A grid by Gennaro for today.
This kind of puzzle with a consistently steady level of difficulty throughout I always find really enjoyable. I predict this will be enjoyed equally by beginners, improvers and old sweats. No obvious themes or Ninas that I can see.
Because I like an intricate construction, I’m going to highlight 1D as this grid’s stand out.
Also…if you’re in the UK, enjoy the bank holiday
ACROSS
5. Catches snakes near Greece (6)
GRASPS
Snakes [ASPS] near Greece [GR]
6. Traps are encased in tin and a bit of steel (6)
SNARES
Are [ARE] encased in tin [SN] and a bit of steel [S]
9. Suppress study defending Andrew, oddly (6)
DEADEN
Study [DEN] defending [around] Andrew oddly [A D E]
10. Illegal amusement headed by student appalling (8)
UNLAWFUL
Amusement headed [FUN] by student [L] appalling [AWFUL]
11. A flower emerged (4)
ROSE
Double definition
12. Youthful stage in tavern, riotous scene with cocaine exhausted (10)
PUBESCENCE
Tavern [PUB] riotous scene [anagram = ESCEN] with cocaine exhausted [COCAINE]
13. Australian inmate wasted, ingesting dodgy hemp for a stimulant (11)
AMPHETAMINE
Australian [A] inmate wasted [anagram = TAMINE] ingesting [around] dodgy hemp [anagram = MPHE]
18. Flooded groves essentially with wild deer, undone by wolf coming around (10)
OVERFLOWED
Groves essentially [OV] with wild deer [anag = ERED], undone [split] by wolf coming around [FLOW]
21. A little problem in arithmetic for the audience (4)
SOME
Sound alike clue… “SUM”
22. Intentionally cunning, framing female university lecturers (8)
WILFULLY
Cunning [WILY], framing [around] female university lecturers [F U L]
23. Maybe file transfer at college a burden (6)
UPLOAD
At college [UP] a burden [LOAD]
24. A hint of nature in Tuscan city colour (6)
SIENNA
A hint of nature [N] in Tuscan city [SIENA]
25. Project depleted element in celestial body (6)
PLANET
Project [PLAN] depleted element [ELEMENT]
DOWN
1. Fantasy of armed criminal holding up NY lawyer ultimately scary (8)
DAYDREAM
Armed criminal [anag = DREAM] holding up NY lawyer [DA] ultimately scary [Y]
2. Disclose portion of homespun epoch from the South (4,2)
OPEN UP
Hidden word [“portion of”] HOMESPUN EPOCH from the south [“backwards”]
3. Man’s struggling with clue for American country icon? (5,3)
UNCLE SAM
Anagram [“struggling”] MANS + CLUE
4. Survey of arguments between Belgium and Spain (6)
BROWSE
Arguments [ROWS] between Belgium [B] and Spain [E]
5. Became more acceptable to periodically gorge now exercising (4,2)
GREW ON
Periodically gorge [G R E] now exercising [anag = WON]
7. Rise of embittered church (6)
SOURCE
Embittered [SOUR] church [CE]
8. Watch out! Boys wanting love desperately have good as well as bad points (3,4,4)
CUT BOTH WAYS
Anagram [“desperately”] WATCH OUT + boys wanting love [BOYS]
14. Biblical sites, say, completely secure (4,4)
HOLY LAND
Say [sound like], completely [wholly = HOLY] secure [LAND]
15. Young bird, nearly new, initially starting to fish (8)
NESTLING
Nearly new, [NEW] initially starting to [S T] fish [LING]
16. Enthusiastic about nothing, son escapes (6)
AVOIDS
Enthusiastic [AVID] about nothing [O], son [S]
17. Setter’s ready for a trip perhaps, discussed consequences (6)
IMPACT
Setter’s [I’M] ready for a trip perhaps, discussed [sound alike: PACKED = PACT]
19. Searches fellow covered with bugs (6)
RIFLES
Fellow [F] covered with bugs [RILES]
20. Twin daughter with anxiety losing temper on vacation (6)
DOUBLE
Daughter [D] with anxiety losing temper on vacation [TROUBLE]
Ah, but there is a nina – DOUBLE EDGED SWORD around the perimeter which chimes with CUTS BOTH WAYS in the middle. Which is a typical Gennaro construction for those of us on MyCrossword. Nice job.
Faves inc SNARES, AMPHETAMINE, UNCLE SAM, HOLY LAND, IMPACT and DOUBLE.
Thanks both
Thanks Gennaro for a silky smooth start to the week, thanks to leedsclimer for the blog and thanks to PM for spotting the nina which I was sure must be there but couldn’t see for love nor money. My favourites were WlLFULLY, SIENNA, BROWSE, HOLY LAND and IMPACT but could easily pick more.
An enjoyably gentle way to start a Bank Holiday. Thanks to Gennaro, and also to Leedsclimber. Favourites: WILFULLY, UNCLE SAM, AVOIDS and IMPACT
Great puzzle Gennaro to have with my morning cuppa, always an interesting hidden message in your puzzles. I have listed my favourites on Mycrossword.co.uk