NTSPP – 149

Not the Saturday Prize Puzzle – 149

A Puzzle by Commoner

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

The puzzle is available by clicking on the above grid.

A review of this puzzle follows.

Welcome back top Commoner with an enjoyable crossword that won’t have you tearing your hair out.

Across

1 Swimming laps before high school returns to spray water about (6)
{SPLASH} – An anagram (swimming) of laps followed by the abbreviation for High School.

4 English workers in marquee or high-rise (8)
{TENEMENT} – Put the abbreviation for English followed by another word for workers inside another word for a marquee.

9 Nameless anarchists revolting for emotional release (9)
{CATHARSIS} – An anagram (revolting) of ANARCHISTS first removing the N (nameless).

11 Shoot small prisoner outside capital of Illinois (5)
{SCION} – The abbreviation for small followed by another word for a prisoner around (outside) the first letter (capital – meaning head) of Illinois.

12 Imprison good man in outlying region, disregarding cold (7)
{ENSLAVE} – The single letter abbreviation for saint (good man) inside another word for an outlying region (Chambers – a piece of territory entirely enclosed within foreign territory)

13 Indulgent books follow story about nurse (7)
{LENIENT} – Another word for a story or fib around the abbreviation for an Enrolled Nurse followed by the abbreviation for the books of the New Testament.

14 Males departed, travelling by boat (6,7)
{PADDLE STEAMER} – An anagram (travelling) of MALES DEPARTED.

16 Drugs called ‘ecstasy’ found in oddly formed horses – they may be laid out! (4,5,4)
{FREE RANGE EGGS} –  … by hens!  A complicate one to explain.  Take the odd letters of FORMED.  Inside this (found in) put two EEs (drugs) another word for called or telephoned and another E (for Ecstasy).  After this put a GGS (gee-gees or horses).

20 Party on ship in hold (7)
{POSSESS} – … As in own.  Another word for a hunting party followed by the abbreviation for a ship.

21 Modern medic ducks inside with son, under cover (7)
{INDOORS} – … As in not inside.  A two letter word for modern or trendy followed by the abbreviation for doctor (medic) with two Os inside (ducks) followed by the abbreviation for son.

23 Cook traps fish (5)
{SPRAT} – An anagram (cook) of TRAPS.

24 Perhaps making a PC start to work by keeping a record of happening (7,2)
{LOGGING ON} – Another word for keeping a record or making an entry in an log book followed by a two letter word meaning happening or occurring.

25 One writes second half of treatise about seizing small state (8)
{ESSAYIST} – Reverse the final four letters of TREATISE (second half … about) and put them around (seizing) the abbreviation for small and another word meaning state or express.

26 Spiritualist meeting with original James B actor, Pierce, at last (6)
{SEANCE} – The first name and initial of the surname of the first James Bond actor followed by the final letter of Pierce.

Down

1 Mince reportedly in small bag (6)
{SACHET} – A homophone (reportedly) of sashay (to mine or walk in a gliding or ostentatious way).

2 A great deal to acquire posh car (5)
{LOTUS} – Another word for a great deal around the abbreviation meaning posh or socially acceptable.

3 Died after the main battle, away from shore (7)
{SEAWARD} – Another word for the main (nautically speaking) followed by another word for a battle and the abbreviation for died.

5 “Yes” single ain’t bad – it’s music of an undemanding style (4,9)
{EASY LISTENING} – An anagram (bad) of YES SINGLE AINT.

6 Extract from heart (7)
{ESSENCE} – Double definition.

7 Record talking horse, one upset, with extremely infectious skin (9)
{EPIDERMIS} – An abbreviation for a record (not LP this time) followed by a reversal (upset) of the name of a famous talking horse and an I (one) followed by the outer letters (extremely) of infectious.

8 A medicinal alcoholic solution can heal without tension (8)
{TINCTURE} – Another word for a can (as in container) and another word meaning heal around (without) the abbreviation for tension.

10 They may bring you to men with gills at sea (seamen) (8,5)
{SMELLING SALTS} – … a substance that may revive you.  An anagram (at sea) of MEN GILLS followed by another word for seamen.

14 Journalists confident being embedded with forces (9)
{PRESSURES} – Another word meaning confident inside (being embedded) a word for journalists.

15 Backcountry skiing in Fife’s top resort (3-5)
{OFF-PISTE} – An anagram (resort) of FIFES TOP.

17 Going through windscreen, trying a movement back in (7)
{REENTRY} – Hidden inside (going through) WINDSCREEN TRYING.

18 Leave with diamonds, fancy and divine (7)
{GODLIKE} – A word meaning leave or depart followed by the abbreviation for diamonds (as in cards) and a word meaning fancy or enjoy.

19 Interest number in country church (6)
{USANCE} – … The word used by Shakespeare for interest.  The abbreviations for America and the Church of England around the abbreviation for number.

22 For example, skin magazine? (5)
{ORGAN} – Double definition.  The skin is the largest of these in the body.