A Puzzle by duncanjwitham
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The puzzle is available by clicking on the above grid
Duncan returns to the In NTSPP spot with a typically clever and entertaining puzzle. Thanks to him
Across
7a Engineers one end of firearm to make improvement (6)
REFORM: Abbreviated Royal Engineers plus F OR M (one end of firearm)
8a Striking worker's sign to stop early (8)
HANDSOME: Worker/helper plus the possessive S plus sign/warning without its last letter
10a With passion and energy, the lady dances (8)
HEATEDLY: E plus THE LADY* (dances)
11a Anger with substitute eager to waste time (6)
TEMPER: Abbreviated substitute/agency worker plus EageR (to waste/delete time/age)
12a Watch is going round very fast (6)
STARVE: Watch as a verb containing the abbreviation for Very.
13a Those commanding supporters to wear shirts? (3,5)
TOP BRASS: Ray T’s supporters wearing a generic name for some shirts
14a Reversing positions, pitch article on philandering (7,3,5)
PLAYING THE FIELD: On/in operation, a definite article and pitch as a noun (ie the component parts of the wordplay reversed)
18a Acceptable target in coconut shy? (4,4)
FAIR GAME: Double definition, the second by example hence the ?
21a Free tips from Usain Bolt (6)
UNLOCK: UsaiN plus something of which a bolt is an example
23a Rock bands that art show keeps around (6)
STRATA: Hidden and reversed (keeps/around)
24a Church goers try turning to suitable parts of the bible? (8)
CHAPTERS: Abbreviated CHurch plus goers with the try/go element replaced by suitable/appropriate
25a It helps one far away to get closer still? (4,4)
ZOOM LENS: Cryptic definition. Very clever but if someone is very far away they wouldn't get closer “still”
26a Troops gutted after uniform incidents (6)
EVENTS: Uniform/flat plus TroopS
Down
1d Deep in trouble, organised last stand (8)
PEDESTAL: DEEP* (in trouble) plus LAST* (organized). Not a fan of this particular construction
2d One sharing stage with backing singers, once every now and then (2-4)
CO-STAR: Crosswordland’s favourite “singers” plus OnCe all reversed (backing)
3d Drop insect that boy is holding (8)
SMIDGEON: Boy/male relative “holding” (annoying) insect
4d Bit of advice: hoody occasionally welcome when sailing (4)
AHOY: Initial letter of Advice plus HoOdY. Very nice!
5d Hot dogs maybe served up in middle of Oxford? (6)
INSTEP: Hot as in popular plus something of which dogs are an example reversed. Oxford is not a random city here!
6d Politician lies about housing moves (6)
IMPELS: LIES* (about) housing/containing the usual politician
9d US airman losing tail, flying Japanese fighter (7)
SAMURAI: US AIRMAn* (flying)
13d Handle slate that ultimately cracks (5)
TITLE: A synonym of slate “cracked” by the final letter of that
15d Measure steel to make part of ship (7)
YARDARM: An imperial measure plus steel/fortify?
16d Copied Aussie native, brought up detail I missed out (8)
EMULATED: Rod Hull’s nemesis plus DETAiL rev. minus the I
17d Cut cost of material? (8)
LACERATE: Split the solution (cut/slash) 4,4 to see the wordplay
19d King perhaps has gold, almost all of the gold (6)
AUTHOR: The chemical symbol of gold plus THe plus the heraldic symbol of the aforementioned metal
20d Disgraces barracks when drinking (6)
ABASES: A synonym of when “drinking” barracks/camp
22d Refuse some children bedding (6)
LITTER: Triple definition
24d HMRC's final demand for VAT (4)
CASK: The final letter of HMRC plus demand/request.
A nice diversion while microwaving the Sainsbury’s Indian ready meals for lunch
Thanks to Duncan and in advance to Stephen
A very entertaining puzzle with some nifty clues – thanks duncanjwitham.
I presume that 20d is some sort of homophone but I can’t see what it is.
I have many ticks on my printout including 7a, 8a, 18a, 24a and 2d.
Gazza, I took 20d to be a 2-letter word meaning “when” surrounding (“drinking”) a synonym of “barracks”.
Thanks RD. I shouldn’t try to solve crosswords whilst watching rugby on TV.
“Barracks” is a synonym of “Jeers”, a homophone of “Cheers! At least that’s how i looked at it.
Enjoyable and some clever clues.
Thanks to DJW.
Brilliant!
Many thanks, Duncan, this was a joy to solve. The parsing of some of your inventive clues put up quite a fight but each one fell with a resounding PDM accompanied by a smile.
From a plethora of ticks, 24a was my favourite. A particular mention too for the lovely triple definition in 22d.
Our usual starting point, the NW, ended up being the last to yield in this most enjoyable puzzle. Hard to pick a favourite but we’ll go with 24a.
Thanks Duncan.
Thanks for the comments everyone, and thanks for the review StephenL.
Thanks Duncan. Thoroughly enjoyed the puzzle. Couldn’t twig the why at 24a & still can’t even after reading Stephen’s explanation – 🤔
It’s CH (church) + GOERS with the GO (try) replaced by APT so CH + APT + ERS.
Got it ta – I was trying to come up with a synonym for goers
Still catching up after returning from holiday, and what a treat awaited me with this NTSPP. Like RD I had a plethora of ticks, perhaps the most ‘ticked’ puzzle I’ve done in recent times
I’m not going to nominate a list of favourites because the whole puzzle was a delight, although I must say I particularly enjoyed the surface of 6d – a neat bit of commentary on political shenanigans (allegedly)!
Great entertainment from duncanjwitham – thank you! I can’t wait for the next one! My thanks also go to StephenL.