Theme: Gross Income - ICK is inserted into common phrases/words.
22A. Martial artist's autobiography?: THE KICKING AND I. "The King and I".
37A. Protest against fiery roadsters?: RED CAR PICKET. Red Carpet.
57A. Really cool security device?: WICKED LOCK. Wedlock.
78A. Price tag in the meat department?: HAM STICKER. Hamster.
93A. Communication from perverts?: SICKOS' SIGNAL. SOS Signal.
113A. Competition for greased-up pooches?: SLICKED DOG RACE. Sled Dog Race.
16D. Preserved a liquor bottle?: PICKLED THE FIFTH. Pled the Fifth. I did not know that a bottle of liquor is also called "fifth", meaning one fifth of a gallon.
44D. Aggressive policy to increase box office sales?: TICKET OFFENSIVE. Tet Offensive. Vietnam War.
I loved the theme title "Gross Income". Very nice wordplay on the accounting term. The gross "ICK" literally comes into every theme phrase.
Last time both Hahtool and I were expecting this kind of ICK insertion in Gail Grabowski's "Gross Word" (Letter C in common phrases is changed into letter G) Sunday puzzle.
Letter K always spices up the whole grid. I counted total 16 Ks in this puzzle. The record is 30, held by Don Gagliardo (Feb 21, 2008, Thursday LAT).
Across:
1. Kept afloat: BUOYED
7. Big sizes: JUMBOS
13. Things drawn across windows: DRAPES. Not enough letters for my CURTAINS.
19. Like books for long-distance road trips: ON TAPE
20. Bob Hope Airport city: BURBANK. Near LA. I had no idea that there's a Bob Hope Airport.
21. Savor: RELISH
24. Combo wager: EXACTA. Pick the first two finishers in order.
25. "Attention!": HARK
26. 1973 Stones ballad: ANGIE. Here is the clip.
27. Columnist Bombeck: ERMA. The "Joy of Cooking" author is IRMA (Rombauer).
29. Short timetable?: SKED. Schedule.
30. Theater level: TIER
32. Foofaraw: ADO. Foofaraw is a new word to me.
33. Formal orders: DICTUMS. Or DICTA.
36. "College GameDay" football analyst Corso: LEE. For ESPN. I've never heard of this guy.
40. Neruda works: POEMS. Neruda got Nobel Literature in 1971.
42. ATF employee: AGT (Agent). ATF = Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.
45. Like dried soil: CAKY. Only know this word in make-up sense.
46. Emotional work: ODE. I like this new clue.
47. Try to keep, as a title: DEFEND.
49. Madden coached them in the '70s: RAIDERS. Was unaware that John Madden coached the Oakland Raiders.
51. Pirate riches: BOOTY
53. When Hamlet feigns insanity: ACT TWO. This ACT One/Two/IV combo often gets me.
56. Not marked up: AT COST. And PROFIT (80A. Entrepreneur's goal).
60. Mortar trough: HOD. Brick hod.
61. "Classic" drinks: COKES
62. "The queen of sciences": Gauss: MATH. Maybe our Fermatprime knows this quote.
63. Thought-revealing drama techniques: ASIDES
64. Genre of the band Fall Out Boy: EMO. First encounter with the rock band Fall Out Boy.
65. Charlemagne's reign: Abbr.: HRE (Holy Roman Empire)
66. Come out with: SAY. Dictionary gives an example: Always comes out with (SAYS) the truth.
67. Check for authenticity: VET
68. Sibs, uncs, etc.: FAM. OK, Family.
69. Boxing writer Fleischer: NAT. Was he very well-known?
70. Piercing cry: SHRIEK
73. Storage facility: SHED
75. Curing solution: BRINE
77. Vow after reading vows: I DO. Nailed it.
81. LL Cool J label: DEF JAM. No idea. Does DEF stands for Definite?
83. Actor Feldman or Haim: COREY. Obtained the answer from crosses.
84. Jewish pancake: BLINTZE. Always thought it's spelled without the last E.
85. Alarm setting for one with a paper route, maybe: FIVE AM. Too late, don't you think?
89. Globule: BEAD
90. That ship: HER
91. __ brûlée: custard dessert: CRÉME. Dennis' favorite dessert.
97. Over there, back when: YON
98. Gear on the slopes: SKI MASK
100. Google had one in Aug. 2004: IPO (Initial Public Offering). I remember the hype.
101. W. Coast enforcer: LAPD
104. Letter sign-off: BEST
106. Organic compound: ENOL. Instinctive fill.
107. "__ the Boys": Katy Perry album: ONE OF. See this cover. Unknown to me.
109. Didn't hold, as dyes: BLED
111. It'll put you under: OPIATE. Great clue.
117. Energizes: REVS UP
118. Sky lights: AURORAS. Aurora is the Roman goddess of dawn.
119. "Knocked Up" director Judd: APATOW. Also the director for "The 40-Year-Old Virgin". Recognized him when I googled.
120. Does an usher's job: GREETS
121. Football bettor's concern: SPREAD. Same as "The Line"?
122. Buds at sea: MATEYS
Down:
1. Inclusive choice: BOTH
2. Doff a bowler: UNHAT. Bowler hat.
3. Castmate of Gasteyer, Ferrell et al.: OTERI (Cheri). All "SNL" cast.
4. Gas bag: YAKKER
5. Dermal opening: EPI. Epidermal.
6. Prefix with -gon: DECA. Decagon. Polygon with ten angles and ten sides.
7. Son: JUNIOR
9. W.'s degree: MBA. Bush got his MBA from Harvard.
10. Blackball: BAN
11. Batting next: ON DECK. So happy that Twins got Jim Thome.
12. Got around: SKIRTED
13. Night vision?: DREAM. Sweet clue.
14. Latin king: REX. Regal is rooted in REX.
15. "Unfortunately ...": ALAS
17. High regard: ESTEEM
18. Hipster's accessory: SHADES. Sunglasses.
20. It may be circled on a calendar: BIG DAY
23. Special gifts: KNACKS. Was thinking of real gifts.
28. Remote control?: MUTE. Have seen this clue before. Still like it.
31. Break: RECESS
33. Got a B-minus, say: DID OK
34. Summer refresher: ICE TEA. Iced Tea, please!
35. Traces: SPECKS
38. Tavern flier: DART
39. Hound: POOCH
41. Niagara Falls prov.: ONT (Ontario)
42. Spider, e.g.: ARACHNID
43. Drink named for a football team: GATORADE. Named after the University of Florida Gators.
48. Phase: FACET
51. Series of jokes: BIT. Was ignorant of this BIT meaning.
52. Football stat.: YDS
54. Emulate Don Juan: WOMANIZE
55. Gas mileage calculating aid: ODOMETER
57. Can't tell which __ up: WAY IS. I wrote down ONE IS first.
58. Onions partner: LIVER. Because you always cooks liver with onion?
59. Had too much: OD-ED. Overdosed.
62. Old school add-on?: MARM. "Add-on" to the old-time schoolteacher Schoolmarm.
66. Humiliate: SHAME
70. They may be close: SHAVES
71. And so forth: Abbr.: ETC
72. Convention booths: KIOSKS. Two Ks in this word.
73. Misrepresents: SKEWS
74. "I'm talking to you!": HEY
75. Like some gowns: BRIDAL. Bridal gowns.
79. Swindler: CROOK
80. Seating __: PLAN. I wanted DUCK.
82. Bowie at the Alamo: JIM
84. Parent's reminder: BE GOOD
87. Brunch drinks: MIMOSAS. Champagne & orange juice.
89. Humans and ostriches, e.g.: BIPEDS
91. Many a sci-fi villain: CYBORG. Cyb(ernetic) Org(anism). Mechanically enhanced human.
92. Former "At the Movies" co-host: ROEPER (Richard). The other co-host is Roger Ebert.
94. Bring to the majors: CALL UP. Major League Baseball.
95. "Nothing Compares 2 U" singer O'Connor. SINEAD. I love this song.
96. Experimental runner: LAB RAT
99. Stays fresh: KEEPS
102. Fundraising dinner unit: PLATE
103. Plastic duck, e.g.: DECOY
105. Subdue by shocking: TASE. Don't Tase Me, Bro!
107. Fried Cajun veggie: OKRA
108. Flat beer's lack: FOAM
112. King whose tomb was found in 1922: TUT. Poor lad!
114. Bargain bin abbr.: IRR (Irregular)
115. "Take This Job and Shove It" songwriter David Allan __: COE. Sorry, dude, don't know you.
116. College résumé fig.: GPA (Grade Point Average)
Answer grid.
C.C.
22A. Martial artist's autobiography?: THE KICKING AND I. "The King and I".
37A. Protest against fiery roadsters?: RED CAR PICKET. Red Carpet.
57A. Really cool security device?: WICKED LOCK. Wedlock.
78A. Price tag in the meat department?: HAM STICKER. Hamster.
93A. Communication from perverts?: SICKOS' SIGNAL. SOS Signal.
113A. Competition for greased-up pooches?: SLICKED DOG RACE. Sled Dog Race.
16D. Preserved a liquor bottle?: PICKLED THE FIFTH. Pled the Fifth. I did not know that a bottle of liquor is also called "fifth", meaning one fifth of a gallon.
44D. Aggressive policy to increase box office sales?: TICKET OFFENSIVE. Tet Offensive. Vietnam War.
I loved the theme title "Gross Income". Very nice wordplay on the accounting term. The gross "ICK" literally comes into every theme phrase.
Last time both Hahtool and I were expecting this kind of ICK insertion in Gail Grabowski's "Gross Word" (Letter C in common phrases is changed into letter G) Sunday puzzle.
Letter K always spices up the whole grid. I counted total 16 Ks in this puzzle. The record is 30, held by Don Gagliardo (Feb 21, 2008, Thursday LAT).
Across:
1. Kept afloat: BUOYED
7. Big sizes: JUMBOS
13. Things drawn across windows: DRAPES. Not enough letters for my CURTAINS.
19. Like books for long-distance road trips: ON TAPE
20. Bob Hope Airport city: BURBANK. Near LA. I had no idea that there's a Bob Hope Airport.
21. Savor: RELISH
24. Combo wager: EXACTA. Pick the first two finishers in order.
25. "Attention!": HARK
26. 1973 Stones ballad: ANGIE. Here is the clip.
27. Columnist Bombeck: ERMA. The "Joy of Cooking" author is IRMA (Rombauer).
29. Short timetable?: SKED. Schedule.
30. Theater level: TIER
32. Foofaraw: ADO. Foofaraw is a new word to me.
33. Formal orders: DICTUMS. Or DICTA.
36. "College GameDay" football analyst Corso: LEE. For ESPN. I've never heard of this guy.
40. Neruda works: POEMS. Neruda got Nobel Literature in 1971.
42. ATF employee: AGT (Agent). ATF = Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.
45. Like dried soil: CAKY. Only know this word in make-up sense.
46. Emotional work: ODE. I like this new clue.
47. Try to keep, as a title: DEFEND.
49. Madden coached them in the '70s: RAIDERS. Was unaware that John Madden coached the Oakland Raiders.
51. Pirate riches: BOOTY
53. When Hamlet feigns insanity: ACT TWO. This ACT One/Two/IV combo often gets me.
56. Not marked up: AT COST. And PROFIT (80A. Entrepreneur's goal).
60. Mortar trough: HOD. Brick hod.
61. "Classic" drinks: COKES
62. "The queen of sciences": Gauss: MATH. Maybe our Fermatprime knows this quote.
63. Thought-revealing drama techniques: ASIDES
64. Genre of the band Fall Out Boy: EMO. First encounter with the rock band Fall Out Boy.
65. Charlemagne's reign: Abbr.: HRE (Holy Roman Empire)
66. Come out with: SAY. Dictionary gives an example: Always comes out with (SAYS) the truth.
67. Check for authenticity: VET
68. Sibs, uncs, etc.: FAM. OK, Family.
69. Boxing writer Fleischer: NAT. Was he very well-known?
70. Piercing cry: SHRIEK
73. Storage facility: SHED
75. Curing solution: BRINE
77. Vow after reading vows: I DO. Nailed it.
81. LL Cool J label: DEF JAM. No idea. Does DEF stands for Definite?
83. Actor Feldman or Haim: COREY. Obtained the answer from crosses.
84. Jewish pancake: BLINTZE. Always thought it's spelled without the last E.
85. Alarm setting for one with a paper route, maybe: FIVE AM. Too late, don't you think?
89. Globule: BEAD
90. That ship: HER
91. __ brûlée: custard dessert: CRÉME. Dennis' favorite dessert.
97. Over there, back when: YON
98. Gear on the slopes: SKI MASK
100. Google had one in Aug. 2004: IPO (Initial Public Offering). I remember the hype.
101. W. Coast enforcer: LAPD
104. Letter sign-off: BEST
106. Organic compound: ENOL. Instinctive fill.
107. "__ the Boys": Katy Perry album: ONE OF. See this cover. Unknown to me.
109. Didn't hold, as dyes: BLED
111. It'll put you under: OPIATE. Great clue.
117. Energizes: REVS UP
118. Sky lights: AURORAS. Aurora is the Roman goddess of dawn.
119. "Knocked Up" director Judd: APATOW. Also the director for "The 40-Year-Old Virgin". Recognized him when I googled.
120. Does an usher's job: GREETS
121. Football bettor's concern: SPREAD. Same as "The Line"?
122. Buds at sea: MATEYS
Down:
1. Inclusive choice: BOTH
2. Doff a bowler: UNHAT. Bowler hat.
3. Castmate of Gasteyer, Ferrell et al.: OTERI (Cheri). All "SNL" cast.
4. Gas bag: YAKKER
5. Dermal opening: EPI. Epidermal.
6. Prefix with -gon: DECA. Decagon. Polygon with ten angles and ten sides.
7. Son: JUNIOR
9. W.'s degree: MBA. Bush got his MBA from Harvard.
10. Blackball: BAN
11. Batting next: ON DECK. So happy that Twins got Jim Thome.
12. Got around: SKIRTED
13. Night vision?: DREAM. Sweet clue.
14. Latin king: REX. Regal is rooted in REX.
15. "Unfortunately ...": ALAS
17. High regard: ESTEEM
18. Hipster's accessory: SHADES. Sunglasses.
20. It may be circled on a calendar: BIG DAY
23. Special gifts: KNACKS. Was thinking of real gifts.
28. Remote control?: MUTE. Have seen this clue before. Still like it.
31. Break: RECESS
33. Got a B-minus, say: DID OK
34. Summer refresher: ICE TEA. Iced Tea, please!
35. Traces: SPECKS
38. Tavern flier: DART
39. Hound: POOCH
41. Niagara Falls prov.: ONT (Ontario)
42. Spider, e.g.: ARACHNID
43. Drink named for a football team: GATORADE. Named after the University of Florida Gators.
48. Phase: FACET
51. Series of jokes: BIT. Was ignorant of this BIT meaning.
52. Football stat.: YDS
54. Emulate Don Juan: WOMANIZE
55. Gas mileage calculating aid: ODOMETER
57. Can't tell which __ up: WAY IS. I wrote down ONE IS first.
58. Onions partner: LIVER. Because you always cooks liver with onion?
59. Had too much: OD-ED. Overdosed.
62. Old school add-on?: MARM. "Add-on" to the old-time schoolteacher Schoolmarm.
66. Humiliate: SHAME
70. They may be close: SHAVES
71. And so forth: Abbr.: ETC
72. Convention booths: KIOSKS. Two Ks in this word.
73. Misrepresents: SKEWS
74. "I'm talking to you!": HEY
75. Like some gowns: BRIDAL. Bridal gowns.
79. Swindler: CROOK
80. Seating __: PLAN. I wanted DUCK.
82. Bowie at the Alamo: JIM
84. Parent's reminder: BE GOOD
87. Brunch drinks: MIMOSAS. Champagne & orange juice.
89. Humans and ostriches, e.g.: BIPEDS
91. Many a sci-fi villain: CYBORG. Cyb(ernetic) Org(anism). Mechanically enhanced human.
92. Former "At the Movies" co-host: ROEPER (Richard). The other co-host is Roger Ebert.
94. Bring to the majors: CALL UP. Major League Baseball.
95. "Nothing Compares 2 U" singer O'Connor. SINEAD. I love this song.
96. Experimental runner: LAB RAT
99. Stays fresh: KEEPS
102. Fundraising dinner unit: PLATE
103. Plastic duck, e.g.: DECOY
105. Subdue by shocking: TASE. Don't Tase Me, Bro!
107. Fried Cajun veggie: OKRA
108. Flat beer's lack: FOAM
112. King whose tomb was found in 1922: TUT. Poor lad!
114. Bargain bin abbr.: IRR (Irregular)
115. "Take This Job and Shove It" songwriter David Allan __: COE. Sorry, dude, don't know you.
116. College résumé fig.: GPA (Grade Point Average)
Answer grid.
C.C.
