There were quite a few of the sorts of clues that are often regarded as ‘easier’ in this gentle Monday morning stroll. I counted five double definitions and six clues that were either full anagrams or which used an anagram as a partial device. There were also two hidden words (one reversed). So many thanks to Mara for easing us gently into the week. I didn’t quite manage everything sequentially but wasn’t far off. Did you all have a similar experience?
FOI was 1A and LOI 21D. COD I think was 5D for its original (to me at any rate) wordplay.
Definitions are underlined and everything else is explained just as I see it as simply as I can.
| Across | |
| 1 | Move quickly back for jazz? (4) |
| TRAD – DART (move quickly) ‘back’ gives TRAD. This is a bit of a chestnut as I am sure I have seen this exact clue several times before and I am by no means a heavy crossword addict. | |
| 4 | Boxer who sat up, befuddled (8) |
| SOUTHPAW – straight anagram (‘befuddled’) of WHO SAT UP. | |
| 8 | Upper-class crystal (3-5) |
| CUT-GLASS – double definition, the first as an adjective normally applied to a ‘posh’ English accent. | |
| 9 | Rook in front of tree is not considered (4) |
| RASH – R (Rook – from Chess) + ASH (tree). | |
| 10 | Sharp-tasting dessert (4) |
| TART – double definition. | |
| 11 | Fascinating job for metalworkers! (8) |
| RIVETING – another double definition. | |
| 12 | A type of bean in another country (6) |
| ABROAD – A + BROAD (type of bean). | |
| 14 | Cheerful: shame supercilious (6) |
| UPPITY – UP (cheerful) + PITY (shame). | |
| 16 | Anchor adrift in my kingdom (8) |
| MONARCHY – ONARCH (anagram (‘adrift’) of ANCHOR) ‘in’ MY. | |
| 18 | Munch chop after chop, initially (4) |
| CHEW – C (Chop ‘initially’) + HEW (chop). | |
| 19 | One swamp recalled in desert (4) |
| GOBI – I BOG (one swamp) ‘recalled’. | |
| 20 | Nine acts rewritten, for example (8) |
| INSTANCE – straight anagram (‘rewritten’) of NINE ACTS. | |
| 22 | Different date I require shortly — one being held (8) |
| DETAINEE – DETAI (anagram (‘different’) of DATE I) + NEE |
|
| 23 | Joint seen kicking, partially pulled back (4) |
| KNEE – reversed hidden word: sEEN Kicking ‘partially pulled back’. | |
| Down | |
| 2 | Edible stalks rot (7) |
| RHUBARB – double definition. | |
| 3 | A number like it (5) |
| DIGIT – DIG IT (like it). Groovy man. | |
| 4 | Ultimately, this deep sea is a source of fresh water (3) |
| SPA – thiS deeP seA ‘ultimately’. | |
| 5 | Horrible sweet, is it? (9) |
| UNSAVOURY – if things can be SWEET or SAVOURY, then if something is UNSAVOURY it could well be SWEET in a cryptic way. | |
| 6 | Tough, best car (7) |
| HARDTOP – HARD (tough) + TOP (best). | |
| 7 | Parish priest’s heading off — it’s a crime (5) |
| ARSON – |
|
| 11 | Lessening of dose perhaps cured it, on receiving treatment (9) |
| REDUCTION – straight anagram (‘on receiving treatment’) of CURED IT ON. | |
| 13 | Instrument installed in auto, car in Aberystwyth (7) |
| OCARINA – hidden word: ‘installed in’ autO CAR IN Aberystwyth. | |
| 15 | Sticky substance in bottom of pot on variety of cereal (7) |
| TREACLE – T (bottom of poT) ‘on’ (i.e. ‘above’ in this down clue) REACLE (anagram (‘variety’) of CEREAL). | |
| 17 | Australian figure in fresh air (5) |
| OZONE – OZ (Australian) + ONE (figure). | |
| 18 | Expert attempt (5) |
| CRACK – double definition. As in ‘the CRACK para regiment had a CRACK at eliminating the international terrorist leader’. | |
| 21 | Recognise character on the radio? (3) |
| SEE – C is a character and when you pronounce it (as on the radio) it sounds like SEE. | |
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