The third relatively easy one on the trot. With “ologist” obvious in the anagrist at 1A and particularly 2D and 3D being give-aways 1A put up no resistance and in this grid that means a fast start. When 1D starting B suggested “black” for “smut” the whole puzzle proved to be very straightforward.
| Across | |
|---|---|
| 1 | BALNEOLOGIST – (belgian tools)*; expert found in Bath perhaps; |
| 10 | LIMINA – LIM(IN)A; |
| 12 | ROAR – R(ace)-OAR; |
| 13 | HAVEOUR – HAVE(OU)R; OU=Oxford University; HAVER=blather in Banff; old (=lost) word for possession; |
| 14 | CUNEATE – CU(NEAT)E; Q=CUE; wedge shaped as applied to Assyrian letters; |
| 15 | ASPEN – A-S-PEN; reference submarine PEN; the trembling poplar; |
| 16 | KAID – K(A)ID; a chief; |
| 18 | KISSES – K-(m)ISSES; |
| 20 | COMPOUND – COM-POUND; comedy=COM; as distinct from simple interest; |
| 23 | STOPPAGE – ST(OPP)AGE; |
| 25 | BALLOW – B-ALLOW; old word for bat; |
| 26 | ANTI – fizz=Asti (Spumanti) then change “s” to “n”; not just her – I think it’s awful stuff too; |
| 27 | BRASS – BRAS-S; slang for a prostitute; |
| 29 | IMAGIST – I-MA-GIST; in=I; |
| 31 | FINICKY – FIN-ICKY; US paper money=FIN; |
| 32 | GAPE – GA(P)E; go=GAE in Glasgow; |
| 33 | PAELLA – PAE(LL)A(n); triumphal song=paean; |
| 34 | EXPRESS,TRAIN – (extra snipers)*; Mallard perhaps; |
| Down | |
| 1 | BLACK,CABBAGE – BLACK-CABBAGE; smut=BLACK; drone=CABBAGE; Tuscan kale; |
| 2 | AINU – AI-N-U; fish=AI; a tall Japanese; |
| 3 | NIXED – (index)*; fog is anagrind; |
| 4 | ENHALO – ONE reversed surrounds HAL; |
| 5 | LOVEKNOT – VOL reversed-(token)*; |
| 6 | OLEA – O-LEA; |
| 7 | GROSS,UP – GRO(SS)UP; saint=S; |
| 8 | SAREES – S(AR)EE-S; |
| 9 | TRANSLEITHAN – (lantern has it)*; Hungarian; |
| 11 | MINIMAL – (milan)* surrounds IM=Instant Messaging; |
| 17 | OUTWICKS – OUT-WICKS; creeks=WICKS; trick in curling (strange custom north of the border); |
| 19 | STANIEL – STAN-IE-L(esser); reference Stan Laurel; kestrel; |
| 21 | PILSNER – PIL(SN)ER; tin=SN; lager from Pilsen – for me nearly as undrinkable as Asti; |
| 22 | CARFAX – CAR-FAX; town centre crossroads; |
| 24 | PLAY,AT – PLAYA-T; |
| 26 | AGGER – (d)AGGER; |
| 28 | SIZE – (EZ-IS all reversed); |
| 30 | SOLI – hidden reversed (lacihpo)SOLI(hp); |
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