Topical fare from NEO
Apologies, but I don’t have much time for a detailed critique of the puzzle today (not helped by it taking me a while to sort out the top left corner, where I was determined to fit GREECE in instead of GREXIT (a new term to me).
After last week’s walk in the park, this Tuesday’s offering was quite a bit tougher.
| Across | ||
| 1 | REM SLEEP |
Policeman round to collect manuscript in crucial time off (3,5)
MS in <=PEELER |
| 6 | DEFACE |
Two words that signal splendid ruin (6)
DEF + ACE |
| 9 | GREXIT |
King stops bastard nation leaving 10 perhaps (6)
G(REX)IT |
| 10 | EUROZONE |
Regret returning to bracing atmosphere in pressured financial area (8)
<= RUE + OZONE |
| 11 | CHOP |
Composer drops in for mutton slice (4)
CHOP(in) |
| 12 | DEBT CRISIS |
Getting stuck occasionally in rubble is reason 9 might occur (4,6)
(s)T(u)C(k) in DEBRIS IS
|
| 14 | DEMOCRAT |
Populist met with Draco explosively (8)
*(met Draco) |
| 16 | LEAN |
Film director in bank (4)
Double definition
|
| 18 | GOBI |
One on spit where temperature famously varies (4)
GOB + I The temperatures can vary by up to 35 degrees within a 24 hour period in the Gobi Desert |
| 19 | REALISED |
Saw Arab men used to cut tough grass (8)
RE(ALIS)ED I really don’t like “Arab men” for ALIS |
| 21 | MARTINGALE |
Trading centre in bad weather provides strap for horse (10)
MART IN GALE |
| 22 | POST |
Contribute online column (4)
Double definition |
| 24 | DISRAELI |
Ex-PM dies – Blair beheaded in riot (8)
*(dies lair) |
| 26 | EASTER |
English flower festival (6)
E + ASTER
|
| 27 | ACCENT |
Money put with account to give emphasis (6)
AC + CENT |
| 28 | MALADIES |
Troubles in the morning over women (8)
<=AM + LADIES |
| Down | ||
| 2 | EARTH |
Ground near the middle? (5)
n(EAR TH)e |
| 3 | SAXOPHONIST |
Player stoked hot passion, receiving kiss (11)
*(hot passion X) |
| 4 | ECTODERM |
External layers to the German mark that underpins EC? (8)
EC + TO DER (“the German”) M |
| 5 | PRESBYTERIANISM |
Repent? Barmy Isis remodelled faith! (15)
*(repent barmy isis) |
| 6 | DIRECT |
Frank unswerving in control (6)
Triple definition |
| 7 | FEZ |
Metal found by Zulu in African city (3)
Fe (iron) + Z
|
| 8 | CANDIDATE |
Conservative and I go out with runner (9)
C AND I DATE |
| 13 | ILL-DISPOSED |
Malicious Lil? (3-8)
Reverse anagram. LIL is ILL disposed |
| 15 | EGOMANIAC |
Self-centred person come again to party (9)
*(come again) |
| 17 | FAREWELL |
Manage comfortably in vale (8)
FARE WELL VALE is the Latin for “farewell” |
| 20 | INSECT |
Worthless person who has joined religious group (6)
IN SECT |
| 23 | STEVE |
Former soldiers turned on English man (5)
<=VETS + E |
| 25 |
Gypsy gentleman Gerry enters house (3)
|
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