NTSPP – 222

 

NTSPP – 222

A Puzzle by Vigo

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

The puzzle is available by clicking on the above grid.

A belated review of this puzzle by Prolixic follows.

Thanks for all for bearing with me whilst I was out.  The in-laws are fine but mother-in-law had to go for tests (all clear fortunately) that took an age and I had to sit with an anxious father-in-law.  It means that I have not had time to add the usual pictures and videos.

 This crossword from Vigo was a delight from start to finish.  I have to say that if she continues this standard, I will have to hand over blogging duties to Crypticsue as Vigo will graduate from the NTSPP to the national papers.

Across

7 Sailor travels back in time finding things to put right (6)
{ERRATA} – A three letter word for a sailor is reversed (travels back) inside a three letter word for a period of time.

9 Earth of high grade in level playing field (8)
{EQUALITY} – The abbreviation for Earth followed by a word meaning of high grade.

10 Magistrate holds Eastern European for transportation (4)
{JEEP} – The abbreviation for Justice of the Peace (magistrate) goes around (holds) the abbreviations for Eastern and European.

11 Acclaim gets comic purchasing power (6,4)
{CREDIT CARD} – … something you can use to purchase things.  Another word for acclaim followed by another word for a comic or comedian.

12 Took steps to stifle very loud echo that caused concern (8)
{AFFECTED} – Another word for took steps goes around (to stifle) the musical notation for very load and the letter represented by Echo in the NATO phonetic alphabet.

15 Excellent offspring holds trophy (4,2)
{SPOT ON} – Another word for a male offspring goes around (holds) another word for a trophy or cup.

16 Run pedestrian out of the way (13)
{EXTRAORDINARY} – A bonus run in cricket followed by a word meaning pedestrian or mundane.

18 Determined Yank gets Joyce’s heart (6)
{PLUCKY} – Another word for yank or pull out followed by the middle letter (heart) of Joyce.

20 Left wing in agreement (8)
{DEPARTED} – Another word for a wing or section goes inside a word for a formal legal agreement.

21 Giddy aunt drinks salt-water and gin cocktail – that’s revolting (10)
{NAUSEATING} – An anagram (giddy) of AUNT goes around (drinks) another word for something that is salt-water followed by an anagram (cocktail) of GIN.

23 Light surrounds a guide (4)
{LEAD} – A type of electronic light goes around (surrounds) the A from the clue.

25 Perversion of duke gets innocent returning to church (8)
{DEVIANCE} – The abbreviation for duke followed by a word meaning innocent or green that is reversed (returning) followed by an abbreviation for church.

26 Charge into goal succeeded (6)
{ENSUED} – Another word for charge or to bring legal proceedings goes inside another word for a goal or objective.

Down

1 Scientist re-evaluated buried oxygen source (4)
{TREE} – … a plant that produces oxygen.  The answer is hidden (buried) in SCIENTIST RE-EVALUATED.

2 A king drops out of pancake race with a bit of a pig (8)
{PANCETTA} – … a type of bacon.   Remove the A and K (king) from pancake and follow this with the abbreviation for a type of race and the A from the clue.

3 Embezzler taking odd selection of dishes (4)
{MEZE} – Remove the odd letters (taking odd selection) of EMBEZZLER.

4 Customs of Parisian couples (6)
{DUTIES} – The French masculine singular for “of” followed by a word meaning couples or unites.  As du is a contraction of de + le, du is usually indicated “of the” but there may be constructions in French where “du” means “of” on its own!

5 Lists of eligible men and women (9,5)
{ELECTORAL ROLLS} – A cryptic definition of those eligible to vote.

6 Brand of music equipment put in a box (10)
{STEREOTYPE} – Split (6 4) this would indicate a make or brand of music equipment on which CDs or records could be played.

8 Programme about National Trust freezes in training (14)
{APPRENTICESHIP} – A three letter word for a program used on a mobile device (I don’t think that ‘programme’ is ever used regularly in computing parlance, it is usually program) followed by the abbreviations for about and National Trust, a word meaning freezes and word meaning in or trendy.

13 Relieve burden on queen’s hanger-on (10)
{FREELOADER} – A word meaning relieve or release followed by a word meaning a burden and the abbreviation for the Queen.

14 Risked being late crossing river in reverse (5)
{DARED} – Another word for late or deceased goes around the abbreviation for river and the resulting letters are reversed.

17 Criticised lap dog clad in distressed denim (8)
{IMPUGNED} – A type of lap dog goes inside (clad in) an anagram (distressed) of DENIM.

19 Stories involving English desires (6)
{YEARNS} – Another word for fanciful stories goes around (involving) the abbreviation for English.

22 Documents each plan (4)
{IDEA} – An abbreviation for documents or papers that prove who you are followed by the abbreviation for each.

24 Beer unsuitable for child – boy or girl (4)
{ALEX} – A three letter word for beer followed by a letter meaning that something is unsuitable for a child (usually followed by –rated).