Solving time: 12:58
Lots of fish around. Well, three at least. HOKI was the last clue I solved, but it is nice to see a fish that I know from the fishmonger that is unfamiliar to me in crosswords. LING being the opposite.
Lots of interestingly constructed clues today. I think my CoD (there’s another) would be 12A just for using PC for “right on”.
Across
1 | ARBORETUMS – (BRUTE ROAMS)* |
9 | G + LOS(S PAIN)T |
10 | HO(o)K + I – I used to like to think that the Times use “one” = I on the basis that “one” is used as a first person pronoun by eg members of the Royal Family. But that conceit is ruined by their using “single” = I |
12 | B + RIGHT ON + ROCK – I really like PC for “right on” |
15 | ROTTE(R)D + AM(erican) – nicely convoluted |
17 | ORIEL – anag of LOITER minus T |
18 | CR + I + ER – for some reason I really wanted to put CLERK in here |
19 | GEN + EVI + EVE, EVI being I’VE(rev) |
20 | SELF CATERING, being L in (FRANCE GITES)* |
25 | I’LL ITERATE – the number twenty-seven (meaning 27A, “unlettered”) is well worked in to the surface of the clue |
Down
1 | (t)AR + GO |
2 | BI(O)G – fairly misled into expecting the answer to mean “generous” and be made up by inserting O in a word meaning “personal account” |
3 | RESERVE PRICE, being a Spoonerism of “preserve rice”. I would have preferred “preserve rice” to be indicated as a phrase, as eg “can a cereal” |
4 | TWANG – two meanings, just |
5 | MINUTE + MAN |
7 | A + POLO + GISED, GISED being DESIG(n)(rev) |
8 | PA(INK)ILLER |
11 | IN CONVE(N + I.E.)NT |
16 | DIG + ITALI(a)N |
22 | F + AIR – &lit |
I liked 9A and 12A as being ones where I worked out the answer directly from the clue without any letters in – good but not over-messy.
Not sure that 3D is a proper spoonerism though I followed what he meant.
And I’d only known minuteman as a nuclear missile, but Wiki says it was a fighter in the American War of Independence.
Enjoyed it.
I also liked the puzzle, especially the twin clues at 25 and 27. Unfortunately, I entered LAIR at 22 without any real thought, instead of FAIR as noted above. Not much loud music in a lair, my mistake.
Hoki is a popular food fish here in Australia so that came easy. And I’ll go with 12a for COD (not the fish).
To Anon above, I think you are misreading the i in 2d as an l.
There are a boat-load of “easies” left on the bench:
6a Complain vehicle has very little power (4)
CAR P. The offsprings’ sub 1000cc motors acquired for insurance purposes.
24a Beastly noise emanating from zoO IN Kenya (4)
O IN K
26a Home established at end of garden? (4)
N EST.
27a Poorly educated and characterless? (10)
UNLETTERED
13d Eventually finds line’s out of action (6,4)
TRACKS DOWN
14d Removes skin around fish for youngsters (10)
STRIP LING S
21d Lift beams, say (5)
RAISE. SL Rays.
23d Absolutely dull (4)
DEAD. I am dead against 4 letter double definitions – darn ’em.