Apologies that this was a couple of days later than usual – we have just returned from a week away.
The crossword was straightforward to solve and submit, but when I came to write up the blog there were a few clues where I could not provide a definitive explanation for the solution (49A, 54A and 40D in particular are not satisfactory – any assistance gratefully received.
| Across | |
|---|---|
| 1 CLAMOROUS – CL(inch), AMOROUS = full of passion | |
| 6 PYROTECHNICAL – (CHOP CERTAINLY)* | |
| 13 deliberately omitted – please ask if unsure | |
| 14 TEARING DOWN – (READING TOWN)* – although only 3 letters change | |
| 15 VOICE – O = ring, (in) VICE = being gripped tightly | |
| 16 INTERNECINE – INTERNEE = prisoner, around C(old), IN = arrived | |
| 17 DRIVING TEST – DRIEST = least interesting, around VINGT = 20 (a score) in French | |
| 18 MARGATE – MAR = spoil, GATE = way in. You need to split the first word of the clue | |
| 20 HEIRESS – ((estat)E, IS HERS)* | |
| 21 TIBETAN – BE = live, in TITAN = ancient deity | |
| 23 THIRD PARTY INSURANCE – THIRD PARTY = alternative politicians, R(un) in (IN CASE)* | |
| 27 GIN – double definition where the first part refers to “Gin and It” | |
| 28 CASINO – A SIN = greed, for example, in CO(mpany) | |
| 29 deliberately omitted – please ask if unsure | |
| 31 TELEPATHY – (THE PE(n)ALTY)* | |
| 34 CHAPERONE – CHAP(t)ER ONE = start of work | |
| 35 REWORD – REWOR = ROWER = oarsman, reversed, D(inghy). The definition is “alternatively put” | |
| 36 BOGOTA – GOT inside BOA (constrictor) | |
| 39 OFT – O(ld) F.T. = Financial Times = paper | |
| 40 CONSTANTINE THE GREAT – CON = criminal, (THREATENING STATE)* | |
| 42 SCRUPLE – double definition | |
| 43 THOUGHT – THOUGH = nevertheless, T(ime) | |
| 45 MUSTANG – MUST (h)ANG – to be legally killed | |
| 47 THENCEFORTH – (TO THE FRENCH)* | |
| 49 TRIPLE CROWN – double definition, but I am not sure of the Paul reference as I assume it is biblical and that is not my strong point | |
| 51 deliberately omitted – please ask if unsure | |
| 52 CODE-BREAKER – double definition | |
| 53 ADIOS – (r)ADIOS = communication equipment | |
| 54 HEAT-RESISTANT – hidden in tHEATRES IS TANTalising. I am unsure of the reference to Fry or his/her lady | |
| 55 DOG-LEGGED – DOGGED = determined, around LEG = part of course | |
| Down | |
| 1 CHARISMATIC – (I’M A STAR)* in CHIC = style | |
| 2 ARBITER – A BIT = piece, around R, followed by E.R.= queen | |
| 3 OTTER – (r)OTTER = skunk (I think) | |
| 4 OUTGENERAL – OUT = striking, GENERAL = across the board | |
| 5 SLAVISH – S(on), LAVISH = opposite of prodigal | |
| 6 PRIME MINISTER – PRIME (number) = e.g five or seven, MINSTER = place of worship, around I | |
| 7 RIGIDNESS – RIG = doctor, NESS = head, around I’D | |
| 8 deliberately omitted – please ask if unsure | |
| 9 CONSISTENTLY – CONTENT = pleased, around SIS = female in family, L(a,d)Y where the removed letters signify a daughter | |
| 10 NAVIGABLE – (LEAVING)* around A.B. = sailor | |
| 11 CLIVE – C(olonists), LIVE = as it happens | |
| 12 LIEUTENANCY – LUTE = instrument, around I.E. = that is, NANCY = French city | |
| 19 ANDANTE – AND = with, ANTE = advance payment | |
| 22 deliberately omitted – please ask if unsure | |
| 24 INSTANTER – (START NINE)* or (TEN TRAINS)* | |
| 25 TRIDENT – TNT = explosive, around RIDE = to be borne | |
| 26 RETIREE – RE = on, TIREE = Scottish island | |
| 30 DOWNING STREET – (WEST END TO RING)* | |
| 32 PLOUGHS – double definition | |
| 33 SOUND EFFECTS – SOUND = healthy, EFFECTS = property | |
| 34 CROSS-STITCH – CROSS = angry, STITCH = pain | |
| 37 ANTAGONISED – hidden in guardiAN TAG ON IS EDitor | |
| 38 THIMBLERIG – (BLIGHTER)* around I’M | |
| 40 CAPACITOR – (C(oncerning) A TOP CAR I)*. I’m unsure about the C as an abbreviation for concerning. | |
| 41 NEOPHOBIA – cryptic definition, as over time new things become old and should no longer cause a problem to a neophobic | |
| 43 TIRADES – TRADES = winds, around I | |
| 44 TRICKED – TICKED = given mark, around R, being one of the three Rs in basic education | |
| 46 deliberately omitted – please ask if unsure | |
| 48 ELIZA – ELIA (Lamb) = author, around Z = unknown. I am assuming that the reference is to Eliza Dolittle in Pygmalion/My Fair Lady. | |
| 50 CRAVE – C(onservative), RAVE = party | |
54ac – ref. Christopher Fry’s 1948 play The Lady’s Not For Burning.
40dn – I thought this was just “concerning = about = circa = C”. Didn’t bother me at the time, but it’s a bit of a stretch now I come back to it!
I don’t understand C = “Concerning” in 40dn either, and fear it may be as Andy suggests, though it’s certainly too much of a stretch for me.
I suppose Peter or Benedict would have seemed the obvious choice for the pope’s name in 49ac, but the triple crown came long after the original Peter (the first pope) and (according to wikipedia) the current pope hasn’t ever worn the triple crown, which was last worn by Pope Paul VI. (Do a lot of people know that? I certainly didn’t.)