A Puzzle by Radler
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The puzzle is available by clicking on the above grid
I wonder whether if I had been the sort of solver who notices Ninas, I wouldn’t spent such a blooming long time trying to solve this crossword - as it was set by Radler, I very much doubt it
Across
8a Move past at intervals, we can say saw second half (4,2)
EASY GO: A synonym for move goes after (past) the even (at intervals) letters of wE cAn SaY
9a Extra heartless charges bank not adaptable (4-4)
READ-ONLY: An extra charge without its middle letter (heartless) inserted into (charges) bank or count on
10a Debt withdrawn added to capital by Pacific island city (8)
LIMASSOL: A reversed debt (loss) added to the capital of Peru (a country by the Pacific)
11a Recurrent social drinking in same place as 70s pact (3-3)
LIB-LAB: A reversed (recurrent) social event ‘drinking’ a Latin abbreviation meaning in the same place
12a Get closer, bottom touching mine after undressing (4,2)
ZERO IN: The lowest point (bottom) and the inside letters (after undressing) of mINe
13a Old lady date, man picked up wine (5,3)
GRAND CRU: An informal name for an older female relative, the abbreviation for Date and a verb meaning to man a ship
15a Enthusiasm, to an extent, prizes Trump's orange skin (4)
ZEST: Hidden (to an extent) in priZES Trump
16a Wear affected lining of ducting (5)
TUNIC: An anagram (affected) of the inside letters (lining) of dUCTINg
17a Cold place outside school (4)
SECT: A verb meaning to place goes outside the abbreviation for Cold
18a Those with unlawful interest wresting power (8)
USURPERS: People who take an unlawful or iniquitous interest on a loan into which is inserted (wresting) the symbol for Power
20a Pertaining to garden consisting of tall grasses (6)
REEDEN: On the subject of (pertaining to) and the garden in Genesis
21a Thing some may have received isn't real ale (6)
PHOBIA: A homophone – some may have received indicating that not everyone will pronounce the two words this way) of an adjective meaning false (isn’t real) and a type of ale
23a Originally a part I love tackling at work (2,6)
AB INITIO: A way of saying at work inserted in A (from the clue), a part, I (from the clue) and the letter representing nothing or love
24a Naughty Amy, there's something to make you blush (8)
ERYTHEMA: An anagram (naughty) of AMY THERE
25a Fight Indian knocker (2,2,2)
GO AT IT: Someone from a part of India and a more formal name for a part of the body known as a knocker
Down
1d They show concentration when metal rises up (10)
SALIMETERS: An anagram (up) of METAL RISES
2d Career break? Yes, accepted right away! (1,4,3)
A YEAR OUT: A word of agreement (yes), abbreviations for Accepted and Right and a word meaning away (from home perhaps)
3d Big Scots there, and abruptly having a fling (7,3,5)
TOSSING THE CABER: An anagram of BIG SCOTS THERE and the first two (abruptly) letters of ANd
4d Country with only one river - this one? (4)
URAL: Relating to the country without the abbreviation for River that is the first letter but keeping the second one
5d Accommodation while moving away embroiled with a racier girl (7,8)
RAILWAY CARRIAGE: An anagram (embroiled) of AWAY with A RACIER GIRL
6d Betrayed chap upset getting the sack (6)
DOBBED: A reversed (upset) original slang name for a man followed by a piece of furniture, the slang name for which is the sack
7d Simple life where one may cook at bathing lake (4)
ALGA: A well-known cooking range into which is inserted (bathing) the abbreviation for Lake
13d Secures clothes pole making room for little boys (5)
GENTS: Secures or receives into which is inserted the abbreviation for the North Pole
14d Microlite malfunctioning restricts height and radius (5,5)
ROCHE LIMIT: An anagram (malfunctioning) of MICROLITE into which is inserted (restricting) the abbreviation for Height – the lowest orbit which a satellite can maintain around its parent planet without being pulled apart by the tidal forces it creates – so now you know!
17d This lady ran into a hotel killing procedure (8)
SHEHITAH: The slaughtering of animals in accordance with rabbinical law, This lady, ran into, A (from the clue) and the letter represented by Hotel in the NATO Phonetic Alphabet
19d One supporting sport club changed times for music (6)
RUBATI: The Roman numeral for one goes after (supporting) an abbreviated sport and a type of club. A musical term meaning in modified or distorted rhythm
22d Scottish team reportedly peaks here (4)
HARZ: A homophone (reportedly) of the informal name for a Scottish football club. These peaks are the northernmost mountain range in Germany
23d Straight away crashes Grandpa's auto going the wrong way (4)
ASAP: Hidden in reverse (going the wrong way) in grandPAS Auto
Thanks to Radler for one of his traditional Toughies with clever wordplay throughout. I enjoyed the struggle.
I quickly wrote in ‘Butt in’ for 12a which seemed to fit only to have to backtrack when 2d became clear.
The very appropriate Nina was a big help round the south of the grid.
Ticks from me for 9a, 11a, 23a, 25a and 22d.
Quite a few clever clues here (e.g. 9a and 23a) and some arcane vocabulary, for me at least (e.g. 14d and 17d) but the clueing was fair – you just need confidence in your parsing when it produces a word that looks unlikely.
A bit of E Help required.
Thanks Radler and whoever has the pen on the review.
I found this very tough with far too many words I have never heard of before and not in my everyday vocabulary.
Lots of E-help required.
Favourites were 12a, 15a 16a & 5d
The Nina was good too.
Thanks to Radler for the brain mangling
Thank goodness for the Nina. Don’t think we would ever have reached a conclusion without its help. Quite a few new words to check out but all eventually found. Biggest laugh came from 25a.
Thanks Radler.