The original puzzle may be found here.
This was slightly easier than some of the recent MyCrossword puzzles I've blogged. One or two of the surface definitions were a little strained and I was dubious on 23A because salads don't normally consist of just lettuce, but overall it there was a lot of inventive stuff. 1A had a nice faux scientific slant to it with order being one of the taxonomic classifications in biology and I liked the use of elders in 3D.
| ACROSS | ||
| 1 | ALPHABETICAL |
This describes order of gnu or chimps … or acers? (12)
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CD referring to that fact that gnu, chimps and acers all have their letters in alphabetical order. |
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| 9 | AUTOBIOGRAPHERS |
They tell their stories of a bar with hot groupies dancing (15)
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(A bar hot groupies)* |
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| 10 | ELGAR |
He scored 50 amid fury once retired (5)
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L(=50 in Roman numerals) in rage<(=fury) |
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| 12 | IN ANY CASE |
Regardless, this indicates a vague legal precedent! (2,3,4)
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CD/DD |
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| 13 | CONTENTS |
Satisfied with second part of book? (8)
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Content(=satisfied) + s{econd} |
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| 14 | BLINI |
Carrier of caviar perhaps unable to see one ousting director (5)
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Blind(=unable to see) with i replacing d{irector} |
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| 16 | GLEAM |
Sparkle of stone studded with flecks of lapis and amethyst (5)
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Gem with l{apis} and a{methyst} inserted at different points (studded) |
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| 17 | WET PAINT |
I want pet groomed – sign of a new coat? (3,5)
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(I want pet)* |
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| 20 | LAUNDERED |
Cleaned wood on the counter, including below (9)
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Deal<(=type of wood) around under(=below) |
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| 22 | PULSE |
This beats place where money is changing hands (5)
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Purse(=where money is) with l{eft} replacing r{ight} |
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| 23 | TIP OF THE ICEBERG |
Hint frequently that man having salad is an indication of a larger issue (3,2,3,7)
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Tip(=hint) + oft(=frequently) + he(=that man) + iceberg(=salad lettuce) |
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| 25 | PREPOSTEROUS |
Quiet about online contributor forums regularly being unreasonable (12)
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P{iano}(=quiet) + re(=about) + poster(=online contributor) + [f]o[r]u[m]s |
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| DOWN | ||
| 1 | AMAZED |
In the morning, article by unknown journalist surprised (6)
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AM(=in the morning) + a(=article) + z(=unknown) + ed{itor}(=journalist) |
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| 2 | PIT |
Hollow stone (3)
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DD |
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| 3 | ARBORETUM |
Where one might see elders frolicking about, mostly merry (9)
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(About merr[y])* |
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| 4 | EROSION |
Deterioration of rock music event with Universal and a further six dropping out (7)
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E[u]ro[vi]sion |
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| 5 | INROADS |
Hostile attacks radios broadcast around noon (7)
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Radios* around n{oon} |
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| 6 | APPLY |
Tech company destroying Earth may ultimately make a formal request (5)
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Appl[e](=tech company) + [ma]y |
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| 7 | RELATIONAL |
Sensible to pen letter about correspondence (10)
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Rational(=sensible) around el(=letter l) |
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| 8 | ASTERIX |
Comic character is extra funny (7)
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(Is extra)* |
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| 11 | GOOSE BUMPS |
Silly fool hits spots, showing excitement (5,5)
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Goose(=silly fool) + bumps(=spots) |
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| 14 | BLASPHEME |
Curse God endlessly, unconcerned with power He held over me (9)
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Blas[é] + p{ower} + he + me |
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| 15 | AGILITY |
Extracting the limits of flavour from delicacy shows deftness (7)
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[Fr]agility(=delicacy with the first and last letters of flavour removed) |
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| 17 | WORSHIP |
Largely poorer in glory (7)
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Wors[e] + hip(=in, as in the "in thing") |
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| 18 | TODDIES |
Diets primarily of dried nuts and hot drinks (7)
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(Diets o[f] d[ried])* |
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| 19 | WEDGES |
Simple machines with advantages (6)
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W{ith} edges(=advantages). Wedges are among the six simple machines identified by Renaissance thinkers. |
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| 21 | DEFER |
Where federation from the south stores yield (5)
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Hidden, rev in "where federation" |
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| 24 | ECO |
Green‘s firm leader taking Conservative down a peg (3)
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CEO(=chief executive officer, a company boss) with c{onservative} moved down |
Very enjoyable puzzle with some great clues. I particularly liked 17a, 20a, 22a, 3d, 4d and 8d.
I think that in 4d, the definition is probably meant to include “of rock”. And in 11d, “hits”=“bumps” and everything after that is the definition.
Thanks Meles and NH