ALLIGATORCLIP

POETICJUSTICEReward or punishment that may be ironic PRACTICALJOKEFilling a friend's car with balloons, e.g. GRANNYSQUARESPieces of crocheted fabric that make four-sided shapes ... or a hint to the theme words at 16a, 44a, 7d, and 41d: 2 wds. PRIMARYCOLORSThey can be mixed to make orange, green and purple SENSELESSNESSIdiocy ROLLINTOABALLArrive à la Cinderella? OLDWIVESTALESFoolish traditions SEASONTOTASTESpring roll or summer sausage? PUTINTHESHADETo eclipse MOTHEROFPEARLGround opal, the former material for shiny ornamentation NOELGALLAGHERMember of Oasis who formed his High Flying Birds in 2010 SUNKINDESPAIRUtterly depressed INCONSEQUENCEAs a result HUGHMCDIARMIDScottish poet whose works include A Drunk Man Looks at the Thistle