Theme: THE LINE (42D. Bettor's concern, which can follow each half of the answers to starred clues)
22A. *In the netherworld: DOWN BELOW. Down the Line. Below the Line.
34A. *Use bank "protection": OVERDRAW. Over the Line. Draw the Line. Bank overdraft protection.
53A. *Place where a driver may be required to stop: CROSSWALK. Cross the Line. Walk the Line.
3D. *Climber's support: TOEHOLD. Toe the Line. Hold the Line.
A special 16*15 grid. One extra column to accommodate the even-numbered central theme entry OVERDRAW.
I am not familiar with "The Line". Is it sports betting? I could only think of "The Odds".
This theme resembles Pancho Harrison's "Time and Time again" and Bruce Venzke's "Room" we had earlier this month: the unifier can follow each word of the theme entries. Very neat concept & solid theme answers. But a few groaner affixes (Four *ER suffix) as well.
Across:
1. One might read "Mom," for short: TAT. Tattoo. Gnarly start for me.
10. "Cheers" bartender: SAM. I've never watched "Cheers".
13. Green opening: ECO. Prefix (opening) meaning "green". I can hear Jazzbumpa groan.
14. Pained expression: GRIMACE
16. Trac II successor: ATRA
17. H-1 in HI, e.g.: Abbr.: RTE. I had no idea that H-1 is in HI (Hawaii).
18. Dye, usually: RECOLOR. And REHEEL (20. Do a cobbler's work).
24. Think the world of: ADORE
25. Pocket protector contents: PENS
26. Clinton was one: YALIE. Both of the Clintons went to Yale.
27. Ginormous: COLOSSAL. Nice word.
29. Lets out, maybe: ALTERS. Was thinking of "lets out" a secret. Not tailoring.
30. Some defensive linemen: ENDS
31. Storm part: EYE
32. Eggs, to Agrippa: OVA. Latin for "eggs". Agrippa was the Roman general who defeated Mark Antony and Cleopatra.
33. Lions, on a scoreboard: DET (Detroit). Detroit Lions. Why are they so bad?
36. Hist. majors' degrees: BAS
39. Allotment word: PER. Four rows of 3-letter words in Across entries.
40. Coll. dorm overseers: RAS (Residence Assistants)
41. 1944 invasion city: ST. LO. In red color. The nearby city CAEN also has 4 letters.
45. Like some bands: ONE-MAN
47. Super trendy: ULTRA HIP
49. Hackneyed: BANAL
52. Sharp-crested ridge: ARETE. Often simply clued as "Mountain ridge".
55. Cheshire Cat, notably: SMILER. The Cheshire Cat is a character from "Alice in Wonderland". He grins frequently.
56. Bat head?: ACRO. The "head" (start) of the word Acrobat.
57. Wrap up: ENVELOP
61. Do over: ITERATE
62. Indian bread: NAN. And SARI (41D. Indian garb). Indian echoes.
64. Hi-__ graphics: RES
66. Antiquity, once: ELD
Down:
1. Cookout site: TERRACE
2. Responded to, as a stoolie's tip: ACTED ON
5. Songwriter Jacques: BREL. Probably the most famous Belgian singer/songwriter.
6. Incite to pounce (on): SIC
7. Bun-making site: SALON. Was picturing bakery "bun", not hairdo.
8. Tugs' burdens: SCOWS
9. Shore flier: TERN
10. Delayed: STALLED
11. Large wardrobe: ARMOIRE. Only know the clothes meaning of wardrobe, not the cabinet.
12. Star of "I'm No Angel" (1933): MAE WEST. Full name is always desirable. A shout-out to our birthday girl Lois, the Mae West of our blog.
15D. Builder of tiny cities: MODELER. And PAYER (25D. One treating).
16. Persistently bothered: ATE AT
21. Love personified: EROS. Greek god of love.
23. Corporate rule: BYLAW. Dictionary defines it as "A law or rule governing the internal affairs of an organization".
28. Number of Sinbad's voyages: SEVEN. Oh, I was ignorant of his total voyages.
22A. *In the netherworld: DOWN BELOW. Down the Line. Below the Line.
34A. *Use bank "protection": OVERDRAW. Over the Line. Draw the Line. Bank overdraft protection.
53A. *Place where a driver may be required to stop: CROSSWALK. Cross the Line. Walk the Line.
3D. *Climber's support: TOEHOLD. Toe the Line. Hold the Line.
A special 16*15 grid. One extra column to accommodate the even-numbered central theme entry OVERDRAW.
I am not familiar with "The Line". Is it sports betting? I could only think of "The Odds".
This theme resembles Pancho Harrison's "Time and Time again" and Bruce Venzke's "Room" we had earlier this month: the unifier can follow each word of the theme entries. Very neat concept & solid theme answers. But a few groaner affixes (Four *ER suffix) as well.
Across:
1. One might read "Mom," for short: TAT. Tattoo. Gnarly start for me.
10. "Cheers" bartender: SAM. I've never watched "Cheers".
13. Green opening: ECO. Prefix (opening) meaning "green". I can hear Jazzbumpa groan.
14. Pained expression: GRIMACE
16. Trac II successor: ATRA
17. H-1 in HI, e.g.: Abbr.: RTE. I had no idea that H-1 is in HI (Hawaii).
18. Dye, usually: RECOLOR. And REHEEL (20. Do a cobbler's work).
24. Think the world of: ADORE
25. Pocket protector contents: PENS
26. Clinton was one: YALIE. Both of the Clintons went to Yale.
27. Ginormous: COLOSSAL. Nice word.
29. Lets out, maybe: ALTERS. Was thinking of "lets out" a secret. Not tailoring.
30. Some defensive linemen: ENDS
31. Storm part: EYE
32. Eggs, to Agrippa: OVA. Latin for "eggs". Agrippa was the Roman general who defeated Mark Antony and Cleopatra.
33. Lions, on a scoreboard: DET (Detroit). Detroit Lions. Why are they so bad?
36. Hist. majors' degrees: BAS
39. Allotment word: PER. Four rows of 3-letter words in Across entries.
40. Coll. dorm overseers: RAS (Residence Assistants)
41. 1944 invasion city: ST. LO. In red color. The nearby city CAEN also has 4 letters.
45. Like some bands: ONE-MAN
47. Super trendy: ULTRA HIP
49. Hackneyed: BANAL
52. Sharp-crested ridge: ARETE. Often simply clued as "Mountain ridge".
55. Cheshire Cat, notably: SMILER. The Cheshire Cat is a character from "Alice in Wonderland". He grins frequently.
56. Bat head?: ACRO. The "head" (start) of the word Acrobat.
57. Wrap up: ENVELOP
61. Do over: ITERATE
62. Indian bread: NAN. And SARI (41D. Indian garb). Indian echoes.
64. Hi-__ graphics: RES
66. Antiquity, once: ELD
Down:
1. Cookout site: TERRACE
2. Responded to, as a stoolie's tip: ACTED ON
5. Songwriter Jacques: BREL. Probably the most famous Belgian singer/songwriter.
6. Incite to pounce (on): SIC
7. Bun-making site: SALON. Was picturing bakery "bun", not hairdo.
8. Tugs' burdens: SCOWS
9. Shore flier: TERN
10. Delayed: STALLED
11. Large wardrobe: ARMOIRE. Only know the clothes meaning of wardrobe, not the cabinet.
12. Star of "I'm No Angel" (1933): MAE WEST. Full name is always desirable. A shout-out to our birthday girl Lois, the Mae West of our blog.
15D. Builder of tiny cities: MODELER. And PAYER (25D. One treating).
16. Persistently bothered: ATE AT
21. Love personified: EROS. Greek god of love.
23. Corporate rule: BYLAW. Dictionary defines it as "A law or rule governing the internal affairs of an organization".
28. Number of Sinbad's voyages: SEVEN. Oh, I was ignorant of his total voyages.
29. Nautical "Hold it!": AVAST
32. Advanced exams: ORALS
34. Australian exports: OPALS. Opal is Australia's national gemstone. Kazie has linked a few fantastic opal pictures in the past.
35. More lit: DRUNKER. Lit is a slang for "drunk". The only adjective *ER suffix.
36. Lynx family members: BOBCATS
37. Lawlessness: ANARCHY
38. Ladies of Spain: SENORAS. Nice to see SRA's full form.
43. Word-for-word: LITERAL. "Word for Word" is also a weekly program from American Public Media. One of the few Podcast I listen to.
44. Either 2 in 2 + 2 = 4, in math: OPERAND
46. Street boss?: MASON. Because mason lays brick on the street? (Updated later: Perry Mason is the boss of Della Street. Thanks, Anonymous @7:08am).
48. Like wheelchair-accessible entrances: RAMPED
50. "Inferno" author: DANTE. Waiting for Jerome to use "Hell of a writer" clue.
51. Reindeer caretakers, traditionally: ELVES
54. River dam: WEIR. New word to me.
55. Explorer Hernando de __: SOTO. The first European (Spanish) to explore Florida.
58. Thighs, at times: LAP
32. Advanced exams: ORALS
34. Australian exports: OPALS. Opal is Australia's national gemstone. Kazie has linked a few fantastic opal pictures in the past.
35. More lit: DRUNKER. Lit is a slang for "drunk". The only adjective *ER suffix.
36. Lynx family members: BOBCATS
37. Lawlessness: ANARCHY
38. Ladies of Spain: SENORAS. Nice to see SRA's full form.
43. Word-for-word: LITERAL. "Word for Word" is also a weekly program from American Public Media. One of the few Podcast I listen to.
44. Either 2 in 2 + 2 = 4, in math: OPERAND
46. Street boss?: MASON. Because mason lays brick on the street? (Updated later: Perry Mason is the boss of Della Street. Thanks, Anonymous @7:08am).
48. Like wheelchair-accessible entrances: RAMPED
50. "Inferno" author: DANTE. Waiting for Jerome to use "Hell of a writer" clue.
51. Reindeer caretakers, traditionally: ELVES
54. River dam: WEIR. New word to me.
55. Explorer Hernando de __: SOTO. The first European (Spanish) to explore Florida.
58. Thighs, at times: LAP
