February Puzzle Solutions

These puzzles are exclusive to our Byline Times subscribers. To play along, please find them in your newspaper. If you are not yet a subscriber to Byline Times, you can see our subscription options here.

Across: 5 Manner (MODE) + way (ST) = MODEST (humble) Note: using ‘dwelling in’ in the sense of existing/living/to be found in to indicate the wordplay, 6 Remove 1st letter (losing a bit) of (e)lasticity from joints (ReEFERS = REFERS (mentions)  note: I considered if an indicator is necessary for removing either the 1st/2nd ‘e’ but felt not as the key to the clue is joints –> reefers and the rest is obvious., 9 Current (AC) + homophone (being announced) of top player (seed/CEDE) = ACCEDE (agree to), 10 Lackey (pOODLE) minus 1st letter (quietly goes) next to (by) taxi (CAB) = CABOODLE (a lot), 11 Twin composers = ME (as the composer of the puzzle) x 2 = MEME (picture), 12 Anagram (must be rearranged) of CAMPFIRE + central letters (essentially) of entert(AI)nments = PRIMA FACIE (at first glance), 13 John (LOO) in America (stateside) spotted (SEEN) inside information (DATA) with 1st letter moved to last (circulating) = AT A LOOSE END (having nothing better to do), 18 Anagram (getting in a tangle) of GAL + GSTRING = STRAGGLING (untidy), 21 Reversal (returning) of in the morning (AM) + on good terms (IN) = MAIN (chief), 22 Case of (C)hatea(U) containing (bottled) initial letter of (R)othschild following 1st letters (foremost of) (G)rapes (R)ipening + AND = GRAND CRU (premium wine), 23 Answer is hidden (made by some) in populAR NICAguans = ARNICA (application), 24 Outside letters (cleared out) of (S)pringbo(K) + inner letters (naked) of s(EWE)r + (D)ied = SKEWED (biased), 25 Anagram (surprisingly) of ASTUTE = STATUE (perhaps Colston, DBE ref. the erection famously cast into the harbour by the good folk of Bristol). 

Down: 1 Notice (AD) + book (NT) containing (about) this place (HERE) = ADHERENT (partisan), 2 Train drivers (ASLEf) last letter being replaced (ultimately going for) with record (EP) = ASLEEP (crashed out), 3 By (VIA) + popular vote (GE) containing (accepting) hERB minus the 1st letter (topping’s not wanted)  = VERBIAGE (recipe for waffle) Note: some people might say (in my best Spats Columbo voice, ref Some Like It Hot) that verbiage already IS waffle, but I SAY it is merely using too many words that makes it a recipe for waffle., 4 Iron (FE) + lady (DORA) = FEDORA (felt on top, ie a felt hat), 5 Whimsical DD of MICKEY (offensive word for Irishman and something that might be taken, eg “take the mickey”, as a joke, 7 initial letters (at first) of (S)erious (A)ddicts (L)iked + using (VIA) = SALVIA (herb slalvia being the formal name for sage), 8 Anagram (all over the place) of ACOalMINeR minus (chucking) ale + promises to pay (IOUS) = ACRIMONIOUS (bitter), 14 Support (LEG) + outstanding (ACE) + initial letter (leader of) (S)np  containing (securing) (I)ndependence = LEGACIES (estates), 15 Anagram (cooking) of TEA follows (after) German (in Munich) of granny (OMI) inserted into (breaks) news (N+N) = NOMINATE (suggest), 16 Convinced (SURE) + French for solver (ie you/TU) reversed (to go back) = UTERUS (where she came from), 17 DD of CIRCLE, 19 Homophone (on the radio) of programme (app/AP) + imminent (near/NOEA) = APNOEA (it’s toally breathtaking), 20 (G)overnment + managed (RAN) + (T)axe(S) minus (without) cut (axe) = GRANTS (subsidies).