I’m standing in for Robert
A straightforward puzzle with a couple of excellent clues at 17A and 5D. There is one 31A that I’m not sure of as I can’t equate “game” to old coins. The same comment has appeared in “have your say” on the Times website. All help welcomed. On Edit – see comments
(C)=Chambers used to verify some part of the clue (S)=starter clue (which were generous in number this week)
If you haven’t tried it I commend the latest Anax Bonus Puzzle 005 to you – testing but great fun.
| Across | |
|---|---|
| 1 | BOBAC – reverse of “cabob” = a kebab; a marmot (C) |
| 5 | FACTION – two meanings; (S) |
| 10 | HIPPARCHS – HIP-P(ARCH)S; HIP=informed; ancient Greek cavalry commander (C) |
| 11 | ALLIS – A-LLI-S; SA=Saudi Arabia; a species of shad (C), (S) |
| 12 | SAMITI – SAM-IT-I; SAM=together; an Indian committee of workers (C) |
| 14 | SECTATOR – S(p)ECTATOR; an adherent to a party (under “sect” in Chambers) |
| 15 | ADOS – reverse of “soda”; (S) |
| 16 | SAMA – (o)SAMA; a Japanese title (C), (S) |
| 17 | TAN-DOOR(I)S; curry=beat=TAN; DOORS=houses (as in “they live three doors down”); great clue |
| 20 | HOACTZINS – HO-ACT-Z-IN-S; HO=stop; ACT=(cat)*; S=sun; a crested bird (C) |
| 23 | G’DAY – G(D)AY; GAY=rather (C) |
| 24 | FOSS – change “toss” = cast by removing “t” and replacing it with “f” |
| 26 | HAROSETH – HA(ROSE)TH; hath=old word for has; a Passover meal (C) |
| 28 | EN L’AIR – (Irelan)*; cut=remove “d”; out=anagrind; being discussed in Paris |
| 29 | INKER – (dr)INKER; dr=driver; lush=drinker; an ink pad (S) |
| 30 | INTENDANT – INTEND-ANT; worker=ANT; dogs=follows; mean=INTEND; a superintendant; (C) |
| 31 | TESTONS – (SET reversed)+TONS; put=SET; TONS=many; old coins. I can’t see the “game” reference On Edit – an incorrect clue – see comments. TESTONS=sixpences=bobs(C) |
| 32 | AYRES – two meanings; old tunes; Pam Ayres the people’s poet (S) |
| Down | |
| 1 | BHARATI – BH(AR)ATI; (habit)* surrounds AR=Arab; Hindi for Republic of India (C) |
| 2 | OILED – (oldie)*; (S) |
| 3 | APIS – APIS(h); the ancient Egyptian bull-god (not in Chambers so far as I could see) |
| 4 | CASSIO – CASSI(n)O; cassino is a card game and remove “n”; Michael Cassio is in Othello |
| 5 | FREELOADER – (for+le(v)era(g)ed)*; sucker=parasite; trading=anagrind; yield=relinquish; nice clue |
| 6 | CHATTI – CHA(TT)I; CHAI=tea; an earthenware pot (see chatty in Chambers) |
| 7 | IMITATION – (l)IMITATION; l=lecturer (S) |
| 8 | OTTOMAN – O-T(own)-TOMAN; a toman was 10,000 dinars (C) |
| 9 | NAIRA – NA-IR-A; NA=not available; IR=Iran; Nigerian currency (S) |
| 12 | SCARCITIES – SCAR-CITIES; (S) |
| 13 | DON,CARLOS – (lad croons)*; (S) |
| 18 | AIDANCE – AI-DANCE;(S) |
| 19 | ASSARTS – AS-(rats)*-S; ASS=arse; forest clearings (C) |
| 21 | ORSINO – O+(irons)*; character in 12th Night (S) |
| 22 | TAHINA – (thai+a+n)*; an oily paste; difficult anagram and nice clue |
| 23 | GHENT – G(H)ENT; (S) |
| 25 | SKENE – S(KEN)E; SE=South East=London Area; a Highland dagger (skene-dhu) that is plunged into the haggis |
| 27 | ANDY – (h)ANDY; reference Andy Capp; (S) |
“There have been several threads on this clue. I emailed the setter, and here’s part of his reply:
The clue should have been:
Bobs about in games
My checker pointed out the error in original clue and I changed it but sent wrong file to ST.”
GRM
sixpences were tanners