THEME:   common phrases with a Y between them create odd phrases   
GOOD ONES:     TITLE:  
Catchy Phrases   Awkward work period?   STICKY SHIFT   
Hoedown official having a bad day?   CRANKY CALLER   
Course often taken first   SALAD [Americans 
take college courses and 
have salad first; Brits take salad]   
Be real   EXIST [not the interjection]   
December number   CAROL [I thought twelve, ten (reindeer)]   
Dash for cash, e.g.   TYPO [of course I thought foot races]   
Legend creator   ACURA [I thought some impresario]      
BTW:   There was some interesting cluing throughout like SAFETY clued by football; ARM clued by "pieces"; DEAN by actor, not school official; etc.      
Soap 
staple   DRAMA [soaps are dramas; they can't be their own staple.      
Tattoo sites   ANKLES [isn't it anywhere?]      
Disfigure   MAR [that would be MAIM; 
mar suggests a minor change for the worse]      
Very early   WEE [needs "hours" otherwise it means only small]            
RATING:    
 
 
Three grins = Loved it; Two grins = Enjoyed it; One grin = A bit bland for my taste; One teardrop = Not much fun