I completed this on a business trip to the US, but don’t have a record of the time, and in any case I think jetlag would probably have had an influence.
I don’t think this was too difficult, although I have a couple of clues where I am not sure that I have parsed them correctly.
2D was an inventive way to clue the word, and was probably my favourite
Across | |
---|---|
1 OVERARM – O = ball, VERA = Russian girl, perhaps, RM = room. I am not sure why Vera should be a Russian name | |
5 RHEUMATIC – RHEUM = watery discharge, A, TIC = spasm | |
10 SCAM – SCAM(p) = mischief-maker, with P = pawn removed | |
14 COUNTERACTION – COUNTER = bar, ACTION = fighting | |
15 NEWSHOUND – NEW = novel, HUDSON* | |
16 PERTINENCE – PENCE = coppers, around E.R. = queen and TIN = preserve | |
17 TOILET PAPER – TOIL = work, PAPER = news outlet, arount E.T. = film | |
18 COACH – very simple double definition | |
19 CHINCHILLA – CHINA = friend, around CHILL = relax | |
21 ACCENT – AC = account, CENT = little money | |
23 ATTENUATE – (TUNE AT TEA)* | |
25 DWELT – D(aughter), WELT = heavy blow | |
26 E-NUMBER – E = online (as in e-mail), NUMBER = edition | |
28 POETIC JUSTICE – cryptic definition, where linesman = poet | |
31 SOMMELIER – SOMME = battle, L,R = both sides, around I.E. = that is | |
33 RUNNERS-UP – RUNNER = fish, SUP = drink | |
35 HIGHLAND FLING – HIGH = intoxicated, LAD = kid, around N(ame), FLING = shy | |
37 GRIMACE – GRIM = forbidding, ACE = one | |
38 EMBER – (m)EMBER = parliamentarian | |
40 ENSCONCED – SCONCE = fortification, in END = objective | |
42 SPLEEN – SEEN = experienced, around P(ortuga)L | |
44 CONTRAVENE – CONTE = French tale, around RAVEN = black bird | |
46 ITALY – I, TA(l)LY = reckon | |
48 ROMANTICISE – CREATIONISM* | |
50 SLEEPINESS – S(ociety), LEES = dregs, around PINES = longs | |
52 PHOENICIA – PHOENI(x) = US state capital, CIA = spies | |
53 CAMPTOWN RACES – CAMP = affected, TRACES = touches, around OWN = have | |
54 BONN – BONN(y) = Scot’s beautiful | |
55 PRETENDER – P(olice), RE = concerned with, TENDER = money | |
56 ROYALTY – ROT = junk, around YAL = LAY = set, backwards, Y = variable | |
Down | |
1 ORCA – the ending in tow of the Balearic islands – MinORCA and MajORCA | |
2 EXUBERANT – if the current leader in the colony is an UBER ANT, then the old leader must be an EX UBER ANT (get it?) | |
3 A STITCH IN TIME SAVES NINE – (AN INSENSITIVE CHAT)* around TIMES = paper | |
4 MORONIC – MOR = ROM = traveller (Romany?), reversed, ON IC(e) = frozen. I think this is correct | |
5 RECONSIDERS – RIDERS = stipulations, around E(nglish) and CONS = prisoners | |
6 EVIDENCED – DEVICE* around DEN = hole | |
7 MANET – TEN A.M. = mid morning, reversed | |
8 TONSILLITIS – TONS = many, ILL = suffering, I = current, TIS = SIT = seat, reversed | |
9 COWMEN – CO = firm, WEN = city, around M(illions) | |
11 CRUMPLE – C(onservative), RULE = government, around PM = Prime Minister | |
12 MODERATOR – (TO ARMED)*, O.R. = soldiers | |
13 THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY – (PERFECT YOUTH, ADORING AIR)* | |
18 CLAPPER – C(old), LAP = drink, PER = for each | |
20 ICEBERG – I(sland), C(aught), EBERG = GREBE = bird, reversed | |
22 TERMINUS – TERM IN U.S. = American word | |
24 ADJUSTER – AD = commercial, JUST = lawful, E(mploye)R | |
27 BLINI – hidden in DuBLIN Irish | |
29 ENNUI – EN NUI(t) = in night (French) | |
30 INHABIT – IN HABIT = like a nun | |
32 RIGIDLY – RIG = gear, IDLY = carelessly | |
34 PREDOMINATE – PRATE = babble, around EDOM = MODE = way, reversed and IN = home | |
36 LIE DETECTOR – (DIRE COLETTE)* | |
37 GASTRO-PUB – GAB = chatter, around U = upper-class and PORTS = wines, both reversed | |
39 REASSUMED – (MADE SURE)* around S(on) | |
41 CLASSICAL – CAL = state, around L(iberal), ASS = fool and I.C. = in charge | |
43 LAMPOON – LOON = twit, around AMP = a bit of current | |
45 EMPOWER – EWER = vessel, around M.P. = politician and O(ver) | |
47 HICCUP – HIC = here (Latin), CUP = chalice | |
49 EMCEE – alternate (even) letters in tEaM sChEmEd | |
51 I-SPY – I’S = one’s, P(art)Y |
According to Wikipedia VERA is a Slavic name, which was news to me.
I’m pretty sure you’re right on 4dn: ROM is in all the dictionaries as a male Gypsy.
I loved the EX UBER-ANT.