THEME: last word of phrase is an anagram of a mild curse: EGAD, DRAT, DARN, CRIPES
GOOD ONES: What the {theme} is in more ways than one
MINCEDOATHS [since the oaths are scrambled, they are in a way minced]
Drop zone? EARLOBE [ear drops]
Checked for the last time? MATED [in chess]
BTW: Aside from the usual tough Friday clues, we got some that were very tricky indeed:
Lacking siblings for
ONLY; Imitated for
DID; "Put up your dukes, then!" for
ITSON; Pen's mate for
COB; Brief comment for
IDO [more of an answer than a comment, though]; Injure, in a way for
CLAW; Sum, sometimes for
IAM [Latin]
NLER is a non-word I'm beginning to hate. Actually it would have been easy to avoid:
62-A BOWA [great Phillies shortstop]
65-A ILER [The Sopranos actor]
68-A GIRD [wrap]
RATING:
Three grins = Loved it; Two grins = Enjoyed it; One grin = A bit bland for my taste; One teardrop = Not much fun