Theme: Aaugh! - Words for at the end of one's rope, at the end of the theme entries.
18A. Smart remark : WISECRACK
27A. Crisp cookie : GINGER SNAP
48A. Super-popular : ALL THE RAGE
63A. Compulsive cleaner : NEAT FREAK
71A. Lose it, and a hint to the last words of 18-, 27-, 48- and 63-Across : GO APE
Argyle here. Synonyms today. Charlie Brown's cry of frustration sums up the feeling we have when we've come to the end of our rope and can't take it anymore. One misstep and we are off the deep end. Fortunately, Gail and Bruce have given us a puzzle that shouldn't incite such feelings; quite the opposite. Very nice Tuesday.
Across:
1. Uncertainty : DOUBT
6. Bit of gel : DAB. A little dab will do ya'.
9. Classroom supply : CHALK. Really? Do they still have chalkboards?
14. Media mogul Winfrey : OPRAH
15. Old studio letters : RKO. (Radio-Keith-Orpheum)
16. Google rival : YAHOO
17. "The Cloister and the Hearth" author Charles : READE. An historical novel (1861) set in the 15th century, it describes the events, people and their practices in the struggle between man's obligations to family and to Church.
20. Bowling building : ALLEY. Boomer's baliwick.
21. Year's record : ANNAL
22. Word from a heckler : BOO
23. Firmness of spirit : GRIT
25. Makes furious : IREs
31. Ditty : TUNE
35. Old vitamin bottle no. : RDA. (Recommended Dietary Allowance)
36. Melville novel that continued the story from "Typee" : "OMOO"
37. Betray like a stoolie : RAT ON
38. Country music's __ Ridge Boys : OAK. Find your favorite. Videos
39. Team supporters, collectively : FAN BASE
42. "As I see it," in texts : IMO. (in my opinion)
43. Reaper's bundle : SHEAF
45. LAX predictions : ETAs
46. Windy City hrs. : CST. Chicago is in the Central time zone.
47. Can in a cooler : SODA. Did you have soda bread yesterday?
51. Jessica of "Sin City" : ALBA
53. Voice below soprano : ALTO
54. Unit of resistance : OHM
57. Desktop computer that inspired clones : IBM PC
59. Rainy-day covers : TARPS
65. "__ you to try it!" : I DARE
66. Fad : CRAZE
67. Place for pampering : SPA
68. Israeli desert : NEGEV. Beersheba is its largest city.
69. Voice an objection : DEMUR
70. Skosh : TAD
Down:
1. Cartoon explorer with a cousin named Diego : DORA
2. German automaker : OPEL
3. Eurasian border river : URAL
4. Rotten apple : BAD EGG
5. Race track cry after "And" : "THEY'RE OFF!"
6. Holmes' confidant : DR. WATSON
7. Similar : AKIN
8. Region bordering Croatia : BOSNIA
9. Rinse or spin, e.g. : CYCLE
10. Guffaw syllable : HAR
11. Obsessed fictional captain : AHAB
12. Bonkers : LOCO
13. Early cartoon clown : KOKO
19. Lawman Wyatt : EARP
24. Culinary author Rombauer : IRMA
26. RR stop : STA
27. "That's disgusting!" : "GROSS!"
28. Montana neighbor : IDAHO. Direct shout out.
29. Ready to skinny-dip : NAKED
30. Prestigious prize : NOBEL
32. City in upstate New York : UTICA. Semi-shout out.
33. Asian menu assurance : NO MSG
34. Cyberjotting : E-NOTE
37. Turning back to zero, as an odometer : RESETTING
40. Smear campaign commercial : ATTACK AD
41. Satirist Mort : SAHL
44. Duracell size : AAA
48. Shortened wd. : ABBR. We get a lot.
49. Least plausible : LAMEST
50. Truckers' competition : ROADEO. See the cute play on 'rodeo'.
52. Career soldier : LIFER
54. One way to store pics : ON CD
55. "Grab this" : "HERE"
56. Title of respect : MA'AM
58. Mama's mate : PAPA
60. Sitar music : RAGA
61. Get ready for the OR : PREP
62. Golfer Ballesteros : SEVE. Spanish professional golfer: won the British Open Championship (1979; 1984; 1988) He died in 2011 at 54
64. Shih __: Tibetan dog : TZU. "Being beautiful takes a lot of work."
Argyle
Note from C.C.:
Happy Birthday to dear Warren, who used to comment on our blog regularly. How's the pottery & jam business, Warren?
 |
| Left to right: Warren, JD, EddyB, Chickie |
