Sunday February 23, 2025 Gary Larson

Theme: "Toy Story" - Each common phrase is humorously reinterpreted as if it's a toy.

23A. Spinner for an early riser?: TOP OF THE MORNING.

44A. Classic playset made of cut logs?: LUMBERJACKS.

67A. Equipment for playing catch in a costume?: MASQUERADE BALLS.

93A. Rollerblades that are a dime a dozen?: CHEAPSKATES.

115A. Competitive activity with infinite possibilities?: GAME FOR ANYTHING.

17D. Shapers for kids' goo?: SLIME MOLDS.

73D. Travel version of a stackable building set?: ROADBLOCKS.

I like this playful twist. Reminds me of this "This is not a toy" puzzle I made with Tom Pepper five years ago.  

My childhood was stolen. No toys or games. We did kick Jianzi a lot. I was wearing my red scarf just like this little girl does.

 

Across:

1. Halls rival: RICOLA. Boomer liked Halls cough drops.

7. Open to change: ADAPTIVE.

15. Irritates: RASPS.

20. Undermines: ERODES.

21. Army training exercise: MANEUVER.

22. Radiant: AGLOW.

25. Waititi of "What We Do in the Shadows": TAIKA. Husband of xword regular Rita Ora.

26. Proton partner: NEUTRON.

27. Finish: END.

28. Fate: KISMET.

29. Future esq.'s exam: LSAT.

30. Punchy salad ingredient: CRESS. This refers to watercress, right?

33. Overused theme: TROPE.

34. Sp. titles: SRAS.

37. Free: LET OUT.

39. James of "Funny Lady": CAAN.

40. __ and cheese: MAC.

43. Unkempt do: MOP.

47. Magic, on scoreboards: ORL. Orlando.

48. Headline writer: EDITOR.

52. "Enough already!": TMI.

53. Build on: ADD TO.

54. Muse of history: CLIO.

55. Discover: LEARN OF.

57. Japanese dog breed: AKITA.

59. Gamekeeper: WARDEN.

61. Phrase on Texas license plates: LONE STAR.

63. Nickel, e.g.: METAL.

66. Verdon partner: FOSSE. Gwen Verdon and Bob Fosse.

71. "A Christmas __": CAROL.

74. "The Hobbit" dragon: SMAUG. I'm a descendant of the dragon. All Chinese are. 

75. Homer that scores one run: SOLO SHOT.

79. Likes a lot: ADORES.

81. Arena levels: TIERS.

84. Like a sailboat's mainsail: SCALENE. Scalene triangle with the longest edge along the mainmast.

85. Narrow inlets: RIAS.

86. Louisiana cuisine: CAJUN.

89. Volkswagen convertible: EOS. Not a car person. No idea.

91. Did a do: STYLED.

92. Place to retire: BED. And 98. Study, say: ROOM.

96. Fellow: LAD.

97. Hero: SUB.

99. Tailor, at times: FITTER.

101. "__ cannoli!": HOLY.

102. Rest atop: LIE ON.

104. Step up from nano-: MICRO.

106. Buggy terrain: DUNE.

108. Ethically challenged: AMORAL.

110. Embargo: BAN.

111. Folks who may be up a creek with a paddle: CANOERS. Now I know how to swim, I look forward to canoe someday.

114. Center of power: LOCUS.

120. Bracelet spot: ANKLE.

121. Natives of Wyoming: ARAPAHOS. Google shows that they were close allies of the Cheyenne tribe.

122. Skilled speaker: ORATOR.

123. Honkers: NOSES.

124. Totals: DESTROYS.

125. Meditative genre: NEW AGE.

Down:

1. No longer working, briefly: RET.

2. Part of a press kit?: IRON. Pressing.

3. Carry on: COPE.

4. Nonalcoholic beer brand: O'DOULS. 

5. Some driving instructions: LEFTS.

6. Type of plane that doesn't fly: ASTRAL. Astral plane.

7. Hymn ending: AMEN.

8. Three Gorges project: DAM.

9. "Should I take that as __?": A NO.

10. Piece of rpm: PER.

11. Fixes, as a piano: TUNES. My mentor Don G is a piano tuner.

12. Political columnist Molly: IVINS. Quick wit.

13. Hawk: VEND.

14. Indoor rower, for short: ERG.

15. Controls supply: RATIONS.

16. Showing shock: AGASP.

18. Jab: POKE.

19. Smack: SWAT.

24. Monopoly purchase: HOTEL.

28. Polish metropolis: KRAKOW. Poland's second-largest city.

30. Clause separator, at times: COMMA.

31. Puzzle cube creator: RUBIK.

32. Nice season: ETE. Nice, France.

33. Diplomat's skill: TACT.

34. Common sense?: SMELL. Also like this clue: 76. Phone line?: HELLO.

35. Bull rider's sport: RODEO.

36. Like some drones: APIAN.

38. Sound of reproach: TUT.

39. Currency with toonies, briefly: CAD. The code for Canadian $. More here. CNY is Chinese Yuan.

41. Sign before Taurus: ARIES.

42. Geneticist's research subject, perhaps: CLONE.

45. Like most films: RATED.

46. Social app with a synagogue directory: JDATE.

49. Kevin Bacon horror film with an "Aftershocks" sequel: TREMORS.

50. Marked down: ON SALE.

51. Goes off: ROTS.

54. In an angry manner: CROSSLY.

56. Website help pages: FAQS.

58. Public relations concern: IMAGE.

60. Like ice cubes in water: AFLOAT.

62. Piña colada ingredient: RUM.

64. Muscles worked by planks: ABS.

65. Southeast Asian nation: LAOS.

68. Really enjoy: EAT UP.

69. Ancient civilization remnants: RUINS. So many ruins in my hometown Xi'an. Our city wall. Rectangular. 4-hour walk.

70. Inc. relatives: LLCS.

71. Keto no-nos: CARBS.

72. "So long, mon ami": ADIEU.

77. NBA analyst Shaquille: O'NEAL.

78. Bear in a crib: TEDDY.

80. Pod relative: SCHOOL.

82. Broadcast again: RE-AIR.

83. __ voce: SOTTO.

87. Many moons: AEON.

88. Copier problem: JAM.

90. Firm up: SET.

93. Clothing lines: CREASES.

94. Colonel Sanders's place: KFC.

95. Midsize car: SEDAN.

100. Damon who wrote the stories adapted as "Guys and Dolls": RUNYON.

101. Donkey's call: HEEHAW.

103. Victor's cry: I RULE.

104. 111-Down and Phillips, in a 1960s pop group: MAMAS. And 111. Singer Elliot: CASS.

105. Klutzy: INEPT.

107. Paris possessive: NOTRE.

108. "The Traitors" host Cumming: ALAN.

109. Not stereo: MONO.

110. Show: BARE.

112. Actress Wilson: RITA.

113. Lip-lock, in London: SNOG.

115. Josh of "Wolf Like Me": GAD.

116. Way off: FAR.

117. "Well, lookee here!": OHO.

118. Wizzard singer Wood: ROY.

119. Test for M.A. hopefuls: GRE.

 

Thank you, Husker Gary, for making my 400th LAT puzzle so memorable. Thank you all for the sweet messages.

C.C.