February 2025 Puzzle Solutions

Across: 1 Struggle (WAR) + storm (RANT) = WARRANT (opportunity to buy new stock), 5 Last letter  (finally) of wif(E) + nap (SIESTA) with last letter move to front (cycling) = EASIEST (most  straightforward), 9 Notice regulator (ASA, who regulate ads) in Holland (NL) = NASAL (concerned with  hooter), 10 Youngster’s penguin (PINGU) in house (KEEP) = KEEPING UP (supporting), 11 Delete  avant-garde composer (cage) from cOURage = OUR (associated with us), 12 (H)usband + cat (pUSSY)  minus (dispatched) quietly (p) = HUSSY (one of the loose women), 13 Officer (GEN) + alternate letters  (occasionally) of tried = GENRE (kind), 14 Left centre (LC) inserted into EID (conclusion of Ramadan) =  EL CID (military leader) NB more fully called Eid al-Fitr, it is known by all and sundry just as Eid, 16  Like (AS) + a bit of (1st letter) (S)adomasochism + when (AS) followed (dogged) by lust and anger?  (DBE for SINS) = ASSASSINS (killers), 19 Anagram (recklessly) of BARONETS +1st letter  (suggestion) of (B)borrowing = ABSORBENT (able to reduce the impact), 20 Initial letter (first sign) of  (C)aped + HERO annagrammed (changing) = OCHRE (colour), 22 DD, with ? for the slightly whimsical  ‘everyone’s drinks’, 24 Last letter (finale) of fil(M) + playful (ARCH) = MARCH (piece of music), 26  Hidden (content to) in bomB YEmen = BYE (parting message from people), 27 (N)ational + 1st letter  (head) of (I)ndustrial inserted into (cutting) comes (ORGASMS) = ORGANISMS (life), 29 Reversal  (returning) of without phone (NO TEL) = LET ON (admit), 30 Anagram (managing) of LESIONS =  INSOLES (they provide comfort), 31 Outer letters (extremely) of (D)eceitfu(L) containing (claiming)  bonus (EXTRA) = DEXTRAL (right).  

Down: 1 Whimsical reading of WINSOME (charming, cheerful) as WIN SOME (suggesting/it appears – (H)omophobic) surrounding (about) (A)ustralian = ALLAH (god), 4 Anagram (spreads) of  

am occasionally successful), 2 Concerning (R) + way (ST) + reversal of schoolmaster (SIR) containing  outer letters (empty) of (C)ashpoin(T) = RESTRICTS (checks), 3 Everyone (ALL) + 1st letter (a little) of  

HATESPEAK= TAKE SHAPE (come together), 5 Homophone (noise made by) of musical organ (NME,  New Musical Express) = ENEMY (he despises), 6 Alternate letters (every now and then) reversed  (brought back) of kIcK-aSs = SKI (slipper), 7 For instance (EG) + suffering (aGONy) minus out letters  (all but extremes) = EGG ON (encourage), 8 Leading (TOP) + bar (LESS) = TOPLESS (quite the  opposite of covered), 13 Reversal (feedback) of letters hidden (some) in frOM SIGning = GISMO  (gadget), 15 Lefty (RED) with Californian lawyer (DA) first = DARED (challenged), 17 Stuff (SATE)  containing (protecting) reversal (upwardly) of mobile assistant (SIRI) + (D)aughter = SATIRISED (took  the piss), 18 Anagram (manufactured) of THIN BIRO I = INHIBITOR (he checks), 19 Anagram  (another) of (P)ositive + (R)eturn (O)n (I)nvestment + IRA = A PRIORI (worked out), 21 Anagram  (stupidly) of LEARNEr replacing (using … for) one of the Rs (a recipe) with the last letter (last drop) of  porT = ETERNAL (perpetual), 23 To rush (SURGE) with the 1st letter moved to last (heading for the  finish) = URGES (wants), 24 Mother (MA) + initial letters (first to) of (S)top (K)ids (S)haring = MASKS  (screens), 25 That chaps (HE) + homophone (say) of licks (LIX, runs his tongue over) = HELIX (the rim  of my ear), 28 Anagram (alterations made to) of the inside letters (interior) of kILNs = NIL (nothing)  Yes, only a 3-letter anagram but a little work to get those 3 letters!).