Sunday June 1, 2025 Paul Coulter

Theme:  "Symbolic Language" - Part of each theme clue is replaced by its keyboard symbol. 

22. Gets right to the .: TELLS IT LIKE IT IS. Gets right to the point. 

31. In the ***: MEANT TO BE. In the stars.

51. Balder-: HORSE FEATHERS. Balderdash. 

70. Dog #: ANIMAL SHELTER. Dog pound.

89. One %: THE UPPER CRUST. One percent.

102. Plays @: DABBLES IN. Plays at.

120. Non+: THROW A CURVEBALL. Nonplus. 

The dot in the first theme clue is subtle. The other symbols are easier to spot. 

Very fresh and creative theme from Paul. Very tight set with limited choices. 

Across:

1. Make the world a better place: DO GOOD.

7. Passed into law: ENACTED.

14. Poker pronouncement: I CALL.

19. Not necessarily against: OPEN TO. And 63. Words of likelihood: APT TO. 128. Meet: RISE TO. 16. "We __ please": AIM TO. 

20. Like cast iron and silicone: OVEN-SAFE.

21. Payoff: BRIBE.

24. Actor Jason: MOMOA. The Aquaman.

25. Small vortex: EDDY.

26. Hide out: LIE LOW.

27. Grenoble peak: ALPE.

29. PIN sites: ATMS.

30. Talkative bird: MYNA.

33. Pastoral people of Kenya and Tanzania: MASAI. Also spelled as Maasai. 

37. Tiny pest: ANT.

39. Pacific tuna: AHI. 33. Taco choice, on menus: MAHI.

41. Latin heart: COR. Learning moment.

42. Gentle skin care brand: AVEENO.

44. First name in jazz: ETTA.

46. Plunge after a workout: ICE BATH. 81. Steam after a workout: SAUNA.

55. Royal Shakespeare Company venue: THEATRE.

56. Data: INFO.

57. Handbill: FLIER.

58. Shorthand for a person who prefers platonic partners: ARO. Aromantic.

60. Sure to happen: FATED.

61. Former: PRIOR.

66. Trig function: COSINE.

67. Part of many Arab names: IBN. Son of.

73. USN rank: CDR. I miss our Spitzboov, Commander Al in real life, and Santa of course.

Al & Scott

74. Dairy din: MOOING.

76. Jane Curtin title role: ALLIE. Kate & Allie.

77. Movie credits and music charts: LISTS.

79. Dad: POPPA.

80. HMO alternative: PPO. Preferred Provider Organization.

83. Game with suspect tokens: CLUE.

87. Red disk hieroglyph: EYE OF RA.

93. Dogie catcher: LASSOER.

94. Has: OWNS.

95. Cheers: ELATES. JD just sent me this picture. Her oldest grandson Truman will be off college in the fall. He was just a little baby when JD joined our blog. 

Truman, Cameron, Dylan, JD, Bob and Grady (Truman's younger brother)

96. G7 member: USA.

97. Native people of Colorado: UTE.

98. Sinuous swimmer: EEL.

101. Copycatting: APERY.

107. Prone to snooping: NOSY.

109. Biblical birthright barterer: ESAU.

110. Fight like a knight: TILT.

111. Discarded devices: E-WASTE.

114. Role for Ingrid: ILSA. "Casablanca".

118. Ban alcoholic beverages: GO DRY.

123. Fish: ANGLE.

124. Clear French brandy: EAU DE VIE.

125. Bring out: ELICIT.

126. Informal farewell: SEE YA. 68. "That's how it's done!": BOO YA.

127. Displayed contempt: SNEERED.
 
Down:

1. Shower with love: DOTE.

2. "Say your piece" piece: OP-ED.

3. Neuter, as a horse: GELD.

4. "For your eyes __": ONLY.

5. Periods before soccer shootouts, briefly: OTS.

6. Embroidered mat: DOILY. 115. 6-Down material: LACE.

7. Wicked: EVIL.

8. Alt-country singer Case: NEKO. Beautiful.

9. Again: ANEW.

10. CBS forensic drama series: CSI.

11. Woven mat: TATAMI.

12. Paperless IRS option: E-FILE.

13. 2017 hit for Luis Fonsi: DESPACITO.

14. Co. with an iconic 8-bar logo: IBM.

15. Dalmatia native: CROAT.

17. Word dropped when things are getting serious, informally: L-BOMB.

18. Dealer's offer: LEASE.

20. Fat substitute brand: OLEAN.

23. "The Best" singer Turner: TINA.

28. Genesis patriarch: ENOCH.

30. Go for the gold?: MINE. Ha.

32. Backyard hideaway: TREE FORT.

34. Big name in cosmetics: AVON.

35. Feudal worker: SERF.

36. "The Ape and the Dolphin" fabulist: AESOP.

38. French crown: TETE.

39. Broke bread: ATE.

40. Hardy follower: HAR.

43. Foreseeable future: OFFING.

45. In the __ of: totally absorbed by: THRALL.

47. Lamb bleats: BAAS.

48. Creepy story?: ATTIC. Floor.

49. Blow up on social media: TREND.

50. "Blades of Glory" actor Jon: HEDER. Known for his role in "Napoleon Dynamite".

52. "The Time Machine" race: ELOI.

53. Chart made from overhead photos: AIRMAP. Images from the plane.

54. Fill: SATE.

59. Act like a startled doodlebug: ROLL UP.

62. Violated, with "of": RAN AFOUL.

64. Air pump meas.: PSI.

65. Auspicious tarot card: THE SUN.

66. Opera singer Siepi: CESARE. Another learning moment.

67. Drive: IMPEL.

69. Slangy denials: NOPES.

71. Much of the time: A LOT.

72. Food sticker: TINE. Stick-er.

75. NYSE banner events: IPOS.

78. Deep-six or eighty-six: SCRAP.

80. Sponges: PARASITES.

82. Abbey area: APSE.

84. Mandolin cousin: LUTE. I was thinking of this. But it's spelled as Mandoline. 

85. Computer operator: USER.

86. Vintage etailer: ETSY.

88. Change after a blackout, as a clock: RESET.

90. All the rage: HOT.

91. Farm female: EWE.

92. Court material: CLAY.

97. "That's a lie!": UNTRUE.

99. Come after: ENSUE.

100. "The Hobbit" sequel series, for short: LOTR.

102. Impressionist Edgar: DEGAS.

103. All together: AS ONE.

104. Girl Scout's award: BADGE.

105. Big and strong: BURLY.

106. Minnesota representative Omar: ILHAN. Her daughter has a very crossword-friendly name: Isra Hirsi. 

108. Break, as ties: SEVER.

111. Decorative pitcher: EWER.

112. Surfing need: WAVE.

113. Battery contents: ACID.

114. Sacred Nile wader: IBIS.

116. Letter opener cut: SLIT.

117. Voice above tenor: ALTO.

119. Vote for passage: YEA.

121. Poem of tribute: ODE.

122. Connecticut collegian: ELI.

Robert (Picard) and his wife Merlie visited Splynter last Wednesday. Hopefully Splynter will tell you more of the visit next week. I chuckled when he told me about his 7-hour nap afterwards. Picard is the first blog regular Splynter met in real life, I think.

Picard and His Wife Merlie