08.05.12 — Single-Minded




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Sunday, August 5, 2012

SINGLE-MINDED, Puzzle by Patrick Merrell
Edited by Will Shortz

In this agreeable Sunday crossword, phrases that usually employ the plural are rendered singular:

SHOW OF HAND (23A. Disappointing “Who’s with me?” response?)
HIT THE BOOK (26A. Work to maintain a C average?)
SPILL THE BEAN (31A. Mention that you know a secret?)
MAN OF LETTER (51. One who’s read an encyclopedia’s first volume?)
YELLOW PAGE (58A. Podunk’s directory?)
WET BEHIND THE EAR (71A. Having finished just one month of a job?)
GOLDEN YEAR (87A. What one with a small nest egg enjoys?)
BILL OF RIGHT (96A. Despot’s concession?)
BUTTER FINGER (109A. Occasional klutz?)
BAG OF TRICK (121A. Beginning magician’s arsenal?)
SOW ONE’S OAT (123A. Go on a brief youthful binge?)

Other — CRAYOLA (102A. It no longer sells maize or mulberry), CROSS TIES, DEFENSE, FAR SIDE, HOT COFFEE, Jean LAFITTE, LOCATIONS, ROOTS FOR, DEFENSE.

Six-letter — ANOINT, Annette BENING, BROKER, HAD A GO, I AGREE, IDEALS, MODISH, PAUPER, RHONES, SPRAYS, STUPOR, WIDELY.

Five — ACRED, ADAGE, ANNIE, Give A PASS, ARETE, Nancy ASTOR, CECIL, CRIBS, Silas DEANE, DELLA, DUCAT, ECONO, EDDIE, ERTES, ERWIN, FLATT, GO APE, HALTS, HASN’T, IT CAN, LATTE machine, MSNBC, NASAL, NHLER, OPHIR, PALME d‘Or, RYDER, SEIKO, SORES, STRUM, TANGO, TEN LB, THORN, TOSCA, TOWEL, TRACE, TRAIT, “WE THE, people …”

Short stuff — ACH, ADO, ALDA, ANA and AND and END, ANTS, ARNO and AROO, ATE, BIB, CAAN, CBER, CDS, CLIP, COAT, DODO, DSL, ELI, ERR, ESA and EST, EX GI, HEX, IDEA, ING, IN ON, KEY, KIRK, LEAP, Mauna LOA, Jay MOHR, NEE, NOAM Chomsky, NOSY, OBI, ORD and ORE and OER, O GOD, OKIE, OLLA, OOH, ORD, OSU, PAD, PANE, PUB, RABI, RACY, REUP, REV, ROLE, RUED, SCIS, SHEB Wooley, SONE, SOSO, SPED, SRS, TAPS, TOIL, TOP, TRI, TSKS, USED, USH, UTAH, VISE, YAK.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Cover-up; 10. Crosswords of the West; 14. Green eyes, e.g.; 19. “Alice in Wonderland” character; 20. Like a land baron; 21. O.K.; 22. Yields; 27. Certain Ivy Leaguer; 28. Bit of a TV reviewer’s review; 30. Film credits list; 36. It’s cast and landed; 37. Digs; 38. Downed subs, e.g.; 41. Rarely photographed half of the moon; 46. Though better of; 48. Grunt no more; 53. Give ___ (let off); 55. Again; 57. Old gold coin; 61. Think about it; 63. It might be surrounded by a sash; 64. Grandfathers of III’s: Abbr.; 65. Pay one’s dues again, say; 66. James of “Las Vegas”; 69. Some French wines; 75. Trendy; 78. Star of the most-watched TV episode ever; 79. Formic acid sources; 80. Overalls part; 83. Wasted no time; 84. Abbr. before a year; 90. Islander, e.g.; 92. Lease refined; 95. South American invention; 98. Milked; 101. Sulu’s superior; 103. Throughout, in poetry; 104. Gun, as an engine; 106. It came between Kennedy and Bouvier; 107. Composition of only four different notes; 114. Rail supports; 119. Actor Jay; 120. What’s that, in Tijuana?; 128. Low-cost prefix; 129. “The Grapes of Wrath” figure; 130. Test cheats; 131. Pisa’s river; 132. Truck rental name; 133. Prying; 134. “Little” comics girl; 135. Flaw in logic. — DOWN: 1. They’re shiny even after being burned; 2. “Could be a problem”; 3. Hustle or bustle; 4. Beach item; 5. Privateer Jean; 6. Hamburg grr?; 7. Draw over; 8. Dumbbell weight abbr.; 9. Money or Murphy; 10. Seat, informally; 11. Labor; 12. Nancy ___, first female member of the British Parliament; 13. Sign on a sidewalk food cart; 14. Went back and forth on a decision; 15. 1944 Nobel physicist Isidor; 16. Suffix with buck; 17. Informed of; 18. Sounds that may accompany head-shaking; 24. Stewpot; 26 Jew : kosher :: Muslim : ___; 29. ___ d’Or (Cannes award); 31. Decorative flower arrangements; 32. Have-not; 33. High standards; 34. Curse; 35. Linguist Chomsky; 40. Prepare for a sacrifice, in a way; 42. Daze; 43. “Happens sometimes”; 44. Silas of the Continental Congress; 45. Some collectible Deco drawings; 47. Internet hookup letters; 49. Blow a fuse; 50. Participle suffix; 52. California’s historic Fort ___; 54. Tender spots; 56. Seasick sea serpent of cartoons; 60. Locale for tapping, toping and tipping; 62. Mountain ridge; 67. “___ how!”; 68. “Time is money,” e.g.; 70. Is without; 71. All over; 72. Tried; 73. Suspends; 74. Suspend; 76. Fox News competitor; 76. Biblical land of wealth; 77. Reese of “Touched by an Angel: 80. Actress Annette; 81. “No argument here”; 82. Deal maker; 86. Heavy recyclables; 86. Prefix with athlete; 88. Buyckeyes’ sch.; 89. Shaggy animal; 91. Cheers on; 93. “tHE Purple People Eater” singer ___ Wooley; 94. Fiddle with a lute, say; 97. Scruggs’s bluegrass partner; 99. Muff; 100. One side in court; 105. Jaws on a table; 108. Bulova competitor; 110. Puccini’s Floria ___; 111. Runic letter for “th”; 112. General Rommel; 113. Kind of cavity; 114. “Good buddy”; 115. Somewhat blue; 116. Hymn starter; 117. Loudness unit; 118. Biol. And others; 122. Set of answers; 124. Eastern sash; 125. Danish coins; 126. Carrier to Tokyo; 127. Outdo.

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