Theme: "In the End" - N sound is added to the end of each common phrase.
23. Exclamation at a Chinese New Year parade?: WHAT A DRAGON. What a drag.
25. Homemade cat costume?: DIY KITTEN. DIY kit.
42. Havana cigar that hits all the right notes?: PERFECT CUBAN. Perfect cube.
65. Evian, e.g.?: WATER TITAN. Watertight.
67. To whom a young sea monster goes for advice?: WISE KRAKEN. Wisecrack.
87. Unusually low tax bill?: LITTLE BURDEN. Little bird.
105. So tired of eating pork for breakfast?: OVER BACON. Over-bake.
107. Observation at a zoo's big cat exhibit?: THAT IS A LION. That is a lie.
Another LAT debut. Congrats, Garrett! And a Sunday. See here. He's only 18. Stunning.
This theme often daunts me, esp when spelling changes are involved. I just lack the basic English knowledge and imagination needed to pull off this type of theme.
Lots of great fill in this grid.
Across:
5. Wiccans, Druids, etc.: PAGANS.
11. Start of an idea: GERM.
15. Soaks (up): SOPS.
19. "I wasn't finished!": WAIT.
20. Greetings: HELLOS.
21. Old music halls: ODEA. Plural of "odeum".
22. Atmosphere: AURA.
27. Sammie: SUB. Xi'an style. So good.
28. Ilhan of Congress: OMAR.
29. Lunch spot, for short: CAF.
30. Spoke without a sound?: ELIDED.
31. Crime drama character: COP.
33. Buffalo NHL player: SABRE. Can't remember which team Splynter roots for.
35. Pixar fish: DORY.
36. Chocolate chips and walnuts for banana bread, perhaps: ADD INS.
37. Very soon after: UPON.
39. Steamed bun: BAO. Actually "baozi". No one says "bao" alone in China. Cha siu bao, Xiaolongbao, etc. So so good.
40. Sound from a pen: OINK.
41. Untamed: WILD.
45. Motivation: DRIVE.
47. Bathroom or kitchen device: SCALE.
48. BTS genre: K POP. Just look at this practice video for "Butter". Talk about professionalism. The guy in khaki shorts is Jimin, my favorite.
49. Schoolyard retort: ARE SO.
50. Old den device: VCR.
53. "__ Miz": LES.
56. [I have to explain this again?]: DEEP SIGH. Also 72. "You'll see--this'll be easy!": IT'S A SNAP.
58. __-chic: BOHO.
59. Like a rave review: FIVE-STAR.
63. Mario Kart participant: RACER.
64. Euripides tragedy: MEDEA.
69. Affirms: AVERS.
70. Morgan of Arthurian legend: LE FAY. The sorceress.
73. Barber's tool: COMB.
74. Fizzless drink: FLAT SODA. No sodas in our fridge now.
76. Early Beatles bassist Sutcliffe: STU.
77. Hosp. theaters: ORS.
78. CBS sportscaster Phil: SIMMS. Wikipedia says he spent his whole career with the New York Giants.
79. Camper's snack: GORP.
81. Charter: LEASE.
86. Songs: TUNES.
90. Family nickname: PAPA. Baba in Chinese.
91. Biceps, slangily: GUNS.
92. Melber of MSNBC: ARI.
93. Urge on: GOAD.
94. Whine tearfully: SNIVEL.
96. "Sula" novelist Morrison: TONI.
97. Viswanathan who was the first chess grandmaster from India: ANAND. He's a Hindu.
99. Texting nicety: PLS.
100. Clemson athletes: TIGERS.
101. Fix, in a way: RIG.
102. Disdainful sounds: TSKS.
103. Trawling need: NET. Steve's father-in-law was a fisherman for many years. The guy probably still fishes. The other 2% is Vikings blood, Jayce!
111. Drudge: PEON.
112. Swag: LOOT.
113. Had a victory: WON ONE. Homophones.
114. Unaided: SOLO.
115. Avec's opposite: SANS.
116. Giant fair: EXPO.
117. Sunset shade: ORANGE.
118. Freshly: ANEW.
Down:
2. "That hits the spot": AAH.
3. Scattered population: DIASPORA. Greek in origin, meaning "scattering".
4. "Julius Caesar" accusation: ET TU.
5. Prof's deg., often: PHD.
6. Stunt pilot: AEROBAT.
7. Campy 1970s music genre: GLAM ROCK. David Bowie!
8. Sushi roll exterior: ALGAE. Nori seaweed.
9. Former Queen of Jordan: NOOR.
10. Tax form digits: SSN.
11. Stop posting on social media, say: GO DARK.
12. Enlighten: EDIFY.
13. "Summertime Sadness" singer Lana Del __: REY. I love her "Young and Beautiful". Incredible voice.
14. Words said after lighting birthday candles: MAKE A WISH.
15. Went unused: SAT IDLE.
16. Eclipsed: OUTDID.
17. Groom feathers: PREEN.
18. Smooths, as wood: SANDS.
24. Crunch time target?: ABS. Ab crunch.
26. "Amor & Pasión" popera vocal group: IL DIVO. Learning moment for me.
29. Hartford's st.: CONN.
31. Beer pong receptacles: CUPS.
32. Gp. founded in Baghdad in 1960: OPEC.
34. "The Bachelor" network: ABC.
35. Luvs product: DIAPER.
38. Org. for Cardinals and Saints: NFL.
40. Concert wind: OBOE.
43. Fishers with pots: EELERS. You can see that fisherman. Taiwan brand. Tastier than the frozen eels at the Asian grocery stores.
44. Kite aids: UPDRAFTS.
45. Least rainy: DRIEST.
46. Go back: REGRESS.
49. Pictures of characters: ASCII ART.
50. Cape Cod alcohol: VODKA.
51. Sound from a nest: CHEEP.
52. Equine hue: ROAN.
54. NYC hrs.: EST.
55. Jojo Moyes novel about a woman starting a new life: STILL ME. Unfamiliar with the book or the author.
57. Furry foot: PAW.
58. Lima __: BEAN.
59. Party gift: FAVOR.
60. Inventory list: ITEMS.
61. Move or groove: VERB.
62. Top squads: A TEAMS.
64. Longtime Takei role: MR SULU. Iconic.
65. Texas city featured in most "Fixer Upper" episodes: WACO.
66. "One Mic" rapper: NAS.
68. Actress Dennings: KAT.
71. Hindu or Buddhist spiritual leader: YOGINI.
74. "No refunds" transaction: FINAL SALE. The fill is 78. Top-notch: SUPERB.
75. Polka __: DOTS.
80. Sea food: PLANKTON. Consonants-heavy.
82. Joule fraction: ERG.
83. Animal shelter goal: ADOPTION. My neighbor wants me to adopt a dog for company. Sadly I can't even take care of myself.
84. Letter closer: SEAL.
85. Wraps up: ENDS.
86. Bars: TAVERNS.
87. Organ with alveoli: LUNG.
88. Blackboard chore: ERASING.
89. Receptacle: BIN.
90. Bird in Mo Willems books: PIGEON.
91. Start discussing: GO INTO.
94. Timetable listings: STOPS.
95. Skin care brand in blue containers: NIVEA.
96. Girl Scout's outfit?: TROOP.
97. Lotus position, e.g.: ASANA.
98. Genetic letters: DNA.
102. Hammer-wielding superhero in Marvel films: THOR.
104. Older "Frozen" sister: ELSA.
106. Actress Courteney: COX. She'll always be Monica Geller to me.
107. Couple: TWO.
108. Understand: SEE.
109. Flamenco shout: OLE.
110. This second: NOW.
C.C.
