Nice steady solve of a middle of the road puzzle with memories of Buddy Holly hidden away in the clues
|
Across |
|
|---|---|
| 1 | ARAROBA – region=AREA then change E=European to A-ROB; Goa powder; |
| 7 | SOOP – POOS reversed; sweep in Sauchiehall Street; |
| 10 | PROBATIVE – PROBAT(I-V)E; |
| 11 | OSSI – IS-SO reversed; |
| 13 | LIEBIG – LIE-BIG; beef extract named after von Leibig; |
| 14 | LATHEN – LA-THEN; |
| 16 | OBIA – O(BI(t))A; on account=O/A; young woman = BI(t); old witchcraft; |
| 18 | TANNOY – T(ired)-ANNOY; |
| 19 | GANGLIONS – GANG-LIONS; |
| 21 | STOMACHIC – STO(MA-CH)IC; |
| 24 | BENGAL – BEN-GAL; |
| 25 | WETA – sounds like “wetter”; fearsome grasshopper; |
| 27 | NEFAST – N(SAFE reversed)T; |
| 29 | HABOOB – BOO-BAH reversed (recurring); sand storm; |
| 30 | ESNE – (seen)*; |
| 31 | TROUTLING – T(roon)-ROUT(L)ING; loch=L; |
| 32 | SKAT – TAK(E)S reversed and remove E=shred of E(vidence); |
| 33 | EDGINGS – ED-G(O)INGS; |
|
Down |
|
| 1 | APOLOGY – three meanings 1=regrets 2=poor (specimen) 3=defence; |
| 2 | RUSA – R-USA; Jonathan=American; large deer; |
| 3 | ABSTINENT – ABS(TIN)ENT; |
| 4 | ORWELL – OR-WELL; |
| 5 | ABLUTOMANE – (a m alone tub)*; what do David Beckham and Donald Trump allegedly have in common? |
| 6 | CAIMAN – C(AIM)AN; |
| 7 | STEN – NETS reversed; |
| 8 | OVIPOSIT – (too is)* surrounds VIP; |
| 9 | PEGGY – three meanings 1=washerwoman’s dolly 2=bird (warbler) 3=PEGGY Sue (song); |
| 12 | INVIOLABLE – IN-VIOL-ABLE; |
| 15 | ENCHEASON – (t)ENCH-(r)EASON; |
| 17 | BARESARK – BARES-ARK; |
| 20 | ACATERS – AC(rate)*S; |
| 22 | TAROTS – TAR(O)TS; |
| 23 | AGEING – (s)AGE-(k)ING; |
| 24 | BAHTS – sounds like “Barts” famous teaching hospital in Smithfields close to some superb pubs; |
| 26 | LOUT – defeat=rout then change “r” to “l”; |
| 28 | SNUG – GUNS reversed; |
The whole idea is to derive an answer from the cryptic and then verify your answer in Chambers. As you become more experienced you make less use of the dictionary so you will see George and I say things like “solved without much use of C”. I started with Ximenes circa 1962 and still think he was the best setter of these types of clue.
It’s hard for me to judge how difficult they are – they’re different and very satisfying to solve. Anyway, if you do need help don’t hesitate to ask.
I’ve been doing the Listener and the Inquisitor for 3 weeks now though, and actually sending them off for the first time which acts as a reasonable incentive to not give up when the going gets tough. I want at least one shiny new dictionary before I allow myself to give up on this mission!