Theme: Less is less.
The theme clues and answers are:
18. Flat sea urchin: SAND QUARTER. Instead of sand DOLLAR.
29. Period covered in a midterm exam, maybe: ACADEMIC DIME. Instead of an academic QUARTER. When I was in college, a midterm exam covered the first half of an academic quarter. I suppose an academic dime is a little less than half.
45. Tattles (on): DROPS A NICKEL. Instead of drops a DIME. "Drop a dime" is an idiom that means to inform on or betray someone, especially to the authorities.
57. Dense, dark rye bread: PUMPER PENNY. Instead of pumperNICKEL.
And the reveal ...
36. Form of downsizing, and what has affected 18-, 29-, 45-, and 57-Across?: SHRINKFLATION. Shrinkflation is a business practice by which a company reduces the size or quantity of a product while keeping the price the same. Fewer Cheerios in the Cheerios box. The value of your DOLLAR is now a QUARTER.
On to more ... or less!
Across:
1. Makeup of an oyster bed?: ICE. Raw oysters are stored and served on crushed ice.
4. Ordering aid: MENU.
8. Superlatively smart: WISEST.
14. Sanskrit honorific: SRI. In India, Sri is a title of respect used before the name of a man, a god, or a sacred book.
15. Second word in many fairy tales: UPON. Once upon a time ...
16. Member of the Seven Council Fires: OGLALA. The Oglala are one of the seven subtribes of the Lakota people who, along with the Dakota, make up the Seven Council Fires.
8. Superlatively smart: WISEST.
14. Sanskrit honorific: SRI. In India, Sri is a title of respect used before the name of a man, a god, or a sacred book.
15. Second word in many fairy tales: UPON. Once upon a time ...
16. Member of the Seven Council Fires: OGLALA. The Oglala are one of the seven subtribes of the Lakota people who, along with the Dakota, make up the Seven Council Fires.
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| Thomas White Face, Oglala Lakota, 1899. |
17. Ducked, maybe: HID.
18. [Theme clue]
20. Mouth-puckering: TART.
18. [Theme clue]
20. Mouth-puckering: TART.
22. Mate mate?: SOUL. DH is my soul mate. Or perhaps, my better half.
23. Altar answer: I DO. That's essentially what I said to DH! But it was more like, "Behold, by this ring you are made holy unto me."
23. Altar answer: I DO. That's essentially what I said to DH! But it was more like, "Behold, by this ring you are made holy unto me."
 |
| Best day ever. |
24. Small storage unit: KILOBIT. A unit of computer memory or data equal to 1,024 (2¹º) bits. Kilobytes measure storage capacity or data size, while kilobits measure data transfer rates or transmission speeds. I'm sure you knew this, but I sure didn't!
26. Assumes: ADOPTS. "Adopt" in the sense of "assume" means to take on or accept something as your own, like an idea, attitude, or position.
29. [Theme clue]
31. Cap: LID. What do caps and lids conjure up for you?
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| Caps and lids ... or caps and lids? |
32. Hosp. ward: ICU. Intensive Care Unit in a hospital. Abbreviation in the clue calls for abbreviation in the answer.
33. South Indian rice cake: IDLI. Crossword cuisine.
33. South Indian rice cake: IDLI. Crossword cuisine.
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| Idli |
36. [Theme reveal]
41. __ squeeze: MAIN. Uh, oh. TMI today about DH!
42. Peaty wetland: FEN.
43. Singular: ONE.
45. [Theme clue]
50. Fresh air, say: BREEZE.
52. "Maybe give it a pass": NO STARS. A no star rating is a rating that indicates there is no redeeming quality about something. A reviewer might say "maybe give it a pass" about a bad movie or museum.
43. Singular: ONE.
45. [Theme clue]
50. Fresh air, say: BREEZE.
52. "Maybe give it a pass": NO STARS. A no star rating is a rating that indicates there is no redeeming quality about something. A reviewer might say "maybe give it a pass" about a bad movie or museum.
53. 401(k) kin: IRA. Individual Retirement Account.
54. Flying start?: AERO. A Greek prefix relating to flight and air, as in aerodynamics and aeroplane (British for airplane).
56. Graphic __: ARTS. The graphic arts include drawing, painting, photography, and printmaking -- all of which are produced on flat surfaces -- and are often associated with visual communication and advertising.
57. [Theme clue]
61. Vote for: YEA. As opposed to nay. In a sensible language, these would be yea and nea, or yae and nae, or yay and nay.
63. Wet weather wear: ANORAK. A usually pullover hooded jacket long enough to cover the hips.
54. Flying start?: AERO. A Greek prefix relating to flight and air, as in aerodynamics and aeroplane (British for airplane).
56. Graphic __: ARTS. The graphic arts include drawing, painting, photography, and printmaking -- all of which are produced on flat surfaces -- and are often associated with visual communication and advertising.
57. [Theme clue]
61. Vote for: YEA. As opposed to nay. In a sensible language, these would be yea and nea, or yae and nae, or yay and nay.
63. Wet weather wear: ANORAK. A usually pullover hooded jacket long enough to cover the hips.
64. Reddit Q&As: AMAS. Reddit AMAs (which stands for “Ask Me Anything”) are Q&As designed to bring an authority on a subject to a community of interested people. News to me.
65. Stale, in a way: OLD.
66. Names on some college buildings: DONORS.
67. Toy brand with a 3,955-piece "Home Alone" set: LEGO. The level of detail in this set is astonishing.
66. Names on some college buildings: DONORS.
67. Toy brand with a 3,955-piece "Home Alone" set: LEGO. The level of detail in this set is astonishing.
68. Phenomenon that may be explained by NASA: UFO. Unidentified Flying Object (commonly abbreviated as UFO) is the popular term for any apparent aerial phenomenon whose cause cannot be easily or immediately identified by the observer.
Down:
1. In a way: ISH. The suffix "-ish" is used to form adjectives from nouns or other adjectives to indicate an approximation.
2. Pulitzer category since 1970: CRITICISM. The Pulitzer Prize for Criticism has been presented since 1970 to a newspaper writer in the United States who has demonstrated "distinguished criticism."
3. Muslim festival that precedes the Tashreeq days: EID AL-ADHA. Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of Sacrifice, is one of the two main holidays in Islam. The Days of Tashreeq are the three days after Eid al-Adha.
4. "There's no other explanation": MUST BE.
5. AQI monitor: EPA. The Air Quality Index is the Environmental Protection Agency's tool for communicating about outdoor air quality and health.
6. Like some cookware: NONSTICK.
7. Take back: UNDO.
8. Eager agreement: WOULD I. DH: Would you marry me? Me: Would I?! (Not the actual words that were uttered. Proposal-ISH.)
9. Grocery store franchise based in Chicago: IGA. The Independent Grocers Alliance was founded in 1926 to bring family owned, local grocery stores together under the IGA brand.
10. Shutterbug's initials: SLR. A single-lens reflex camera (SLR) typically uses a mirror and prism system that permits the photographer to view through the lens and see exactly what will be captured. I like to point my SLR at birds in the backyard.
7. Take back: UNDO.
8. Eager agreement: WOULD I. DH: Would you marry me? Me: Would I?! (Not the actual words that were uttered. Proposal-ISH.)
9. Grocery store franchise based in Chicago: IGA. The Independent Grocers Alliance was founded in 1926 to bring family owned, local grocery stores together under the IGA brand.
10. Shutterbug's initials: SLR. A single-lens reflex camera (SLR) typically uses a mirror and prism system that permits the photographer to view through the lens and see exactly what will be captured. I like to point my SLR at birds in the backyard.
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| Yellow-rumped Warbler, a fall and winter resident in my Los Angeles garden. |
11. Hit the deck: EAT IT. "Hit the deck" means to suddenly fall to the ground, usually to avoid danger. One meaning of "eat it" is to fall down.
12. Para ice hockey gear: SLEDS. Para ice hockey is an adaptation of ice hockey for players who have a lower body physical disability. A specialized sled (or sledge) is substituted for skates.
12. Para ice hockey gear: SLEDS. Para ice hockey is an adaptation of ice hockey for players who have a lower body physical disability. A specialized sled (or sledge) is substituted for skates.
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| A para ice hockey player handling the puck. |
13. Boba tea flavor: TARO. Taro root has a slightly sweet and nutty flavor with vanilla undertones that goes well with the milk, sugar, and black tea used to make boba tea. Or so I've read! I'm not a fan of the tapioca bubbles (AKA pearls, AKA boba) in boba tea.
19. Campus square: QUAD. In architecture, a quadrangle (or colloquially, a quad) is a space or a courtyard, usually rectangular, the sides of which are mainly occupied by parts of a large building, or several smaller buildings. Often associated with college campuses.
19. Campus square: QUAD. In architecture, a quadrangle (or colloquially, a quad) is a space or a courtyard, usually rectangular, the sides of which are mainly occupied by parts of a large building, or several smaller buildings. Often associated with college campuses.
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| The original quad at UCLA is bordered by the first four campus buildings, dating to 1929: |
the Library, Royce Hall, the Physics Building and the Chemistry Building. Pictured here is Royce Hall.
24. Actor Penn: KAL. Kalpen Suresh Modi, known professionally as Kal Penn, is an American actor, author, and former White House staff member in the Barack Obama administration.
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| Kal Penn |
25. "Name the time and place": I'M IN.
27. Conveniently forget, maybe: OMIT.
28. Treatment for tootsies: PEDI. A pedicure makes your toes pretty.
30. Results of rolling up one's sleeves?: CUFFS.
34. "Great job, friend!": LOOK AT YOU.
35. Private parts?: INNER SELF. Ha ha!
37. Roller coaster, e.g.: RIDE.
38. Subject line phrase: IN RE. In re, Latin for "in the matter [of]," is a term with several different meanings. I always assumed it meant "in regard to ...."
39. Bill Withers hit that begins, "Sometimes in our lives / We all have pain": LEAN ON ME. What a great song!
27. Conveniently forget, maybe: OMIT.
28. Treatment for tootsies: PEDI. A pedicure makes your toes pretty.
30. Results of rolling up one's sleeves?: CUFFS.
34. "Great job, friend!": LOOK AT YOU.
35. Private parts?: INNER SELF. Ha ha!
37. Roller coaster, e.g.: RIDE.
38. Subject line phrase: IN RE. In re, Latin for "in the matter [of]," is a term with several different meanings. I always assumed it meant "in regard to ...."
39. Bill Withers hit that begins, "Sometimes in our lives / We all have pain": LEAN ON ME. What a great song!
40. Civilization-building video game series set in various years: ANNO. Did not know this, but guessed the name, since "anno" is Latin for "in the year."
44. Half of roll call: ELS. The letter L (spelled "el") constitutes half of the letters in "roll call."
46. Range whose highest point is Wahzhazhe Summit: OZARKS. The Ozarks, also known as the Ozark Mountains, is a region in the states of Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma, as well as the southeastern corner of Kansas.
47. Marshmallow treat: PEEP.
46. Range whose highest point is Wahzhazhe Summit: OZARKS. The Ozarks, also known as the Ozark Mountains, is a region in the states of Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma, as well as the southeastern corner of Kansas.
47. Marshmallow treat: PEEP.
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| These do not look like good eats. |
48. "It's my decision": I SAY SO. Did your parents give you this answer to "Why?"
49. QB feeder: CTR. Football *and* abbreviations!
50. "Encanto" uncle: BRUNO. I saw the 2021 animated film by Walt Disney Studios, but had to guess at this character's name.
51. Rodriguez of "Will Trent": RAMON. Ramón Rodríguez is a Puerto Rican actor known for his current role as the title character in the ABC series Will Trent. Well, known to some -- not to me!
49. QB feeder: CTR. Football *and* abbreviations!
50. "Encanto" uncle: BRUNO. I saw the 2021 animated film by Walt Disney Studios, but had to guess at this character's name.
51. Rodriguez of "Will Trent": RAMON. Ramón Rodríguez is a Puerto Rican actor known for his current role as the title character in the ABC series Will Trent. Well, known to some -- not to me!
 |
| Ramón Rodríguez |
53. Apple tablet: IPAD.
55. Honest-to-goodness: REAL.
58. Major leaguer: PRO. A member of a major-league baseball team is a PROfessional ball player.
59. Maize unit: EAR. Corny!
60. Remind repeatedly, say: NAG. Dr. Laura Schlessinger says not to do this to our Dear Husbands.
62. Fuss: ADO. Nagging DH would constitute Much Ado About Nothing.
I had one bad cell in the solve, thanks to that small storage unit at 24 Across.
55. Honest-to-goodness: REAL.
58. Major leaguer: PRO. A member of a major-league baseball team is a PROfessional ball player.
59. Maize unit: EAR. Corny!
60. Remind repeatedly, say: NAG. Dr. Laura Schlessinger says not to do this to our Dear Husbands.
62. Fuss: ADO. Nagging DH would constitute Much Ado About Nothing.
Here's the grid:
I had one bad cell in the solve, thanks to that small storage unit at 24 Across.
Did you have more? Or LESS?
NaomiZ
