Theme: Easy as A-B-C - All the theme answers are phrases that begin with a single letter followed by a single word. And all in alphabetical order.
20A. Elite socialite : A-LISTER
22A. Place for a finance major : B-SCHOOL (Business School)
27A. Delivery method : C-SECTION. Caesarean section - surgical procedure to deliver a baby.
20A. Elite socialite : A-LISTER
22A. Place for a finance major : B-SCHOOL (Business School)
27A. Delivery method : C-SECTION. Caesarean section - surgical procedure to deliver a baby.
37A. Planned attack times : D-DAYS. From Wikipedia: "D-Day is a term often used to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. The best known D-Day is June 6, 1944 — the day of the Normandy landings — initiating the Western Allied effort to liberate mainland Europe from Nazi occupation during World War II. However, many other invasions and operations had a designated D-Day, both before and after that operation."
48A. Online investing : E-TRADING. Electronic trading of securities, such as stocks and bonds.
54A. Camera lens ratio : F-NUMBER. Often called f-stop -f is for focal length, it is a measure of lens speed.
56. Bare wear : G-STRING. If i must. Wiki says "the origin of the term 'g-string' is obscure."
What else …? H- or I-Beam. O-Ring. U-Turn. X-Factor.
Great to see another puzzle by Mangesh. His second byline in LA Times. He was a commenter here for a time, and you can re-read C.C.'s interview with him here.
Mangesh also just had two puzzle accepted by the Games magazine (December issue). Congratulations, Mangesh! Do tell us how you developed today's Letter Openers theme.
Mangesh also just had two puzzle accepted by the Games magazine (December issue). Congratulations, Mangesh! Do tell us how you developed today's Letter Openers theme.
Across:
1. Bit of cat chat : MEOW.
5. Phobia : DREAD
10. Cell signal strength indicators : BARS. A beautiful sight.
14. __ mater : ALMA. Latin for "nourishing mother.'
15. Unconventional : OUTRE. The Free Dictionary defines outre as Out of the common course or limits; extravagant.
16. Atty.-to-be's challenge : LSAT. Law School Admission Test.
17. Indian princess : RANI
18. Flightless birds : RHEAS. Similar to ostrich.
19. Where some descents start : ACME
24. Dick and Harry's leader? : TOM. Leader to the phrase "Tom, Dick and Harry".
25. __ name: computer ID : USER
26. "__ size fits all" : ONE
31. Russian coins : RUBLES. 1 Russian ruble = 0.0324 US dollars.
34. 1960s Canadian prime minister Pearson : LESTER. Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957. Quote: "The grim fact is that we prepare for war like precocious giants, and for peace like retarded pygmies."
36. Pound of poetry : EZRA
38. Middle __ : EAST
42. Ironic tales' tails : TWISTS
44. Sharapova of tennis : MARIA. Russian.
45. Low parts : BASSES
50. Bambi's aunt : ENA
51. "Baseball Tonight" channel : ESPN
53. Like some stocks, for short : OTC. The phrase "over-the-counter" can be used to refer to stocks that trade via a dealer network as opposed to on a centralized exchange.
60. Wasatch Mountains ski resort : ALTA. In Utah.
61. Body-care brand named from the Latin for "snow-white" : NIVEA
63. Sch. with Riverside and Irvine campuses : UCAL. University of California.
64. Soup vegetable : LEEK
65. Stunning weapon : TASER. Great clue. Don't tase me, bro!
66. Tableland : MESA
67. __ majesty : LESE. The crime of violating majesty. No idea. Check out the picture.
68. Like some bars : SMOKY
69. Pitt in films : BRAD. Sigh.
Down:
1. Kate of "We Are Marshall" : MARA. Had no idea.
2. Airline to Ben-Gurion : EL AL
3. Prefix with bus : OMNI. Omnibus. Several meanings.
4. Oxford vests : WAISTCOATS. Crossing two theme answers.
5. Moola : DOREMI. Both are slang terms for money.
6. German coal valley : RUHR
7. Riviera season : ETE. French summer. Should be a gimme by now.
8. Emirate natives, mostly : ARABS
9. Menu heading : DESSERTS. Nailed it. I don't have much of a sweet tooth - for dessert i just want more dinner.
10. Not at all scintillating : BLAH
11. Comparable to a cucumber : AS COOL. Cool as a cucumber.
12. Punk rock icon Joey : RAMONE. Died of lymphoma in 2001.
13. Inscribed slabs : STELES. Like this.
21. Young 'uns : TOTS. Curtain climbers. Ankle biters.
23. Rock's Mötley __ : CRUE
25. Yet to be had : UNEATEN. Seems sad.
27. Revolutionary Guevara : CHE. Funny.
28. "Oh yeah? __ who?" : SEZ
29. Misjudge : ERR. I suppose.
30. Auto pioneer : OLDS
32. Bit of a fairy tale trail : BREAD CRUMB. Cute.
35. Process: Abbr. : SYST
37. Begs to differ : DISSENTS
39. Jackie's "O" : ARI. Aristotle Onassis, Jacquelyn Kennedy's second husband.
40. Sloth, for one : SIN. Seven deadly sins: wrath, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy and gluttony. Anyone else have a favorite?
41. Price indicator : TAG
43. Hall of Fame NFL coach Ewbank : WEEB. Weeb was short for Wilbur.
44. Dillon of "There's Something About Mary" : MATT
45. Happen to : BEFALL
46. Shakers founder : ANN LEE. Had no idea, but she looks exactly like one would expect.
47. Pan-fries : SAUTES
49. Prayer beads : ROSARY
52. Trojan War king : PRIAM. Mythology, I never remember any of it.
55. Brand : MAKE
56. Computer nerd : GEEK
57. "Happy birthday" writer, perhaps : ICER. One who ices a cake.
58. Org. that reaches for the stars? : NASA
59. "I'm __ it's over" : GLAD. Almost.
Answer grid.
Melissa
