Mephisto 2903 – Paul McKenna

I did this in one fairly short sitting during an break in a play I’m performing in. I have a few question marks around the grid, which usually means gaps in the wordplay, so hopefully those can get sorted out as I write this up. There was a fair amount that went in on definition alone.

It looks like we have another pun on the top row, this time WHITE STORK

Away we go…

Across
1 WIGHTS: if an E was added you would have WEIGHTS(training regime) – I’ve only heard of this referring to an undead, but the first definition in Chambers is to a person
6 TORQUE: hidden in wackiesT OR QUEerest – another term for TORC
10 PHORMIUMS: anagram of MP and HUMORIST minus T
12 SENHORA: SEN(without in music), HORA(dance music)
13 ILIAC: IC(in charge) containing AIL reversed. Second time I’ve seen this term in a crossword recently
14 T-BAR: TBA(to be advised), R
16 REHEEL: REEL around HE – a snob is a shoemaker in this case
17 SETAE: SET(value as in determine the price of something), AE(aged(=)
18 LINE OF BEAUTY: anagram of LIFEBUOY and NEAT
21 FOOTBALLISTS: BAL(balance) LISTS(strips) by FOOT(less dignified end)
23 OUNCE: POUNCE(to pink, obsolete) missing the first letter of People
24 CAMSHO: CAMO(camouflage shortened) surrounding SH(shorthand)
28 GALA: LAG(carry off) reversed, A
29 CHILI: sounds like CHILLY
30 EIDOLON: anagram of OLDIE, then ON(just after)
31 ALEMANNIE: ALE(crosswordland’s favorite festival), MAN, NIC(e)
32 T’,ASSET
33 GARRYA: RAG(banter) reversed, then RYA(rug)
 
Down
1 WASTEL: WASTREL missing R
2 INEBRIOUS: I then an anagram of N,ROBES around U
3 GYNAE: EG containing ANY, all reversed
4 THOLE: TOUCHHOLE, missing OUCH
5 SORBEFACIENT: anagram of BRETON,CAFE,IS
6 TRAILBLAZING: T(hailand),RAIL(scoff),B(British),LAZING – clever long anagram
7 RILE: remove VI from VIRILE
8 QUIETUS: QU(question),IE,TUS(h) – at least I presume that is the behind intended
9 ESC KEY: (th)E, SC(special constable), KEY(chief)
11 MISSEL: LESS I’M all reversed
15 BATTOLOGY: anagram of GOT,BY,A,LOT
19 NONNIES: NOES around INN reversed(Northern)
20 OBELIA: decapitate LOBELIA
21 FOR,CAT: Papillion was a convict
22 STANZA: STAN Laurel of old comedies, ZA
25 MEDIA: AIDE,M(ess) all reversed
26 HALER: double definition
27 ELMS: remove W and H from WHELMS

3 comments on “Mephisto 2903 – Paul McKenna”

  1. Easier than last week’s, although I didn’t get round to it until a couple of days ago.
    How does POUNCE = ‘pink’? I can’t see it in Chambers. Actually, forget that: just seen it under POUNCE. I was looking under ‘pink’. Doh!

    Edited at 2016-04-29 04:49 pm (UTC)

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