Theme: "A.I. APPLICATIONS" - I is replaced by AI in each common phrase.
23. Concern over travel plans to Portland, Oregon?: THAT'S NOT MAINE. That's not mine.
39. Tumbler that needs a deep clean?: TAINTED GLASS. Tinted glass.
45. Gets design help from an M.C. Escher-loving architect?: GOES STAIR CRAZY. Goes stir-crazy.
63. Warning about interns hired every spring?: BEWARE THE AIDES OF MARCH. Beware of the Ides of March.
83. Talk into a pay hike?: GET A RAISE OUT OF. Get a rise out of.
91. Jewelry store section for May birthday gifts?: EMERALD AISLE. Emerald Isle.
111. Was a complete disappointment as a nanny?: FAILED CHARGES. Filed charges.
So this isn't simply an A-addition theme. A is inserted immediately before an I in each phrase, turning I into AI. Great title.
Here's Brian's info on the two constructors from his recap of their last puzzle: "Betsy Ochester writes books for children, including over 100 published puzzle books. Andrew Gutelle is also a prolific children's author, with puzzle books among his many published titles. They have collaborated on a few of these books."
Congratulations on your first Sunday, Betsy and Andrew!
Across:
1. L'Oreal's Telescopic, e.g.: MASCARA. I don't wear mascaras.
8. Stanley of "The Devil Wears Prada 2": TUCCI. Loved his "Big Night".
13. Beehive sound: HUM.
16. Short filmmaker?: CAM. Short indicates a "shortened" answer. Camera.
19. Make like: ACT AS IF.
20. Tea region of India: ASSAM. Black tea.
21. Run: OPERATE.
25. Souvenir shop items: T SHIRTS. 11. Deliverer of 25-Across, at times: CANNON.
26. Align, as devices: SYNC.
27. Not all, but not none: SOME.
28. South Pacific nation now known as the Republic of Naoero: NAURU. Very updated clue. On 6/26/2026, Nauru informed the UN that it had changed its official name to the Republic of Naoero.
30. Activewear brand: AVIA.
31. Helps with a job, say: ABETS.
33. Name on a stadium, often: SPONSOR.
35. Gumshoes: TECS. Detectives.
36. Song that tells a story: BALLAD.
41. Leaning: ATILT.
42. Social app with a synagogue directory: JDATE. Can't use "Dating app" as DATE is in the answer.
44. Italian six: SEI.
50. King with a golden touch: MIDAS.
55. Texting tech: SMS. Short Message Service.
56. Quarter: FOURTH.
57. Fire up, as an engine: REV.
58. Dress top: BODICE.
59. Mass. neighbor: CONN.
60. "Copy what I'm doing": LIKE ME.
62. High-end Italian shoe brand: TOD'S. Not named after anyone. It's simply a made-up name.
70. Actor Guinness: ALEC.
71. Takes by force: USURPS.
72. "Walkabout" director Nicolas: ROEG. He also directed "The Man Who Fell to Earth".
73. Nicki Minaj genre: HIP-HOP. And 91. Moody 73-Across subgenre: EMO RAP.
75. Long of "Michael": NIA.
76. Loud weather event, briefly: T-STORM.
79. Sparky the Sun Devil's sch.: ASU.
82. Carried: TOTED.
86. Celestial body: ORB.
89. Heart throb?: PULSE. Great clue.
90. 101-level course: INTRO.
97. Generates a hard copy of: PRINTS.
98. MC alternative: AMEX. Mastercard.
99. Pro-am, for one: TOURNEY.
100. Last word: SAY-SO.
102. Maki roll wrap: NORI. Maki means "to roll".
103. Clue board areas: ROOMS.
104. Bit of reality: FACT.
105. "Blame It on the Bossa __": NOVA.
109. "The Firm" novelist: GRISHAM (John)
115. Pie crust pattern: LATTICE.
116. Get the knots out?: UNTIE.
117. "Erin Brockovich" Oscar winner: ROBERTS (Julia)
118. Shortish albums: EPS.
119. "Chopped" host Allen: TED.
120. Goes first: LEADS.
121. Three-syllable poetic foot: ANAPEST. It consists of two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed one.
Down:
1. Yoga surfaces: MATS.
2. Sore: ACHY.
3. Comics icon Lee: STAN.
4. Jeers: CATCALLS.
5. Burro: ASS.
6. Ran the hose over, say: RINSED.
7. In development, quaintly: AFOOT.
8. Like pet dogs: TAME.
9. Katie Ledecky's Olympic team: Abbr.: USA. She'll win the the 1500-meter in 2028.
10. Forensic drama franchise: CSI.
12. "To be clear ... ": I MEANT.
13. Dragsters: HOT RODS.
14. Sudden rise: UPSURGE.
15. So-so: MEH.
16. Sculpts: CARVES.
17. Some creepy stories: ATTICS. "Stories" as in levels, not tales.
18. Small plateaus: MESAS.
22. Vaquero's lasso: RIATA.
24. Co.'s protected symbols: TMS. Trademarks.
29. Put into practice: USE.
32. Takes the place of: BATS FOR.
33. Louis Armstrong nickname: SATCH. Or Satchmo. Boomer loved "Good Morning, Vietnam" and often imitated Armstrong's gravelly voice singing "What a Wonderful World."
34. Docking station: PIER.
36. Bases, in baseball slang: BAGS.
37. Tiny particle: ATOM.
38. "You made all of that up!": LIES.
39. Small fruit pie: TART.
40. Long ride, for short: LIMO.
42. Excursions: JAUNTS.
43. SSE or NNW: DIR.
46. Get in shape: TONE UP.
47. Extremely dry: ARID.
48. "The Wizard of Oz" farmhand: ZEKE. Cowardly Lion's Kansas counterpart. Played by Bert Lahr.
49. First name in haute couture: YVES. 52. Last name in haute couture: DIOR.
51. Collar attachment: ID TAG.
53. "Highway to Hell" band: AC DC.
54. Meeting, casually: SESH.
58. Previously: BEFORE.
59. Private supply: CACHE.
60. Fleur-de-__: LIS.
61. Gloomy: MOROSE.
63. Thai currency: BAHT.
64. Pixar film featuring a supercomputer named Ooooo: ELIO.
65. Cried: WEPT.
66. Like museum paintings: HUNG.
67. Cedar Point lake: ERIE.
68. "Give yourself __ on the back!": A PAT.
69. Autobiographies: MEMOIRS.
74. Aroma: ODOR.
76. Sincerely: TRULY.
77. Prime Day event: SALE. There's another Prime Day next month.
78. Taylor Swift's "__ the Damn Season": TIS.
79. Memo abbr.: ATTN.
80. Kind: SORT.
81. Airborne mysteries: UFOS.
84. Church recess: APSE.
85. Local labor leader: UNION REP.
87. Daily grind: RAT RACE.
88. Opened, in a way: BLOOMED. I can't wait for my peonies to bloom next year. They were sulking this year.
92. Deserves: MERITS.
93. Be real: EXIST.
94. Bert and Ernie, e.g.: DUO.
95. Carrying capacity: ARMFUL.
96. Ridiculously high-risk, as a scheme: INSANE.
97. Programming language with a reptilian name: PYTHON.
98. Hidden motive: ANGLE.
100. Gloomy: SAD.
101. West African capital: ACCRA. Capital of Ghana. Have any of you tried African chicken peanut stew? I thinks it's of Ghana origin.
104. Membership dues, e.g.: FEES.
106. Nasty sort: OGRE.
107. Dog docs: VETS.
108. Little help?: ASST.
110. Billboard success: HIT.
112. "Give __ rest!": IT A.
113. Pot top: LID.
114. Legal org.: ABA.
C.C.
I understood the gimmick
ReplyDeleteright away (reading the title of the puzzle helped with this) and that helped me solve some fairly long entries.
Anyway, FIR, so I’m happy.
Good morning!
ReplyDeleteCaught the theme early and strutted to the finish line. Wite-Out was needed only once -- to correct LIKE SO to ME. PYTHON is a very powerful computer language. I've thrown together a few small apps with it. Today's offering was enjoyable. Thanx, Andrew, Betsy, and C.C.