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Puzzle #54– November 2005  "Clippings"

Instructions: Guess the words defined by the cryptic clues (words vary in length from three to nine letters and include two proper names), 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, and down words that don't end at the bottom margin continue in the next column. Seven across words and seven down words won't fit in the grid unless one of their letters is removed. Those fourteen letters, taken in order, spell a two-word phrase related to the four cells missing from the grid. Pretend they are still there. As ever, I am indebted to Kevin Wald for help with the clues. (Note that the grid for this puzzle is not the usual one.) (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. Seasoning fish with parasites mostly
  2. Friend has Rosa unfurling an umbrella
  3. Pause to set the Mexican back
  4. Head of tuna fish in mesh
  5. Chatter about mechanism
  6. Peg starting down after small mount
  7. Compulsive cleaning up of sty by shrink
  8. Rank of lowest at Eton
  9. Fellows about to help a girl
  10. Was brave enough to claim time moved fast
  11. Portrayal of mother and son by number and letter
  12. Chief of Lodge, embraced by clan, had a nap
  13. Rabbi meeting before noon with shofar supplier
  14. Fixed a flat with disastrous consequences
  15. Clergyman and copper are judgmental
  16. Tough ending of last embrace
  17. Tell all about singer
  18. Returning French stop in land of the Medici
  19. Many abandoning left for Republican district
  20. Finer unsettled conjecture
  21. Tying the score late in the day
  22. One in front of aircraft causing a racket
  23. Retaliating in anger, one is even

Down

  1. Looked good at the start, and also cut
  2. To betray Gore while embracing him at heart is logical
  3. Mostly unexciting Pennsylvania city
  4. Movie starring Bo Derek or Luciano Pavarotti, say
  5. One who makes land suitable at last for running mile race
  6. Hit? Fly? Foul!
  7. Dexterous foot of red newt
  8. Amber, for instance, found in rare sinkhole
  9. Coin collection entwined by vine
  10. Gynaeceum evicts male animal
  11. Noodles without a history
  12. Kind of a turn for the worse before beginning of end
  13. Scored around top of ninth and raved
  14. Judicious plant
  15. Means to get rid of first and fifth edges
  16. State repaired legal error
  17. Travel unhappily without right attendant
  18. Lie about graded series of characters
  19. Seated askew but sober
  20. Filch almost perfect cut of meat
  21. Speak of labor at earthwork
  22. Unfamiliar street area

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