for a chairmaker?: FIRST-CLASS SEATS.
The cluing is the key in this type of theme. I especially enjoyed the playful imagery of a chairmaker earning praise for FIRST CLASS SEATS and a bootlegger being complimented for AWESOME SAUCE. A fun, consistently executed set.
Across:
1. Boxer's attire: ROBE.
5. Cries and cries: SOBS. Valerie's cat ran away then found his way back home.
9. Stretched to the limit: TAUT.
13. Implant: EMBED.
18. Took a hatchet to: AXED.
19. Freckles, e.g.: TRAIT.
21. Sch. in Sin City: UNLV. Located just east of the Las Vegas Strip.
22. Disney film with the song "Shiny": MOANA. Sung by Tamatoa (Jemaine Clement).
26. Nickname for the NFL's Chargers: BOLTS.
27. Like modern microchips vis-à-vis those of the past: TINIER.
28. "Physician, __ thyself": HEAL.
29. Digital painting?: NAIL ART. 61. Turning points for ballerinas?: TOES. Fantastic clues.
31. Mooched: SPONGED.
33. Oil barrel: DRUM.
35. Repeated word in the unofficial USPS motto: NOR.
36. Owned: HAD.
39. Tennis great Björn: BORG.
45. Hasbro's "game of unspeakable fun": TABOO.
49. Stretch that may be named for a music genre: ERA. The Swing Era, e.g.
51. Ready to serve: RIPE.
52. Moves like lava: OOZES.
53. Grande of "Wicked: For Good": ARIANA.
55. Show stoppers?: ADS.
57. Tangle: SNARL.
59. Chocolate confection: BARK. Chocolate bark.
63. Arab rulers: EMIRS.
65. Odds and __: ENDS.
66. Star on a Christmas tree, often: TOPPER.
67. French bread: PAIN. Pane in Italian. Pan in Spanish.
68. Dorm VIPs: RAS.
73. Loops in via email: CCS.
76. Caustic cleaners: LYES.
77. Far from rude: POLITE.
78. Solo at the Met: ARIA.
79. Decorative pillow covers: SHAMS.
85. Garage: SHOP. I've had two weeks of weed-free days. Amazing. The HOA
finally came hard on that renter in 5505. Sometimes he smoked a storm in
his garage.
86. Welcome at the door: SEE IN.
88. Result of a foul bunt with two strikes: OUT.
89. World's largest subtropical desert: SAHARA.
90. Become overwhelmed: PANIC. 111. "Just be calm ... ": BREATHE.
92. Bouquet holder: VASE.
93. Rooibos, for one: TEA.
95. "Does that make sense?": GET IT.
100. Money in Oman: RIAL. RIEL is the Cambodian currency.
102. Tricksy: SLY.
103. Coq au __: VIN.
104. Nespresso inserts: PODS.
106. Library receipt info: DUE DATE.
115. Younger Gallagher brother: LIAM. Younger brother of Noel Gallagher.
117. Sugar substitute: STEVIA.
118. Indigenous people of Nunavut: INUIT.
123. Metaphorical spot for the undecided: FENCE. On the fence.
124. "This can't be good ... ": UH OH.
125. George of the original "Star Trek": TAKEI.
126. Highway sign unit: MILE.
127. "What a pity": SO SAD.
128. Ditch: LOSE.
129. Nod off: DOZE.
130. Vehicle pulled by huskies: SLED.
Down:
1. Simple flotation devices: RAFTS.
2. Primrose variety: OXLIP. Lovely.
3. Digestive aid brand: BEANO.
4. Gold medal hurdler Moses: EDWIN.
5. Playing both sides?: STEREO. Left side speaker & right side speaker.
6. Med. theaters: ORS.
7. Wingding: BASH.
8. Stood (with): SIDED.
9. Tot's belly: TUM.
10. By and by, quaintly: ANON.
11. Radius neighbor: ULNA.
12. Heat-and-serve option: TV DINNER.
13. Targeted trade ban: EMBARGO.
14. Tie up to a pier: MOOR.
15. One of the Magi: BALTHAZAR. The other two are Caspar & Melchior.
16. Sinus specialist, briefly: ENT.
17. Court figs.: DAS.
20. Prom queen's headgear: TIARA.
24. Femur, for one: LEG BONE.
25. Last year's sr.: ALUM.
30. Run-of-the-mill object?: LOG. A log can indeed be run through a sawmill.
32. Famous "Dr." from Compton: DRE.
34. Wetland: MARSH.
37. Some Taiwanese laptops: ACERS.
38. Home office need: DESK.
40. Pop's pop: GRAMPA.
42. Fan pub: ZINE.
43. Some high-ABV brews: IPAS. ABV stands for Alcohol by Volume.
44. Williams of "Good Will Hunting": ROBIN.
45. Narrow: TAPER.
46. Sports center: ARENA.
47. Aviary inhabitants: BIRDS.
48. Lummoxes: OAFS.
50. Take from page to screen: ADAPT. And
54. Word on some Oscars: ACTRESS.
56. One foot forward: STEP.
58. Chairs: LEADERS.
62. Underground vault: CRYPT.
64. Start to behave?: MIS. Misbehave.
67. Avocado centers: PITS.
69. Press room?: GYM. Bench press.
70. Candy wrapped in gold foil: ROLO.
71. Language from which "Alaska" is derived: ALEUT. Google AI says Alaska derives from the Aleut (Unangax) word alaxsxaq (or alaxsxix), meaning "mainland" or "great land."
72. Houseplant sprayer: MISTER.
73. Zagreb resident: CROAT.
74. Wispy clouds: CIRRI.
75. Nobel Peace Prize honoree Anwar: SADAT.
76. __ lazuli: LAPIS.
78. Yearn (for): ACHE.
79. Wrapped garment: SHAWL.
80. Glazed treats from Hostess or Little Debbie: HONEY BUNS.
81. Vast expanses: SEAS.
82. Fibonacci's birthplace: PISA.
83. Get the better of: ONE UP.
84. Aerie newborns: EAGLETS.
85. Pampering places: SPAS.
87. Action-packed: EVENTFUL.
91. Highly sought-after: COVETED. Kevin, our flea-market friend from 2005, owns one of the finest Twins collectibles in the country.
94. Succor: AID.
97. "Mamma __!": MIA.
98. Young horse: COLT.
99. Order from on high: EDICT.
101. Bluey, for one: AUSSIE. The puppy's younger sister is Bingo. Their father is Bandit and their mother is Chilli.
105. Light meal: SALAD.
107. Regards: DEEMS.
108. Be of use to: AVAIL.
109. Library receipt info: TITLE.
110. Simplified: EASED.
112. Costa __: RICA.
113. Chipper greeting: HI HO.
114. Greek god of love: EROS.
116. Fast shark: MAKO. Literally "shark" in Maori.
118. Stipulations: IFS.
119. Prefix with classical: NEO.
121. Her partner, sometimes: SHE.
122. "Oh yeah? __ who?": SEZ.
C.C.
3 comments:
It didn’t seem too
tough. And the themers were fun.
FIR, so I’m happy.
Good morning!
Needed my trusty Wite-Out to change those flowers from OXeye to OXLIP and chairs from sEAting to LEADERS. This one took 20+ minutes, which is par for a d-o Sunday effort. Enjoyable. Thanx, Ricky (I wonder how he pronounces Sirois) and C.C. (easy to pronounce).
Took 12:58 today to ace this one.
I knew the Actress of the Day (Ariana), but not today's French lesson (pain). The "Rial/Aid/Tea" section was the toughest area for me.
Cute puns.
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