Chop, Chop. The first word of each theme answer describes a form of cutting.
3-Down. Yahtzee, craps, et al.: DICE GAMES.
9-Down. Mysterious designs in fields: CROP CIRCLES.
20-Down. Portable writing surface: CLIP BOARD.
23-Down. Fruit-filled breakfast treat: PRUNE DANISH.
34-Down. On the next level, or what 3-, 9-, 20-, and 23-Down literally have: A CUT ABOVE. Notice that each theme answer is in the Down position, thereby allowing that the "Cutting" word is "Above" the rest of the answer.
Here's the Grid:
Across:
1. "One last thing ... ": AND, ALSO ...
8. Gadget for a seafood chef: SCALER. A fish scaler is a tool designed to remove inedible scales from fish while keeping the skin intact. A good one will have a lid to contain the scales instead of making a mess on the table.
14. Chewy bits in some oatmeal cookies: RAISINS. I would prefer chocolate chips in my cookies.
15. Estrogen, e.g.: HORMONE.
16. Noisy insects that emerge in summer: CICADAS. There is a species of cicadas, known as periodical cicadas, that live underground for years, only to appear every 17-years, make loud noises, mate, then die.
17. Small crustaceans:
ISOPODS.
Isopods are a diverse group of crustaceans, related to crabs and shrimp. They have segmented bodies, a hard exoskeleton, and seven pairs of legs. Some species can to roll into a ball for defense. Not all isopods are small. They can range in size from tiny to the giant deep-sea isopods, which can be over a foot long, and play important roles as scavengers in their ecosystems.
18. Luge, for one: SLED.
19. Get stuff ready for vacation: PACK UP.
21. Series of reps in the gym: SET.
22. Empty spaces: GAPS.
24. Sponged (off): LEECHED.
26. "__-ching!": CHA.
28. "Bohemian Rhapsody" Oscar winner Malek: RAMI. Rami Said Malek (b. May 12, 1981) portrayed Queen lead singer, Freddie Mercury (né Farrokh Bulsara; Sept. 5, 1946 ~ Nov. 24, 1991), in the movie Bohemian Rhapsody.
30. "O Sole __": MIO.
31. Target: AIM.
32. Sch. that hosts the Sun Bowl: UTEP. As in the University of Texas, El Paso. Before becoming a part of the University of Texas System, the school, which was founded in 1913, was known as the State School of Mines and Metallurgy. Hence, the they are the Miners.
33. To-do list trip: ERRAND.
37. Fuss at the mirror: PREEN.
39. "Euphoria" cable network: HBO. Home BoxOffice.
41. Chocolate source:
CACAO. Everything you ever wanted to know about
cacao and chocolate but didn't know to ask.
42. Made a cozy home: NESTED.
44. Not written down, as a contract: ORAL.
46. Official who calls balls and strikes: UMP.
47. Laudatory poem: ODE. These poems are crossword staples.
48. Ready, willing, and __: ABLE.
49. Driver's seat?: TEE. Think golf.
50. Snack brand named for a Roman moon goddess: LUNA BAR.
53. Dept. of Labor div.: OSHA. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is a federal agency that ensures safe working conditions by setting standards and enforcing them.
55. Equinox mo.: SEP. Equinoxes occur twice a year, in March (around the 20th–21st) and September (around the 22nd–23rd). The equinox marks when the sun crosses the celestial equator, resulting in nearly equal day and night lengths all around the world.
56. Fool around (with): NOODLE.
58. Kimono sashes: OBIs.
61. Consider anew: RE-THINK.
63. Seasonal quaffs: EGG NOGS.
65. Awakens: AROUSES.
66. Take revenge: GET EVEN.
67. Electronic keyboards, informally: SYNTHS.
68. Appetizer-size burgers: SLIDERS.
Down:
1. Rainbow shapes: ARCS.
2. Get just right: NAIL.
4. Carne __ tacos: steak dish:
ASADA. Yummers!
Carne asada is a Mexican dish of marinated, grilled, and thinly sliced beef.
5. Tupperware top:
LID. In the mid-1940s, Earl Tupper (July 28, 1907 ~ October. 5, 1983) came up with a flexible and airtight polyethylene plastic containers, famously featuring a "burping" lid. In the 1950s,
Tupperware parties were all the vogue. It was a kitchen staple when I was growing up. I may still have some my mother's Tupperware pieces/
6. Gets short with: SNAPS AT.
7. Mount of Greek myth:
OSSA. While it may be associated with Greek mythology,
Mount Ossa, is a real mountain in Thessaly, Greece.
8. Offender's defiant challenge: SO SUE ME.
10. Concert device: AMP.
11. Start to change?: LOOSE.
12. Came to a stop: ENDED.
13. Sit for a spell: REST.
15. Long walk: HIKE.
25. Jewish wedding dance: HORA.
26. Crunch's rank in the cereal aisle:
CAP'N.
Cap'n Crunch has been around since the early 1960s.
27. Fill a job opening: HIRE.
29. "It's alright, I suppose": MEH.
35. First entry on many a form: NAME.
36. Suss (out), informally: DOPE.
38. School attended by many English statesmen: ETON. Prince William (b. June 21, 1982) and Eddie Redmayne (b. Jan. 6, 1982) were classmates at Eaton.
40. Poetic sphere: ORB.
43. Fillets, as a flounder: DEBONES.
45. Soothing balm for a sunburn: ALOE GEL.
50. Suspicious (of): LEERY.
51. "The Jungle" writer Sinclair: UPTON. The Jungle is a novel that exposed the harsh realities of immigrant life and labor in Chicago's meatpacking industry. The 1906 novel was instrumental in Congress passing the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act of 1906. Many books by Upton Sinclair (né Upton Beall Sinclair Jr.; b. Sept. 20, 1878 ~ Nov. 25, 1968) focused on social reform literature. He was considered a muckraker journalist and political activist. His novel Oil! is as relevant today as it was when it was first published in 1926.
52. NASA go-aheads: A-OKs. NASA gave Artemis II the go-ahead just last week.
54. Made sharper: HONED.
55. Sp. titles: SRAs. Today's Spanish lesson.
57. Staying power: LEGS.
59. Disney CEO before D'Amaro: IGER. Just last month, Josh D'Amaro (b. Feb. 10, 1971) became the CEO of Disney. His predecessor was Robert Alan Iger (b. Feb. 10, 1951). Interestingly, Bob Iger is exactly 20 years older than Josh D'Amaro.
60. Hyphenated personal IDs: SSNs. As in Social Security Numbers.
62. Crude dwelling: HUT.
64. VW hatchback: GTI. GTI stands Grand Touring Injection. It refers to a performance-oriented, fuel-injected car, famously utilized by Volkswagen since the to signify a fast, practical "hot hatch" suitable for long-distance driving.
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