ST 4227 – Beetle-brained, ‘alf-witted

Author   talbinhoPosted on Categories Announcement
Solving time: 3:34, two “writos” (20ac and 6dn).

This would have been my best time for this puzzle if I hadn’t written ‘bettee’ for BEETLE at 20ac and ‘alf’ for AUF at 6dn. Enough said.

* = anagram, “X” = sounds like ‘X’.

Across
1 DOPE (cryptic definition)
3 CONTRA + BAN + D
11 IPSO FACTO; (ASCOT IF OP)*
12 EXHIBITION(IST = (SIT)*)S
14 SH + UN + NED (= rev. of DEN)
15 KIDNEYS; rev. of YEN in KIDS
17 ACE + TON + E – an almost identical clue appeared in #4215.
19 BURMESE; rev. of RUB + M + (SEE)*
20 COLORADO BEETLE – a barely cryptic definition…
23 ITALICISE – …and another one.
25 FRATERNISE; (FERRETS IN A)*
26 ANTS (hidden backwards)
Down
1 DICKENSIAN (cryptic definition)
2 PENTHOUSE; (SHEET UPON) – simple but very good.
4 O(MITT)ED
6 AUF WIEDERSEHEN (HE ENDURES A WIFE)*
9 CARBON MONOXIDE – for which CO (‘small company’) is the chemical symbol.
16 EYESTRAIN – probably the vaguest of the many cryptic definitions in this puzzle.
18 [r]ELATION
19 BO(OZ)ERS
21 OMAHA; rev. of (A + HAM + O[ration])
22 [s]TIFF

4 comments on “ST 4227 – Beetle-brained, ‘alf-witted”

  1. CO is actually the formula for carbon monoxide. I can’t remember the clue so I don’t know how this ties into the wordplay.
  3. Who, ipso facto, must half not bee.

    Half a dozen “easies” slipped the net here:

    10a Tory leader of Grantham goes to a dance (5)
    CON G A. Not the late Mrs T you see.

    24a Perform English in front of a court (5)
    EN A CT

    5d Clump of hair (stuck so)* awkwardly (7)
    TUSSOCK. A clump of grass more like. If I had that much hair and it could be described as a tussock I’d change my hairdresser.

    7d A drunk tours clubs, of course (5)
    A S C OT

    8d Small drink for medic at work (4)
    DR OP

    13d These girls are leading lights in the cinema (10)
    USHERETTES. They were – haven’t seen one of these in a cinema for 40 years.

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