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
Some lovely smooth clue writing as is typical with this setter. And plenty of creativity too. Faves inc WEDGES, AGILITY, APPLY, EROSION, ARBORETUM, WET PAINT, CONTENTS and COTD, ASTERIX.
Thanks both
Great puzzle and a worthy entry in the series. ALPHABETICAL was one of my last ones in and it made me first shake my fist then chuckle! also liked GLEAM, WET PAINT, PIT, EROSION and ECO.
Many thanks to Meles and Neal
Really enjoyed this and especially liked the back-to-back GLEAM and WET PAINT clues, along with a host of others (e.g., PURSE, ALPHABETICAL, EROSION). Creative, accessible, and fun. Thanks Meles! (and NealH)
Many thanks to those who have commented here and especially to NealH for the blog. I had fun putting this one together so glad it seems to have gone down well.