Mephisto 3086 – Tim Moorey

Unless you’re very experienced you are unlikely to solve a Mephisto without using Chambers. The idea is that you use the precise wordplay to derive an answer that you then verify in the dictionary.  5D is a perfect example.

A puzzle of no more than average difficulty

In the clues, definitions are underlined. Wordplay explanation is followed by very helpful comments.

ACROSS
1 Silent leaving clubs? Only a bit in Glasgow (4)
TAIT: TA(c)IT;
4 Love kiss on the kisser from an African bird (8)
OXPECKER: O-X-PECKER
9 Stella drunk in Rock could get you this (8, three words)
ALL,AT,SEA: AA=rock surrounds (stella)*; reference Stella Lager;
11 Short of backing many in choir impromptu getting out of tune (10)
INHARMONIC: (man + in + choir)*;
12 Lightermen last to encourage shelducks (8)
BARGEESE: BARGEES-(encourage)E;
15 Fruit from the east without flavour mostly (5)
NELIS: SILEN(t) reversed;
16 Recall movement in scores of MacMillan (4)
RITS: STIR reversed; scots word for scores – reference clan MacMillan;
17 Stress about infectious diseases? It happens (8)
ACCIDENT: ACC(ID)ENT; reference common saying, accidents happen;
18 A little boy catches fly (8)
SMIDGEON: S(MIDGE)ON;
20 Tense journalist fellow union’s leader ignored (4)
EDGY: ED-G(u)Y;
22 Freeman, company boss attached to both sides (5)
CEORL: CEO-R-L
25 Inconsistent person turned up before Christmas over (8)
CAMELEON: CAME-(NOEL reversed);
26 Go around a green for limestone deposit (10)
TRAVERTINE: TR(A-VERT)INE;
27 Insult chaps spoken of in front (8)
DISGUISE: DIS-sounds like “guys”;
28 Nut eating honey and cereal (8)
AMELCORN: A(MEL)CORN;
29 Unfinished search for item in playground up north (4)
SWEE: SWEE(p);

DOWN
1 Sound quality not so fierce around bass (6)
TAMBER: TAM(B)ER;
2 Materially wrong about potassium measurement in labs (11)
ALKALIMETRY: (materially + k=potassium)*;
3 Briefs a nipper lifted up (5)
TANGA: A-GNAT reversed;
4 Sort of ranks / remaining (5)
OTHER: two meanings;
5 Cordial company sharing a seat (8)
PERSICOT: PER-SI(CO)T;
6 Old head of English in school uttered the call (6)
COOEED: CO(O-E)ED;
7 County resident not right to reveal pig iron on board (9)
KENTLEDGE: KENT-LEDGE(r);
8 Given a new role take advanced supersonic transport (6)
RECAST: REC-AST; AST=Advanced Supersonic Transport;
10 Shy about going before audience in dressing room (11)
TIRINGHOUSE: (re)TIRING-HOUSE;
13 What some TT reformers might do for an explanation (9)
RATIONALE: RATION-ALE;
14 Wrought iron case in outline (8)
SCENARIO: (iron case)*;
18 Payment one accepted for concave moulding (6)
SCOTIA: SCOT-I-A:
19 Cobblers urge beginning with last (6)
DRIVEL: DRIVE-L(ast);
21 Endless corruption absorbed by the old American (6)
YANKEE: Y-(c)ANKE(r)-E
23 The old take plan without a pinch of salt (5)
DEIGN: DE(S)IGN;
24 Students below, look up in group of trees (5)
ALNUS: LA reversed – NUS;