Pithy sayings (four well-known ones containing the circled word are the keys to unlocking this puzzle's theme)

Question:

Length:

Similar Crossword Questions:

Number of times this puzzle's theme word appears diagonally in the grid (to complete the puzzle, shade those words plus the Down answers that begin where they meet)
Theme word inside this puzzle's theme words
Key to unlocking this puzzle's theme
Oklahoma Indian (and a three-word description of this puzzle's theme)
This puzzle's key theme word
Word that has two diametrically opposed meanings (like this puzzle's eight theme entries)
This puzzle's theme word
Angle (and a three-word hint to this puzzle's theme)
This puzzle's fairly obvious theme word
Welcome mat spot (our puzzle title hints at the theme revealed by the pattern of circled squares)
It can follow the last word of this puzzle's theme entries
Word before the first word in this puzzle's theme answers
This puzzle's obvious theme word
Glen Campbell hit, the last word of which is this puzzle's theme
Word hidden in this puzzle's theme entries
Just making things up, or a synonym for a three-word phrase describing this puzzle's theme entries
Oxford American Dictionary's 2012 word of the year, and the key to this puzzle's theme
Classic rap outfit whose more famous members are circled in this puzzle's theme answers
Wintry mix revealed in the circled letters (it's the puzzle theme!)
Like this answer, or a two-word description of this puzzle's theme
Word that can precede each set of circled letters, forming a literal hint for entering certain answers in this puzzle
___ change (or a hint to the puzzle theme)
Shoe additions, and what this puzzle's theme answers contain
2014 NBC comedy starring David Walton ... and a hint to the puzzle theme which is ___
The last word of this puzzle's five longest answers is a type of one