Theme: "C'est le Puzzle" - LE is added to each common phrase.
23. Hypothesis about the origin of oversized bracelets?: BIG BANGLE THEORY. Big Bang Theory.
33. Must-have cookbook in every Maine kitchen?: LOBSTER BIBLE. Lobster bib.
52. "Wait, don't forget the most important hamburger topping!": TAKE YOUR PICKLE. Take your pick.
71. Highlight of a military band's museum tour?: BUGLE COLLECTION. Bug collection.
89. Display models made for a palace renovation?: PLASTER CASTLES. Plaster casts.
105. Silliest cart on a hayride?: CHUCKLE WAGON. Chuck wagon.
121. "Why is my faucet dripping all the time?," e.g.: TRICKLE QUESTION. Trick question.
This is a perfect companion puzzle for the "Elimination" puzzle Ross Trudeau made for us a long while ago.
Pam's style shone through in this grid. Her witty wordplay and fondness for cross-referencing.
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| XWord Info |
Across:
1. Sonoma neighbor: NAPA. Napa Valley is in Napa County.
5. Colt's mama: MARE. And 8. Lambs' mamas: EWES.
9. 22-Across letters: AM FM. 22. Rock medium: RADIO.
13. Unseasoned: BLAND.
18. Yellow shape on Ikea's logo: OVAL.
19. K2 cover: SNOW.
20. Green course, in Germany: SALAT. German for "salad".
26. Marital acquisition: IN-LAW.
27. Deplete: USE UP.
28. Shed: LOSE.
31. Classic Angela Lansbury role: MAME. Also 74. Broadway opener: SCENE I.
36. GI address: APO.
39. Checklist items: TASKS.
42. Use Zelle, e.g.: PAY. Zelle is integrated in my Wells Fargo app.
43. Scuba spots: SEAS.
44. Like some beach reads: TRASHY. What's the nicest beach you've been to?
46. Hill staffers: AIDES.
48. Actor Penn: SEAN.
49. Blockhead: OAF.
55. Two under par: EAGLE.
57. Piece of mind?: IDEA. Also loved these:: 126. Sleep soundly?: SNORE. 9. Fire sign?: ASH.
58. Boss Tweed cartoonist: NAST. Thomas.
59. Mythological ship: ARGO.
62. Scooby Gang leader: FRED.
63. Legal agreement: CONTRACT.
66. Brewery fixtures: TAPS.
69. Postage scale units: OUNCES.
76. Cambodia's continent: ASIA.
77. "You flatter me!": OH STOP IT.
81. Aretha's genre: SOUL.
82. Trade jabs: SPAR.
84. Phanaeng cuisine: THAI. Often spelled as panang curry. So hot.
86. Novelist Jaffe: RONA.
87. Medicare section: PART D.
94. Mimic: APE.
95. Act as an accomplice: ABET.
98. Take a shot: GUESS.
99. Accomplice: COHORT.
100. Like most folklore: ORAL.
101. May honoree: MOM.
102. Number of tiles played for a Scrabble bingo: SEVEN.
104. Farm enclosure: STY.
110. Make a montage, say: EDIT.
112. 2-Down offering: RENTAL CAR. 2. Budget alternative: AVIS.
113. Persia, today: IRAN.
116. Rapper __ B: CARDI.
120. Pre-honeymoon destination: ALTAR.
125. Quick flash of light: GLINT.
127. Hamilton-Burr showdown: DUEL.
128. Alma mater of Bear Grylls: ETON. Did not know Bear Grylls, a British adventurer who hosted "Man vs. Wild".
129. Boot bottoms: SOLES.
130. Tight: SNUG.
131. Cheek: SASS.
132. Hits head-on: RAMS.
Down:
1. Big name in fusion cuisine: NOBU. Known for its misdo-marinated black cod. (Miso. Thanks, D-Otto.)
3. Hill helper: PAGE.
4. Taylor Swift's "Red" or Joni Mitchell's "Blue": ALBUM.
5. Early web portal: MSN.
6. Pool shot considerations: ANGLES.
7. Gold-wrapped candy: ROLO.
10. Whitman of "Good Girls": MAE.
11. Cottontail's kin: FLOPSY. Flopsy, Mopsy and Cottontail are Peter's sisters.
12. French Revolution figure: MARAT.
13. 2032 Summer Olympics host city: BRISBANE. LA next.
14. Covered patios: LANAIS.
15. Improviser's forte: AD LIB.
16. Singer Horan of One Direction: NIALL. I confused him with Liam Payne.
17. Use a divining rod: DOWSE.
21. Gibson of "The Collective": TYRESE.
24. "Who cares?" attitude: APATHY.
25. Contact no.: TEL.
30. __ code: AREA.
32. Club spread: MAYO.
34. Crude outfit?: OPEC.
35. Lie in the sun: BASK.
36. Common web site: ATTIC. Spider web.
37. Madrid museum: PRADO.
38. "The Old __ Bucket": Woodworth poem: OAKEN.
40. Sport that may involve chopping boards: KARATE.
41. Takes a taste: SIPS.
45. "Click It or Ticket" restraint: SEAT BELT. 53. Release, as a 45-Down: UNCLIP.
47. Old-school paper copies: DITTOS. Didn't know this meaning.
48. Sun. message: SER. Sermon.
49. Shrek's sort: OGRE.
50. Bass offerings: ALES.
51. Made a meal for: FED.
54. Use a surgical beam: LASE.
56. Steelers' div.: AFC NORTH.
60. Poe-like: GOTHIC.
61. Avignon approvals: OUIS.
64. "Go, go, go!": RUN.
65. Grows older: AGES.
67. Actor Mahershala: ALI.
68. Nebraska divider: PLATTE.
70. Part of NSFW: NOT.
72. "Bad Monkey" novelist Hiaasen: CARL.
73. Sandpapery: COARSE.
74. Cake by the sink: SOAP. Bar soap.
75. Turn salmon into lox, say: CURE.
78. Some Ralph Lauren casuals: POLOS.
79. Nonreactive, in chemistry: INERT.
80. Appetizing: TASTY.
81. Upscale amenity: SPA.
83. Bldg. unit: APT.
85. Music scholar known for a Beethoven catalog: HESS. Willy Hess. Another learning moment for me.
88. Sorcery: DARK ARTS.
90. Open-mouthed: AGOG.
91. Heavyweight battle: SUMO.
92. Crushed, as an exam: ACED.
93. Some fast-food outlets: SONICS.
96. Fancy party: BALL. Here is a picture of Big Easy and his wife Diane from their annual Woodstock charity dance.
97. Opts for: ELECTS.
100. Pump number: OCTANE.
101. "La Vie en Rose" Oscar winner Cotillard: MARION. So pretty.
103. Stadiums, e.g.: VENUES.
105. Rugged rocks: CRAGS.
106. "Are you listening to me?": HELLO.
107. Up to, timewise: UNTIL.
108. Cautions: WARNS.
109. Zip: NIL.
111. __ tot: TATER.
114. Some M&M's: REDS.
115. Caribbean color: AQUA.
117. Hayworth of "Gilda": RITA. She was married to Orson Welles for a while.
118. Gloom partner: DOOM.
119. Cozy quarters: INNS.
122. Wine label word: CRU.
123. Beer barrel: KEG.
124. Raised trains: ELS.
Constructor Andrea Carla Michaels has been in town for the National Puzzlers' League Convention. She kindly invited me for a walk around Lake Harriet. We stopped by her childhood home, and by sheer luck luck, the current owner's daughters were there and invited us inside. The house, now on the market, is absolutely gorgeous. Afterwards, we rode the streetcar. When we got off, Andrea struck up a conversation with a French couple visiting Minneapolis. She spoke with them in fluent French for about 10 minutes. Stunning. Andrea also speaks Italian.
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