Theme: Oui (Ou → I) - Letters OU is changed into I in each familiar phrase.
23A. Herb homily? : SERMON ON THE M(OU)INT
39A. Like a stroller out of breath? : WALKING W(OU)INDED
50A. Golf pro's protection? : GR(OU)IP INSURANCE. We also have another golf reference: 37D. Golf's Slammin' Sammy : SNEAD. He could kick a 7-foot high ceiling in his 70s.
70A. Coffee at church? : HALLOWED GR(OU) IND
81A. Adoptee's goal? : F(OU)INDING FATHER
105A. "Last Comic Standing" winning routine? : CHAMPIONSHIP B(OU)IT
35D. Knighted vintner's nickname? : S(OU)IR GRAPES
46D. Dorm room Christmas tree? : F(OU)IR POSTER
Nice set of theme answers. Some of the clues made me smile. You've got to have a sense of humor when cluing letter string deletion/addition/exchange theme clues, or any punny theme.
Humor doesn't come to me naturally, even in Chinese. Jerome's outside-the-box thinking on certain mundane answers like IRON last time often impresses and amuses me.
A bit of slog for me today. Quite a few unfamiliar names, either in entries or in clues. Jack worked hard in coming up with fresh clues for some names, such as ANTON (26A. Canadian pianist Kuerti). But most of them just stumped me. A simple "Author Checkhov" would have given me a tap-in gimme. Different strokes I suppose. I bet this guy was an easy fill for Jayce or Jazzbumpa.
Across:
1. Language group that includes Swahili : BANTU
6. "Great" swingers : APES. Not the swingers I had in mind.
10. Yaks : GABS
14. "Get out!" : SCRAM
19. Yellow spreads : OLEOS
20. "Gloria" actress Rowlands : GENA. She's in "The Notebook".
21. It will probably keep you in bed : AGUE. I've never used this word in real life.
22. Raccoon kin : COATI
27. It's usually over a door : EXIT SIGN. Good clue/answer.
28. Australia's __ Rock : AYERS. Lovely fill for Kazie. Popular Australian tourist spot. Also known as Uluru.
29. Current concern : EL NINO. Oh, air current. (Correction: It's ocean current. Thanks, Gunghy!)
30. Dismayed cry : OH NO
31. One begins "Rhapsody in Blue" : TRILL
32. Witness to the Transfiguration of Jesus : ST. PETER. Jack always peppers a few Bible references in his puzzles.
33. Mag transformed by Helen Gurley Brown : COSMO. Unknown trivia to me.
36. Van Morrison's singing daughter : SHANA. Complete stranger. I like the color of her tank top.
37. Union leavers : SECEDERS
38. Hawaiian tuna : AHI. Yellowfin tuna. Mouthwatering, JD! What a pity that Dennis doesn't eat any fish.
43. Fallen orbiter : MIR. De-orbed in 2001.
44. Sound relatives : BAYS. And 113. Sound measure : SONE. Different "sound".
45. With no rocks : NEAT
46. Suspect story, maybe : FIB. So is LIE.
49. '90s game disc : POG
55. Nest egg initials : IRA
56. Upgrade to five stars, say : RE-RATE
58. Not rented : OWNED
59. Capers : LARKS
61. "Sherlock Holmes" actress Rachel : MCADAMS. Recognized her face when I googled. She's the mean girl in "Mean Girls".
63. "What __ Is This?" : CHILD
64. Wander : TRAIPSE
66. Attend to loose ends : MOP UP
67. Look uncertainly (for) : GROPE
68. 1972 Oscar refuser : BRANDO. He won for his performance in the "The Godfather".
69. Wrath : IRE
74. Hindu title : SRI
77. Elected ones : INs
78. Former U.K. carrier : BOAC (British Overseas Airways Corporation). Stumper.
79. Slick trick : RUSE
80. Lincoln progeny : TAD. Lincoln's youngest son.
86. Director's challenge : EGO. Nice clue.
87. Remove with effort : DISLODGE
91. Use the soapbox : ORATE
92. Spanish others : OTRAs
94. Lures : ENTICES
95. Moccasin, e.g. : SNAKE. No idea. The color does look that of the Moccasin slippers.
96. Pelvic bones : ILIA
98. Areas above hooves : SHANKS
99. Pursue : CHASE
100. Torino tongue : ITALIANO. My friend Roberto is from Roma. He makes terrific risotto & salad.
104. Pasta often served alla vodka : PENNE. Have never had this dish.
107. Drive-thru decision : ORDER
108. It has banks in Switzerland : AARE. River banks. Awesome clue.
109. Not a happy fate : DOOM
110. Writer Zora __ Hurston : NEALE. She wrote "Their Eyes Were Watching God".
111. Tries out : TESTS
112. Lulus : PIPS
114. Taunts : GIBES
Down:
1. Speaker of note : BOSE. Was thinking of Tris Speaker.
2. Author Haley : ALEX. "Roots".
3. Michael Corleone's bodyguard Al : NERI. Wow, no idea. The guy on the left.
4. Hand-played drum : TOM-TOM
5. Wartime diversion : USO SHOW
6. To the max, in the disco era : A GOGO
7. Ivy League member : PENN
8. Stud attachment? : ENT. Student. A rather innovative way to clue ENT.
9. Dry and hot : SAHARAN
10. Some wardens' concern : GAME LAW
11. "__ Like You": Young Rascals hit : A GIRL. Here is the clip.
12. Keister : BUNS
13. Place to be quiet : SET. Movie set.
14. Like Super Bowl tickets, perhaps : SCALPED
15. Hustled : CONNED
16. Kiwi or rhea : RATITE
17. Sorry sort : ATONER
18. They may have 84-Down : MINORs. 84. Spy covers : FAKE IDS.
24. One-time partner of novelist Miller : NIN (Anaïs). Henry Miller.
25. Giving the once-over : EYING
29. "Yada, yada, yada ..." : ETC ETC
31. "__ Promise You": *NSYNC hit : THIS I. Liked the song.
32. Family car : SEDAN
33. Summer getaway : CAMP
34. River formed at Pittsburgh : OHIO
36. Internet communications company : SKYPE. Never know how it got the name.
40. Pianist/composer Chasins : ABRAM. Another blind spot for me.
41. Café additions : LAITS. Café au lait.
42. Denoting a loss : IN RED
47. Bugs : IRKS
48. It may be stolen : BASE. Baseball. We also have 52. Steal : SWIPE.
50. Plotting aid : GRAPH
51. Not at all : NO HOW
53. Without direction : UNLED. Spell check doesn't like this word.
54. African antelope : ELAND
57. http://ucla.__ : EDU
60. It may be financial or legal : AID
61. Year of Super Bowl XXXVI : MMII. 2002. Patriots vs. Rams.
62. Muffin grain : CORN
63. Signs of spring : CROCI
64. Former title-winning women's wrestler Stratus : TRISH. No idea. Great body.
65. Saree wearer : RANEE
67. Forest clearing : GLADE
68. Cruel, as force : BRUTE. Brute force.
71. Stomachs : ABIDES
72. Suit sizes : LONGS
73. Irritate : GRATE
75. Shankar music style : RAGA. Norah Jones looks pretty in long hair, don't you think?
76. Nuptial vows : I DOs
81. Bernie, Roz and Greg, in a 2004 film : FOCKERS. Saw "Meet the Fockers". Can't remember the names.
82. They aren't stars : NO NAMEs
83. Understand : GRASP
85. Like white water : ROILING
87. Absolute ruler : DESPOT
88. Beckoning words : IN HERE
89. Score holders : STANDS. Oh, musical score.
90. Small finch : LINNET. Hey, there!
93. Capital city that hosted the 2007 Baseball World Cup : TAIPEI. Amazed baseball is popular there.
95. #, on scores : SHARP
96. "Who's there?" reply : IT'S ME
97. "Well, __-di-dah" : LAH
99. Indian spiced tea : CHAI
100. A party to : IN ON
101. Rhyme scheme of Kipling's "If—" : ABAB. Needed crossing help.
102. Cairo's river : NILE
103. Plural suffix with Capri : OTES. Capriotes.
105. Salary limit : CAP
106. Hugs, on cards : OOO
Answer grid.
C.C.
23A. Herb homily? : SERMON ON THE M
39A. Like a stroller out of breath? : WALKING W
50A. Golf pro's protection? : GR
70A. Coffee at church? : HALLOWED GR
81A. Adoptee's goal? : F
105A. "Last Comic Standing" winning routine? : CHAMPIONSHIP B
35D. Knighted vintner's nickname? : S
46D. Dorm room Christmas tree? : F
Nice set of theme answers. Some of the clues made me smile. You've got to have a sense of humor when cluing letter string deletion/addition/exchange theme clues, or any punny theme.
Humor doesn't come to me naturally, even in Chinese. Jerome's outside-the-box thinking on certain mundane answers like IRON last time often impresses and amuses me.
A bit of slog for me today. Quite a few unfamiliar names, either in entries or in clues. Jack worked hard in coming up with fresh clues for some names, such as ANTON (26A. Canadian pianist Kuerti). But most of them just stumped me. A simple "Author Checkhov" would have given me a tap-in gimme. Different strokes I suppose. I bet this guy was an easy fill for Jayce or Jazzbumpa.
Across:
1. Language group that includes Swahili : BANTU
6. "Great" swingers : APES. Not the swingers I had in mind.
10. Yaks : GABS
14. "Get out!" : SCRAM
19. Yellow spreads : OLEOS
20. "Gloria" actress Rowlands : GENA. She's in "The Notebook".
21. It will probably keep you in bed : AGUE. I've never used this word in real life.
22. Raccoon kin : COATI
27. It's usually over a door : EXIT SIGN. Good clue/answer.
28. Australia's __ Rock : AYERS. Lovely fill for Kazie. Popular Australian tourist spot. Also known as Uluru.
29. Current concern : EL NINO. Oh, air current. (Correction: It's ocean current. Thanks, Gunghy!)
30. Dismayed cry : OH NO
31. One begins "Rhapsody in Blue" : TRILL
32. Witness to the Transfiguration of Jesus : ST. PETER. Jack always peppers a few Bible references in his puzzles.
33. Mag transformed by Helen Gurley Brown : COSMO. Unknown trivia to me.
36. Van Morrison's singing daughter : SHANA. Complete stranger. I like the color of her tank top.
37. Union leavers : SECEDERS
38. Hawaiian tuna : AHI. Yellowfin tuna. Mouthwatering, JD! What a pity that Dennis doesn't eat any fish.
43. Fallen orbiter : MIR. De-orbed in 2001.
44. Sound relatives : BAYS. And 113. Sound measure : SONE. Different "sound".
45. With no rocks : NEAT
46. Suspect story, maybe : FIB. So is LIE.
49. '90s game disc : POG
55. Nest egg initials : IRA
56. Upgrade to five stars, say : RE-RATE
58. Not rented : OWNED
59. Capers : LARKS
61. "Sherlock Holmes" actress Rachel : MCADAMS. Recognized her face when I googled. She's the mean girl in "Mean Girls".
63. "What __ Is This?" : CHILD
64. Wander : TRAIPSE
66. Attend to loose ends : MOP UP
67. Look uncertainly (for) : GROPE
68. 1972 Oscar refuser : BRANDO. He won for his performance in the "The Godfather".
69. Wrath : IRE
74. Hindu title : SRI
77. Elected ones : INs
78. Former U.K. carrier : BOAC (British Overseas Airways Corporation). Stumper.
79. Slick trick : RUSE
80. Lincoln progeny : TAD. Lincoln's youngest son.
86. Director's challenge : EGO. Nice clue.
87. Remove with effort : DISLODGE
91. Use the soapbox : ORATE
92. Spanish others : OTRAs
94. Lures : ENTICES
95. Moccasin, e.g. : SNAKE. No idea. The color does look that of the Moccasin slippers.
96. Pelvic bones : ILIA
98. Areas above hooves : SHANKS
99. Pursue : CHASE
100. Torino tongue : ITALIANO. My friend Roberto is from Roma. He makes terrific risotto & salad.
104. Pasta often served alla vodka : PENNE. Have never had this dish.
107. Drive-thru decision : ORDER
108. It has banks in Switzerland : AARE. River banks. Awesome clue.
109. Not a happy fate : DOOM
110. Writer Zora __ Hurston : NEALE. She wrote "Their Eyes Were Watching God".
111. Tries out : TESTS
112. Lulus : PIPS
114. Taunts : GIBES
Down:
1. Speaker of note : BOSE. Was thinking of Tris Speaker.
2. Author Haley : ALEX. "Roots".
3. Michael Corleone's bodyguard Al : NERI. Wow, no idea. The guy on the left.
4. Hand-played drum : TOM-TOM
5. Wartime diversion : USO SHOW
6. To the max, in the disco era : A GOGO
7. Ivy League member : PENN
8. Stud attachment? : ENT. Student. A rather innovative way to clue ENT.
9. Dry and hot : SAHARAN
10. Some wardens' concern : GAME LAW
11. "__ Like You": Young Rascals hit : A GIRL. Here is the clip.
12. Keister : BUNS
13. Place to be quiet : SET. Movie set.
14. Like Super Bowl tickets, perhaps : SCALPED
15. Hustled : CONNED
16. Kiwi or rhea : RATITE
17. Sorry sort : ATONER
18. They may have 84-Down : MINORs. 84. Spy covers : FAKE IDS.
24. One-time partner of novelist Miller : NIN (Anaïs). Henry Miller.
25. Giving the once-over : EYING
29. "Yada, yada, yada ..." : ETC ETC
31. "__ Promise You": *NSYNC hit : THIS I. Liked the song.
32. Family car : SEDAN
33. Summer getaway : CAMP
34. River formed at Pittsburgh : OHIO
36. Internet communications company : SKYPE. Never know how it got the name.
40. Pianist/composer Chasins : ABRAM. Another blind spot for me.
41. Café additions : LAITS. Café au lait.
42. Denoting a loss : IN RED
47. Bugs : IRKS
48. It may be stolen : BASE. Baseball. We also have 52. Steal : SWIPE.
50. Plotting aid : GRAPH
51. Not at all : NO HOW
53. Without direction : UNLED. Spell check doesn't like this word.
54. African antelope : ELAND
57. http://ucla.__ : EDU
60. It may be financial or legal : AID
61. Year of Super Bowl XXXVI : MMII. 2002. Patriots vs. Rams.
62. Muffin grain : CORN
63. Signs of spring : CROCI
64. Former title-winning women's wrestler Stratus : TRISH. No idea. Great body.
65. Saree wearer : RANEE
67. Forest clearing : GLADE
68. Cruel, as force : BRUTE. Brute force.
71. Stomachs : ABIDES
72. Suit sizes : LONGS
73. Irritate : GRATE
75. Shankar music style : RAGA. Norah Jones looks pretty in long hair, don't you think?
76. Nuptial vows : I DOs
81. Bernie, Roz and Greg, in a 2004 film : FOCKERS. Saw "Meet the Fockers". Can't remember the names.
82. They aren't stars : NO NAMEs
83. Understand : GRASP
85. Like white water : ROILING
87. Absolute ruler : DESPOT
88. Beckoning words : IN HERE
89. Score holders : STANDS. Oh, musical score.
90. Small finch : LINNET. Hey, there!
93. Capital city that hosted the 2007 Baseball World Cup : TAIPEI. Amazed baseball is popular there.
95. #, on scores : SHARP
96. "Who's there?" reply : IT'S ME
97. "Well, __-di-dah" : LAH
99. Indian spiced tea : CHAI
100. A party to : IN ON
101. Rhyme scheme of Kipling's "If—" : ABAB. Needed crossing help.
102. Cairo's river : NILE
103. Plural suffix with Capri : OTES. Capriotes.
105. Salary limit : CAP
106. Hugs, on cards : OOO
Answer grid.
C.C.
