Be it ever so humble, there's no place like Home. Today we move up in the world from a Flat (apartment) to a Manor.
17-Across. Perspiration cause by fear of failure: FLOP SWEAT. Gross! Flat. What is the difference between a Flat and an Apartment?
23-Across. Lucky wristband: CHARM BRACELET. Chalet. I think of these as being more of vacation homes.
35-Across. "Don't cheer yet!": HOLD THE APPLAUSE. House.
44-Across. Best woman?: MATRON OF HONOR. Manor.
Wayne Manor
And the Unifier:
56-Across. Confined to one's residence ... or, as the circles show, a description of four puzzle answers: HOME BOUND. Note that the word spelling out each abode forms the outer Bounds of the answer phrase. Home Bound is appropriate for the past year. Hopefully, we will soon be able to expand our universe and venture out to do the things we enjoyed before the pandemic.
Across:
1. Holiday sub: TEMP. With more people buying online, I wonder how many brick-and-mortar stores will be hiring extra salesclerks for the holidays.
5. Kilt wearer: SCOT.
9. "Mazes and Monsters" novelist Rona: JAFFE. Rona Jaffe (June 12, 1931 ~ Dec. 30, 2005) was an American author. Mazes and Monsters was also a 1982 made-for-TV movie, which starred a young Tom Hanks.
14. Natural soother: ALOE. This has become a crossword staple.
15. To be, to Balzac: ÊTRE. Today's French lesson. Honoré de Balzac (May 20, 1799 ~ Aug. 18, 1850) was a French playwright and novelist.
16. Popular ride app's basic level of service: UBERX.
19. "Is it too risky?": DARE I?
20. X: TEN.
21. Turquoise kin: TEAL.
22. Indian strings: SITARs.
26. Autumn shade: OCHER.
28. Children's author Blyton: ENID. Enid Blyton (née Enid Mary Blyton; Aug. 11, 1897 ~ Nov. 28, 1968) was a British author who wrote over 600 books for children. I am not familiar with her works, however.
29. Spiral shape: COIL.
30. Fashion label from Milan: PRADA.
32. Gross less deductions: NET.
39. Gave the go-ahead: OK'D.
40. Emcees: HOSTS.
41. Ballpark officials: UMPs. As in the Umpires.
42. Fabergé perfume, originally: BRUT.
43. Surgical tube: STENT.
50. Gofer's task: ERRAND.
51. University of New Mexico player: LOBO.
52. Game-winning line: OOO. Think of the game of Tic-Tac-Toe.
55. Arnold of "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World": STANG. Arnold Stang (Sept. 28, 1918 ~ Dec. 29, 2009) was a comic actor.
58. "All kidding __ ... ": ASIDE.
59. Totals: SUMS.
60. Poker stake: ANTE.
61. Church council: SYNOD.
62. Redwood, e.g.: TREE.
63. Aussie hoppers: ROOs.
Down:
1. Only president who was also chief justice: TAFT. William Howard Taft (Sept. 15, 1857 ~ Mar. 8, 1930) served as the 27th President of the United States and the 10th Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court. He was a very large man, and legend has it he once got stuck in his bathtub. Doubtful, but a special bathtub was made especially for him.
2. Vogue alternative: ELLE. Both are fashion magazines.
3. One born under the sign of Cancer: MOON CHILD. Everything you wanted to know about a Moon Child, but didn't know to ask.
4. Oomph: PEP.
5. Refuse conduit: SEWER. The famous sewer scenes from Phantom of the Opera.
6. Third-stringers: C-TEAM.
7. Dental care brand: ORAL-B. This has become a crossword staple.
8. Asian New Year: TET.
9. Court-ordered, as a review: JUDICIAL.
The Supreme Court of the United States
10. Eased up: ABATED.
11. Born in the wild: FERAL. Feral hogs are terribly destructive.
12. "__ Jacques": FRÈRE.
13. Live and breathe: EXIST.
18. Sun, for one: STAR.
22. "500" initials on Wall Street: S AND P. As in Standard and Poor's.
24. Repressed, with "in": HELD.
25. Harvests: REAPS.
26. It's eight in Madrid: OCHO. Today's Spanish lesson.
27. "Order up!" shouter: COOK.
30. Italian sauce with pine nuts: PESTO. Yummers!
31. Word before race or trap: RAT.
32. Top dog: NUMERO UNO.
33. "SportsCenter" channel: ESPN.
34. Midterm or final: TEST.
36. Crowded into: THRONGED.
37. Elvis' "__ Dog": HOUND.
38. Camera setting that does everything except point and shoot: AUTO.
42. Best Actor winner for "On the Waterfront": BRANDO. Marlon Brando, Jr. (Apr. 3, 1924 ~ July 1, 2004) was born 97 years ago this coming Saturday.
43. Hoity-toity sort: SNOB.
44. Parts of Western landscapes: MESAs. Hi, Lucina!
45. Culturally pretentious: ARTSY.
46. Get in shape: TRAIN.
47. Pancake maker's need: FLOUR. Or you could just use a pancake mix.
48. Metz man: HOMME. French geography.
49. Quite overweight: OBESE.
53. Fully aware of, as a scheme: ONTO.
54. Lofty verses: ODEs.
56. Post-WWII pres.: HST. Harry S Truman (May 8, 1884 ~ Dec. 26, 1972) was the 33rd President of the United States. His Vice President was Alben Barkley.
57. Rowboat mover: OAR.
Here's the Grid:
חתולה
Glad to learn that the ship has finally been freed.
