| THENANDNOW | Phrase in an article on grown-up child stars, perhaps ... or a hint to this puzzle's circled squares |
| THEBIGISSUE | Newspaper article on grown-up children (3,3,5) |
| PUTSONTHEPOUNDS | Gains muscle, perhaps ... or a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| FINISHINGTOUCH | Garnish, perhaps ... or a hint to 16-, 24-, 34- or 51-Across |
| ABUSES | Is offensive in an article on public transport (6) |
| WHATSINTHEBOXES | Question asked by a customs officer or a kid on Christmas ... with a hint to this puzzle's circled squares |
| HOMEISWHERETHEHEARTIS | Phrase about feeling a strong connection to a particular place, and a hint for substituting letters in this puzzle's circled squares |
| PICTUREINPICTURE | Small screen superimposed on a large screen ... or a hint to this puzzle's circled squares |
| SLANT | A slope or tilt; one's angle or point of view; bias in an article; or, a gybe (5) |
| GETCRACKING | Hop to it ... or what to do to the various eggs in this puzzle's circled squares? |
| BREAKUPTHEBANKS | Wall Street reformer's urging ... or a hint to this puzzle's circled squares |
| DOUBLEORNOTHING | Risky wager ... with a hint to the letters in this puzzle's circled squares |
| ADULTED | Took on grown-up errands, so to speak |
| THONG | Narrow strip of cloth on grown-up perhaps? (5) |
| REDCROSS | Aid provider since 1864 ... or a hint to this puzzle's circled squares |
| MEETINTHEMIDDLE | Compromise ... or a phonetic hint to this puzzle's circled squares |
| HAMITUP | Overact ... or a hint to this puzzle's circled squares |
| BOYCRAZY | Like many teen girls, and a literal hint to this puzzle's circled squares |
| ADULTING | taking on grown-up tasks |
| FLYINGCOLORS | Phrase in an idiom for success whose first word is formed by F + a verb meaning "telling falsehoods": 2 wds. (Theme answer: The first word is airplane-related, and the second word is a synonym for "hu |
