I started working on this without access to Chambers, and was having a hard time of it – several question marks. I finished it waiting for a flight, loving my WordWeb version of Chambers on my new little computer. I think I’ve got all the wordplays sorted out.
Paul McKenna has given us another punny gift in the top row
Away we go…
| Across | |
|---|---|
| 1 | KIT,SCH: I didn’t know KIT as a pocket violin, it’s the third entry in Chambers |
| 6 | IN SYNC: IN(concerned) followed by SYN, C(orrespondent). |
| 12 | TAPACULO: anagram of AUTO,PLC and A |
| 13 | STRESSY: S(tore), TRESSY(having plenty of locks) |
| 14 | AS IF: FISA (French rowing federation) reversed |
| 15 | SEARCH PARTY: anagram of PRAYERS and CHAT |
| 16 | ERUCA: CURE(smoke) reversed, then A |
| 17 | A’S,LOPE |
| 20 | AL DENTE: DENT in ALE (instead of ALE in DENT) |
| 22 | KIPPAGE: kind of a double definition – it’s in Chambers for a state of anger, and KIPPING would be sleeping |
| 25 | NEATEN: NEA(r), TEN – I’ve not seen TEN used this way, but in Chambers it is “used indefinitely, a large number” |
| 27 | A-BOMB: MOB(prostitute) reversed in AB(airborne) |
| 28 | SLING THE BAT: anagram of HE’S BATTLING |
| 30 | BULB: BLUB reversed |
| 31 | NOVALIA: anagram of NO AVAIL |
| 33 | YODELS: YO(Here!) then SLED reversed |
| 34 | SHAPEN: SHARPEN missing R |
| Down | |
| 1 | KISSER: anagram of SKIER’S |
| 2 | INTERTIE: INTER(put six feet under) and a TIE is a trough for washing ore |
| 3 | TAR,A |
| 4 | CT SCAN: CT ‘S, CAN |
| 5 | HASHTAG: It’s a pity the clue didn’t have the words joined up together – HASH(weed),TAG(dog) |
| 7 | NANAS: SAN,AN all reversed- term I used a lot in Australia in the 70s |
| 8 | SCARLET BEAN: or SCAR LET BEAN |
| 9 |
YU-STONE: Y |
| 10 |
COFFEE: C(cloudy), OF, FE, |
| 11 | PERCEPTIBLE: PER(a), CEP(mushroom) then TABLE with 1 instead of A |
| 18 | PTOMAINE: anagram of POET with MAIN(cockfight) inside |
| 19 | SPALLED: SPED containing ALL |
| 21 | LENT,OUS |
| 22 | KNUBBY: BUNK reversed, BY(away) |
| 23 | JAHVEH: J(judge), AHV(ad hane vocem, at this word), EH |
| 24 | OBTAIN: a touch more latin – OB, then TIN(money, necessary) containing A(anno, year) |
| 26 | ENROL: reversal of LORNE sausage, apparently a square patty, which here is called breakfast sausage |
| 29 |
BLIP: B |
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