I vaguely remembering this taking slightly longer than normal, although I cant work out which bits after a two week absence. There seemed to be an above average number of double definitions, but nothing too obscure.
| Across | |
| 1 | MOATED – MATED = beaten in chess, around O = nothing. Whole is “defended in depth”, a slightly cryptic definition |
| 5 | MATTOCK – MATT = dull, ‘OCK = common pronunication of HOCK = white wine |
| 9 | FOREDECK – CEDE = allow, reversed inside FORK = split |
| 13 | AN AWFULLY BIG ADVENTURE – (natural ivy bungled a few)* – the def refers to the quote where Peter Pan describes death likewise |
| 14 | BROKEN IN – double def |
| 15 | BLEWITS – BITS = pieces, outside WEL(l) = mostly healthy, reversed. |
| 16 | HILARY – HILARITY = great enjoyment, without IT = computer studies |
| 17 | CHEESECAKE – Leicester being a cheese, and a cake of soap. Together the dish is rich. |
| 20 | REPRODUCTION – REDUCTION = cut, round PRO = for |
| 23 | UMBO – “this” is the JUMBO, without the first is another word for “boss” |
| 24 | STRAINER – double def, someone making an effort, and the tea implement |
| 26 | ELDRITCH – (f)ELT = considered, not at first. RITCH sounds like well-off. Whole is “weird” |
| 29 | WEDDING MARCH – odd cryptic definition this, unless I am missing something uber-clever. Reference to “naming the day” etc of a wedding. |
| 30 | MUCK RAKING – Ruck – making is creating a brawl. |
| 32 | TOOTHPASTE – TOO = excessively, PAST = tense, inside THE = article |
| 34 | COURT MARTIAL – COURT = “where to try”, MARTIAL sounds like MARSHAL = assemble. Whole is tribunal |
| 36 | STROKING – STRING = group of horses, outside OK = fine |
| 38 | EINSTEIN – EIN STEIN would roughly translate as “a mug” |
| 39 | IRIS – I = one, RIS(ing) = being hoisted, half way |
| 41 | IMPACT CRATER – cryptic def, career being rapid movement rather than job related. |
| 43 | ENGAGEMENT – double def |
| 44 | ITCHED – HITCHED = married, without H = husband. |
| 46 | ENABLER – RE(a)L = real, not a, BANE = cause of annoyance, all reversed. Not the most obvious &lit definition, but I guess it makes sense once you get the wordplay!? |
| 48 | BESTIARY – (by satire)* |
| 50 | BURY ONES HEAD IN THE SAND – double def, one referring to the author George Sand |
| 51 | RECYCLES – double def |
| 52 | RAKES IN – RAKE = dissolute type, SIN = vice. Whole is “easily gathers” |
| 53 | LIE LOW – sounds like LI-LO |
| Down | |
| 2 | ON AIR – double def |
| 3 | TRACK RECORD – TRACK = one song, RECORD = several more, whole is “history” |
| 4 | DEFENDER – DEFER = put off, around END = purpose. A defender ought to repel attackers. |
| 5 | MELON – MEN = people, around LO(w) = almost cheap |
| 6 | TOYNBEE – TOY = tiny, N = new, BEE = worker, for the historian Arnold |
| 7 | OLIVE BRANCH – OLIVE is a sort of drab, CH = church, around BRAN = refuse. Whole is “offered reconciliation” |
| 8 | KHAKI – first letters – K(now) H(ow) A(wfully) K(een) I(nfantryman) |
| 9 | FIVE SCORE – FIVES = game’s CORE = heart |
| 10 | RANCH – the pope RAN the CH(urch) !! |
| 11 | DOUBLETHINK – DOUBLE = twin, THIN = not convincing, K = king |
| 12 | CHEERIO – CHEER = food, once, I/O are both bits |
| 18 | HAMMER OUT – double def |
| 19 | ARTEMIS – ART = skill, (EMIS)* |
| 21 | PARAMOUNT – PARAMOU(r), NT = new testament = books |
| 22 | UNDERLAY – (laundry e)*, nice double use of felt as in the material, or “feeled” |
| 25 | AGREEMENT – (l)AMENT = uninitiated complain, around GREE(k) = European, ultimately deficient. Whole is “understanding” |
| 27 | CONTAGION – (I cannot go)* |
| 28 | UNSPOILT – (sun pilot)* |
| 31 | CUTTING – double def |
| 33 | THOMAS HARDY – THO = nonetheless, MY = goodness, around A SHARD = a London landmark. |
| 34 | CENTRAL PARK – CENTRAL = vital, PARK = leave the car |
| 35 | TRIUMVIRATE – V IRATE = very angry, after (a)TRIUM = hall without a |
| 37 | GARDENERS – GAR DENIERS without I |
| 40 | EGGSHELL – the comment is EGGS, HELL!! |
| 42 | MUTABLE – MULE = cross, around TAB = bill |
| 43 | EARLIES – (p)EARLIES |
| 45 | DROOL – D = daughter, R/L = hands, around O,O = rings |
| 47 | ABHOR – hidden in (reh)AB HOR(rible) |
| 48 | BATON – BAN = prohibition, about TO, for the stick |
| 49 | RODEO – If you failed to participate, you RODE 0 = none |
C.ONG’ARA,
NAIROBI.