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It's another quickie. The shaded square is bewildering until, you know, you see it. Some charming clues.

Haven't tried it yet. Might need a nice break from the Speccy - another Magoo mind-bender.

Finished the Harpers, again, a couple of Americanisms, but easy to find.
Got the letter in the middle (thank goodness)

NB: The answer to 40d isn't in older versions of Chambers (11th Edition) but is in later (12th Edition)
I know this because me and AB had a debate about this word a long time ago. I couldn't find it because I don't own a 12th Edition but AB assured me that it's in the 12th.
Penny drops = 6d, 34d
Favourite clue, 13a (Americanism) New meaning to me

Night all, Les40

An easy puzzle, even with the so-called "uncommon" words. The Americans must like them "common".
No offence, Aristo. I know you also find the NYT rather boring. Bring on the Brits!
Their puzzles are chock-full of words I have to verify with Chambers, et al.

The central square popped right away. Considering it's a June puzzle, favourite month for what's going down, & time of year for what's going up. However, don't see how the title relates. Any ideas?

40D - not in my Chambers either, but NOAD (New Oxford American Dictionary), Wiktionary, & Wikipedia attribute it the "The Simpsons" TV show.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meh
Always though it was a Jewish interjection, because I'm sure I heard it on "Seinfeld" years before, but can't find it.

@Les, are you sure you meant 13A? If you're referring to LIE (vi), it's not an Americanism.
LAY (vt) is more common, & misused, as in "I like to lay on the couch." Horrors !

Stars for 11A, 36A (also from the clue), 44A, 1D*, 9D, 21D, 23D, 34D, 42D (see 13A note).

*1D & 7D - déjà vu - those clues have been used before.
27D - not happy with TEN clued as the letters IO.
38D - mismatch with plurals in the clue.

Overall, not bad. d-:

Hi, Syzygy, if you're still up: I've just risen to discover the Pyr. are still there!
Just wanted to say, there's quite a lot of help with the fantastic Magoo puzzle on that CS thread, but if you still need a push, ask! When you've finished you can only admire the incredible structure of the thing: quite an achievement, I feel!
And now to get down to H's 1a.
And this time we can even send it off!
Do you know if Aristo's already finished (or did he already say so)? Probably......
Have a drink on me at your midnite!
gk

P.S. What les meant about 13a was no doubt that the WHOLE word never has that meaning for us here in "Ye Olde Worlde"! Very strange: had seen it once before only.

One letter missing in one word, and I've no idea what it is (despite les's remark about inappropriate plurals):
38d "Matching pockets, features of pull4 letters
I have ?HIN: chin/shin/thin ???
See no sense whatever!
Please release me, s'one, then I can get on with looking after the latest guests! It's a nice day outside.................................

Sorry, that was "...pull-up" (4 letters) at the end of the clue!

Good thing I checked before I went to bed.

38D - That was my comment about plurals.
The word is CHIN as in a pull-up to a bar.
(an exercise probably neither of us has done in years)

Enjoy the sunshine & your guests. Bon nuit.

Oops. Forgot this.

MatCHINg
"pockets" indicates hidden word.