Theme: T for Two - Second letter T in each double T containing common phrase is dropped, changing mostly short vowel sound into long vowel sound.
23A. Outwitting a Plymouth parent?: MIND OVER MAT(T)ER. Mind Over Matter. Mater is British for "mother". Plymouth is a seaport in England. Short A to long A sound shift.
29A. Loony misanthrope?: MAD HAT(T)ER. Mad Hatter, the character from "Alice in Wonderland". Short A to long A.
44A. Japanese sleuth who always follows you around?: PERSONAL MOT(T)O. Personal Motto. Moto = Japanese sleuth. Short O to long O.
67A. Farm child of destiny?: FAT(T)ED CALF. Fatted Calf. Killing the fatted calf to celebrate something. Calf = Farm child. Short A to long A.
88A. Reservation about smoking?: CIGARETTE BUT(T). Cigarette Butt. No sound change.
103A. Like an Idaho farmer?: IN TAT(T)ERS. In Tatters. Taters = Idaho potatoes. Short A to long A.
113A. Recollections of an aggressive dog?: BIT(T)ER MEMORIES. Bitter Memories. Short I to long I.
37D. Bulletin board hardware blueprint?: PLAN OF A T(T)ACK. Plan of Attack. Tack = Bulletin board hardware. No sound change.
42D. Muppet monster quote about a more adorable snack?: COOKIE CUT(T)ER. Cookie Cutter. Have never seen "Sesame Street" and don't know Cookie Monster. Short U to long U.
No double T containing phrase with possible short E to long E sound shift, Al/Argyle?
I liked the title. Nice play on "Tea for Two". Neat theme concept too. Also liked the consecutive clues for ALIAS (71A. Perp's red herring) and ALIBIS (72A. Perps need good ones). Wish LATINA (95D. Selena, for one) is clued as "Sonia Sotomayor, for one". J.Lo played Selena in the movie.
Quite a challenging puzzle to me. So many unknown names. I definitely need a partner to solve a Sunday crossword. Anyone? Anyone?
Across:
1. Hides with evil intent: SKULKS. Nice string of consonants.
7. Take by force: HIJACK
13. "Grease" doo-wop group: SHA NA NA. Easy guess.
20. Surfing at one's desk: ON LINE
21. Singer Ray with the Glenn Miller Orchestra: EBERLE. Total stranger.
22. Eastern Mediterranean city: TEL AVIV. Must be an instinctive fill for Haltool.
25. Go in for: REPLACE
26. Pilot's announcement, briefly: ETA
27. Fuse: WELD
28. Boundary: Abbr.: LIM (Limit). Meh on the abbr.
30. Abbr. on a store door: HRS
31. Rots: GOES BAD
33. Farm crawler: ANT. Ant farm.
34. Pre-knotted tie: CLIP-ON
38. 19th Greek letter: TAU. Cross shaped. Greek has 24 letters.
39. "Do it, __ will!": OR I
40. Abalone products: NACRES
43. AA co-founder: BILL W. Bill Wilson. Got me again.
47. Lanchester of "Bride of Frankenstein": ELSA. Just the clue Lemonade wanted last time.
48. Source of "Once more unto the breach": HENRY V. Not familiar with the line. Only know "We few, we happy few, we band of brothers ...".
49. Relevant: ON TOPIC
53. Clancy hero: RYAN
54. Daisy lead-in: UPSY. Upsy-Daisy.
55. Man with a respected thumb: EBERT (Roger). Film critic.
59. Cub Scout leader: AKELA
60. Online "Jeepers!": OMG
62. Borneo sultanate: BRUNEI. I like this map. It's on the South China Sea.
63. Drink from a press: CIDER. Thought of JUICE first.
64. "Mazes and Monsters" novelist: JAFFE (Rona). No idea. See the book cover.
70. "Steppenwolf" writer: HESSE (Hermann)
73. Present mo.: DEC. I wanted APR, our current "present" month, not the gift "present".
74. Fountain treats: MALTS
75. Made higher: UPPED. As an ante.
76. Pre-1917 Russian ruler: TSAR
79. Native Americans with a Sundance ceremony: UTES. I thought many Native Indian tribes have this ceremony.
83. Pick a lock, say: BREAK IN
85. "Does no one else think this way?": IS IT ME
87. Anklebones: TALI. Plural of talus. We also have ULNA (3D. Forearm bone).
92. H.S. health class: SEX ED
93. Chat with: TALK TO
96. Hard lumber: ASH
97. Son of, in Arabic names: IBN. Like Scottish Mac or Mc.
98. Flourish: THRIVE
99. Transfer __: RNA
100. Menu listing: OPTIONS. Computer menu.
102. Detective's cry: AHA
107. Bounced check letters: NSF (Not Sufficient Funds)
108. Gazed at: EYED
109. Electronic surveillance gp.: NSA (National Security Agency)
112. Lands: ALIGHTS
116. Having teeth: DENTATE. New word to me.
117. Spotted wildcat: OCELOT. Hi, there!
118. "Dallas" dynasty: EWINGS
119. Mussel eater: SEA STAR
120. Crystal-lined stones: GEODES
121. Magnate: TYCOON
Down:
2. Sweater choice: KNIT
4. Flipped top?: LID. Oh, flipped coffee top.
5. Expertise: KNOW-HOW
6. Shropshire's river: SEVERN. Got from crosses.
7. Roundup group: HERD
8. Apple alternative: IBM. Not MAC?
9. "All the fun you think they had": Erica Jong: JEALOUSY. No idea. I bet Lois was thinking of something else. What does "Jealousy is all the fun you think they had" mean?
10. Clarinetist Shaw: ARTIE
11. South Carolina university: CLEMSON
12. Plunk opener: KER. Kerplunk.
13. Pricey strings: STRAD. AMATI too.
14. Listen to: HEED
15. Coleridge's "sacred river": ALPH. Barry just clued it as "River of Xanadu" yesterday.
.
16. Simba's mate: NALA. In "The Lion King".
17. Rama, to Vishnu: AVATAR. Hindu incarnation.
18. __ Creed: NICENE
19. Wards off: AVERTS
24. Ernie of the PGA: ELS
29. Post office sackful: MAIL. Mostly ad now.
31. Comic Shandling: GARRY. First encounter with this guy.
32. Victoria's Secret buy: BRA. What's your favorite bra color?
34. Trucker with a handle: CB'ER
35. Flower with a pad: LILY. And SEGO (110. Type of 35-Down).
36. "You used to be a much better liar, Sam" speaker: ILSA. In "Casablanca".
38. Addition column: TENS
40. Start to stop?: NON. Nonstop.
41. Diplomatic specialist: ATTACHE. My ex-boss the Marine worked in American Embassy in Taiwan for some time.
44. Energy: PEP
45. Went too far: OVER DID IT
46. Central theme: MOTIF
48. Show of affection: HUG
50. Brand of women's socks: PEDS. Have never heard of this brand.
51. Guadeloupe has cinq: ILES. Guadeloupe is an island in the eastern portion of the West Indies; an overseas territory of France. Cinq = Five in French.
52. Give a hoot: CARE
56. Florida pros: BUCS. Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
57. Bambi's aunt: ENA
58. Cath. or Luth.: REL (Religion)
61. Portable utensils set: MESS KIT. Military utensils.
62. Loyal Nixon friend Rebozo: BEBE. Gimme for Melissa.
64. Door feature: JAMB
65. Banned fruit spray: ALAR
66. Manicurist's need: FILE
67. Flora's partner: FAUNA. Flora and Fauna.
68. Mont Blanc, e.g.: ALP. Did you think of PEN also?
69. Helpful hint: TIP
73. Rap's Dr. __: DRE
76. 1970 Poitier title role: TIBBS (Virgil). From "In the Heat of the Night". My favorite Poitier movie.
77. Wow: STUN
78. Qty.: AMT
80. Shout to a driver: TAXI
81. Contour map no.: ELEV (Elevation)
82. Potato salad, say: SIDE
84. "__ Crazy": Paul Davis hit: I GO
86. Self-named sitcom: SEINFELD
89. Chats: RAPS
90. Body shop fig.: EST
91. Precarious place, metaphorically: THIN ICE. Nice entry.
92. Like late-afternoon castings: SHADOWY
93. Basic chords: TRIADS
94. Mother of the Shakers: ANN LEE
98. Lincoln Center landmark: THE MET
100. Skater Brian: ORSER. His name escape me again.
101. Bony prefix: OSTEO
102. Sailor's okay: AYE. Aye, Aye, Sir.
104. FBI personnel: AGT
106. James of jazz: ETTA. Etta James.
108. CPR pros: EMTS
109. Bolivian boy: NINO. Alliteration.
111. Part of AMA: Abbr.: ASSN
113. Cranberry source: BOG. Nice play on "Cranberry sauce".
114. Shad delicacy: ROE
115. Rocker Ocasek: RIC
Answer grid.
C.C.
23A. Outwitting a Plymouth parent?: MIND OVER MAT(T)ER. Mind Over Matter. Mater is British for "mother". Plymouth is a seaport in England. Short A to long A sound shift.
29A. Loony misanthrope?: MAD HAT(T)ER. Mad Hatter, the character from "Alice in Wonderland". Short A to long A.
44A. Japanese sleuth who always follows you around?: PERSONAL MOT(T)O. Personal Motto. Moto = Japanese sleuth. Short O to long O.
67A. Farm child of destiny?: FAT(T)ED CALF. Fatted Calf. Killing the fatted calf to celebrate something. Calf = Farm child. Short A to long A.
88A. Reservation about smoking?: CIGARETTE BUT(T). Cigarette Butt. No sound change.
103A. Like an Idaho farmer?: IN TAT(T)ERS. In Tatters. Taters = Idaho potatoes. Short A to long A.
113A. Recollections of an aggressive dog?: BIT(T)ER MEMORIES. Bitter Memories. Short I to long I.
37D. Bulletin board hardware blueprint?: PLAN OF A T(T)ACK. Plan of Attack. Tack = Bulletin board hardware. No sound change.
42D. Muppet monster quote about a more adorable snack?: COOKIE CUT(T)ER. Cookie Cutter. Have never seen "Sesame Street" and don't know Cookie Monster. Short U to long U.
No double T containing phrase with possible short E to long E sound shift, Al/Argyle?
I liked the title. Nice play on "Tea for Two". Neat theme concept too. Also liked the consecutive clues for ALIAS (71A. Perp's red herring) and ALIBIS (72A. Perps need good ones). Wish LATINA (95D. Selena, for one) is clued as "Sonia Sotomayor, for one". J.Lo played Selena in the movie.
Quite a challenging puzzle to me. So many unknown names. I definitely need a partner to solve a Sunday crossword. Anyone? Anyone?
Across:
1. Hides with evil intent: SKULKS. Nice string of consonants.
7. Take by force: HIJACK
13. "Grease" doo-wop group: SHA NA NA. Easy guess.
20. Surfing at one's desk: ON LINE
21. Singer Ray with the Glenn Miller Orchestra: EBERLE. Total stranger.
22. Eastern Mediterranean city: TEL AVIV. Must be an instinctive fill for Haltool.
25. Go in for: REPLACE
26. Pilot's announcement, briefly: ETA
27. Fuse: WELD
28. Boundary: Abbr.: LIM (Limit). Meh on the abbr.
30. Abbr. on a store door: HRS
31. Rots: GOES BAD
33. Farm crawler: ANT. Ant farm.
34. Pre-knotted tie: CLIP-ON
38. 19th Greek letter: TAU. Cross shaped. Greek has 24 letters.
39. "Do it, __ will!": OR I
40. Abalone products: NACRES
43. AA co-founder: BILL W. Bill Wilson. Got me again.
47. Lanchester of "Bride of Frankenstein": ELSA. Just the clue Lemonade wanted last time.
48. Source of "Once more unto the breach": HENRY V. Not familiar with the line. Only know "We few, we happy few, we band of brothers ...".
49. Relevant: ON TOPIC
53. Clancy hero: RYAN
54. Daisy lead-in: UPSY. Upsy-Daisy.
55. Man with a respected thumb: EBERT (Roger). Film critic.
59. Cub Scout leader: AKELA
60. Online "Jeepers!": OMG
62. Borneo sultanate: BRUNEI. I like this map. It's on the South China Sea.
63. Drink from a press: CIDER. Thought of JUICE first.
64. "Mazes and Monsters" novelist: JAFFE (Rona). No idea. See the book cover.
70. "Steppenwolf" writer: HESSE (Hermann)
73. Present mo.: DEC. I wanted APR, our current "present" month, not the gift "present".
74. Fountain treats: MALTS
75. Made higher: UPPED. As an ante.
76. Pre-1917 Russian ruler: TSAR
79. Native Americans with a Sundance ceremony: UTES. I thought many Native Indian tribes have this ceremony.
83. Pick a lock, say: BREAK IN
85. "Does no one else think this way?": IS IT ME
87. Anklebones: TALI. Plural of talus. We also have ULNA (3D. Forearm bone).
92. H.S. health class: SEX ED
93. Chat with: TALK TO
96. Hard lumber: ASH
97. Son of, in Arabic names: IBN. Like Scottish Mac or Mc.
98. Flourish: THRIVE
99. Transfer __: RNA
100. Menu listing: OPTIONS. Computer menu.
102. Detective's cry: AHA
107. Bounced check letters: NSF (Not Sufficient Funds)
108. Gazed at: EYED
109. Electronic surveillance gp.: NSA (National Security Agency)
112. Lands: ALIGHTS
116. Having teeth: DENTATE. New word to me.
117. Spotted wildcat: OCELOT. Hi, there!
118. "Dallas" dynasty: EWINGS
119. Mussel eater: SEA STAR
120. Crystal-lined stones: GEODES
121. Magnate: TYCOON
Down:
2. Sweater choice: KNIT
4. Flipped top?: LID. Oh, flipped coffee top.
5. Expertise: KNOW-HOW
6. Shropshire's river: SEVERN. Got from crosses.
7. Roundup group: HERD
8. Apple alternative: IBM. Not MAC?
9. "All the fun you think they had": Erica Jong: JEALOUSY. No idea. I bet Lois was thinking of something else. What does "Jealousy is all the fun you think they had" mean?
10. Clarinetist Shaw: ARTIE
11. South Carolina university: CLEMSON
12. Plunk opener: KER. Kerplunk.
13. Pricey strings: STRAD. AMATI too.
14. Listen to: HEED
15. Coleridge's "sacred river": ALPH. Barry just clued it as "River of Xanadu" yesterday.
.
16. Simba's mate: NALA. In "The Lion King".
17. Rama, to Vishnu: AVATAR. Hindu incarnation.
18. __ Creed: NICENE
19. Wards off: AVERTS
24. Ernie of the PGA: ELS
29. Post office sackful: MAIL. Mostly ad now.
31. Comic Shandling: GARRY. First encounter with this guy.
32. Victoria's Secret buy: BRA. What's your favorite bra color?
34. Trucker with a handle: CB'ER
35. Flower with a pad: LILY. And SEGO (110. Type of 35-Down).
36. "You used to be a much better liar, Sam" speaker: ILSA. In "Casablanca".
38. Addition column: TENS
40. Start to stop?: NON. Nonstop.
41. Diplomatic specialist: ATTACHE. My ex-boss the Marine worked in American Embassy in Taiwan for some time.
44. Energy: PEP
45. Went too far: OVER DID IT
46. Central theme: MOTIF
48. Show of affection: HUG
50. Brand of women's socks: PEDS. Have never heard of this brand.
51. Guadeloupe has cinq: ILES. Guadeloupe is an island in the eastern portion of the West Indies; an overseas territory of France. Cinq = Five in French.
52. Give a hoot: CARE
56. Florida pros: BUCS. Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
57. Bambi's aunt: ENA
58. Cath. or Luth.: REL (Religion)
61. Portable utensils set: MESS KIT. Military utensils.
62. Loyal Nixon friend Rebozo: BEBE. Gimme for Melissa.
64. Door feature: JAMB
65. Banned fruit spray: ALAR
66. Manicurist's need: FILE
67. Flora's partner: FAUNA. Flora and Fauna.
68. Mont Blanc, e.g.: ALP. Did you think of PEN also?
69. Helpful hint: TIP
73. Rap's Dr. __: DRE
76. 1970 Poitier title role: TIBBS (Virgil). From "In the Heat of the Night". My favorite Poitier movie.
77. Wow: STUN
78. Qty.: AMT
80. Shout to a driver: TAXI
81. Contour map no.: ELEV (Elevation)
82. Potato salad, say: SIDE
84. "__ Crazy": Paul Davis hit: I GO
86. Self-named sitcom: SEINFELD
89. Chats: RAPS
90. Body shop fig.: EST
91. Precarious place, metaphorically: THIN ICE. Nice entry.
92. Like late-afternoon castings: SHADOWY
93. Basic chords: TRIADS
94. Mother of the Shakers: ANN LEE
98. Lincoln Center landmark: THE MET
100. Skater Brian: ORSER. His name escape me again.
101. Bony prefix: OSTEO
102. Sailor's okay: AYE. Aye, Aye, Sir.
104. FBI personnel: AGT
106. James of jazz: ETTA. Etta James.
108. CPR pros: EMTS
109. Bolivian boy: NINO. Alliteration.
111. Part of AMA: Abbr.: ASSN
113. Cranberry source: BOG. Nice play on "Cranberry sauce".
114. Shad delicacy: ROE
115. Rocker Ocasek: RIC
Answer grid.
C.C.
