Theme: "GARDEN VARIETY" - Part of a familiar phrase is replaced by the name of a flower.
24. Show off very pale linseed plants?: WAVE THE WHITE FLAX. Wave the white flag.
32. Monarch who wears an oxeye crown?: DAISY QUEEN. Dairy Queen.
53. Finds the best way to get thorns in one's hand?: STRIKES A ROSE. Strike a pose.
70. "If you buy another showy pink bloom, so help me ... "?: NOT A PEONY MORE. Not a penny more.
90. Throw a tantrum in a springtime meadow?: POUND POPPIES. Pound puppies.
111. Fall wedding with a purple theme, perhaps?: ASTER PARTY. After party.
Reveal:
119. FTD Mother's Day slogan, or an alternate title for this puzzle?: SAY IT WITH FLOWERS.
Such
a great reveal. Super consistent. Each theme entry has a one-letter
change. That's a very tight constraint. The workable set is quite small.
I imagine this puzzle went through few clue changes. Katie is a pro at making smooth 21x21s.
 |
| Katie Hale |
Across:
1. Backpack, e.g.: BAG.
4. "__ in Cincinnati": WKRP.
8. Go down: SINK.
12. Most eccentric: ODDEST.
18. Small matter: ATOM.
20. Grateful Dead co-founder Bob: WEIR. Another Grateful Dead guy who shows up from time to time is the bassist Phil LESH.
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21. McFlurry cookie: OREO.
22. Nothing, in Italian: NIENTE.
23. "Tick that off my bucket list" hashtag: YOLO. You Only Live Once.
27. Eventually become: END UP.
29. Mandarin "hello": NI HAO. Ni = You. Hao = Good.
30. Plunder: LOOT.
31. State of the __: ART.
34. Overwhelming desire: LUST.
36. Dramas set in Vegas and Miami: CSIS.
38. "Minaret" novelist Aboulela: LEILA. Sudanese writer. Born in Cairo and raised in Khartoum.
39. Collect copious amounts of: RAKE IN.
41. Swear: AVOW.
43. Like light yogurt: NON-FAT.
45. "That's so nice": AAH.
46. Advantage to get in competition: A LEG UP.
50. Sweetener in some 13-Down: SPLENDA. 13. Sugar-free soda: DIET COLA.
56. God of love: EROS.
57. Prized violin: AMATI. Paganini reportedly lost a valuable Amati violin because of gambling debts.
60. Chest muscles, briefly: PECS.
61. No. 2: VEEP.
62. Creamy drink: LASSI. Yogurt drink.
64. Major artery: AORTA.
67. "The Wild Robot" voice actor Ving: RHAMES. He also plays Luther Stickell in the "Mission: Impossible" films.
69. Caustic solution: LYE.
74. PD call: APB.
77. "Shabbat __": SHALOM.
79. "Same for me!": SO DO I.
80. Poolside need: TOWEL.
82. Baseball dynasty name: ALOU.
84. Farm cart: DRAY.
86. __ nous: ENTRE.
89. Cast a ballot: VOTE.
94. Future attorney's study material: CASE LAW.
96. Clay shaper: POTTER.
97. Old Hollywood studio: RKO.
98. "Fourth Wing" creature: DRAGON. Not famliar with the book, fantasy romance by Rebecca Yarros.
100. Nobel subj.: ECON.
102. Tiny, cutesily: EENSIE.
104. Wild West brothers: EARPS.
107. Farr co-star: ALDA.
109. Thessaly peak: OSSA.
114. Skater Midori: ITO.
115. Ephron who directed "You've Got Mail": NORA.
117. Ancient market: AGORA.
118. Give a start: SCARE.
124. "China Rich Girlfriend" novelist Kevin: KWAN. He also wrote "Crazy Rich Asians"
125. Go places: TRAVEL.
126. Promising letters: IOUS.
127. Shuffle cousin in the Apple family: NANO.
128. Fit of pique: SNIT.
129. Pre-Titans team: OILERS. The Houston Oilers later became the Tennessee Titans.
130. Wolfe created by Rex Stout: NERO.
131. Snapdragon Stadium sch.: SDSU. San Diego State University.
132. Inspo for the Curtis Sittenfeld novel "Romantic Comedy": SNL.
Down:
1. Howled like a wolf: BAYED.
2. Like a composition without a key: ATONAL.
3. Oscar winner Hawn: GOLDIE.
4. Address bar letters: WWW.
5. Reeves of "Speed": KEANU.
6. Saint-Tropez region: RIVIERA.
7. Warm up: PREHEAT.
8. Old Compton Street's district: SOHO. Katie lives in London.
9. Rage: IRE.
10. Fresh: NEW.
11. Department store chain with TV ads starring Ellie Kemper: KOHL'S.
12. Latch __: ONTO.
14. Rock's __ Leppard: DEF.
15. Zhou of China: ENLAI. Zhou Enlai remains one of the most respected political figures in modern Chinese history.
16. Sky lights: STARS.
17. Send a message: TEXT.
19. Meek quality: MOUSINESS.
25. Go down: TANK.
26. Wee bit: IOTA.
28. Traffic cone: PYLON.
33. Post-presentation sesh: Q AND A.
34. "I don't buy it": LIAR.
35. Not hot and not cool: UNHIP. Fun clue.
37. Veer: SWERVE.
40. Snack: EAT.
42. Poughkeepsie college: VASSAR. Notable alumni include Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway, who later co-starred in "The Devil Wears Prada."
44. Some group chat members, for short: FAM.
47. Takes unofficial R&R: GOES AWOL. Rare in the Chinese military because penalties are historically very severe.
48. Find purpose for: USE.
49. __ rally: PEP.
50. Trading floor call: SELL.
51. Say grace, say: PRAY.
52. Misses the cut: LOSES OUT.
53. Fathers: SIRES.
54. "Rainbow Connection" singer: KERMIT.
55. Warehouse sound: ECHO.
58. Road trip aid: AAA MAP.
59. Spinning toy: TOP.
63. "Be My Guest With __ Garten": INA. Her voice is so calming.
65. Plus: TOO.
66. Llama habitat: ANDES.
68. Chanced upon: MET.
71. Experienced expert: OLD PRO.
72. Sushi bar tuna order: TORO. The cut from the belly. Melt-in-your-mouth.
73. Hither's partner: YON.
75. Animal rights org.: PETA.
76. Huffed and puffed: BLEW.
78. Looked (for): HUNTED.
81. Cookie sheet holders: OVEN RACKS.
82. iPhone download: APP.
83. Bath facilities: LOO.
85. WWI Belgian battle site: YPRES. Google AI says this city
witnessed four years of near-continuous, intense fighting and over 1
million total casualties across five major battles.
87. Classic TV brand: RCA.
88. More than ready: EAGER.
91. Sommelier's prop: DECANTER.
92. Flatpack furniture chain: IKEA.
93. Long, long time: EON.
95. Dial, Dove, and Irish Spring: SOAPS.
98. Denies any association with: DISOWNS.
99. Go back over: RETREAD.
101. Tuna roll wrap: NORI. We call it "zicai" in Chinese, literally "purple veggie". Nori turns dark green when it's roasted.
103. Palm stem product: SAGO.
105. Shrimp kin: PRAWNS.
106. Drain in a sieve: STRAIN.
107. Pitfall! platform: ATARI.
108. Unwaveringly true: LOYAL.
110. Ballet slipper material: SATIN.
112. Brings home: EARNS.
113. Streisand title role: YENTL.
114. Analogy words: IS TO.
116. Barn birds: OWLS.
117. Plus: ALSO.
120. "__ never been better": I'VE.
121. Plot device?: HOE. Garden plot.
122. Calico coat: FUR.
123. Small amount: SOU.
C.C.
