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

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May 11, 2025

Sunday May 11, 2025 Matt Revis

Theme:  "Zero G" - G is removed from each common phrase.

 23. Judges in a best brie competition?: CHEESE RATERS. Cheese graters.

 31. Truly blessed commuter line?: THE HOLY RAIL. The Holy Grail.

 48. Tirade that begins, "Why can't those Sirens just shut up!?," e.g.?: ULYSSES' RANT. Ulysses Grant.

66. Rotate crops of corn?: SWITCH EARS. Switch gears.

 68. The weather forecast Snap, Crackle, and Pop were hoping for?: RAIN OF RICE. Grain of rice.

 84. Party debriefs?: HOST STORIES. Ghost stories.

 101. Intercom message when a young boy arrives at the office?: LAD TO SEE YOU. Glad to see you.

 115. Cause of longing in a long-distance marriage?: A BRIDE TOO FAR. A bridge too far. 

The last one is the only entry where G is removed from inside. Easier to drop it from the start.

Very impressive grid for a Sunday debut. Congrats, Matt!

He used 142 words and only 69 blacks squares. I always have to use up all the 78 black squares allowed for a 21x21 LAT.

 Across: 

1. Sporty Mazdas: MIATAS.

7. Kilt feature: PLEAT.

12. Covert org.: CIA.

15. Adobe exports: PDFS.

19. "It's five __ somewhere!": O'CLOCK.

20. Israeli port city: HAIFA.

21. "Ta-da!": AND VOILA. And 25. Lusty reaction: VAVA VOOM. Crossing the stack of 7's. Lovely.

26. Mata __: HARI.

27. "GoodFellas" Oscar winner: PESCI. He's also in "Casino", one of Boomer's favorite movies.

28. Small, in France: PETIT.

29. Dove sound: COO.

30. Env. directive: ATTN.

34. Michael of "Barbie": CERA.

35. 102-Down goddess: GAIA. 102. Realm of 35-Across: EARTH.

37. Party-planning site: EVITE.

38. Geographic pit: BASIN.

39. MMA org.: UFC.

42. Pinkberry rival: TCBY. Never been to this place.

44. Joan of folk music: BAEZ.

45. Insert marks: CARETS.

46. Gets on, as a horse: MOUNTS.

52. Phony: POSER.

53. Unite while away: ELOPE.

54. "The Yearling" animal: DEER.



55. Espy: SPOT.

59. Comics sound effect: THWACK. Consonants-heavy.

61. Roll on a field: TARP.

63. Soybean paste: MISO.

65. Buckeyes' sch.: OSU.

71. Philosophy associated with yin and yang: TAO. 72. New Mexico art hub: TAOS. Not dupe. Different roots.

73. Glasses, colloquially: SPEX.

75. Hardwired: INNATE.

76. Harmonized, with "in": SYNC.

78. Eats: SUPS.

80. Poe's middle name: ALLAN.

82. French __ soup: ONION.

87. In a crass way: RUDELY.

88. Dr. Evil's sidekick: MINI-ME.


91. "May I say ... ": AHEM.

92. Iowa college city: AMES.

94. Tabloid: RAG.

95. Mixed in with: AMONG.

96. Japanese beer: KIRIN. Same as Chinese Qilin. Mythical creature with a dragon's head, deer's body, and ox's tail. Symbol of good fortune & prosperity.

98. Follow the rules: OBEY.

100. Back muscles, to trainers: LATS.

105. Pillbox letters: AM PM.

109. Previously: AGO.

110. Prince of Troy: PARIS.

111. Cancel: ABORT.

112. Dance in "Lilo & Stitch": HULA.

113. Snack with green filling: MINT OREO.

118. Diamond in the rough, e.g.: UNCUT GEM.  I can't tell.

119. Hanukkah fare: LATKE.

120. Mysteriously alluring: EXOTIC.

121. Spec item: DEET.

122. Mantra syllables: OMS.

123. Musical theater legend Merman: ETHEL.

124. Hoedown go-round: DO-SI-DO.

Down: 

1. Chocolaty cafe order: MOCHA.

2. Bygone Apple messaging tool: ICHAT.

3. Heads-up: ALERT.

4. __ the line: TOEING.

5. Summer coolers, briefly: ACS. Gorgeous weather here in MN.

6. Doubters: SKEPTICS.

7. Segment: PHASE.

8. Gate closer: LATCH.

9. "With a moo moo here ... " preceder: E I E I O.

10. Sahara continent: Abbr.: AFR.

11. Prof aides: TAS.

12. Word of warning: CAVEAT.

13. How tic-tac-toe often ends: IN A TIE.

14. Motrin competitor: ADVIL.

15. PBS documentary film series: POV


16. Bishop's territory: DIOCESE.

17. Put the pedal to the metal: FLOOR IT.

18. Some Pacific Islanders: SAMOANS.

22. Large container: VAT.

24. Amy Winehouse hit: REHAB.

28. Highly valued: PRIZED.

32. Renter: LEASER.

33. Part of YSL: YVES.

34. Supermarket supply: CARTS.

36. Work like a magnet: ATTRACT.

38. Prohibit: BAN.

39. Official behind a catcher: UMP.

40. Walking path: FOOTWAY.

41. Chair softener: CUSHION.

43. "The King and I" star Brynner: YUL.

44. Avoid: BYPASS.

45. "The Tonight Show" icon: CARSON. Here's Johnny.


47. Small salamander: NEWT.

49. Tolkien epic, familiarly: LOTR. The Lord of the Rings.

50. Late tourney round: SEMI.

51. Control: REIN IN.

53. Barely manage, as a win: EKE OUT.

56. Actor/director Sidney: POITIER.

57. Seminole leader of the 19th century: OSCEOLA. We had him before. 


58. First pt. of many a short week: TUE. OK, Monday off. Tuesday is always my hardest day, as I took 4 methotrexate in the morning, then 4 in the afternoon. All my future SIMPONI ARIA infusions are on Tuesdays also. The first one starts on 5/20. Will see if I can hit the high notes soon. Expensive stuff. 

60. Gliding ballet move: CHASSE.



62. Early tourney round: PRELIM.

64. Futile: OF NO USE.

66. City map lines, briefly: STS.

67. Egyptian reptiles: ASPS.

69. Tricycle rod: AXLE.

70. Cape Town currency: RAND.

74. Aside containers, for short: PARENS. Parenthesis.

77. Does pull-ups: CHINS.

79. Beginnings: STARTS.

81. Light __ feather: AS A.

83. MetLife Stadium team, on scoreboards: NYG.

85. "Wowzers!": OMG.

86. Mississippi tributary: OHIO.

87. Countered, in a debate: REBUTTED.

88. "The Natural" novelist: MALAMUD. Roy Hobbs.


89. Visualize: IMAGINE.

90. Never, or at least twice: NOT ONCE.

93. Roger who played James Bond seven times: MOORE.

96. NBA legend Abdul-Jabbar: KAREEM.

97. Phrases that don't translate well: IDIOMS.

99. Some Swift characters: YAHOOS. Jonathan Swift. "Gulliver's Travels".

101. Key __: LARGO.

103. Plug-in transport: EBIKE.

104. Peak performance?: YODEL. Alpine peak.

106. Muslim cleric: MUFTI.

107. Kilt feature: PLAID.

108. Name called out in a swimming pool: MARCO. Polo.

110. Coffee unit: POT.

114. Scolding syllable: TUT.

115. Pub order: ALE.

116. Stand at the plate: BAT.

117. Kitchen brand: OXO.

C.C.