Theme:"Made to Measure" - Common phrases are reinterpreted as if they're units of measurement.
23. Increments of time spent on an assembly line?: FACTORY SECONDS.
28. Units of weight equivalent to roughly seven times that of a human?: DOG POUNDS.
43. Percentages of alcohol in shipboard grog?: GALLEY PROOFS.
65. Units of force required to bite into a Mediterranean fruit?: FIG NEWTONS.
72. Volumes of topping poured over movie theater popcorn?: BUTTER CUPS.
93. Lengths to which some teenagers will go to procure fake IDs?: MINOR LEAGUES.
109. Areas of land bought and sold by savvy real estate investors?: WISE ACRES.
118. Thermometer readings at a major golf tournament? : MASTER'S DEGREES.
Chuckled at a few clues. Definitely some grin-worthy moments. The units of measurement are, of course, playfully repurposed from phrases that originally had nothing to do with actual measuring.
Gary Larson & Amy Ensz are a husband-and-wife team. Can you imagine the wordplay flying around their home?
Across:
1. Limp Bizkit genre: RAP METAL. Nu metal band.
9. "Welcome to Hawaii!": ALOHA.
14. Without bias: JUSTLY.
20. "Maybe it's true": I GUESS SO.
21. Pitney's partner: BOWES.
22. Course absent at a dim sum or tapas restaurant: ENTREE. Generous portions at the dim sum place. We normally ordered 3 or 4 baskets then yakked for hours.
25. "Seinfeld" role for Julia: ELAINE.
26. Priceless?: FREE. Nice clue also.
27. Slightest: LEAST.
30. Get a bunch of: AMASS.
32. Viscount's superior: EARL.
33. Discombobulate: ABASH.
34. Capital that replaced Istanbul: ANKARA.
38. Paddock pace: TROT.
41. Spilled the beans: TOLD.
46. Washstand toppers: BASINS. 86. Wash up: LAVE.
50. Stunt performer Knievel: EVEL.
51. Swiss chocolate brand: LINDT.
52. Three-spot in a hand: TREY.
54. WWE wrestler __ "Freakin" Rollins: SETH. Unknown to me.
56. Went back and forth: SEESAWED.
59. Transitions: SEGUES.
61. "Whoopee!": YAHOO.
62. Feathery wrap: BOA.
63. D.C. baseball team: NATS.
64. "Heavens to Betsy": DEAR ME.
74. Divvies up: ALLOTS.
75. Like a phone in need of a charge: DEAD.
77. Fly catcher: WEB.
78. Pride members: LIONS.
79. Sent an emoji: TEXTED.
81. Italian dessert: TIRAMISU. Want some?
87. Tick off: LIST.
88. Bishop's agent: VICAR.
90. Seemingly forever: EONS. Been over 8 weeks since I took Methotrexate. Alas, no improvement yet. Sure hope there's some alternative when I see the RA doctor again on 4/23.
91. Hold back: DETAIN.
96. Origin: SEED.
98. World Cup cheers: OLES.
99. Chalkboard accessory: ERASER.
100. Persian potentates: SHAHS. Followed by
104. Many a Riyadh resident: ARAB.
106. Diving positions: TUCKS. Pike and tuck.
111. Condition: SHAPE.
113. Some PC ports: USBS.
117. Figure skating biopic: I TONYA. Played by Margot Robbie.
122. Chops finely: MINCES.
123. Mystery prize?: EDGAR. The Edgar Awards.
124. Eroding: EATING AT.
125. Knights' mounts: STEEDS.
126. Coffee order: LATTE.
127. Some sporty Pontiacs: TRANS AMS.
Down:
2. Biology lab supply: AGAR.
3. Purple shade: PUCE.
4. Ration (out): METE.
5. Spanish "that": ESO.
6. Original Dungeons & Dragons co.: TSR. Short for Tactical Studies Rules.
7. Safe places: ASYLA. I dreamed of ICE agents visiting my house one night.
8. Takes the count: LOSES.
9. Primer material: ABCS.
10. Spoils: LOOT.
11. Have possession of: OWN.
12. "__ Gabler": Ibsen play: HEDDA.
13. Classify: ASSORT.
14. Military vehicle: JEEP.
15. Vents: UNLOADS. Guess how much does it cost to change a
Federal Pacific panel these days? $5K at least. I have to replace it if I
want to sell the house, as it's regarded as a fire hazard. But I don't
need to if I continue to live here.
18. Advances: LENDS.
19. "Good grief": YEESH. 30. "__ you joking?": ARE. The panel!
24. Singer Sheena: EASTON.
29. Geography class spheres: GLOBES.
31. Kentucky Derby month: MAY.
32. Dark forest hypothesis subjs.: ETS.
34. Keeps in a cellar, perhaps: AGES.
35. Pews locale: NAVE.
36. "Castle and Sun" painter Paul: KLEE.
37. "__ Well That Ends Well": ALL'S.
39. Engine parts: RODS.
40. As a rule: OFTEN.
42. Nonprofessional: LAY.
44. Tennis skirt fold: PLEAT.
45. Clear (of): RID.
47. Oscar of "Dune": ISAAC.
48. Jacket named for an Indian prime minister: NEHRU.
49. Walk noisily: STOMP.
52. Ballet attire: TUTU.
53. Sabbath activity: REST.
55. Tilling tools: HOES.
57. Helps run a scam: ABETS.
58. Blows away: WOWS.
60. Make small talk: GAB.
61. __ Buena Island, California: YERBA.
64. Bambi, e.g.: DEER.
65. Pumpkin spice season: FALL. Lately I've been loving pumpkin millet congee. It soothes my stomach and brings me back to my childhood.
66. Trojan War saga: ILIAD.
67. Part of a fitting simile?: GLOVE. Fit like a glove.
68. Nine-piece band: NONET.
69. Poetic exaltations: ODES.
70. Call from a till: NEXT.
71. Did nothing: SAT.
73. Flower girl's dance move, perhaps: TWIRL.
76. Pitchfork wielder: DEVIL.
79. Quality of one who can't sing on pitch: TIN EAR.
80. Chow down: DINE.
81. 2022 Cate Blanchett drama: TAR. It's heavy.
82. Ginormous: MEGA.
83. Letters of debt: IOUS.
84. Old-fashioned blade: SNEE.
85. Space race initials: USSR.
87. Golf ball position: LIE.
89. One who shares the bill: CO-STAR.
92. Evaluated: ASSAYED.
93. Unruly group: MOB.
94. Sound of surprise: EEK.
95. Horace's "__ Poetica": ARS.
97. Multitool maker: DREMEL. We had this before.
100. Stays afloat: SWIMS. Been taking a break. Sure hope the ankle swelling goes away soon.
101. Water-skier's "Go!": HIT IT.
102. Collectively: AS ONE.
103. Thus: HENCE.
105. Carne __: ASADA. This looks delicious.
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107. Unexpected sports outcome: UPSET.
108. Chest material: CEDAR.
110. Pop's Mama: CASS.
111. On the double: STAT.
112. "Take this!": HERE.
113. Banquet coffeepots: URNS.
114. Genesis creator: SEGA.
115. Skyscraper support: BEAM.
116. Fast fliers no longer flying, briefly: SSTS.
119. Title of a Beatles song?: SGT. Pepper!
120. Pilot's approx.: ETA.
121. __ rummy: GIN.
C.C.
