Fairly straightforward, with any minor difficulties helped by crossing letters.
47A is interesting as, in my opinion, the solution can be made up in two different ways from the wordplay. I don’t know which was the setter’s intention.
Across | |
---|---|
1 WHISTLE-BLOWER – (TO B(ritish) WELL WISHER)* | |
8 ASCERTAIN – AS = for instance, CERTAIN = sure | |
13 NOHOW – sounds like KNOW-HOW = proficiency | |
14 COMPETITION – CO(mpany) = business, PETITION = suit, around M(ale) | |
15 PRIOR – sounds like PRIER = nosy parker. | |
16 GEARS DOWN – GEAR = things, S(on), DOWN = not happy. Not an expression for a driving manoeuvre I am familiar with | |
17 LEWD – LED = ushered, outside W(ife) | |
18 LITERATE – L(ine), ITERATE = say again | |
20 ALLIED – ALL = everybody, (v)IED = struggled | |
21 JOHNNY-COME-LATELY – (JOLLY MAN THEY ONCE)* | |
24 SHOWPIECE – SHOW = musical, PIECE = composition | |
26 DIALECT – DICT(ionaries) = reference books, with 2/3 removed, around ALE = word for beer | |
27 REBEL – REEL = part of film, around B(ishop) | |
29 RED-LETTER DAY – RED = embarrassed, LETTER = character, alternate letters in DiArY | |
31 FELLOWSHIP – FELLOWS = senior members of college, HIP = with it | |
33 THREADBARE – THREE = small number, around A(ntiquate)D, and BAR = pub | |
35 QUANTUM LEAPS – (Q(uestion) UPSET ALUMNA)* | |
38 OLDEN – (g)OLDEN = halcyon | |
39 UNTWIST – UN = one (French), TWIST = dance | |
40 SPLENETIC – CITE = refer to, N(ew), E(nglish), LPS = records, all reversed | |
42 PEDAL STEEL GUITAR – (SATELLITE UPGRADE)*. Another unfamiliar one | |
44 HUMANE – HUE = character, around MAN = staff | |
47 COCKEYED – odd letters in ChOiCe, KEY = selected, ED(itor) = leading newspaperman. Alternatively oddly selected letters in ChOiCe, KEY = leading, ED(itor) = newspaperman | |
49 HERE – HER = a woman’s, (programm)E | |
50 EXPOSITOR – EX POST = former job, around I = one, O.R. = men | |
52 IDEAL – I = current, DEAL = understanding | |
53 UNDERCHARGE – (CAN DRUG HERE)* | |
54 IMBUE – initial letters in I(nequalities) M(ust) B(e) U(nfair) E(specially) | |
55 NISSEN HUT – IS, SEN = money, H(ospital), all in NUT = brazil | |
56 ENTOMOLOGISTS – cryptic definition, with spotted having two meanings | |
Down | |
1 WINE GLASS – WIN = succeed, E.G. = say, LASS = girl | |
2 ISHMAEL – (HAMS LIE)*. This answer also appeared in the normal Saturday Times crossword where the clue was a bit more complex | |
3 TOWNSPEOPLE – (POP, NOWT ELSE)* | |
4 ESCROW – (WORSE)* around C(atastrophe) | |
5 LEMON SOLE – LEMON = a person often disappointing, SOLE = one | |
6 WHEEL AND DEAL – (NEED WE ALL HAD)* | |
7 RAILWAYMAN – RAN = rushed, around I = one and MA = old woman, which in turn surrounds L(arge), WAY = road | |
8 AKIN – m(AKIN)g = creation | |
9 CONTINENTAL QUILT – CONTINENTAL = African, QUIT = desert, around L(eft) | |
10 RUPEE – hidden reversed in thuggEE PURportedly | |
11 AGITATE – ATE = worried, around G.I. = soldier and T.A. = army | |
12 NURSERY SLOPES – (SURELY PERSONS)* | |
19 FORESEEN – FORES = warnings, alternate letters in aEgEaN | |
22 ARROW – (h)ARROW = top school | |
23 BEAT ABOUT THE BUSH – BEAT = strike, ABOUT = connected with, THE BUSH = remote areas | |
25 ORDERED – double definition | |
28 BY HEART – BY = via, HEAR = judge, (cour)T | |
29 RETROSPECTION – (POETS CORNER I)*, around T(ime). I suppose “spent” is the anagram indicator? | |
30 RARITIES – R.A. = painter, RITES = solemn acts, around I = one | |
32 JUST LIKE THAT – JUST = really, LIKE = take a shine to, T(eam), HAT = bowler | |
34 ANNUL – ANNU(a)L = yearbook | |
36 LANGUISHING – LING = heather, around ANGUISH = pain | |
37 SINGLETREE – SINGLE = only one, TREE = elder, perhaps | |
40 SNARE DRUM – SNARED = caught, RUM = alcoholic drink | |
41 CLEARNESS – LEARN = find out, in S, SEC = a couple of seconds, reversed. Took a little time to parse this one | |
43 DICKENS – D(aughter), (s)ICKENS = repels | |
45 ANTIBES – ANTIS = people against, around B(ooz)E | |
46 APPEAL – APPAL = shock, around E(verton) | |
48 ELLIE – (w)ELLIE(s) = boots | |
51 EDIT – TIDE = course, reversed |
The gear down phrase is in ODO with the required meaning though I’ve never heard or used it myself.. sounds American, they like to verb nouns..
Edited at 2016-01-30 03:02 pm (UTC)
Probably something to do with the sound of pots and pans being crashed around in a restaurant kitchen, or something like that.
I can’t say I’ve ever come across it other than in cryptic crosswords.