Theme: Right on Cue - QU is added to the starts of the first words of familiar phrases.
23A. Charmin' way of actin' up?: (QU)AINT MISBEHAVIN'. Was not familiar with the base phrase Ain't Misbehavin'
32A. Annul the middle of the week?: (QU)ASH WEDNESDAY. This tipped me off the theme.
49A. Calculation for an express delivery?: (QU)ICK FACTOR. Ick Factor is a measurement of the repulsiveness of something gross.
66A. Ends it, to one's subsequent regret?: (QU)ITS A GOOD THING. It's a Good Thing.
85A. Sick feeling on campus?: (QU)AD NAUSEAM. Ad Nauseam.
99A. Wasn't quite ready to accuse?: (QU)ASI SUSPECTED. As I Suspected. I have difficulty understanding the new phrase. Confused by the grammar structure.
112A. Muslim household's holy book?: (QU)RAN IN THE FAMILY. Feels like the base phrase should be "run in the family', no?
The only non-theme QU today is QUE (28A. Juan's "what"). Total 8 Q's in the puzzle. Plus 3 Z's, 3 J's, 3 X'es and 7 K's . Quite a scrabbly pangram (all 26 letters are used at least once). In fact, it's a triple pangram.
In his last themeless Saturday, this constructor Peter Wentz used four J's & eight K's, quite unusual for a 15*15. Maybe scrabbliness is his style.
Again, I grokked the theme very early on and it sure helped my solving. Many times understanding the theme early has no impact on my solving, esp pun themes. Today I was able to fill in every QU in the Across theme answers and then cracked the intersecting Down entries, which are mostly solid words/phrases and easily obtainable.
Across:
1. Scale notes: FAS
4. Copy room malfunction: JAM-UP. Printer malfunction too.
9. Parchment?: THIRST. Too cute a clue for me.
15. Island band The __ Men: BAHA. Here is their annoying "Who Let the Dogs Out".
19. Like single-digit temps: ABOVE ZERO. Nice multi-word entry.
21. California's motto: EUREKA. Know this because of our CA gang.
22. "Son of Frankenstein" role: YGOR. Or IGOR.
25. Daring exploit: GEST
26. Stats for Tyson: TKOS (Technical Knockouts)
27. Juan or Gabriel lead-in: SAN. San Juan & San Gabriel.
29. Bridget with a diary: JONES. From movie "Bridget Jones's Diary".
30. Arles article: LES. As in "Les Misérables".
35. Sailor's destination in a Yeats poem: BYZANTIUM. Yeats's "Sailing to Byzantium". I wrote down BYZANTINE.
40. Workplace stds. enforcer: OSHA
41. Fluffy accessory: BOA
42. Prefix with directional: UNI. Unidirectional. Penned in ERN, it's actually "Directional suffix".
43. Takes away: DETRACTS
46. Z4 automaker: BMW. Car make/model is definitely my weak point.
54. Winning game line: OOO. Tick-tack-toe.
55. Narrow furrow: STRIA. The answer emerged itself.
56. "__ All That": 1999 comedy: SHE'S
57. Big name in water filters: BRITA. No idea. No filter in our kitchen.
59. Sport with mallets: POLO
62. Provide power to: ENABLE
64. Hidden: CLOAKED
69. To an extreme degree: AWFULLY. Did you know immediately that the clue is asking for an adverb?
72. Within arm's length of: NEXT TO
73. Twosomes: DYADS. Dy(0) is a prefix for "two".
76. Gustave who illustrated classics: DORE. Stranger to me. Gustave Doré (French) illustrated Cervantes's "Don Quixote". Poe's "The Raven", Milton's "Paradise Lost", etc.
77. Works up a sweater: KNITS
79. Multi-vol. references: OEDS (Oxford English Dictionaries)
81. Early aft. hour: ONE PM
83. Java: JOE. Coffee.
84. Slightly: A TAD
87. Charleston, WV-to-Charlotte dir.: SSE
88. Edited version seen in theaters: FINAL CUT
91. Year in Nero's reign: LIX. Roman numeral 59. Very frustrating clue. Nero ruled from 54 to 68 A.D.
92. Corned beef holder: RYE. Reuben sandwich.
93. Military band wind: FIFE
95. "That's it!": AHA
96. Old bath water quality: TEPIDNESS. Odd use of "old".
104. Mazatlán Mrs.: SRA (Señora). Then we also have MMES (82D. Fr. titles). Madames.
105. Chill out, slangily: UNLAX. New slang to me. RELAX wouldn't fit.
106. Roman sun god: SOL
107. Ones bound by blood: KIN. I often forget that the plural form of KIN is still KIN.
108. Chant at a Lakers game: KOBE. Kobe Bryant. Stumper for me.
111. Without a specific goal: IDLY
118. Mess up: RUIN
119. Celtic language spoken in France: BRETON
120. 2008 Harlan Coben thriller: HOLD TIGHT. No idea. See the book cover.
121. Lotto-like game: KENO
122. Leapt: SPRANG. A bunch of consonants.
123. Premium movie channel that dropped its "!" in 2005: STARZ. Unknown to me also. I don't think we have this channel.
124. Took care of: DID
Down:
1. Helpful URL link: FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions). Nailed it.
23A. Charmin' way of actin' up?: (QU)AINT MISBEHAVIN'. Was not familiar with the base phrase Ain't Misbehavin'
32A. Annul the middle of the week?: (QU)ASH WEDNESDAY. This tipped me off the theme.
49A. Calculation for an express delivery?: (QU)ICK FACTOR. Ick Factor is a measurement of the repulsiveness of something gross.
66A. Ends it, to one's subsequent regret?: (QU)ITS A GOOD THING. It's a Good Thing.
85A. Sick feeling on campus?: (QU)AD NAUSEAM. Ad Nauseam.
99A. Wasn't quite ready to accuse?: (QU)ASI SUSPECTED. As I Suspected. I have difficulty understanding the new phrase. Confused by the grammar structure.
112A. Muslim household's holy book?: (QU)RAN IN THE FAMILY. Feels like the base phrase should be "run in the family', no?
The only non-theme QU today is QUE (28A. Juan's "what"). Total 8 Q's in the puzzle. Plus 3 Z's, 3 J's, 3 X'es and 7 K's . Quite a scrabbly pangram (all 26 letters are used at least once). In fact, it's a triple pangram.
In his last themeless Saturday, this constructor Peter Wentz used four J's & eight K's, quite unusual for a 15*15. Maybe scrabbliness is his style.
Again, I grokked the theme very early on and it sure helped my solving. Many times understanding the theme early has no impact on my solving, esp pun themes. Today I was able to fill in every QU in the Across theme answers and then cracked the intersecting Down entries, which are mostly solid words/phrases and easily obtainable.
Across:
1. Scale notes: FAS
4. Copy room malfunction: JAM-UP. Printer malfunction too.
9. Parchment?: THIRST. Too cute a clue for me.
15. Island band The __ Men: BAHA. Here is their annoying "Who Let the Dogs Out".
19. Like single-digit temps: ABOVE ZERO. Nice multi-word entry.
21. California's motto: EUREKA. Know this because of our CA gang.
22. "Son of Frankenstein" role: YGOR. Or IGOR.
25. Daring exploit: GEST
26. Stats for Tyson: TKOS (Technical Knockouts)
27. Juan or Gabriel lead-in: SAN. San Juan & San Gabriel.
29. Bridget with a diary: JONES. From movie "Bridget Jones's Diary".
30. Arles article: LES. As in "Les Misérables".
35. Sailor's destination in a Yeats poem: BYZANTIUM. Yeats's "Sailing to Byzantium". I wrote down BYZANTINE.
40. Workplace stds. enforcer: OSHA
41. Fluffy accessory: BOA
42. Prefix with directional: UNI. Unidirectional. Penned in ERN, it's actually "Directional suffix".
43. Takes away: DETRACTS
46. Z4 automaker: BMW. Car make/model is definitely my weak point.
54. Winning game line: OOO. Tick-tack-toe.
55. Narrow furrow: STRIA. The answer emerged itself.
56. "__ All That": 1999 comedy: SHE'S
57. Big name in water filters: BRITA. No idea. No filter in our kitchen.
59. Sport with mallets: POLO
62. Provide power to: ENABLE
64. Hidden: CLOAKED
69. To an extreme degree: AWFULLY. Did you know immediately that the clue is asking for an adverb?
72. Within arm's length of: NEXT TO
73. Twosomes: DYADS. Dy(0) is a prefix for "two".
76. Gustave who illustrated classics: DORE. Stranger to me. Gustave Doré (French) illustrated Cervantes's "Don Quixote". Poe's "The Raven", Milton's "Paradise Lost", etc.
77. Works up a sweater: KNITS
79. Multi-vol. references: OEDS (Oxford English Dictionaries)
81. Early aft. hour: ONE PM
83. Java: JOE. Coffee.
84. Slightly: A TAD
87. Charleston, WV-to-Charlotte dir.: SSE
88. Edited version seen in theaters: FINAL CUT
91. Year in Nero's reign: LIX. Roman numeral 59. Very frustrating clue. Nero ruled from 54 to 68 A.D.
92. Corned beef holder: RYE. Reuben sandwich.
93. Military band wind: FIFE
95. "That's it!": AHA
96. Old bath water quality: TEPIDNESS. Odd use of "old".
104. Mazatlán Mrs.: SRA (Señora). Then we also have MMES (82D. Fr. titles). Madames.
105. Chill out, slangily: UNLAX. New slang to me. RELAX wouldn't fit.
106. Roman sun god: SOL
107. Ones bound by blood: KIN. I often forget that the plural form of KIN is still KIN.
108. Chant at a Lakers game: KOBE. Kobe Bryant. Stumper for me.
111. Without a specific goal: IDLY
118. Mess up: RUIN
119. Celtic language spoken in France: BRETON
120. 2008 Harlan Coben thriller: HOLD TIGHT. No idea. See the book cover.
121. Lotto-like game: KENO
122. Leapt: SPRANG. A bunch of consonants.
123. Premium movie channel that dropped its "!" in 2005: STARZ. Unknown to me also. I don't think we have this channel.
124. Took care of: DID
Down:
1. Helpful URL link: FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions). Nailed it.
3. Overcharge, in slang: SOAK. Learned this slang a few months ago.
4. Long-time CBS news anchor Jim: JENSEN. He died before I came to the US, so no, I don't know him.
5. HIV-treating drug: AZT. The first drug approved for the treatment of AIDS. Have never heard of it.
6. Part of RAM: Abbr.: MEM (Memory). RAM = Random Access Memory. Desperate clue/answer.
7. Sch. whose mascot is Rhody the Ram: URI (University of Rhode Island). I failed again.
8. Play __: feign sleep: POSSUM
9. Even more itsy-bitsy: TEENSIER
10. "How's that again?": HUH
11. Controversial conflict since 2003: IRAQ WAR. Great fill.
12. Variety show: REVUE
13. Hit the slopes: SKIED. Hit is past tense here.
15. Words of emphasis: BY GOSH
16. Planning aid: AGENDA BOOK. I just call it personal organizer.
17. Old Testament prophet: HOSEA. Minor prophets.
18. Highfalutin: ARTSY
20. Instrument featured in Berlioz's "Harold in Italy": VIOLA. Easy guess.
29. Civil rights activist Jackson: JESSE. Reverend Jesse Jackson. I bet he wishes he could grab the spotlight and offer Tiger Woods some help.
31. Double __ Oreo: STUF. First time I saw this entry in a Xword.
32. Baked brunch dishes: QUICHES. Yummy.
33. 116-Down's last VP: HST. And FDR (116D. See 33-Down).
34. Like an expired license: NOT VALID
35. Backyard parties, briefly: BBQS
36. Kids: YOUTH
37. Old name of Congo: ZAIRE (1971-97)
38. Sworn __: given the oath of office for: IN AS. Doubt I'd get the AS part without the crossing help.
43. Amounts to take: DOSAGES
44. Actress Meyers: ARI. So happy I finally remember her name.
45. One may be backhand: CATCH
47. Whacked arcade critter: MOLE. Was ignorant of the Whac-A-Mole game at all.
48. Fuel for the fire: WOOD
50. __ du Soleil: CIRQUE
52. One with an option to buy, perhaps: TENANT. Nice clue too.
57. Eclipse, as the sun: BLOT OUT
4. Long-time CBS news anchor Jim: JENSEN. He died before I came to the US, so no, I don't know him.
5. HIV-treating drug: AZT. The first drug approved for the treatment of AIDS. Have never heard of it.
6. Part of RAM: Abbr.: MEM (Memory). RAM = Random Access Memory. Desperate clue/answer.
7. Sch. whose mascot is Rhody the Ram: URI (University of Rhode Island). I failed again.
8. Play __: feign sleep: POSSUM
9. Even more itsy-bitsy: TEENSIER
10. "How's that again?": HUH
11. Controversial conflict since 2003: IRAQ WAR. Great fill.
12. Variety show: REVUE
13. Hit the slopes: SKIED. Hit is past tense here.
15. Words of emphasis: BY GOSH
16. Planning aid: AGENDA BOOK. I just call it personal organizer.
17. Old Testament prophet: HOSEA. Minor prophets.
18. Highfalutin: ARTSY
20. Instrument featured in Berlioz's "Harold in Italy": VIOLA. Easy guess.
29. Civil rights activist Jackson: JESSE. Reverend Jesse Jackson. I bet he wishes he could grab the spotlight and offer Tiger Woods some help.
31. Double __ Oreo: STUF. First time I saw this entry in a Xword.
32. Baked brunch dishes: QUICHES. Yummy.
33. 116-Down's last VP: HST. And FDR (116D. See 33-Down).
34. Like an expired license: NOT VALID
35. Backyard parties, briefly: BBQS
36. Kids: YOUTH
37. Old name of Congo: ZAIRE (1971-97)
38. Sworn __: given the oath of office for: IN AS. Doubt I'd get the AS part without the crossing help.
43. Amounts to take: DOSAGES
44. Actress Meyers: ARI. So happy I finally remember her name.
45. One may be backhand: CATCH
47. Whacked arcade critter: MOLE. Was ignorant of the Whac-A-Mole game at all.
48. Fuel for the fire: WOOD
50. __ du Soleil: CIRQUE
52. One with an option to buy, perhaps: TENANT. Nice clue too.
57. Eclipse, as the sun: BLOT OUT
58. Herbal quaff: RED TEA. Chinese call black tea as RED TEA.
59. Some polytheists: PAGANS
61. Formal neckwear, perhaps: SILK TIES
63. Fight in a ring: BOX. Verb.
67. "The Seduction of Joe __": Alda film" : TYNAN. Have faintly heard of this film. Someone must have mentioned it at the Comments section before.
68. Barely walked: TODDLED
69. Fast and furious, e.g.: Abbr.: ADJS. Excellent clue. Both fast and furious are adjectives.
70. Makes a play for: WOOS. "Make a play for" is a new idiom to me.
71. 1989 Tom Petty hit: FREE FALLIN'. Here is a clip. It's not stored in my memory.
74. Big name in snowblowers: DEERE. Toro too.
75. Neuters: SPAYS. Ouch.
78. Rhoda's mom: IDA. Again, got her name from crosses.
80. Sassy one: SNIP. Unaware of this definition of snip.
84. Attach: AFFIX. Wrote down ADD TO first.
85. Duck chorus: QUACKING. Lovely.
86. What the Earth turns on: AXIS
89. City near Buenos Aires: LA PLATA. No idea. See the map. Literally "The Silver".
90. Backer of Fidel: CHE (Guevara). They were comrades.
94. Answer to one's own rhetorical question, perhaps: I SAY NO. Nice answer.
96. Dimes, to dollars: TENTHS. Did not come to me easily.
97. '90s TV toon therapist: DR KATZ. Looks like a fun cartoon. I've never heard of it though. No idea. Katze is German for "cat". Don't know what Katz means.
98. Vocalist Judd: NAOMI. So is Wynonna.
99. Peculiarity: QUIRK
100. Excessive: UNDUE. As undue/excessive force.
101. Take by force: USURP
103. Its symbol is Sn: TIN. Oh, good to learn.
109. Mavs' city: BIG D. Dallas Mavericks the NBA team.
110. Like the pre-coll. supplies market: ELHI. EL(ementary) + HI(gh School).
112. The NFL's Mannings, e.g.: QBS. Eli Manning & Peyton Manning are both quarterbacks.
113. Parisian turndown: NON
114. Spicy: HOT
115. Portuguese "she": ELA. It's always clued as "Guido's high note" in our old puzzle.
117. P. & L. column heading: YTD (Year to Date). P. &L. = Profit & Loss. I was at sea.
Answer grid.
C.C.
