Nothing unusual to report in this one apart from a couple of definitions that I was unaware of.
I am not sure whether the date of publishing this puzzle was intentional given 28A.
Apologies for any typos – this was written up in haste.
| Across | |
|---|---|
| 1 CELL PHONE – CELL = cadre, P = pressure, HONE = sharpen up | |
| 6 SOBER – SO, BE(a)R = endure | |
| 9 CHECK-UP – CUP = let blood, around HECK = expression of surprise. I was not aware of that definition of CUP, although I was aware of the spa treatment of cupping which appears to be related | |
| 13 DENIM – DNIM = MIND = care, reversed, around E = European | |
| 14 PROVOKE – PROVE = show, around OK = permissible | |
| 15 DIPHTHONG – the central E of ENCYCLOPEDIA is sometimes shown as Æ, a diphthong | |
| 16 RESIGNATION – (REASONING IT) | |
| 17 DISGRUNTLED – DIED = deceased, around GRUNT = US soldier, and L = left | |
| 18 SCARAB – initial letters of S(acred) and C(reature), ARAB = Egyptian. The whole clue is the definition | |
| 19 INFRARED – FIND* around RARE = how some cook steak | |
| 21 GRAVEL – G(ood), RAVEL = composer | |
| 25 AVERAGED – (r)AVER = partygoer, AGED = grew old | |
| 26 INDIRECT SPEECH – IN, DIRE = terrible, CT = court, SPEECH = language | |
| 28 LEAVE – LE = the in French, AVE = welcome. The puzzle was published the day after Brexit was supposed to happen | |
| 29 CANTER – CAN = is able to, TE(a)R = go quickly | |
| 30 CATALEPTIC – CAT = tiger, ALE = beer, PIC = photo, around T = tons | |
| 33 CODSWALLOP – CODS = fish’s, WALLOP = batter | |
| 35 THRUSH, THRU = during, in America, SH = quiet | |
| 36 PURGE – P = power, URGE = press | |
| 38 LENDING LIBRARY – L = line, ENDING = finishing, LIBRA = sign, RY = railway | |
| 40 WATERLOO – double definition – the second cryptically referring to the song by the Swedish group ABBA | |
| 42 BRIEFS – BRIE = cheese, initial letters of F(or) S(ellers) | |
| 43 GONDOLAS – (D (= delta), LAGOONS)* | |
| 44 DIVERT – DIVE = low bar, RT = right | |
| 47 INSUPERABLE – IN, SABLE = fashionable fur, around UP = in high state and E.R. = queen | |
| 50 ROMANTICISM – ROMANISM = Catholicism, around TIC = involuntary response | |
| 52 APOCRYPHA – APPROACH*, around Y = unknown | |
| 53 IMPASSE – I.E. = that is, around MP = parliamentarian and ASS = fool | |
| 54 OFTEN – (s)OFTEN = relent | |
| 55 BATHTUB – BATH = spa, TUB = vessel | |
| 56 SOGGY , S = small, (m)OGGY = cat | |
| 57 TREASURER – (RE-ARREST, U(niversity))* | |
| Down | |
| 1 CEDAR – hidden reversed in favouR A DECiduous | |
| 2 LANDSCAPE GARDENER – (ADD GREEN ACRES PLAN)* | |
| 3 POMEGRANATE – POM = small dog, E.G. = for instance, RAN = raced, ATE = consumed | |
| 4 ORPHAN – alternate letters in oN oAtH, PRO = for, all reversed | |
| 5 EMOTIONS – EM OT = TO ME reversed, I = one, ON = touching, S = son | |
| 6 SLOANE RANGER – (LORNA ENRAGES)*. Do these still exist – I recall it as an Eighties/Nineties classification | |
| 7 BREADFRUIT – BREAD = cash, FRUIT = benefit | |
| 8 RIDES – (b)RIDES = marrying women | |
| 9 COPYRIGHT – COPY = ape, RIGHT = immediately | |
| 10 EATING APPLE – EATING = what consumers like, ALE = beer, around PP = very quietly | |
| 11 KNOLL – KNO(w), (J)(i)LL | |
| 12 PAGODA – P = quiet, A = area, around A GOD = a deity | |
| 18 SMALL-SCALESALE = act of selling, around MALLS = shopping centres and C = caught | |
| 20 DAEDALUS – DAED = DEAD reversed, AL(l), US = American | |
| 22 ELECTORAL REGISTER – ELECt = chosen, ORAL = exam, REGISTER = set down | |
| 23 PENCIL – PL = place, around NICE* | |
| 24 CHICKEN OUT – (IN CHECKOUT)* | |
| 27 ANNOYING – (t)ANNOYING = talking over PA system. I had not seen tannoy a verb before but it is in Chambers | |
| 31 ASHRAM – ASH = tree, RAM = sheep | |
| 32 CHOREOGRAPHY – CHORE = task, O = round, GRAPH = plot, (nurser)Y | |
| 34 WHITE SPIRIT – (TIE WITH RIPS)* | |
| 36 PRECIPITOUS – PRECIOUS = valuable, around PIT = stone | |
| 37 PRINCELING – PRINCE = pop singer, LING(er) = loiter | |
| 39 GASTROPUB – (TOP GRUB)* around AS = what | |
| 41 MARMOSET – MAR = month, MO = second, SET = group | |
| 45 BICARB – BIB = protection for baby around CAR = vehicle. The definition is “what helps to raise” in baking | |
| 46 ANNEXE – AN, (in)N, EXE = river | |
| 48 SHOOT – double definition | |
| 49 BRASS – BRASS(ie) = old fashioned (golf) club | |
| 51 MANOR – MAR = spoil, around NO = number | |
ONG’ARA,
KENYA.