Theme: PUTTING ON THE DOG (54A. Assuming an attitude of importance, and a hint to what ends 17-, 26- and 41-Across ) - The last words of all three phrase are hot dog toppings.
17A. Is well-versed in a subject : KNOWS ONE'S ONIONS. Don't know much about onions. I do know a lot about apples.
26A. Achieves required standards : CUTS THE MUSTARD.
41A. Obviously enjoys a meal : EATS WITH RELISH. "Ah, food!", said Steve.
Notice all the theme answers are in third person singular form. Very consistent.
C.C. again. Delighted with the theme. I bet Seen likes it too. Brings him right back to Marge Schott's $1 hotdogs. She made lots of bad decisions, uttered lots of thoughtless and offensive remarks, but she truly loved the Reds and baseball. And her dogs of course.
Across:
1. Filled with wonder : AWED
5. Trade punches : SPAR
9. Shire of "Rocky" : TALIA. Also Connie in "Godfather" series. Drove me crazy.
14. Hurry : RACE
15. Opportunity to play : TURN
16. Shi'ite leaders : IMAMS. So Sunni's leaders are not IMAMS?
20. Salon service : SET
21. Samoa's capital : APIA
22. Makes an offer for at auction : BIDS ON. I like E-Bay's Buy It Now.
23. Fertile desert spot : OASIS
25. Parisian summers : ETES. Wow, real summers.
31. Quick raid : FORAY
32. Hung. neighbor : AUST (Austria). Been there, Jayce?
33. "Who, me?" : MOI
34. __ rain : ACID
35. More than bad : WORSE
37. Skier's transport : T-BAR. Marti has probably been to every famous skill resort in the US.
38. Uno follower : DOS
39. One of those things : THAT
40. Prepare (oneself), as for a jolt : BRACE
45. Essence : PITH
46. Out of order : AMISS
47. Early birthday milestone : AGE ONE
50. Work subtitled "A Life": Abbr. : BIOG. Oh, biography.
51. Pale or brown brew : ALE
57. Pop singer John : ELTON
58. Herbal balm : ALOE. So, Lucia, can I grow aloes in Minnesota?
59. Roman robe : TOGA
60. Like hash in diners : SLUNG. I drew a blank.
61. Atlantic, to Brits : POND. I enjoy very much Steve & Nice Cuppa's British wits.
62. Acceptability on the street, in slang : CRED (Credential)
Down:
1. Torah holders : ARKS
2. Dwindle : WANE
3. Traveler to an environmentally protected area : ECO-TOURIST. I bet Melissa likes this answer. Great one.
4. Morning glistener : DEW
5. "No more!" : STOP IT
6. Discipline : PUNISH. Spanking was very very common in the neighborhood where I grew up.
7. Vicinity : AREA
8. MDs' co-workers : RNs
9. Most minuscule : TINIEST
10. Surrounded by : AMIDST
11. Vientiane's land : LAOS. They keep Kip there.
12. "__ expert, but ..." : I'M NO
13. The "A" in many org. names : ASSN
18. Cheeky : SASSY
19. Dense : OBTUSE. Tinbeni used this word a few times in the past, I always thought he meant "obscure", not "dense".
24. Ever so slightly : A TAD
25. Avian Aussies : EMUS. Funny clue, Kazie. Jimbo is doing well, by the way. Still bowls. 150 average. Not bad for a 87-year-old. His team leads in the league again this year.
26. Hershey's drink : COCOA
27. Worm's milieu : EARTH
28. Diplomatic official : AMBASSADOR. Here is our ambassador (Gary Locke) to China. Lovely family. He does not speak Chinese.
29. Motel victim? : ROACH. I don't understand this clue. All I can think of is "Psycho".
30. Desperate : DIRE
31. Lose brightness : FADE
35. Bleach : WHITEN
36. Promise : OATH
37. Baseball Hall of Famer Speaker : TRIS. Enshrined in the hall in 1937. Same year as Cy Young. Tony Oliva 2012!
39. Interweaving : TWINING
40. Bounty captain : BLIGH. From "Mutiny on the Bounty".
42. Exactly right : SPOT ON
43. Spoil, as a parade : RAIN ON. Three "On" dupes in this grid.
44. Hammed it up : EMOTED
47. Kong's kin : APES
48. Shore squawker : GULL
49. Caesar's disbelieving words : ET TU. "Et tu, Brute?"
50. Western tie : BOLO
52. Theater box : LOGE
53. "Yipes" : EGAD
55. Trendy clothing giant : GAP. Love Gap Jeans.
56. And more: Abbr. : ETC
Answer grid.
C.C.
17A. Is well-versed in a subject : KNOWS ONE'S ONIONS. Don't know much about onions. I do know a lot about apples.
26A. Achieves required standards : CUTS THE MUSTARD.
41A. Obviously enjoys a meal : EATS WITH RELISH. "Ah, food!", said Steve.
Notice all the theme answers are in third person singular form. Very consistent.
C.C. again. Delighted with the theme. I bet Seen likes it too. Brings him right back to Marge Schott's $1 hotdogs. She made lots of bad decisions, uttered lots of thoughtless and offensive remarks, but she truly loved the Reds and baseball. And her dogs of course.
Across:
1. Filled with wonder : AWED
5. Trade punches : SPAR
9. Shire of "Rocky" : TALIA. Also Connie in "Godfather" series. Drove me crazy.
14. Hurry : RACE
15. Opportunity to play : TURN
16. Shi'ite leaders : IMAMS. So Sunni's leaders are not IMAMS?
20. Salon service : SET
21. Samoa's capital : APIA
22. Makes an offer for at auction : BIDS ON. I like E-Bay's Buy It Now.
23. Fertile desert spot : OASIS
25. Parisian summers : ETES. Wow, real summers.
31. Quick raid : FORAY
32. Hung. neighbor : AUST (Austria). Been there, Jayce?
33. "Who, me?" : MOI
34. __ rain : ACID
35. More than bad : WORSE
37. Skier's transport : T-BAR. Marti has probably been to every famous skill resort in the US.
38. Uno follower : DOS
39. One of those things : THAT
40. Prepare (oneself), as for a jolt : BRACE
45. Essence : PITH
46. Out of order : AMISS
47. Early birthday milestone : AGE ONE
50. Work subtitled "A Life": Abbr. : BIOG. Oh, biography.
51. Pale or brown brew : ALE
57. Pop singer John : ELTON
58. Herbal balm : ALOE. So, Lucia, can I grow aloes in Minnesota?
59. Roman robe : TOGA
60. Like hash in diners : SLUNG. I drew a blank.
61. Atlantic, to Brits : POND. I enjoy very much Steve & Nice Cuppa's British wits.
62. Acceptability on the street, in slang : CRED (Credential)
Down:
1. Torah holders : ARKS
2. Dwindle : WANE
3. Traveler to an environmentally protected area : ECO-TOURIST. I bet Melissa likes this answer. Great one.
4. Morning glistener : DEW
5. "No more!" : STOP IT
6. Discipline : PUNISH. Spanking was very very common in the neighborhood where I grew up.
7. Vicinity : AREA
8. MDs' co-workers : RNs
9. Most minuscule : TINIEST
10. Surrounded by : AMIDST
11. Vientiane's land : LAOS. They keep Kip there.
12. "__ expert, but ..." : I'M NO
13. The "A" in many org. names : ASSN
18. Cheeky : SASSY
19. Dense : OBTUSE. Tinbeni used this word a few times in the past, I always thought he meant "obscure", not "dense".
24. Ever so slightly : A TAD
25. Avian Aussies : EMUS. Funny clue, Kazie. Jimbo is doing well, by the way. Still bowls. 150 average. Not bad for a 87-year-old. His team leads in the league again this year.
26. Hershey's drink : COCOA
27. Worm's milieu : EARTH
28. Diplomatic official : AMBASSADOR. Here is our ambassador (Gary Locke) to China. Lovely family. He does not speak Chinese.
29. Motel victim? : ROACH. I don't understand this clue. All I can think of is "Psycho".
30. Desperate : DIRE
31. Lose brightness : FADE
35. Bleach : WHITEN
36. Promise : OATH
37. Baseball Hall of Famer Speaker : TRIS. Enshrined in the hall in 1937. Same year as Cy Young. Tony Oliva 2012!
39. Interweaving : TWINING
40. Bounty captain : BLIGH. From "Mutiny on the Bounty".
42. Exactly right : SPOT ON
43. Spoil, as a parade : RAIN ON. Three "On" dupes in this grid.
44. Hammed it up : EMOTED
47. Kong's kin : APES
48. Shore squawker : GULL
49. Caesar's disbelieving words : ET TU. "Et tu, Brute?"
50. Western tie : BOLO
52. Theater box : LOGE
53. "Yipes" : EGAD
55. Trendy clothing giant : GAP. Love Gap Jeans.
56. And more: Abbr. : ETC
Answer grid.
C.C.
