google.com, pub-2774194725043577, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0 L.A.Times Crossword Corner

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May 26, 2024

Sunday May 26, 2024 Samuel A. Donaldson & Doug Peterson

Theme: "Workplay" - Each business place is literally rephrased fitting the first word in each clue.

22. Home business?: REAL ESTATE OFFICE.

39. Risky business?: INSURANCE AGENCY.

56. Pressing business?: DRY CLEANER.

70. Core business?: FITNESS STUDIO.

83. Funny business?: COMEDY CLUB.

101. Family business?: FERTILITY CLINIC.

122. Nobody's business?: SHELL CORPORATION.

Great to see Sam back with Doug. They're a terrific pair and have collaborated on many puzzles in the past.

I really like this theme type where both the theme entries & and the clues are solid in the language with wordplay involved. Both Sam and Doug are masters at wordplay. I actually read the title as "Wordplay".

Across:

1. FLOTUS after Hillary: LAURA. Bush.

6. Result of a lost front tooth, perhaps: LISP.

10. Winter accessory: SCARF.

15. Docs doing deliveries: OBS.

18. Fairy tale bullies: OGRES.

19. Kuwaiti ruler: EMIR.

20. Gainbridge Fieldhouse player: PACER. The Indiana Pacers.


21. "Sussudio" singer Collins: PHIL.

25. Sword side: EDGE.

26. Ritzy: DELUXE.

27. PJ top, perhaps: CAMI.

28. Change one's story?: EDIT.

29. Handle: NAME.

30. Sift through: CULL.

32. Small stream: RILL.

34. "They set us up!": IT'S A TRAP. 42. Fail to cooperate?: ACT ALONE. 66. Real struggle: HARD TIME. 99. Gymnastics team gear: LEOTARDS. A few favorite fill in Across.

36. Italian "That'll do!": BASTA.

44. Timid souls: MICE.

45. Division I org. based in Arlington, Texas: WAC. OK, Western Athletic Conference.

46. Efficient: LEAN.

47. Diamond with hits: NEIL. Lovely clue.

49. Pita sandwiches: GYROS.

52. Rough and disorderly: ROWDY.

59. Checker's concern: FACT.

61. Loafer, e.g.: SHOE.

62. Souvenir shop staples: TEES.

63. Pop, to baby: DADA. Baba in Chinese.

68. Buckeyes' sch.: OSU.

74. Venn diagram grouping: SET.

75. 1960s sitcom family with a pet dragon named Spot: MUNSTERS.

77. Entreaty: PLEA.

78. Formerly, once: ERST.

80. Amount countable on one hand: A FEW.

81. Partially melted: SOFT. Hmm, frozen durian.

88. Six Flags attractions: RIDES.

90. Afternoon class hour: TWO PM.

93. 127-Across's Bonneville __ Flats: SALT. 127. Bryce Canyon National Park locale: UTAH.

94. Homeowner's overhaul, for short: RENO. Renovation.

95. ICU readout: EKG.

97. Response to something 98-Down: ROAR. 98. Laugh-out-loud funny: RIOTOUS.

107. Scanner brand: EPSON.

108. More than necessary: OVERMUCH. I just use "too much".

109. Wind with keys: OBOE.

110. Unnamed others: THEM.

112. Slimming procedure, for short: LIPO.

113. Gothic governess: EYRE.

115. Guesses from late guests, briefly: ETAS.

117. Lack of pep: ANEMIA.

121. "Hooked on Classics" record label: K-TEL.

125. Make waterproof: SEAL.

126. Doomed, so to speak: TOAST.

128. Run the __: GAMUT.

129. Couture monogram: YSL.

130. Weasel relative: OTTER.

131. Okay: SO SO.

132. Kimberly of "Diary of a Mad Black Woman": ELISE. Oh guess what? She was born in Minneapolis.

Down:

1. Parliament member: LORD.

2. "The African Queen" screenwriter James: AGEE.

3. Intercontinental mountain range: URAL.

4. Second thoughts: RELUCTANCE. 38. "More to come": STAY TUNED. 76. Glazed treat: SWEET ROLL. And   79. Some recycling material: SCRAP METAL. And a few favorite Down fill.

5. Like one of the ace community: ASEXUAL.

6. Service that's neither good nor bad?: LET. Tennis.

7. Apple that comes in many colors: IMAC.

8. Lutelike instruments: SITARS.

9. Pump option: PREMIUM.

10. Lotion letters: SPF.

11. Central Perk, e.g.: CAFE. In "Friends".


12. Biting: ACIDIC.

13. Compete in a poetry slam: RECITE.

14. Tool that resembles a "P": FRETSAW.



15. "Fiddlesticks!": OH DARN.

16. Burger with a jingle listing its ingredients: BIG MAC.

17. Grumpy colleague: SLEEPY.

21. Whitsunday, by another name: PENTECOST. Seven Sundays after Easter.

23. Seasoning for French fries?: SEL. French for "salt".

24. North Sea work site: OIL RIG.

31. First part of many forms: LINE A.

33. Like many doilies: LACY.

35. Vegan panna cotta ingredient: AGAR. Never had "panna cotta". But agar is widely used in Chinese/Japanese desserts.



36. Lacking locks: BALD.

37. Laptop using ChromeOS, maybe: ACER.

40. Apt reply to "Does drei times drei equal acht?": NEIN.  "Does three times three equal eight?"

41. Brand with a Kids Tactical Vest Kit: NERF.

43. Tiny outfits: ONESIES.

48. What a journalist might bury, in jargon: LEDE.

50. Home of surfing's Triple Crown: OAHU.

51. Slew: SCAD.

53. Teakettles and referees, e.g.: WHISTLERS.

54. Cake stand topper: DOME.

55. Chuck, casually: YEET.

57. What just isn't right?: LEFT. Fun clue also.

58. Hoarse voice: RASP.

60. Had a go at: TRIED TO. 96. Sticks on: GLUES TO. 106. Close by: NEAR TO.

64. ISP option: DSL.Stay away from CenturyLink.

65. "Gimme __": A SEC.

67. Nemo's forgetful friend: DORY.

68. Squad-mate of Tlaib and Pressley: OMAR. The Squad in the Congress. Ilhan Omar.

69. Islamic mystic: SUFI.

71. Easy gait: TROT.

72. "H.R. wouldn't like this" warning: NSFW.

73. New Mexico art community: TAOS.

82. Rishi Sunak, for one: TORY. The UK Prime Minister.


84. Algeria neighbor: MALI.

85. To-be: ELECT.

86. Ctrl+Z action: UNDO.

87. Cap'n's deputy: BOSN.

89. Whole alternative: SKIM.

91. Slightly, on scores: POCO.

92. Argentine grape: MALBEC. Looks sweet.



100. The first "T" in TMNT: TEENAGE.

101. Down-home: FOLKSY.

102. Offers with clickable RSVP's: E-VITES.

103. Overturn: REPEAL.

104. Pain relief brand with an oxymoronic name: ICY HOT.

105. Word with empty or veiled: THREAT.

111. Snarky syllable: HAR.

114. Instead: ELSE.

116. Daycation destinations: SPAS.

118. "Rent" role: MIMI.

119. Promising notes: IOUS.

120. Pay to play: ANTE.

123. Abbr. on a copier tray: LTR.

124. "Think so, eh?": OHO.

C.C.