Puzzle Answers - Foursomes - Harper's Magazine September 2015 (SPOILER ALERT!)

Puzzle Answers - Foursomes - Harper's Magazine September 2015 (SPOILER ALERT!)

Desperate Rhymes. Desperate Measures.

33A

Spanish leaders—each gets official after I empty the sink = SUMP PUMP

(S) + official (UMP) + (P) + (UMP)

1A

Check for pesky critters = RESTRICT

(CRITTERS) [Anagram]

15D

Curious bleating coming from concrete = TANGIBLE

(BLEATING) [Anagram]

9D

Special terms for writer: “Wills Covering Death” = GLOSSARY

writer Wills (GARY*) + death (LOSS)

*Harper's error on spelling of Wills' first name.
(Correction, thanks to anonymous corrector)

7A

Viet follower against government leader = CONG

against (CON) + (G)overnment

32A

Lose head of steers in woods = ELMS

steers (HELMS) - (H)

28D

Something between springs that adds energy to sleep = NEAP

(E)energy + sleep (NAP)

1D

Note morning papers, collectively = REAM

note (RE) + morning (AM)

8D

Listen to any, any goose! = NENE

"any, any" sounds like [N-E-N-E]
(Correct wordplay, thanks to anonymous corrector)

26D

Season when a hotel becomes hot? = NOEL

hotel with NO (EL) = hot

10A

Contributor to blessed existence = ESSE

bl(ESSE)d

31A

I got to lay off Tchaikovsky’s father = ILYA

(I) + (LAY) [Anagram]

30A

Newt (not Gingrich) enters for fear that I’m least conservative = LEFTEST

newt (EFT) + for fear (LEST)

20D

E.g., billed to build house when it’s not finished? Goodness no! Upsetting! = HOMONYM

house (HOM)e + goodness (MY) + (NO) [Anagram]

2D

Spottings produced by palsies = ESPIALS

(PALSIES) [Anagram]

11A

Crafted leather from a Southern state = TARHEEL

(LEATHER) [Anagram]

12A

I regret getting a business degree, leaving a stain = IMBRUE

(I) + regret (RUE) + business degree (MB)

29A

Find some wool itching—that’s nutty! = LITCHI

woo(L + ITCHI)ing

16D

Turnover: a dessert some initially made in classes = STRATA

(A) + dessert (TART) + (S)ome [Reversed]

13D

Second gone, twelve’s pickings can be slim = SVELTE

(T)w(ELVES) [Anagram]

7D

Big post with a hundred locks and staffs up on it = CHAIRMANSHIP

hundred (C) + locks (HAIR) + staffs (MANS) + up on it (HIP)

3D

Humors people taking time to be seen in paintings = TEMPERAMENTS

people (MEN) + (T)time + paintings (TEMPERAS)

14A

Has a wrong view of the Church of England—outside it’s wildly impressive = MISPERCEIVES

(C)church + (IMPRESSIVE) + (E)ngland [Anagram]

25A

Throw dirt on the embassy? It gives one pause* = INTERMISSION

throw dirt on (INTER) + embassy (MISSION)

24A

No ally retreating finds you carrying soldiers = ENEMY

you (YE) + soldiers (MEN) [Reversed]

6A

Trapped, needing time? Uprising does = TREED

[T]rapped + does [DEER]
(Correct wordplay, thanks to anonymous corrector)

15A

Rates changed? It’s shocking = TASER

(RATES) [Anagram]

23D

Heir to the throne leaves church in a French town = ARLES

heir to the throne (CHARLES) - (CH)urch

18A

Roses show early indications of rain, even dry spells = REDS

(R)ain + (E)ven + (D)ry + (S)pells

22A

A mug shot for a position in South Pacific = GUAM

(A MUG) [Anagram]

27D

Porgy and Bess’s finale gets trophy = SCUP

Bess’(S) + trophy (CUP)

4D

Rustic Uber taxis = RUBE

(UBER) [Anagram]

5D

Caduceus designed to be assembled locally = CAUCUSED

(CADUCEUS) [Anagram]

19A

Goodwill gets work of muralist = ALTRUISM

(MURALIST) [Anagram]

17D

Sweet letters stir a misunderstanding somewhat = TIRAMISU

s(TIR + A + MISU)nderstanding

21A

It comes after one teardrop, sadly = PREDATOR

(TEARDROP) [Anagram]