Mog returns, not done too many by him.
I struggled in the SW corner, just couldn’t see what was going on for ages. Thanks Mog for that
Can’t see any themes or Ninas, maybe you can
The one in question being a drink. WINE – drink around D – fourth rate & PIP – spot
Shake off the end – butt – of 2 x CHA(p)
PEN – write & DRAG – something boring & ON – about
Double def
Start of T(uneless) & RAVEL’S
Detective InspectorS & GUST of wind
SURE – certain & CHE’S (guevara) all in TREAT – deal
It’s also an anagram of Etonian Nudists but a fixed [ON TITIAN NUDES]*
Most of GRAV(y) – sauce & LAX – lacking firmness
Nestle who make chocolates etc & apostrophe S
Well watch maker anyway. AGE & MO – two different “times” reversed
A cryptic [CLUES NO]* with DR(ive) – a way – breaking in
Sounds like CENTS, US currency
Hidden worming its way through wharF REEF OR Marina
IT – sex appeal & I – one & PAW – furry foot all reversed – raised
The skirts of N(agou)A around IN – fashionable & J(apan)
PER – each & SEVER – to part & end of (walkur)E
PEG – secure & AS – compared to & US
Double def
Well they do at airports. L(eft) in CAROUSES – parties
A & P – quiet inside PETITE – little
NA – chem symbol for Sodium & RID – cleanse reversed
EAT – worry reversed with I for current & WANES – subsides inserted
An anagram – breaking of [NICE LOONS]*. I’m sure this clue could be better written, the anagram is screamingly obvious and the surface to me is meaningless. Perhaps I’m just in bad mood.
SURGE – big wave possibly & ON – concerning & S(mall)
First letter of N(oisome) & EX – old mate & US – we crossworders
No final letter in TAN(k) – military unit & DOOR – opening
No leading letters – caps – in (e)ASY – painless & (p)LUM – choice
AGUE – a fit removed from LE(ague) & A & P(in)T
L(ake) & the ship ARGO
Thanks Mog, flashing.
Remembered enjoying last Mog; this is excellent, too.
TRAVELS
OMEGA (flavor of the week making second appearance, here)
SCENTS
WAPITI
SURGEONS
NEXUS
LEAPT make my list.
Thanks Flashling. I found this quite hard generally, and didn’t really get going until I’d cracked the two big across clues. Managed to resist the urge to check in here!
Think 1a should be WINDPIPE?
@2 oops yes I’ve typed the solution wrongly. At least the parsing is right..
Just couldn’t get on Mog’s wavelength today, but it was just me being obtuse. PERSEVERE was my favourite for the clever use of “part”.
14a – TREASURE CHEST – parsed TREAT as “deal with” rather than just “deal”
Thanks both. Really enjoyed the challenge but had to work very hard on a number, perhaps where the synonyms were a bit stretching, which is the general idea of course. LEAPT confused me at first, as apt also means ‘fit’, the VIP element in HOSTS raised a question mark unless we are simply to accept that those hosting enjoy such status, in which case surely they rank behind those receiving the awards and become QIPS?….I’m grateful to that slightly irritating TV advert for GRAVLAX which otherwise would have defeated me.
Very tough today. I got onto Mog’s wavelength in previous puzzles but not today. Never saw military unit = TAN(k), cutters = SURGEONS, subsides = WANES, way = DR(ive) so it’s definitely the setter’s victory today. I do agree with TFO about the Oscars VIPs/hosts.
There were themes in Mog’s previous work but I cannot see anything here. Though I can still see WINEPIPE which I think is a brilliant idea, flash.
Thanks to Mog and flashling
If I’d ever heard of cloisonné then perhaps the anagram would have been screamingly obvious to me too!
@Eric W maybe you misunderstood me. Not the answer as such but it’s nonsensical surface that shouts obvious anagram. Considering how carefully the rest is put together it just sits very strangely.
Personally, when I am so frustrated that I need to break something, my object of choice is a cloisonné diving bird.
Don’t want to get this only on that clue. Perhaps it’s just me. I thought the rest was great. Tough, yes but very good.
Now I’m confused why the site logged me out of my user name and used my real one. Ho hum.