Word Puzzle 73

Word Puzzle 73 – Cryptic Clues:

Theme: See special instructions below.

Note:

· Very, Very Important: There are 7 thematic clues in this puzzle. These clues are kind of “meta square” (not sure what to call them, but more on that later).

· These clues have 2 definitions, in their conventional place (first or last in the clue), one of them is an intermediate definition along with supplied cryptic parsing fodder. The answer (word/phrase) of this intermediate clue should be interpreted as another clue, which provides cryptic parsing for the other (final) definition, which in turn results in the final answer.

· For the thematic clues, two sets of letter counts has been supplied, one for the intermediate answer and one for the final answer. Though it is NOT specified which count goes with which answer.

· Example Clue: Brag about laugh riot on the thread (4) (3,3)

· Example solution and explanation: Brag (intermediate def), about (anagram of) ha (laugh) + riot = “hot air” (intermediate answer with 3,3 letter count), H (hot) + air = hair (final answer), where thread (def)

· What to call it? In normal cryptic clues you are given a clue and you get a word/phrase (the answer), in meta clue, you are given a word/phrase and you come up with the clue for it, in this case, it’s a clue that leads to a clue that leads to an answer. All creative names welcome!! (may win a special prize )

· You need to provide full parsing. No response without parsing.

· Kohli clue(s): Is/are hidden i.e. not necessarily in its/their usual spot

Scoring:

· No credit no response, without correct parsing.

· All clues worth 1 point except Kohli clue(s) and thematic clues, which are worth 2 points

Clues:

1. Secret number without mostly genuine backing (7)

2. Big dollar London area donation (8)

3. Breaks when very strong nodes are reconfigured to transmit? (4) (7)

4. Epic about fruit pyramid? (8)

5. Exterior counter without a number, destroyed the tug (4) (7)

6. Work in, wearing brief accepted through Saturday? (11)

7. Calming northern chill around Ohio (8)

8. Vain attempt to somehow cut active losses, detailed with audacity (5) (4,5)

9. Old style player is buff after weight operation (10)

10. Cheat to get flu? (11)

11. Candid post on UK energy, edited by a dummy (4) (9)

12. Big aunt Letitia exhibits fire inside (8)

13. Littoral house offers swimming? Gee!! (5) (8)

14. Dirty Bob and I, somehow, cutting a tree (8)

15. Dirge for virus order (8)

16. Crimes of guards reportedly, on intention? (5) (8)

17. Secret hole? (6)

18. Planet IX tipped to be cold (9)

19. Thrilled to dupe a politician in court? Upset the queen (4) (6,2)

20. Mend a gushing crack in capsule (11)

21. Catch-22 to start off, with square accepting odd gambit (8)

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