Theme - HIGH TIMES. The first word of common two-word phrases can follow the word HIGH to make other recognizable, in-the-language phrases.
Lets start with the unifier -- 24 D. Top-of-the-line, and what each of the four longest puzzle answers begins with? : HIGH END. Indicating merchandise with a large price tag, presumably justified by comparable quality or some other mark of desirability. Let's see how it fits with the theme entries
3 D. Contact skating sport : ROLLER DERBY. A roller skating race on a track between two 5-member teams. Each team has a designated jammer, who attempts to score points by lapping members of the other team. The teams attempt to assist their own jammer while hindering the other teams jammer. The result is mayhem.
A HIGH ROLLER is a big spender or one who places large bets.
9. Act too quickly : JUMP THE GUN. An expression derived from racing events, where the start of the race is announced with a piston shot. One who starts too soon acts too quickly and can be disqualified.
The HIGH JUMP is an athletic event in which competitors jump over a horizontal bar.
27. Kind of tackle made illegal in the NFL in 2005 : HORSE COLLAR. A dangerous method of tacking consisting of grabbing inside the back of another player's collar or shoulder pads and dragging him backwards to the ground.
To be on one's HIGH HORSE is to act in an arrogant and disdainful manner.
31. Cartoon bird that first appeared in "Fast and Furry-ous" : ROAD RUNNER. Here's a clip from the 1949 cartoon.
To take the HIGH ROAD is to behave in a morally superior manner, as for example, to avoid being drawn into acting negatively. Probably not compatible with the previous theme entry.
Hi gang - JazzBumpa here to explore today's offering. Janice Luttrell has given us a rather unusual grid with a couple horizontal 9-stacks. But the theme answers are all vertical 10's and 11's. This inevitably leads to a large number [25] of three-letter fill, due to grid constraints. But the average word length is 4.92, solidly in the Wednesday pocket. Why arrange it this way? Each theme word that combines with the unifier is at the HIGH END of its fill. So the theme not only works on its own; it also illustrates itself graphically. Most elegant!
Let's see what other goodies we can uncover.
Across
1. Dropped the ball : ERRED. Misplaying the ball is one way to make an ERROR in baseball. Throwing inaccurately is another.
6. Pantry pest : ANT. They bug me.
9. Puts in a cooler : JAILS. American slang
14. Successor of Pope John X : LEO VI. His term ran from ca. June, 928 until his death in ca. February 929.
15. Like many indie films : LOW BUDGET.
17. "You Be __": 1986 Run-D.M.C. hit : ILLIN'. Whateva'.
18. Dr. Brown's classic drink : CREAM SODA. Rated good, not great.
19. Pasadena institute : CAL TECH. The California Istitute of Technology, a private university specializing in science and engineering.
21. Mysterious power : ESP. Extra-Sensory Perception. The ability - if you believe that sort of thing - to acquire information without using the known physical senses, including such psychic phenomena as telepathy, clairvoyance and precognition.
22. Slush Puppie maker : ICEE. Producer of frozen beverages under the ICEE and Slush Puppie brand names.
23. Little snicker : HEH. Not to be confused with a small candy bar.
25. Cries out for calamine : ITCHES. As from a bug bite or other skin irritation.
30. Three times, in an Rx : TER.
31. Notes after do : RE-MI. In the English language version of solmization, these are among certain syllables assignment to musical scale steps.
32. Prefix for "time" : CHRONO -. From the Greek god CHRONOS, a personification of time.
33. __-wop music : DOO. A pop music vocal style originating in the U.S. during the 50's characterized by close harmonies and often using nonsense syllables in the main line or the accompaniment.
38. Speedmaster watchmaker : OMEGA. This is a line of CHRONOGRAPH [time display plus stop watch] wrist watches. They have been worn by U. S. astronauts during NASA's Gemini 4 and Apollo 11 missions. It is the only watch qualified for extra-vehicular activity.
40. __ Na Na : SHA. A retro doo-wap singing group, and also their TV show of the same name, that ran from 1977 to '81. Their name is derived from this song, originally recorded by the Silhouettes in 1957.
Are you picking up some mini-themes?
41. Gypsum painting surface : GESSO. A mixture of pigment, gypsum and/or chalk with a binder used a primer to prepare a wood of canvas painting surface.
42. Whittled : PARED. Trimmed down, either literally or figuratively.
43. President pro __ : TEM. The second highest ranking official in the U. S. Senate, typically the most senior member of the majority party. According to the Constitution, the Vice president of the U. S. is the President of the Senate. Theoretically, the President Pro Tem acts in his absence. In practice, though, neither person actually presides over the Senate. This responsibility is rotated among junior senators of the majority party, to give them procedural experience - or, more likely, because the senior members foist it upon them..
44. Salt Lake City collegian : UTE. One who matriculates at the University of Utah.
45. Remains in the fire? : EMBERS. Last glowing bits that will soon be ashes. Nice play on "remains."
47. Wolfgang's veto : NEIN. No in Germany - or Austria.
52. Doesn't go for the green, in golf : LAYS UP. Deliberately shoots short of the green, or to avoid a hazard, as a safety play, hoping to have a better opportunity on the next shot.
53. U.K. military award : DSO. Distinguished Service Order, a military decoration awarded to officers for meritorious service in wartime.
54. Buckwheat noodle : SOBA. From the Japanese word for buckwheat.
5. Use the good china, say : DINE. As opposed to chowing down, which could just as easily involve paper plates and plasticware, or merely hovering over the sink.
6. Lead-into-gold practitioner : ALCHEMIST. Using the BASIC principle of purification to achieve gnossis [mystical enlightenment,] an ALCHEMIST strove to transmute base metals into noble metals, create panaceas, and achieve immortality, Not sure any was ever successful.
7. Negative connector : NOR. Neither's companion.
8. Overly cute, to a Brit : TWEE. What would we say, STATESIDE? Cutesy?
10. Source of much website revenue : ADS. Annoyances, to my way of thinking.
11. "Need __ on?" : I GO. Yes - tell me more!
12. Had no one to catch : LED. As in a race of some sort.
13. BART stop, e.g. : STAtion.
16. Rudimentary : BASIC. Or fundamental.
20. Revolutionary Guevara : CHE. [1928 - 1967] An Argentine Marxist revolutionary, diplomat and military theorist who became a major figure in the Cuban revolution.
26. Dressing holder : CRUET. A flat-bottomed vessel with a narrow neck, a stopper, and possibly an integral spout.
28. Hall of Famer Slaughter : ENOS. [1916-2002] His career spanned 1938-1959, interrupted by military service from 1943-5. He was a 10-time all star and played in the World Series 5 times.
10D. Fail to advance to a subsequent round : MISS THE CUT
20A. Martial arts wood-breaking move : KARATE CHOP
29D. Six-faced puzzle : RUBIK'S CUBE
53A. Shady advantage for a craps shooter : LOADED DICE
"Chop" refers to cutting foods into pieces that are not necessarily even, but all about 1/2" in diameter. "Cube" means to cut food into pieces that are even, like a square. "Dice" means to cut food into even, small squares about 1/4" in diameter.
Argyle here with my Ginsu at the ready. I felt this pinwheel was an apt Tuesday.
Across:
1. Like a three-dollar bill : BOGUS. The un-pc word fit also.
6. Schedule opening : SLOT
10. "Welcome" sites : MATS
14. Take over forcibly : USURP
15. Surrounding radiance : AURA
16. One with star power : IDOL
17. __ apso: dog : LHASA
18. Touchpad toucher : USER
19. California's __ Valley : SIMI
22. Plant generator : SEED. How does your garden grow?
23. All-purpose vehicle, for short : UTE
24. Like some angles : OBTUSE. Do NOT call Warden Norton this word~!
26. Marble rye pattern : SWIRLS
30. Rental period : MONTH
32. __ New Guinea : PAPUA. Some difference from Simi Valley.
33. Employment agency listing : JOB
34. Barbecue brand : WEBER. So barbecue can mean the grill but if you were wondering....
38. Gulf States native : ARAB. NOT the Gulf of Mexico states.
39. "Wheel of Fortune" purchase : AN I
40. Deep sleep : COMA
41. Newspapers and such : MEDIA
43. "I agree" : "YES"
44. Language of ancient Carthage : PUNIC. Wikipedia
45. Word before Kat or Glue : KRAZY. The Kat came way before the glue.
47. Place to chow down : EATERY
48. Rumormonger's output : GOSSIP
51. Grain bristle : AWN. Wild rye.
52. Price-per-barrel org. : OPEC. (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries)
60. Prego rival : RAGU
61. Gumbo pod : OKRA
62. Burger and fries, e.g. : ORDER
63. Get a good grip on : GRAB
64. Hurt seriously : MAIM
65. King or tsar : RULER
66. To be, in Versailles : ÊTRE
67. Tournament passes : BYEs
68. Bottomless chasm : ABYSS
Down:
1. Cheapest way to buy, with "in" : BULK
2. Workplace watchdog: Abbr. : OSHA. (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
3. __ gum: thickening agent : GUAR
4. Bear in two constellations : URSA
5. Kitchen flipper : SPATULA
6. Pasta cook's potful : SAUCE
7. Rife with vegetation : LUSH
8. Three-ply cookie : OREO
9. Silvery game fish : TARPON
11. "Farewell, chérie" : "ADIEU"
12. Dictionaries, encyclopedias, and the like : TOMEs
13. Playground feature : SLIDE
21. X-files subjects, briefly : ETs
25. FYI relative : BTW. "for your information"/"By the way"
26. E-junk : SPAM
27. Hard finish? : WARE
28. Tablet with a Smart Keyboard attachment : iPAD
30. Monopoly game need : MONEY
31. Japanese decorative belts : OBIs
33. Hip-hopper who married Beyoncé : JAY Z. Shawn Corey Carter.
Theme: Thereby Hangs a Tail - A tale of a jumbled TAIL.
21A. "Let's say we're even" : CALL IT A WASH
54A. It's all in your mind : MENTAL IMAGE
3D. Off-ramps : EXIT LANES
34D. Sudden downturns, and a literal hint to this puzzle's circles : TAILSPINS
Argyle here. The letters of TAIL are spun into different orders. I found this not as intriguing as Monday's offering but still quite nice. I hope our regulars would catch the meaning of the reveal and find the permutations even without the circles.
Theme: Fresh start to the week - The start of the unifier can also be the start to the start of the theme entries.
17A. Enter like a debutante : BREEZE INTO. Fresh Breeze.
23A. Keep a lawn moist : WATER THE GRASS. Fresh Water
53A. Deflate the overconfidence of : CUT DOWN TO SIZE. Fresh Cut.
63A. New beginning ... and what the first words of 17-, 23- and 53-Across can literally have : FRESH START
Argyle here. I started an expo but spent my time on the write-up instead.
Across:
1. Single-celled lab specimen : AMEBA
6. Sultan of __: Babe Ruth : SWAT
10. Machine-mixed ice-cream beverage : MALT. Okay, snack time. 30A. Ring-shaped fried veggies : ONIONS. 40A. Round veggie : PEA. 69A. Roast, on le menu : RÔTI(rôti de bœuf). 44D. Asian dish topped with crushed peanuts : PAD THAI. 46D. Cereal served hot : OATMEAL. 50D. Fish eggs : ROE. 51D. Absorbs with bread, as gravy : SOPS UP. Some poi? 67D. Island party : LUAU. Thirsty? 21A. Toga party barrel : KEG
14. Sun-bleached : FADED
15. Pass in soccer but not in football : KICK
16. Singer India.__ : ARIE. 61 Rampy, if you're still with us, there's a nice Corvair in the video.
19. Debussy's "Clair de __" : LUNE
20. Focus of psychoanalysis : SELF
22. Vinyl collectible : ALBUM
27. Comedy duo Key & __ : PEELE. Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele.
29. Midday snooze : SIESTA
32. __ on the back : PAT
33. Sting operation : TRAP
37. Where Hillary was a sen. : NYS. (New York State)
38. Airer of old films : TCM. (Turner Classic Movies)
42. Best pitcher in the rotation : ACE
43. Shocked reaction : GASP
45. Brazilian port : RIO
The beach looks clean here.
47. Search __: online tool : ENGINE
49. WrestleMania venues : ARENAs
52. Electroshock weapon : TASER
57. __ of the Union address : STATE
58. Velocity meas. : MPH
59. Pilate's "Behold!" : "ECCE!"
62. Georgia __ : TECH. Georgia Institute of Technology, one of the oldest and most respected polytechnical universities, is in Atlanta.
66. Vicinity : AREA
68. Hog hangouts : STIES
70. Shrill bark : [YELP!]
71. "Peter Pan" girl : WENDY
Down:
1. Homes for mil. jets : AFBs. (Air Force Base)
2. Female horse : MARE
3. Flower in a "Sound of Music" song title : EDELWEISS
4. Bovine hybrid : BEEFALO. Leftover from Sunday's puzzle?
20A. Chicago bluesman nicknamed for the creek he played in as a child : MUDDY WATERS
56A. Ill-gotten gains : FILTHY LUCRE
11D. Greeting from an affectionate dog : SLOPPY KISS
29D. Fast one : DIRTY TRICK
Argyle here. SLOPPY doesn't quite match up with the other three themes but this such a smooth puzzle, it can be forgiven. This should be a fair test for our tyros but otherwise a fun solve. Four long pinwheel arms with a good size block of white in the middle. Janice had quite a run this month. (4)
Across:
1. Discussion : TALK
5. Untidy situation : MESS
9. Zodiac transition points : CUSPS
14. "The Time Machine" people : ELOI
15. Fairly large fair : EXPO
16. Guitarist Eddie Van __ : HALEN
17. Reddish horse : ROAN
18. Birthstone for many Libras : OPAL
19. Stopped snoozing : AWOKE
23. "The Raven" poet : POE. Edgar Allan Poe
24. Tenth of ten in a race : LAST. It took a bit for this to sink in.
25. Harvest machine : REAPER. "Don't fear the reaper".
27. Filled with cargo : LADEN
30. Wise guy sometimes "wearing" pants? : SMARTY. (smarty pants)
32. Magnate Onassis : ARI
33. Fancy wineglass : GOBLET
36. Pretty good : OKAY
39. Little more than : MERE
41. Find another purpose for : REUSE
42. Biker's distance unit : MILE
43. Enjoys a buffet : EATS
44. Walked proudly : STRODE
46. Mo. city on the Miss. : STL. St. Louis.
47. New Haven alumni : YALIES
49. "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" storyteller : AESOP
51. Daily food allowance : RATION
53. Bungee __ : CORD
55. Bus station abbr. : ARR. (arrival time)
62. Damp : MOIST
64. Fifth of 13 popes : LEO V. There was 13 popes named Leo. Also, 34D. Family name of three popes : ORSINI
65. Use gentle persuasion on : COAX
66. Game show host : EMCEE
67. Soft French cheese : BRIE
68. Work the copy desk : EDIT
69. Bare : NAKED
70. Agile : SPRY
71. Family rooms : DENS
Down:
1. School session : TERM
2. Matty of baseball : ALOU. Just one of the Alou family.
3. Washer capacity : LOAD
4. Reader with Paperwhite and Fire models : KINDLE. A given for some.
5. Kitty cries : MEOWS
6. Political exile, for short : EXPAT. Expatriate.
7. Tiny tiff : SPAT
8. Shoe bottom : SOLE
9. Beer drunk after a shot : CHASER
10. Detroit labor gp. : UAW. (United Automobile Workers)
1954 Olds concept car
12. Black tea variety : PEKOE
13. Disdainful grin : SNEER
21. Yin partner : YANG
22. Not family-friendly, moviewise : R-RATED
26. Molecule part : ATOM
27. Flimsy, as an excuse : LAME
28. Wallpaper hanger's calculation : AREA
30. Fails to enunciate : SLURS
31. "You've Made __ Very Happy": 1969 Blood, Sweat & Tears hit : ME SO
35. __ noire : BÊTE
37. Range above tenor : ALTO
38. Sharp cry : YELP
40. Actor Morales : ESAI
45. British peer : EARL
48. Hit high in the air : LOFTED
50. Drew out, as latent talent : EDUCED
51. Japanese noodle dish : RAMEN
52. Dunkin' Donuts emanation : AROMA
53. "You're preaching to the __!" : CHOIR
54. Yiddish "Egad!" : "OY VEY!"
57. Barristers' degs. : LL.B.s (Bachelor of Laws)
58. Maryland athlete, for short : TERP. Terrapins
59. Morse creation : CODE
60. Ball game delayer : RAIN
61. Nos. requested by receptionists : EXTs. (Extension)