Theme: Tinnitus - Four sets of rings.
18A. Banner passed from host city to host city : OLYMPIC FLAG
38A. Things associated with 18- and 57-Across and 3- and 34-Down : RINGS
57A. A bride and groom may write their own : WEDDING VOWS. And exchange rings.
3D. Samsung product : CELL PHONE. With some rings that hardly resemble a ring.
34D. Big top performance : CIRCUS ACT. Traditionally in a ring and a big circus would have three rings under one tent.
Argyle here. The grid is arrayed with the themes forming a ring around the unifier. Our constructor has given us three Sunday puzzles in the past. Interestingly, all, like today's, includes the whole phrase as the theme entry, not just one part. Nothing fusty here.
Across:
1. Baglike structure : SAC
4. Frozen drinks : ICEEs
9. Perp's fake name : ALIAS
14. "__ before beauty" : AGE. “Pearls before swine” Dorothy Parker.
15. Religious doctrine : DOGMA
16. Island nation near Fiji : TONGA. It is in the pink area on this MAP.
17. Nothing : NIL
20. Right-angle pipe joint : ELL
21. More than trot : LOPE
22. Take turns : ROTATE
23. Issue a new copy of : REPRINT
25. Female sib : SIS
26. Soggy : WET
27. Unclear, as the future : HAZY
28. Stale-smelling : FUSTY. Related to old wine casks while musty indicates a more moldy source.
30. Make amends : ATONE
32. Taxi customer : FARE
33. Unreturned tennis serves : ACES
37. Venom dispenser : FANG. (or Dorothy Parker)
39. Fair-weather system : HIGH
40. Arborist's concern : TREE
41. Formerly : ONCE
42. "__ and Bess" : PORGY. Opera, first performed in 1935, with music by George Gershwin, libretto by DuBose Heyward, and lyrics by DuBose Heyward and Ira Gershwin.
43. Pass along : RELAY. Pass the baton.
45. Swamp reptile, for short : CROC
46. "Oh, sure!" : "HAH!"
49. Every bit : ALL
50. Take for granted : PRESUME
53. Melodious piece : ARIOSO
55. Historic periods : ERAs
56. Prodigal __ : SON. Luke 15:11-32 - The Parable of the Prodigal Son.
59. Malt brew : ALE
60. Genuflect : KNEEL
61. Grocery walkway : AISLE
62. Pic taker : CAM
63. Having a lot of cheek : SASSY
64. Post-sneeze word : BLESS
65. Attempt : TRY
Down:
1. More rational : SANER
2. Like a twinkletoes : AGILE
4. Place on a pedestal : IDOLIZE
5. One of the original 13 : COLONY
6. Land of pharaohs and pyramids : EGYPT
7. Plus-size supermodel : EMME
8. Plant juice : SAP
9. For no profit : AT COST
10. Barn story : LOFT
11. Relative by marriage : IN-LAW
12. Striped stone : AGATE
13. TV comedian Bob : SAGET
19. Showy spring flowers : IRISES
24. The Lone __ : RANGER
25. Storm-caused sea rise : SURGE
28. __ Feast: cat food : FANCY
29. Yokels : YAHOOs
30. Sternward : AFT
31. Driveway covering : TAR
32. Critical test : FINAL
35. Breakfast staple : EGG
36. Bashful : SHY
38. Deodorant type : ROLL-ON
42. Removes wrinkles from : PRESSES
44. Without difficulty : EASILY
45. Moves like a baby : CRAWLS
46. Keen-sighted birds : HAWKS. Little something for Windhover.
47. Gladiators' venue : ARENA
48. Keeps out of sight : HIDES
50. Ordinary language : PROSE
51. Grinding tooth : MOLAR
52. Nemesis : ENEMY
54. "To a" poems : ODEs
55. Black-hearted : EVIL
58. Chatterbox's "gift" : GAB
Argyle
