Puzzle 37 Gnarly I
If you find the jump to Gnarly too great, then peek at one solution, and work backwards. But only after your brain’s been truly stretched. (Please note: 28-across rates among the bluest clues you’ve met. And toughest.)
1 Fruit close to sandwiches, a vessel (5,4)
6 Midget firework (5)
9 Battles to retain war’s prime witnesses (5)
10 Stud had wanton wife start to pause (3,3,3)
11 It’s cutting geek and fiend into shreds (5-4)
12 Grim reference linked back to nuclear physicist (5)
13 Staff not going hungry with a thick porridge? (7)
15 Ridiculed smeared edges holding short latte (7)
17 Bill pockets $11 roughly for Uber rival (7)
19 British actor delivers foul talk to Spooner (4,3)
20 Drug hidden in shoe? (5)
22 Collectively solve after first squall (9)
25 Curse Angola unrest involving six sides (9)
26 Fear mid-April comes in late (5)
27 Big O transposed Greek finale (5)
28 Groovy skirts, minus rough stuff from quickie? (4,5)
DOWN
1 Brief month (and a weekend) with 1950s sex-bomb (5)
2 Renovated places fix movie art (7,2)
3 Offspring debate (5)
4 Spiky customer sees comical dame clutching cross in Athens (7)
5 Misled emperor’s starting off in baby clothing (7)
6 Calm if dragons clawed (9)
7 Drug dealers shelled theatre employee (5)
8 Kid’s doggie holds in dog lead in building protrusion (3,6)
13 Badgers touchier after park gets shrew-tamer (9)
14 Hurryin’ up cat endlessly below Honduras (9)
16 Sheep, perhaps, frustrate one missing cows, perhaps (9)
18 Second-class report of sarcasm of Don Juan poet (7)
19 American can bound one with superb sport (3,4)
21 Fairy 9 or 11 broke baker’s dish (5)
23 Mongrel mantra corrupted city (5)
24 Dwarf to introduce himself to wine? (5)
One answer owns 38 letters, making it a very handy answer to get.
1 Dutch cheese I omitted to bind stew (7)
5 Old communicator firm enlisted Pitt and me (1.1.,5)
10 Egoistic bunch subject classes to in-fighting (3,2,10)
11 See 22-across
12 Dead Centre in torments with the high temperature (5,4)
14 Liquid regrettably inadequate—it keeps stocking up (6,4)
15 Online lair promised land? (4)
16,4-down Spooner’s ‘C on 9’ a luminous message (4,4)
18 Needles crochet tan garment (6,4)
20 Dizzy? Breather saw dizziness initially go (9)
22,11-across Offer stock to common-sounding aircraft (5,5)
24,9-down,6-down Could be worse, compared to campfire accident? (6,4,1,4,2,3,3,4,1,5,5)
25 Mark Twain, maybe, put lamb heart in pasta (3-4)
26 Thousands of refugees originally flee shackles (7)
DOWN
2 Crude oil heap drowning in dramatic circumstances? (7)
3 Hollywood dynasty gain weight due to cake? (9)
4 See 16-across
6 See 24-across
7 A bug often neglected in East London (5)
8 Mission ignored odds and departed strand (7)
9 See 24-across
13 Treated the rust, adding strange sodium pentothal (5,5)
15 Gums signal up, sending semaphore essentially into anarchic Italy (9)
17 Curse Livy medley with pronounced ease (4,3)
19 Regrettably able to audit North American (7)
21 Divulge heading for language school near Windsor (3,2)
23 Girl planned occupation (4)
Watch out for two intricate deletion recipes, both of the Down persuasion. And that’s the only hint you’re getting.
1 Treasonous crime exploited greed, here in French parts (8)
5 Just a diagram demonstrating sporting venues (6)
10 Elder bear mauling waist of Pontiff (5)
11 1-across in 19-across, OK, pal? (9)
12 Husky goods Mike shifted (6,3)
13 Loves penning name of NZ peninsula (5)
14 Desert omen I mentioned (5)
16 Diner’s alternative to crow? (6,3)
18 Freak or TV model – he can’t be named (9)
19 Snores first and last after a ‘blanking’ long musical—… (5)
21 …—hence my mixers (5)
23 Try one show, Carousel (9)
26 Expanded on a Dobell redraft (9)
27 Avoid state taxes up-front (5)
28 Communiques regressively ooze over article (6)
29 Zone evacuated often, linked to really extreme fanaticism (8)
DOWN
1 Murderous Jack’s beauties? (7)
2 Cossack steps set off stuff, we hear (5)
3 Harlequin’s love to skip canoe stern under short pier (9)
4 Doesn’t start cold cut (5)
6 Capital to knowingly shell Cambodian hub (5)
7 Smooth over sufficient evidence (1.1.1.,6)
8 A starfish points to rockpool resident! (7)
9 Oil a saw below mountain (8)
15 Stunning lead inlet of Egypt! (4,5)
16 Fool pirate nursing bad wind (8)
17 Lite shout doesn’t cost much (5,4)
18 Even Princess quit, that’s plain (7)
20 Pretty narrowly lost crucial final (7)
22 Damage hole blocking upward rims (5)
24 Low-budget film to show cat missing? (5)
25 Tree near top of grove suffering hail (5)
That regular brain (see 10-across) will get a proper workout with this cocktail of innovation and manipulation. The hardest clue you’ve met so far could be 15-across.
1 Sorry a mallet-wielding guy evacuated? (7)
5 Unspeakable Scottish king (7)
10 Period in regular brain unravelling communications obstacle (8,7)
11 Banjo-plucking rap notes? (8)
12 Newly arrange holiday destination (6)
13 Are chauvinists endless? (5)
15 Was possibly overanxious? (4,5)
17 Polish worker down at heel? (9)
19 Flips photos (5)
22 Cockney’s 18-down warmer in winter? (6)
23 Chronically hassled, I promote salad (4-4)
25 How Gandhi turned to Mama instantaneously? (2,3,4,2,1,3)
26 A nozzle leads into limited refined gas (7)
27 Tolerate bread basket (7)
DOWN
2 Troop of alpha rebels meet next regulars (7)
3 Theatre box conceals one TV award (5)
4 Changed sides in smooth green? (6)
6 Willingness in the style of urbanised Romeo? (8)
7 Mug supports capital composer (9)
8 Dance, sculpture etc to suit tango foremost (3,4)
9 Cherry almost in bloom for second cosmic bite? (13)
14 Hazy tapes show illegal factory (9)
16 Irish playwright brasher, I’d announce in part (8)
18 Pouch strapped to chest of drawers? (7)
20 Jeep tail hits Cairo’s pedestrian (7)
21 Introduce significance (6)
24 Song lines ultimately in hand (5)
Pedants may quibble with the US spelling of 8-down, despite the same version dominating menus and shop signs. (That’s why the clue’s surface sense feels extra fitting.)
1 Defaced shelters in shady spots (7)
5 Jacked-up hedonist ripping nylon top off (7)
9 Holy Father quit grand finale (3)
10 Press pursued audio scam—a torch job? (7,4)
11 Arranges queues (5,2)
12 Pot belly? (4,3)
14 Aware of blue-bereted Teletubby? (2,2)
15 Contest charge implicating reputation we own (10)
18 See 13-down
21 Celebrity constituent of 4-down (4)
23 Country behind detaining the Spanish soldier (7)
24 Less vivid instant in Sicily (7)
25 Buffalo, salmon, tiger, lizard (4,7)
27 Pick up Native American? (3)
28 He painted young girls, barely wearing a shirt (7)
29 Farms opened outlets (7)
DOWN
1 Hallucinogen tangled us in knots (5,4)
2 Scouts’ trailblazer to study force, contracted to implant blast (5-6)
3 Campuses accept point after point, none too savvy (6)
4 Sign 20 – 1 + 3.142 + 0 (7)
5 Jumpers face this, drugged at pub (4,3)
6 Filmed 9th ace, remarkably? (2,3,3)
7 21-across uncapped pitch (3)
8 Blow stack over sweet nothing? (5)
13,18-across Perfunctorily examines proposals? (4,7,3,7)
16 Baker’s treats in pot maverick strove to seal (9)
17 Pop pianist bewitching to Maoris (4,4)
19 Big blokes penetrated semi-wild (7)
20 Regrets panning some flip file-sharing scheme of the noughties (7)
22 Old-money resort, no-frills once lands are cleared? (6)
23 Heck, jolly swagman’s campsite! (2,3)
26 Parcel collection (3)
How are these gnarly puzzles treating you? Still 27-across through the clues, or are you due to 9-down?
1 Pervert to express pleasure, reclining in bed (7)
5 Stand in partial vault of Talmud school (7)
10 Butcher offering return of party snacks (6,4)
11 Squarish lad steals kiss (4)
12 Horse tricks lose rider, flanks trapped (6)
13 Tires of khaki? (8)
14 Ned custom-made files (9)
16,18-across Ink producer grants right to capitulate for one pound (5,5)
18 See 16-across
20 One played blues on radio for recruits (9)
23 Orange truck transports the French spies (8)
24 Shred organ during setback (4,2)
26 War god methodically dispensed fairness (4)
27 Wild pastry-stealing initially ignored (10)
28 July’s session samples Joyce’s work (7)
29 Risk gobbling chocolate bar that’s neither here nor there (7)
DOWN
2 Wheel firm admits iron deficiency in river (7)
3 Okay bloke? (5)
4,15-down C O S M O S
C O S M O S (8,9)
6 Modernise energetic tryst (6)
7 Friendship embraces Ukraine leader? It can be read two ways (9)
8 Devoid of church, existence turned square (7)
9 Dope rites half-adjusted to lose control (2,3,3,5)
15 See 4-down
17 Quick-tempered soul leans over sack (8)
19 Dispute leadlight piece (7)
21 Regarding horse skipping last bullock in even time (7)
22 Dubious 26-across gets 200 in short supply (6)
25 Wonky request we upheld (5)
Four extended entries in this puzzle, plus two lengthy spliced clues. When ahas arrive, the grid could well fill fast.
1 Sikh wraps dry on reflection, needing occasional garnish (7)
5 Cheat German woman in half-hearted act (7)
9 Lizard, wagtail, parrot by the sounds (5)
10 Turn to cover address and vanish (9)
11 Tabloid excess is almost insane mischief (14)
13 Find over-neglected platter (4)
14,22-down Versatile tuber blew the mood apart (2.,6,4)
17 Man is an island, thanks to this! (5,3)
18 Hellish Belleville quartet (4)
21 Listen carefully—grog went to mend misery (4,3,2,5)
23 Cop impounds drug in these? (5,4)
24 Cheer the football drama at the finals (5)
25 Compiler hacked a test fact-file (4,3)
26 Clot where angels proverbially dance (7)
DOWN
1,6-down Travel part of West Africa for mob at fault (2,2,4,1,2,1)
2 Genius flogged corniest tickets (6,9)
3 A trick to oxygenate fire (6)
4 Some hussies take 20 winks? (6)
5 Yard once prepared for clergy (8)
6 See 1-down
7 Twice 25-across with vegan—is curiously left with few choices (2,1,12)
8 Armed criminal twisted so-called theme park (10)
12 Journo spin opening up Dickensian (5,5)
15 John Clarke spoof, say, wounding English banker (3,5)
16 Electorate hit on safety measure (4-4)
19 Cat lifted iron first to spill beans (4,2)
20 Comic cousin of 14-across 22-down? (2.,4)
22 See 14-across
More than a few anagrams here, so maybe I didn’t save the gnarliest till last? Only one way for you to find out …
1 ABC’s creepy new computer network (10)
6 Excited nuclear pedagogues (4)
9 Complex on a ‘phut’ IBM instrument (5,5)
10 Bordering on desperate, joining second rally (4)
12 In kitchen, note holder of farm egg I’d scramble—clear? (6-6)
15 Grab bung to obstruct stupid lawn problem (4,5)
17 Otologist tedium? (5)
18 A tailed toy losing tail to a dog (5)
19 Blind sample discrimination at big match (5,4)
20 Perhaps KGB cops get erectile dysfunction (6,6)
24 Vegetable box gets Oliver’s head spinning (4)
25 Give Penny debt (10)
26 Don’t touch hat kid tossed (4)
27 Plum fortune is squandered, given time (5,5)
DOWN
1 How to make time, Tim, dear? (4)
2 Start off regarding match (4)
3 Poet from interior makes appeal to host arty-sounding parties (6,6)
4 Enquired into Lions group invoice? (5)
5 Accord to swindle head count at hearing (9)
7 British commando gets reminder before welcome clasps (5,5)
8 Pen for another—turns hackneyed in recital (5-5)
11 Help end off gutter with main wiper (12)
13 1900 dissonant shelled deplorably large residences (10)
14 Horse remedy I swallowed twice for chemist? (5,5)
16 It can help plane loop it, perhaps, following a sporadic gust (9)
21 Study nonsense poet, Nash (not Wood)? (5)
22 Place where officer evicted tenant (4)
23 Centre of attention, though not a positive in Moscow (4)