You are here:   Home >  Past Puzzles & Solutions [November 2002]    Click here to print this page print icon 

Puzzle #18--November 2002 "Topsy-Turvy"

Instructions: Guess the words defined by the cryptic clues (words vary in length from three to nine letters), then enter them in the grid one after another in the same order as their clues, starting in the upper left corner. Across words that don't end at the right margin continue on the next line below and down words that don't end at the bottom margin continue in the next column to the right. Ten across words won't fit in the grid unless one of their letters is removed. Those ten letters, taken in order, spell a phrase that indicates how down words are to appear in the grid. Answers include five proper names. As ever, I am grateful to Kevin Wald for help with the clues. (If you are having trouble printing these puzzles, you can download an Adobe Acrobat version of the puzzle and grid). [Want to see some hints?]

Across

  1. Wild in lust about gold shell
  2. From an enemy holding charm back
  3. Elusive cunning keeps piper on the move
  4. Attempts having first of big families
  5. Chopped liver is worse
  6. Have an attitude about small law enforcement body
  7. Brother holds one thorny bush
  8. Deride Ann's concealing conception
  9. Materials for making glass sound about right
  10. Cheese made the other way
  11. Ultimately cold, dark, and insignificant
  12. Confines less once broken up
  13. Free apocryphal fiddler out of generosity
  14. Jump unit left in tub
  15. Dad's unruly tots
  16. Monopoly investigator gives up nothing
  17. Keen sound detector sent astray
  18. State bitterly holding back Xizang
  19. Has a yen for Costa Rican birds
  20. Strip right in lean-to
  21. Speak at length for no fee
  22. Views changed before left turn
  23. Daniel out with run for Eire

Down

  1. Turning over in sin?
  2. Brittle pile of rubble
  3. Hit on the head; that is, cap
  4. Warring tribes move
  5. True, false: around 100 belch
  6. Subsist with bad back
  7. Speaks about hesitation counters
  8. Seasoned act wins heart of Avila
  9. Roman consul engaged in scatology
  10. Origin of life in newborn mass of matter
  11. Stops a rider holding garment
  12. Mountain range fissuring is rare
  13. "Sour limes" is an expression
  14. Bertrand loses big time commission
  15. More derisive Duke
  16. Courage of sterner venue
  17. Setting of bad screen play's ending
  18. Wings--eastern style?
  19. Flat shortened meet
  20. Wader found in Budapest or Krakow
  21. Plan keeps mother in bastion
  22. Wreck sorted out by end of day

© Copyright 2001-2004. John de Cuevas. All rights reserved.