Theme: Let Loose the L's - Four phrases that are in the pattern of "L__ of the L__"
20A. One completely lacking morals : LOWEST OF THE LOW
25A. 2009 Will Ferrell dinosaur movie : LAND OF THE LOST
42A. Woman with varying roles in Arthurian legend : LADY OF THE LAKE
47A. What exacting judges follow : LETTER OF THE LAW
Argyle here. Four long phrases with nothing in common other than the L of the L gimmick. Maybe I missed something. I hope so.
Here is something you might enjoy. "Love of my Life", by Queen with just a 12 string guitar, Freddie, and great audience participation. Clip(3:41)
Across:
1. Jon of "Mad Men" : HAMM. Unknown to me; not the way I like to start a puzzle. Shirtless image for you girls.
5. Knight fights : JOUSTS. And 62A. Animals for 5-Across : STEEDS
11. Roll of dough : WAD. Money leftover from Sunday?
14. Slangy prefix meaning "super" : UBER
15. Oust from office : UNSEAT
16. Ornamental climbing plant : IVY
17. Roller coaster feature : LOOP. Not the older ones.
18. Batter's position : STANCE. Unlike golf, baseballers use a variety of stances.
19. Anonymous John : DOE
23. Small batteries : AA's
24. Sound preceding "Oof!" : "POW!"
32. Vaudeville show : REVUE
33. Landlord's contract : LEASE
34. Paid athlete : PRO
36. "__ it now": "Understood" : I GET
37. Writer H.H. or Alice : MUNRO
38. Security breach : LEAK
39. Place for pickups : BAR. Out here in Dew Drop Inn country, there's a lot of pickups outside the bars, too.
40. They may be cracked using stethoscopes : SAFEs. They use the stethoscope to listen to the tumblers drop. A thing of the past?
41. Abacus pieces : BEADs
45. __ guzzler : GAS
46. Indian bread : NAN. Or Nann.
55. __ Mahal : TAJ
56. Political fugitive : ÉMIGRÉ
57. Delude : DUPE
58. Big fuss : ADO
59. Singer Bette : MIDLER
60. Team on a farm : OXEN. Not many of them around anymore.
61. Alphabet ender : ZEE
63. Call to a queue : NEXT
Down:
1. Boat's bottom : HULL
2. "Peek-__!" : A-BOO
3. Siamese sound : MEOW
4. Longtime logo with a top hat and monocle : MR. PEANUT. I can't pass this opportunity up. Clip.(0:56) Classic.
5. Exactly right : JUST SO
6. Suspicious of : ONTO
7. Defense gp. with pilots : USAF
8. Mailed : SENT
9. Gadget measuring rpm : TACH. (tachometer)
10. Church high point : STEEPLE
11. Hairline's midpoint, perhaps : WIDOW'S PEAK
12. Swear : AVOW
13. Change the color of, as hair : DYE
21. "Smooth Operator" singer : SADE. Clip.(4:19)
22. Lav in Leeds : LOO. Today's geography. Leeds.
25. Word before pad or tender : LEGAL
26. Common man with a six-pack? : AVERAGE JOE. How's that for a shout out?
27. Plump (up) : FLUFF
28. Basic principle : TENET
29. Severe : HARSH
30. That, in Tijuana : ESO
31. Swap : TRADE
32. You might brush barbecue sauce on one : RIB
35. Approves : OK's
37. "Little Red Book" writer : MAO
38. Used for support : LEANED ON. Literally and metaphorically.
40. Gamblers' methods : SYSTEMS
41. Dull : BLAH
43. "Who __?": New Orleans Saints' fans chant : DAT
44. Keys in : ENTERS
47. Stow below : LADE
48. Give off : EMIT
49. Disney World's Space Mountain, e.g. : RIDE
50. Leer at : OGLE
51. Wilma Flintstone's guy : FRED
52. Opulence : LUXE
53. Highest point : APEX
54. "What __ wrong?" : WENT
55. Looney Tunes devil, casually : TAZ
Argyle
