Theme: Letter of Introduction - Each theme entry is a blend of a letter-starting phrase & a common phrase which share the same word with the former.
27A. Packrat's moving need? : LONG U-HAUL. Long haul. U-Haul. (Sorry for the Long U error earlier.)
29A. Scan on a bulb? : X-RAY OF LIGHT. X-ray. Ray of light.
46A. Stripper's scrapbook item? : FIRST G-STRING. First string. G-string.
65A. Topnotch Carnival vessel? : A-ONE LINER. A-One. One-liner.
86A. Spot for digital greeting displays? : E-CARD COUNTER. E-card. Card counter.
106A. Moisture-resistant pullover? : RUBBER V-NECK. Rubberneck. V-neck.
110A. Touchscreen device with a strap? : WRIST iPAD. Wrist pad. iPad.
37D. Profit from a swab? : Q-TIP INCOME. Q-tip. Tip income.
42D. Silly-looking steak? : FUNNY T-BONE. Funny bone. T-bone.
I mentioned last week that Mr. Ed's grid is a good Sunday template for 7-theme entry puzzle. Today we have 9, but none longer than 12-letter. 9/11 or 10/10 for the first two theme entries tend to make gridding easier as you can put them in the same row.
Gail's grid is never fancy. Just super smooth & solver friendly. Like Marti, Gail loves gardening and golfing. I have a feeling that she always shoots straight and seldom finds herself in the rough or downhill lie.
Across:
1. Tip off : TELL
5. Symbols of thinness : DIMES. Thought of RAILS first.
10. Name of four Holy Roman emperors : OTTO. Hi there cat-loving D-Otto!
14. Cost for classified info : AD FEE
19. Rod on a rig : AXLE
20. Tennyson work : IDYLL
21. Club for a chip : IRON. When I first played golf, all the clubs I used were 7 Iron and putter.
22. Back biter? : MOLAR. Nice clue.
23. "Let's leave __ that" : IT AT
24. Olive Oyl's creator : SEGAR. E.C. Segar.
25. Penitent period : LENT
26. Univ. VIPs : BMOCs. BMOC = Big Man on Campus.
31. How Hawaiian shirts are worn : LOOSELY. Sorry, Dennis, the dog is cuter.
32. Wears a long face : POUTS
33. Cartoon dog : REN. Pal of Stimpy's.
34. Multi-vol. references : OEDs
35. Bungles : FLUBS
36. Like Handel's music : BAROQUE
40. Big, in Variety : BOFFO
43. Stretched to the max : TAUT
44. Holiday landing site : HOUSETOP. For Santa.
45. Writer Santha Rama __ : RAU. Indian American. New name to me.
51. Gullible sort : SIMP
52. Annapolis inst. : USNA. So most SEALs don't attend this school, right, Spitzboov/D-Otto/eddyB?
54. It might consist of sandbags : DIKE
55. Cry of exasperation : AARGH
56. Not neg. : POS
57. Uncompromising words : I INSIST. Two consecutive I's look odd in the grid.
59. Jackie's predecessor : MAMIE (Eisenhower)
61. Spicy cuisine : THAI. Steve would have linked you a delicious looking Thai plate. Do you like Thai food, Jayce?
64. Self-titled 1990s band album : 'N SYNC
69. Choreographer de Mille : AGNES. Our Irish Miss' real name.
72. Plays (with) : TOYS
74. Handrail post : NEWEL
75. On the up-and-up : ETHICAL
77. Consumer protection org. : BBB
79. Tavern turmoil : MELEE
81. Half a '50s comedy couple : DESI (Arnaz). "I Love Lucy".
83. __ bene : NOTA
84. Per : A POP
90. Weather report staple : MAP
91. Like many rewards : MONETARY
93. Mysterious character : RUNE. Not a person.
94. Acts as a shill for, say : ABETS
96. Sheer : SEE-THRU. Remember this? Just designs on the back. You can't really see through.
97. "All done" : THERE
99. Darth's daughter : LEIA
101. Poetic preposition : ERE
102. They may need breaking in : SHOES
103. Scholar's pursuit, briefly : POSTDOC
112. Nocturnal disturbance : APNEA. Do you read books before falling asleep? I always listen to Terry Gross's "Fresh Air".
113. Bop on the bean : CONK
114. Rivera of Broadway's "West Side Story" : CHITA
115. Hamlet, for one : DANE
116. Go easy? : COAST
117. Court cover-up : ROBE
118. Comfy-cozy : HOMEY
119. City north of Pittsburgh : ERIE. Abejo grew up there.
120. Works on a muffler : KNITS
121. Legal postponement : STAY
122. Impressionists : APERS
123. Mail-routing abbr. : ATTN
Down:
1. Watch from behind : TAIL. For investigators.
2. Praise highly : EXTOL
3. South American plain : LLANO
4. Release : LET GO OF
5. Served : DISHED
6. Lofty standards : IDEALS
7. 1964 Mary Wells hit : MY GUY. No idea.
8. Mideast airline : EL AL
9. 35mm camera type : SLR
10. Massage option : OIL RUB. Never had an oil rub. I imagine it feels good. What kind of oil do you use, Melissa?
11. Takes care of dinner, say : TREATS
12. Stage awards : TONYs
13. In the know about : ONTO
14. Hurriers they're not : AMBLERS
15. Rectangular game pieces : DOMINOES
16. Thrash : FLOG
17. Pricing word : EACH
18. Formerly, formerly : ERST. Super-friendly letter combo for constructors.
28. Make __: employ : USE OF
29. Deletions : X'OUTS
30. Filled (with) : FRAUGHT
32. Good word : PLUG
35. The way it goes : FATE
36. Dull, ringing sound : BONG
38. Man of Milano : UOMO. Meet Giovanna Battaglia, editor of L'Uomo Vogue. Lovely bag.
39. "House" actor : EPPS (Omar). Who else is a fan of "House" besides Argyle?
40. UCLA athlete : BRUIN
41. Mirage, maybe : OASIS
43. "Naughty!" : TSK
44. New addition : HIREE
47. Cards with pics : IDS
48. '90s U.S. Poet Laureate __ Dove : RITA
49. Sri Lankan language : TAMIL
50. Parade concern : RAIN
53. "This comes __ surprise" : AS NO
58. Needing salt, perhaps : ICY. I was thinking of food.
59. Asked for milk, in a way : MEWED. Fun clue.
60. Yard filler : ALE
62. "Yeah, right!" : HAH
63. Fightin' : AGIN
66. Dental restoration : ONLAY
67. Poet's adverb : NE'ER
68. Put one's feet up : REST. We went to a neighborhood yard sale yesterday. Alas, no bobbleheads.
70. Trouble big-time : EAT AT
71. High-fives, e.g. : SLAPS
73. Nasty campaigner : SMEARER
76. Knot : TIE
77. Loud thuds : BAMS
78. Letters often seen under antlers : BPOE. Hi Abejo again!
80. Neutral tone : ECRU
81. Beachgoer's shield from an offshore breeze : DUNE. Also a perfume name. I like Dune.
82. GPS reading : ENE
85. Ringo Starr predecessor : PETE BEST. Was he forced out?
87. Golf course hazard : CREEK
88. Couple's pronoun : OURS
89. "Luck of the Draw" vocalist : RAITT (Bonnie)
92. They may be idle : THREATS
95. Hardly encouraging words : BAD IDEA! So I was reading "The ? of ?" while taking a hot bath the other day. Bad idea!
97. Hoops gp. : THE NBA
98. Game played with sticks : HOCKEY. Can never understand the beauty of hockey.
99. Hang around : LOITER
100. Think pieces : ESSAYS
102. Supercilious type : SNOOT
103. Heyday : PRIME
104. Illusory display : OP-ART
105. "Zip your lip!" : CAN IT
106. Display aid : RACK
107. Lying atop : UPON
108. __ B'rith : B'NAI
109. Passé TV attachments : VCRs
110. Hit hard : WHOP
111. "Paula's Home Cooking" host : DEEN. Not a fan. I like Ina Garten. Who's your favorite TV chef?
114. Half a dance : CHA
Answer grid.
C.C.
27A. Packrat's moving need? : LONG U-HAUL. Long haul. U-Haul. (Sorry for the Long U error earlier.)
29A. Scan on a bulb? : X-RAY OF LIGHT. X-ray. Ray of light.
46A. Stripper's scrapbook item? : FIRST G-STRING. First string. G-string.
65A. Topnotch Carnival vessel? : A-ONE LINER. A-One. One-liner.
86A. Spot for digital greeting displays? : E-CARD COUNTER. E-card. Card counter.
106A. Moisture-resistant pullover? : RUBBER V-NECK. Rubberneck. V-neck.
110A. Touchscreen device with a strap? : WRIST iPAD. Wrist pad. iPad.
37D. Profit from a swab? : Q-TIP INCOME. Q-tip. Tip income.
42D. Silly-looking steak? : FUNNY T-BONE. Funny bone. T-bone.
I mentioned last week that Mr. Ed's grid is a good Sunday template for 7-theme entry puzzle. Today we have 9, but none longer than 12-letter. 9/11 or 10/10 for the first two theme entries tend to make gridding easier as you can put them in the same row.
Gail's grid is never fancy. Just super smooth & solver friendly. Like Marti, Gail loves gardening and golfing. I have a feeling that she always shoots straight and seldom finds herself in the rough or downhill lie.
Across:
1. Tip off : TELL
5. Symbols of thinness : DIMES. Thought of RAILS first.
10. Name of four Holy Roman emperors : OTTO. Hi there cat-loving D-Otto!
14. Cost for classified info : AD FEE
19. Rod on a rig : AXLE
20. Tennyson work : IDYLL
21. Club for a chip : IRON. When I first played golf, all the clubs I used were 7 Iron and putter.
22. Back biter? : MOLAR. Nice clue.
23. "Let's leave __ that" : IT AT
24. Olive Oyl's creator : SEGAR. E.C. Segar.
25. Penitent period : LENT
26. Univ. VIPs : BMOCs. BMOC = Big Man on Campus.
31. How Hawaiian shirts are worn : LOOSELY. Sorry, Dennis, the dog is cuter.
32. Wears a long face : POUTS33. Cartoon dog : REN. Pal of Stimpy's.
34. Multi-vol. references : OEDs
35. Bungles : FLUBS
36. Like Handel's music : BAROQUE
40. Big, in Variety : BOFFO
43. Stretched to the max : TAUT
44. Holiday landing site : HOUSETOP. For Santa.
45. Writer Santha Rama __ : RAU. Indian American. New name to me.
51. Gullible sort : SIMP
52. Annapolis inst. : USNA. So most SEALs don't attend this school, right, Spitzboov/D-Otto/eddyB?
54. It might consist of sandbags : DIKE
55. Cry of exasperation : AARGH
56. Not neg. : POS
57. Uncompromising words : I INSIST. Two consecutive I's look odd in the grid.
59. Jackie's predecessor : MAMIE (Eisenhower)
61. Spicy cuisine : THAI. Steve would have linked you a delicious looking Thai plate. Do you like Thai food, Jayce?
64. Self-titled 1990s band album : 'N SYNC
69. Choreographer de Mille : AGNES. Our Irish Miss' real name.
72. Plays (with) : TOYS
74. Handrail post : NEWEL
75. On the up-and-up : ETHICAL
77. Consumer protection org. : BBB
79. Tavern turmoil : MELEE
81. Half a '50s comedy couple : DESI (Arnaz). "I Love Lucy".
83. __ bene : NOTA
84. Per : A POP
90. Weather report staple : MAP
91. Like many rewards : MONETARY
93. Mysterious character : RUNE. Not a person.
94. Acts as a shill for, say : ABETS
96. Sheer : SEE-THRU. Remember this? Just designs on the back. You can't really see through.
97. "All done" : THERE
99. Darth's daughter : LEIA
101. Poetic preposition : ERE
102. They may need breaking in : SHOES
103. Scholar's pursuit, briefly : POSTDOC
112. Nocturnal disturbance : APNEA. Do you read books before falling asleep? I always listen to Terry Gross's "Fresh Air".
113. Bop on the bean : CONK
114. Rivera of Broadway's "West Side Story" : CHITA
115. Hamlet, for one : DANE
116. Go easy? : COAST
117. Court cover-up : ROBE
118. Comfy-cozy : HOMEY
119. City north of Pittsburgh : ERIE. Abejo grew up there.
120. Works on a muffler : KNITS
121. Legal postponement : STAY
122. Impressionists : APERS
123. Mail-routing abbr. : ATTN
Down:
1. Watch from behind : TAIL. For investigators.
2. Praise highly : EXTOL
3. South American plain : LLANO
4. Release : LET GO OF
5. Served : DISHED
6. Lofty standards : IDEALS
7. 1964 Mary Wells hit : MY GUY. No idea.
8. Mideast airline : EL AL
9. 35mm camera type : SLR
10. Massage option : OIL RUB. Never had an oil rub. I imagine it feels good. What kind of oil do you use, Melissa?
11. Takes care of dinner, say : TREATS
12. Stage awards : TONYs
13. In the know about : ONTO
14. Hurriers they're not : AMBLERS
15. Rectangular game pieces : DOMINOES
16. Thrash : FLOG
17. Pricing word : EACH
18. Formerly, formerly : ERST. Super-friendly letter combo for constructors.
28. Make __: employ : USE OF
29. Deletions : X'OUTS
30. Filled (with) : FRAUGHT
32. Good word : PLUG
35. The way it goes : FATE
36. Dull, ringing sound : BONG
38. Man of Milano : UOMO. Meet Giovanna Battaglia, editor of L'Uomo Vogue. Lovely bag.
39. "House" actor : EPPS (Omar). Who else is a fan of "House" besides Argyle?
40. UCLA athlete : BRUIN
41. Mirage, maybe : OASIS
43. "Naughty!" : TSK
44. New addition : HIREE
47. Cards with pics : IDS
48. '90s U.S. Poet Laureate __ Dove : RITA
49. Sri Lankan language : TAMIL
50. Parade concern : RAIN
53. "This comes __ surprise" : AS NO
58. Needing salt, perhaps : ICY. I was thinking of food.
59. Asked for milk, in a way : MEWED. Fun clue.
60. Yard filler : ALE
62. "Yeah, right!" : HAH
63. Fightin' : AGIN
66. Dental restoration : ONLAY
67. Poet's adverb : NE'ER
68. Put one's feet up : REST. We went to a neighborhood yard sale yesterday. Alas, no bobbleheads.
70. Trouble big-time : EAT AT
71. High-fives, e.g. : SLAPS
73. Nasty campaigner : SMEARER
76. Knot : TIE
77. Loud thuds : BAMS
78. Letters often seen under antlers : BPOE. Hi Abejo again!
80. Neutral tone : ECRU
81. Beachgoer's shield from an offshore breeze : DUNE. Also a perfume name. I like Dune.
82. GPS reading : ENE
85. Ringo Starr predecessor : PETE BEST. Was he forced out?
87. Golf course hazard : CREEK
88. Couple's pronoun : OURS
89. "Luck of the Draw" vocalist : RAITT (Bonnie)
92. They may be idle : THREATS
95. Hardly encouraging words : BAD IDEA! So I was reading "The ? of ?" while taking a hot bath the other day. Bad idea!
97. Hoops gp. : THE NBA
98. Game played with sticks : HOCKEY. Can never understand the beauty of hockey.
99. Hang around : LOITER
100. Think pieces : ESSAYS
102. Supercilious type : SNOOT
103. Heyday : PRIME
104. Illusory display : OP-ART
105. "Zip your lip!" : CAN IT
106. Display aid : RACK
107. Lying atop : UPON
108. __ B'rith : B'NAI
109. Passé TV attachments : VCRs
110. Hit hard : WHOP
111. "Paula's Home Cooking" host : DEEN. Not a fan. I like Ina Garten. Who's your favorite TV chef?
114. Half a dance : CHA
Answer grid.
C.C.
