Let's start with the unifier. 59-Across. Device for exposing the end of 17-, 24-, 35- or 47-Across : DETECTOR. And there are four zippy phrases in today's grid to go with it:
17-Across. "You don't look a day over 29," probably : WHITE LIE. The US Federal government calls a LIE DETECTOR test a "psychophysiological detection of deception" test, or PDD.
24-Across. Didn't come to pass : WENT UP IN SMOKE. Everyone should have functioning SMOKE DETECTORs in their home.
47-Across. So as not to be noticed : UNDER THE RADAR. RADAR DETECTORs are illegal in D.C. and Virginia, but all other states allow them in passenger cars.
A few missteps, but fairly easy for a Thursday. Let me show you what I mean.
Across
1. Parlor action : BETS. Nailed it!
5. Dorm peer leaders: Abbr. : RAs. Resident Assistants / Advisors.
8. Lidless container : CARAFE. Wine!
14. Palm that produces purple berries : ACAI. This is becoming a crossword staple.
15. CPR giver : EMT. Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation / Emergency Medical Technician.
16. Missouri River city : PIERRE. And a clecho at 38-Down. Missouri River city : OMAHA. Map.
19. One may use a teleprompter : ORATOR.
20. IM guffaw : LOL. Instant Message: Laugh Out Loud.
21. Hustled : RACED.
23. Points in math class : LOCI.
28. Chorus for the villain : HISSES.
29. "Dang!" : NUTS.
30. Fellow : GENT.
31. Drink with sushi : SAKE. Pronounced sah'-kee, for heaven's sake!
32. Cow or sow : SHE.
40. Promos : ADs.
41. General organization? : ARMY. Cute misdirection.
42. Tetra holder : TANK. We just had a discussion about tetras and bettas a couple of weeks ago.
43. Reining word : WHOA.
44. "Given the circumstances ..." : AS IT IS...
51. Stories of the ages : LORE.
52. Invalidate : ANNUL.
53. Vacation destination : SPA. Aah..
56. Wanted badly : CRAVED.
61. __ Pie : ESKIMO. Are they un-PC? We no longer see Inuits referred to by that name.
62. Great Basin native : UTE. "What's a UTE?"
63. Orkin victim : PEST. Duh, I was thinking of the Orek brand vacuum cleaner, and filled in "dust."
64. Pull out of the water : REEL IN.
65. TD's half-dozen : PTs. Touch Downs are worth six Points.
66. Gorillas, e.g. : APES.
Down
1. Go through a lot of tissues : BAWL. Because "have an allergy attack" didn't fit.
2. Tunnel effect : ECHO.
3. Help from behind : TAIL WINDS.
4. Gather dust : SIT.
5. "I can __" : RELATE.
6. __ curiae: friend of the court : AMICUS. I did not know the term, but it was easy enough to infer with "friend" in the clue.
7. Tough to climb : STEEP.
8. Nav. noncom : CPO. Chief Petty Officer. Do they have a lot of nits to pick?
9. Word before base or ball : AIR. Neither of them have anything to do with baseball. AIR base is a USAF facility, and an AIR ball is a basketball term for a shot that completely misses the rim, the net and the backboard.
10. Kingdoms : REALMS.
11. Skywalker associate, familiarly : ARTOO.
12. Monastic garment : FROCK. The word "cappuccino" is derived from the color of the Capuchin monks' FROCKs.
13. Inducing the willies : EERIE.
18. Sea eagles : ERNS.
22. Kitchen dweller of song : DINAH. "I've Been Working on the Railroad." Meanwhile, DINAH is getting all friendly with some banjo player in the kitchen.
25. Spanish 101 verb : ESTA. I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that it means "this" or "that"?
26. Cook quickly, in a way : NUKE.
27. Half-note feature : STEM.
28. Obey : HEED.
30. Campus no. : GPA. Grade Point Average.
31. Farm home : STY.
32. Unit between levels : STAIR STEP. Hand up for wanting "case" before STEP?
33. Prince in "Frozen" : HANS. WAG, with the H-A-N-* in place.
34. Large grazer : ELK.
36. Cowardly Lion player : LAHR.
37. Bouncy pace : TROT.
39. Sundance Kid's girlfriend : ETTA. I think the "Place that Sundance loved" clue has seen better days.
43. Boll eater : WEEVIL.
44. Actor Will of "The Lego Movie" : ARNETT. All perps.
45. Many diner dishes : SAUTÉS. "Greasy" just wasn't working with the perps.
46. Not working : IDLE.
47. Stress-related ailment, possibly : ULCER.
48. Language on a longship : NORSE. Longships were the epitome of Viking naval power.
49. 16th-century circumnavigator : DRAKE. His Golden Hind was not a long boat, but it did make a long trip.
50. Turn out : END UP.
54. Prepare for a shot : POSE.
55. Song and dance : ARTS.
57. Former Abbey Road Studios owner : EMI. Electric and Musical Industries, Ltd. I always mix this up with BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.)
58. "GoodFellas" boss : DON.
60. IRA suggester : CPA. Individual Retirement Accounts are often suggested by Certified Public Accountants.
That's it from me!
Marti
