CLEVER CROSSWORD CLUES IX

NY Times Crossword
Isabel Walcott (adapted)

Here are the clues and answers to a themed crossword. The theme is a familiar five-word phrase - which answers the last clue below. Can you determine the theme?

1. Heavy duty kitchen implement - CHERKNE
2. Common lunch fare - SWICH
3. Ingredient in a SWITCH, perhaps - JPEANUTTERS
4. Elevator in London - LT
5. South American mountain chain - ES
6. It's dandy - CY
7. Time on earth - LETIME
8. First aid item - BAID
9. "Excuses are unacceptable!" - NOSSORS

Answers:

1. BUTcher knIFe
2. sANDwich 
3. jIF peanutBUTer
4. lIFt (LIFT)
5. ANDes
6. cANDy
7. lIFtime (LIFETIME)
8. bAND-aid
9. noIFsANDsorBUTs (NO IFS ANDS OR BUTS)