I WANT "A_E"
'It's a hidden advantage you keep "up your sleeve"' [2010-04-15]
an ace
'A Virginia Beach firefighter waives his right to do this on or off duty -- & especially, we guess, in bed' [2001-01-30]
Smoke
'"Your personal jeweler since 1912":<br />____ Bridge' [2011-10-17]
Ben
'The 100-member Asian Youth Orchestra recently played to rave reviews in this South Korean capital' [2001-05-11]
Seoul
'This most populous city in the state is home to the main campus of the University of Vermont' [2009-12-24]
Burlington
'Chekhov's "The Cherry Orchard" ends with the sound of this striking a tree' [2010-04-15]
an axe
'An applicant in San Jose will be tested with this device, like Ben Stiller in "Meet the Parents"' [2001-01-30]
Polygraph/lie detector
'Upscale women's clothes:<br />____ Fisher' [2011-10-17]
Eileen
'Young actors like Rani Mukherjee perform in movies in "Bollywood" in this populous Asian country' [2001-05-11]
India
'Between New Hampshire & Vermont runs this river named for a third state' [2009-12-24]
the Connecticut
'It can also mean to mimic, ya big hairy...' [2010-04-15]
ape
'In Anchorage, you must be certified as an EMT 1 or as this related job' [2001-01-30]
Paramedic
'Makers of all-American clothing:<br />____ & Fitch' [2011-10-17]
Abercrombie
'With a 6-wicket victory over Nepal, Bangladesh recently retained the Asian youth championship in this sport' [2001-05-11]
cricket
'Bordering Vermont to the north is Canada, specifically this province' [2009-12-24]
Quebec
'The military strategy used in the early days of the Iraq War was known as shock & this' [2010-04-15]
awe
'A physical exam may require you to lift & extend a 20- or 24-foot aluminum one of these' [2001-01-30]
Ladder
'Fashion for today's woman:<br />____ Studio' [2010-01-18]
Max
'Like voters in the USA, young women seeking to compete in the Miss Thailand contest must be at least this age' [2001-05-11]
18
'In 1791 Vermont joined the Union as this number state, not quite original' [2009-12-24]
14th
'Newcastle is a popular brand of brown this' [2010-04-15]
ale
'In Tempe, Arizona one of your main responsibilities is naturally to learn the layout of these mains' [2001-01-30]
Water mains
'Really nice shoes for men & women:<br />____ Haan' [2011-10-17]
Cole
'With songs like "Fly Away", rock star Cui Jian is one of the leading pop musicians from this Asian country' [2001-05-11]
China
'This man from Middlesex is the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee' [2009-12-24]
Patrick Leahy