Sounds Like ... Today we will study Homophones. Homophones are words that sound exactly the same when pronounced but have different meanings and spellings. The word comes from the Greek homos (meaning same) and phone (meaning sound).
17-Across. Shampoo for horses as well as humans: MANE N TAIL. This horse shampoo was originally developed in the 1970s for show horses. It became a cross-over product for humans and is purported to promote stronger, fuller, and longer-looking hair without stripping natural oils.
24-Across. Meatless Chinese noodle dish: VEGETABLE LO MEIN. Yummers!
36-Across. "The Theory of Everything" Best Actor Oscar winner: EDDIE REDMAYNE. Eddie Redmayne (né Edward John David Redmayne; b. Jan. 6, 1982) went to Eton and was a classmate of Prince William (b. June 21, 1982). The Theory of Everything was a bio-pic about Stephen Hawking (Jan. 8, 1942 ~ Mar. 14, 2018).
52-Across. Tender salad greens: HEARTS OF ROMAINE.
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| Too soon? |
61-Across. Principal draw on fight night, or an apt title for this puzzle: MAIN EVENT. Also the title of a terrible1979 Barbra Streisand movie.
Here's the Grid:
And now for the true Main Event ~ the rest of the puzzle ...
Across:
1. Prattles on: YAPS.
5. Bay Area sch.: UCSF. As in the University of California, San Francisco.
9. Uninspiring: VAPID.
14. Mapa of "Ugly Betty": ALEC. I never watched Ugly Betty, so was unfamiliar with Alec (né Alejandro Mapa; b. July 10, 1965).
15. "New Rules" and "New Love" singer Dua: LIPA. Dua Lipa (b. Aug. 22, 1995) is a British-Albanian singer and songwriter. She makes frequent guest appearances in the crossword puzzles.
16. Twisted humor: IRONY.
19. Honeycomb units: CELLS.
20. Neither partner: NOR. Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night ...
21. Future atty.'s exam: LSAT. As in the Law School Admission Test.
23. Southeast Asian language: LAO. Lao is the official language of Laos, however, it is also spoken in some parts of northeastern Thailand.
29. Hullabaloo: ADO.
30. Light __ feather: AS A.
31. Product labels: BRANDS.
32. Private aid gp.: NGO. As in a Non-Governmental Organization.
33. Sure winner: SHOO IN.
42. Not asea: ON LAND.
43. Poem of praise: ODE. A crossword staple.
45. Former House Speaker Nancy: PELOSI. Nancy Pelosi (née Nancy Patricia D'Alesandro; b. Mar. 26, 1940) served as the 52nd speaker of the United States House of Representatives.
48. Due-in hr.: ETA. As in Estimated Time of Arrival.
51. Crank (up): REV.
56. "The Lord of the Rings" beast: ORC.
57. Move for one's co., say: RE-LO. As in Relocate.
58. Olive extract: OIL. Everything you ever wanted to know about Olive Oil, but didn't know to ask.
59. Capone cohort Frank: NITTI. I learned about Frank Nitti (né Francesco Raffaele Nitto; Jan. 27, 1886 ~ Mar. 19, 1943) from doing the crossword puzzles. He makes frequent guest appearances in the puzzles.
66. "OK, that was dishonest": I LIED.
67. Ritz-Carlton competitor: OMNI. I am not sure I could consider these hotel chains to be competitors. I view the Ritz-Carlton as a very high-end luxury hotel, whereas Omni is more family-oriented.
68. Tops with frosting: ICES.
69. Ride a bike: CYCLE.
70. "Auld Lang __": SYNE.
71. Every __ and cranny: NOOK.
Down:
1. Thanksgiving tuber: YAM.
2. __ carte menu: À LA. Today's French lesson.
3. Writing tool: PEN.
4. All-too-public argument: SCENE.
5. Marathons longer than 26.2 miles, familiarly: ULTRAS. An ultra marathon is a footrace that exceeds the traditional marathon distance of 26.2 miles. Ultra marathon distances vary greatly but typically range from 31 miles (50 km) to 100 miles (160 km).
6. U.S. intel org.: CIA.
7. Tell all, as gossip: SPILL.
8. Untrue: FALSE.
9. Beckham also known as Posh Spice: VICTORIA. Victoria, Lady Beckham (née Victoria Caroline Adams; b. Apr. 17, 1974) is probably the best known Spice Girl. The band was big in the 1990s.
10. "__ we there yet?": ARE.
11. Wind-borne allergen: POLLEN.
12. Embedded, as tiles: INLAID.
13. High-end vacuum cleaners: DYSONS. Everything you ever wanted to know about the Dyson Vacuum Cleaner.
18. The "N" of N.B.: NOTA. Today's Latin Lesson. N.B. is the abbreviation for the Latin phrase nota bene, which which means "note well" or "pay attention."
22. "Tuesdays With Morrie" writer Mitch: ALBOM. Mitch Albom (né Mitchell David Albom; b. May 23, 1958) has written many books, but is probably best known for Tuesdays With Morrie. That book is memoir about a series of interviews and visits Albom made with his former Brandeis University sociology professor, Morrie Schwartz, as Schwartz was dying from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. I have never read this book.
24. Vehicle for movers: VAN.
25. Microsoft web browser: EDGE.
26. Yummy: GOOD.
27. Iraq port city: BASRA.
28. Plenty of: MANY.
34. __ of the woods mushrooms: HEN. Hen of the woods is a mushroom that grows at the base of trees, particularly old growth oaks or maples. It is native to China, Europe, and North America.
35. More quirky: ODDER.
37. Entryway: DOOR.
38. Without losing one's cool: IN STRIDE.
39. Renée __ Goldsberry of "Girls5eva": ELISE. Renée Elise Goldsberry (b. Jan. 2, 1971) is probably best known for her portrayal of Angelica Schuyler in the Broadway musical Hamilton. She has also starred in a number of Broadway plays.
40. Sushi seaweed: NORI.
41. Biblical garden: EDEN. // And 44-Down: 41-Down woman: EVE.
45. Relating to sound: PHONIC.
46. In a creepy way: EERILY.
47. Acid type built up during high-intensity exercise: LACTIC.
49. Nickname for Canada's $2 coin: TOONIE. The Canadian $1 coin is called a Loonie.
50. French friend: AMIE. More of today's French lesson. This is the female friend.
53. "Battlestar Galactica" actor Edward James __: OLMOS. Edward James Olmos (b. Feb. 24, 1947) is an American actor who has starred in dozens of films and television shows.
54. Like hand soap: FOAMY.
55. Singing brother of Simon and Theodore: ALVIN. A reference to The Chipmunks.
60. No. on a resume: TEL. As in Telephone Number.
62. Airbnb alternative: INN.
63. __-friendly: ECO.
64. Opposite of paleo-: NEO.
65. Sound of disapproval: TSK.
Many thanks to Tony who filled in for me for the past three months.
חתולה
