Theme: XOXOXOX - Happy St. Valentine's Day. The three grid-spanning answers end with a word that, when combined with the unifier, describes many of our couples here on the Corner.
20A. Bounty, to the hunted: PRICE ON ONE'S HEAD
38A. Examine quickly: GIVE THE ONCE OVER
53A. Frolic vigorously: KICK UP ONE'S HEELS
69A. With "in," what can follow the phrase formed by the ends of 20-, 38- and 53-Across: LOVE
Argyle here. Three good in language phrases today. And how about our constructor's name. (Yes, I know I used a sentence fragment.) Good strong blocks all around the sides; a good start to the week.
Across:
1. Hearts, e.g. : GAME. Excellent start for this puzzle.
5. Soft pats : DABS
9. Physicist Enrico : FERMI. Professor Fermi married Laura Capon in 1928. They had one son Giulio and one daughter Nella. His favourite pastimes were walking, mountaineering, and winter sports.
14. Sink cleaner : AJAX
15. Straddling : ATOP
16. Hipbone-related : ILIAC
17. It's quite a story : SAGA
18. Kind of nut : KOLA
19. Bridal path : AISLE
23. "Cheerio!" : "TA TA!". Singular today.
24. 2011 Rose Bowl champs: Abbr. : TCU. Texas Christian University.
25. From A __ : TO Z
28. Fox-sighting cry : "TALLY HO!"
31. Dallas hoopster, for short : MAV. The Dallas Mavericks.
34. "Tosca" or "Pagliacci" : OPERA. Tosca by Puccini, Pagliacci by Leoncavallo.
36. Hawaiian neckwear : LEI
37. Gradually lose color : FADE
42. Strong as __ : AN OX
43. Wall climber : IVY
44. Skating jumps : AXELs
45. One of a D.C. 100 : SEN.
46. Golfer Craig known as "the Walrus" : STADLER. Ya think? I think his wife is Sue but could find very little about her.
49. Once called, in wedding notices : NEE
50. Disco __ of "The Simpsons" : STU. He loves disco, of course.
51. Followers: Suf. : ISTs
61. Being not from 41-Down : ALIEN. 41D. Planet nearest Mars, usually: EARTH
62. Silents actress Negri : POLA. She had some love life.
63. Appeal : PLEA
64. Meas. of the cereal without the box : NET WT. Net Weight.
65. Helen of __ : TROY. Wife of Menelaus but abducted by Paris. Bet she got lots of valentines.
66. Run __: go wild : AMOK
67. Lock of hair : TRESS
68. Cuts, as logs : SAWS
Down:
1. [Heavens!] : [GASP!]. Reaction of husbands and boyfriends everywhere if they forgot what today is.
2. Cracked open : AJAR
3. Nativity trio : MAGI
4. Right on the money : EXACT. 'Exactamundo!' as Disco Stu would say.
5. Former territory where Mount Rushmore is : DAKOTA
6. Lacking a musical key : ATONAL
7. Western necktie : BOLO. One with a heart slide.
8. Time period : SPAN
9. Total flop : FIASCO
10. College benefactor Yale : ELIHU. Interesting read here. He had a brother named Valentine. He also had a wife and two misstresses. He made most of his fortune in the illicit diamond trade. Those diamonds must have come in handy keeping his women happy.
11. Greet the judge : RISE
12. __ fide: in bad faith : MALA. More familiar with bona fide.
13. Topped a cupcake : ICED
21. Really bug : EAT AT
22. Set of moral principles : ETHIC
25. Colosseum garments : TOGAs
26. Think aloud : OPINE
27. "Werewolves of London" singer Warren __ : ZEVON. Aaahoo!.(3:15)
29. Architect Frank __ Wright : LLOYD
30. Itch : YEN
31. Expert : MAVEN
32. Fred's dancing sister : ADELE
33. Limericks and such : VERSE
35. Stout of whodunits : REX
37. Sly critter : FOX
39. Asked boldly, as for money : HIT UP
40. Actress Longoria : EVA. Not sure what her present status is.
46. Daring feats : STUNTS
47. Stay out of sight : LIE LOW
48. Blue book exams : ESSAYS
50. Depicts unfairly, as data : SKEWS
52. Flower leaf : SEPAL. Image.
53. "Critique of Pure Reason" writer : KANT. He never married.
54. Robert of "The Sopranos" : ILER.
55. Refer to : CITE
56. Chooses (to) : OPTS
57. Nick Charles's wife : NORA. The happy couple.
58. Sailor's patron saint : ELMO
59. Pope before Sergius III : LEO V. Okay.
60. "For Pete's __!" : SAKE
Answer grid.
Argyle
Notes from C.C.:
Today marks Dennis' 3rd anniversary with the blog, which wouldn't be where it is today without his nurturing and guidance. Dennis has been very supportive & encouraging of my every little effort, always patient and fast in response to all my questions, from baseball cards to slang/idioms. Always there when needed. Can you believe he even fixed our garbage disposal? Thanks, Dennis, I am glad of all the blogs in the world, you walked into mine.
20A. Bounty, to the hunted: PRICE ON ONE'S HEAD
38A. Examine quickly: GIVE THE ONCE OVER
53A. Frolic vigorously: KICK UP ONE'S HEELS
69A. With "in," what can follow the phrase formed by the ends of 20-, 38- and 53-Across: LOVE
Argyle here. Three good in language phrases today. And how about our constructor's name. (Yes, I know I used a sentence fragment.) Good strong blocks all around the sides; a good start to the week.
Across:
1. Hearts, e.g. : GAME. Excellent start for this puzzle.
5. Soft pats : DABS
9. Physicist Enrico : FERMI. Professor Fermi married Laura Capon in 1928. They had one son Giulio and one daughter Nella. His favourite pastimes were walking, mountaineering, and winter sports.
14. Sink cleaner : AJAX
15. Straddling : ATOP
16. Hipbone-related : ILIAC
17. It's quite a story : SAGA
18. Kind of nut : KOLA
19. Bridal path : AISLE
23. "Cheerio!" : "TA TA!". Singular today.
24. 2011 Rose Bowl champs: Abbr. : TCU. Texas Christian University.
25. From A __ : TO Z
28. Fox-sighting cry : "TALLY HO!"
31. Dallas hoopster, for short : MAV. The Dallas Mavericks.
34. "Tosca" or "Pagliacci" : OPERA. Tosca by Puccini, Pagliacci by Leoncavallo.
36. Hawaiian neckwear : LEI
37. Gradually lose color : FADE
42. Strong as __ : AN OX
43. Wall climber : IVY
44. Skating jumps : AXELs
45. One of a D.C. 100 : SEN.
46. Golfer Craig known as "the Walrus" : STADLER. Ya think? I think his wife is Sue but could find very little about her.
49. Once called, in wedding notices : NEE
50. Disco __ of "The Simpsons" : STU. He loves disco, of course.
51. Followers: Suf. : ISTs
61. Being not from 41-Down : ALIEN. 41D. Planet nearest Mars, usually: EARTH
62. Silents actress Negri : POLA. She had some love life.
63. Appeal : PLEA
64. Meas. of the cereal without the box : NET WT. Net Weight.
65. Helen of __ : TROY. Wife of Menelaus but abducted by Paris. Bet she got lots of valentines.
66. Run __: go wild : AMOK
67. Lock of hair : TRESS
68. Cuts, as logs : SAWS
Down:
1. [Heavens!] : [GASP!]. Reaction of husbands and boyfriends everywhere if they forgot what today is.
2. Cracked open : AJAR
3. Nativity trio : MAGI
4. Right on the money : EXACT. 'Exactamundo!' as Disco Stu would say.
5. Former territory where Mount Rushmore is : DAKOTA
6. Lacking a musical key : ATONAL
7. Western necktie : BOLO. One with a heart slide.
8. Time period : SPAN
9. Total flop : FIASCO
10. College benefactor Yale : ELIHU. Interesting read here. He had a brother named Valentine. He also had a wife and two misstresses. He made most of his fortune in the illicit diamond trade. Those diamonds must have come in handy keeping his women happy.
11. Greet the judge : RISE
12. __ fide: in bad faith : MALA. More familiar with bona fide.
13. Topped a cupcake : ICED
21. Really bug : EAT AT
22. Set of moral principles : ETHIC
25. Colosseum garments : TOGAs
26. Think aloud : OPINE
27. "Werewolves of London" singer Warren __ : ZEVON. Aaahoo!.(3:15)
29. Architect Frank __ Wright : LLOYD
30. Itch : YEN
31. Expert : MAVEN
32. Fred's dancing sister : ADELE
33. Limericks and such : VERSE
35. Stout of whodunits : REX
37. Sly critter : FOX
39. Asked boldly, as for money : HIT UP
40. Actress Longoria : EVA. Not sure what her present status is.
46. Daring feats : STUNTS
47. Stay out of sight : LIE LOW
48. Blue book exams : ESSAYS
50. Depicts unfairly, as data : SKEWS
52. Flower leaf : SEPAL. Image.
53. "Critique of Pure Reason" writer : KANT. He never married.
54. Robert of "The Sopranos" : ILER.
55. Refer to : CITE
56. Chooses (to) : OPTS
57. Nick Charles's wife : NORA. The happy couple.
58. Sailor's patron saint : ELMO
59. Pope before Sergius III : LEO V. Okay.
60. "For Pete's __!" : SAKE
Answer grid.
Argyle
Notes from C.C.:
Today marks Dennis' 3rd anniversary with the blog, which wouldn't be where it is today without his nurturing and guidance. Dennis has been very supportive & encouraging of my every little effort, always patient and fast in response to all my questions, from baseball cards to slang/idioms. Always there when needed. Can you believe he even fixed our garbage disposal? Thanks, Dennis, I am glad of all the blogs in the world, you walked into mine.
