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Puzzle #88 September 2008  "Back to Back"

Instructions: Guess the words defined by the cryptic clues (words vary in length from four to eight letters, and five are capitalized), 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 continue on the next row, and down words that don't end at the bottom continue in the next column. Six across words and six down words won't fit in the grid unless one of their letters is removed. Those twelve letters, taken in order, spell a three-word phrase that suggests how half the words are to be entered in the grid. Thanks to Kevin Wald for test-solving and editing this puzzle. (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. Think about love for a young woman
  2. Left out of full contest
  3. Insect and mammal having no yen for infectious disease
  4. I must leave suicidal author with quiet mess
  5. Preacher's pain
  6. 200 mg of edible root in your mouth
  7. Also surrounding Kentucky's capital city
  8. Pertaining to a stage of development in psychoanalysis
  9. Fan blowing last of gas out of cock
  10. Don't allow ruminants to eat end of root
  11. Holy one sped down beach
  12. Governor, for example, in split
  13. Dexter gives up resistance for an easing of tension
  14. Prevaricated about knowledge represented as similar
  15. Welcome letter and number, in a way
  16. Reflect praise about charm of certain noblemen
  17. Having a fleet back the French front
  18. Once again, describe network of capillaries in front of pullet's heart
  19. Throw grenade to cause disorder
  20. Returned dress for Cleopatra's attendant
  21. Man ingesting rubidium and limestone
  22. Putting without length or speed
    23.

Down

  1. Mom's bed gets the navy's goat, maybe
  2. Endless run taken by accomplished Celtic priest
  3. Regulate turning of metal held in space
  4. Walk without beginning to get confused
  5. Note witticism about subject being extreme
  6. Scotto rudely ate and ran
  7. Disturbed snake swallows hard
  8. Offer great praise after bishop is courageous
  9. Gentleness of summer cyclone
  10. Loaner has a five for Herb
  11. Goad the ox painfully with tip of spur
  12. Tepee shelters one occupant
  13. Lady of the lentils
  14. Brother of color made good paste
  15. Drunken date gets carried
  16. This lesson has a key
  17. Song of an ape in heat
  18. Maintain everyone, for example, with crumb of bread
  19. Rules about minimum retirement age for a friend
  20. Black and brown plaid
  21. Sears fish
  22. Textile worker's outrageous recipe

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