Solving time: 34:52
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Across |
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1 |
ALISON (mALISON) – “pulling face” is an unusual way to indicate the removal of a first letter but provides a neat surface reading. |
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5 |
FREMDS (FARMSTEAD* minus AT A) – this has always struck me as a strange word – sounding like “friends” but with an opposite meaning. |
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9 |
BILLY GRAHAM (BIG RALLY* + H + AM & lit.) – great clue! I was scratching my head trying to work out the anagram part of it. |
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11 |
LOOKER-ON (bROKEn* in LOON & lit.) – although the surface makes one think more of rubbernecker. |
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12 |
SCAPI (CA in SPIn) |
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13 |
WIGGED (WIG + aGED) – another unusual indication of removal (fading) – “silk” is a reference to wigged barristers. |
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17 |
ABSTAINER (A + B + STAINER) – the composer is John Stainer. John Bull bitter is the alcohol reference I presume. |
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22 |
AISLES (LASSIE*) – I love “barking” as an anagram indicator. |
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24 |
SPINA (PIN in SA) – this meaning of SPINA was new to me. |
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27 |
CONTRADANCE (TRAD in CON + ANCE) – although I spotted “once” = ANCE it still took a bit of work to get this one. |
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29 |
LAKIER (I in LAKER) – a laker might visit Borrowdale. |
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Down |
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1 |
ABAS ( i.e. A BAS) |
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2 |
LINCHPIN (L + CHIP* in |
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3 |
SLIP-CASE (IPC in SALES*) – the magazine publisher is IPC Media. |
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6 |
RAKIS (RAKISh) |
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7 |
MARGINALIA (Royal MAIL AGAIN*) – a great definition to a tricky word is worked into a convincing surface. |
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10 |
WAITPERSON (WISE PATRON* + R in WA TIPS ONE* & lit.) – unusual clue. “Out to lunch” appears to be doing double duty as the anagram indicator – the surface reading is an amazingly good description of the clued word! |
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19 |
ACTORS (fACTORS) – factor as a blood product was new to me. |
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20 |
FALLAL (LA in FALL) – another new word to me. |
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25 |
AVER (2 defs) – one of those common words that has an alternative and unusual meaning. |
Erwin