Hello everyone
A grid from 15×15 regular PostMark to start the week.
There is a “types of rock” theme to the answers, with CHALK, GNEISS, GRANITE, GRITSTONE (a particular favourite for this norther climber), LIMESTONE (ditto) QUARTZ, GABBRO, COAL, PUMICE and SLATE making an appearance.
I have to confess the lack of definition indicators in these clues wasn’t a trick that was for me. Once the theme emerged it made the solves easier, but for the most part I completed a lot of those clues by just filling in the gaps from the crossers.
On the whole, though, I’d say that was a minor annoyance in an otherwise fine grid with a great many excellent clues. I’m going to single out 31d as a favourite. So much going on for a three word answer…bravo!
Thanks very much to PostMark
ACROSS
1. Canoodle interrupted by small pain in the neck (4)
PEST
Canoodle [PET] interrupted by small [S]
8. Nurse swallows, injecting second of patient’s shots (10)
ENDEAVOURS
Nurse [EN] swallows [DEVOURS], injecting [around] second of patient’s [A]
9. Last in quiz after couple of pints (6)
QUARTZ
Last in quiz [Z] after couple of pints [QUART]
11. No talent but wanting a peerage (8)
NOBILITY
No [NO] talent but wanting a [ABILITY]
12. Refinement, say, electronic weapon possesses (8)
ELEGANCE
Say [EG], electronic [E] weapon [LANCE] possesses [inside]
15. Two steps for assembling cookers (8)
STEWPOTS
Anagram [“for assembling”] TWO STEPS
18. University dons returning elitist prize (5)
BONUS
University [U] dons [inside] returning elitist [SNOB backwards = BONS]
19. Member’s uphill struggle when short of clubs (4)
LIMB
Uphill struggle [CLIMB] when short of clubs [no “C”]
21. Guard tunnelled escaping from trap (4)
MIND
Sound alike [“escaping from trap”] tunnelled = MINED
22. Characters central to Jaguar, racer and racing designer? (5)
GUCCI
Characters central to JAGUAR, RACER and RACING
23. One associated with group to take more time (8)
BELONGER
Take more time = “BE LONGER”
25. Problem with locks puzzling police and AA (8)
ALOPECIA
Anagram [“puzzling”] POLICE + AA
29. Scot turned out to encourage nationalist politician (8)
STURGEON
Scot turned out [SCOT] to encourage [URGE ON]
31. Couple of sailors, the first to head west (6)
BASALT
Couple of sailors [BA + SALT], the first to head west [BA backwards]
32. Examiner or one in suit surprised about question (10)
INQUISITOR
Or [OR] one [I] in suit [IN SUIT] surprised [anagram] about [around] question [QU]
33. Society girl, perhaps slip of a thing (4)
SKID
Society [S] girl, perhaps [KID]
DOWN
1. Upset little dog, picking it up (5)
PIQUE
Sound alike [“picking it up”] “PEEK”
I presume PEEK a shortening of “Pekenese”
2. Son and others coming round (5)
SLATE
Son [S] and others [ET AL] coming round [backwards]
3. Frenzy bypassing every other Arab city (3)
FEZ
Alternate letters of [“bypassing every other”] FRENZY
4. Only saints accepting theologian’s eccentricity (7)
ODDNESS
Only [ONE] saints [SS] accepting [around] theologian’s [DD]
5. Chap putting on R&B? Quite the reverse (6)
MARBLE
Chap [MALE] putting on R & B? Quite the reverse [R&B inside instead of outside “putting on”]
6. Conservative Asian nation largely on the up (4)
COAL
Conservative [C] Asian nation largely [LAOS] on the up [backwards]
7. Setting or cracking? (9)
GRITSTONE
Anagram [“cracking”] SETTING OR
10. Refreshment to have when cycling (3)
TEA
Anagram [“when cycling”] to have = EAT
13. Heading north, absorb bagpiping displays (6)
GABBRO
Hidden word [“displays”] backwards [“heading north”] ABSORB BAGPIPING
14. Name borne by fashionable English square (4)
NINE
Name [N] borne by fashionable [IN] English [E]
16. I’m head over heels into Deep Purple (6)
PUMICE
I’m [IM] head over heels [backwards] into [inside] Deep Purple [PUCE]
17. Spirit topped with sour fruit (9)
LIMESTONE
Spirit [TONE] topped with sour fruit [LIMES]
20. Take lead from husband when wearing green (4)
ECHO
Husband [H] when wearing green [ECO]
22. Tearing about? (7)
GRANITE
Anagram [“about”] TEARING
24. Conversationalist’s pleasant (6)
GNEISS
Sound alike [“conversationalists”] pleasant = NICE
26. Peeled piece of asparagus that needs little boiling? (3)
PEA
Peeled piece of asparagus [SPEAR]
27. Taps on old vessel turning right to left (5)
CHALK
Taps [C H] on old vessel [ARK] turning right to left [replace R with L]
28. Played match to end? Nothing odd in that (5)
ACTED
Even letters [“Nothing odd in that “] of MATCH TO END
30. Defeat fish but not the first time (4)
ROUT
31. Support introduction of recycled carrier bags (3)
BRA
Introduction of recycled [R] carrier [BA = British Airways] bags [outside]
This was a happy find, and I personally enjoyed the definitionless answers – always happy with a theme, gimmick or nina!
Your list misses MARBLE and BASALT LC, possibly a typo in 1d as I’d have thought Peke would be the abbreviation.
Oddly I was held up by your favourite BRA, having entered an uncertain PRO with the P(ost)O(ffice) being the carrier.
Thanks for this Postmark and Leedsclimber
Really enjoyed this, a smooth solve with fun surfaces and excellent constructions. The theme revealed itself pretty quickly which helped move things along. Top picks BRA QUARTZ ACTED ENDEAVOURS NOBILITY MARBLE BONUS.
where can i find this puzzle?