Theme: "Performance Reviews" - Each common phrase was humorously rephrased as if it's action fitting the professional in each clue.
23A. The lazy housekeeper ...: LET THE DUST SETTLE.
43A. The disruptive hairstylist ...: MADE WAVES.
72A. The fashionable archaeologist ...: DUG IN HER HEELS.
98A. The overzealous electrician ...: BLEW A FUSE.
123A. The absent-minded dentist ...: LEFT AN IMPRESSION.
16D. The psychic bartender ...: CALLED THE SHOTS.
50D. The fearless trapeze artist ...: GOT THE HANG OF IT.
This puzzle is similar to MaryEllen's "Caution: People Overworking" theme. The mechanic BLEW A GASKET in that puzzle, which is tighter with the "overworking" layer.
Across:
5. Sp. girls: SRTAS.
10. USDA Choice, e.g.: GRADE.
15. Vinegar, chemically: ACID.
19. Peak near Catania: ETNA. Catania is a Sicilian port city.
20. Economical with words: TERSE.
21. Collar extension: LAPEL.
22. Support staff?: CANE. BEAM is another 4-letter option.
26. Rootless water plant: ALGA.
27. "Lost in transit" inquiry: TRACER.
28. Natural gas component: ETHANE. Sometimes it's ETHENE.
29. Sent through a network: EMAILED.
31. Charm: ENCHANT.
33. Like some inscriptions: UNDATED. Mount Huashan was not that popular when we climbed. "Zhouqin Was Here" was probably gone.
35. WSW reversal: ENE.
36. Police dept. title: DET. Detective. Also 113. Behind, in a way: TAILING.
37. John Bunyan, notably: PURITAN.
41. Await decision: PEND.
42. Dull brown: DUN. New meaning to me. This horse showed up when I googled.
46. Leaning: TILTED.
48. Hoops player: CAGER.
53. First name in Renaissance painting: MONA.
54. Singles: ONES.
56. "Can't help ya": NAH.
57. Breakdown of social norms: ANOMIE. We've had this fill before.
59. Former capital of Japan: KYOTO.
61. Big cat voiced by Angelina Jolie in "Kung Fu Panda": TIGRESS.
65. Domed halls: ROTUNDAS.
68. Nibbled (at): PECKED.
70. Rush-order letters: ASAP.
71. Scrap: ORT.
76. Color gradation: HUE.
77. "The Wizard of Oz" actor: LAHR (Bert)
79. New __, Connecticut: CANAAN.
80. Part of a wedding toast, maybe: ANECDOTE. Boomer and I would have been married for 22 years next Thursday.
82. Summer pest, informally: SKEETER. Also 128. Burrowing bug: BORER.
84. Workbench grips: VISES.
87. Moved suddenly: DARTED.
88. "His Dark Materials" cable network: HBO.
89. Arctic native: SEAL.
91. Math points: LOCI.
94. "One Minute Man" rapper Elliott: MISSY.
95. Salt, say: SEASON.
101. System of connected PCs, for short: LAN. Local Area Network.
102. Fast-food option: TO GO.
104. For all __ and purposes: INTENTS.
106. Air traffic org.: FAA.
109. Unit of energy: ERG.
110. Showed plainly: EVINCED. Also 58. Draw forth: EDUCE.
115. Lumbered: PLODDED.
117. Playing fields: ARENAS.
121. Farm: GRANGE.
122. Vegan protein: TOFU. My favorite: stir-fried tofu.
127. "100 years of improvement" retailer: LOWE'S. Named after the founder Lowe.
129. Mineral no longer used in baby powder: TALC.
130. Woven fish traps: NETS.
131. Fashion journalist __ Leon Talley: ANDRE. Here with Anna Wintour.
132. FaceTime alternative: SKYPE.
133. Smite, as a dragon: SLAY.
Down:
2. Timeless, poetically: ETERNE.
3. Still together: INTACT.
4. Super casual "Sure!": NATCH. Naturally.
5. Breastbone: STERNUM.
6. Wine choice: RED.
7. Factual: TRUE.
8. Support staff member: Abbr.: ASST.
9. "The Orville" star MacFarlane: SETH.
10. Mercury Seven astronaut John: GLENN.
11. Had status: RATED.
12. Fitting: APT.
13. Take out: DELETE.
14. Periodic-table entry: ELEMENT.
15. Berry native to the Amazon rainforest: ACAI. You can get this puree at Trader Joe's.
17. Unworldly young woman: INGENUE.
18. Maze setback: DEAD END.
24. Messy stack: HEAP.
25. Steam room: SAUNA.
30. Calculating, in a way: ADDING. Not the adjective.
32. Theme park shuttle: TRAM.
34. Sanctuary section: APSE. And
38. Words from a promising couple?: I DO.
39. 6.2 miles, roughly: TEN K.
40. Like the White Sox at Fenway Park: AWAY. Hi there, Bill G, our Steve was at the NBCU box last Tuesday for the Twins vs. Dodgers game. Twins won.
44. Election Day figure: VOTER.
45. Patriarch who "walked with God": ENOCH.
47. Spencer of "Good Morning America": LARA. She used to host "Antiques Roadshow".
48. Holiday songs: CAROLS.
49. Iditarod wear: ANORAK.
51. Bird that can run 30 mph: EMU.
52. Outer layer: RIND. Have you tried sumo oranges? So good.
55. Dutch painter Jan: STEEN.
60. Starts operating, as a store: OPENS.
62. Sat in traffic, e.g.: IDLED.
63. Fries in a little butter: SAUTES.
64. Quick: SPEEDY.
66. Lab gelatins: AGARS. Did not know it's plurable.
67. Wrongdoing: SIN.
69. Hawaii's Mauna __: KEA.
73. __ academy: NAVAL.
74. Selassie of Ethiopia: HAILE.
75. Fast one: SCAM.
78. WNBA stat: REBS. Rebounds.
81. Nike's __-fit fabric: DRI. It draws the sweat from the surface.
83. Honked: TOOTED.
85. Flair: ELAN.
86. Like fluffy towels: SOFT.
90. Deep black: EBON.
92. Prompt: CUE.
93. Stevie Wonder's "__ She Lovely": ISN'T.
95. Skipped an early appointment, maybe: SLEPT IN.
96. Piercing place: EARLOBE.
97. Short work of fiction: NOVELLA.
99. Broaden: WIDEN.
100. Curio stand: ETAGERE.
103. Name seen in many hotels: GIDEON. Bible distributor.
105. Gentlemen: SIRS.
106. Curtain rod decoration: FINIAL. Learning moment for me.
107. Zambia neighbor: ANGOLA.
108. Bureau: AGENCY.
111. Do lunch?: CATER. Nice clue.
112. Wipe clean: ERASE.
114. Has legs, so to speak: LASTS.
116. Clothing: DUDS.
118. Pen points: NIBS.
119. Every which way: AMOK.
120. Moving with ease: SPRY.
124. Start of some subj. lines: FWD.
125. N.Y.'s AOC, e.g.: REP.
Excited to have received the author's copies of my book: Sip & Solve Easy Mini Crosswords, which will be officially released on May 30, 2023 Tuesday. It's edited by the talented Francis Heaney.
You can order on Amazon now. Should be delivered to you on June 1.
C.C.
