Theme: NO HESITATION (57. "Proceed with confidence!,"
and how to make the answers to 20-, 31-, and 43-Across match their
clues) - Three 2-letter hesitant syllables are ignored.
20. Pouch for collecting cobs?: CORNER POCKET.
31. Source of inspiration for a candlemaker?: WAX MUSEUM.
43. Cry of dismay from a sailor?: AHOY MATEY.
C.C. here. Steve probably forgot to move his write-up from his blog to the Corner. Will publish his when he wakes up.
Across:
6. One inch = one mile, e.g.: SCALE.
11. Gym unit: REP.
14. Edible flower whose bulb has a toxic core: TULIP.
15. More washed out: PALER.
16. Brief qualifier: IMO.
17. "In sum ... ": AND SO.
18. Worrier's intro: I FEAR.
19. "NCIS" airer: CBS.
23. Slobbery smooch: WET ONE.
26. Inflammation reducers: STEROIDS.
27. "2 Fast 2 Furious" actress Mendes: EVA.
28. Swiper of "Dora the Explorer," for one: FOX.
30. ISP choice: DSL.
35. Culturally pretentious: ARTY.
39. Paragon: IDEAL.
40. The Nature Conservancy, e.g., briefly: NGO.
41. Only state to adopt a state seal designed by a woman: IDAHO.
42. Swift's home: NEST.
45. Short address: URL.
48. Summit: TOP.
49. Angsty music genre: EMO.
50. Spike: INCREASE.
55. Transcript components: GRADES.
59. St. crosser: AVE.
60. Saw: ADAGE.
61. Pop in on: VISIT.
65. Tiny: WEE.
66. Downtimes: LULLS.
67. Play to the cheap seats: EMOTE.
68. Yellowstone resident: ELK.
69. Olympic blades: EPEES.
70. Like flourless chocolate cake: DENSE.
Down:
2. Jog: RUN.
3. Out-of-date: OLD.
4. Pop band Panic! at the __: DISCO.
5. Sugar amount, per Mary Poppins: SPOONFUL.
6. Test-drive: SPIN.
7. Bistros: CAFES.
8. Fully caffeinated, say: ALERT.
9. Jumped: LEAPED.
10. Crossword clues that don't match their answers, e.g.: ERRORS.
11. Documentary filmmaker Stern: RICKI.
12. Battle zone journalist: EMBED.
13. Fence supports: POSTS.
21. Some antique cars: REOS.
22. PiƱa __: COLADA.
23. Victorious cry: WE WIN.
24. Dodge: EVADE.
25. Strains: TAXES.
29. TV's warrior princess: XENA.
32. Fully grown: MATURE.
33. Repulsed reaction: UGH.
34. No longer relevant: MOOT.
36. Like books on goodreads.com: RATED.
37. __ park: THEME.
38. Vacillates: YOYOS.
41. Got better: IMPROVED.
44. Meditation expert: YOGI.
46. Goal of many eBayers: RESALE.
47. Out of commission: LAID UP.
50. Bowled over: IN AWE.
51. "Mrs. Dalloway" or "The Hours": NOVEL.
52. __ by jowl: side by side: CHEEK.
53. Overused: STALE.
54. Two under par: EAGLE.
56. "Naruto" genre: ANIME.
58. Poet Gallagher: TESS.
62. Lenny Kravitz, to Roxie Roker: SON.
63. "__ not what you think": ITS.
64. Gym shirt: TEE.
C.C.