An enjoyable crossword and clear clues. Nougettes sounded like a possibility for 11a – misled into thinking nutty was an anagram indicator, and yes, I know, that still doesn’t work! – but everything else went in smoothly. 21a was a clever hidden clue, and 10d my COD because it wasn’t the sort of plant I thought at first. And I wonder if Orpheus takes his/her dog for a caper on the beach as in 19a!
Thank you to Orpheus.
Thank you to Orpheus.
| Across | |
| 1 |
Significance adult males observed in witty saying: MOMENT Adult males = MEN, inside witty saying = MOT[Definition as in of great significance/moment] |
| 4 |
Evaluate last of loads carried by beasts of burden: ASSESS Last of loadS = S, inside beasts of burden = ASSES |
| 9 | Trick a girl into reforming a group of stars: CONSTELLATION Trick = CON, a girl = STELLA, anagram (reforming) of INTO |
| 10 | Sound made by farm animal over in Missouri: MOO Over = O, Missouri = MO |
| 11 | Memos about one group’s nutty chocolates: NOISETTES Memos = NOTES, about one = I, group = SET |
| 12 | Habit shopkeepers get from shoppers?: CUSTOM Double definition, one cryptic |
| 13 | Popular team serving a sentence: INSIDE Popular = IN, team = SIDE |
| 16 |
Scottish city in French writer’s works at last: INVERNESS In = IN, French writer’s = VERNES, workS at last =S |
| 18 | Rejected gratuity is mine: PIT Gratuity = TIP, then reversed (rejected) |
| 19 | Shingle disturbed by crossword compiler’s dog: ENGLISH SETTER Anagram (disturbed) of SHINGLE, crossword compiler = SETTER |
| 21 | Part of dinghy on Derwent over there: YONDER Hidden clue |
| 22 | Strange lad’s starting-price perhaps: ODDS-ON Strange = ODD, lad = SON |
| Down | |
| 1 | Scotsman originally married at Crianlarich: MAC First letters (originally) of the three following words |
| 2 | Chap departs to get fruit: MANGOES Chap = MAN, departs = GOES |
| 3 | Like another writer’s autobiography? No way!: NOT ON YOUR LIFE Double definition, one cryptic |
| 5 | So keen, she had a broadcast to signal disapproval: SHAKE ONE’S HEAD Anagram (broadcast) of SO KEEN SHE HAD A |
| 6 |
One of two writers sending material up: ELIOT TS or George, reversal (sending up) of material = TOILE |
| 7 | Ageing former nurse the last to use perfume: SENESCENT Former nurse = SEN, last to usE = E, perfume = SCENT |
| 8 | Unattractive region without trees: PLAIN Double definition |
| 10 | Plant a girl found around Dorset ravine: MACHINERY A girl = MARY, around Dorset ravine = CHINE |
| 14 | Drive MEP about in new suit: IMPETUS Anagram (about) of MEP, within anagram (new) of SUIT |
| 15 |
Fuel for lamps satisfied husband and son: METHS Satisfied = MET, husband = H, son =S |
| 17 |
Shunner of animal products, say, in light goods vehicle: VEGAN Say = EG, in light goods vehicle = VAN |
| 20 | Manage to upset old rail union: RUN Rail union = NUR, reversed (upset) |
Fairly straightforward. I just scraped my 10 minute target for the fourth time this week having missed it yesterday.
3dn may seem a bit unusual as sayings with “your” in them are quite rare in Times crosswords. More often than not “your” and “one’s” might be substituted in speech but “one’s” is what’s needed in the answer (e.g. 5dn). But 3dn only works with “your”, in normal usage anyway.
I also wondered about Dorset in 10dn, but Collins says it’s southern English dialect, and Dorset’s in southern England so it has to be okay.
Edited at 2016-05-20 06:44 am (UTC)
I sighed when I saw the dreaded plant word and my last two were 12a and 10d. I thought Mary was probably the girl and then went through my very short list of plants (not having Custom first was a hindrance). But then the accountant’s view of the world kicked in as I tried to get away from Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove: Machinery including a Chine -very clever of the setter.
As a boy I lived In Poole and we went often to Bournmeouth which has chines ;Alum Chine and Branksome Chine for example. Of course Bournemouth was not always in Dorset unless the Hampshire county cricket team got lost many years ago. David
RR