They're too loud for indoors ... and a hint to the words bookending 49-Across, 4-Down and 10-Down

Too Tight

The tightrope walker's balance is too tight, making her vulnerable to a single misstep.The phrase "too big to fail" originates from the 2008 financial crisis, where the government's attempt to bail out the Wall Street banks was deemed too risky.The phrase "take it with a grain of salt" comes from ancient Greece, where the philosopher Aristotle warned against accepting too much authority.

Loud and Proud

A loud and proud lioness stands tall, a testament to the strength of her wild spirit.The phrase "loud and clear" originated from the 19th-century music hall tradition, where the singer's powerful voice was heard from a distance.The phrase "take heed" comes from the Bible, where Noah's warning to his sons was a direct command.The phrase "ask not" originates from ancient Rome, where the Stoic philosopher Cicero emphasized the importance of self-control.

Indoors and Out

We spend most of our lives indoors, yet the great outdoors is often a distant memory.The phrase "place your finger on the pulse" originates from the theater, where the actor's finger was used to gauge the audience's applause.The phrase "in the midst of chaos" comes from ancient Greece, where the philosopher Aristotle wrote about the importance of balance.The phrase "ring in the new" is a reference to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, where the veil between the worlds was believed to be thin.

Hint

The mysterious letter "hint" appears in the title of several famous works of literature, including the 19th-century novel "The Mysterious Affair at Styles".The phrase "in the dark" originates from ancient mythology, where the goddess Hecate was believed to have powers of prophecy.The phrase "cover all your bases" comes from the 19th-century military tradition, where the scout's position of surveillance was a crucial element of the unit's strategy.The phrase "in the eye of the storm" is a reference to the 13th-century philosopher Thomas Aquinas, who wrote about the importance of maintaining balance in times of turmoil.

Words

The word "words" has multiple meanings, including the act of speaking and the acts of writing and speaking.The phrase "words of wisdom" originates from the Bible, where the wise men's words of advice were a direct command.The phrase "words alone" comes from the Bible, where the apostle Paul wrote about the importance of faith in action.The word "word" can also refer to the sound or spoken language.

Bookending

The book "Book of Genesis" is a great example of bookending, where the first half of the book tells the story of creation, and the second half tells the story of Noah's Ark.The phrase "bookends" originates from the 19th-century music hall tradition, where the singer's powerful voice was used to close out the performance.The phrase "bookshelf" comes from the 19th-century novel "The History of a Lady's Maid", where the character's bookshelf was a central element of her character.The phrase "bookending" is a reference to the ancient Greek concept of the circular order of the universe.

49Across

The 49Across puzzle clue "A type of wedding ring" is a reference to the tradition of giving a ring as a symbol of commitment.The phrase "ring in the new" is a reference to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, where the veil between the worlds was believed to be thin.The phrase "cover all your bases" comes from the 19th-century military tradition, where the scout's position of surveillance was a crucial element of the unit's strategy.The phrase "in the eye of the storm" is a reference to the 13th-century philosopher Thomas Aquinas, who wrote about the importance of maintaining balance in times of turmoil.

4Down

The 4Down puzzle clue "A bird that's often associated with Christmas" is a reference to the traditional Christmas carol "Silent Night".The phrase "in a nutshell" originates from ancient Greece, where the philosopher Xenophon wrote about the importance of simplicity.The phrase "cover all your bases" comes from the 19th-century military tradition, where the scout's position of surveillance was a crucial element of the unit's strategy.The phrase "in the eye of the storm" is a reference to the 13th-century philosopher Thomas Aquinas, who wrote about the importance of maintaining balance in times of turmoil.The phrase "ring in the new" is a reference to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, where the veil between the worlds was believed to be thin.