Theme: Short Alliterations - A hyphenated word, imitative with both parts alliterations and followed by another alliterated word times four. The vowels are all in I, O, A order.
20A. Hullabaloo over a sudden policy reversal? : FLIP-FLOP FLAP. Or the sound of walking in thong sandals
33A. Sign of table tennis tendonitis? : PING-PONG PANG. Ping-Pong is a trademark for Parker Brothers!
42A. Bit of applause for an equestrian event? : CLIP-CLOP CLAP. Clip-clop clip.
58A. Cry of frustration about a Hostess cake? : DING-DONG DANG. Her last words?
Argyle here. Like yesterday, there is more here than meets the eye at first glance. The alliteration, of course; the imitative sound of the compound word; all the vowels are short; theme entries starting on the left side of the grid rhyming, as do the two ending on the right side of the grid. There is probably more that I missed. Doesn't matter; it works as a fun, nonsensical puzzle anyway.
Across:
1. Word on a red octagon : STOP
5. Tree trunk greenery : MOSS
9. Channel covering Capitol Hill : C-SPAN
14. Coif makeup : HAIR
15. Queen Boleyn : ANNE. The second wife of Henry VIII.
16. Partner of well : ALIVE and 17. Partner of willing : ABLE. Interesting pairing.
18. Like tilted ltrs. : ITAL.
19. Moderated, with "down" : TONED
23. Ball supporter : TEE
24. Little mischief-makers : IMPS
25. Legendary Chicago cow owner : O'LEARY. The Great Chicago Fire was a conflagration that burned from Sunday, October 8, to early Tuesday, October 10, 1871. Michael Ahern, the Chicago Republican reporter who created the cow story, admitted in 1893 that he had made it up because he thought it would make colorful copy.
29. Attack from above : STRAFE
31. __ Grande : RIO 32A. Co. bigwig : CEO 37A. Bushy coif : AFRO. Ending assonance.
40. Half of a double play : OUT. Also the other half.
41. Inventor's germ : IDEA
47. Big thing at McDonalds? : MAC. That's no Whopper.
48. Samaritan's offer : AID
49. Game one : OPENER. When playing a set of games between the same contestants.
53. Meditation instruction : EXHALE. After INHALE, of course.
55. Crossword hint : CLUE
57. Inventor Whitney : ELI
61. Montezuma, e.g. : AZTEC
64. Snug ... bug in ___ : A RUG
65. "Exodus" author : URIS
66. Musical pace : TEMPO
67. Easy pace : LOPE
68. Waiter's handout : MENU
69. Cuts and pastes, say : EDITS
70. Iowa State's city : AMES
71. Stage accessory : PROP
Down:
1. Great Pyramid passages : SHAFTS
2. One of two Commandments holders : TABLET
3. More greasy : OILIER
4. Make ready, briefly : PREP
5. Letter carriers : MAILMEN
6. Winning : ON TOP
7. Velcro alternatives : SNAPS
8. Note to __ : SELF
9. Book of available products : CATALOG
10. Hillside : SLOPE
11. Exemplar of neatness : PIN. Neat as a pin.
12. Hail, to Maria : AVE. Hullo, to Nice Cuppa.
13. Composer Rorem : NED. Apropos.(2:09)
21. Fido's poodle amie : FIFI
22. Pork cut : LOIN
26. Military sch. : ACAD.
27. Actress Russo : RENE
28. Class using mats : YOGA
30. For each one : A POP
31. Campus military gp. : ROTC
34. __ Samaritan : GOOD
35. Little Lab : PUP
36. Organ whistle : PIPE
37. High point : ACME
38. Source of linen : FLAX. You have to ret it first.
39. Yummy but fattening : RICH. A shout-out to our editor?
43. Parti-colored cats : CALICOs
44. Bank's claim : LIEN
45. Sprawls, as by the pool : LOUNGES
46. Take down __: humble : A PEG
50. Less remote : NEARER
51. Cause of odd weather : EL NINO
52. Equips for use : RIGS UP
54. Highly capable : ADEPT
55. PC data disk : CD-ROM
56. Gem grader's aid : LOUPE. The pocket size. Image.
59. Festive event : GALA
60. Trash destination : DUMP
61. Ended a fast : ATE
62. Alphabet ender in England : ZED
63. 1979 Pa. meltdown site : TMI. Three Mile Island. Marker.
Argyle
Note from C.C.:
Just want to mention that this is Argyle's 220 post for our blog. We failed to celebrate his milestone 200 due to a labeling lapse. He's simply the best! He blogs when he's sick. He blogs when the puzzle is not available in Cruciverb. He's just an Iron Horse. Off the blog, he's a dear Santa who always gives me and others help when in need. Thank you, Argyle!
Note from C.C.:
Just want to mention that this is Argyle's 220 post for our blog. We failed to celebrate his milestone 200 due to a labeling lapse. He's simply the best! He blogs when he's sick. He blogs when the puzzle is not available in Cruciverb. He's just an Iron Horse. Off the blog, he's a dear Santa who always gives me and others help when in need. Thank you, Argyle!
