NTSPP 787 – Review

NTSPP 787 – Review by StephenL

Madcap is in this week’s spot with a typically clever and entertaining puzzle. Thanks to him

Across

1a How to score with a kiss on the table? (6)
CANNON: Cryptic definition, the table being one with a cue ball

4a I overdoes, needing counter-agent first time (6)
PERIOD: I from the clue, and an abbreviated OverDose follow a reversal of an abbreviated agent. I presume there’s a typo in this.

8a Circuitous verbosity avoided so this? (7)
BREVITY: Anagram (Circuitous) of VERBosITY for an extended definition. Strictly speaking we need a reversal indicator applied to “so”

9a Yard workers‘ money? (7)
COPPERS: Double definition

11a Madcaps! The French overrun by bedbugs (10)
BEDLAMITES: A French definite article contained by some bedbugs. Pity “bed” appears in wordplay and solution

12a Cries of help signalled when British captured (4)
SOBS: Some “signalled” help around the abbreviation for British

13a Father takes on Tesla in van (5)
FRONT: A charade of an abbreviated father, ON from the clue and the abbreviation for Tesla

14a Subject of story: male escaping from treasure island (8)
LIEGEMAN: The usual story, some treasure without the abbreviation for Male and one of crosswordland’s favourite islands. Nice

16a American soldier, by breaking barrier, makes GB (8)
GIGABYTE: The usual American soldier and an insertion of BY from the clue into a barrier or entrance

18a Woman from Berlin, Germany, is an imposter (5)
FRAUD: The German word for a woman and the abbreviation for Germany

20a City house is reproduction, we hear (4)
ECHO: A London postcode and the abbreviation for HOuse. I quite like this.

21a Town infamous for its charge set primarily for top gear (10)

BALACLAVAS: The scene of the Charge of the Light Brigade and the initial letter of Set

23a Where we hear pop artist loses head in drugs (3-4)
EAR-HOLE: An American artist and leading figure in the pop art movement without the initial letter inserted into two instances of a drug. Nice

24a Discover fellow independent’s exposed (4,3)
FIND OUT: A charade of an abbreviation for Fellow, one for INDependent and a word meaning exposed

25a Heaved in loo by the sound of it (6)
THROWN: A homophone of a slang term for the loo.

26a Exercise freak without a thing to eat (6)
PEANUT: The usual abbreviated exercise and a synonym of freak contain (without) A from the clue

 

Down

1d Turn against stopping treatment (5)
CURVE: An insertion of a letter representing against in a game perhaps into a synonym of treatment

2d Book to see old matinee idol (7)
NOVELLO: A book plus an archaic exclamation meaning “see” rather than “to see”.

3d Might myope trot off for this? (9)
OPTOMETRY: Anagram (off) of MYOPE TROT giving a nice semi &lit

5d Islands where nearly all oyster is cooked (5)
EYOTS: Anagram (is cooked) of OYSTEr

6d N progress here as setter’s old-fashioned (7)
IMPASSE: First person singular of the verb to be plus an adjective meaning dated

7d Trade 80% up meeting committee’s target (9)
DARTBOARD: A reversal (up in a down clue) of TRADe plus a committee (running a company)

10d Unnaturally inclined to be taken in by cunning (9)
STILTEDLY: An meaning inclined or at an angle sits inside a three-letter cunning

13d Spacious pad having sheets turned over – seductres welcoming new chap (4,5)
FLIP CHART: A seductress or tease “welcomes” an anagram (new) of CHAP

15d Swear two thirds of objective is successful (9)
EFFECTIVE: Swear as in the F word plus two thirds of objECTIVE.

17d An alternative to her? (7)
ANOTHER: An from the clue plus an anagram of TO HER giving a succinct &lit

19d Old film star in pantomime favourite! (7)
ALADDIN: An old film star with his first name written as an initial plus IN from the clue

21d Elbow’s ballad originally moved to Number One in under … (5)
BELOW: Move the initial letter in Ballad to the front of Elbow

22d … a day last month – that’s obscene (5)
ADULT: A from the clue, the abbreviation for Day plus an abbreviated Latin word meaning “of the previous month”