Not the greatest puzzle this, some strange non-cryptic defs and double defs, but a great clue in 28D for the mathematical style. I will put my hands up to not parsing 3D or 8D so all suggestions gratefully received.
Across | |
1 | NOSFERATU – (outre fans)* for the film. The definition was perhaps a little too helpful and could have done with something more cryptic. |
6 | DOWAGER – WAGER=gamble on DO=ditto=same thing again for the old woman. At the time I queried “old” as I believed it to be purely someone who was endowed from widowing, so not age dependent (although likely), however Chambers suggests one meaning is “old”. |
10 | GRUFF – GUFF=trivial talk around R=republican. |
13 | TWISTED – T=time, W=wife, (diets)*. Interestingly you can get rid of “wife” in the clue without spoiling it, given T(ime) W(ith) for TW. |
14 | IN TRAIN – INT=international, RAIN= sounds like reign=rule |
15 | MEANDER – MEAN=intend, RED=sign to stop, reversed |
16 | IN THE TEETH OF THE WIND – (he feinted then hit two)*. Anagrind is brutally |
17 | RHO – hidden in aiRHOstess |
18 | NUGGET – GUN reversed, GET=kill, for the thing one might find in a mine or pit |
20 | WRITHE – HE after WRIT=legal authority. Definition is a bit odd, although perhaps necessary for the surface. |
21 | BOSSANOVA – BOSS=manager, A NOVA= bright star |
23 | PIPED MUSIC – double def, highland implying BAGPIPES |
25 | RE-ENACTMENT – (men at centre)* |
29 | LOTUS – LOT=destiny, US=me and my friends |
30 | CLEAR-CUT – (real)* and CU=copper,inside CT=court |
31 | ESPRESSO – ES = ends of negotiatE priceS, PRESS=printer, O=over, for the coffee. |
34 | NANOTUBE – (on butane)*. Def – “its hard to see such a cylinder”. |
36 | SUPERNAL – Flan beheaded and reversed = NAL after SUP(p)ER. |
37 | SLING – LING=heather after S=small |
39 | TRADE SECRET – Weak cryptic def. Reads like a straight def to me, however I assume that the word PUBLIC in respect to a company may mislead. |
41 | SMOOTH OVER – S(old), MOOT=subject to dispute, HOVER=hang around |
43 | GALLIPOLI – GALL=bitterness, I, LOP=cut, reversed, I=current, for the military campaign |
45 | REMOVE – double def, although I didnt know the second one. Apparently REMOVE can be an intermediary class in school. |
47 | WISDOM – hidden in hoWISDOMitian. Solomon was the legendary wise king. |
49 | TOW – 3/9 of the word TOWELLING. Could have been ELL or ING, but wasnt! |
50 | A BLESSING IN DISGUISE – reference to the fact that BENISON is a blessing, hence it is disguised as Ben is on. |
52 | PENSIVE – EXPENSIVE=dear, EX=former partner, having left. |
53 | ORIFICE – OFFICE=bureau, with first F(key) changing to RI=right one. Def=opening |
54 | IRONIST – RON=Reagan familiarly, IS, all inside IT. Didnt know that contrary may suggest irony but seems right. |
55 | TIE-IN – IE=that is, inside TIN=metal. |
56 | LIMOGES – LIMO=car, then GrEaSe=grease regularly. |
57 | TRIUMPHAL – UMPH= upper-class MP and husband, inside TRIAL=court case. Def=celebrating. |
Down | |
1 | NUTRIENT – NUT=fanatic, then ORIENT=eastern, nothing less=drop the O. Def=good food |
2 | SHIFT – SH=quietly IFT=one foot |
3 | EXTREMENESS – Double def I assume, though not quite sure of parts of speech. “Way out character” is ok, but “involved in…” doesnt quite work?? |
4 | ANDREW – DR inside ANEW=again, for the chap. |
5 | UNINTERESTED – (united resent)*. Typing this up after MAN UTD 2-3 BLACKBURN, it is quite topical as most of them were distinctly indifferent! |
6 | DETROIT – (tried to)* Nice surface pairing of clues with United and City next to each other. |
7 | WEAR THE TROUSERS – Double def, a bit contrived. If a chair was rough it would wear away your trousers. |
8 | GINGER BEER – Def=drink, rest went in from checkers, GIN=spirit, R=start to ramble, but how GERBEE is “before working meeting” I dont know!! |
9 | REMAINS – REINS=power to control, keeping MA=mother. Def = body after death. |
10 | GRANDMASTER – Cryptic definition, referring to chess. |
11 | UNDERDONE – Oxford students learn “UNDER DON”, then E for english. Def = half baked. |
12 | FORMOSA – FOR=in favour of, MO=second, SA(y)=state, mostly. |
19 | GLISTEN – Very nice novel mathematical clue here. The trick is with G=2, L=5, then GL is ten. |
22 | AMICABLE – AM I? CABLE= question of identity, delivered by telegram! |
24 | CIRCUIT TRAINING – Cryptic def, they havent been great in this grid so far !! |
26 | ABSOLUTE – SOLUTE = what goes into water, after AB=sailor, def = dead. |
27 | TROUGH – TOUGH=hard, crossing R=river, for the channel. |
28 | PLANET – Lift and separate alert!! Def = “what might be Venus”. PLANT= flytrap, say, around (mar)E. |
32 | STIPEND – TIP = reward for service, held in SEND=ship, for the church pay. |
33 | INCONVENIENT – IEN = that is, new, inside IN=fashionable, CONVENT = nuns. |
35 | TREPIDATION – (inept adroit)* |
37 | SMOKING ROOM – (I’m nook smog r)*. R from right. semi &lit, although a little too much explanatory padding. |
38 | BRAINSTORM – B=british, RAINSTORM=wet weather. |
40 | ALLOWANCE – pretty much a straight definition here, given that to “make an allowance” you tolerate the substandard ?? |
42 | EMMENTAL – rinds suggests the outer letters so, E(da)M M(ad)E N(on-fa)T A(wfu)L. |
43 | GO TO POT – GOT=experienced, OP=work, OT=old testament=books. |
44 | OIL WELL – (s)OIL = earth without spades, WELL = excellently, semi &lit again. |
46 | MUGGINS – MUG = big cup, GINS = several alcoholic drinks. |
48 | BIKINI – The atoll which gave its name to the garment I believe. |
51 | IRISH – (FA)IRISH= reasonably good with the first two dropped. Setters as in the dogs. |
Can’t help with 3dn. It simply seems to me to be a rather feeble CD.
Happy New Year, all
Thanks
Romania Romi
“Personal Injury Attorney Chicago” (http://www.santillilaw.com/)
GINGER and “spirit” in 8dn are nouns.