Theme: "MAJOR CHANGE" - Each academic degree is reinterpreted as a different kind in a fitting field.
22. Degree in promoting mani-pedis?: DIGITAL MARKETING.
37. Degree in restoring historic factories?: PLANT CONSERVATION.
55. Degree in flytrap innovations?: WEB DEVELOPMENT.
81. Degree in pudding skin consistency?: FILM PRODUCTION.
94. Degree in preaching?: MASS COMMUNICATION.
116. Degree in building polite society?: CIVIL ENGINEERING.
Perfect
title. All the key words shift meanings, key to this type of theme. Six
long entries totally 94 theme squares, right in my sweet spot for a
21x21 grid.
This grid also has chunky stacks along the left/right edges, with plenty of solid 6's and 7's.
Across:
1. Combine: MERGE.
6. Gym amenity: SAUNA.
11. Primate that can be lesser or great: APE. We're great, of course.
14. Tags on social media: ATS.
17. Salchow cousins: AXELS. Salchow jump is named after its inventor, Ulrich Salchow,
18. Like this answer: ACROSS.
20. Young boy: LAD.
21. Blueberrylike fruit: SLOE.
25. Luau interlude: HULA.
26. Vivacity: ELAN.
27. Northern Scotland native: GAEL. Gaelic is their language.
28. Beverage suffix: ADE.
29. Biology blueprints: GENOMES.
31. Muscle at the end of the clavicle: DELTOID. Strengthened by dumbbell lateral raises.
33. Blueprints: PLANS.
35. Building unit: CONDO.
36. Poetic tribute: ODE.
42. Accessory coordinated with a pocket hankie: TIE.
43. Remove from office: OUST.
44. Neighborhood: AREA.
45. Pick up with a fork: STAB.
48. "That girl?": HER.
49. Dish that helps expand cultural horizons?: PETRI. Lab dish.
51. Paths on a flight tracker: ARCS.
60. Cloud of cosmic dust: NEBULA.
62. Goof: ERR.
63. ATM code: PIN.
64. In a strange way: WEIRDLY.
66. Bhutan neighbor: TIBET.
67. Sicilian snack whose name means "little oranges": ARANCINI. Deep fried rice balls.
70. "How could you?" sound: TSK.
71. Without fail: EACH TIME.
73. Mutton busting venue: RODEO. Mutton busting is a learning moment for me. Kids ride sheep in this event.
74. Fashion designer with the fragrance Dolly Girl: ANNA SUI.
77. N.Y. tech sch.: RPI. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Hi there Agnes!
78. "Four Quartets" monogram: TSE.
79. Starbucks size: TRENTA.
84. "Odyssey" peak: OSSA. And 114. Sicilian peak: ETNA.
85. Breezy songs: LILTS.
87. __ in igloo: I AS.
88. Trip stops: INNS.
89. "Insecure" star Rae: ISSA.
90. Deceptive "Frozen" prince: HANS.
92. Coffee maker unit: CUP.
101. Letters before a stage name: AKA.
104. Aristocratic: ELITE.
105. Award quartets, for short: EGOTS.
106. Perched: ROOSTED.
108. Some small suits: SPEEDOS. Most guys wear jammers. Want to see me flying?
111. UPS wt. units: LBS.
112. Cute "Star Wars" character: EWOK.
115. Grotto: CAVE.
120. Hit a hole-in-one on: ACED.
121. "Gotcha!": HAH.
122. Cry for more: ENCORE.
123. Be in sync: AGREE.
124. __ Vegas: LAS.
125. Meditation sounds: OMS.
126. Gave a prescription: DOSED.
127. Parts of fish sticks?: REELS. Not the fried ones.
Down:
1. Muddled through: MADE DO.
2. Like Romeo at the start of Act V: EXILED. From Verona. "The Butterfly Lovers" is often called China's Romeo and Juliet.
3. Tell amusing tales to: REGALE.
4. Twinkle: GLINT.
5. D.C. hrs.: EST.
6. Nestea shelfmate: SALADA.
7. Top: ACME.
8. Range that starts near the Kara Sea: URAL.
9. "That's neither here __ there": NOR.
10. Demand much (of): ASK A LOT.
11. "The Greatest" subject: ALI.
12. Hockey commentator Darren: PANG. Don't know him, the lead color commentator for the Chicago Blackhawks.
13. Advantage: EDGE.
14. Reunion invitees: ALUMNI.
15. Maumee River city: TOLEDO.
16. Use spices: SEASON. Look how much red pepper flakes in this Biang Biang noodles.
19. Rental category: SEDAN.
21. "Rats!": SHOOT.
23. Adaptable: AGILE.
24. Cards with the most pips: TENS.
30. Org. whose NIL rules changed in 2021: NCAA. NIL stands for Name, Image, Likeness.
32. Polish letters: OPI.
33. Windows boxes?: PCS. Plural Windows.
34. "Sleepless in __": Nora Ephron movie: SEATTLE.
38. Christmas tune: NOEL.
39. "Presumed Innocent" writer: TUROW.
40. Telugu-language movie originally named for the initials of its creators: RRR. Featuring the Oscar-winning song "Naatu Naatu."
41. Line in blue cheese: VEIN.
42. "Not sure yet" letters: TBD.
45. Avow: SWEAR TO.
46. Little brats: TERRORS.
47. Wears down: ABRADES.
48. Reddish-brown dye: HENNA.
49. Start paying attention: PERK UP.
50. Conclude: END.
51. Somewhat: A BIT.
52. "Sure, go ahead and gloat": RUB IT IN.
53. Tigers of South Carolina: CLEMSON. The Clemson Tigers.
54. Glossy fabrics: SATEENS.
56. Magic Kingdom neighbor: EPCOT.
57. Seven, on a sundial: VII.
58. Poppy parts: PETALS.
59. Bette's "Divine" stage name: MISS M.
61. Guiding principle: ETHIC.
65. Gridiron gains: YARDS.
68. "99 Luftballons" group: NENA.
69. Stir up, as passions: INFLAME.
72. Apple core, for short: CPU.
75. Complaint hardly worth mentioning: NIT.
76. Russian fashion model Shayk: IRINA. She shares a daughter with Bradley Cooper.
80. "Plus ... ": ALSO.
82. Brewery oven: OAST.
83. Bit of advice: TIP.
86. Belief system: ISM.
89. Matcha option: ICED. I only drink it hot.
90. Click a paper airplane icon, say: HIT SEND.
91. Aug. runners, often: ACS.
92. "Twistin' the Night Away" singer: COOKE (Sam)
93. "One card left!": UNO.
94. Tequila kin: MESCAL.
95. Andean camelid: ALPACA.
96. Strainers: SIEVES.
97. Majestic mount: STEED.
98. Wrinkly fruit: UGLI.
99. Aristocratic: NOBLE.
100. Flattened, in a way: IRONED.
101. Invite information: ATTIRE. I was baptized on Easter Vigil. Guess who showed up and sat through the full 3-hour service?
 |
102. Pet hotel: KENNEL.
103. Well-known sayings: ADAGES.
107. Sturdy fabric: SERGE.
109. __ Rios, Jamaica: OCHO. Eight Rivers. Many scenes from "Dr. No" were filmed there.
110. Thailand, once: SIAM.
112. Boardroom battlers: EGOS.
113. Hidden mic: WIRE.
117. Blockbuster format: VHS.
118. Sgt., e.g.: NCO.
119. Piercing spot, perhaps: EAR.
C.C.
