Solving time: 36:35
This time was around my median for a Jumbo. I hope I am not being too harsh if I say that I would not champion this puzzle as a shining example of the art of cruciverbialism. I am afraid that it came across as something of a rushed Friday afternoon job! There seemed very little imagination or invention in the cluing and furthermore I managed to find quite a bit to gripe about – most unlike me!
Now, I fully understand how tough it must be to write the amount of clues that are required for a Jumbo and I expect a few run-of–the-mill ones – but there were just too many! Apologies to the setter if I am being unkind, but here goes…
Across |
|
1 |
CUTLASS (i.e. CUT LASS) – I did not rate this clue on first read but one meaning of “cut” is “ to break off acquaintance with” so actually the “send to Coventry” bit works quite well. |
9 |
CHAFES (H in CAFES) – can you guess what I am going to say? Hindhead does not equal H, maybe? Well I certainly subscribe to that school of thought, but my main point would be that it is so hackneyed – are then any solvers other than complete beginners that do not spot this “trick” immediately? Surely the setter could try something a little more inventive? |
17 |
EWER (W in E + ER) – yikes! – now we have got “wrong leader” = W. I am sorry, but I do not accept that this is the same as “wrong’s leader”. |
21 |
ILLOGICALLY (GI in OC all in ILL ALLY) – oh dear, I do seem to be moaning a lot! I am not convinced by either “defend” or “stab” as concealment indicators. |
24 |
ATONEMENT (MEN in AT ONE + Totally) – I thought the wordplay quite tricky to spot in this one. |
25 |
ICE BOUND (ICE + BOUND) – I am not a great fan of clues that break down a word into what are its component parts anyway. Lazy. |
33 |
MISCELLENEA (I’S CELL in E in M + ANA) – good job I bothered to analyse the wordplay otherwise I probably would have spelt this MISCELLANIA! |
36 |
SWALLOWTAIL (SWALLOW + TAIL) – see 25A – same comments apply! |
38 |
NONE (2 defs.) – Chambers only gives the church service as “nones”, but “none”, singular, is in Collins. |
41 |
INGLENOOK (sINGLE + NO + OK) |
44 |
CISATLANTIC (TACTIC SNAIL*) – the prefix of “cis-“ was new to me so this never looked like it was going to be a valid word. |
48 |
DIACONATE (A CON in DI + ATE) – again, check the wordplay – it would be easy to write in DEACONATE. |
49 |
LAID (DIAL rev.) – are there many more hackneyed treatments than this!? |
52 |
|
54 |
MUSKET (MUSKETeer I presume) – I am not sure what the clue is aiming at here – am I missing something? |
55 |
STUD FARM (cryptic def.) – I quite liked this one. At least the other meanings of “Arab” and “cover” gave a degree of misdirection. Favourite clue. |
Down |
|
1 |
CO HOST (COHOS + T) – coho is a good crossword word. |
2 |
THWART (2 defs.) – the “rower’s bench” definition was new to me. |
3 |
ARROGANCE (GO rev. in |
8 |
CONTRALTO (CON + The |
11 |
FIVE OCLOCK SHADOW (cryptic def.?) – I am not sure what the “party” bit is getting at – again, am I missing something? |
15 |
ELEGANCE (LEG in sEANCE) |
22 |
SALESMAN – a straightforward definition masquerading as a cryptic one. |
28 |
SNOW (approx. 2 defs.) – well, more of an allusion to this Snow . |
34 |
LINNAEAN ( |
42 |
ELECTRESS (ELECTRa + E + S + S) – nicely disguised definition nearly made this the favourite clue, but to indicate “ESS” with just “directions” spoilt it. |
44 |
CADMIUM (ADMIn in CU + M) – as used in Nicad batteries. |
46 |
SEA FAN (SEA + FAN ) – me, not a fan – see 25A. |
I agree with some of your comments above, though I don’t mind words clued as the sum of their component parts provided that (as with ICEBOUND and SWALLOWTAIL here) the wordplay uses different meanings of the component parts.