NTSPP – 145

Not the Saturday Prize Puzzle – 145

A Puzzle by Gazza

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The puzzle is available by clicking on the above grid.

A review of this puzzle by Prolixic follows.

Welcome back to Gazza with another gem of a crossword.  Favourite clues are highlighted in blue.

Across

1 Balls dropped in front of partner (9)
{BEDFELLOWS} – A word for a partner comes from the diminutive first name of the shadow Chancellor (Mr Balls) and a word meaning dropped both of which are put inside (in) a word meaning front that is usually used of a boat.

6 Starts to drain radiator in plumbing system and makes wet patch (5)
{DRIPS} – What may make a wet patch comes from the first letters (starts to) Drain Radiator In Plumbing System.

9 Order to leave cancelled after broadcast (4,3)
{SEND OFF} – An order to leave comes from a word cancelled (as in rained ***) after a word meaning broadcast or post.

10 Poorly judge? (7)
{MISHEAR} – A cryptic definition of what a poor judge might do in trial that could lead to a re-trial.

11 Dire? It’s a nauseating piece that, in retrospect, is even more repugnant (7)
{NASTIER} – A word hidden and reversed (piece that in retrospect) inside DIRE IT’S A NAUSEATING gives a word meaning even more repugnant.

12 Be meticulous to keep a clear head (7)
{NITPICK} – A word meaning be meticulous could also describe the process of clearing your head from lice.

13 Howlers made by pupil expunged from bible’s racy translation (9)
{CRYBABIES} – A word for howlers comes from an anagram (translation) of BIBLES RACY after removing the L (pupil expunged).

15 Soldiers tuck into champagne en route to the theatre (3-2)
{PRE-OP} – A word that describes the period before surgery (en route to the theatre) comes from putting the abbreviation for Royal Engineers (soldiers) inside (tuck into) a slang word for champagne.

16 Note by academic fieldworker? (3-2)
{MID-ON} – This fieldworker is found on the cricket pitch.  The answer comes from putting one of the notes on the DOH-RE-MI scale by a word used to describe a university academic.

19 Genuine in one’s illusion (9)
{UNREALITY} – A word for an illusion comes from putting a word meaning genuine inside (in) a word meaning one.

22 Batting’s more positive for one prepared to take risks (7)
{INSURER} – This person who takes risks on your house not burning down (amongst other things) comes from a word describing the team batting followed by a word meaning more positive.

23 She’s thoroughly steeped in her faith (7)
{BAPTIST} – A cryptic definition of someone who is (usually) admitted to this church denomination by total immersion.

25 Intimidated by wine of a fresh variety (2,3,2)
{IN AWE OF} – A phrase meaning intimidated comes from an anagram (fresh variety) of WINE OF A.

26 Spooner’s headgear provides opening for queen (3,4)
{CAT FLAP} – How a domestic feline pet (queen) may get in and out comes from swapping the initial syllables (Spooner’s) of flat cap (headgear).

27 Again rally periodically, in the pink? (5)
{GIRLY} – A bit of sexual stereotyping of those who prefer the colour pink comes from the even letters (periodically) of AGAIN RALLY.

28 Spooner’s confused with news about one out of favour (3-6)
{NON-PERSON} – An anagram (confused) of SPOONER’S inside two N’s (news about) gives a description of one out of favour.

Down

1 Animal issue could go either way? (5)
{BISON} – A type of animal could, split 2-3, describe one of your children whose sexuality is ambiguous.

2 Old show house (7)
{DYNASTY} – A word for a house (as in a family line, not a building) is also the name of an old American soap opera starring Joan Collins.

3 Tenor enthralled by Beethoven’s work – it’s rousing stuff (7)
{EROTICA} – A word for sexually rousing stuff comes from putting the abbreviation for tenor inside the name given to Beethoven’s 3^rd Symphony.

What is small, brown and sits on a piano stool?  Beethoven’s last movement!

4 Porky fellow’s stuck in river – he won’t get out for ages (5)
{LIFER} – A word for a person who will spend a long time in prison comes from putting the abbreviation for fellow inside a word for a porky or fib followed by the abbreviation for river.

5 Injured in some war, he carries on (9)
{WOMANISER} – This person who carries on affairs comes from an anagram (injured) of IN SOME WAR.

6 Sat up guarding knight in iconic exhibition area (7)
{DESKTOP} – Where computer icons are displayed comes from an abbreviation for knight inside a word meaning sat that has been reversed.

7 Call over some colleagues I met in travelling north (7)
{ITEMISE} – A word meaning call over (as in going through a list) is hidden inside (some) and reversed (travelling north) the words COLLEAGUES I MET IN.

8 You’ll get it if you come out! (6,3)
{STRIKE PAY} – A cryptic definition of what those involved in a labour dispute receiver.

13 Arranging for reduced dose to be taken in future (9)
{COMPILING} – A word meaning arranging comes come putting another word for dose or tablet with the final letter removed (reduced) inside (to be taken in) a word meaning future.

14 Build up bonfire in preparation for clearing annoying problem (9)
{IBUPROFEN} – This proprietary named medicine comes from an anagram (build) of UP BONFIRE.

17 Anguish of old man consumed by endless passion (7)
{DESPAIR} – Take a word meaning passion and remove the last letter (endless) and put a word for an old man inside (consumed) to get a word meaning anguish.

18 Training ground for old linesmen where they worked round London area (7)
{NURSERY} – This training ground comes from the abbreviation for National Union of Railwaymen (old linesmen) followed by the abbreviation for railway (where they worked) around (round) one of theLondon area postcodes.

20 Mixed up English team, one short of members? (7)
{AMPUTEE} – A person who is missing a limb comes from an anagram (mixed) of UP E (abbreviation for English) TEAM.

21 After a couple of circuits the French get frozen extremities (7)
{ICICLES) – These frozen extremities comes from the abbreviation for an integrated circuit used twice followed by the French plural for “the”.

23 Business trapped by embargo may be Danish (5)
{BACON} – This breakfast staple that may be Danish (or Walls) comes from putting the abbreviation for company (business) inside a word meaning embargo.

24 Easy shot for soldiers put on hold (3-2)
{TAP-IN} – The abbreviation for soldiers or reserves (whose abbreviation must now change following their recent re-branding that probably took place after Gazza set this crossword) followed by a type of wrestling hold gives a word for an easy shot.