Theme: PRIME (70A. Steak rating, and word that can precede the first words of the answers to starred clues) - The first word of each ER-ending phrase can follow PRIME.
17A. *Funny story : RIB-TICKLER. Prime rib.
27A. *Financial analyst : NUMBER CRUNCHER. Prime number.
47A. *Influential one : MOVER AND SHAKER. Prime mover.
63A. *Diversion while waiting : TIME-KILLER. Prime time.
Argyle here.
I have two problems with 27A: 1) I always thought it was NUMBERS CRUNCHER (turns out I was wrong) and 2) This may reopen the discussion of what a PRIME number is (I hope I'm wrong).
We just had CARVED ROAST and now we're having PRIME RIB. You vegans hang in there, we will get back to tofu and soy eventually.
PRIME MOVER - I thought this meant the main impetus behind an idea but the Wikipedia disambiguation covers so much more, including a entry for Australian English.
Across:
1. Tug trailer : BARGE. Or tug leader. I think a tug pushes a barge, not tow it.
6. Grand __ : SLAM. Another disambiguation page. Did you know there was a GRAND SLAM in curling? I sure didn't!
10. Tach nos. : RPMs. Tachometer / Revolutions per minute
14. Slobber : DROOL.
15. "Othello" villain : IAGO. (Shakespeare)
16. Strategic Chinese border river : YALU. Between China and North Korea. Map.
19. Stereotypical insomnia cause : DRIP. From a faucet.
20. Stocking style : MESH.
21. Hub once known as Orchard Field : O'HARE. Chicago.
22. Icicle site : EAVE.
23. Where to get PIN money? : ATM.
25. Seniors' D.C. lobby : AARP.
34. Cub Scout group : DEN.
35. Asteroids game company : ATARI.
36. Knickknack shelf item : CURIO.
37. Demolish : RUIN.
39. Grey Goose alternative, familiarly : STOLI. Stolichnaya® vodka. Product of Russia. 80 Proof.
41. Places for notes : PADS.
42. "The King" of golf, to fans : ARNIE. Arnold Palmer.
44. Consider responsible for : OWE TO.
46. Cruise milieu : SEA.
50. Robert of "The Sopranos" : ILER.
51. '50s campaign button name : IKE. President Dwight David Eisenhower.
52. Holders of chips? : POTS. Poker
54. Stone memorial : CAIRN.
58. Art class subject : VASE.
62. Sandusky's lake : ERIE. Sandusky is a city in Ohio and the county seat of Erie County.
65. One of the Ivies : PENN. University of Pennsylvania.
66. Prefix meaning "peculiar" : IDIO.
67. Husband and wife : MATES.
68. Omelet essentials : EGGS.
69. Fires : CANS.
Down:.
1. Classified ad abbr. : BDRM.
2. Two-time Indy champ Luyendyk : ARIE. He won in 1990 and 1997.
3. Takes badly? : ROBS.
4. Bruce Wayne's city : GOTHAM. Batman
5. Quarterback Manning : ELI. Football, New York Giants (2004–present)
6. Punjab sect member : SIKH.
7. Like a land for dreamers? : LA-LA. Sometimes known as Los Angeles.
8. Time, for example : AGER.
9. Wells's island doctor : MOREAU. The Island of Doctor Moreau is a 1896 science fiction novel and has been made into a movie on three occasions.
10. Biennial team golf competition : RYDER CUP. Competition between pro teams from Europe and the United States.
11. Put another way : PARAPHRASE.
12. XII years before the Battle of Hastings : MLIV. The Battle of Hastings, which took place on 14 October 1066. (MLXVI) take away 12 (XII) gives you 1054 (MLIV)
13. Apartment manager, briefly : SUPE. Superintendent.
18. Halley's and Hale-Bopp : COMETS.
24. Timetable abbr. : TBA. "To Be Announced"
26. Anti-apartheid org. : ANC. The African National Congress.
27. Prefix with surgeon : NEURO.
28. Disagreeable : UNINVITING.
29. Betray, stoolie-style : RAT ON.
30. Grandstand filler : CROWD.
31. Agitates : RILES.
32. Down-yielding duck : EIDER.
33. Sub __: confidentially : ROSA.
34. Wee bit o' Dewar's, say : DRAM. There you go, Tinbeni. A dram is the traditional Scotch whisky measure. A pour. The amount is determined only by the generosity of the pourer.
38. Much-followed ratings, with "the" : NIELSENS. TV ratings service.
40. Opinion opener : "I THINK".
43. Before, to Keats : ERE.
45. Symbol of strength : OAK.
48. Frigid : ARCTIC.
49. Bulletproof vest material : KEVLAR.
52. Stinker Le Pew : PEPÉ. Cartoon skunk.
53. State bordering Wash. : OREG. Oregon
55. Verdi's slave girl : AIDA. Opera
56. Statement of commitment : I'M IN. Poker, again.
57. Classic autos : REOs. Early Oldsmobile's.
59. Some choristers : ALTI. Singular, ALTO.
60. Appear : SEEM.
61. Gaelic tongue : ERSE.
64. Brat : IMP.
Answer grid.
As we all know, Gunghy finished 13 miles short of 4000 in 11 days in his Yamaha Raider in early July. Here is part II of his series. The scenic ones. Click here for all the Gunghy photos.
Argyle
17A. *Funny story : RIB-TICKLER. Prime rib.
27A. *Financial analyst : NUMBER CRUNCHER. Prime number.
47A. *Influential one : MOVER AND SHAKER. Prime mover.
63A. *Diversion while waiting : TIME-KILLER. Prime time.
Argyle here.
I have two problems with 27A: 1) I always thought it was NUMBERS CRUNCHER (turns out I was wrong) and 2) This may reopen the discussion of what a PRIME number is (I hope I'm wrong).
We just had CARVED ROAST and now we're having PRIME RIB. You vegans hang in there, we will get back to tofu and soy eventually.
PRIME MOVER - I thought this meant the main impetus behind an idea but the Wikipedia disambiguation covers so much more, including a entry for Australian English.
Across:
1. Tug trailer : BARGE. Or tug leader. I think a tug pushes a barge, not tow it.
6. Grand __ : SLAM. Another disambiguation page. Did you know there was a GRAND SLAM in curling? I sure didn't!
10. Tach nos. : RPMs. Tachometer / Revolutions per minute
14. Slobber : DROOL.
15. "Othello" villain : IAGO. (Shakespeare)
16. Strategic Chinese border river : YALU. Between China and North Korea. Map.
19. Stereotypical insomnia cause : DRIP. From a faucet.
20. Stocking style : MESH.
21. Hub once known as Orchard Field : O'HARE. Chicago.
22. Icicle site : EAVE.
23. Where to get PIN money? : ATM.
25. Seniors' D.C. lobby : AARP.
34. Cub Scout group : DEN.
35. Asteroids game company : ATARI.
36. Knickknack shelf item : CURIO.
37. Demolish : RUIN.
39. Grey Goose alternative, familiarly : STOLI. Stolichnaya® vodka. Product of Russia. 80 Proof.
41. Places for notes : PADS.
42. "The King" of golf, to fans : ARNIE. Arnold Palmer.
44. Consider responsible for : OWE TO.
46. Cruise milieu : SEA.
50. Robert of "The Sopranos" : ILER.
51. '50s campaign button name : IKE. President Dwight David Eisenhower.
52. Holders of chips? : POTS. Poker
54. Stone memorial : CAIRN.
58. Art class subject : VASE.
62. Sandusky's lake : ERIE. Sandusky is a city in Ohio and the county seat of Erie County.
65. One of the Ivies : PENN. University of Pennsylvania.
66. Prefix meaning "peculiar" : IDIO.
67. Husband and wife : MATES.
68. Omelet essentials : EGGS.
69. Fires : CANS.
Down:.
1. Classified ad abbr. : BDRM.
2. Two-time Indy champ Luyendyk : ARIE. He won in 1990 and 1997.
3. Takes badly? : ROBS.
4. Bruce Wayne's city : GOTHAM. Batman
5. Quarterback Manning : ELI. Football, New York Giants (2004–present)
6. Punjab sect member : SIKH.
7. Like a land for dreamers? : LA-LA. Sometimes known as Los Angeles.
8. Time, for example : AGER.
9. Wells's island doctor : MOREAU. The Island of Doctor Moreau is a 1896 science fiction novel and has been made into a movie on three occasions.
10. Biennial team golf competition : RYDER CUP. Competition between pro teams from Europe and the United States.
11. Put another way : PARAPHRASE.
12. XII years before the Battle of Hastings : MLIV. The Battle of Hastings, which took place on 14 October 1066. (MLXVI) take away 12 (XII) gives you 1054 (MLIV)
13. Apartment manager, briefly : SUPE. Superintendent.
18. Halley's and Hale-Bopp : COMETS.
24. Timetable abbr. : TBA. "To Be Announced"
26. Anti-apartheid org. : ANC. The African National Congress.
27. Prefix with surgeon : NEURO.
28. Disagreeable : UNINVITING.
29. Betray, stoolie-style : RAT ON.
30. Grandstand filler : CROWD.
31. Agitates : RILES.
32. Down-yielding duck : EIDER.
33. Sub __: confidentially : ROSA.
34. Wee bit o' Dewar's, say : DRAM. There you go, Tinbeni. A dram is the traditional Scotch whisky measure. A pour. The amount is determined only by the generosity of the pourer.
38. Much-followed ratings, with "the" : NIELSENS. TV ratings service.
40. Opinion opener : "I THINK".
43. Before, to Keats : ERE.
45. Symbol of strength : OAK.
48. Frigid : ARCTIC.
49. Bulletproof vest material : KEVLAR.
52. Stinker Le Pew : PEPÉ. Cartoon skunk.
53. State bordering Wash. : OREG. Oregon
55. Verdi's slave girl : AIDA. Opera
56. Statement of commitment : I'M IN. Poker, again.
57. Classic autos : REOs. Early Oldsmobile's.
59. Some choristers : ALTI. Singular, ALTO.
60. Appear : SEEM.
61. Gaelic tongue : ERSE.
64. Brat : IMP.
Answer grid.
As we all know, Gunghy finished 13 miles short of 4000 in 11 days in his Yamaha Raider in early July. Here is part II of his series. The scenic ones. Click here for all the Gunghy photos.
Argyle
