Solid, middle of the road offering. Small spatterings of unknown terms, or convoluted cluing, but in the main clear and well signed constructions.
Across |
1 |
QUARTERMASTER – QUARTER=fourth, (rate ms)* |
8 |
TOPPING UP – either I’ve missed the clever bit or this is a bit loose for me. mix of very similar concepts across surface and meaning, TOPPING=excellent, UP=happy |
13 |
AKELA – (d)ALEK, A, all reversed |
14 |
EMBROIDERER – (I order)* inside EMBER |
15 |
LEMUR – sounds like LIMA |
16 |
TENDERING – (dinner get)* |
17 |
OBEY – OBE=gong, (da)Y |
18 |
CORDELIA – COR=my, DELI=shop, A |
20 |
ISSUER – IS SUER = someone who sues = litigious type |
21 |
CONGESTION CHARGE – (enters coach going)* |
24 |
EUPHRATES – EH=what, around UP=higher, RATES=prices |
26 |
FANTAIL – FAIL=no success, around ANT=insect |
27 |
PIPIT – PIP=piece of apple, IT |
29 |
HEALTH RESORT – HEALTH=toast, RESORT=regularly go (??)- not sure I get that now, but didnt query it when I did it, so maybe its a slow Sunday today! |
31 |
PINA COLADA – PIN=secure, A COLA=soft drink, (denie)D, A |
33 |
TRENCH FOOT – TREN(d)=general direction, briefly, FOOT=infantry, around CH=check |
35 |
ELECTRIC HARE – ELECT=choose, RICHAR(d)=one of three kings, not 100%, E=english |
38 |
IN ONE – ten can be written 10, or I, NONE |
39 |
RIBCAGE – RAGE=passion, around 1 BC |
40 |
STEAMSHIP – STEAMS=lightly cooks, HIP=joint |
42 |
BUTTONHOLE STITCH – BUTTONHOLES=detains, TITCH=dwarf |
44 |
STUPOR – STUP = PUTS back = replaces, OR=soldiers |
47 |
LILONGWE – LIE=story, around W(ar) after LONG=for ages |
49 |
FANG – FAN=cooler, (receivin)G |
50 |
LATERALLY – if someone was LATER an ALLY, they may be currently an opponent! |
52 |
ONION – ON=lit, repeatedly around I=current |
53 |
RECRIMINATE – REC=park, RIMIN(i)=Italian town, ATE=worried |
54 |
NARCO – RAN=managed, reversed, CO=business |
55 |
NIGHTWEAR – cryptic def |
56 |
GALLOWS HUMOUR – both a cryptic tongue in cheek clue and an &lit, along the same lines (GALLOWS=what makes one die, HUMOUR=laughing, def=whole clue) |
Down |
1 |
QUARTZITE – ART=skill, Z=unknown, in QUITE=sort of |
2 |
AVERNUS – VERN(e)=writer, in AUS=australia |
3 |
TRADE SECRET – TRADES=winds, TERCE=prayer period, reversed |
4 |
RE-EDIT – REED=clarinet part, IT=appeal |
5 |
AMBIGUOUS – BIG=major, U=university, inside A MOUS(e) |
6 |
THOROUGHFARE – (fourth gear oh)* |
7 |
REDRESSING – DRESS=clothing, in REIN=check, (needin)G |
8 |
TARO – TARO(t)=pack, shortly. Didnt know the food, but couldnt be much else |
9 |
PERSONNEL CARRIER – (planners error ice)* |
10 |
IDLED – I’D LED = I had been CEO |
11 |
GAMBLER – G=good, AMBLER=thriller writer |
12 |
PERMANENT WAVE – (we prevent a man)* |
19 |
VITAMIN C – (a N victim)* |
22 |
HIPPO – hidden in (battles)HIP PO(temkin) |
23 |
A TURN FOR THE WORSE – reverse engineered – “WE OTHERS” could be clued by “A turn for the worse” |
25 |
PLACEBO – PLEB=insulting term, O=old, around AC=bill |
28 |
PHARAOH – sounds like FAIR O |
29 |
HOT AIR BALLOON – HOT-AIR = meaningless promises, BALLOON=to be taken up |
30 |
SNOWBALL – double def |
32 |
SLEEPING PILL – cryptic def |
34 |
CREDO – CO=firm, around RED=socialist |
36 |
COMPTE RENDU – COMPUTER END= PC to finish, with U=sort of boat, dropping to the bottom. |
37 |
NAUSEATING – AN=article, reversed, US EATING=food in America |
40 |
SICILIANO – SIC=so, I, NAIL=fix, reversed, O=round |
41 |
PARTYGOER – (got prayer)* |
43 |
TELLING – double def |
45 |
PALERMO – PAL=china, (more)* |
46 |
UTTERS – (n)UTTERS |
48 |
NONET – TEN (a larger one), ON=performing, all reversed |
51 |
ACER – ACE=one, R=rook |
Thank you for the blog.
Resort has “to go or be habitually” as one definition in Chambers.
Au contraire, computer end is not in my (12th) Ch. Presumably it’s in the 13th? It’s not a phrase I’d ever heard of.
As for the second one, I am afraid that was a bit of shorthand! Rather than write COMPUTER=PC, END=finish, I bunged them together to save time!! (Or perhaps to make the move of the U extra visual – that seems more justifiable). I don’t for a minute suggest it is a phrase. That said, its possible your comment referred to COMPTE RENDU !!?
Re the second one, I just have to admit to being a complete dummy and not even seeing the movement of the U(-boat)! Too much rosé or something! So, yes, my comment referred to computer end rather than compte rendu!
Thank you, sir.
I came up with ‘betrothals’, and like Gresham’s Law, the bad solution drove out the good for the longest time.