A Puzzle by Meles
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The puzzle is available by clicking on the above grid.
A review by Prolixic follows:
Across
1a Memorials most serious and 11? (11)
GRAVESTONES: A seven-letter word meaning most serious followed by the number (in the plural) forming the digits of 11.
9a Have faith when bishop goes to run free from obligation (7)
RELIEVE: A seven-letter word meaning have faith with the initial B (bishop) replaced (goes to) by an R (run).
10a Better walk slowly in Greece (7)
GAMBLER: A five-letter word meaning walk slowly inside the IVR code for Greece.
11a Determined date's moving quickly (9)
STEADFAST: An anagram (moving) of DATES followed by a four-letter word meaning quickly.
12a Reveal short piece of writing journal ultimately rejected (3,2)
LET ON: A four-letter word for a short piece of writing followed by the final letter (ultimately) of journal, all reversed (rejected).
13a Race them both naked, getting hurt (4)
ACHE: The inner letters (naked) of the first two words (both) of the clue.
14a Court nails criminal, going outside the scope of hearing (10)
ULTRASONIC: An anagram (criminal) of COURT NAILS.
16a Cage and label horned beasts for occult figures (10)
PENTAGRAMS: A three-letter word for a cage followed by a three-letter word for a label and a four-letter word for horned farm beasts.
19a Small version of sculpture perhaps missing from 18 (4)
MINI: A three-letter word for what sculpture is removed from the answer to 18d.
20a Line with ring to catch equine animal? (5)
LASSO: The abbreviation for line and the letter that looks like a ring include a three-letter word for an equine animal.
21a Weakened, I head out across harbour in retreat (9)
ATROPHIED: An anagram (out) of I HEAD around (across) a four-letter word for a habour reversed (in retreat).
23a Old racer with great time after tea (7)
CHARIOT: A four-letter word for a great time after a three-letter word for tea.
24a Picture and picture frames at home (7)
IMAGINE: A five-letter word for a picture around (frames) a two-letter word meaning at home.
25a Get rid of somewhat complex term in a text (11)
EXTERMINATE: A anagram (somewhat complex) of TERM IN A TEXT.
Down
1d Parting gift may be a sign of agreement from King Midas? (6,9)
GOLDEN HANDSHAKE: Cryptic definition.
2d Winning cash rewards regularly (5)
AHEAD: The even words (regularly) of the middle two words of the clue.
3d Where you find pupil belatedly working, losing track of time and date (7)
EYEBALL: An anagram (working) of BELATEDLY after removing the abbreviations for time an date.
4d Boxer with face cut by end of bout becomes more tense (7)
TIGHTER: A seven-letter word for a boxer (sportsperson not the dog) with the initial letter removed (with face cut) after (by) the final letter (end) of bout.
5d Vietnamese enamel ornaments aren't so unknown? (8)
NAMELESS: Definition by reference to the four-letter word that each of the first three words of the clue contains.
6d Broken and almost without boundaries, this setter has to boldly go? (5,10)
SPLIT INFINITIVE: A five-letter word meaning broken followed by an eight-letter word meaning without boundaries without the final letter (almost) and the contracted form of ‘the setter has”.
7d Football team in claret plays freely with pace in the middle (7,6)
CRYSTAL PALACE: An anagram (freely) of CLARET PLAYS AC (pace in the middle).
8d Impressive, cool architect gathered family members (13)
GRANDCHILDREN: A five-letter word meaning impressive followed by a homophone (gathered) of chilled (cool) wren (architect).
15d She goes on the water once Asti's drunk (8)
CANOEIST: An anagram (drunk) of ONCE ASTI.
17d Energy provider, one producing with lower carbon (7)
REACTOR: A seven-letter word for someone who produces something with the abbreviation for carbon moved downwards in the solution.
18d Bond's order from M leads to another reckless incident seizing money (7)
MARTINI: The M from the clue followed by the initial letters (leads to) of the seventh to ninth words of the clue containing (seizing) a three-letter slang word for money.
22d Place flowering plant out of meadow into city square (5)
PLAZA: The two letter abbreviation for place followed by a six-letter word for a flowering plant with a three-letter word for a meadow removed from it (out).
Very enjoyable – thanks to Meles.
I ticked 9a, 6d and 8d with my favourite being 5d.
A perfect NTSPP!
One eyebrow did twitch slightly when I read the clue for 6d, but then the penny dropped and I laughed out loud. For me, this was the best of an excellent selection, with 5d & 8d joining it on the podium.
Many thanks, Meles.
Thanks Meles – a very pleasant start to my Saturday with caffeine ‘on the side.’
Smiles for 16a, 24a, 1d, and 18d and a big smile for 6d!
Thanks again and thanks in advance to Prolixic(?).
Very enjoyable NTSPP from our setter with a couple of entries that took a bit of effort on the parsing front.
Top marks from me went to the humorous 1d, the linked 18d/19a and the 17d energy provider.
Many thanks to Meles for the enjoyment.
Thank you, Meles, very enjoyable although we still have a couple we can’t parse so need to check tomorrow. Favourites were 1d, 6d and 8d. We look forward to your next one.
Super puzzle, a very rewarding solve – so many witty and amusing clues. For me the podium contenders comprise 1a, 20a, 6d, 17d & 18d, with 6d my COTD; enjoyed 7a, a team for which I have considerable regard.
Many thanks indeed Meles, and in advance to Prolixic – or whomsoever it is who provides the review tomorrow!
Excellent evening’s entertainment from Meles. A number of ticks are on my printout: 1a (nice use of ’11’), 10a, 11a, 20a, 3d, 5d (after first trying to find a compound anagram!) and my favourite – 6d. I also enjoyed the ‘cool architect’; but surely 18d should have made use of an anagram so ‘Bond’s order’ could have been ‘shaken, not stirred’ :wink:
Many thanks, Meles.
You’re quite right, Spartacus, Mr Bond wouldn’t have accepted it any other way!
Excellent Sunday morning entertainment for us.
Lots of ticks all over the grid.
Thanks Meles.
A most enjoyable puzzle, thanks Meles. Lots of fun and invention. My top picks were 11a, 14a, 24a, 7d, 17d and 18d
A perfect pre lights out solve. Thanks Meles – really enjoyed it. 6d my fav
I’ll second that!
Many thanks for the review, Prolixic, thought that was a really good NTSPP from Meles.
Many thanks to Prolixic for the review and to who all have attempted and commented on this one. Some credit here also due for my test solver who pointer out a few rough ones in the first draft – I was much happier with the rewrites.