Theme: "Musical Interlude" - Each common phrase is humorously reinterpreted fitting the musician in the clue.
23. The celebrity triangle player __: HAD A FAMILIAR RING.
32. The organized drummer __: DIDN'T MISS A BEAT.
47. The jovial maraca player __: SHOOK WITH LAUGHTER.
66. The irresponsible trumpet player __: BLEW IT BIG TIME.
81. The influential harpist __: PULLED SOME STRINGS.
101. The careless trombone player __: LET THINGS SLIDE.
111. The thoughtful guitar player __: HIT THE RIGHT CHORD.
Over
the years we've seen a few job rephrasing gimmicks, but none with such
tightness. All musicians. The clues all follow "The + adjective +
musician" pattern. Very consistent.
This is our construct Mark, a chemistry professor at the University of British Columbia.
Across:
1. Tiny amount (of): A DAB.
5. Pie __: CHART.
10. Celtic Sea country: WALES. Where this popular salt comes from.
15. Harbor service vessel: SCOW.
19. Hawk: SELL.
20. Temperament: HUMOR.
21. Trilling event, often: OPERA.
22. "Say Anything ... " star Skye: IONE. With John Cusack.
26. Not very exciting: DRAB.
27. Future residents?: PRE-MEDS. A few more creative clues: 75. Teller's offering?: TRICK. (Penn & Teller, thanks, D-Otto.). 87. Made the shot?: DOSED. 120. Future growth opportunity?: SEED. 15. Hit back?: SIDE B.
28. Puts (down): LAYS.
29. Touches up a text: EMENDS.
31. Put on: AIRED.
36. Loch with a legend: NESS.
37. Country Music Hall of Famer Buck: OWENS. We also have 57. "The Christmas Song" composer Mel: TORME.
39. "Downton Abbey" daughter: EDITH.
40. Short way?: RTE. Short for Abbr.
41. Goes soft: THAWS.
43. "Hey, that's enough!": CAN IT.
45. Surgical beam: LASER.
52. Move like a mouse: SCURRY.
53. Consoles with Nunchuks: WIIS.
54. Wipe out: ERASE.
58. Field: REALM.
60. Tennis icon Arthur: ASHE.
63. "If This Is a Man" author Primo: LEVI. Unfamiliar with the book or the author.
65. Pt. of NATO: ATL.
70. Take the gold: WIN.
71. One up, e.g.: TIED.
73. Biblical paradise: EDEN.
74. Helpful: UTILE.
77. First island in The Beach Boys' "Kokomo": ARUBA.
79. German auto pioneer Adam: OPEL.
80. Bully's arsenal: TAUNTS.
90. Salty expanse: OCEAN.
91. Pipework fastener: U BOLT.
92. Food Network's "Be My Guest With __ Garten": INA.
93. Bath depleter: DRAIN.
95. A bit pickled: TIPSY.
97. Person named in a will: HEIR.
105. Chicken run border: FENCE.
106. Early mainframe: UNIVAC. Universal Automatic Computer.
107. "Buona sera!": CIAO.
108. Former name of a 3D X-ray technique: CAT SCAN.
110. Frog kin: TOAD.
116. Piedmont blues guitarist Baker: ETTA. Died at age 93.
117. Bring to mind: EVOKE.
118. Come clean about: ADMIT.
119. Comic strip canine: ODIE.
121. Bishops' gathering: SYNOD.
122. In need of a rinse: SOAPY.
123. Sign of age: WEAR.
2. Darling: DEARIE.
3. Trees in the birch family: ALDERS.
4. Discussion to assign culpability: BLAMESTORM.
5. N'Djamena's country: CHAD. N'Djamena is the capital.
6. Runs smoothly: HUMS.
7. Pal in Poitiers: AMI.
8. Arrive at last: ROLL IN.
9. Sheet music threesomes: TRIADS.
10. Best opposite: WORST.
11. Distracted Driving Awareness Mo.: APR.
12. Aromatic necklace: LEI. It's indeed fragrant.
13. Seaside flyer: ERN.
14. Most wise: SAGEST.
16. Least gooey brownie pieces: CORNERS. I never had one.
17. Out to dinner, maybe: ON A DATE.
18. Lexicographer credited with standardizing American English spelling: WEBSTER.
24. Nourished: FED.
25. Author Rand: AYN.
30. Composer Gustav: MAHLER.
32. Lydic of "The Daily Show": DESI.
33. Restaurant guide: MENU.
34. Hep "Roger that": I DIG.
35. "Star Wars" order: SITH.
37. Like many a Chardonnay: OAKY.
38. Site opening?: WWW.
42. Exodus mount: HOREB. Have not seen this entry for a while.
43. Get into, as a bunk bed: CLIMB UP ON.
44. Some Energizer products: AAS.
46. Central Asia's North __ Sea: ARAL.
47. Nova __: SCOTIA.
48. Bullpen member: HURLER.
49. Clemens handle: TWAIN. And
50. Knight's handle: HILT.
51. Swarm (with): TEEM.
52. "Quickly!": STAT.
55. Upholsterer's task: SEWING.
56. Forces out: EVICTS. I can't wait for the 5501 renters to get evicted.
58. One of two colors on Poland's flag: RED.
59. "Baa-ram-__": "Babe" chant: EWE.
60. Quick on one's feet: AGILE.
61. The Blues of the NHL, for short: STL.
62. Zoom off, quaintly: HIE.
64. Stamp pad refills: INKS.
67. Sharon of "Dreamgirls": LEAL.
68. Collector's __: ITEM.
69. Cyberbusiness: E-TAIL.
72. Fool: DUPE.
76. Lead: RUN THE SHOW.
78. Subject of a 233-foot statue in Leshan, China: BUDDHA. Leshan is in Sichuan Province.
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79. Female bear, in Spanish: OSA.
80. Priam's kingdom: TROY.
82. Source of extra dough: LOAN.
83. Vaping product: E-CIG.
84. Cub Scout groups: DENS.
85. Apartment honcho, familiarly: SUPE.
86. Network with some MLB postseason games: TBS.
87. Makes juice from concentrate, say: DILUTES.
88. Monotonous: ONE NOTE.
89. Fill to excess: SATIATE.
94. Fortune: RICHES.
95. Princess toppers: TIARAS.
96. Enthusiastic reply to "Who wants ice cream?": I DO I DO. "Who wants to swim?"
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98. Privatize?: ENCODE. Oh so the message becomes private.
99. Aegean island: ICARIA.
100. Melt down, as fat: RENDER.
102. Jack Pearson of "This Is Us," e.g.: TV DAD.
103. Asst.'s responsibility, often: SCHED.
104. Tell a whopper: LIE.
105. Consumer protection agcy.: FTC.
108. Crockery defect: CHIP.
109. Paralegal employer, for short: ATTY.
112. "The Holly and the __": traditional British carol: IVY.
113. Slew: TON.
114. Bout ruling, briefly: TKO.
115. Early ABC program, for short: GMA. Early in the day.
C.C.
