I was away on holiday when this one came out so solved it in an unusual fashion – looking at an iPad screen and writing the answers down on a separate pad. Not recommended but it did work slowly – although making use of checking letters was not easy. Luckily the crossword itself was not too taxing.
I did like 11D, but the reference may be obscure for some.
| Across | |
|---|---|
| 1 REIGN OF TERROR – cryptic definition, referring to a period in the French Revolution | |
| 8 SUPER BOWL – SUPERB = fabulous, OWL = bird | |
| 13 POSIT – POST = letters, around I = one | |
| 14 BATTLE ROYAL – B(ishop), ATTLE(e) = ex-PM, ROY, AL = two men | |
| 15 WRING – W(ith), RING = band | |
| 16 EUPHONIUM – sounds like YOU PHONY, UM = you fake, er (just about works) | |
| 17 TATE – TAT = rubbish, E(nglish) | |
| 18 STAND OUT – STOUT = strong drink, around AND = also | |
| 20 ENDEAR – END = close, EAR = attention | |
| 21 CONVENIENCE STORE – CONVENIENCES = Ladies and gents, TORE = charged | |
| 24 DALLIANCE – DANCE = disco, around ALL, I = one | |
| 26 SCANDAL – SC = scandium, AND, AL = aluminium. Two elements | |
| 27 OVOID – OVID = poet, around O(ld). I think it is meant to work this way rather than OVID = old poet, around O = egg, but either is OK | |
| 29 PRIVY COUNCIL – PR(ince), IVY = climber, COUNCIL sounds like COUNSEL = advise | |
| 31 TOUCH-TYPED – (THEY PUT COD)* | |
| 33 CLERESTORY – (ELYS RECTOR)* | |
| 35 TRIGGER-HAPPY – TRIGGER = film horse, HAPPY = dwarf | |
| 38 UPSET – UP = more expensive, SET = place | |
| 39 OTHELLO – middle letters of (b)OO(k), around THE, and L,L = lines | |
| 40 SYCAMORES – S(ill)Y, CA = about, MORES = customs | |
| 42 EXTRATERRITORIAL – EXTRA = additional, TERRITORIAL = TAVR member | |
| 44 ASSAIL – AIL = trouble, about A and S.S. = ship, reversed | |
| 47 IMPOLITE – I’M POE = US writer introduces himself, around LIT = books | |
| 49 HERD – HE(a)RD = tried | |
| 50 NEPHRITIS – (IS IN PERTH)* | |
| 52 DROWN – DOWN = county, around R(ain) | |
| 53 BURGOMASTER – BURGER = snack, around O(ld) and MAST = forest fruits | |
| 54 TANGO – TANG = taste, O = duck | |
| 55 WHALE MEAT – (WHEATMEAL)* | |
| 57 EAST SOUTHEAST – the middle letters in r(ESE)t signify the compass heading | |
| Down | |
| 1 REPREHEND – REP = salesperson, RED = embarrassed, around HEN = female | |
| 2 INSIPID – IN = cool, SIP = drink, I, (downe)D | |
| 3 NATIONALITY – RATIONALITY = logic, with R = king replaced by N = name | |
| 4 FABRIC – hidden in tuFA BRICkworks | |
| 5 EXTEMPORE – EX = old, TEMPO = time, R.E. = engineers | |
| 6 RELATIVISTIC – (ELITIST VICAR)* | |
| 7 RURITANIAN – R.U. = game, RITA = girl, N(orthern), IAN = scotsman. Hope wrote The Prisoner of Zenda, set in Ruritania | |
| 8 STYX – sounds like STICKS = stops flowing | |
| 9 POLITICAL SCIENCE – POLICE = cops, around (CIA CLIENTS)* | |
| 10 ROWAN – ROAN = horse, around W(ith) | |
| 11 ORINOCO – OR = gold, IN, O(ld), CO = firm. My favourite clue, but one that may prove tricky to parse for overseas solvers. Orinoco was the name of one of the Wombles, creatures supposed to live on Wimbledon Common, hence Common character | |
| 12 LIGHT-HEADEDLY – LIGHTLY = delicately, around HEADED = made for | |
| 19 HEADLONG – double definition, the first being a medical word for having a relatively long head | |
| 22 SHOOT – S(mall), HOOT = funny thing | |
| 23 INCONTROVERTIBLE – IN = trendy, CONVERTIBLE = car, around alternate letters in sTeReO | |
| 25 LOITERS – L(iberal), TORIES* | |
| 28 ON PAPER – double definition | |
| 29 PICTURE WINDOW – PICTURE = imagine, WIDOW = bereft lady, around N(ew) | |
| 30 NORTHERN – N(ote), O.R. = soldiers, THE, R.N. = sailors | |
| 32 ARMOURED CARS – (OR MARAUDERS)*, around C = 100 | |
| 34 EXTRA – EX = former, R.A. = artist, around T(ime) | |
| 36 HOME STRETCH – HOST = crowd, around ME = this writer, RETCH = gag | |
| 37 BLITHESOME – MOBILES*, around THE = article | |
| 40 STAGNATES – STAG = excluding women, NATES = bum | |
| 41 SELL SHORT – double definition, the second referring to Stock Market traders | |
| 43 TAPIOCA – TAP = beat, IO = ten, CA = about | |
| 45 ANTENNA – ANT = soldier, ENNA = ANNE = girl, reversed | |
| 46 APERCU – A, PERU = SA country, around C(onservative) | |
| 48 LUNGE – L(o)UNGE = bar | |
| 51 GRIT – G(ood), (spi)RIT | |
Orinoco is a lovely word, isn’t it?