I don’t think I was ever on the setter’s wavelength on this one and it was a bit of a struggle, although looking back I cannot see any reason for that. It was a fair test.
38D raised a smile, and there were a couple of less common devices in the wordplay (40D and 18A).
|
Across |
|
|---|---|
| 1 CLINGFILM – CLING = grip, to the left of FILM = movie | |
| 6 SITTING PRETTY – SITTING = governing, PRETTY = fairly | |
| 13 NESTS – NESS = loch, around (fores)T | |
| 14 PERIODONTAL – PERIOD = stretch, ON, TAL(k) = conversation | |
| 15 CLANG – C(aught), LANG = Fritz | |
| 16 RUN TO GROUND – double definition, the second cryptic and assuming that the ground is at the bottom of the stairs | |
| 17 SAMUEL PEPYS – (SUPPE(r), MEASLY)* | |
| 18 TERMINI – hidden in minisTER, MINIster = two ministers together | |
| 20 YAMMERS – Y(outh), ‘AMMERS = West Ham = team in East London | |
| 21 FLORIDA – FLO, IDA = two women, around R(epublican) | |
| 23 MIND-YOUR-OWN-BUSINESS – a kind of double definition, referring to a fast spreading plant | |
| 27 PHI – PH 1 = very acid = a long way from base | |
| 28 SUPPLY – double definition | |
| 29 CYPHER – CYPR(us) = EU member, around H.E. = ambassador | |
| 31 EUCLIDEAN – EN = space, around UCL = London university and IDEA = theory | |
| 34 BOY SCOUTS – B(u)S, around (US COYOT(e))* | |
| 35 PEDLAR – hidden in schlepPED LARge | |
| 36 ESSAYS – ESS = letter, around SAY = eg | |
| 39 OVA – (br)AVO = well done, reversed | |
| 40 DIRTY TRICKS CAMPAIGN – (RAID MP ACTING)* around Y = unknown and TRICKS = prostitute’s client | |
| 42 ATHLETE – A, THE = articles, around LET = licence | |
| 43 TEMPTED – TEMP = work as sub, T(ime), ED = editor | |
| 45 OLDSTER – ‘OLDS = ‘as, TER(m) = allotted time | |
| 47 DRESSES DOWN – DRESSES = trims, DOWN = feathers | |
| 49 TYPEWRITTEN – (PRINT TWEET)*, around Y(en) | |
| 51 ULTRA – (ART(f)UL)* | |
| 52 ARBITRAGEUR – A(rea), R(un), BIT = took hold of, RAG = newspaper, EUR = European | |
| 53 TENCH – (s)TENCH = stink | |
| 54 THREE OF HEARTS – THREE = triple, OF HEART = cardiac, (bypas)S | |
| 55 ENSCONCED – END = purpose, around SCONE = Scotland’s royal seat, around C = Charlie | |
|
Down |
|
| 1 CONTRETEMPS – CON MPS = Tory politicians, around TRE(a)T = deal, and E(uropean) | |
| 2 INSANER – IN, SAN = hospital, E.R. = emergency ward | |
| 3 GISMO – GO = drive, around ISM = distinct doctrine | |
| 4 IMPERVIOUS – IMPIOUS = irreverent, around E.R. = queen and V(ictoria) | |
| 5 MERCURY – MERRY = having had a few, around CU = metallic element | |
| 6 SWORDSMANSHIP – S(mall), WORDS = talk, MANS = fellow’s, HIP = on trend | |
| 7 TROUSSEAU – TROUS(er)S = pants, EAU = UAE = Arab states, reversed | |
| 8 ISTHMUS – (SUITS)* around H.M. = king | |
| 9 GOLDEN FLEECE – (OF LEGEND)* around LEEC(h) = bloodthirsty creature | |
| 10 RECEPTORS – RECTORS = clergy, around EP = record | |
| 11 TRAMP – TRAM = public vehicle, P(arking) | |
| 12 YUGOSLAVIAN – YUG = GUY = chap, reversed, OSL(o) = capital, AVIAN = bird | |
| 19 IDYLLIC – DIY*, followed by C = roughly, and ILL = badly, reversed together | |
| 22 IMPRESARI – IMP(u)RE = morally wrong, SARI = dress | |
| 24 NAPPY RASH – NY = city, around APP = program, RASH = ill-thought out | |
| 25 ODYSSEY – (b)ODY = corpse. SEY = YES = quite, reversed, around S(hocking) | |
| 26 ICECAPS – ICE = cool, CAPS = headgear | |
| 30 REDUCE TO TEARS – REDUCE = cut down, TOTS = drinks, around EAR = audience | |
| 32 INSIPID – IN = trendy, SIP = drink, I’D = this setter had | |
| 33 QUARTERSTAFF – QUARTER STAFF = sack 75% of workforce | |
| 34 BOOM AND BUST – BOOM = MOOB = man’s breast, reversed, AND = with, BUST = woman’s (breast) | |
| 37 SUN-DRENCHED – HUNDREDS*, around ENC(losed) | |
| 38 CAN OF WORMS – CAN = prison, (diet) OF WORMS. I am sure that still makes kids laugh in a history lesson | |
| 40 DEEP SPACE – DEEPS = SPEED reversed, PACE = two race-winning qualities | |
| 41 RUMINATOR – RUM = drink, IN A, TOR = prominent feature of landscape | |
| 43 TROUBLE – T(ime), ROUBLE = Tsarina’s bread | |
| 44 DEPLETE – DELETE = purge, around P(ower) | |
| 46 TITANIC – (ACT IN IT)* | |
| 48 ENTER – (c)ENTER = downtown area in San Francisco | |
| 50 INTRO – IN, (cas)TRO | |
Edited at 2018-07-28 12:51 pm (UTC)
Ong’ara,
Kenya.