One of the more challenging Mephistos I can recall – there’s a lot that is way outside of my ken, but may be more familiar to more experienced solvers. Not a lot of giveaways, though everything seems to work out.
I’m typing this up during the fourth day of Australia vs Sri Lanka, so I’m pretty distracted. I’m also playing armchair selector/captain/wrist-spinner wondering why Bird doesn’t just bowl a bouncer for the last ball of the over to the guy who has hit you for two fours this over while the number 11 is waiting at the other end. The game could well be over (or close to) by the time I finish this write-up.
Update: finished this during the lunch break. Keeping fingers crossed for an Australian victory!
Away we go…
Across | |
---|---|
1 | CHIACK: CHICK about A – although it’s given in Chambers as Aussie slang for “tease” I don’t think I’ve ever heard it |
5 | CUSSER: CUSSED(obstinate) missing the D at the end, R |
9 | HALLALOO: A in ALL,LOO after H(Henry, the unit, not the Fielding) |
11 | POLEMARCHS: MARCH in POLES |
12 | S,PUD |
14 | LAIK: LAIN(remained) with K replacing N |
18 | SHERD: SHED(got rid of) containing R(end of September) |
19 | SLOAN: SLOANE without the E at the end |
20 | VACATES: CATE(Blanchett) in VAS(vessel) |
22 | COLLIE,D |
23 | FL,ASK(newt) |
24 | HOOSH: HO is to stop, then NOSH without the N |
27 | GLIA: ANGLIA (ITV company) without A,N |
28 | TONK: KNOT reversed – sadly what Chandimal appears to be doing to the Australian attack right now |
30 | MATE,LASSES(misses) |
32 | YTTERBIA: anagram of (BATTERY,1) |
33 | AZIONE: A,ZIP(vigour) with ONE for P |
34 | HYETAL: reversal of LATE and H |
Down | |
1 | CHAS: double def |
2 | HAY: SASHAY without SAS |
3 | ALODIAL: reversal of LAID,A containing LO |
4 | CALLA: CALL(name) before A(first part of Allen). Reference to a forgetabble singer with a brilliant actor/comedian father |
5 | COMITADJI: COMITY(civility) shortened then ADJ,1 |
6 | SYRAH: Prince HARRY’S reversed without an R – in Australia this is Shiraz |
7 | SOCEITAL: reversal of LATE(towards the end),1,COS(function) |
8 | RUSEDSKI: USED in (RISK)* – Greg Rusedski – wow there is a blast from the past, Canadian-born Tennis player who is now on Twitter |
10 | WHORESON: Great term you can hear in the US occsaionally – Dr. WHO then RE(about),SON(issue) |
13 | PA,LOOK(air),AS(so far): continuing with American put-downs |
15 | ALVEOLATE: (LEAVE,A,LOT)* |
16 | ISCHEMIA: ME reversed in ISCHIA, an island I’ve not heard of, though TripAdvisor warns me there’s only one bar there |
17 | HO,LO,STEI(N): I also didn’t know of Rick Stein, but apparently he makes a mean fish & chips |
21 | A LATERE: A(answer) in ALTER(other – think ALTER EGO),E(end of programmE) |
25 | SEE TO: O, TEES(starters, at least for a golf course) reversed |
26 | JASEY: J, then E in (SAY)* |
29 | KCAL: LACK reversed and an abbreviation for kilocalorie |
31 | PIA: Edith PIAF missing the end |
I had no idea who Lily Allen was – which probably helped nor Mr Stein, for which I’m grateful
I did know Edith Piaf and we should perhaps explain for younger solvers that the little sparrow’s iconic song was Je ne regrette rien
This week’s by contrast was easier than some daily puzzles.