Tuesday, June 11, 2013 Robin Stears

Theme: Male Twins - A young man can be placed following the first and the second part of the theme answers.

17A. *Campus brother's residence : FRAT HOUSE. Fraternity member can be called a FRAT BOY. If it is a really rich fraternity, they might have a HOUSE BOY.

39A. *Bossy's neckwear : COWBELL. Bossy is a cow. A COW BOY would tend her. A BELL BOY would tend to her if she had been made in to luggage.

59A. *Student's transport : SCHOOL BUS. The wheels on the bus go round and round. The SCHOOL BOY would be on the bus. The BUS BOY is on break with the BELL BOY.

11D. *Christmas hit for Roy Orbison written by Willie Nelson : "PRETTY PAPER". The SONG. There are those(I'm not mentioning names) that think Tony Dorsett is a PRETTY BOY. The PAPER BOY just brings the news. Tony used to big in the sports section.

24D. *Color with a military name : SOLDIER BLUE. Funny that the color is lighter than the blue used for the Union soldiers, the original soldiers blue. In that conflict, a SOLDIER BOY bled red no matter the color of his uniform. The BLUE BOY (PICTURE) was not involved.

25D. *An outfielder may call it : FLY BALL. Doesn't mean he will get it, sometimes. A FLY BOY (A member of an air force) might be in the stands watching. Meanwhile, the BALL BOY is watching tennis.

61D. Word that can follow both parts of the answers to starred clues : BOY. Oh BOY, that part's done.

Argyle here.(just a boy at heart). I didn't sign up for this much work. Seven entries on a Tuesday! I'm only kidding; I'm impressed with Robin's offering.

Across:

1. Résumé writer's quest : JOB. Don't get the need for French(maybe something was lost in the translation).

4. Maker of WorkForce printers : EPSON. I have a Brothers myself.

9. Pet adoption org. : ASPCA. American SPCA

14. More than vexation : IRE

15. Sports deal : TRADE

16. Pasta wheat : DURUM. Stay away, if you're gluten-intolerant.

19. Grenoble's river : ISÈRE. Grenoble is a city in southeastern France, at the foot of the French Alps where the river Drac joins the Isère.

20. Room divider : WALL

21. Vanquished : BEATEN

22. Atlantic City attraction : CASINO. So gambling is bad unless the government is getting their cut.

25. Display shamelessly : FLAUNT

27. Up to speed about : IN ON

28. Extravagant affairs : GALAS

30. "Imagine greater" cable network : SYFY. (formerly Sci-Fi Channel)

33. Loggers' balancing contest : ROLEO. Two men on a log in the water, rolling it back and forth to dump the opponent in said water.

35. Damascus's land : SYRIA. Not the place to be.

37. Bake sale purchase : PIE. "Umm, pie!"

38. Spain's El __ : CID

41. California's Santa __ Mountains : ANA

42. Aussie's college : UNI. A gimme, thanks to Kazie.

43. Golf legend Sam : SNEAD. A recent entry.

44. Camcorder inserts : TAPES. Then transfer them to CD's to play them.

46. Suffix with hip or quip : STER

48. Green-light : ALLOW. 66A. Green-lights : OKs. Verb or noun.

50. Dry run : TEST

51. Seconds from the soda fountain : REFILL. I was looking for a plural.

53. Robust : HEARTY

55. Unskilled sailor : LUBBER. (landlubber) Perhaps we can get the reason why?

57. Gallup specialty : POLL

58. Attorney-__ : AT-LAW

64. Pan-fry : SAUTÉ

65. Make sense of : GRASP

67. Transparently thin : SHEER. For Splynter.

68. Ten percent pledge : TITHE

69. Robin Hood's wood : YEW. For his bow, you know.

Down:

1. Peanut butter brand : JIF

2. Hockey legend Bobby : ORR

3. Actress Arthur : BEA

4. __ Allen furniture stores : ETHAN

5. Literary intro : PROLOG

6. First king of Israel : SAUL

7. Pigs out (on), briefly : OD's

8. Born, in a bridal bio : NÉE

9. "Farewell, mon ami" : "ADIEU". "Non, pas encore."

10. Sarandon and Sontag : SUSANs

12. Make all better : CURE

13. "You're so right!" : "AMEN!"

18. Bale bond : TWINE. Get that, sounds like bail bond.

21. Pizza sauce herb : BASIL

22. Tent entertainment : CIRCUS. Three rings, the Big Top.

23. Apply oil to : ANOINT

26. Rio Grande city : LAREDO.

29. Too : AS WELL

31. Crème de la crème : FINEST

32. Like bread dough or beer : YEASTY

34. Military training sch. : OCS. (Officer Candidate School)

36. Flight height: Abbr. : ALT. (altitude)

40. How the elated walk : ON AIR

45. In any way : AT ALL

47. Consumer lure : REBATE. But jump through hoops to redeem.

49. Wind tunnel noise : [WHOOSH]

52. Five, to ten : FEWER

54. Take the honey and run : ELOPE. A cutey.

55. Scottish miss : LASS

56. Four Corners state : UTAH

57. "Kewl" relative : "PHAT"

59. Cpl.'s superior : SGT.

60. Dernier __: the latest thing : CRI. French: literally, last cry.

62. Maui music maker : UKE

63. Lincoln-to-Lubbock dir. : SSW

Argyle

Sunday April 21, 2013 Robin Stears

Theme: Herbal Tease - One word in each theme entry is replaced by a sound-alike herb.

23A. Observation about sprouting aromatic plants? : SOMETHINGS ARE MINT-TO-BE. Somethings are meant to be.

36A. "Yes, I'm positive this seed is in five-spice powder"? : THAT'S MY FENNEL ANSWER. That's my final answer. Not fond of fennel or the Five-spice powder. My dad used star anise in meat dishes.

55A. "We should whip up some pickle flavoring"? : LET'S MAKE A DILL. Let's Make a Deal.

80A. Like something even better than a pungent herb? : BEYOND BAY LEAF. Beyond belief.

 

96A. Incense hung in two places? : MYRRH MYRRH ON THE WALL. Mirror Mirror on the Wall. Never thought of Myrrh as herb.

117A. Getting by with a loaner herb? : LIVING ON BORROWED THYME. Living on borrowed time. Pure homophone.

Very nice puzzle title!

Grid spanners can make things easier on a week day puzzle, but they're tricky to grid for a 21*21. Plus, Robin has a couple long 19's to deal with. Hence, 6 theme entries today. An extra 7th in the very middle row would make this extra tough, even if it's short.

Across:

 

1. Pricey sweaters : MOHAIRS. Angora goats.

8. They remove bad marks : ERASERS

15. Vertebral bones : SACRA

20. "__ Flame": Bangles ballad : ETERNAL

21. One in the running : NOMINEE

22. Blood of the gods : ICHOR. Learned from doing Xword.

26. Elementary fivesome : A E I O U. And 49. Alphabet trio : BCD

27. Roo's refuge : POUCH

28. Soul-searching events? : SEANCES. I love "Ghost". So good.

29. XIII x IV : LII

31. __-mo replay : SLO

32. "Washboard" muscles : ABS. Which angel do you like the best?

35. __ y Plata: Montana motto : ORO

43. Period relative : ERA

44. Trifle : SOU

45. Ultimate goal : END ALL

46. Easy target : SAP

48. Where It.'s at : EUR. Pay attention to the . in It.

51. Chinese tea : CHA. Literally "tea". Yum Cha ("Drink tea") is a daily activity for retired people in Guangzhou/Hong Kong. Dim sum & Cha & lots of idle gossip. It often takes 2-3 hours. Young people usually "Yum Cha" on weekends.

52. "Sideways" co-star Paul : GIAMATTI

60. Proceed (from) : EMANATE

61. Mythical sea nymphs : NEREIDS. This word reminds me of RESTAURANT in my early days of English learning. Hard to spell. Now looking back, nothing complicated in RESTAURANT.

62. Yield to gravity : SAG

64. 2005 Nobel-winning dramatist : PINTER (Harold). He wrote "The French Lieutenant's Woman".

65. Tears down, in Dover : RASES. Our Razes.

68. Broadband letters : DSL

69. Hägar creator Browne : DIK

71. Can't forgo : NEEDS

72. Bear witness : ATTEST

74. "My country, __ ..." : TIS

76. Every garçon has one : CEDILLA. The mark under that c. I bet this clue will stump some garçons. "I have a what?"

78. Pasture critters : GRAZERS

85. Black-and-tan terrier : AIREDALE

87. Center of gravity? : VEE

88. "__ rang?" : YOU

89. Aladdin's monkey : ABU

90. California's Big __ : SUR

91. Patio-brewed beverage : SUN TEA

93. Many IRA payees : SRS

95. Stimpy's sidekick : REN. "Ren & Stimpy".

103. Sushi tuna : AHI

104. Part of MYOB : OWN

105. "Nerts!" : BAH

106. Poetry Out Loud org. : NEA

107. Working like a dog : SLAVING

111. Prevent : DEBAR

113. Razzle-dazzle : ECLAT

122. __ acid : AMINO

123. Groundbreaking Reagan appointee : O'CONNOR. First woman on the Supreme Court. Tough lady. I think she intimidated even Terry Gross.

124. Showed disdain : SNEERED

125. Forms : MODES

 
126. Positively charged particles : PROTONS

127. Leather treaters : TANNERS

Down:

1. Cactus League spring training city : MESA. Cactus League is in Arizona. Grapefruit League is in Florida.

2. Native Oklahoman : OTOE

3. Half up front? : HEMI. As in, Hemisphere. Tricky, as DEMI, SEMI fit too.

4. Biological ring : AREOLA

5. Goes with one's gut : INTUITS

6. "Yay, team!" : RAH

7. Maidenform buy : SLIP

8. Swamp : ENGULF

9. The "R" in Edward R. Murrow : ROSCOE. Never knew this.

10. Eastern nursemaid : AMAH. Lots of Filipino AMAHS in Hong Kong. Cheap labor. Plus, they speak English.

11. McCartney title : SIR

12. San Diego-to-Albuquerque dir. : ENE

13. "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" band : REM

14. Jorge's half-dozen : SEIS

15. Bollywood strings : SITARS. 65. Music for 15-Down : RAGAS

16. Urgent come-on : ACT NOW

17. Prefix with -aholic : CHOC

18. Boxer's attire : ROBE

19. Olympian warrior : ARES. 86. Warrior companion of 19-Down : ENYO. Learning moment for me.

24. Always butting in : NOSY

25. Old electronic display source : NEON LAMP

30. Weatherman's line : ISOBAR

32. They're history : ANNALS

33. Murphy __ : BED. Never saw one in person.

34. Blast furnace refuse : SLAG

36. Honest : TRUE

37. "The Wizard of Id" co-creator Johnny : HART. The "B.C." cartoonist.

38. Tossed in, as a losing poker hand : MUCKED. Don't know this term.

39. Radar's soda brand : NEHI

40. Byron's words before "'Tis but the truth in masquerade" : A LIE. "And, after all, what is a lie? 'Tis but the truth in masquerade." Don Juan.

41. Probate concern : ESTATE

42. Snitched : RATTED

43. Flotsam or Jetsam in "The Little Mermaid" : EEL. Nice new clue!

47. Beach resort strolling spots : PIERS

50. Jefferson, for one : DEIST

51. MP3 holders : CDS

53. As a rule : MAINLY

54. Temper : ANNEAL

56. Earn a blessing? : SNEEZE. Not sure what Boomer is sensitive to. He sneezes a lot. Probably some kind of scents. Going to Kohl's or some other department stores can set him off.

57. __ around: wasted time : MESSED
 

58. Wing it : AD LIB

59. Weighed down : LADEN

63. Euphoric : GIDDY

66. Lobby brightener : ATRIUM

67. Characterized by twinkling : STARRY

70. Put the __ on: quash : KIBOSH

73. Criticizing harshly : TRASHING

75. U.K.'s longest river : SEVERN

76. Country singer David Allan __ : COE. Never heard of him. Not a country music fan. Wow, look at his hair!

77. Polo VIP : LAUREN. Ralph Lauren. Polo shirt.

79. Gentrification target : SLUM

81. "You betcha!" : YEAH

82. Viscount's superior : EARL

83. Third man? : ABEL

84. Kicks : FUN

92. Credit checker Experian, pre-1996 : TRW

94. Equal-ize? : SWEETEN. Equal sweetener.

97. Gorge : RAVINE

98. Safari sights : RHINOS. JD had a few Safari trips.

99. Moon of Uranus : OBERON. Named after the king in "A Midsummer Night's Dream". 

100. Pyle portrayer : NABORS (Jim)

101. Leave out of the freezer : THAW

102. City SW of Essen : AACHEN. See Essen a bit to the east?

 

107. Bridge feat : SLAM. Hi there Spitzboov!

108. Chauffeured car : LIMO

109. Voracious : AVID. Anyone noticed the similarities between Clear Ayes & Yellowrocks? Both knowledgeable, curious & voracious readers.

110. Gunk : GOOP

111. Villain on Crab Key : DR NO. Thanks for the "Villain" hint.

112. Symbol on a staff : REST

114. Ancient harplike instrument : LYRE

115. AKC part: Abbr. : AMER

116. Nugent and Turner : TEDS

118. ATM maker : NCR

119. Heckle : BOO

120. Fort Erie's prov. : ONT. China uses provinces too. 23 provinces. Lu Lingzi is from Shenyang Province. Due to China's One-Child policy, she was her parents' only kid.

121. Letters from your parents? : DNA. Nice clue.

C.C.

Wednesday, Mar 6 2013, Robin Stears

theme: what a DODO!

17A. __ Sam: 49ers mascot : SOURDOUGH. san francisco.

24A. Lake Geneva water fountain : JET D'EAU. famous landmark, french for 'water jet.'

34A. Fun Factory clay : PLAY-DOH

51A. Mystery man : JOHN DOE. name used to refer to a male whose identity is unknown, or being withheld.

58A. Olympic sport since 2000 : TAE KWON DO. korean martial art.

melissa here. pretty straightforward today, raced right through with few sticky spots. it did make me wonder where our DODO is - anyone know?

across:

1. __ polloi : HOI

4. Prom gown material : SATIN

9. Jitter-free java : DECAF. shortened form of decaffeinated is routinely used.

14. ShopNBC competitor : QVC.  televised home shopping.

15. Gulf State native : OMANI. one from oman.

16. Start of a historic B-29 name : ENOLA. enola gay. 

19. Obie contender : ACTOR. annual off-broadway theater awards.

20. It comes straight from the heart : AORTA. fresh clue.

21. Fate who spins the thread of life : CLOTHO. youngest of the three fates in greek mythology.

22. Of main importance : PRIMAL

25. Some Korean imports : KIAS. cars.

26. Maker of Touch of Foam hand wash : LYSOL. had never heard of it.

28. Old-style "once" : ERST

29. Hipbone-related : ILIAC. seemed like it should be iliaL.

31. Ape who rescues baby Tarzan : KALA. as johnny used to say, i did not know that.

33. Filled (in), as a questionnaire box : XED. 

37. Back (out) : OPT. doesn't seem quite right - assuming we're talking contract talk - you can back out - but you can opt in or out.

40. Unsteady gait : LIMP

41. Debate : ARGUE

43. Caesar's "Behold!" : ECCE. needed perps here.

47. Appearances : MIENS. here, too.

50. Napoleon's exile isle : ELBA

53. Jigger's  1½€ : OUNCES. a jigger is 1.5 ounces.

55. High society types : ELITES

56. Firth or fjord : INLET

57. Infant ailment : COLIC. and parent's nightmare.

62. Fool : TRICK

63. S-shaped moldings : OGEES

64. Slice of history : EON

65. Boneheads : ASSES

66. Hot, spicy drink : TODDY. don't really think of a hot toddy as spicy.

67. Where the wild things are : ZOO

down:

1. Command ctrs. : HQS. headquarters.

2. Egg head? : OVO. prefix meaning egg.

3. Post-op setting : ICU. intensive care unit.

4. Doomed city in Genesis : SODOM

5. Indifferent to right and wrong : AMORAL

6. How tense words are spoken : TAUTLY

7. "Young Frankenstein" seductress : INGA. played by teri garr in the film. 

8. Govt. medical research org. : NIH. national institutes of health.

9. Handed out hands : DEALT. cards.

10. Protect from a cyberattack, say : ENCODE

11. Fastening pin : COTTER

12. Lei Day greetings : ALOHAS. we got lei'd again.

13. "Like, wow, man!" : FAR OUT. i'm hearing this expression again.

18. __ Gorbachev, last first lady of the USSR : RAISA

21. String quintet instrument : CELLO

22. Stack : PILE

23. "Kills bugs dead!" spray : RAID

24. Family name in "The Grapes of Wrath" : JOAD

25. Brooks of country music's Brooks & Dunn : KIX

27. Video chat choice : SKYPE. so popular.

30. Sgt.'s subordinate : CPL

32. Sound of a light bulb going on? : AHA. nice.

35. Long rides? : LIMOS

36. Jacques's significant other : AMIE. female friend.

37. Look like a creep : OGLE. great clue.

38. Guinness servers : PUBS

39. Darjeeling, e.g. : TEA

42. Right-hand page : RECTO

43. Volcanic spewings : EJECTA. perps please.

44. Black and tan : COLORS. 

45. Restaurant chain with a hot pepper in its logo : CHILI'S

46. Inveigle : ENTICE. what a great word.

48. "Thanks, already did it" : NO NEED

49. Stewed : SULKED

52. Cruise ship levels : DECKS

54. Like long emails from old friends : NEWSY

56. "I hate the Moor" speaker : IAGO. from othello.

58. Playpen player : TOT

59. Pince-__ : NEZ. style of glasses that pinch the nose, like this:

60. Scrappy-__ : DOO. scooby's nephew.

61. Beatle wife : ONO. yoko.

melissa

Wednesday, Dec 5 2012, Robin Stears

theme: I'M DOWN

this seemed more like a thursday level to me, a bit of a workout. an unusual looking grid, too, fitting the COLUMNS theme. i like puzzles that have down theme answers, i guess just because it's unusual.

5d. *"Break Like the Wind" band : SPINAL (COLUMN) TAP. 

10d. *TV drama narrated by a teen blogger : GOSSIP (COLUMN) GIRL. does anyone watch gossip girl?

26d. *Double-date extra : FIFTH (COLUMN) WHEEL. "third wheel" is the more common phrase. fifth column definition.

34d. *Chemical connection that involves a transfer of electrons : IONIC (COLUMN) BOND. an ionic column is a greek architectural feature.

22. The answers to starred clues start with kinds of them, and are arranged in them : COLUMNS

across

1. Unapproachable : OFFISH. a stretch-ish.

7. Heavy shoe : BROGAN. wikipedia: "a term generally applied to any heavy, ankle-high shoe or boot …". 

13. Like Steven Wright's delivery : DEADPAN. "I went for a walk last night and she asked me how long I was going to be gone. I said, "The whole time."

15. Fragrant hybrid bloom : TEA ROSE. created by cross-breeding two types of roses. so pretty.

16. Unusually large : OUTSIZE

17. They enjoy being cruel : SADISTS

18. GPS display : RDS. global positioning system / roads.

19. Scottish refusal : NAE

20. Melodic passages : ARIOSOS. new to me.

21. Cabbage head? : HARD C. can't fool me with that any more.

23. E. __ bacteria : COLI

24. Hug : ENFOLD. enfolds and kisses.

27. Buckeyes' sch. : OSU. ohio state university.

29. Blunt blade : EPEE

32. Main idea : POINT

33. Defensive story : ALIBI

35. "I hate when you do that!" : GRR

36. Balkan Peninsula capital : SOFIA

37. Profit share : CUT

38. Heavenly hunter : ORION. constellation.

40. Prov. on Lake Superior : ONT. ontario, canada.

41. Tottenham tot toters : PRAMS. tottenham is an area in london, and pram is a british word for a baby carriage.

43. Squares : NERDS

44. Grape soda brand : NEHI

46. A in German class : EIN

47. Light spectrum extreme : VIOLET

48. L.A. Sparks' org. : WNBA

50. Contractor's details : SPECS

52. Ones with a common heritage : ETHNICS

55. Eyeball : ORB

56. "Grimm" network : NBC. no idea. looks interesting.

59. Put away, as a hunting knife : SHEATHE

60. More apt to pout : MOODIER

62. Many a Nickelodeon watcher : PRETEEN

63. Exalt : ENNOBLE

64. Astonishingly enough : NO LESS

65. Carol opener : ADESTE. christmas carol, adeste fideles, aka o come all ye faithful. it's that time again already. here's BNL's version of a different classic carol:

down

1. Air Wick target : ODOR

2. It can go on for years : FEUD

3. Dieter's count : FATS

4. Picks from a lineup : ID'S. identifies - no indication of abbreviation, i suppose ID is common enough.

6. Thin ice, say : HAZARD

7. Berenstain youngster, e.g. : BEAR CUB. children's book series, the berenstain bears.

8. Active beginning? : RADIO. radioactive.

9. Maryland state bird, for one : ORIOLE. why 'for one'?

11. Apropos of : AS TO

12. Storied loch : NESS

14. Can't be without : NEED

15. Bag-checking agcy. : TSA. the butt of so many jokes.

21. Hägar's daughter : HONI. never remember this.

24. Canon rival : EPSON. printer makers.

25. Worst possible turnout : NO ONE. aw.

28. Tries to please a master, perhaps : SITS. "if you can sit quietly after difficult news, if in financial downturns you remain perfectly calm, if you can see your neighbors travel to fantastic places without a twinge of jealousy, if you can happily eat whatever is on your plate, if you can love those around you unconditionally and fall asleep after a day of running around without a drink or a pill, if you can always find contentment just where you are … you're probably a dog."

30. Diminish by degrees : ERODE

31. Arp contemporary : ERNST. jean arp (1886-1966) and max ernst (1891-1976) - both german painters, sculptors and poets.

33. Trendy healthful berry : ACAI

39. Classic autos : REO'S

42. Is guilty of a dinner table no-no : REACHES

45. Congenital : INNATE

47. Shakespearean setting : VERONA. romeo and juliet, and the two gentleman of verona.

49. Falls for a joke : BITES

51. Fleshy fruit : POME

52. "Mike and Mike in the Morning" broadcaster : ESPN

53. Via, briefly : THRO

54. China's Sun Yat-__ : SEN. did not know this.

56. Calligrapher's points : NIBS

57. Seat restraint : BELT

58. Hudson Bay native : CREE

61. Forest female : DOE

melissa