THEME: “The Argonne” — pronounced American-style, the word (I guess) sounds like “R GONE”; turns out that in the theme answers, phrases with a last word starting with “R” lose that “R” to become wacky phrases, clued “?”-style
Word of the Day: BRACTS (122A: Leaves at the base of a flower) — n.
A leaflike or scalelike plant part, usually small, sometimes showy or brightly colored, and located just below a flower, a flower stalk, or an inflorescence.
[From Latin bractea, gold leaf, perhaps from Greek brakhein, to rattle.]