Theme: Le Puzzle - LE is attached to CK-ending words in 7 common phrases.
22A. Cheap laugh? : TWO-BUCK CHUCKLE. Two-buck chuck. Fun clue/Answer.
32A. Create belt hardware in record time? : MAKE A FAST BUCKLE. Make a fast buck.
50A. Sweet-and-sour pita sandwich with a crunch? : PICKLE POCKET. Pickpocket. Sounds delicious. I love pickled everything.
68A. Pet's protective-yet-amusing neckwear? : FLEA AND TICKLE COLLAR. Flea and tick collar.
89A. Old-fashioned restraint with a built-in boom box? : RADIO SHACKLE. RadioShack.
102A. Plumber's inquiry about a drippy faucet? : TRICKLE QUESTION. Trick question.
119A. Like an off-key football lineman? : SHARP AS A TACKLE. Sharp as a tack. "Like a bright football lineman" would not have changed the base phrase much. So, I like the "Off-key" clue.
This is another puzzle with fairly long theme entries and tricky letter combo in CKs, which could make the gridding challenging.
A few hiccups for me. But an enjoyable solving. I was excited to see Liz Gorski's name. This is her first LA Times since we made the shift in March 2009. Her puzzles are always original, creative and often feature a visual element.
Across:
1. Not more than : AT MOST
7. Mayo to mayo, e.g. : ANO. Mayo = May.
10. "__ Blue": George Strait hit : AM I. It's been covered by many.
13. One of the Three Bears : MAMA
17. Pacify : SOOTHE
18. No : REFUSAL. I don't think Splynter will say No to this one.
20. Quieted : LULLED
24. It can knock you out : OPIATE. And 28D. Old knockout agent : ETHER. Clecho (clue echo).
25. Commentator Coulter : ANN. I like her hair. That's about all.
26. "Evita" role : CHE
27. Casino attraction : SLOT
28. Rescue squad initials : EMS
29. Ripken of baseball : CAL. "Iron Man". Very classy. He came to Kirby Puckett's funeral and his anecdote moved me to tears.
30. U.S. territory divided in 1889 : DAK
37. Caspian feeder : URAL
39. Letters under TUV, on many phones : OPER
40. About 30% of Africa : SAHARA. Literally "desert".
41. "Nothing Compares 2 U" singer O'Connor : SINEAD. Her latest marriage/divorce has been heavily covered by the tabloid.
43. Gad about : ROAM
46. Hiker's power lunch? : ENERGY BAR. I love Larabar.
53. Earth, to Mahler : ERDE
54. Japanese veggie : UDO. Here it is. Mountain veggie, though some are farmed.
55. Iceland-to-Ireland dir. : SSE
56. Vegas-based TV drama : CSI
57. Fusses : ADOs
59. Ocean diver : OSPREY
61. Old cash register key : NO SALE
64. Bakery artists : ICERS
67. Big 12 Conference city : AMES. Iowa State.
73. Ran away : FLED
74. Norwegian king who died in 1000 : OLAV I. Always need the crossing for the last letter of these OLAV/OLAF answers.
75. Los __ : ALAMOS
76. Untrustworthy sort : WEASEL
79. Beau and Jeff, to Lloyd : SONS
81. "Pshaw!" : BAH
82. Have dinner : SUP
85. DC Comics collectible: Abbr. : ISS (Issue). Lots of comic books at our local flea market.
86. Actress Hatcher : TERI
93. Protein shake spoonful : WHEAT GERM. Never had it.
96. Future D.A.'s exam : LSAT
97. Bless with oil : ANOINT
98. Sounds heard from herds : BAA BAA
99. Sports doc's pix : MRIs
101. College application nos. : GPAs
108. Botanist Gray : ASA. Learned from doing Xword.
109. Startled cries : OHs
110. Common Mkt. : EEC
111. Battleship color : GRAY. Battleship gray.
112. Yellow wheels : CAB
114. Knock : RAP
117. Morning rounds? : DONUTS. Sweet clue.
123. Latin carol starter : ADESTE. "Adeste Fideles".
124. Least arduous : EASIEST
125. Manhattan-to-Far Rockaway service : A-TRAIN. I've never been to NY.
126. Sources of red berries : YEWS
127. Soul, to Sartre : AME
128. Galoot : APE
129. Paine and others, religiously : DEISTS. My friend Linda reads Bible every night.
Down:
1. Whodunit pooch : ASTA
2. Hamlet's kin : TOWN
3. Van Morrison album or song : MOON DANCE. Gimme for Melissa.
4. Handicapper's hangout, for short : OTB (Off-Track Betting)
5. Oyster shell : SHUCK
6. PC doctor : TECH
7. Not the shortest line between two points : ARC. So, what's the shortest line between two points then?
8. O.T. book : NEH
9. Handy : OF USE
10. Demand from : ASK OF
11. Glucose-creating enzyme : MALTASE. Sometimes we see ASE clued as "Enzyme suffix".
12. Suffix with infant : ILE
13. 1051, on a monument : MLI
14. Old-style term of regret : ALACK. Alas and alack.
15. Mercury, for one : METAL
16. High-heeled Astaire : ADELE. But this Adele is everywhere now.
19. Team with 17 official Final Four appearances : UCLA
20. Guy in front of an orchestra : LOMBARDO. Oh, his name is Guy Lombardo. No idea.
21. High rises : UPSURGES
23. Dole running mate : KEMP (Jack)
31. Supermodel Wek : ALEK. Lovely.
33. Dynamic leader? : AERO. Aerodynamic.
34. Big cheese linked with Big Macs? : KROC (Ray). Great clue.
35. Not certifiable? : SANE. I'm not familiar with the "insane" meaning of "certifiable".
36. Low island : CAY
37. Mail letters : USPS
38. Social reformer Jacob : RIIS. Another name I learned from doing Xword.
39. Potemkin mutiny city : ODESSA. Drew a blank.
42. Wrap initialism : ALCOA (Aluminum Company of America)
44. Rap sheet initials : AKA
45. Healing : MEDICINAL. Has anyone tried traditional Chinese herbal medicine?
47. Myanmar, formerly : BURMA
48. "Doe, __, a female ..." : A DEER
49. Rogers and Lichtenstein : ROYS
51. Cliburn's instrument : PIANO. Van Cliburn.
52. Every other second? : TOCK. Tick tock. Tricky clue.
58. Actress Ward : SELA
60. Chums : PALS
61. Composer Rorem et al. : NEDS.
62. "Bad" cholesterol, briefly : LDL
63. JFK postings : ETAS
65. Faith syst. : REL
66. Picket line crossers : SCABS
68. Blood partner : FLESH
69. It may involve a flat fee : LEASE. Flat = Apartment. Always a good word to mislead solvers.
70. "The Lodger" actor Novello : IVOR. Another learning moment. Looks like he was wearing eyeliners.
71. Sioux enemies : OMAHAS
72. "Mean Girls" actress : LOHAN. She's back!
73. IMHO cousin : FWIW (For What It's Worth)
77. Teen comic originally focused on social graces : ETTA KETT. Gimme, Argyle?
78. Some fine print : LEGALESE
80. '60s campus gp. : SDS
82. Duds for the downwardly mobile? : SKI PARKAS. Well, for Marti. I don't feel stupid not getting this clue, since I'm not "downwardly mobile".
83. Forearm bone : ULNA
84. Vet's charges : PETS
87. Medieval violin-like instrument : REBEC. See here. Unknown to me.
88. Jordan neighbor : IRAQ
90. "__ Said": Neil Diamond hit : I AM I
91. Other, in Oaxaca : OTRO
92. Sprockets : COGS
94. "Modern Family" airer : ABC
95. "Of Human Bondage" author : MAUGHAM
100. Machu Picchu architect : INCA
102. Longtime morning show : TODAY
103. __ Island : RHODE
104. "So what else __?" : IS NEW
105. Delete : ERASE
106. Indian wedding dress, perhaps : SARI. So, can the bride and groom kiss at their wedding?
107. Like go-getters : TYPE A
108. Ease : ABATE
113. Barely : A TAD
115. Came down to earth : ALIT
116. Cross creations : PENS. And 119. Crossing site : SEA
118. __ Constitution : USS
120. Egyptian viper : ASP
121. Fr. holy woman : STE
122. Dernier __ : CRI
C.C.
22A. Cheap laugh? : TWO-BUCK CHUCKLE. Two-buck chuck. Fun clue/Answer.
32A. Create belt hardware in record time? : MAKE A FAST BUCKLE. Make a fast buck.
50A. Sweet-and-sour pita sandwich with a crunch? : PICKLE POCKET. Pickpocket. Sounds delicious. I love pickled everything.
68A. Pet's protective-yet-amusing neckwear? : FLEA AND TICKLE COLLAR. Flea and tick collar.
89A. Old-fashioned restraint with a built-in boom box? : RADIO SHACKLE. RadioShack.
102A. Plumber's inquiry about a drippy faucet? : TRICKLE QUESTION. Trick question.
119A. Like an off-key football lineman? : SHARP AS A TACKLE. Sharp as a tack. "Like a bright football lineman" would not have changed the base phrase much. So, I like the "Off-key" clue.
This is another puzzle with fairly long theme entries and tricky letter combo in CKs, which could make the gridding challenging.
A few hiccups for me. But an enjoyable solving. I was excited to see Liz Gorski's name. This is her first LA Times since we made the shift in March 2009. Her puzzles are always original, creative and often feature a visual element.
Across:
1. Not more than : AT MOST
7. Mayo to mayo, e.g. : ANO. Mayo = May.
10. "__ Blue": George Strait hit : AM I. It's been covered by many.
13. One of the Three Bears : MAMA
17. Pacify : SOOTHE
18. No : REFUSAL. I don't think Splynter will say No to this one.
20. Quieted : LULLED
24. It can knock you out : OPIATE. And 28D. Old knockout agent : ETHER. Clecho (clue echo).
25. Commentator Coulter : ANN. I like her hair. That's about all.
26. "Evita" role : CHE
27. Casino attraction : SLOT
28. Rescue squad initials : EMS
29. Ripken of baseball : CAL. "Iron Man". Very classy. He came to Kirby Puckett's funeral and his anecdote moved me to tears.
30. U.S. territory divided in 1889 : DAK
37. Caspian feeder : URAL
39. Letters under TUV, on many phones : OPER
40. About 30% of Africa : SAHARA. Literally "desert".
41. "Nothing Compares 2 U" singer O'Connor : SINEAD. Her latest marriage/divorce has been heavily covered by the tabloid.
43. Gad about : ROAM
46. Hiker's power lunch? : ENERGY BAR. I love Larabar.
53. Earth, to Mahler : ERDE
54. Japanese veggie : UDO. Here it is. Mountain veggie, though some are farmed.
55. Iceland-to-Ireland dir. : SSE
56. Vegas-based TV drama : CSI
57. Fusses : ADOs
59. Ocean diver : OSPREY
61. Old cash register key : NO SALE
64. Bakery artists : ICERS
67. Big 12 Conference city : AMES. Iowa State.
73. Ran away : FLED
74. Norwegian king who died in 1000 : OLAV I. Always need the crossing for the last letter of these OLAV/OLAF answers.
75. Los __ : ALAMOS
76. Untrustworthy sort : WEASEL
79. Beau and Jeff, to Lloyd : SONS
81. "Pshaw!" : BAH
82. Have dinner : SUP
85. DC Comics collectible: Abbr. : ISS (Issue). Lots of comic books at our local flea market.
86. Actress Hatcher : TERI
93. Protein shake spoonful : WHEAT GERM. Never had it.
96. Future D.A.'s exam : LSAT
97. Bless with oil : ANOINT
98. Sounds heard from herds : BAA BAA
99. Sports doc's pix : MRIs
101. College application nos. : GPAs
108. Botanist Gray : ASA. Learned from doing Xword.
109. Startled cries : OHs
110. Common Mkt. : EEC
111. Battleship color : GRAY. Battleship gray.
112. Yellow wheels : CAB
114. Knock : RAP
117. Morning rounds? : DONUTS. Sweet clue.
123. Latin carol starter : ADESTE. "Adeste Fideles".
124. Least arduous : EASIEST
125. Manhattan-to-Far Rockaway service : A-TRAIN. I've never been to NY.
126. Sources of red berries : YEWS
127. Soul, to Sartre : AME
128. Galoot : APE
129. Paine and others, religiously : DEISTS. My friend Linda reads Bible every night.
Down:
1. Whodunit pooch : ASTA
2. Hamlet's kin : TOWN
3. Van Morrison album or song : MOON DANCE. Gimme for Melissa.
4. Handicapper's hangout, for short : OTB (Off-Track Betting)
5. Oyster shell : SHUCK
6. PC doctor : TECH
7. Not the shortest line between two points : ARC. So, what's the shortest line between two points then?
8. O.T. book : NEH
9. Handy : OF USE
10. Demand from : ASK OF
11. Glucose-creating enzyme : MALTASE. Sometimes we see ASE clued as "Enzyme suffix".
12. Suffix with infant : ILE
13. 1051, on a monument : MLI
14. Old-style term of regret : ALACK. Alas and alack.
15. Mercury, for one : METAL
16. High-heeled Astaire : ADELE. But this Adele is everywhere now.
19. Team with 17 official Final Four appearances : UCLA
20. Guy in front of an orchestra : LOMBARDO. Oh, his name is Guy Lombardo. No idea.
21. High rises : UPSURGES
23. Dole running mate : KEMP (Jack)
31. Supermodel Wek : ALEK. Lovely.
33. Dynamic leader? : AERO. Aerodynamic.
34. Big cheese linked with Big Macs? : KROC (Ray). Great clue.
35. Not certifiable? : SANE. I'm not familiar with the "insane" meaning of "certifiable".
36. Low island : CAY
37. Mail letters : USPS
38. Social reformer Jacob : RIIS. Another name I learned from doing Xword.
39. Potemkin mutiny city : ODESSA. Drew a blank.
42. Wrap initialism : ALCOA (Aluminum Company of America)
44. Rap sheet initials : AKA
45. Healing : MEDICINAL. Has anyone tried traditional Chinese herbal medicine?
47. Myanmar, formerly : BURMA
48. "Doe, __, a female ..." : A DEER
49. Rogers and Lichtenstein : ROYS
51. Cliburn's instrument : PIANO. Van Cliburn.
52. Every other second? : TOCK. Tick tock. Tricky clue.
58. Actress Ward : SELA
60. Chums : PALS
61. Composer Rorem et al. : NEDS.
62. "Bad" cholesterol, briefly : LDL
63. JFK postings : ETAS
65. Faith syst. : REL
66. Picket line crossers : SCABS
68. Blood partner : FLESH
69. It may involve a flat fee : LEASE. Flat = Apartment. Always a good word to mislead solvers.
70. "The Lodger" actor Novello : IVOR. Another learning moment. Looks like he was wearing eyeliners.
71. Sioux enemies : OMAHAS
72. "Mean Girls" actress : LOHAN. She's back!
73. IMHO cousin : FWIW (For What It's Worth)
77. Teen comic originally focused on social graces : ETTA KETT. Gimme, Argyle?
78. Some fine print : LEGALESE
80. '60s campus gp. : SDS
82. Duds for the downwardly mobile? : SKI PARKAS. Well, for Marti. I don't feel stupid not getting this clue, since I'm not "downwardly mobile".
83. Forearm bone : ULNA
84. Vet's charges : PETS
87. Medieval violin-like instrument : REBEC. See here. Unknown to me.
88. Jordan neighbor : IRAQ
90. "__ Said": Neil Diamond hit : I AM I
91. Other, in Oaxaca : OTRO
92. Sprockets : COGS
94. "Modern Family" airer : ABC
95. "Of Human Bondage" author : MAUGHAM
100. Machu Picchu architect : INCA
102. Longtime morning show : TODAY
103. __ Island : RHODE
104. "So what else __?" : IS NEW
105. Delete : ERASE
106. Indian wedding dress, perhaps : SARI. So, can the bride and groom kiss at their wedding?
107. Like go-getters : TYPE A
108. Ease : ABATE
113. Barely : A TAD
115. Came down to earth : ALIT
116. Cross creations : PENS. And 119. Crossing site : SEA
118. __ Constitution : USS
120. Egyptian viper : ASP
121. Fr. holy woman : STE
122. Dernier __ : CRI
C.C.
