Theme: Theme? What Theme? - Phrases we have to use because people are talking softer more and more these days.
20A. "What?": "DIDN'T CATCH THAT?".
32A. "What?": "EXCUSE ME?".
45A. "What?": "SAY AGAIN?".
58A. "What?": "I BEG YOUR PARDON?".
Argyle here...I said "ARGYLE HERE!" Another fine offering from Jeff Chen. Very few three letter or abbreviation entries. No THWACK this time but, in keeping with hard of hearing, there is 19A. Corrective eye surgery: LASIK. (A type of refractive surgery, laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, for correcting myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism.)
Across"
1A. Life histories, briefly: BIOS.
5A. Atkins diet concern: CARB. (carbohydrates)
9A. Bogus: FALSE.
14A. Drub in a game: ROUT. It can be said "to own" the other team; beat soundly.
15A. Exploitative type: USER.
16A. Author Zola: ÉMILE. Émile Zola (1840 – 1902) was an influential French writer; he is used enough in crosswords to be a considered a Monday entry.
17A. Not in favor: ANTI.
18A. Italian tower site: PISA. (leaning tower of ...)
23A. Nova __: SCOTIA. The Canadian Maritimes, is a region of Eastern Canada consisting of three provinces: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island.
24A. Gentleman's offering on a crowded train, perhaps: SEAT.
25A. Scratch (out), as a living: EKE.
27A. Reason to grab a tissue: SNIFFLE.
37A. Lost color: PALED.
38A. Watered-down: WEAK.
39A. Hangs ten, say: SURFS.
42A. Actress Campbell: NEVE. See here.
43A. Finished: ENDED. Ironically, my last fill.
47A. Back-talking: SASSING.
50A. Big bang producer: TNT.
51A. One running in a pusher, for short: NARC. A DEA agent arresting a perpetrator.
53A. Circles the Earth: ORBITS.
62A. Toothbrush company: ORAL-B.
63A. Metallurgist's raw materials: ORES.
64. Choir voice: ALTO.
65. Modeling wood: BALSA.
66A. CC ÷ XXV: VIII. 200 ÷ 25 = 8 (took some time to find the ÷ symbol.)
67A. Swerve: VEER.
68A. Shoreline irregularity: INLET.
69A. Hankerings: YENS.
70A. Salinger heroine: ESMÉ. "For Esmé – with Love and Squalor" She is used enough in crosswords to be a considered a Monday entry.
Down:
1D. Thin nails: BRADS. Small heads so as to not be noticeable. In this picture, the top item is nails that can be loaded into an automatic nailer.
2D. Architectural order: IONIC. Pic.
3D. One-up: OUTDO.
4D. Stretch in the service: STINT.
5D. Hostess offerings: CUPCAKES. Not on an Atkins diet, for sure. Yum!
6D. Continent crossed by Marco Polo: ASIA.
7D. Score silence symbols: RESTS. (musical score)
8D. Sources of teen angst, dentally: BRACES. And more angst: 57D. Source of spousal angst, nocturnally: SNORE.
9D. Sharpie feature: FELT TIP. Magic marker.
10D. Asian nurse: AMAH.
11D. Edelstein of "House": LISA. Lisa Edelstein as Dr. Lisa Cuddy. Cuddy's role in House is that of Dean of Medicine and hospital administrator.
12D. Use a letter opener on: SLIT.
13D. Scared comics cry: EEK.
21D. Connections: TIES.
22D. Solo of "Star Wars": HAN. Space Cowboy
26D. Cousin of an ostrich: EMU.
28D. Vampire tooth: FANG.
29D. Insect in a circus: FLEA.
30D. First name in jeans: LEVI. (Levi Strauss & Co.)
31D. First family's home?: EDEN. Did anybody get caught by this?
32D. Rams' ma'ams: EWES. Rhyme (WH, have you got a final count on your ram's ma'ams.)
33D. TV warrior princess: XENA.
34D. No-goodniks: CADS.
35D. Hawaiian strings: UKES.
36D. Hosp. areas: ERS.
40D. Sprat's taboo: FAT.
41D. Book report, e.g.: SYNOPSIS.
44D. Edith, to Archie: DINGBAT. From the Norman Lear's TV show, All in the Family.
46D. Gillette razor brand: ATRA.
48D. Aye's opposite: NAY.
49D. Old-fashioned "Cool!": GROOVY. Old-fashioned indeed!
52D. Radium co-discoverer: CURIE. Marie or Pierre.
54D. Atlanta athlete: BRAVE. Baseball player.
55D. Dawdles: IDLES.
56D. Symbol on a pole: TOTEM.
58D. Persia, nowadays: IRAN.
59D. Formal dance: BALL.
60D. Apart from this: ELSE.
61D. Jockey strap: REIN.
62D. Kimono sash: OBI.
Answer grid.
Happy Wedding Anniversary, Barry G!
Argyle
20A. "What?": "DIDN'T CATCH THAT?".
32A. "What?": "EXCUSE ME?".
45A. "What?": "SAY AGAIN?".
58A. "What?": "I BEG YOUR PARDON?".
Argyle here...I said "ARGYLE HERE!" Another fine offering from Jeff Chen. Very few three letter or abbreviation entries. No THWACK this time but, in keeping with hard of hearing, there is 19A. Corrective eye surgery: LASIK. (A type of refractive surgery, laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, for correcting myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism.)
Across"
1A. Life histories, briefly: BIOS.
5A. Atkins diet concern: CARB. (carbohydrates)
9A. Bogus: FALSE.
14A. Drub in a game: ROUT. It can be said "to own" the other team; beat soundly.
15A. Exploitative type: USER.
16A. Author Zola: ÉMILE. Émile Zola (1840 – 1902) was an influential French writer; he is used enough in crosswords to be a considered a Monday entry.
17A. Not in favor: ANTI.
18A. Italian tower site: PISA. (leaning tower of ...)
23A. Nova __: SCOTIA. The Canadian Maritimes, is a region of Eastern Canada consisting of three provinces: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island.
24A. Gentleman's offering on a crowded train, perhaps: SEAT.
25A. Scratch (out), as a living: EKE.
27A. Reason to grab a tissue: SNIFFLE.
37A. Lost color: PALED.
38A. Watered-down: WEAK.
39A. Hangs ten, say: SURFS.
42A. Actress Campbell: NEVE. See here.
43A. Finished: ENDED. Ironically, my last fill.
47A. Back-talking: SASSING.
50A. Big bang producer: TNT.
51A. One running in a pusher, for short: NARC. A DEA agent arresting a perpetrator.
53A. Circles the Earth: ORBITS.
62A. Toothbrush company: ORAL-B.
63A. Metallurgist's raw materials: ORES.
64. Choir voice: ALTO.
65. Modeling wood: BALSA.
66A. CC ÷ XXV: VIII. 200 ÷ 25 = 8 (took some time to find the ÷ symbol.)
67A. Swerve: VEER.
68A. Shoreline irregularity: INLET.
69A. Hankerings: YENS.
70A. Salinger heroine: ESMÉ. "For Esmé – with Love and Squalor" She is used enough in crosswords to be a considered a Monday entry.
Down:
1D. Thin nails: BRADS. Small heads so as to not be noticeable. In this picture, the top item is nails that can be loaded into an automatic nailer.
2D. Architectural order: IONIC. Pic.
3D. One-up: OUTDO.
4D. Stretch in the service: STINT.
5D. Hostess offerings: CUPCAKES. Not on an Atkins diet, for sure. Yum!
6D. Continent crossed by Marco Polo: ASIA.
7D. Score silence symbols: RESTS. (musical score)
8D. Sources of teen angst, dentally: BRACES. And more angst: 57D. Source of spousal angst, nocturnally: SNORE.
9D. Sharpie feature: FELT TIP. Magic marker.
10D. Asian nurse: AMAH.
11D. Edelstein of "House": LISA. Lisa Edelstein as Dr. Lisa Cuddy. Cuddy's role in House is that of Dean of Medicine and hospital administrator.
12D. Use a letter opener on: SLIT.
13D. Scared comics cry: EEK.
21D. Connections: TIES.
22D. Solo of "Star Wars": HAN. Space Cowboy
26D. Cousin of an ostrich: EMU.
28D. Vampire tooth: FANG.
29D. Insect in a circus: FLEA.
30D. First name in jeans: LEVI. (Levi Strauss & Co.)
31D. First family's home?: EDEN. Did anybody get caught by this?
32D. Rams' ma'ams: EWES. Rhyme (WH, have you got a final count on your ram's ma'ams.)
33D. TV warrior princess: XENA.
34D. No-goodniks: CADS.
35D. Hawaiian strings: UKES.
36D. Hosp. areas: ERS.
40D. Sprat's taboo: FAT.
41D. Book report, e.g.: SYNOPSIS.
44D. Edith, to Archie: DINGBAT. From the Norman Lear's TV show, All in the Family.
46D. Gillette razor brand: ATRA.
48D. Aye's opposite: NAY.
49D. Old-fashioned "Cool!": GROOVY. Old-fashioned indeed!
52D. Radium co-discoverer: CURIE. Marie or Pierre.
54D. Atlanta athlete: BRAVE. Baseball player.
55D. Dawdles: IDLES.
56D. Symbol on a pole: TOTEM.
58D. Persia, nowadays: IRAN.
59D. Formal dance: BALL.
60D. Apart from this: ELSE.
61D. Jockey strap: REIN.
62D. Kimono sash: OBI.
Answer grid.
Happy Wedding Anniversary, Barry G!
Argyle
