Theme: Missing (Miss ing) - ING in each familiar phrase is dropped and the resulting phrase is punnily clued.
23A. Admiral's tryst?: FLEET ROMANCE. Fleeting Romance. Admiral commands a fleet.
37A. Water cooler gossip?: BREAK NEWS. Breaking News.
40A. Knockoff of an Intel product?: BARGAIN CHIP. Bargaining Chip.
68A. Site of a surprise?: START POSITION. Starting Position.
99A. Issue for the media?: PRESS MATTER. Pressing Matter. Media = Press.
101A. Where insects learn to use their wings?: FLY SCHOOL. Flying School.
121A. Museum featuring bamboo art?: SHOOT GALLERY. Shooting Gallery. Bamboo Shoot.
3D. Golf tournament commentary?: OPEN REMARKS. Opening Remarks. British/US Open.
14D. Voice teacher?: PITCH COACH. Pitching Coach. Baseball.
28D. Creek footage?: STREAM VIDEO. Streaming Video.
52D. Units for timing a track event?: MEET MINUTES. Meeting Minutes.
72D. First-quarter shipments?: MARCH ORDERS. Marching Orders. March is in the first quarter.
75D. Angry lineman?: CROSS GUARD. Crossing Guard.
Very heavy themage. 13 relatively long entries. No isolated stand-out. Each theme answer crosses at least one other theme entry.
Fun clues too. I don't get START POSITION (68A. Site of a surprise?) though. What site? Racing?
ALL I want is for the ALLI (2D. Weight loss brand) entry clued as a partial also. Probably too many fill-in-the-blank partials in the grid already. But I've never heard of ALLI brand.
Across:
1. Confucian principle: TAO. Literally "way".
4. You don't get credit for one: EFF.
7. Do-say connection: AS I. Do as I say.
10. Entrance boundary, perhaps: GATEPOST
18. Mont Blanc site: ALPS
20. Graduate: ALUMNUS. Nice to see a full word rather than ALUM.
22. Seat of Potter County, Texas: AMARILLO. Literally "yellow" in Spanish.
25. Drink: POTATION
26. __ Alley: TIN PAN
27. Biz bigwig: EXEC
28. Atlanta-to-Miami dir.: SSE
29. Lea group: COWS.
30. "Mr. Mojo __": Doors lyric that anagrams into the lead singer's name: RISIN. "Mr. Mojo Risin" is an anagram of Jim Morrison.
32. Jump for joy: EXULT
34. Borrrring: BLAH
45. Sleep acronym: REM (Rapid Eye Movement).
46. Show co-anchored by Robin Roberts, for short: GMA. "Good Morning America".
47. "Yes __!": SIREE
48. Sussex scents: ODOURS. British spelling. Alliteration.
51. Squalid: SEAMY
53. "Paradise Lost" figure: SATAN
55. Woeful cry: ALAS
56. Raptor's roost: AERIE. Alliteration
58. Sharp-tongued: ACERB. Maureen Dowd.
60. Flavor enhancer: MSG
61. Defeatist's words: I CAN'T
62. Word with match or money: MAKING
64. Asian lead-in: EUR. Eurasian.
65. Slip away: VANISH
67. Some map lines: Abbr.: STS (Streets)
72. Colo. is on it: MST (Mountain Standard Time).
75. Usual practice: CUSTOM
76. "Spy vs. Spy" magazine: MAD. The Mad Magazine.
77. Put on the staff?: NOTATE. Musical staff.
79. Impolite look: STARE
82. __-Wan Kenobi: OBI. "Star Wars".
83. Year in Augustus' reign: ONE BC. Was expecting Roman numeral.
86. "She __ Yellow Ribbon": 1949 John Wayne film: WORE A
87. Bananas: LOCO. I am a banana.
90. Factotum: DO-ALL. Handyman. Factotum is a new word to me. So close to factum.
92. Tapers?: VCRS. One that tapes. Fooled me.
93. Beginning: OUTSET
95. Like many a dirt road: RUTTY
98. Half a laugh: HEE. Tee hee. Reminds me of our old "Half a fly" for TSE.
104. "Holy cow!": GEEZ
105. Military camp: ETAPE. Forgot the word again.
107. Roundup critter: STEER
108. Isaac's eldest: ESAU. He sold his birthright to Jacob.
111. Nods, perhaps: OKS. I was picturing a dozing person.
113. Valued frames: CELS
115. Showy, in a way: GILDED
118. Botswana desert: KALAHARI. No idea.
123. More than accepts: EMBRACES
124. Sneaks on the court?: TENNIES. Tennis court. Sneakers. I was clueless.
125. Wholly __ part: OR IN
126. Way behind everyone: DEAD LAST. A rare last repetition with LAST GASP (91D. Desperate).
127. "I'm so glad!": YAY
128. Good name, for short: REP (Reputation)
129. Take in: SEE
Down:
1. 1920s chief justice: TAFT. The only president who also served as chief justice.
4. Profit: EARNINGS
5. Andy Capp's wife: FLO. Obtained the answer via crosses.
6. Become enraged: FUME
7. Building wing: ANNEX. Rhyme.
8. She-demons: SUCCUBI. No idea. Plural of succubus. Dictionary defines it as "demon in female form, said to have sexual intercourse with men in their sleep". Opposite of incubus.
9. Expert finish?: ISE. Expertise.
10. Memory problems: GAPS
11. One-celled protozoan: AMOEBA
12. Body art, briefly: TAT. Tattoo.
13. Baseball stat: ERA
15. Hodgepodge: OLIO
16. School zone sign: SLOW
17. Scads: TONS
19. Retro photo: SEPIA
21. __ out: uses up, as credit: MAXES
24. Job: TASK
31. Site of Hercules' first labor: NEMEA. And LION (35. Victim of Hercules' first labor).
33. Metallica drummer Ulrich: LARS. Sigh. His name escaped me again.
36. Additionally: AND
37. Deep-bodied fish: BREAMS. Don't know this fish. Quite big.
38. Do an usher's job: RESEAT
39. WWII noncombat unit: WAAC (Women's Army Auxiliary Corps). One of our fellow solvers Southern Belle served with WAAC.
41. Suggests: GETS AT
42. Sinuous dance: HULA
43. Pakistan neighbor: IRAN
44. Attention-getting sound: PSST
47. Ice cream soda ingredient: SYRUP
50. "Richard __": III. Rich III.
54. Latin lambs: AGNI. Plural of Agnus. Agnus Dei is "Lamb of God".
57. Happen next: ENSUE
59. Antacid, briefly: BROMO. As in Bromo-Seltzer. Stumper.
61. "__ a bad time?": IS NOW
63. Alfa Romeo sports cars: GTS
66. Carbonium, e.g.: ION
69. Bit of physics: ATOM
73. Dorm room setup: STEREO
74. Prickly plant: TEASEL. Another alliteration.
78. "Mazel __!": TOV
79. Unappetizing serving: SLOP
80. Hit the road: TOUR. Nice clue.
81. Entr'__: ACTE
84. It may be carried or dropped: BALL. Nailed it.
85. Becomes sickeningly sweet: CLOYS
88. "Don't look __!": AT ME. Wanted BACK.
89. Editor's mark: STET
94. Jargon ending: ESE. Jargonese? Dictionary only has jargonize, to talk in jargon.
96. Internal airway: TRACHEA. The windpipe.
100. Island group that includes São Miguel: AZORES. Here is a good map. Islands west of Lisbon.
101. Joint tenant?: FELON. Joint = Prison. My favorite clue today.
102. Plaster, as a room cover: CEIL
103. "Duh!" relative: HELLO?
106. Indiana state flower: PEONY. Very popular flower in Chinese painting.
112. Commercial suffix with Star: KIST. StarKist.
114. Cookbook direction: STIR
116. Buffalo's county: ERIE
117. Fraction of a newton: DYNE
119. Golfer Sutton: HAL. Ryder Cup captain once.
120. Here, in Juárez: ACA. Again, got the answer via crosses.
121. Chester White's home: STY. Have never heard of pig breed Chester White. Originated in Chester Country, PA.
122. Turn to the right: GEE. "Turn to the left" is HAW.
Answer grid.
C.C.
23A. Admiral's tryst?: FLEET ROMANCE. Fleeting Romance. Admiral commands a fleet.
37A. Water cooler gossip?: BREAK NEWS. Breaking News.
40A. Knockoff of an Intel product?: BARGAIN CHIP. Bargaining Chip.
68A. Site of a surprise?: START POSITION. Starting Position.
99A. Issue for the media?: PRESS MATTER. Pressing Matter. Media = Press.
101A. Where insects learn to use their wings?: FLY SCHOOL. Flying School.
121A. Museum featuring bamboo art?: SHOOT GALLERY. Shooting Gallery. Bamboo Shoot.
3D. Golf tournament commentary?: OPEN REMARKS. Opening Remarks. British/US Open.
14D. Voice teacher?: PITCH COACH. Pitching Coach. Baseball.
28D. Creek footage?: STREAM VIDEO. Streaming Video.
52D. Units for timing a track event?: MEET MINUTES. Meeting Minutes.
72D. First-quarter shipments?: MARCH ORDERS. Marching Orders. March is in the first quarter.
75D. Angry lineman?: CROSS GUARD. Crossing Guard.
Very heavy themage. 13 relatively long entries. No isolated stand-out. Each theme answer crosses at least one other theme entry.
Fun clues too. I don't get START POSITION (68A. Site of a surprise?) though. What site? Racing?
ALL I want is for the ALLI (2D. Weight loss brand) entry clued as a partial also. Probably too many fill-in-the-blank partials in the grid already. But I've never heard of ALLI brand.
Across:
1. Confucian principle: TAO. Literally "way".
4. You don't get credit for one: EFF.
7. Do-say connection: AS I. Do as I say.
10. Entrance boundary, perhaps: GATEPOST
18. Mont Blanc site: ALPS
20. Graduate: ALUMNUS. Nice to see a full word rather than ALUM.
22. Seat of Potter County, Texas: AMARILLO. Literally "yellow" in Spanish.
25. Drink: POTATION
26. __ Alley: TIN PAN
27. Biz bigwig: EXEC
28. Atlanta-to-Miami dir.: SSE
29. Lea group: COWS.
30. "Mr. Mojo __": Doors lyric that anagrams into the lead singer's name: RISIN. "Mr. Mojo Risin" is an anagram of Jim Morrison.
32. Jump for joy: EXULT
34. Borrrring: BLAH
45. Sleep acronym: REM (Rapid Eye Movement).
46. Show co-anchored by Robin Roberts, for short: GMA. "Good Morning America".
47. "Yes __!": SIREE
48. Sussex scents: ODOURS. British spelling. Alliteration.
51. Squalid: SEAMY
53. "Paradise Lost" figure: SATAN
55. Woeful cry: ALAS
56. Raptor's roost: AERIE. Alliteration
58. Sharp-tongued: ACERB. Maureen Dowd.
60. Flavor enhancer: MSG
61. Defeatist's words: I CAN'T
62. Word with match or money: MAKING
64. Asian lead-in: EUR. Eurasian.
65. Slip away: VANISH
67. Some map lines: Abbr.: STS (Streets)
72. Colo. is on it: MST (Mountain Standard Time).
75. Usual practice: CUSTOM
76. "Spy vs. Spy" magazine: MAD. The Mad Magazine.
77. Put on the staff?: NOTATE. Musical staff.
79. Impolite look: STARE
82. __-Wan Kenobi: OBI. "Star Wars".
83. Year in Augustus' reign: ONE BC. Was expecting Roman numeral.
86. "She __ Yellow Ribbon": 1949 John Wayne film: WORE A
87. Bananas: LOCO. I am a banana.
90. Factotum: DO-ALL. Handyman. Factotum is a new word to me. So close to factum.
92. Tapers?: VCRS. One that tapes. Fooled me.
93. Beginning: OUTSET
95. Like many a dirt road: RUTTY
98. Half a laugh: HEE. Tee hee. Reminds me of our old "Half a fly" for TSE.
104. "Holy cow!": GEEZ
105. Military camp: ETAPE. Forgot the word again.
107. Roundup critter: STEER
108. Isaac's eldest: ESAU. He sold his birthright to Jacob.
111. Nods, perhaps: OKS. I was picturing a dozing person.
113. Valued frames: CELS
115. Showy, in a way: GILDED
118. Botswana desert: KALAHARI. No idea.
123. More than accepts: EMBRACES
124. Sneaks on the court?: TENNIES. Tennis court. Sneakers. I was clueless.
125. Wholly __ part: OR IN
126. Way behind everyone: DEAD LAST. A rare last repetition with LAST GASP (91D. Desperate).
127. "I'm so glad!": YAY
128. Good name, for short: REP (Reputation)
129. Take in: SEE
Down:
1. 1920s chief justice: TAFT. The only president who also served as chief justice.
4. Profit: EARNINGS
5. Andy Capp's wife: FLO. Obtained the answer via crosses.
6. Become enraged: FUME
7. Building wing: ANNEX. Rhyme.
8. She-demons: SUCCUBI. No idea. Plural of succubus. Dictionary defines it as "demon in female form, said to have sexual intercourse with men in their sleep". Opposite of incubus.
9. Expert finish?: ISE. Expertise.
10. Memory problems: GAPS
11. One-celled protozoan: AMOEBA
12. Body art, briefly: TAT. Tattoo.
13. Baseball stat: ERA
15. Hodgepodge: OLIO
16. School zone sign: SLOW
17. Scads: TONS
19. Retro photo: SEPIA
21. __ out: uses up, as credit: MAXES
24. Job: TASK
31. Site of Hercules' first labor: NEMEA. And LION (35. Victim of Hercules' first labor).
33. Metallica drummer Ulrich: LARS. Sigh. His name escaped me again.
36. Additionally: AND
37. Deep-bodied fish: BREAMS. Don't know this fish. Quite big.
38. Do an usher's job: RESEAT
39. WWII noncombat unit: WAAC (Women's Army Auxiliary Corps). One of our fellow solvers Southern Belle served with WAAC.
41. Suggests: GETS AT
42. Sinuous dance: HULA
43. Pakistan neighbor: IRAN
44. Attention-getting sound: PSST
47. Ice cream soda ingredient: SYRUP
50. "Richard __": III. Rich III.
54. Latin lambs: AGNI. Plural of Agnus. Agnus Dei is "Lamb of God".
57. Happen next: ENSUE
59. Antacid, briefly: BROMO. As in Bromo-Seltzer. Stumper.
61. "__ a bad time?": IS NOW
63. Alfa Romeo sports cars: GTS
66. Carbonium, e.g.: ION
69. Bit of physics: ATOM
73. Dorm room setup: STEREO
74. Prickly plant: TEASEL. Another alliteration.
78. "Mazel __!": TOV
79. Unappetizing serving: SLOP
80. Hit the road: TOUR. Nice clue.
81. Entr'__: ACTE
84. It may be carried or dropped: BALL. Nailed it.
85. Becomes sickeningly sweet: CLOYS
88. "Don't look __!": AT ME. Wanted BACK.
89. Editor's mark: STET
94. Jargon ending: ESE. Jargonese? Dictionary only has jargonize, to talk in jargon.
96. Internal airway: TRACHEA. The windpipe.
100. Island group that includes São Miguel: AZORES. Here is a good map. Islands west of Lisbon.
101. Joint tenant?: FELON. Joint = Prison. My favorite clue today.
102. Plaster, as a room cover: CEIL
103. "Duh!" relative: HELLO?
106. Indiana state flower: PEONY. Very popular flower in Chinese painting.
112. Commercial suffix with Star: KIST. StarKist.
114. Cookbook direction: STIR
116. Buffalo's county: ERIE
117. Fraction of a newton: DYNE
119. Golfer Sutton: HAL. Ryder Cup captain once.
120. Here, in Juárez: ACA. Again, got the answer via crosses.
121. Chester White's home: STY. Have never heard of pig breed Chester White. Originated in Chester Country, PA.
122. Turn to the right: GEE. "Turn to the left" is HAW.
Answer grid.
C.C.
