| ITAKEITBACK | Retraction statement whose longest words are the opposites of "give" and "front": 4 wds. (Theme explanation: The third word is found backwards in this grid's circles; in the across answers, inserting |
| TAKESIN | "Adopts" equivalent formed by the opposites of "gives" + "out": 2 wds. |
| OHIO | US state with vowels back and front (4) |
| IOWA | US state with vowels back and front (4) |
| TAKECARENOW | Farewell phrase formed by the opposite of "give" + an anagram of "race" + the counterpart of "then": 3 wds. |
| SPITTAKE | Messy reaction to a joke formed by an anagram of "tips" + the opposite of "give": 2 wds. |
| TAKEAGUESS | "What's your best hypothesis?" equivalent formed by the opposite of "give" + an anagram of "usages": 3 wds. |
| RHYTHM | Describing beat, cadence, flow or tempo in music or a harmonious sequence of colours or elements in art, one of the longest words in the English dictionary without vowels (6) |
| RHYTHMS | Describing regular beats in music, one of the longest words in the English dictionary without vowels (7) |
| RHYME | What each of the longest words in 17A, 65A, 10D and 25D famously lacks |
| IMAFAN | Enthusiast's statement whose third word is a spinning ceiling fixture: 3 wds. |
| AXIOM | Statement whose truth is assumed, in math Opening Night |
| SELFOWN | Inadvertently embarrassing statement whose second part anagrams to "now": Hyph. |
| SOFARSOGOOD | Phrase meaning "no problems yet!" whose second and fourth words are the opposites of "near" and "bad": 4 wds. |
| IHATETOGO | "Unfortunately, can't stay any longer" equivalent whose second and fourth words are the opposites of "love" and "stop": 4 wds. |
| COMEGETME | Request for a ride whose first and third words are the opposites of "leave" and "you": 3 wds. |
| OVERTHETOP | "Excessive" equivalent whose first and third words are the opposites of "under" and "bottom": 3 wds. |
| HUGEIFTRUE | Response to an improbable claim whose first and third words are the opposites of "tiny" and "false": 3 wds. |
| IMABIGFAN | Words of adoration whose last two words are the opposite of "small" + a cooling appliance: 4 wds. |
| MELTEDDOWN | Phrase meaning "failed to regulate one's emotions" whose first word is a descriptor of ice cream after being left out in the sun: 2 wds. (Theme answer: This answer's first and second words are the opp |
