If the normal rotation holds, this one is probably by Robert Teuton. The lack of setter attribution is probably due to a production glitch.
I didn’t have much difficulty with this puzzle, and finished in one sitting. I had heard of many of the answers, but as usual the setter likes to use obscure meanings of common words. I was a bit annoyed not being able to remember the Flathead tribe, more properly called the Salish.
The parsings were pretty easy, and I think I was able to explain everything correctly in the blog.
| Across | |
| 1 | Somewhere on vacation away? (7) |
| SEASIDE – S[omewher]E + ASIDE, a rare &lit in a Mephisto. | |
| 6 | Contributions to NI? Irishman’s about to invest money (5) |
| STAMP – P(M)AT’S backwards. This old meaning of stamp is given in Chambers. | |
| 10 | Dryness in mouth possibly moister on account of ensuing kiss (10) |
| XEROSTOMIA – X + anagram of MOISTER O/A. A biff for those with working knowledge of Greek. | |
| 11 | Boisterous social drinking-songs (6) |
| SCOLIA – Anagram of social, giving the plural of scolion, more usually skolion. | |
| 12 | American chaps propose marriage alongside home of poet (6) |
| POPIAN – POP + I(A)N, where chaps is a verb…..I think. | |
| 14 | Arab chief almost top to bottom in cloths (5) |
| HAIKS – A SHAIK[h] with the first letter moved to the end. Since haiks are worn in North Africa, the real answer is surprising close to the surface reading. | |
| 15 | Second release, one from The Police in NA (7) |
| MOUNTIE – MO + UNTIE. | |
| 19 | What’s largely unruly drinking in part of sports ground? (12, two words) |
| LAGER LOUTERY – Anagram of LARGELY around OUTER, another &lit. | |
| 20 | Drug baron hiding in a cupboard? (12) |
| ALPHABLOCKER – ALPHA (B) LOCKER, where A = ALPHA. A Greek minuscule alpha, of course, does not look exactly like the English a. | |
| 25 | Close to pipeline drilling must come to a standstill (7, two words) |
| HEAVE TO – H([pipelin]E)AVE TO. | |
| 26 | What’s necessary on opening of claret — a little pop? (5) |
| CLOOP – C[laret] + LOO + P[op]. | |
| 28 | Offending cutting head off fish (6) |
| ERRING – [h]ERRING. | |
| 29 | Scotland’s well-known excursion cancelled? (6) |
| NOTOUR – NO TOUR! | |
| 30 | Italian official lived years around Vatican City with own goal to worship (10) |
| AVVOGADORE – AV(V,OG)ADORE. AV is V.A. backwards, for vixit annos, and the second V is the one-letter country code for Vatican City. | |
| 31 | Poet’s dismal ballad reread in part (5) |
| DRERE – Hidden in [balla]D RERE[ad] | |
| 32 | Witch’s offspring brewing snake’s and dog’s tails with heads (7) |
| HAGSEED – Anagram of [snak]E + [do]G + HEADS. | |
| Down | |
| 1 | Time spent drinking nip of Scotch, what about second? (4) |
| SESH – S[cotch] + E(S)H? | |
| 2 | Recklessly leave in car, drunk (10, two words) |
| EN CAVALIER – Anagram of LEAVE IN CAR. | |
| 3 | Bypass increases twofold after first curve (5) |
| AXOID – A(-v,+X)OID, a letter substitution clue, where X is twice as much as V if you’re a Roman. | |
| 4 | Perhaps whiskey from fair is hooch? (5) |
| IRISH – Hidden in [fa]IR IS H[ooch]. | |
| 5 | Come back to work in the morning fit to return after party (8, three words) |
| DO A MELBA – DO + AM + ABLE backwards, a phrase referring to Nellie Melba’s interminable farewell concerts. | |
| 6 | Strong suggestion of stench by dunny? (5) |
| STOUT – S + TOUT, which has an obscure meaning of outhouse or privy. | |
| 7 | Superb century after doubling into pocket set back champion (8) |
| TOPNOTCH – TON + POT backwards + CH. | |
| 8 | Friendly relations a disaster lacking calibre (5) |
| AMITY – [cal]AMITY. | |
| 9 | Religious festival eg, plugging God year after year (8) |
| PANEGYRY – PAN + EG + YR,Y. | |
| 13 | Die with courage? Sadly that’s bitter-sweet (10) |
| AIGRE-DOUCE – Anagram of DIE + COURAGE. | |
| 16 | Native American having whim about historical part of Kent (8) |
| FLATHEAD – F(LATHE)AD. The lathes are ancient administrative divisions of Kent. | |
| 17 | US conduct I have reformed in nick repulsed (8) |
| BEHAVIOR – RO(anagram of I HAVE)B backwards. US, because the UK spelling would be behaviour. | |
| 18 | Bullion bagging lag a rich source of wealth (8) |
| GOLCONDA – GOL(CON)D + A. | |
| 21 | Fashion victim’s first to be overwhelmed by charge (5) |
| CARVE – CAR(V)E, a simple clue with a good use of oblique meanings. | |
| 22 | Hard engraving back of exquisite arrangement of stones? (5) |
| HENGE – H + ENG + [exquisit]E, leading to a rather obvious answer. | |
| 23 | Largely hurry to government shelter in Scotland (5) |
| SCOOG – SCOO[t] + G. | |
| 24 | Regularly echo Lorelei to call for attention (5) |
| COOEE – [e]C[h]O [l]O[r]E[l]E[i]. | |
| 27 | Soft saddle about right for horse (4) |
| PRAD – P(R)AD, where P does not equal soft! Under pad in Chambers, one of the meanings is a soft saddle. | |
Mephisto 3340 was by Robert Teuton. Unfortunately, the software for putting up electronic versions has no option for indicating that a particular puzzle should always or usually have a byline, so someone who forgets to add one (while probably putting up a batch with some anonymous puzzles as well) gets no reminder that anything is missing.
The Mephisto rota only changes when there’s a change in the setters or a special occasion. If there is any doubt, please just ask by email.
This seemed very different in style. I wondered whether we had a new setter, but apparently not.
I had just two questions, one answered in the blog (TOUT) – thanks for that. But where does LOO come from in CLOOP 26a?
One of the definitions of ‘necessary’ in Chambers is ‘a toilet (obsolete or dialect)’.
Ah yes, thank you. If only I’d read the clue that that way ….
Thanks Robert and Vinyl1. Lots of unknowns for me, but enjoyed the clear and precise clueing that made the puzzle fairly friendly. I also couldnt parse CLOOP, STOUT and AVVOGADORE so grateful for the blog- V.A. was a new one on me.