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Constructed by: Alan Massengill & Doug Peterson
Edited by: Patti Varol
Today’s Theme: Bring It On
Themed answers are common phrases, with “IT” inserted into one word:
- 22A Drill team for outlaws? : MARCHING BANDITS (from “marching bands”)
- 31A Study up on Newton’s theories? : GRAVITY TRAIN (from “gravy train”)
- 49A Book club choices for a church group? : PULPIT FICTION (from “pulp fiction”)
- 64A Vampire’s introspective question? : TO BITE, OR NOT TO BITE (from “To be, or not to be”)
- 82A Unusual cold snap in England? : BRITAIN FREEZE (from “brain freeze”)
- 96A Funny business in an Oregon city? : EUGENE LEVITY (from “Eugene Levy”)
- 108A “Now where did that minty cocktail go … “? : I’VE LOST MY MOJITO (from “I’ve lost my mojo”)
Read on, or jump to …
… a complete list of answers
Want to discuss the puzzle? Then …
… leave a comment
Bill’s time: 17m 21s
Bill’s errors: 0
Today’s Wiki-est Amazonian Googlies
Across
1 Classic cartoon horse Quick Draw __ : MCGRAW
“Quick Draw McGraw” was a Hanna-Barbera cartoon show starring a horse named Quick Draw who was a sheriff in the old West. His deputy was also an equine creature, a Mexican burro named Baba Looey. When I was a little kid, I had curtains on my bedroom window featuring Yogi Bear and Quick Draw McGraw. Happy days …
7 Superhero with anger issues : HULK
The comic book hero Hulk first made an appearance in 1962. Hulk is the alter ego of reserved and withdrawn physicist Bruce Banner. Banner transforms into the Hulk when he gets angry.
11 Rapper __ Nas X : LIL
“Lil Nas X” is the stage name of rapper Montero Lamar Hill. He was born and raised just outside of Atlanta. His first hit was “Old Town Road”, which is classified as country rap.
14 Slavic native : SERB
The Slavic peoples are in the majority in communities covering over half of Europe. This large ethnic group is traditionally broken down into three smaller groups:
- the West Slavic (including Czechs and Poles)
- the East Slavic (including Russians and Ukrainians)
- the South Slavic (including Bulgarians, Croats and Serbs)
18 Beethoven’s Third : EROICA
Beethoven originally dedicated his “Symphony No. 3” to Napoleon Bonaparte. Beethoven admired the principles of the French Revolution and as such respected Bonaparte who was “born” out of the uprising. When Napoleon declared himself Emperor, Beethoven (and much of Europe) saw this as a betrayal to the ideals of the revolution so he changed the name of his new symphony from “Bonaparte” to “Eroica”, meaning “heroic, valiant”.
20 Point value of a gol de fútbol : UNO
In Spanish, the point value of a “gol de fútbol” (soccer goal) is “uno” (one).
21 Egyptian peninsula : SINAI
The Sinai Peninsula is in the eastern part of Egypt, and is a triangular landform bounded by the Mediterranean to the north and the Red Sea to the south. It is the only part of Egypt that lies in Asia as opposed to Africa. The eastern land border of the peninsula is shared with Israel, and Israel occupied the Sinai during the 1956 Suez Crisis and the Six-Day War of 1967.
27 Texter’s rebuttal : OTOH
On the other hand (OTOH)
29 __ tofu : SILKEN
Silken tofu is a type of tofu that has a delicate, smooth texture and is made by coagulating soy milk without curdling it.
30 Big name in casualwear : POLO
René Lacoste was a French tennis player who went into the clothing business, and came up with a more comfortable shirt that players could use. This became known as a “tennis shirt”. When it was adopted for use in the sport of polo, the shirts also became known as “polo shirts”. The “golf shirt” is basically the same thing. The Lacoste line of clothing features a crocodile logo, because René was nicknamed “The Crocodile”.
31 Study up on Newton’s theories? : GRAVITY TRAIN (from “gravy train”)
Sir Isaac Newton was one of the most influential people in history, and the man who laid the groundwork for all of classical mechanics. The story about an apple falling on his head, inspiring him to formulate his theories about gravity, well that’s not quite true. Newton often told the story about observing an apple falling in his mother’s garden and how this made him acutely aware of the Earth’s gravitational pull. However, he made no mention of the apple hitting him on the head.
The original “riders of the gravy train” were railroad men in the 1920s who were assigned a run that had good pay and little work. Since then, the phrase “gravy train” has come to mean any job that is easy and pays well. The term “gravy” had been slang for easy money since about 1900.
35 Big name in cookware : T-FAL
Tefal (also “T-Fal”) is a French manufacturer of cookware that is famous for its nonstick line. The name “Tefal” is a portmanteau of TEFlon and ALuminum, the key materials used in producing their pots and pans.
40 2022 AL MVP Judge : AARON
Aaron Judge is a baseball outfielder who was selected as 2017’s American League Rookie of the Year. Judge is a big guy. He weighs 282 pounds, and is 6 foot 7 inches tall.
43 Sword part : HAFT
The haft of a weapon is its handle or hilt.
44 Pronombre personal : ELLA
In Spanish, “ella” (she) is a “pronombre personal” (personal pronoun).
49 Book club choices for a church group? : PULPIT FICTION (from “pulp fiction”)
A pulpit is a platform in a church from which a sermon is delivered by a preacher. The term comes from the Latin “pulpitum” meaning “scaffold, stage, platform for actors”. “Pulpit” can also be used figuratively, to describe the clerical profession generally.
“Pulp fiction” was the name given to cheap, fiction magazines that were popular from the late 1890s up to the 1950s. The phrase comes from the inexpensive wood pulp paper that was used for the publications. The upmarket equivalent was printed on fine glossy paper.
54 Mariana Trench, e.g. : ABYSS
“The Marianas” is a familiar name for the Mariana Islands that lie in the Pacific Ocean south of Japan and north of New Guinea. The Mariana Trench (note there is no letter “S” at the end of “Mariana”, the trench) is the lowest elevation on the surface of the Earth’s crust. The Mariana Trench takes its name from the Islands, as it lies just to the east of the Marianas.
55 Subject for a primatologist : APE
Primatology is the study of primates, especially non-human primates.
Primates are mammals, many of whom are omnivorous and make good use of their hands. They also have larger brains relative to their body size, compared to other animals. The order Primates includes apes, lemurs, baboons and humans.
56 Zen garden tool : RAKE
Japanese Zen gardens are inspired by the meditation gardens of Zen Buddhist temples. Zen gardens have no water in them, but often there is gravel and sand that is raked in patterns designed to create the impression of water in waves and ripples.
58 Homeric saga featuring the Catalogue of Ships : ILIAD
Book 2 of Homer’s epic poem “Iliad” includes the “Catalogue of Ships”, a list of the contingents of the Greek army that sailed to Troy to lay siege to the city.
64 Vampire’s introspective question? : TO BITE, OR NOT TO BITE (from “To be, or not to be”)
Legends about vampires were particularly common in Eastern Europe and in the Balkans in particular. The superstition was that vampires could be killed using a wooden stake, with the preferred type of wood varying from place to place. Superstition also defines where the body should be pierced. Most often, the stake was driven through the heart, but Russians and northern Germans went for the mouth, and northeastern Serbs for the stomach.
There has been centuries of debate about how one interprets Hamlet’s soliloquy that begins “To be or not to be …”. My favorite opinion is that Hamlet is weighing up the pros and cons of suicide (“to not be”).
To be, or not to be, that is the question:
Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The Slings and Arrows of outrageous fortune;
Or to take Armes against a Sea of troubles …
70 Legal docs : WRITS
A writ is an order issued by some formal body (these days, usually a court) with the order being in “written” form. Warrants and subpoenas are examples of writs.
72 Bossy star of a kid’s game : SIMON
“Simon Says” is a kids’ game. The idea is for the players of the game to obey the “controller” who gives instructions. But the players should only obey when the controller uses the words, “Simon says …”. The game has very old roots, with a Latin version that uses the words “Cicero dicit fac hoc” (Cicero says do this).
73 Sony laptop brand : VAIO
VAIO is a line of computers manufactured by Sony. The name was originally an acronym of Video Audio Integrated Operation, but this was changed to Visual Audio Intelligent Organizer on the occasion of the brand’s 10th anniversary in 2008.
74 Org. that oversees tobacco : FDA
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has its roots in the Division of Chemistry (later “Bureau of Chemistry”) that was part of the US Department of Agriculture. President Theodore Roosevelt gave responsibility for examination of food and drugs to the Bureau of Chemistry with the signing of the Pure Food and Drug Act. The Bureau’s name was changed to the Food, Drug and Insecticide Organization in 1927, and to the Food and Drug Administration in 1930.
75 Apt name for some Aries : APRIL
Aries the Ram is the first astrological sign in the Zodiac, and is named after the constellation. Your birth sign is Aries if you were born between March 21 and April 20, but if you are an Aries you would know that! “Aries” is the Latin word for “ram”.
82 Unusual cold snap in England? : BRITAIN FREEZE (from “brain freeze”)
The terms “United Kingdom”, “Great Britain” and “England” can sometimes be confused. The official use of “United Kingdom” originated in 1707 with the Acts of Union that declared the countries of England and Scotland as “United into One Kingdom by the Name of Great Britain”. The name changed again with the Acts of Union 1800 that created the “United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland” (much to the chagrin of most of the Irish population). This was partially reversed in 1927 when the current name was introduced, the “United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland”, in recognition of an independent Irish Free State in the south of the island of Ireland.
86 Hawaii’s state bird : NENE
The nene is a bird that is native to Hawaii, and is also known as the Hawaiian goose. The name “nene” is an imitation of its call. When Captain Cook landed on the islands in 1778, there were 25,000 nene living there. By 1950, the number was reduced by hunting to just 30 birds. Conservation efforts in recent years have been somewhat successful. The nene was named State Bird of Hawaii in 1957.
87 Pasta type : ZITI
Cylindrical pasta is known in general as “penne”, and there are many variants. For example, ziti is a particularly large and long tube with square-cut ends. “Penne” is the plural of “penna”, the Italian for “feather, quill”.
89 “Voilà!” : DONE!
The French word “voilà” means “there it is”, and “voici” means “here it is”. The terms come from “voi là” meaning “see there” and “voi ici” meaning “see here”.
90 Lady Bird’s husband : LYNDON
Lyndon Baines Johnson (LBJ) was born in Stonewall, Texas to Samuel Ealy Johnson, Jr. and Rebekah Baines.
President Lyndon Johnson’s wife Claudia Alta Taylor was named after her mother’s brother Claud. Taylor’s more familiar name came from her childhood nurse Alice Tittle, who remarked that as a little baby Claudia was “purty as a ladybird”. A ladybird is what we call a ladybug on the other side of the Atlantic. So, the moniker “Lady Bird” stuck with the future First Lady throughout her life.
93 Hyundai model : ELANTRA
The Elantra is a compact car made by Hyundai of South Korea. There was a long-standing dispute between Hyundai and manufacturers Lotus and Mitsubishi. Lotus contended that the Elantra’s name was too close to the Lotus Elan, and Mitsubishi didn’t like the similarity to the Mitsubishi Elante.
95 “Alice in Wonderland” bird : DODO
The Dodo is a character who appears early in Lewis Carroll’s novel “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”. It is thought that the Dodo is a caricature of the author himself, as both author and character have a stutter.
96 Funny business in an Oregon city? : EUGENE LEVITY (from “Eugene Levy”)
Eugene is the second-largest city in Oregon (after Portland). The city is named for its founder, Eugene Franklin Skinner. Skinner arrived in the area in 1846, after which the settlement he established was called Skinner’s Mudhole. The name was changed to Eugene City in 1852, which was shortened to Eugene in 1889.
Eugene Levy is a Canadian actor. He is the only actor to have appeared in all of the “American Pie” movies. Levy plays the clueless, but loving, Dad. Eugene also co-created, and starred in, the Canadian sitcom “Schitt’s Creek” with his son Dan Levy.
99 Egyptian vipers : ASPS
The asp is a venomous snake found in the Nile region of Africa. It is so venomous that the asp was used in ancient Egypt and Greece as a means of execution. Cleopatra observed such executions noting that the venom brought on sleepiness without any painful spasms. When the great queen opted to commit suicide, the asp was therefore her chosen method.
101 Academic’s achievement : TENURE
A job in a university that is described as “tenure-track” is one that can lead to a tenured position. A tenured position is a “job for life”. A person with tenure can only be dismissed for cause.
103 __ chamber : ECHO
An echo chamber is a hollow enclosure that is used to produce a particular sound effect for a TV or radio program. Sounds produced in the echo chamber reverberate, creating the impression that the action or conversation is taking place in perhaps a cave or a large hall. We often use the term “echo chamber” figuratively, describing a situation where a group’s beliefs are being amplified in a relatively closed system, with little or no exposure to contrasting opinions.
104 Atlanta-based network : TBS
The tbs cable television station started out in 1967 as a local broadcast TV station in Atlanta. The station’s first call letters were WJRJ-TV, and this was changed to WTCG in 1970 when it was acquired by Ted Turner (the TCG stood for Turner Communications Group). In 1976, Turner started distributing WTCG via satellite making its programming available in other parts of the country. WTCG was only the second channel to transmit via satellite, following HBO. The difference was that WTCG was broadcast without requiring a premium subscription. The station’s call sign was changed again in 1979 to WTBS, with “TBS” standing for Turner Broadcasting System. In 1981, the channel adopted the moniker “Superstation WTBS”.
107 Met’s lineup? : ARIAS
The Metropolitan Opera (often simply “the Met”) of New York City is the largest classical music organization in the country, presenting about 220 performances each and every year. Founded in 1880, the Met is renowned for using technology to expand its audiences. Performances have been broadcast live on radio since 1931, and on television since 1977. And since 2006 you can go see a live performance from New York in high definition on the big screen, at a movie theater near you …
108 “Now where did that minty cocktail go … “? : I’VE LOST MY MOJITO (from “I’ve lost my mojo”)
A mojito is a Cuban cocktail, although the exact origins appear to be unclear, as does the derivation of the name. Want one? Put 4 mint leaves in a glass, and add the juice of half a lime and a teaspoon of powdered sugar. Muddle the ingredients, smashing them together with a muddler or a spoon. Add some crushed ice, two ounces of white rum and stir. Top with a couple of ounces of club soda, and garnish with a sprig of mint and/or a slice of lime. Cheers!
The word “mojo”, meaning “magical charm, magnetism”, is probably of Creole origin.
113 Bishop’s hat : MITRE
A miter (also “mitre”) is a traditional headdress worn by bishops in some Christian traditions. The term “miter” comes from a Greek word for “headband, turban”.
114 Secret code : PIN
One enters a Personal Identification Number (PIN) when using an Automated Teller Machine (ATM). Given that the N in PIN stands for “number”, then “PIN number” is a redundant phrase. And, given that the M in ATM stands for “machine”, then “ATM machine” is a redundant phrase as well. Grr …!
115 20 quires : REAM
A quire is a measure of paper quantity. There are usually 25 sheets in a quire, and 20 quires (500 sheets) in a ream. To complicate things, a quire sometimes only contains 15, 18, 20 or 24 sheets, depending on the type of paper.
116 Twist in a novel : OLIVER
“Oliver Twist” is an 1838 novel by Charles Dickens. The title character is an orphan who escapes from an oppressive apprenticeship with an undertaker. He gets drawn into the criminal underworld of London, where he meets up with some colorful characters such as the Artful Dodger, Fagin and Bill Sykes. Television, stage and film adaptations of “Oliver Twist” tend to lift the overall mood of the story, which in the novel is pretty bleak.
117 Pomegranate bit : SEED
The name of the fruit called a “pomegranate” comes from the Latin “pomum” meaning “apple” and “granatum” meaning “seeded”.
119 Lady __ of “A Star Is Born” : GAGA
“Lady Gaga” is the stage name of Stefani Germanotta. Germanotta is a big fan of the band Queen, and she took her stage name from the marvelous Queen song titled “Radio Ga Ga”.
“A Star Is Born” is a 1937 film starring Janet Gaynor as an upcoming Hollywood actress. “A Star Is Born” was remade three times, in 1954 with Judy Garland playing the lead, in 1976 with Barbra Streisand, and in 2018 with Lady Gaga.
Down
2 Sticking point, metaphorically : CRAW
“Craw” is another name for “crop”, a portion of the alimentary tract of some animals, including birds. The crop is used for the storage of food prior to digestion. It allows the animal to eat large amounts and then digest that food with efficiency over an extended period. The expression “to stick in one’s craw” is used when one cannot accept something, cannot “swallow” it.
3 1990s vice president : GORE
Al Gore was born in Washington DC, and is the son of Al Gore, Sr., then a US Representative for the state of Tennessee. After deferring his military service in order to attend Harvard, the younger Gore became eligible for the draft on graduation. Many of his classmates found ways of avoiding the draft, but Gore decided to serve and even took the “tougher” option of joining the army as an enlisted man. Actor Tommy Lee Jones shared a house with Gore in college and says that his buddy told him that even if he could find a way around the draft, someone with less options than him would have to go in his place and that was just wrong.
4 Pro wrestler Flair : RIC
Wrestler Ric Flair’s real name is Richard Fliehr. Perhaps following the lead of his compatriot Jesse Ventura, Flair explored the possibility of running for governor of the state of North Carolina.
6 Limbo for a college applicant : WAIT LIST
In the Roman Catholic tradition, “Limbo” is a place where souls can remain who cannot enter heaven. For example, infants who have not been baptized are said to reside in Limbo. Limbo is said to be located on the border of Hell. The name was chosen during the Middle Ages from the Latin “limbo” meaning “ornamental border to a fringe”. We use the phrase “in limbo” in contemporary English to mean “in a state of uncertainty”.
8 Computer port initials : USB
Universal Serial Bus (USB) is an industry standard dealing with how computers and electronic devices connect and communicate, and dealing with electrical power through those connections.
10 “Crazy Rich Asians” actor Jeong : KEN
Ken Jeong is an actor from Detroit who is perhaps best known for playing the gangster Leslie Chow in the “The Hangover” series of films. Jeong isn’t only an actor; he has an M.D. degree and is a licensed physician in California.
“Crazy Rich Asians” is a 2018 rom-com based on a 2013 novel of the same name by Kevin Kwan. The film garnered a lot of attention and accolades, not only for the quality of the script and performances. It was the first major Hollywood movie to feature a principal cast of Asian descent since 1993’s “The Joy Luck Club”.
11 Video game brother : LUIGI
Mario Bros. started out as an arcade game back in 1983, developed by Nintendo. The more famous of the two brothers, Mario, had already appeared in an earlier arcade game “Donkey Kong”. Mario was given a brother called Luigi, and the pair have been around ever since. In the game, Mario and Luigi are Italian American plumbers from New York City.
14 Round Table knight : SIR LANCELOT
Sir Lancelot is one of the knights in the legend of King Arthur and the Round Table. Lancelot is the most trusted of Arthur’s knights when it comes to battle, but off the field he has a poorer reputation. Famously, Lancelot had an affair with Guinevere, Arthur’s wife.
15 Thin mushroom : ENOKI
Enokitake (also known as “enoki”) are long and thin white mushrooms often added to soups or salads.
16 Poe’s “ungainly fowl” : RAVEN
“The Raven” is a narrative poem by Edgar Allan Poe that tells of a student who has lost the love of his life, Lenore. A raven enters the student’s bedchamber and perches on a bust of Pallas. The raven can talk, to the student’s surprise, but says nothing but the word “nevermore” (“quoth the raven, ‘Nevermore’”). As the student questions all aspects of his life, the raven taunts him with the same comment, “nevermore”. Finally, the student decides that his soul is trapped beneath the raven’s shadow and shall be lifted “nevermore”.
17 “Muy __” : BIEN
In Spanish, something might be described as “muy bien” (very good).
21 Hubert’s successor : SPIRO
Spiro Agnew served as Vice-President under Richard Nixon, before becoming the only VP in American history to resign because of criminal charges (there was a bribery scandal). Agnew was also the first Greek-American to serve as US Vice President as he was the son of a Greek immigrant who had shortened the family name from Anagnostopoulos.
Hubert Humphrey was the running mate of President Lyndon Johnson in the 1964 presidential campaign. Humphrey was sworn in as Vice President in 1965, becoming the 38th person to hold the office. Humphrey was the Democratic candidate for president in the 1968 election, but lost to Richard Nixon.
24 Bautista of “Guardians of the Galaxy” : DAVE
Drax the Destroyer is a superhero in the Marvel Comics universe. Drax’s body contains the spirit of human Arthur Douglas, whose family was killed by the supervillain Thanos. Drax made appearances on the big screen in the “Guardians of the Galaxy” series of films, in which he was portrayed by professional wrestler turned actor Dave Bautista.
29 Hall of Fame football coach Hank : STRAM
Hank Stram was a famous American football coach, best known for leading the Kansas City Chiefs to their first Super Bowl victory in 1970. Here’s a little trivia about Stram: he was the first NFL coach to call for supplies of Gatorade on the sidelines during games.
34 New Haven Ivy Leaguer : YALIE
The city of New Haven, Connecticut was founded in 1638 by Puritan immigrants from England. Famously, it is home to Yale University. The city also initiated the first public tree planting program in the country. The large elms included in the program led to New Haven being called “the Elm City”.
35 Andalusia appetizer : TAPA
Andalusia (“Andalucía” in Spanish) is one of the seventeen autonomous communities in the Kingdom of Spain, and is the most southerly. The capital of Andalusia is the old city of Seville. The name Andalusia comes from its Arabic name, Al-Andalus, reflecting the region’s history as the center of Muslim power in Iberia during medieval times.
39 Great Lakes people : CHIPPEWA
The Ojibwe (also “Ojibwa”) are the second-largest of the First Nations, surpassed only by the Cree. The name “Ojibwa” is more common in Canada, whereas the alternative anglicization “Chippewa” is more common in the US.
47 Novelist Dinesen : ISAK
“Isak Dinesen” was the pen name of the Danish author Baroness Karen Blixen. Blixen’s most famous title by far is “Out of Africa”, her account of the time she spent living in Kenya.
50 Observe Ramadan, say : FAST
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Fasting during Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. The fast begins at dawn and ends at sunset each day. The end of Ramadan is marked by a three-day festival called Eid al-Fitr, which means “festival of breaking the fast.”
51 Cookies with an occasional Mystery Flavor : OREOS
In 2017, Nabisco produced batches of Oreos with a chocolate cookie and a filling with a mystery flavor. There was an accompanying contest to identify the mystery flavor, which was eventually revealed as Fruity Pebbles.
57 Low-carb regimen : KETO DIET
A ketogenic (also “keto”) diet is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet. When a body consumes insufficient carbohydrates to meet the need for energy, then the liver converts fat into fatty acids and ketone bodies in order to make up the energy deficit. An elevated level of ketone bodies in the bloodstream is known as “ketosis”, a term that gives rise to the name “ketogenic diet”. Medical professionals sometimes prescribe a ketogenic diet in order to control epilepsy in children. A condition of ketosis can reduce the frequency of epileptic seizures.
62 Mtge. figure : INT
Our word “mortgage” comes from the Old French “mort gaige” which translated as “dead pledge”. Such an arrangement was so called because the “pledge” to repay “dies” when the debt is cleared.
64 Shakespeare’s title Athenian : TIMON
Timon of Athens was noted for renouncing society, for being someone who despised mankind. Timon started out life as a wealthy man, but he lost all his money by pandering to the needs of his friends. Without money, Timon’s friends deserted him. Timon became rich again when he found a pot of gold, and so his friends sought him out once more. Timon was very embittered and so drove everyone away and lived the rest of his life as a hermit. Centuries after he died, Timon of Athens was to become the title character in “Timon of Athens”, a play by William Shakespeare
66 Savannah antelope : ORIBI
The oribi is a small antelope found in parts of eastern and southern Africa. Male oribis will stake out a territory and defend it from other males. When an intruder enters their territory, they will emit a high-pitched whistle that alerts other males in the area. This whistle is unique to each individual oribi and serves as a way for them to identify themselves to other males.
A savanna (also “savannah”) is a grassland. If there are any trees in a savanna, by definition they are small and widely spaced so that light can get to the grasses allowing them to grow unhindered.
67 Persian Gulf sultanate : OMAN
The Persian Gulf is in effect an inland sea, although it technically is an offshoot of the Indian Ocean. The outlet from the Persian Gulf to the Indian Ocean is one of the most famous maritime “choke points” in the world, and is known as the Strait of Hormuz. About 20% of the world’s supply of petroleum passes through the Strait of Hormuz.
68 Network with a “Deportes” channel : ESPN
ESPN Deportes Radio is a sports channel that broadcasts in Spanish (Español ). “Deports” is Spanish for “sports”.
73 Soft sheer fabric : VOILE
Voile is a soft and sheer fabric, usually made from cotton, that is often used as a window treatment. Voile curtains are similar to net curtains and may be used as mosquito nets, for example. Aptly enough, “voile” is the French word for “veil”.
74 __ pack : FANNY
In Britain and Ireland, a “fanny pack” is called a “bum bag”. The use of the word “bum” is considered more polite than the word “fanny”, which has a very rude meaning in that part of the world. In North America, we sometimes use the term “butt pack” for the same thing.
78 Big name in casualwear : IZOD
Jack Izod was a tailor of some repute over in England producing shirts for King George V, as well as other members of the Royal Family. As Izod was about to retire, he was approached for the use of his name by an American clothing manufacturer based in New York. The brand Izod of London was introduced to America in 1938.
79 Former host Jay : LENO
Jay Leno was born James Leno in New Rochelle, New York. Jay’s father was the son of Italian immigrants, and his mother was from Scotland. Leno grew up in Andover, Massachusetts and actually dropped out of school on the advice of a high school guidance counselor. However, years later he went to Emerson College and earned a Bachelor’s degree in speech therapy. Leno also started a comedy club at Emerson in 1973. Today Jay Leno is a car nut and owns over 300 vehicles of various types. You can check them out on his website: www.jaylenosgarage.com.
81 Oil region? : T-ZONE
The T-zone on one’s faces includes the forehead (the horizontal line of the “T”) and the chin and nose (the vertical line of the “T”).
83 Rice cake served with chutney : IDLI
Idli (also “idly”) are savory rice cakes in the cuisine from the Indian subcontinent. The cakes are made from de-husked, fermented black lentils incorporated into a batter and then steamed.
Chutney is a typically southern Asian condiment made from spices with vegetables or fruit. The term “chutney” comes from the Sanskrit “caṭnī” meaning “to lick”.
85 Quickly assembled group : FLASH MOB
A flash mob is a group of people who gather to perform a sudden, brief act in a public location and then quickly disperse. Flash mobs originated in Manhattan in 2003, as a social experiment by an editor of “Harper’s Magazine” called Bill Wasik. Wasik’s first attempt to form a flash mob was unsuccessful, but the second attempt worked. The first successful flash mob was relatively tame by today’s elaborate standards, and consisted of about 130 people gathered on the 9th floor of Macy’s department store pretending to be shopping en masse for a “love rug”.
88 Israeli port on the Mediterranean : TEL AVIV
Israel’s Tel Aviv is known as the “White City” because of its many Bauhaus-style buildings. In fact, it has the largest concentration of Bauhaus buildings in the world, with over 4,000 buildings in this style. Tel Aviv was founded in 1909 as a suburb of the ancient port city of Jaffa.
94 Risqué : RACY
“Risqué” is a French word, the past participle of the verb meaning “to risk”. So in English we use “risqué” to mean “racy”, but in French it means “risky”.
98 Justice Kagan : ELENA
Elena Kagan was the Solicitor General of the United States from 2009 until 2010, when she replaced Justice John Paul Stevens on the US Supreme Court. That made Justice Kagan the first female US Solicitor General and the fourth female US Supreme Court justice. Kagan also served as the first female dean of Harvard Law School from 2003 to 2009.
100 English Channel port : POOLE
Poole is a historic port town located on the south coast of England, on the English Channel. Poole Harbour, which is located next to the town, is one of several locations laying claim to the title of second-largest natural harbor in the world, after Sydney Harbour in Australia.
101 Scottish lids : TAMS
A tam o’shanter is a man’s cap worn traditionally by Scotsmen. “Tams” were originally all blue (and called “blue bonnets”) but as more dyes became readily available they became more colorful. The name of the cap comes from the title character of the Robert Burns poem “Tam o’ Shanter”. A pom-pom adorning a tam is known as a toorie.
103 “Room” novelist Donoghue : EMMA
Emma Donoghue is an Irish-born Canadian author and historian. Her 2010 novel “Room” was a big success, and one that she adapted herself into a 2015 film of the same name (earning an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay).
104 Record, in a way : TIVO
TiVo is a digital video recorder (DVR) that revolutionized the way we watch television. The first TiVo devices were installed in homes in 1999, when they were the first consumer DVRs to hit the market. TiVo was originally marketed as a way to “pause live TV.” It quickly became known for its ability to record TV shows and movies, allowing viewers to watch them at their convenience.
105 Bingo call : B-TEN!
Our game Bingo is a derivative of an Italian lottery game called “Il Giuoco del Lotto d’Italia” that became popular in the 16th-century.
108 Stock acronym : IPO
I’m not sure I’d call “IPO” an acronym, but rather an initialism.
Strictly speaking, words formed from the first letters or other words are known as “initialisms”. Examples would be FBI and NBC, where the initials are spoken by sounding out each letter. Certain initialisms are pronounced as words in their own right, such as NATO and AWOL, and are called “acronyms”. So, acronyms are a subset of initialisms. As I say, that’s “strictly speaking”, so please don’t write in …
An initial public offering (IPO) is the very first offer of stock for sale by a company on the open market. In other words, an IPO marks the first time that a company is traded on a public exchange. Companies have an IPO to raise capital to expand (usually).
110 Coral __ : SEA
The Coral Sea is part of the South Pacific Ocean lying off the northeast coast of Australia. It is home to the renowned Great Barrier Reef.
112 Leprechaun’s dance : JIG
The jig is a dance most associated with Ireland and Scotland. In traditional Irish dancing, the jig is second in popularity only to the reel. The most famous Irish jig is probably “The Irish Washerwoman”. I may not dance a jig, but I sure do know the tune of “The Irish Washerwoman” …
A leprechaun is a mischievous fairy of Irish folklore. Traditionally, they spend their days making shoes and hide all their money in a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. Our word “leprechaun” comes from the Irish name for such a sprite, i.e. “leipreachán”.
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Complete List of Clues/Answers
Across
1 Classic cartoon horse Quick Draw __ : MCGRAW
7 Superhero with anger issues : HULK
11 Rapper __ Nas X : LIL
14 Slavic native : SERB
18 Beethoven’s Third : EROICA
19 “Ohhhhh” : I SEE
20 Point value of a gol de fútbol : UNO
21 Egyptian peninsula : SINAI
22 Drill team for outlaws? : MARCHING BANDITS (from “marching bands”)
25 “__ it!” : PROVE
26 Be behind : OWE
27 Texter’s rebuttal : OTOH
28 In the past : AGO
29 __ tofu : SILKEN
30 Big name in casualwear : POLO
31 Study up on Newton’s theories? : GRAVITY TRAIN (from “gravy train”)
35 Big name in cookware : T-FAL
38 Ramp up or ramp down : INCLINE
40 2022 AL MVP Judge : AARON
41 Permits : ALLOWS
43 Sword part : HAFT
44 Pronombre personal : ELLA
45 Gather into loops : COIL
49 Book club choices for a church group? : PULPIT FICTION (from “pulp fiction”)
52 Really big : IMMENSE
54 Mariana Trench, e.g. : ABYSS
55 Subject for a primatologist : APE
56 Zen garden tool : RAKE
58 Homeric saga featuring the Catalogue of Ships : ILIAD
59 Door latch : HASP
61 Put (together) : PIECE
63 Groups of sheep : FLOCKS
64 Vampire’s introspective question? : TO BITE, OR NOT TO BITE (from “To be, or not to be”)
68 Key with one sharp : E MINOR
70 Legal docs : WRITS
71 Leave out : OMIT
72 Bossy star of a kid’s game : SIMON
73 Sony laptop brand : VAIO
74 Org. that oversees tobacco : FDA
75 Apt name for some Aries : APRIL
80 Has a tendency for : PRONE TO
82 Unusual cold snap in England? : BRITAIN FREEZE (from “brain freeze”)
86 Hawaii’s state bird : NENE
87 Pasta type : ZITI
89 “Voilà!” : DONE!
90 Lady Bird’s husband : LYNDON
91 Swiped : STOLE
93 Hyundai model : ELANTRA
95 “Alice in Wonderland” bird : DODO
96 Funny business in an Oregon city? : EUGENE LEVITY (from “Eugene Levy”)
99 Egyptian vipers : ASPS
101 Academic’s achievement : TENURE
102 In the manner of : A LA
103 __ chamber : ECHO
104 Atlanta-based network : TBS
107 Met’s lineup? : ARIAS
108 “Now where did that minty cocktail go … “? : I’VE LOST MY MOJITO (from “I’ve lost my mojo”)
113 Bishop’s hat : MITRE
114 Secret code : PIN
115 20 quires : REAM
116 Twist in a novel : OLIVER
117 Pomegranate bit : SEED
118 Reproductive cells : OVA
119 Lady __ of “A Star Is Born” : GAGA
120 “Prithee make thyself scarce” : BEGONE
Down
1 Inbox item : MEMO
2 Sticking point, metaphorically : CRAW
3 1990s vice president : GORE
4 Pro wrestler Flair : RIC
5 Blessed sound? : ACHOO!
6 Limbo for a college applicant : WAIT LIST
7 Daily temperature stat : HIGH
8 Computer port initials : USB
9 Grassy expanse : LEA
10 “Crazy Rich Asians” actor Jeong : KEN
11 Video game brother : LUIGI
12 Counting everything : IN TOTAL
13 __ Angeles : LOS
14 Round Table knight : SIR LANCELOT
15 Thin mushroom : ENOKI
16 Poe’s “ungainly fowl” : RAVEN
17 “Muy __” : BIEN
21 Hubert’s successor : SPIRO
23 Twelve sharp : NOON
24 Bautista of “Guardians of the Galaxy” : DAVE
29 Hall of Fame football coach Hank : STRAM
30 Fat raindrop sounds : PLOPS
31 Candied, as cherries : GLACE
32 Breach : RIFT
33 Not pro : ANTI
34 New Haven Ivy Leaguer : YALIE
35 Andalusia appetizer : TAPA
36 Part of a blooper reel : FLUB
37 Fellow fighter : ALLY
39 Great Lakes people : CHIPPEWA
42 Thanksgiving snapper : WISHBONE
44 Put into law : ENACT
46 Ready if required : ON ICE
47 Novelist Dinesen : ISAK
48 Parts of some flashlights : LEDS
50 Observe Ramadan, say : FAST
51 Cookies with an occasional Mystery Flavor : OREOS
53 Word with service or surplus : MILITARY …
57 Low-carb regimen : KETO DIET
60 Bubble filler : AIR
61 In the past : PRIOR
62 Mtge. figure : INT
63 Heist film antagonists, often: Abbr. : FBI
64 Shakespeare’s title Athenian : TIMON
65 Ready for anything : ON ONE’S GUARD
66 Savannah antelope : ORIBI
67 Persian Gulf sultanate : OMAN
68 Network with a “Deportes” channel : ESPN
69 Sticking point : MIRE
73 Soft sheer fabric : VOILE
74 __ pack : FANNY
76 Hangs : PENDS
77 Try again : REDO
78 Big name in casualwear : IZOD
79 Former host Jay : LENO
81 Oil region? : T-ZONE
83 Rice cake served with chutney : IDLI
84 Fits __ : TO A T
85 Quickly assembled group : FLASH MOB
88 Israeli port on the Mediterranean : TEL AVIV
92 Clipped : TERSE
93 Short critique? : EVAL
94 Risqué : RACY
96 Haunting : EERIE
97 Join together : UNITE
98 Justice Kagan : ELENA
100 English Channel port : POOLE
101 Scottish lids : TAMS
103 “Room” novelist Donoghue : EMMA
104 Record, in a way : TIVO
105 Bingo call : B-TEN!
106 Vexed : SORE
108 Stock acronym : IPO
109 Alternative to edu : ORG
110 Coral __ : SEA
111 Playground game : TAG
112 Leprechaun’s dance : JIG
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13 thoughts on “LA Times Crossword 19 Mar 23, Sunday”
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Fairly straight forward. TZONE hung me up until I let the crosses fill in.
I loved Dave Bautista in Guardians of the galaxy. His dry humor slayed me. I was hooked on this movie series when Chris Pratts role had all those classic songs on cassette from his mom. Loved the dance-off scene!
1:11:44 with one dumb error…una for uno. I started off fast but bogged down quickly.
Dave Bautista was another WWE superstar to go to Hollywood.
Stay safe😀
25 mins 44 seconds and DNF; gave up with 19 left unfilled. Just couldn’t mind read and divine this **STUPID** theme, so had no chance to finish.
This is awful. Just awful.
Fun puzzle…loved the theme answers…but thought ..vaio…idli…and way down the antelope chain is “Oribi”we’re a real “stretch “….have fun rainy week!’
Almost perfecto, missing VOILE/VAIO (didn’t know either one) and POOLE/OLIVER (cuz I was trying to make the latter something that O. Henry might have done rather than the Dickens character. Contrary to Allen’s point, thought the theme was pretty good–it certainly was clever and helped a lot.
Fun but perplexing at times. No errors..one lookup “idli”…sure did
not know that one. I still don’t quite understand “Eugenelevy”….is
that just a man’s name or should I know something else about it???
Eugene Levy is an actor that usually shows up in comedies of various stripes in both movies and television.
Just to throw out a tip to anyone that might want it, when you see a titled puzzle it always indicates the theme in some cryptic puzzle kind of way. Like this one, “Bring It On”, it doesn’t mean what we think that phrase means literally, but it’s saying that IT is being included in the theme entries. So usually (not always), you can pull what’s going on from the title of the puzzle (i.e. some common phrase with IT added into it somewhere) and use it as an added help in trying to interpret the theme clues.
How does “has the tendency for” equal to “prone to”? Shouldn’t it at least be a verb in a third person singular form, like “is prone to”?
Mostly easy Sunday for me; took 37:38 with no peeks or errors. Didn’t know quite a few things but they were spaced far enough apart that crosses and small guesses made small work of them. Learned about the Oribi, Idli and that Ken Jeong was a doctor today.
No look ups, one Natick. The V in Vaio/
Voile. Not too bad but a little frustrating.
Clever theme and it helped. Thanks for the
tips Glenn….
27:49 – two letter errors in HilT instead of HAFT. Wouldnhave struggled with that even if I’d decided on RIFT instead of RILT (which didn’t make sense to me), because I didn’t know the word “haft.”
A few new items in this one.
Having the puzzle title helped with figuring out the themed answers. Not a bad theme.
Duplicate cluing with “Big name in casualwear,” and they’re both 4-letter answers.
Since TOILE is also a sheer fabric, I had TAIO as the Sony laptop. VOILA!