Theme: Placing Changes -Changing Places. Familiar two-word phrases with A-ing B structure are changed into B-ing A.
23A. Discussion about which way to go? : HEADING TALK. The base phrase is Talking Head.
33A. Sunbeam, e.g.? : IRONING BRAND. Branding Iron.
39A. Defensive karate move? : BLOCKING CHOP. Chopping Block.
56A. Identical gift container? : MATCHING BOX. Boxing Match.
64A. Bird dog's rest? : POINTING BREAK. Breaking Point.
78A. Cause of a power tool failure? : BUSHING BURN. Burning Bush. The stuff in his hand is BUSHING?
90A. Ornithologists' bird-tagging outing? : BANDING MARCH. Marching Band.
97A. Stage players taking a nap? : COUCHING CAST. Casting Couch.
114A. Music to pitch hay by? : FORKING TUNE. Tuning Fork.
Who is Verge?
Funny, I actually read the puzzle title as "Changing Places". Grokked the theme after MATCHING BOX emerged.
Quite a struggle for me. The overall cluing is a bit challenging for a Sunday. Did nail all the lovely "It" clues though:
22A. It's a sign : OMEN
109A. It's out on a limb : HAND
4D. It may be muted : AUDIO
Also great to see the full name KIM JONG-IL ( 82D. Asian leader with a degree from a university named for his father") in the grid. The "Dear Leader". Kim = "Gold" in Korean. Same character as Chinese "Gold'.
Across:
1. Mercedes line : E-CLASS. Crossing CIERA (2D. Cutlass model). Tough start for me. We also have FURY (108A. Old Plymouth). Stumper.
7. Go 12-Down : SNAP. And 12D. Wild : BALLISTIC.
11. Turns seaward : EBBS
15. Traffic : CARS. The clue does not feel complete to me. Did like the consecutive clue for TIEUPS ( 19. Jams).
20. Wooden team, once : UCLA. Not familiar with John Wooden Center.
21. Skin : PARE. Tricky verb clue.
25. Part of a shutter : SLAT
26. Galway Bay site : EIRE. Galway Bay is on the west coast of Ireland.
27. Senator Hatch : ORRIN
28. City accessible by ferry from Marseilles : ORAN. Algerian port. Not an easy clue.
29. Many virtuoso performances : SOLI. Plural of solo.
30. Prophet : AUGUR
31. Asian parting : SAYONARA. Japanese. We also have 89D. Carp from Kyoto : KOI.
36. Microbrew, maybe : ALE
37. Turkish leader : AGHA
38. __' Pea : SWEE
44. Actress Bankhead : TALLULAH. Nope. Total stranger.
49. Movement in some Bach suites : GIGUE. New word to me. Dictionary says it derives from "jig".
50. Pickled : LIT. Drunk.
51. Family nickname : SIS
52. Supporting __ : ROLE
53. Judge's decision : OVERRULED. Or "Sustained".
60. Hair removal product : NEET. NAIR too.
61. "The World Factbook" publisher : CIA
62. Spewed magma : LAVA. Hot flow-er.
63. Afternoon rest : SIESTA
68. Pre-tied tie : CLIP-ON
72. Some Spanish medals : OROS. Gold medals.
73. Gardner on screen : AVA. And ERLE (83. Gardner of fiction). Nice Gardner clecho.
74. Japanese noodle : SOBA. Often eaten cold in summer time. Delicious!
81. Had between meals : SNACKED ON
84. Pulldown beneficiary, for short : LAT. Muscles.
85. Pull someone's leg : KID
86. "Victory was not mine" : I LOST
87. Rouse again : REAWAKEN. DF clue.
94. Hit on the head : CONK
95. Ebro and Guadalquivir, por ejemplo : RIOS
96. More or less, e.g.: Abbr. : ADJ (Adjective). Nailed it.
102. Most racers, after the race : ALSO-RANS
107. Bug : ANNOY
111. Bug : NAG AT
112. Installed, as brick : LAID
113. "Dies __" : IRAE
116. Dieter's catchword : LITE
117. Authenticated: Abbr. : CERT (Certified)
118. Skyward, in Hebrew : EL AL
119. Split equally : BISECT
120. Mars, to the Greeks : ARES
121. Stevenson villain : HYDE. Jekyll's alter ego.
122. Tony winner Neuwirth : BEBE
123. Flips the "Open" sign : CLOSES
Down:
1. Group cultural values : ETHOS. Always want ETHIC.
3. "Rescue Me" star Denis : LEARY. This guy looks familiar. Don't recall his name though.
5. Sail for a downwind course : SPINNAKER. Can never remember this name.
6. IRS ID : SSN
7. Hindu spiritual manual : SUTRA. Only know "Kama Sutra". Where are you, Vidwan?
8. Frozen Four org. : NCAA. And UCONN (54. The Huskies of the 8-Down's Big East). College sports never interest me.
9. Like most cramming : ALL NIGHT
10. Bangladesh was once part of it: Abbr. : PAK (Pakistan)
11. Printer maker : EPSON
13. Indoctrinate : BRAINWASH
14. Place : SET. Can you give me a sentence where the two are interchangeable?
15. Affaire de __ : COEUR. Literally "heart" in French. Affaire de coeur = Love affair. So common in France.
16. Pablo's gal pal : AMIGA
17. Syndication staple : RERUN
18. Bergen dummy : SNERD
24. "Contract Bridge Complete" author : GOREN (Charles)
29. Afternoon "opera" : SOAP
30. Cain's victim : ABEL. And 58. Son of Sarah : ISAAC. Two Biblical references.
32. "The Louisville Lip" : ALI
34. Pi-sigma link : RHO
35. Toothpaste option : GEL
37. What lawn liming reduces : ACID. And B GON (39. Weed __: lawn-care product). Lawn clecho.
40. Unexploded : LIVE. I don't get this clue.
41. Graceful molding : OGEE
42. Short : CURT
43. Gather little by little : GLEAN
45. Hankering : URGE. Want some pickled herring.
46. High court returns : LOBS. Tennis court.
47. Very much : A LOT
48. Quadri- plus bi- : HEXA. 4 + 2 = 6.
51. Desperation guess : STAB
55. XIII x IV : LII. 13 x 4 = 52.
56. Massenet opera : MANON. Peeked at the answer sheet.
57. Hits-per-AB stats : AVGs
59. Neat ending? : NIK. Neatnik.
62. Commuter line with a Montauk Branch: Abbr. : LIRR (Long Island Rail Road). Montauk Branch means nothing to me.
64. Taro dish : POI
65. Promote in a big way : TOUT
66. "Amazing" magician : RANDI (James)
67. Actress __ Longoria Parker : EVA. Very pretty.
68. Handle holder : CBER
69. Imitation fish food : LURE. Oh, for fish. I was in the line of limitation crab/fish for people.
70. Land surrounded by agua : ISLA
71. "That was close!" : PHEW
74. Ward of "CSI: NY" : SELA
75. Sensible emanation : ODOR
76. Type of pear : BOSC
77. "Oxford Book of Eng. Verse," e.g. : ANTH (Anthology). Not a familiar reference to me.
79. Co-writer of many Eagles hits : GLENN FREY. Nope. This dude looks cool.
80. Financial security of a kind : BANK GUARD. Security guard.
81. Caesar and others : SIDS
85. Board vacancy? : KNOTHOLE. Was thinking of board of directors. Not lumber.
88. Sore : ACHY
90. Act like an ass : BRAY. Funny clue.
91. "__ for Alibi": Grafton novel : A IS
92. Nita of silents : NALDI. Classic crossword name.
93. Mdse. : GDS. Goods.
97. Lily variety : CALLA
98. Broadcasting : ON AIR
99. Confederate : UNITE
100. Programmers' output : CODES
101. Island WSW of Rhodes : CRETE. In the Aegean Sea.
102. Leg-foot link : ANKLE
103. Dustin's '69 Oscar-nominated role : RATSO. Finally saw the movie. Disturbing.
104. Flu-like symptoms : AGUES
105. 1980s-'90s NBA forward Larry : NANCE. Have never heard of this Larry. Maybe Windhover knows.
106. "The dele is off" notations : STETS
110. Many a Saudi : ARAB
113. German "I" : ICH
114. Time period that isn't always the same: Abbr. : FEB. Different days in Feb.
115. Peacock network : NBC
Answer grid.
C.C.
23A. Discussion about which way to go? : HEADING TALK. The base phrase is Talking Head.
33A. Sunbeam, e.g.? : IRONING BRAND. Branding Iron.
39A. Defensive karate move? : BLOCKING CHOP. Chopping Block.
56A. Identical gift container? : MATCHING BOX. Boxing Match.
64A. Bird dog's rest? : POINTING BREAK. Breaking Point.
78A. Cause of a power tool failure? : BUSHING BURN. Burning Bush. The stuff in his hand is BUSHING?
90A. Ornithologists' bird-tagging outing? : BANDING MARCH. Marching Band.
97A. Stage players taking a nap? : COUCHING CAST. Casting Couch.
114A. Music to pitch hay by? : FORKING TUNE. Tuning Fork.
Who is Verge?
Funny, I actually read the puzzle title as "Changing Places". Grokked the theme after MATCHING BOX emerged.
Quite a struggle for me. The overall cluing is a bit challenging for a Sunday. Did nail all the lovely "It" clues though:
22A. It's a sign : OMEN
109A. It's out on a limb : HAND
4D. It may be muted : AUDIO
Also great to see the full name KIM JONG-IL ( 82D. Asian leader with a degree from a university named for his father") in the grid. The "Dear Leader". Kim = "Gold" in Korean. Same character as Chinese "Gold'.
Across:
1. Mercedes line : E-CLASS. Crossing CIERA (2D. Cutlass model). Tough start for me. We also have FURY (108A. Old Plymouth). Stumper.
7. Go 12-Down : SNAP. And 12D. Wild : BALLISTIC.
11. Turns seaward : EBBS
15. Traffic : CARS. The clue does not feel complete to me. Did like the consecutive clue for TIEUPS ( 19. Jams).
20. Wooden team, once : UCLA. Not familiar with John Wooden Center.
21. Skin : PARE. Tricky verb clue.
25. Part of a shutter : SLAT
26. Galway Bay site : EIRE. Galway Bay is on the west coast of Ireland.
27. Senator Hatch : ORRIN
28. City accessible by ferry from Marseilles : ORAN. Algerian port. Not an easy clue.
29. Many virtuoso performances : SOLI. Plural of solo.
30. Prophet : AUGUR
31. Asian parting : SAYONARA. Japanese. We also have 89D. Carp from Kyoto : KOI.
36. Microbrew, maybe : ALE
37. Turkish leader : AGHA
38. __' Pea : SWEE
44. Actress Bankhead : TALLULAH. Nope. Total stranger.
49. Movement in some Bach suites : GIGUE. New word to me. Dictionary says it derives from "jig".
50. Pickled : LIT. Drunk.
51. Family nickname : SIS
52. Supporting __ : ROLE
53. Judge's decision : OVERRULED. Or "Sustained".
60. Hair removal product : NEET. NAIR too.
61. "The World Factbook" publisher : CIA
62. Spewed magma : LAVA. Hot flow-er.
63. Afternoon rest : SIESTA
68. Pre-tied tie : CLIP-ON
72. Some Spanish medals : OROS. Gold medals.
73. Gardner on screen : AVA. And ERLE (83. Gardner of fiction). Nice Gardner clecho.
74. Japanese noodle : SOBA. Often eaten cold in summer time. Delicious!
81. Had between meals : SNACKED ON
84. Pulldown beneficiary, for short : LAT. Muscles.
85. Pull someone's leg : KID
86. "Victory was not mine" : I LOST
87. Rouse again : REAWAKEN. DF clue.
94. Hit on the head : CONK
95. Ebro and Guadalquivir, por ejemplo : RIOS
96. More or less, e.g.: Abbr. : ADJ (Adjective). Nailed it.
102. Most racers, after the race : ALSO-RANS
107. Bug : ANNOY
111. Bug : NAG AT
112. Installed, as brick : LAID
113. "Dies __" : IRAE
116. Dieter's catchword : LITE
117. Authenticated: Abbr. : CERT (Certified)
118. Skyward, in Hebrew : EL AL
119. Split equally : BISECT
120. Mars, to the Greeks : ARES
121. Stevenson villain : HYDE. Jekyll's alter ego.
122. Tony winner Neuwirth : BEBE
123. Flips the "Open" sign : CLOSES
Down:
1. Group cultural values : ETHOS. Always want ETHIC.
3. "Rescue Me" star Denis : LEARY. This guy looks familiar. Don't recall his name though.
5. Sail for a downwind course : SPINNAKER. Can never remember this name.
6. IRS ID : SSN
7. Hindu spiritual manual : SUTRA. Only know "Kama Sutra". Where are you, Vidwan?
8. Frozen Four org. : NCAA. And UCONN (54. The Huskies of the 8-Down's Big East). College sports never interest me.
9. Like most cramming : ALL NIGHT
10. Bangladesh was once part of it: Abbr. : PAK (Pakistan)
11. Printer maker : EPSON
13. Indoctrinate : BRAINWASH
14. Place : SET. Can you give me a sentence where the two are interchangeable?
15. Affaire de __ : COEUR. Literally "heart" in French. Affaire de coeur = Love affair. So common in France.
16. Pablo's gal pal : AMIGA
17. Syndication staple : RERUN
18. Bergen dummy : SNERD
24. "Contract Bridge Complete" author : GOREN (Charles)
29. Afternoon "opera" : SOAP
30. Cain's victim : ABEL. And 58. Son of Sarah : ISAAC. Two Biblical references.
32. "The Louisville Lip" : ALI
34. Pi-sigma link : RHO
35. Toothpaste option : GEL
37. What lawn liming reduces : ACID. And B GON (39. Weed __: lawn-care product). Lawn clecho.
40. Unexploded : LIVE. I don't get this clue.
41. Graceful molding : OGEE
42. Short : CURT
43. Gather little by little : GLEAN
45. Hankering : URGE. Want some pickled herring.
46. High court returns : LOBS. Tennis court.
47. Very much : A LOT
48. Quadri- plus bi- : HEXA. 4 + 2 = 6.
51. Desperation guess : STAB
55. XIII x IV : LII. 13 x 4 = 52.
56. Massenet opera : MANON. Peeked at the answer sheet.
57. Hits-per-AB stats : AVGs
59. Neat ending? : NIK. Neatnik.
62. Commuter line with a Montauk Branch: Abbr. : LIRR (Long Island Rail Road). Montauk Branch means nothing to me.
64. Taro dish : POI
65. Promote in a big way : TOUT
66. "Amazing" magician : RANDI (James)
67. Actress __ Longoria Parker : EVA. Very pretty.
68. Handle holder : CBER
69. Imitation fish food : LURE. Oh, for fish. I was in the line of limitation crab/fish for people.
70. Land surrounded by agua : ISLA
71. "That was close!" : PHEW
74. Ward of "CSI: NY" : SELA
75. Sensible emanation : ODOR
76. Type of pear : BOSC
77. "Oxford Book of Eng. Verse," e.g. : ANTH (Anthology). Not a familiar reference to me.
79. Co-writer of many Eagles hits : GLENN FREY. Nope. This dude looks cool.
80. Financial security of a kind : BANK GUARD. Security guard.
81. Caesar and others : SIDS
85. Board vacancy? : KNOTHOLE. Was thinking of board of directors. Not lumber.
88. Sore : ACHY
90. Act like an ass : BRAY. Funny clue.
91. "__ for Alibi": Grafton novel : A IS
92. Nita of silents : NALDI. Classic crossword name.
93. Mdse. : GDS. Goods.
97. Lily variety : CALLA
98. Broadcasting : ON AIR
99. Confederate : UNITE
100. Programmers' output : CODES
101. Island WSW of Rhodes : CRETE. In the Aegean Sea.
102. Leg-foot link : ANKLE
103. Dustin's '69 Oscar-nominated role : RATSO. Finally saw the movie. Disturbing.
104. Flu-like symptoms : AGUES
105. 1980s-'90s NBA forward Larry : NANCE. Have never heard of this Larry. Maybe Windhover knows.
106. "The dele is off" notations : STETS
110. Many a Saudi : ARAB
113. German "I" : ICH
114. Time period that isn't always the same: Abbr. : FEB. Different days in Feb.
115. Peacock network : NBC
Answer grid.
C.C.
