A Puzzle by Meles
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The puzzle is available by clicking on the above grid.
Meles provides this weekend's alternative exercise in lateral thinking with a super puzzle. Many thanks to him.
Across
1a &27. Replace what's lost from a barrel when tucking into spirit (4)
MAKE: An insertion (tucking into) of A from the clue plus a type of barrel into a synonym of spirit or temperament
4a Proof of concept finally risk assessed with superficial damage (10)
POCKMARKED: Put together an abbreviated Proof Of Concept plus the final letter of risK plus a synonym of assessed or rated
9a Concerning time to run off - come back! (6)
RETURN: The usual two-letter preposition meaning concerning plus the single-letter abbreviation for Time and an anagram (off) of RUN
10a Monster little known outside of a piece of Greek writing (8)
MINOTAUR: A synonym of little known or inconsequential around the nineteenth letter of the Greek alphabet
11a Initially Groucho and Zeppo (silly chap) leading Duck Soup (8)
GAZPACHO: Put together the initial letters of the following three words, an anagram (silly) of CHAP and the letter that represents a duck in cricket.
13a John worked hard making the back match the front (6)
TOILET: A synonym of worked hard with the end letter changed to that of the first. Very smart.
14a Bird with precooked nuts (10)
WOODPECKER: The abbreviation for With plus an anagram (nuts) of PRECOOKED
16a Important when losing heart to show a little bottle (4)
VIAL: A synonym of (very) important loses its middle letter. Simple but smart.
17a Picked up spy where you can catch a boat (4)
PIER: A homophone of a synonym of spy as a verb. Here's a familiar one to me at least
18a Riverside place has meal with French bread, each over a pound (5,5)
FLOOD PLAIN: Insert a single-letter abbreviation for pound into both what a meal consists of plus the French word for bread.
20a Perform damage limitation? (6)
HAGGLE: Cryptic definition, the damage being to ones wallet perhaps
21a Clever agent conceals influence (8)
LEVERAGE: Hidden (conceals) in the first two words of the clue
23a Monkey harbours anger about wearing a special uniform (8)
LIVERIED: Place a synonym of a monkey or mischievous person around one for anger or rage and reverse (about) the result
24a Take exception and end article (6)
OBJECT: A very good triple definition
26a Someone paid to stop entry happening (2,8)
IN PROGRESS: An informal word for someone paid (perhaps to play sport) “stops” or goes inside a synonym of entry or admittance
27a See 1 (4)
GOOD:
Down
2d Saying the present is lacking - how old are you? (3)
AGE: Remove the abbreviation for “present time” from a saying or maxim
3d Provide sequin clothes missing a bit of pizzazz (5)
EQUIP: Remove the outer letters (clothes missing) from sEQUIn and add the initial letter of Pizzazz
4d Pizzazz? Criticise being over smart (7)
PANACHE: A synonym of criticise (severely) on top of (over in a down clue) one of smart in the sense of pain
5d Not-so-secret lockdown memo edited to conceal number, staggering essentially (6,9)
COMMON KNOWLEDGE: Anagram (edited) of LOCKDOWN MEMO containing the abbreviation for Number and the essential letters of stagGEring
6d Screen lizard (7)
MONITOR: Double definition, one a verb, the other a noun.
7d King's relative struggling in recovery (9)
RETRIEVAL: The Latin abbreviation for king plus an anagram struggling of RELATIVE.
8d Counting up, list first to last with me ultimately scoring (11)
ENUMERATING: A synonym of a list (of food) with the first letter moved to the bottom of the word, the final letter (ultimately) of mE plus a synonym of scoring.
12d Outrage as nuclear weapon briefly seen above island country (11)
ABOMINATION: A charade of A from the clue, something of which a nuclear weapon could be an example without its last letter, the abbreviation for Island and a synonym of country
15d Dismantle united Europe, it's the done thing (2,7)
DE RIGUEUR: A word that could mean dismantle or removal of equipment, the abbreviation for United and an abbreviated EURope.
18d Touching sentiment (7)
FEELING: Double definition, slightly same-sidey.
19d Used violin oddly, playing underhand? (7)
DEVIOUS: Anagram (playing) of USED and the odd letters of ViOlIn.
22d Try a new arrangement of spare jigsaw piece (5)
REJIG: Hidden in the clue (piece).
25d Pigeon's home not quiet when it does this! (3)
COO: Remove the abbreviation for quiet from the back of a pigeon's home.
Thank you Meles for a very pleasant cranial exercise to start my Saturday morning. Accompanied by the first caffeine of the day although it was not required to aid the solving.
Smiles for 3d, 18a, 26a, and the excellent triple definition 24a.
Thanks again and thanks in advance to StephenL(?).
Correct Senf, I’ll be doing this one.
An enjoyable lunchtime diversion – many thanks to Meles.
My ticks went to 13a, 18a and 20a with my favourite being 26a.
I thought this was absolutely excellent, with great clueing and smooth surfaces throughout. I suspected a pangram but it never quite materialised.
My only disappointment is that the john in 13a is American (Collins agrees but the BRB sits on the fence on this one). Incidentally, the abbreviation POC for 4a is not in the BRB but it is in Collins.
My page is littered with ticks, and my podium comprises 10a, 18a, 24a & 15d.
Many thanks to Meles and in advance to SL.
Starting out in the NW corner I had a perfectly good answer for 9a but it wouldn’t co-operate with either 3d or 4d, then I spotted the somewhat more obvious intended answer! There was much to enjoy as I steadily filled in the rest of grid; my ticks going to 10a, 16a, 18a, 26a, 5d, 19d and my clue of the day – 15d. LOI was 20a and I had to juggle my missing letters until the penny dropped, so to speak :wink:
Now it’s time to settle down for the afternoon’s rugby…
Thank you for a fine NTSPP, Meles, and thanks in advance to Stephen L.
What – no sharks today, Meles?
Thoroughly enjoyed working through this and a properly made 11a is one of the joys of life, so I was definitely a happy bunny.
Joint favourites here were 20&26a with other ticks going to 18a plus 15d.
Many thanks for a most enjoyable NTSPP.
I am with you all the way regarding 11a, Jane – sheer delight!
A most enjoyable puzzle that kept us entertained and challenged throughout the solve.
Thanks Meles.
Most enjoyable, Meles, thank you. Favourites were 1/27, 22a and 5d. Definitely more like this , please. Thank you also to Stephen L
What a shame this super puzzle hasn’t attracted more comment. For my money much more enjoyable than the SPP, not that there was anything wrong with that. I’m not sure I have 10a correctly parsed & last in 20a is a head scratch so must be missing something obvious. ✅s all over the shop – 4,11,13,14,18,24&26a along with 5,8,12&15d particular likes. As a movie lover I guess 11a has to be the pick & I like the soup too.
Keep ‘em Meles & many thanks. Look forward to Stephen’s review.
Good to see this really enjoyable puzzle back on the site! Completed earlier this morning as I was away yesterday. I echo Huntsman’s comments above and do hope this crossword has attracted more attention than is evident from the small number of posts.
POC “could only be” and new to me as an abbreviation: it not being in the BRB led to an eyebrow rising, but I see from RD it’s in Collins. I loved 18a but felt area would be more accurate than place; 20a is ambiguous for me since GARGLE would parse just as satisfactorily, though ultimately I plumped for the correct answer; I pondered the ‘s in 7d and decided that it meant the abbreviation ‘has’ the relative.
Other highlights contending for the podium were 14a, 17a, 5d, 15d & 19d – never let it be said I don’t like anagrams!
Many thanks to Meles and to Stephen
Thanks very much Stephen L for the review and to all who have commented. I was on holiday in Crete when writing this one, hence 10a to get the grid started. I thought POC might raise some eyebrows but I use it a lot at work so decided to chance it. Thanks again until next time!
Many thanks for the review, Stephen, always good to get confirmation of one’s parsing.
Found this trickier than most, defeated by four even with reveals. However, some absolutely cracking clues:
11a, brilliant. 3d/4d, the very clever pizzazz link. 13a, been trying unsuccessfully to clue john=toilet for ages 👌
Favourite clue obviously 21a. Runners up 16a and 25d. Thanks Meles and SL 🍻
Nice one, Meles, if a bit tricky in places. And thanks to SL for the review.