Happy Monday, everyone! sumdaze here with (what I think is) Mary Winslow's worldwide debut puzzle. Congratulations, Mary!!
Theme: 
Today's themers are all two-word phrases such that the first word can be combined with the word CUT to MAKE a new, in the language phrase.
Today's themers are all two-word phrases such that the first word can be combined with the word CUT to MAKE a new, in the language phrase.
18 Across. Hula dancer's bottom: GRASS SKIRT. I liked the three S's in a row.
 |
| CUT the GRASS |
23 Across. Yellow spice in tangy marinades: MUSTARD SEED.
 |
| CUT the MUSTARD (This one is figurative.) |
36 Across. Lounger on an ocean liner: DECK CHAIR.
 |
| CUT the DECK (of cards) Well, not quite like Bugs is doing it. |
54 Across. Influencer with serious clout: POWER BROKER.
 |
| CUT the POWER |
Now for the unifier:
60 Across. Survive an audition, and what one may do to the start of 18-, 23-, 36-, or 54-Across?: MAKE THE CUT.
 |
| <We are already inside that window. Yikes!> |
Time to CUT to the chase. These are the remaining clues:
Across:
1. Split __ soup: PEA.
4. "Time to get up!" noise: ALARM.
9. Ceremonial accoutrement: SASH. Accoutrement is an accessory, item of clothing, or equipment.
13. Greek god of war: ARES. and
4. "Time to get up!" noise: ALARM.
9. Ceremonial accoutrement: SASH. Accoutrement is an accessory, item of clothing, or equipment.
22 Across. Mount of Greek legend: OSSA. and
65 Across. "A Death in the Family" writer James: AGEE. and
67 Across. Director Preminger: OTTO. and
25 Down. Anna's "Frozen" sister: ELSA and
67 Across. Director Preminger: OTTO. and
25 Down. Anna's "Frozen" sister: ELSA and
27 Down. Vietnamese celebration that welcomes spring: TET and
31 Down. Actress Sorvino: MIRA and
40 Down. Abstract artist Jean: ARP and
55 Down. Heroic knight of medieval Spain: EL CID and
62 Down. Music producer Brian: ENO.
15. Called: NAMED. This song seemed the obvious choice:
31 Down. Actress Sorvino: MIRA and
40 Down. Abstract artist Jean: ARP and
55 Down. Heroic knight of medieval Spain: EL CID and
62 Down. Music producer Brian: ENO.
All of these proper nouns are known crossword staples. They are necessary to construction and help with perps. (They can be lifelines on Saturdays!) Unfortunately they rarely add any sparkle to a grid.
15. Called: NAMED. This song seemed the obvious choice:
Johnny Cash ~ A Boy Named Sue ~ recorded at San Quinten Prison in 1969
Those prisoners look like church ushers by comparison.
16. Not for: ANTI.
17. Not illuminated: DARK.
20. Evening parties: SOIREES. evening = after DARK
17. Not illuminated: DARK.
20. Evening parties: SOIREES. evening = after DARK
 |
| "Oh, dahling don't you look mahvelous." |
26. Wile E. Coyote's explosive: TNT.
28. Spanish gold: ORO.
29. Classified ad shorthand: ISO. In Search Of ___
30. With a scoop of ice cream, as pie: À LA MODE.
 |
| He's always scheming, that Wile E. |
29. Classified ad shorthand: ISO. In Search Of ___
30. With a scoop of ice cream, as pie: À LA MODE.
32. Lunch spots: DELIS.
34. Cooling systs.: A/Cs. Systems and Air Conditioners
35. Technical sch.: INST. school and INSTitute
34. Cooling systs.: A/Cs. Systems and Air Conditioners
35. Technical sch.: INST. school and INSTitute
"The primary difference between an institute and a private school is their purpose and funding model, with institutes being focused on research, education, or social causes, and private schools being focused solely on education."
40. Cathedral recess: APSE.
43. __ : raisin :: log : celery: ANT. The colons in this clue are used to express an analogy. It is read, "ANT is to raisin as log is to celery." (That last colon is just our blogging format.) 
44. Slangy "For sure!": NATCH. NATCH-urally
48. Have another nibble of: RETASTE. "eat more" Bzzzt. Try again.
40. Cathedral recess: APSE.
44. Slangy "For sure!": NATCH. NATCH-urally
48. Have another nibble of: RETASTE. "eat more" Bzzzt. Try again.
(See what I did there?)
50. __ kwon do: TAE.
52. "And you __?": ARE. I'm a fan of nametags.
53. A pop: PER.
57. Civil rights icon Parks: ROSA.
59. Despised with a passion: LOATHED.
50. __ kwon do: TAE.
52. "And you __?": ARE. I'm a fan of nametags.
57. Civil rights icon Parks: ROSA.
 |
Rosa Parks MemorialVeterans Courthouse, Essex County, New Jersey |
63. Egyptian fertility goddess: ISIS. Also ... the name of the dog on Downton Abbey. We saw her bum at the beginning of every episode. 
66. Criticize pettily: SNIPE. It's really not fair to the bird.
68. Worktable: DESK.
66. Criticize pettily: SNIPE. It's really not fair to the bird.
 |
| Common Snipe |
Are you familiar with NPR's Tiny Desk Concerts? It is a video series of live music performed in the All Songs Considered D.C. offices. This link goes to the Takács Quartet performance posted last month. Prepare yourself for some thrilling music!
 |
| The Tiny Desk venue is quite cluttered! |
69. Lymph __: immune system parts: NODES.
Lymph NODES are part of your lymphatic system, which, along with your spleen, tonsils, and adenoids, help you fight off illness and infections. The number of lymph nodes varies from person to person. Adults generally have about 600-800 lymph nodes.
70. CIA forerunner: OSS. Office of Strategic Services
Down:
 |
| This famous American served in the OSS before she cooked on PBS. Read about Julia Child in the OSS and see more photos here. |
1. Push-up bra feature: PAD.
2. Mark of a correction: ERASURE.
Seinfeld "The Bro" (1:50 min.)
2. Mark of a correction: ERASURE.
 |
| National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C. info. on another one just like it |
3. Spray starch dispenser: AEROSOL. If you could identify the typewriter eraser above, you have probably sprayed starch on shirt collars when ironing -- or thanked someone else for doing that for you. 
4. Makes miffed: ANGERS.
5. Texas border city on the Rio Grande: LAREDO.
6. Stockpile: AMASS.
7. Hi-__ photo: RES.
8. Surgeons, e.g., for short: MDS. Doctors of Medicine
9. __ Off 5th: discount fashion chain: SAKS. This is an American off-price department store chain founded in 1990. It is a sister brand to the luxury department store chain, Saks Fifth Avenue, founded in 1867 by Andrew Saks.
10. Jennifer of "The Morning Show": ANISTON. The Morning Show is not a network news show. It is an Apple TV+ drama series starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon. I have not seen it. This is the trailer for Season 4.
11. Hair pieces: STRANDS. Toupees fit but did not perp.
12. Smashing success: HIT. Think "Broadway".
14. Comedy sketch: SKIT. Think SNL.
19. Club __: bar mixer: SODA.
21. Pay increase: RAISE.
23. Forum admin: MOD. administrator and MODerator
24. "To __ their own": EACH. That's why they make different flavors of ice-cream.
33. Brainchild: IDEA.
34. "__ your age!": ACT.
37. Reformer of ancient Rome: CATO. Cato's Britannica Bio
38. Was certain of: KNEW.
39. Motionless: INERT.
41. British aristocracy: PEERAGE. The British PEERAGE is a system of heredity and life titles of nobility in the U.K. They are expected to "act their peerAGE".
42. Paintbrush marks: STROKES. Also ... here is a PSA on another definition of STROKES.
45. Becomes smitten with: TAKES TO.
46. University units: CREDITS. University classes are worth units, which are sometimes called hours or CREDITS. They are part of one's GPA calculation.
47. Feminine pronoun: HER.
49. Squabble: SPAT. Also ... the past tense of spit. You can see where this is going....
50. Company that takes the show on the road: TROUPE. Think "theater company."
51. Lets up: ABATES. ABATE shares some etymology with abatis, "a defensive obstacle formed by felled trees with sharpened branches facing the enemy". That tracks. Both decrease the force of something.
56. The Buckeye State: OHIO.
58. Participate in a scavenger hunt: SEEK. Do you remember scavenger hunts? Teams had a list of ordinary things like paper clips, rubber balloons, or popsicle sticks. They had to knock on neighbors' doors and ask for the items. It is a race to see who can complete their list first.
60. Crazy (about): MAD. This 3 min. clip is from a TV show called Mad About You (1992-1999), starring Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt. They had great timing together!
61. QVC alternative: HSN. They are both TV networks dedicated to selling things you did not know you needed.
64. "Help!" letters: SOS.
5. Texas border city on the Rio Grande: LAREDO.
 |
| home to a famous song |
7. Hi-__ photo: RES.
8. Surgeons, e.g., for short: MDS. Doctors of Medicine
9. __ Off 5th: discount fashion chain: SAKS. This is an American off-price department store chain founded in 1990. It is a sister brand to the luxury department store chain, Saks Fifth Avenue, founded in 1867 by Andrew Saks.
10. Jennifer of "The Morning Show": ANISTON. The Morning Show is not a network news show. It is an Apple TV+ drama series starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon. I have not seen it. This is the trailer for Season 4.
12. Smashing success: HIT. Think "Broadway".
14. Comedy sketch: SKIT. Think SNL.
19. Club __: bar mixer: SODA.
 |
| Hi C-Eh! |
23. Forum admin: MOD. administrator and MODerator
24. "To __ their own": EACH. That's why they make different flavors of ice-cream.
33. Brainchild: IDEA.
34. "__ your age!": ACT.
37. Reformer of ancient Rome: CATO. Cato's Britannica Bio
38. Was certain of: KNEW.
 |
| (XKDC comic) |
39. Motionless: INERT.
 |
| It is interesting how the "IN" in INERT came from the prefix meaning "not". |
41. British aristocracy: PEERAGE. The British PEERAGE is a system of heredity and life titles of nobility in the U.K. They are expected to "act their peerAGE".
42. Paintbrush marks: STROKES. Also ... here is a PSA on another definition of STROKES.
45. Becomes smitten with: TAKES TO.
46. University units: CREDITS. University classes are worth units, which are sometimes called hours or CREDITS. They are part of one's GPA calculation.
47. Feminine pronoun: HER.
49. Squabble: SPAT. Also ... the past tense of spit. You can see where this is going....
50. Company that takes the show on the road: TROUPE. Think "theater company."
51. Lets up: ABATES. ABATE shares some etymology with abatis, "a defensive obstacle formed by felled trees with sharpened branches facing the enemy". That tracks. Both decrease the force of something.
56. The Buckeye State: OHIO.
 |
| Ohio Buckeye vs Horse Chestnut |
58. Participate in a scavenger hunt: SEEK. Do you remember scavenger hunts? Teams had a list of ordinary things like paper clips, rubber balloons, or popsicle sticks. They had to knock on neighbors' doors and ask for the items. It is a race to see who can complete their list first.
60. Crazy (about): MAD. This 3 min. clip is from a TV show called Mad About You (1992-1999), starring Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt. They had great timing together!
61. QVC alternative: HSN. They are both TV networks dedicated to selling things you did not know you needed.
64. "Help!" letters: SOS.
The grid: 
That's all for today. Next I have to go stack some CORD WOOD.
