Puzzle Answers - Nothing for Christmas - Harper's Magazine December 2014 (SPOILER ALERT!)

Puzzle Answers to Harper's Magazine December 2014 - Nothing for Christmas

Puzzle Author, Richard Maltby

ACROSS

1. (See instructions) = HORSE FEATHERS
12. Peter Fonda played this title-role for miniscule effect = ULEE
13. Septet takes smaller combo (Latin) in C-sharp = VITRIOLIC
14. (See instructions) = BALDERDASH
15. B-b-b-b-bugs = BEES
17. No article on Angela Merkel, e.g., can be something infectious = GERM
18. Nucleoli, etc., circulating around, top to bottom line, like some debts = UNCOLLECTIBLE
21. Vegetable with water dripping from the ears = LEEK
22. I could make binge begin—either way, that's life = BEING
23. (See instructions) = APPLESAUCE
28. General admission into fleets = LEE
30. Not loud, more than just a broadcaster = AIRER
31. Inexperienced Tory upset = TYRO
32. What's wrong with getting a new leader? That's the point = PRONG
34. Great: get back sheep before they're shorn = TEGG
35. (See instructions) = POPPYCOCK
36. Take weekend off? Or minute? = WEE
39. Eyeliner that sounds kind of black = KOHL
41. Lead-free clothing gets hearing = EAR
43. (See instructions) = EYELASH
44. Consumer appliance with the front removed = EATER
45. Revolution counters macho street gangs = TACHOMETER
46. Forward or behind in the outskirts of Sydney = SASSY
47. (See instructions) = TOMMYROT


DOWN
1. (See instructions) = HUMBUG
2. Look up study of the past = OLDEN
3. Distributor of beer (Coors) decentralized things old-timers played on = REBECS
4. Staging comeback, Hooters opens for part of the year = SEASON
5. (See instructions) = FIDDLESTICKS
6. Tees off for hot times at the Fontainebleau = ETES
7. Liquor secreted in barracks = ARRACK
8. Coming up: make an issue out of current event = TIDE
9. Hero, he goes around a soldier in pursuit of love = HOAGIE
10. Wrapped in towel? Seems otherwise = ELSE
11. (See instructions) = SCHMEGEGGE
16. Physical condition that is largely misunderstood = ALLERGY
19. (See instructions) = BILGEWATER
20. A porgy, sir, swims in bands in the water = SPIROGYRA
24. High-fliers, expert in French and appearing in nightwear = PROPJETS
25. Acid that helps make you rich = URIC
27. Have dinner in a doorway in a suit? = ENTREATY
29. Long time in one hospital room, then another, brings more itching = EAGERER
30. Pippin, opening canceled in its limited programs = APPLETS
33. Boy or hoof, none of them end well, and I'm sad = BOOHOO
37. It used to be contracted as belonging to an old airline? = ALAS
38. Outcome of democracy: being blue = RACY
40. Good actor? Bad actor, I'd say! = HAMM
42. Name-dropping dadaist, formerly = ERST


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**Underlined words indicated in the parsed clues are the definition of the answer**


1. (See instructions) = HORSE FEATHERS

12. Peter Fonda played this title-role for minuscule effect = ULEE
minuscule effect = ULEE

13. Septet takes smaller combo (Latin) in C-sharp = VITRIOLIC
septet = 7 [ROMAN NUMERALS] = (VI) + smaller combo = (TRIO) + (L)atin + (I)n + (C)-sharp

14. (See instructions) = BALDERDASH

15. B-b-b-b-bugs = BEES
b's [HOMONYM]

17. No article on Angela Merkel, e.g., can be something infectious = GERM
Angela Merkel = (GERMAN) + no(–) + article = (AN)

18. Nucleoli, etc., circulating around, top to bottom line, like some debts = UNCOLLECTIBLE
(nucleoli etc [UNCOLL-ECT-ILE] + top to bottom [B])  [ANAGRAM]

21. Vegetable with water dripping from the ears = LEEK
water dripping = LEAK [HOMONYM] = ears [E]

22. I could make binge begin—either way, that's life = BEING
binge [ANAGRAM]; begin [ANAGRAM]

23. (See instructions) = APPLESAUCE

28. General admission into fleets = LEE
f(LEE)ts

30. Not loud, more than just a broadcaster = AIRER

31. Inexperienced Tory upset = TYRO
tory [ANAGRAM]

32. What's wrong with getting a new leader? That's the point = PRONG
w(RONG) [REPLACE LEADING LETTER WITH...] + point (P)

34. Great: get back sheep before they're shorn = TEGG
((G)reat + GET) [REVERSED]

35. (See instructions) = POPPYCOCK

36. Take weekend off? Or minute? = WEE
(WEE)k [TAKE END LETTER OFF]

39. Eyeliner that sounds kind of black = KOHL
kind of black = COAL [HOMONYM]

41. Lead-free clothing gets hearing = EAR
clothing = w(EAR) [REMOVE LEADING LETTER]

43. (See instructions) = EYELASH

44. Consumer appliance with the front removed = EATER
appliance = h(EATER) [REMOVE FRONT LETTER]

45. Revolution counters macho street gangs = TACHOMETERS
macho street [ANAGRAM]

46. Forward or behind in the outskirts of Sydney = SASSY
behind = ASS + outskirts of Sydney = (S)ydne(Y)

47. (See instructions) = TOMMYROT


DOWN
1. (See instructions) = HUMBUG

2. Look up study of the past = OLDEN
Look, Reversed = ko(OL) + Study = DEN

3. Distributor of beer (Coors) decentralized things old-timers played on = REBECS
Beer [ANAGRAM] = (REBE) + [Coors – oor] = (CS)

4. Staging comeback, Hooters opens for part of the year = SEASON

5. (See instructions) = FIDDLESTICKS

6. Tees off for hot times at the Fontainebleau = ETES
tees [ANAGRAM] = ETES; "Summer" in French

7. Liquor secreted in barracks = ARRACK
b(ARRACK)s

8. Coming up: make an issue out of current event = TIDE
make an issue out of = EDIT [REVERSED] = TIDE

9. Hero, he goes around a soldier in pursuit of love = HOAGIE
he = (HE) + soldier = (GI)

10. Wrapped in towel? Seems otherwise = ELSE
towel seems = ELSE

11. (See instructions) = SCHMEGEGGE

16. Physical condition that is largely misunderstood = ALLERGY
largely [ANAGRAM] = ALLERGY

19. (See instructions) = BILGEWATER

20. A porgy, sir, swims in bands in the water = SPIROGYRA
a porgy sir [ANAGRAM] = SPIROGYRA

24. High-fliers, expert in French and appearing in nightwear = PROPJETS
expert = (PRO) + French "and" = (ET) + nightwear = (PJS)

25. Acid that helps make you rich = URIC
yo(U RIC)h

27. Have dinner in a doorway in a suit? = ENTREATY
have dinner = (EAT + Doorway = ENTRY

29. Long time in one hospital room, then another, brings more itching = EAGERER
long time = (AGE) [PUT INSIDE] hospital room = (ER) + another "hospital room" = (ER)

30. Pippin, opening canceled in its limited programs = APPLETS

33. Boy or hoof, none of them end well, and I'm sad = BOOHOO
[REMOVE ENDING LETTER] = (BO)y + (O)r + (HOO)f

37. It used to be contracted as belonging to an old airline? = ALAS

38. Outcome of democracy: being blue = RACY
Democ(RACY)

40. Good actor? Bad actor, I'd say! = HAMM
Jon (HAMM); Bad actor = HAM

42. Name-dropping dadaist, formerly = ERST
Dadaist = (ERNST) – (N)ame = ERST