Theme: "GENERATION X" - In each common phrase, a K sound becomes a KS sound, represented by the letter X.
23. Cowboy boots, saddles, etc.?: TEX SUPPORT. Tech support
25. Linen-lined outerwear?: FLAX JACKET. Flak jacket.
35. Child's complaint to Father Time?: YOU MAKE ME SIX. You make me sick
57. "I need to install brighter lights later"?: BETTER LUX NEXT TIME. Better luck next time.
80. Common finds in a salmon smokehouse?: LOX, STOCK AND BARREL. Lock, stock and barrel.
97. Country known for its devotion to a General Mills cereal?: CHEX REPUBLIC. Czech Republic.
114. Charon?: STYX FIGURE. Stick figure.
116. High-strung Latin ruler?: NERVOUS REX. Nervous wreck.
Even though the spellings vary (tech/tex, luck/lux, lock/lox, stick/styx), every transformation follows the same phonetic idea, so creative.
Congratulations to Yijing Chen on a terrific LAT Sunday debut!
Across:
1. Purple or green herb: BASIL. Purple basil tastes just like the green variety.
6. Discovery org.: NASA. Space Shuttle Discovery.
10. "Bye-bye!": I'M OFF.
15. Electronic music duo __ Punk: DAFT. French duo.
19. Skybox setting: ARENA.
20. North __ Sea: Kazakh lake: ARAL.
21. Finnish tech giant: NOKIA. And
22. Finnish currency: EURO.
27. Feed adequately: SATE.
28. Drama produced in a recording studio: RADIO PLAY.
30. Birds associated with the Egyptian god Thoth: IBISES.
31. Part of BTW: THE.
33. South, south of the border: SUR. Opposite of "norte".
34. Broccoli part: STEM.
42. "So helpful!": WHAT A PAL.
46. Wee bits: IOTAS.
47. Backless slippers: MULES. 92. Wearing 47-Across, perhaps: SHOD.
48. "Pretentious? __?": MOI.
49. Roman moon goddess: LUNA. In Chinese, it's Chang'e.
50. Get ready: PREP.
51. Entourage: POSSE.
52. Transparent layer in the eye: CORNEA.
55. Swine: PIG.
56. Unit of corn: EAR. Our church just held its annual Corn Fest.
The corn was picked fresh that morning, then dipped in pure butter. I
was thrilled that my puzzle attracted bids.
60. Reacted to a chill: SHIVERED.
62. Fragrant chain: LEI.
63. Unwanted giveaway?: SPOILER.
64. D-backs, in box scores: ARI. Arizona Diamondbacks.
65. Not in favor: OPPOSED.
69. Printer supply: INK.
70. West Indies country also known as the "Island of Spice": GRENADA. Learning moment for me.
74. Produce, as an egg: LAY.
75. "Unfortunately, yes": AFRAID SO.
84. Mender's target: RIP.
85. Furisode sash: OBI.
86. Field with a trolley problem: ETHICS. The classic trolley problem.
 |
| The trolley problem presents a dilemma: is it preferable to pull the lever to divert the runaway trolley onto the side track with just one person? |
87. Decided: OPTED.
88. Window shade: TINT.
89. Howler with four legs and teeth: WOLF. And
88. Cutter with four legs and teeth: TABLE SAW.
91. Having four sharps: INE.
92. Bad look: SNEER.
93. Start of a religious title: DALAI.
94. In hot water?: STEEPING. Fun clue.
100. Kung __ tofu: PAO. Hi Splynter, make this dish.
101. Sargasso Sea fish: EEL.
102. Bert's favorite bird, on "Sesame Street": PIGEON.
105. Doozy: HUMDINGER.
110. Icelandic saga: EDDA.
118. Father: SIRE.
119. All fired up: EAGER.
120. "Can't argue with that": TRUE.
121. Comic-Con event: PANEL.
122. Name in a Chinese American dish: TSO'S.
123. Superhero who says, "For the honor of Grayskull!": SHE-RA. Princess of Power.
124. Some tennis shots: LOBS.
125. Gave one's word: SWORE.
Down:
1. Softball clubs: BATS.
2. Geographic region: AREA.
3. Exchange heated words?: SEXT.
4. Certain close-up: INSET MAP.
5. Cantopop star Andy: LAU.
6. Cabbage variety called "big white vegetable" in Chinese: NAPA. Exactly! In Chinese, napa cabbage is literally "big white vegetable," while bok choy is "small white vegetable."
7. Three-time AL MVP in the 2000s: A-ROD.
8. South Asian wrap: SARI.
9. Palo __, California: ALTO.
10. Mass arrival: INFLUX.
11. Grinding tooth: MOLAR.
12. "All right": OKAY.
13. Jam: FIX.
14. Dish served in a sizzling skillet: FAJITA.
15. __ point: DECIMAL.
16. Arctic seabirds: AUKS.
17. Available for a meeting: FREE.
18. Kiddos: TOTS.
24. Grade before grades, for short: PRE-K.
26. Lie for, say: ABET.
29. Trident-shaped letters: PSIS.
32. Possesses: HAS.
34. Waxes, maybe: SHINES.
35. "Holy cannoli!": YIPES.
36. Marine Corps cry: OORAH.
37. Ultrasound targets: UTERI.
38. Be theatrical: EMOTE.
39. Can't-miss activity: MUST DO.
40. Otherwise: ELSE.
41. Oracle: SEER.
42. Like favorite jeans: WORN. My favorite pair of jeans is 25 years old. No holes, perfect wash, perfect stretch.
43. Schoolkid: PUPIL.
44. "One Piece" medium: ANIME.
45. Pilsner, for one: LAGER.
48. Pluck: MOXIE.
51. Green gem: PERIDOT. A green variety of the mineral olivine.
52. Stage signals: CUES.
53. Like last month's deals: EXPIRED.
54. Discordant, musically: ATONAL.
57. Badger: BERATE.
58. Fallingwater architect Frank __ Wright: LLOYD.
59. Polynesian carving: TIKI.
61. Converse rival: VANS.
66. Spot: PLACE.
67. Chef's collection: PANS.
68. Speedy fish: DARTER. A small freshwater fish related to perch.
70. Exhibits brilliance: GLOWS.
71. K9 of "Doctor Who," for one: ROBOT.
72. Cast out: EXILE.
73. Like post-marathon muscles: ACHING.
76. French brother: FRERE. Mon frère. Ma sœur.
77. "This is not a __!": DRILL.
78. Exodus mount: SINAI.
79. Eye-related: OPTIC.
81. Mattress choice: KING.
82. Fillet's lack: BONE.
83. Peak: APEX.
90. Ships overnight, in a way: FEDEXES.
93. Expected: DUE.
95. [And it's gone!]: POOF.
96. Some belly buttons: INNIES.
97. GoPro product: CAMERA.
98. Spanish "but": PERO.
100. Less polluted: PURER.
102. Furtive "C'mere!": PSST.
103. "For real?": IT IS.
104. Greek wrap: GYRO.
105. Mammoth: HUGE.
106. Like some LAX flights: INTL.
107. Roman emperor after Claudius: NERO. Ruthless guy. He ordered the death of his mother.
108. Wormlike larva: GRUB.
109. Holiday precursors: EVES.
111. James Bond's first movie foe: DR NO.
112. Trail cam regular: DEER.
113. Soap Box Derby rod: AXLE.
115. Cry of exasperation: GAH.
117. __ and downs: UPS.
C.C.
The title of this
ReplyDeletepuzzle helped me to solve this long, involved puzzle. So it wasn’t as difficult as it might have been. Still, it did take a bit of “work.”
FIR, so I’m happy.
Good morning!
ReplyDeleteI was certain the first themer had to begin with TEXAS. As a result, it was the last themer to fall. YOU MAKE ME SIX brought a smile. Nice debut, Yijing. Thanx for 'splainin' NAPA vs Bok Choy, C.C. Don't think I've heard of NAPA, except as an auto parts dealer or a wine producing valley.
FIW, missing PufF x PIGEfF (¯\_(ツ)_/¯) and DuNG (¯\_(ツ)_/¯). I'd much rather be paid in dungs than in DONGs. YMMV.
ReplyDeleteThe late historian Jimmy Buffett wrote:
And the lady she hails from Trinidad
Island of the spices
in his Son of a Son of a Sailor.
I've toured the campus of Florida Southern University with its 13 Frank Lloyd Wright structures. IIRC, I was allowed to enter only one, as many are still used for classes.
I may just be grumpy today, but I was a little put off by the "s" sound in the X-substitute that kept the resulting word from matching the plain English phrase. I was ok with TEX SUPPORT, NERVOUS REX and maybe LOX STOCK AND BARREL, because the extra "s" is the way most people talk. But not the others - no one says "flacks jacket," "you make me sicks," "better lucks next time," or "Czech's Republic." Yes I know that the clues have been stretched to match, but as Ron Weasley said, I don't like this. I don't like this at all.
Thanks to Chen for the challenge, and to CC for the fun tour.
Good Morning:
ReplyDeleteThis type of theme is not one of my favorites, especially in a large Sunday grid, but props to the author’s efforts with this debut. The title and first few themers left no doubt as to the gimmick, so the solve was not that difficult. There were the usual obscure entries, Lau, Dong, Pao, She Ra, Ethics, as clued, Pero, etc., but the perps were fair. Perps also corrected Erns/Auks and Emerald/Peridot.
Thanks, Yijing, and congrats on your debut and thanks, CC, for the explanation of the theme and its execution. Congrats on your auction bidding success.
Have a great day.
FIR. I had to really work at this one. Thank goodness the theme, which I figured out early, helped with the solve.
ReplyDeleteMy one sticky spot was the crossing of She-Ra and gah. I had no idea who the superhero was. It took a WAG to ice the deal.
Overall a so-so puzzle.
Congratulations to Yijing on your Sunday debut!
ReplyDeleteToday’s puzzle hit the sweet spot for me: not-too-easy and not-too-difficult. I enjoyed all of the theme answers, and they definitely helped with the fill. Favorite clue was for SEXT.
Thanks to CC for the clear explanation of the theme, which gave me a better appreciation for the consistency of the gimmick. I am also a big fan of kung pao tofu, and the recipe in the NYT cooking section is just wonderful.
I have a pair of earrings with little peridots that I just love.
I figured out the theme at BETTER LUX NEXT TIME, but like D-O, I just knew the first theme clue had to include TEXas, so it was also my last to fill.
ReplyDeleteThe rest of the CW was not too difficult. Á few unknowns like SHE RA, LAU. I had to change firm for KING and I wanted toga for GYRO.
Nevertheless, I FIW. I wouldn’t budge from YIkES, so ended up with kREP. I’m not familiar with YIPES.
VANS have become popular I the CW world. We had SHINES and GLOWS. And I liked the four-legged mini theme.
Thank you CC for the review, in particular the NAPA explanation.
That should firm to KING, and popular in the CW world. Sorry.
ReplyDeleteTo me the theme was that the X in the themer is changed to a CH or CK and then the phrase phonetically matches a common in the language phrase.
ReplyDeleteFIR, but quite a bit of bite this morning. Have to dredge up one of the older acronyms---I needed ESP (every single perp) to fill in several of the answers (PERIDOT, NAPA-as clued, PERO, SHE-RA). And for we ATONAL folks, INE (IN E?) was cruel. (My browser's spell checker has flagged everyone of them except NAPA.)
ReplyDeleteI don't know what is happening, but I'm unable to sign in as usual. I finished the puzzle which is unusual for a Sunday morning, but then, I awoke earlier than usual, too. It was a bit challenging and the many wite-out spots prove it. HARASS/BERATE, OUTIES/INNIES, BAH/GAH, etc. This was truly a HUMDINGER! Thank you Yijing Chen and thank you, C.C. for providing us with a clear explanation. I finally caught the rat in a trap, threw it outside to take care of this morning and now it's gone! My patio is accessible, but I doubt anyone would come in and take a dead rat on a trap, but possible a large bird, falcon or eagle. What a mystery!
ReplyDeleteAfter the long treX to FIR, I was more grateful than ever for C.C.'s succinct review. Many thanks to her, and congratulations to Yijing Chen.
ReplyDeleteStunning puzzle! And a debut? Wow! Enjoyed your review too, C.C., thanks!
ReplyDeleteFun theme. Last to fill GAH/SHERA. Anyone else try EXPEL before EXILE? Anyone else had OORAH as a learning moment? I assume everyone knew LAU as a CANTOPOP STAR? Me either! All good with fair crosses.
ReplyDeleteIf you were stumped by the “trolley problem,” you were stranded on the trax!
ReplyDeleteCC has USA Today CW today. Down the Drain
ReplyDeleteCan you provide a link, Monkey?
DeleteGo to play.USAToday.com
DeleteMy first puzzle in over a week and I was a little rusty in the beginning, saving the NW until the end. Filled TEXAS and was stuck, but came back after consulting TEX SUPPORT to a FIR completion I didn't notice the X(rated) theme at FLAX JACKET, as linen=flax to me. But I caught it at BETTER LUX NEXT TIME.
ReplyDeleteETHICS was all perps. I never knew it was the 'trolley problem'. But until you are faced with the problem, you really have no idea what you will do.
DONG, SHE-RA, NAPA, OORAH, ANIME, PERIDOT, ROBOT- perps and a little ESP to get those unknowns. The clue and fill for GAH crossing the unknown SHE-RA? Let the FAX say it SUX.
This was a fun puzzle with amusing themers - caught on early enough to help speed up the solve
ReplyDeleteI thought Bert's favorite bird was a rubber ducky, but as it filled I remembered the pigeons
I thought the field with the trolley problem was a green field until the perps headed me to a D'oh moment
Thanks CC for the blog and congrats to Yijing for the puzzle debut!
Sunday workout. Thanks for the fun, Yijing (congrats on your debut) and C.C.
ReplyDeleteOfficially a DNF since I was working online and required some red letter help to finish.
But I did get the theme - I agree with Brian@10:30am for the interpretation.
THIS Canadian has no idea about OORAH???
We had an abundance of multicultural foods (GRUB) to SATE us today. We may need our MOLARS. W can choose from a menu with GYRO, NAPA, EEL, SARI, FAJITA, King PAO tofu, Dr. TSO’S, EAR of corn. Add some BASIL or spice from GRENADA )(no BONES please). Does anyone eat PIGEON or DARTER? Wash down with a LAGER and perhaps some STEEPed tea. What a meal.
(I thought you might have been missing Misty’s food stories!)
Wishing you all a great day.
I enjoyed doing this puzzle.
ReplyDeleteSUD-->SUR. ASU-->ARI. AGAINST-->OPPOSED. CONG-->DONG. PAPA-->SIRE. ACES-->LETS-->LOBS. TORN-->WORN. EMERALD-->PERIDOT. SOFT-->FIRM-->KING. ACME-->APEX.
I really appreciate words like CORNEA, SHIVERED, OPPOSED, STEEPING (yes, fun clue), HUMDINGER, INFLUX, PERIDOT, and EXPIRED.
Good reading all your comments.
Next time we see Ms. Chen’s byline on a puzzle, we’ll know we are in for a headful! Very snazzy theme with all the X sound subs; being a camera guy, I thought the BETTER LUX gag was the winner of this Sunday’s Best In Grid award. But it wasn’t any walk in the park, this one — I’d never heard of that green gem, and the Marines I know say “hOORAH!” with an H as my ears hear it (any USMC alumni here to clarify?). But I kept hacking’ away and ran out of white squares eventually for the win. I do agree with @Big Easy about that SHE-GAH mud, though…YIPES!
ReplyDelete@Jinx, you come up with some of the best color commentary — Dung over DONG, giggle giggle 😆
Thanks for the exposé on the answers, C.C., appreciate the deets!
====> Darren / L.A.