Theme: And the First Shall Be Last - The first word of the first four theme entries can also be last when the unifier is in effect. Not the penultimate meaning of the unifier but, physically, following the word, LAST.
18A. Knock off: CALL IT A DAY. LAST CALL, the announcement made shortly before a bar closes for the night, informing patrons of their last chance to buy alcoholic beverages.
23A. Doomed fairy tale abode: STRAW HOUSE. The first of the three little pigs built his house of straw. The LAST STRAW comes from idiomatic Arabic story, where a camel was loaded with straw until a single straw placed on the rest of the load broke its back. Hence, any event that causes a sudden change.
40A. Stick to formalities: STAND ON CEREMONY. LAST STAND, when retreat or surrender is not an option.
51A. Fast-cook grain product: MINUTE RICE. LAST MINUTE, just prior to the end.
59A. Penultimate, and where you might see the first words of 18-, 23-, 40- and 51-Across: NEXT TO LAST
Argyle here. I think I better explain the theme again. The first word of the first four, when they are next to the word, LAST(and following it), create another idiom. Any better? Similar difficulty to yesterday.
Across:
1. Rope material : HEMP
5. Ready for the picking : RIPE
9. Staff symbol : C CLEF. Middle C. I listen to music; I don't pretend to understand it.
14. Old apple spray : ALAR. "Give me spots on my apples, But leave me the birds and the bees"
15. Like some vaccines : ORAL
16. "The Magic Flute," for one : OPERA. Composed in 1791 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Rock me, Amadeus.
17. Diamond team : NINE. A baseball team, pitchers and catchers are in spring training now. Ahh, Spring!
20. Screwups : GOOFS
22. Capitol worker : AIDE. They work for the 20A on the Hill.
26. Overcharge, in slang : SOAK
30. Max of "The Beverly Hillbillies" : BAER. Son of boxing champion Max Baer.
31. Point a finger at : ACCUSE
33. Satisfied sound : "AAH!"
36. Drink away, as sorrows : DROWN
39. Largest of the Philippines : LUZON. It is home to the capital city, Manila.
43. Reef material : CORAL
44. Milo of "Ulysses" : O'SHEA. Irish actor who was still busy up till a few years ago.
45. Place for buoys and gulls : SEA
46. Gibson of tennis : ALTHEA. She is sometimes referred to as "the Jackie Robinson of tennis" for breaking the color barrier.
48. Let us know, in an invite : RSVP. From the French RSVP, répondez s'il vous plaît, meaning “reply please” or "please respond".
50. __ bargaining : PLEA
57. Meat pkg. letters : USDA. United States Department of Agriculture.
58. It has banks and a mouth : RIVER and 49D. Place up the 58-Across? : PRISON. Sing Sing Correctional Facility is a NYS maximum security prison in the Town of Ossining, NY. It is located approximately 30 mi. north of New York City along the banks of the Hudson River. Prisoners are sent 'up the river'.
65. Ice cream drink : SODA
66. Writer __ Rogers St. Johns : ADELA. She is best remembered for her groundbreaking exploits as a "girl reporter" during the 1920s and 1930s. She told Jack Paar once, "I just want to live long enough to see how it all turns out." She died in Arroyo Grande, CA, in 1988, at the age of 94.
67. Cavern sound : ECHO
68. Metal sources : OREs
69. Veranda : PORCH
70. Gush : SPEW
71. Wall St. market : NYSE. New York Stock Exchange.
Down:
1. Associates (with), slangily : HANGS
2. "The Naming of Cats" poet : ELIOT. T.S. Eliot.
3. Lord's estate : MANOR
4. Ready-made home : PREFAB. Prefabricated, not likely you'll find a Lord living in one.
5. Legendary bird : ROC. Said to be able to fly off with an elephant.
6. Songwriter Gershwin : IRA. Collaborated with his younger brother, composer George.
7. 2005 "Survivor" island : PALAU. It is one of the world's youngest and smallest sovereign states.
8. __ Island, former immigration center : ELLIS. Could be considered an early "Survivor" island.
9. Coop : COTE. Bird cage, for several birds.
10. No.-crunching pro : CPA. Certified Public Accountant.
11. Guided : LED
12. Big Band __ : ERA
13. Wray of "King Kong" : FAY. This Canadian-American actress many consider her as the first "scream queen".
19. It may be half-baked : IDEA
21. Wrap, as an infant : SWADDLE
24. Saver of the day : HERO. Saver of the 'scream queen'?
25. Maine college town : ORONO. Named in honor of Chief Joseph Orono of the Penobscot Nation.
26. Pond problem : SCUM
27. Greek liqueurs : OUZOs. An anise-flavored aperitif.
28. What "two shall be" after the I do's, in song : AS ONE. Written by Noel Paul Stookey of Peter, Paul and Mary in the fall of 1969 and first performed at the wedding of Peter Yarrow.
29. Land of Obama's father : KENYA
32. Butcher's tool : CLEAVER
33. Musicians' org. : ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.
34. Lagoon border : ATOLL
35. Poker Flat creator : HARTE. Francis Bret Harte (1836–1902) was a author and poet, best remembered for his accounts of pioneering life in California but he was born in Albany, NY.
37. Loos, briefly : WCs. Bathrooms.
38. Big name in Indian politics : NEHRU
41. Okinawa's capital : NAHA. Sounds like it should be 47D.
42. Musical silence : REST
47. Playground retort : "AM SO!"
52. Sits at a light, say : IDLEs
53. Anti-racism gp. since 1909 : NAACP. National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
54. Classic Procter & Gamble soap brand : IVORY. It floats!
55. Formally gives up : CEDEs
56. Wipe off the board : ERASE
57. Colorado neighbor : UTAH
59. Short sleep : NAP
60. Tokyo, once : EDO
61. Signer, at times : Xer
62. Jilted lover's need, briefly : TLC. "Tender Loving Care". Somebody didn't get a Valentine's card.
63. Miss identification : SHE
64. Stranded motorist's need : TOW. It's been a good year for tow truck operators, I'll bet.
Answer grid.
18A. Knock off: CALL IT A DAY. LAST CALL, the announcement made shortly before a bar closes for the night, informing patrons of their last chance to buy alcoholic beverages.
23A. Doomed fairy tale abode: STRAW HOUSE. The first of the three little pigs built his house of straw. The LAST STRAW comes from idiomatic Arabic story, where a camel was loaded with straw until a single straw placed on the rest of the load broke its back. Hence, any event that causes a sudden change.
40A. Stick to formalities: STAND ON CEREMONY. LAST STAND, when retreat or surrender is not an option.
51A. Fast-cook grain product: MINUTE RICE. LAST MINUTE, just prior to the end.
59A. Penultimate, and where you might see the first words of 18-, 23-, 40- and 51-Across: NEXT TO LAST
Argyle here. I think I better explain the theme again. The first word of the first four, when they are next to the word, LAST(and following it), create another idiom. Any better? Similar difficulty to yesterday.
Across:
1. Rope material : HEMP
5. Ready for the picking : RIPE
9. Staff symbol : C CLEF. Middle C. I listen to music; I don't pretend to understand it.
14. Old apple spray : ALAR. "Give me spots on my apples, But leave me the birds and the bees"
15. Like some vaccines : ORAL
16. "The Magic Flute," for one : OPERA. Composed in 1791 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Rock me, Amadeus.
17. Diamond team : NINE. A baseball team, pitchers and catchers are in spring training now. Ahh, Spring!
20. Screwups : GOOFS
22. Capitol worker : AIDE. They work for the 20A on the Hill.
26. Overcharge, in slang : SOAK
30. Max of "The Beverly Hillbillies" : BAER. Son of boxing champion Max Baer.
31. Point a finger at : ACCUSE
33. Satisfied sound : "AAH!"
36. Drink away, as sorrows : DROWN
39. Largest of the Philippines : LUZON. It is home to the capital city, Manila.
43. Reef material : CORAL
44. Milo of "Ulysses" : O'SHEA. Irish actor who was still busy up till a few years ago.
45. Place for buoys and gulls : SEA
46. Gibson of tennis : ALTHEA. She is sometimes referred to as "the Jackie Robinson of tennis" for breaking the color barrier.
48. Let us know, in an invite : RSVP. From the French RSVP, répondez s'il vous plaît, meaning “reply please” or "please respond".
50. __ bargaining : PLEA
57. Meat pkg. letters : USDA. United States Department of Agriculture.
58. It has banks and a mouth : RIVER and 49D. Place up the 58-Across? : PRISON. Sing Sing Correctional Facility is a NYS maximum security prison in the Town of Ossining, NY. It is located approximately 30 mi. north of New York City along the banks of the Hudson River. Prisoners are sent 'up the river'.
65. Ice cream drink : SODA
66. Writer __ Rogers St. Johns : ADELA. She is best remembered for her groundbreaking exploits as a "girl reporter" during the 1920s and 1930s. She told Jack Paar once, "I just want to live long enough to see how it all turns out." She died in Arroyo Grande, CA, in 1988, at the age of 94.
67. Cavern sound : ECHO
68. Metal sources : OREs
69. Veranda : PORCH
70. Gush : SPEW
71. Wall St. market : NYSE. New York Stock Exchange.
Down:
1. Associates (with), slangily : HANGS
2. "The Naming of Cats" poet : ELIOT. T.S. Eliot.
3. Lord's estate : MANOR
4. Ready-made home : PREFAB. Prefabricated, not likely you'll find a Lord living in one.
5. Legendary bird : ROC. Said to be able to fly off with an elephant.
6. Songwriter Gershwin : IRA. Collaborated with his younger brother, composer George.
7. 2005 "Survivor" island : PALAU. It is one of the world's youngest and smallest sovereign states.
8. __ Island, former immigration center : ELLIS. Could be considered an early "Survivor" island.
9. Coop : COTE. Bird cage, for several birds.
10. No.-crunching pro : CPA. Certified Public Accountant.
11. Guided : LED
12. Big Band __ : ERA
13. Wray of "King Kong" : FAY. This Canadian-American actress many consider her as the first "scream queen".
19. It may be half-baked : IDEA
21. Wrap, as an infant : SWADDLE
24. Saver of the day : HERO. Saver of the 'scream queen'?
25. Maine college town : ORONO. Named in honor of Chief Joseph Orono of the Penobscot Nation.
26. Pond problem : SCUM
27. Greek liqueurs : OUZOs. An anise-flavored aperitif.
28. What "two shall be" after the I do's, in song : AS ONE. Written by Noel Paul Stookey of Peter, Paul and Mary in the fall of 1969 and first performed at the wedding of Peter Yarrow.
29. Land of Obama's father : KENYA
32. Butcher's tool : CLEAVER
33. Musicians' org. : ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.
34. Lagoon border : ATOLL
35. Poker Flat creator : HARTE. Francis Bret Harte (1836–1902) was a author and poet, best remembered for his accounts of pioneering life in California but he was born in Albany, NY.
37. Loos, briefly : WCs. Bathrooms.
38. Big name in Indian politics : NEHRU
41. Okinawa's capital : NAHA. Sounds like it should be 47D.
42. Musical silence : REST
47. Playground retort : "AM SO!"
52. Sits at a light, say : IDLEs
53. Anti-racism gp. since 1909 : NAACP. National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
54. Classic Procter & Gamble soap brand : IVORY. It floats!
55. Formally gives up : CEDEs
56. Wipe off the board : ERASE
57. Colorado neighbor : UTAH
59. Short sleep : NAP
60. Tokyo, once : EDO
61. Signer, at times : Xer
62. Jilted lover's need, briefly : TLC. "Tender Loving Care". Somebody didn't get a Valentine's card.
63. Miss identification : SHE
64. Stranded motorist's need : TOW. It's been a good year for tow truck operators, I'll bet.
Answer grid.
I didn't use any links today, do you like it or hate it?
Argyle
