This solvers guide is to Stephen Clarke’s Crossword #35, published in The Byron Shire Echo Issue 39.29, 23 December 2024. Crossword #35 can be viewed as a PDF here. The solution grid can be viewed here.
Across:
1. STEWARDS. E = eastern + ward = part of hospital in sts (abbreviation of saints) = holy men
6. PLAICE. I = one in place = spot
9. POL POT. Top = synonym for prime + lop = synonym for cut, both reversed (sent back).
10. ALPHABET. Alp = party + h = hotel +abet = help with
11. ISOTROPIC. I = unit, i.e., one + anagram (that are designed) of porticos
12. NIGHT. Nigh = close to + Initial letter of Tesla
14. MESS-UPS. M = initial letter of Mussolini + e = echo in NATO phonetic alphabet + SS = Hitler’s personal troops + ups = increases
15. SALAZAR. Sala = alas (= sadly) reversed +zar = homophone of Tsar
17. SURFACE. Surf = colloquialism for browse TV/internet + ace = (colloquial) synonym for awesome
19. STEALTH. Nick = (colloquial) synonym for steal + th = first half of them.
22. OSCAR. Double definition ref Oscar the Grouch in Sesame Street and Academy Awards.
24. INTRUSION. Anagram of suitor in Inn = hotel.
26. FLATFEET. Flat = synonym for unit + feet = imp. measurement of distance.
27. LANDAU. Land = synonym for ground +au = chemical symbol for gold.
28. MARCOS. Mar = ram (= sheep) reversed + cos = Greek island.
29. PINOCHET. Che (Guevara) = famous guerilla in pinot = variety of wine
Down:
2. TROUSSEAU. Anagram (to form) of Sousa true
3. WAPITIS. Anagram (abandoned) of sawpits.
4. RETROSPECT. R = initial letter of Russian + anagram of top secret.
5. STALIN. Anagram (reformed) of last + I = one + n = initial letter of nation 6. POPE. Anagram (baffled) of 2/3 of the letters of people.
7. ARABICA. Arab = perhaps a Saudi + ic = initial letters (starts to) of inspire creativity + a
8. CZECH. Homophone (told to) of check = stop.
13. MASTER PLAN. Spoonerism for plaster man = synonyms of plaster (= dressing) and man (= Guy)
16. ASTROLABE. A in (to accommodate) anagram (Arrangement of) Latrobes.
18. FRANTIC. It reversed (up) in franc(o) = Franco almost
20. ARSENIC. NI = chem symbols for nitrogen and iodine in anagram (doctor) of cares.
21. INSTEP. Double definition (in step and instep).
23. SALSA. L = ladies in sa sa = Australian state repeated.
25. MENS. Mensa = organisation for clever people – (doesn’t have) a
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