A Puzzle by Meles
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The puzzle is available by clicking on the above grid.
Meles provides an entertaining pangram for the NTSPP slot so thanks to him
Across
9a Twice better finds a way to win darts leg (6-3)
DOUBLE-TOP: Synonyms of twice and better (as a verb)
10a Old Scot perhaps losing time to be great (5)
EXCEL: The usual old or former plus someone from Scotland, Wales or Ireland say without the abbreviation for Time.
11a Two score for Torquay on the wings (5)
FORTY: For from the clue and the outer letters of TorquaY.
12a Period expecting quiet state of ruling (9)
PREGNANCY: The music abbreviation for quiet plus the office or period of government
13a Canadian-American joint (3)
CAN: Double definition, the American joint being their word for a prison
14a Definitely confirm end of fighting with wife before gesturing suggestively (7)
WINKING: If we split the inner letters of the solution 3-2 we have a phrase that could mean definitely confirm. Add the final letter of fightinG and precede the lot with the abbreviation for Wife. Very smart.
16a Cover face, turning when heading for aggressive ducks (3)
LID: Face (of a clock perhaps) reversed with the initial letter of Aggressive removed (ducks)
17a Felt sorry for Greek character in a bind? (6)
PITIED: The sixteenth letter of the Greek alphabet and a synonym of “in a bind” literally!
19a Anger a ludicrous former President (6)
REAGAN: Anagram (ludicrous) of ANGER A.
21a One of the Friends nearly makes order from Central Perk? (3)
JOE: One of the characters from Friends (I've never watched it) loses (nearly) his last letter to give an American word for coffee.
22a Steals the thing being discussed outside the day before (7)
THIEVES: A pronoun used to identify a specific person or thing around the day or period before a specific event
24a A Pearly King's china is regularly... pearly (3)
PAL: The regular letters of PeArLy. China of course here “china plate” or mate.
25a I hesitate after melting Zinc, or a different metal? (9)
ZIRCONIUM: I from the clue and a sound expressing hesitation follow an anagram of ZINC OR
28a Specific language used by individual in government (5)
LINGO: Nicely hidden
29a Beer sloshed over mass which remains in dying fire (5)
EMBER: Anagram (sloshed) of BEER around the single-letter abbreviation for Mass
30a Able to call to mind even trite rubbish (9)
RETENTIVE: Anagram (rubbish) of the preceding two words
Down
1d Impressive building of aqueduct, essentially providing very cold water (7)
EDIFICE: The essential letters of aquEDuct, a synonym of providing as a conjunction and some frozen water.
2d Some time alone with holy book, absorbing a long pointed part (10)
QUARANTINE: A religious text around A from the clue followed by a prong.
3d Everyone said: "Why marry?" (4)
ALLY: A word meaning everyone and the letter that sounds like (said) why
4d Intervene as offence surrounds retrograde term of endearment (4,2)
STEP IN: An offence (think bible) around a reversed term of endearment, probably more popular in the north.
5d Careless peer dies quicker (8)
SPEEDIER: Anagram (careless) of the following two words
6d Poor, average or excellent (4)
MEAN: Triple definition, the final one being relatively contemporary. Here's someone excellent
7d Come up with a new name to promote independent picture (4)
ICON: A verb that means “come up with a new name for” often preceding “the phrase” with the abbreviation for Independent moved up or promoted. Neat.
8d Acted on stage and bowed? (6)
PLAYED: Double definition, the second could refer to a violin
14d Saw his trick taking in this game? (5)
WHIST: Hidden
15d Slags off fundamental component of Windows (5)
GLASS: Anagram (off) of SLAGS
16d Writer that's a bit heavy, perhaps (4,6)
LEAD PENCIL: Cryptic definition, playing on the first word of the solution
18d They make God awful fried items, oddly (8)
DEIFIERS: Anagram (awful) of FRIED and the odd letters of ItEmS.
20d Overwhelmed, deserted rings, rings deserted (7)
FLOODED: A synonym of deserted or ran away “rings” two of the letter that looks like a ring and an abbreviation for Deserted
21d Enlivened judge with extreme letters, the last repeated in full (6)
JAZZED: An abbreviation for Judge, the first and last letters of the alphabet, the last of which is then spelt out.
23d Throws up leaves off second of evergreens first (6)
VOMITS: A synonym of leaves (out) preceded by the second letter of eVergreen
26d Stone put in the ground with the top 3/4 pointing up (4)
RUBY: A word meaning to inter with three quarters of it reversed
27d Lady's fingers depicted by fine artist (4)
OKRA: An exclamation used to express agreement and the usual artist
28d Listed out loud the days one should abstain (4)
LENT: A homophone (out loud) of a synonym of listed or tilted. Very nice.
I always enjoy a Meles puzzle and this was no exception. Very smooth surfaces, inventive constructions, amusement – and a pangram thrown in for good measure. No quibbles from this solver. Favourites include 11a, 14a, 16a, 24a, 29a, 1d, 6d, 7d and 15d.
Thanks Meles and blogger
An entertaining pangram – thanks to Meles.
I don’t understand the last bit of 21a.
My ticks went to 9a, 14a, 7d and 20d.
I hope that I am not teaching granny to suck eggs – for me, 21a is American slang for a source of caffeine indicated by the name of the café that the Friends used to frequent.
Thanks, Senf. I’ve never watched Friends although I’ve learnt the names of the main characters, mainly from crosswords.
I think there’s a theme based on 11a and including 9a, 10a, 12a, 19a, 22a, 25a, 2d, 26d and 28d. I’ve probably missed some.
Well spotted, Gazza!
Thanks Meles for a caffeine required cranial exercise with some ‘checking’ required to confirm answers.
Smiles for 26a, 28a, 3d, and 23d.
Thanks again and thanks in advance to SL.
Had a couple of sticky moments on the American side of things but made it across the finish line eventually.
Top three came from the top half – 11,14&17a getting the rosettes.
Thanks to Meles for an interesting NTSPP.
Very enjoyable puzzle & for once I even twigged some of the themers.
Thanks Meles
We didn’t realise there was a theme so need to look for that but enjoyed the puzzle very much nonetheless. Many thanks to Meles and we look forward to more. Thanks in advance to SL.
Lovely puzzle – thanks Meles. Favourite was 16a, with smiles for 21a, 7d, and 20d.
Good fun to work through on a very frosty Sunday morning here. We noticed the pangram but totally missed the clever theme.
Thanks Meles.
A steady and satisfying solve, with no real problems, although I had to guess 21ac (not that it took much guessing). Didn’t spot the theme but having had it pointed out (thanks, Gazza) it was quite an achievement fitting it all in and making a pangram, which I did spot, as well.
Thanks, Meles and SL.
Many thanks to all who have solved and commented and especially to Stephen for the wonderfully illustrated blog. I wrote this one earlier in the year in between milestone birthdays for me and my wife so 11a was on the mind. The pangram wasn’t planned, but by the time I had 10a, 25a and 2d in the grid for the theme it felt silly not to! Thanks again until next time.
Many thanks for the review, Stephen. I’ve learned something new in Central Perk!
Happy Birthday Jane.