Crossword

Note: This puzzle is part of Merl’s best-of series. ACROSS 1 Atty.’s assn. 4 Riyal spender 9 Bread trace 14 Commencing 18 Road sign, or bad advice to the offense? 21 Correo ___ (air mail, amigos) 22 Emulate eagles 23 Road sign, or “be really, really careful as you push the ball downfield”? 25 Words of supposition 26 Flock’s response 27 Frustrated faces 28 High-priced spreads? 30 Big-business types 33 The bus stops here: abbr. 34 Dry, in Mexico 35 Former lander at Dulles 36 One with a crib sheet? 37 Hearty party 39 Greed’s lead, ___ Pitts 42 Part of a swearing-in 44 City S of Moscow 46 Road sign, or good advice to a quarterback? 51 “My good woman” 53 Actress Louise 54 “It’s time ____ the cord” 55 Lamented 57 Road sign, or get ready for the snap? 60 La ___ Vita 61 Square-dance maneuver 64 River at 44 Across 65 German coal center 67 Barfly’s blues 68 Gone up 69 Cheap cigars 72 Like Hercules’ lion 74 Semi 75 One of the slots spots 77 House addition 78 Pyrenees republic 79 Kerensky’s overthrower 81 Road sign, or referee’s dictum? 85 Presidential middle name 86 Author ___ Rogers St. Johns 87 Plastic face 88 Like some woods at night 92 Road sign, or field condition? 96 Offshoot group 97 “Freeze!” 98 Nimitz’s alma mater: abbr. 99 Wall St. initials 101 Old radiation regulator: abbr. 102 Big/house insert 104 Prelude to a duel 106 Erstwhile airline 109 Frisk 111 The whole ___ 113 “Aw, have ___!” 116 ___ speak 117 Famed stadium 118 Road sign, or torn-shirt rule? 123 Brave Bradley 124 Two-toed sloths 125 Road sign, or where the QB gets the ball? 126 Buffalo Bill 127 Piercing flavors 128 Kin of “swell!” 129 Compass heading DOWN 1 Lengthen (with “to”) 2 Neighbor of Tahiti 3 Like Bugs and Daffy 4 Court worker, for short 5 Ceded the throne: abbr. 6 Glob ending 7 Lift, as one’s hat 8 Topping pros 9 Mildred Pierce author James M. 10 Works the engine 11 Cult follower? 12 Ruckus 13 He’s prepared 14 A continent 15 Road sign, or injury result? 16 Green spots 17 Fall crop spoiler 19 Up and ___ 20 Slip, top, or granny 24 Mbabane resident 29 Perfectly 31 Toddler’s timeout 32 Coaches’ chalkboards 34 Good kind of story 36 He stole a pig 38 ___ were 40 Envelope abbr. 41 Whiskey serving 43 Amateur, variantly 45 Fernando or Lorenzo 47 Slangy nose 48 “Crazoid” 49 Atmosphere 50 Bee’s attractor 52 New 56 Russian river (anagram of ANDES) 58 Early German rocket 59 Full of enthusiasm 60 River scoop 61 Alfalfa’s “Our Gang” love 62 Bay windows 63 Road sign, or “here comes the QB’s recitation”? 66 Oscar winner Paquin 69 Recover from 67 Across 70 ___ France 71 Murphy Brown’s painter 73 Bulrush discovery 76 Little bump 78 Where you can hear pins drop 80 “We’re only ___ for the money” 82 Ron and family 83 Show ennui 84 Act servilely 86 Type of cake 89 Atomic apparatuses 90 Breakthroughs in Arctic fishing? 91 Time-saving abbr. 93 Model’s stance 94 Misanthrope 95 Part of Mao’s name 100 Half of an heir’s lament 102 The NFL, e.g. 103 Dolt 105 Indoor style of football 107 Launder 108 “Congratulations ___ order” 110 The Godfather composer Nino 112 Manger mother 113 Start of a Khayyam line 114 Myra or Rudolf 115 Young one 119 Pale 120 Zadora or Lindstrom 121 Hill builder 122 Type of firm in The Firm