Theme: Running on Empty (M.T.) - Letters M & T start each two-word familiar phrases.
23A. Crisp named for an opera singer: MELBA TOAST. Named after the Australian opera singer Nellie Melba.
25A. Illusion: MAGIC TRICK
36A. Popular date destination: MOVIE THEATER
51A. 1936 Chaplin classic: MODERN TIMES. Also EXILE (19A. Charlie Chaplin, from 1952 to 1972).
72A. Frankie Laine chart-topper: MULE TRAIN. Doesn't ring a bell. Here is a clip.
89A. Painter's aid: MASKING TAPE
105A. 1979 Nobel Peace Prize recipient: MOTHER TERESA. She was from ALBANIA (4D. NATO member since 4/1/2009).
120A. Singer's voice, e.g.: MEAL TICKET
123A. Money-making knack: MIDAS TOUCH. Esp in stock market.
Very straightforward clues and natural, easy to get & "in the language" theme answers. Sometimes those question marked theme clues and resulting wordplay answers can be a bit strained. Or hilarious if the pun works for you.
When did you cotton onto the theme? I did not grok it until I completed the whole grid and studied each theme answer. Read M & T together, they do sound like "empty".
I am guessing today's constructor Matt Skoczen loves music. Look at the below clues:
44A. __ canto: BEL. Italian for "beautiful singing". New opera term to me.
98A. Con __: briskly, in music: MOTO. Italian for "with motion". Also new to me.
29D. Calliope power: STEAM. I've never heard of musical instrument steam calliope.
70D. Musical note feature: STEM. The vertical line forming part of a note.
Most of the other non-theme clues today are straightforward and "honest". The puzzle itself feels very smooth. I really enjoyed the solving. I bet JD too.
Across:
1. Amy Winehouse Grammy-winning song: REHAB. The only Winehouse song I know of.
6. Annapolis inst.: USNA. And PLEBE (110D Annapolis newbie).
10. At least as: NO LESS
16. Apr. advisor: CPA. Apr. = IRS month.
21. Hardens: INURES
22. Leia's love: HAN (Solo). From "Star Wars".
27. Pump measure: OCTANE
30. H+ and Cl -: IONS. Charged particles.
31. Ex-Dodger Hershiser: OREL
32. Squelch: NIX
33. Narcs, e.g.: BUSTERS
35. Disconcerting look: STARE. So is GLARE.
40. They're slanted: ITALICS. Indeed.
43. Starting point, perhaps: IDEA. "Perhaps"!
45. It can span centuries: SAGA
49. Union: NORTH. Was thinking of "merger" union, not the Civil War side.
56. Bankrupt Korean automaker: DAEWOO. Dae = Great. Woo = Universe. Literally "great universe". I recognize the meaning of Korean only if they are in written in Hanja.
58. Make out: SEE
60. International show: EXPO
61. State that's home to Nike H.Q.: ORE (Oregon)
62. Powwows: TALKS. Only know the Native American ceremony meaning of "Powwow". Conference
67. Completely fall apart: GO TO RUIN
70. New Orleans player: SAINT. Hey, Haltool! Who Dat?
75. Under siege: BESET
76. Uses as partial payment: TRADES IN
78. Dark genre: NOIR. Film noir.
79. Revlon offering: SCENT. Have never tried any of Revlon's perfume.
81. Dark time for poets: E'EN. And MORNS (108A. Blake's daybreaks). British poet William Blake.
82. Cut out, e.g.: EDIT
84. French pronoun: CES. French for "these".
86. Regular crowd: USUALS
94. Fashion: STYLE
97. Choice word: ELSE. Or else.
100. Hiring term initiated under LBJ: EEO (Equal Employment Opportunity)
101. Chips follower?: AHOY. Chips Ahoy!
102. Sways while moving: CAREENS
109. Source of flowing water: OPEN TAP
111. Teeny bit: TAD. And SMIDGEN (63D Teeny bit). I totally adore clue echos.
112. Words of woe: AH ME
113. Cyan relative: TEAL. Both blue.
116. Flares up: ERUPTS
125. E-bay action: BID
126. Place for a drip, briefly: IV TUBE
127. Attacking the job: AT IT. Ah, it's back.
128. __ Bubba: gum brand: HUBBA. Have never heard of this Wrigley brand. Don't chew gum.
130. Blotto: LOOPED. Both slang for "drunk". Both new to me.
131. Endangered island flier: NENE. Hawaii's state bird.
132. Nineveh's land: Abbr.: ASSYR (Assyria). Nineveh is the ancient capital of Assyria. Its ruins are opposite Mosul, on the Tigris River, in N Iraq. Stumped me.
Down:
1. Riviera resort San __: REMO
2. Business VIP: EXEC
3. Weapon handle: HILT
5. Retro headgear: BEANIE
6. Area 51 sighting, briefly: UFO
7. "Click it or ticket" subject: SEAT BELTS
8. New Hampshire city: NASHUA. What's it famous for?
9. Experts: ARTISTS
10. Strategic math game: NIM. Surprised to learn it originated in China.
11. Broadcasting: ON AIR
12. Count player: LUGOSI (Bela). He played Count Dracula in "Dracula".
13. Hibernia: ERIN. Hibernia is Latin for Ireland. A Hibernophile is a person who loves all things Irish. I mentioned this on the blog a few times before.
14. Brief moments: SECS. Nice clue.
15. Its last flight was Nov. 26, 2003: SST. Trivia is always appreciated.
16. Former French president: CHIRAC (Jacques). Retired life is not so sweet for him, obviously.
17. Harness horses: PACERS. Dictionary defines it as "a standard-bred horse that is used for pacing in harness racing".
18. It's commonly turned: ANKLE. "It's commonly twisted" too.
24. Typical, as a case: TEXTBOOK
26. Corkscrew pasta: ROTINI. Italian for "twist".
34. Therefore: ERGO
35. Thin cut: SLIT
36. Even-tempered: MILD. Not a word to describe Dennis or Windhover.
37. Greek music halls: ODEA. Plural of odeum.
38. Shakespearean merchant Antonio et al.: VENETIANS
39. "__ Alibi": Selleck film: HER. Nope. Who's the girl?
41. Silvery game fish: TARPONS. The name escaped me. Had this clue before. Huge.
42. "Are too!" response: AM NOT
49. Nick of "Affliction": NOLTE
50. Loaf's end: HEEL
52. Vet: EX-GI
53. Ringo and George each wore one: MOUSTACHE. Came to me slowly.
54. Lake-effect snow city: ERIE
55. In the mail: SENT
57. Fairy godmother's prop: WAND
59. Garden locale: EDEN. The first garden ever.
65. Pontiac muscle car: GTO
66. __ the Red: ERIC. Or Erik.
68. Quite heavy: OBESE
69. Bausch & Lomb brand: RENU
71. High pressure __: AREA
73. Curriculum part: UNIT
74. Mars counterpart: ARES. Greek god of war.
77. Suspect: SENSE
80. Skirtlike trousers: CULOTTES. Does this girl look sexy to you?
83. Inverness topper: TAM
85. Saturated with: STEEPED IN
87. "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" author: LOOS (Anita)
88. Tofu source: SOYA
90. Wheat seed: KERNEL
91. The Philippines, to Philippe: ILES. The Philippines (Islands), to a French man.
92. Pear or apple: POME
93. Broad collars: ETONS
95. "__ durn tootin'!": YER. The redneck's equivalent of "yes, of course". I've never heard of it before.
99. Armchair partner: OTTOMAN
101. Herculean: ARDUOUS
102. One sharing the wealth?: CO-HEIR. Was thinking of DONOR.
103. Noted 1588 loser: ARMADA. The Spanish fleet. Defeated by the English navy.
106. Descendant of Noah's second son: HAMITE. No idea. Ham is the second son of Noah.
107. Singer Kitt: EARTHA. Ah, "Santa Baby" for Argyle.
108. Deadly African snake: MAMBA. Terrifying head.
113. Show saver: TIVO
114. Prefix with plasm: ECTO. Meaning "outer"/"external". Opposite "endo".
117. Taverns: PUBS
118. Frozen dessert franchise: TCBY
119. __-Pei: strong dog: SHAR. The wrinkly dog. Shar = Sand, Pei = Skin. "Sand skin" refers to its rough sandy coat.
122. "Dilbert" Generic Guy: TED. Not familiar with Ted the Generic Guy.
Answer grid.
Awesome memory tag Gessica Alba for GALBA, Lemonade, thank you! Now how about ERNANI?
C.C.
23A. Crisp named for an opera singer: MELBA TOAST. Named after the Australian opera singer Nellie Melba.
25A. Illusion: MAGIC TRICK
36A. Popular date destination: MOVIE THEATER
51A. 1936 Chaplin classic: MODERN TIMES. Also EXILE (19A. Charlie Chaplin, from 1952 to 1972).
72A. Frankie Laine chart-topper: MULE TRAIN. Doesn't ring a bell. Here is a clip.
89A. Painter's aid: MASKING TAPE
105A. 1979 Nobel Peace Prize recipient: MOTHER TERESA. She was from ALBANIA (4D. NATO member since 4/1/2009).
120A. Singer's voice, e.g.: MEAL TICKET
123A. Money-making knack: MIDAS TOUCH. Esp in stock market.
Very straightforward clues and natural, easy to get & "in the language" theme answers. Sometimes those question marked theme clues and resulting wordplay answers can be a bit strained. Or hilarious if the pun works for you.
When did you cotton onto the theme? I did not grok it until I completed the whole grid and studied each theme answer. Read M & T together, they do sound like "empty".
I am guessing today's constructor Matt Skoczen loves music. Look at the below clues:
44A. __ canto: BEL. Italian for "beautiful singing". New opera term to me.
98A. Con __: briskly, in music: MOTO. Italian for "with motion". Also new to me.
29D. Calliope power: STEAM. I've never heard of musical instrument steam calliope.
70D. Musical note feature: STEM. The vertical line forming part of a note.
Most of the other non-theme clues today are straightforward and "honest". The puzzle itself feels very smooth. I really enjoyed the solving. I bet JD too.
Across:
1. Amy Winehouse Grammy-winning song: REHAB. The only Winehouse song I know of.
6. Annapolis inst.: USNA. And PLEBE (110D Annapolis newbie).
10. At least as: NO LESS
16. Apr. advisor: CPA. Apr. = IRS month.
21. Hardens: INURES
22. Leia's love: HAN (Solo). From "Star Wars".
27. Pump measure: OCTANE
30. H+ and Cl -: IONS. Charged particles.
31. Ex-Dodger Hershiser: OREL
32. Squelch: NIX
33. Narcs, e.g.: BUSTERS
35. Disconcerting look: STARE. So is GLARE.
40. They're slanted: ITALICS. Indeed.
43. Starting point, perhaps: IDEA. "Perhaps"!
45. It can span centuries: SAGA
49. Union: NORTH. Was thinking of "merger" union, not the Civil War side.
56. Bankrupt Korean automaker: DAEWOO. Dae = Great. Woo = Universe. Literally "great universe". I recognize the meaning of Korean only if they are in written in Hanja.
58. Make out: SEE
60. International show: EXPO
61. State that's home to Nike H.Q.: ORE (Oregon)
62. Powwows: TALKS. Only know the Native American ceremony meaning of "Powwow". Conference
67. Completely fall apart: GO TO RUIN
70. New Orleans player: SAINT. Hey, Haltool! Who Dat?
75. Under siege: BESET
76. Uses as partial payment: TRADES IN
78. Dark genre: NOIR. Film noir.
79. Revlon offering: SCENT. Have never tried any of Revlon's perfume.
81. Dark time for poets: E'EN. And MORNS (108A. Blake's daybreaks). British poet William Blake.
82. Cut out, e.g.: EDIT
84. French pronoun: CES. French for "these".
86. Regular crowd: USUALS
94. Fashion: STYLE
97. Choice word: ELSE. Or else.
100. Hiring term initiated under LBJ: EEO (Equal Employment Opportunity)
101. Chips follower?: AHOY. Chips Ahoy!
102. Sways while moving: CAREENS
109. Source of flowing water: OPEN TAP
111. Teeny bit: TAD. And SMIDGEN (63D Teeny bit). I totally adore clue echos.
112. Words of woe: AH ME
113. Cyan relative: TEAL. Both blue.
116. Flares up: ERUPTS
125. E-bay action: BID
126. Place for a drip, briefly: IV TUBE
127. Attacking the job: AT IT. Ah, it's back.
128. __ Bubba: gum brand: HUBBA. Have never heard of this Wrigley brand. Don't chew gum.
130. Blotto: LOOPED. Both slang for "drunk". Both new to me.
131. Endangered island flier: NENE. Hawaii's state bird.
132. Nineveh's land: Abbr.: ASSYR (Assyria). Nineveh is the ancient capital of Assyria. Its ruins are opposite Mosul, on the Tigris River, in N Iraq. Stumped me.
Down:
1. Riviera resort San __: REMO
2. Business VIP: EXEC
3. Weapon handle: HILT
5. Retro headgear: BEANIE
6. Area 51 sighting, briefly: UFO
7. "Click it or ticket" subject: SEAT BELTS
8. New Hampshire city: NASHUA. What's it famous for?
9. Experts: ARTISTS
10. Strategic math game: NIM. Surprised to learn it originated in China.
11. Broadcasting: ON AIR
12. Count player: LUGOSI (Bela). He played Count Dracula in "Dracula".
13. Hibernia: ERIN. Hibernia is Latin for Ireland. A Hibernophile is a person who loves all things Irish. I mentioned this on the blog a few times before.
14. Brief moments: SECS. Nice clue.
15. Its last flight was Nov. 26, 2003: SST. Trivia is always appreciated.
16. Former French president: CHIRAC (Jacques). Retired life is not so sweet for him, obviously.
17. Harness horses: PACERS. Dictionary defines it as "a standard-bred horse that is used for pacing in harness racing".
18. It's commonly turned: ANKLE. "It's commonly twisted" too.
24. Typical, as a case: TEXTBOOK
26. Corkscrew pasta: ROTINI. Italian for "twist".
34. Therefore: ERGO
35. Thin cut: SLIT
36. Even-tempered: MILD. Not a word to describe Dennis or Windhover.
37. Greek music halls: ODEA. Plural of odeum.
38. Shakespearean merchant Antonio et al.: VENETIANS
39. "__ Alibi": Selleck film: HER. Nope. Who's the girl?
41. Silvery game fish: TARPONS. The name escaped me. Had this clue before. Huge.
42. "Are too!" response: AM NOT
49. Nick of "Affliction": NOLTE
50. Loaf's end: HEEL
52. Vet: EX-GI
53. Ringo and George each wore one: MOUSTACHE. Came to me slowly.
54. Lake-effect snow city: ERIE
55. In the mail: SENT
57. Fairy godmother's prop: WAND
59. Garden locale: EDEN. The first garden ever.
65. Pontiac muscle car: GTO
66. __ the Red: ERIC. Or Erik.
68. Quite heavy: OBESE
69. Bausch & Lomb brand: RENU
71. High pressure __: AREA
73. Curriculum part: UNIT
74. Mars counterpart: ARES. Greek god of war.
77. Suspect: SENSE
80. Skirtlike trousers: CULOTTES. Does this girl look sexy to you?
83. Inverness topper: TAM
85. Saturated with: STEEPED IN
87. "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" author: LOOS (Anita)
88. Tofu source: SOYA
90. Wheat seed: KERNEL
91. The Philippines, to Philippe: ILES. The Philippines (Islands), to a French man.
92. Pear or apple: POME
93. Broad collars: ETONS
95. "__ durn tootin'!": YER. The redneck's equivalent of "yes, of course". I've never heard of it before.
99. Armchair partner: OTTOMAN
101. Herculean: ARDUOUS
102. One sharing the wealth?: CO-HEIR. Was thinking of DONOR.
103. Noted 1588 loser: ARMADA. The Spanish fleet. Defeated by the English navy.
106. Descendant of Noah's second son: HAMITE. No idea. Ham is the second son of Noah.
107. Singer Kitt: EARTHA. Ah, "Santa Baby" for Argyle.
108. Deadly African snake: MAMBA. Terrifying head.
113. Show saver: TIVO
114. Prefix with plasm: ECTO. Meaning "outer"/"external". Opposite "endo".
117. Taverns: PUBS
118. Frozen dessert franchise: TCBY
119. __-Pei: strong dog: SHAR. The wrinkly dog. Shar = Sand, Pei = Skin. "Sand skin" refers to its rough sandy coat.
122. "Dilbert" Generic Guy: TED. Not familiar with Ted the Generic Guy.
Answer grid.
Awesome memory tag Gessica Alba for GALBA, Lemonade, thank you! Now how about ERNANI?
C.C.
