A Puzzle by Meles
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The puzzle is available by clicking on the above grid.
NTSPP regular Meles is in the hot seat for the final offering of the year and he gives us a suitably fine puzzle to go out on, so many thanks to him. Hopefully I'll see you with my other hat on before 2025 so I'll reserve the New Year's best wishes until then.
Across
1a Doesn't steal as much when both hands freed to become preoccupied (6)
OBSESS: Remove (freed) the two abbreviations for hands from a phrase that means “doesn't steal as much”
4a Confirm support (6)
UPHOLD: Double definition
8a Delighted chief with weapons (7)
CHARMED: The abbreviation for CHief and an adjective indicating possession of weapons
9a Foundations finally put right during periods of growth (7)
BOTTOMS: Insert the final letters of puT righT into periods of (perhaps economic) growth. Very smart.
11a GP's instrument? (5,5)
GRAND PIANO: Cryptic definition
12a In Greece I sample from audio tape (4)
IOTA: Hidden (sample from) in the final two words.
13a Briefly plan breakfast, essentially it's Italian ham (5)
SPECK: An informal or abbreviated plan plus the essential letter of breaKfast
14a Laid back and played flute - classy (8)
TASTEFUL: A reversal of a synonym of laid plus an anagram (played) of FLUTE
16a Clean icy hinge off (8)
HYGIENIC: Anagram (off) of the preceding two words
18a Recoil from acceleration absorbed by large body (5)
BAULK: An insertion of the abbreviation for Acceleration (I've not come across this before) into a large body or weight
20a Drink quickly in a state of sadness, heading to a lower point (4)
DOWN: Triple definition
21a Reconcile with trainer, initially running and using circuits (10)
ELECTRONIC: Anagram (running) of RECONCILE which includes the initial letter of Trainer.
23a Notebooks of runners with each good time (7)
JOTTERS: Some (casual) runners with the two abbreviations for Good replaced by two for Time. Very smooth.
24a Enforced the rules as rude imp misbehaved (7)
UMPIRED: Anagram (misbehaved) of RUDE IMP
25a Endeavour to live, at first just a little bit (6)
MORSEL: The surname of the fictional detective Endeavour plus the initial letter of Live.
26a Picked up smell, perhaps smells? (6)
SCENTS: Homophone (picked up) of a synonym of an example of what smell is.
Down
1d Different bugs lacking a shell (5)
OTHER: Remove the outer letters (lacking a shell) of a synonym of bugs as a verb
2d Group of mountains capped with stone that's unusual (7)
STRANGE: The abbreviation for STone plus a generic group of mountains
3d Hide from family of follower (9)
SHEEPSKIN: If we split the solution 6,3 (the first word including the possessive s) we have a phrase that could whimsically refer to the family of one who follows. Very smart.
5d Still angry, entering work upset (5)
PHOTO: An adjective that could mean angry, along with several other things, inserted into a reversal (when upset) of the usual abbreviated work. Another good one.
6d Give the key details of empty office until moving in (7)
OUTLINE: The outside letters (empty) of OfficE contain (in) an anagram (moving) of UNTIL.
7d Vehicle where tipping is expected? (9)
DUMPTRUCK: Cryptic definition based upon the function of the vehicle. Chambers has this enumerated 4,5
10d Pressure over what's written in the newspaper, they make up everything! (9)
PARTICLES: The abbreviation for Pressure followed by what a newspaper is full of!
13d In America, crude product is spread for my toast, mostly (9)
STYROFOAM: Anagram (spread) of FOR MY TOASt.
15d Is jumbo art form piece oddly deficient, being extremely small? (9)
SUBATOMIC: The even letters (oddly deficient) of iS jUmBo ArT fOrM pIeCe. Bravo!
17d One causes a fire by partly misinterpreting instructions on the counter (7)
IGNITER: Hidden (partly) and reversed (on the counter) in the clue
19d Ideal for everyone to criticise, admits the setter (7)
UTOPIAN: The usual “for everyone” TO from the clue and then a verb meaning (heavily) criticise into which is inserted a first person pronoun.
21d Mysterious European island to the north (5)
EERIE: The abbreviation for European and a reversal (to the north) of a neighbouring island
22d Couples with small children dropping money (5)
ITEMS: Some small children with the abbreviation for money moved back (dropping in a down clue).
A very enjoyable lunchtime solve – thanks to Meles.
I awarded ticks to 1a, 20a, 3d, 5d, 19d and 22d with my favourite being 25a.
Solved without caffeine assistance although on reflection it probably would have helped. But, I did have to check after entering for the last half dozen answers.
Smiles for 9a, 23a, 25a, 5d, and 19d.
Thanks Meles for an enjoyable challenge and thanks in advance to Stephen L.
Excellent! This was nicely challenging and great fun. With lots of ticked clues to choose from, 20a was my favourite.
Many thanks to Meles.
I’ve done 3 puzzles today, and I think I enjoyed this one the most. Thanks Meles. Favourites were 9a, 11a and 7d amongst many others.
A nice level of challenge and a pleasure to solve. Our favourite was also 25a.
Thanks Meles.
I did try to leave a comment earlier on but it obviously floated off into the ether – doubtless something silly that I’ve done! Anyway, I just wanted to say that I found our setter as cunning as ever but enjoyed the puzzle immensely once the brain computer sputtered into action. I did hesitate over the synonym for ‘laid’ in 14a but doubtless it’s just my problem and can easily be justified.
Top three here were 25a (sorry that Kath missed that one) plus 3&10d.
Thanks to Meles for another most enjoyable NTSPP.
Many thanks to Meles for delivering a perfect way to end my day last night. Favourites helping me to get a good night’s sleep were 1a, 13a, 23a, 1d, 10d & 17d. Even the dodgy homophone produced a smile!
Many thanks for the review, Stephen, always good to be able to check one’s parsing. Thanks again to Meles as well.
Thanks to all commenters and especially Stephen for the review. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all 🙂.
Apologies for being late on parade, but having read the comments above, I thought I had to give this puzzle a go. I am very glad that I did.
Some lovely clues and plenty of originality.
Ticks all over my paper including 1a, 14a, 20a, 23a, 25a, 5d, 6d, 17d, 19d and 22d.
Great stuff, Meles and thanks to StephenL for the review.