Def Jam

a cryptic puzzle by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon

The would-be-normal definitions in these 36 clues come in a medley of playful variations:

  1. reversals (“pit” instead of “tip” to define GRATUITY);
  2. anagrams that aren’t reversals (“redealt” instead of “altered” for CHANGED);
  3. homophones (“pedal” instead of “peddle” for SELL);
  4. spoonerisms (“nosy cook” instead of “cozy nook” for ALCOVE);
  5. pig Latin (“Elway” instead of “well” for HEALTHY);
  6. one-letter misprints (“nope” instead of “nose” for SNOUT).
There are six instances of each type. Answers are entered in the grid normally.

Across

  • 1.
    Raptors each rejected chow (7)
  • 6.
    Garden plots surrounding a rotary (6)
  • 10.
    A belt lined with complete felt (4)
  • 11.
    Wham not playing around 1:00 (4)
  • 12.
    To locals, Oslo’s center (3)
  • 14.
    Reknits lace tangled in grass (7)
  • 15.
    A couple of thousands in the woman’s loot (4)
  • 16.
    eBay bigot losing face (2)
  • 17.
    Within racing distance, auto back under way (6)
  • 22.
    Stored bagel with redder bananas (6)
  • 23.
    Anger after Spanish people start? (7,4)
  • 24.
    Eight-day run taken by Eastern Highlander (4)
  • 27.
    Easter prelims moved (6)
  • 29.
    Harry said, “Haul boulders” (4,7)
  • 30.
    Ernest: single heartless man (7)
  • 31.
    Trace tune cuckoo cheeps (6)
  • 32.
    Cause annoyance with hug (5)
  • 33.
    Misplaced cart at the back of that ward (4)

Down

  • 1.
    Operated church drapes (6)
  • 2.
    Perfectly hot root (5)
  • 3.
    Fiddles playing in games (7)
  • 4.
    Notice valuable rocks doled here (4,4)
  • 5.
    Corrected Spooner, say (3)
  • 6.
    Recited the subject of a Poe poem: gritty pearls (6,5)
  • 7.
    Onion I planted in a Florida company (5)
  • 8.
    X-ray Diana’s flowers (6)
  • 9.
    Was head of state less than sober? (3)
  • 13.
    Lake Fox ahi recipe revised (4,5)
  • 17.
    Pupils pine for returning mascot (4-2)
  • 18.
    Inlay part of floret tastefully (4)
  • 19.
    Lei left in flying saucer (3)
  • 20.
    In rows, half of my books’ keepers (5,7)
  • 21.
    Gay elderly ladies at the opera showing their heads tressed (7)
  • 25.
    Making university Republican, shout “Olé!” (3)
  • 26.
    Principal piece of equipment in camper’s shelter (9)
  • 28.
    Horn carried around by panelist (5)