After erring on the difficult side in week 1, I think the quick cryptic setters have found just the right level and I thought this puzzle was just right. Hopefully nothing obscure for solvers, although I couldn’t fully parse 6 down (Hat-tip to Ulaca). I still haven’t persuaded the missus to have a go, which is her loss. Sorry for the delay in blogging- I had a plumber round this morning, which is always a worrying time given the state of our plumbing. Thankfully passed without incident. Here goes:
Across |
1 |
BOOKCASE – rearrange (versatile) cook to give ‘OOKC’ inside ‘BASE’ (military centre) gives ‘BOOKCASE’. Def= item of furniture. Not sure I’d consider this an item of furniture, but my bookworm wife definitely would |
5 |
STUN – enthusiasts are ‘NUTS’ which when reversed (returned) gives ‘STUN. Def = shock |
9 |
MINIM – ‘M’ is the first letter of motive (originally) at the back of (behind) ‘MINI’ (very short) gives ‘MINIM’. Minim is a half note, which can be divided into crotchets, quavers, semiquavers, demisemiquavers and hemidemisemiquavers. I thought my music lessons at school were a thorough waste, but little did I know. I wish there had also been lessons on obscure composers, which would have come in very handy as they are a staple for the cryptic. Def = note. |
10 |
INCENSE – a double definition; ‘INCENSE can mean 1)smoke used in church masses, and 2) to cause great anger |
11 |
IRE – ‘IRE is ‘EIRE’ with the first E chopped off (leader leaves Ireland). Setters will often clue longer words using shorter words like IRE, so when you see incense,anger or other synonyms think IRE or RAGE. Def = anger shown. |
12 |
OFF COURSE – ‘OF COURSE’ means ‘no doubt’ which goes ‘around’ an ‘F’ (female) to give ‘OFF COURSE. Def = not going in the right direction. |
13 |
ORANGE – ‘O’ is round (can also be clued as circle, love) combined with ‘RANGE’ (variety) to give one of the 7-10 portions of fruit and veg we’re now being advised to eat (until the next medical study decides otherwise). Def = fruit |
15 |
FLAMBE – a hidden answer indicated by ‘some’ inside ‘beeF, LAMB, Etc. A cooking procedure in which alcohol is added to the pan to create flames, a show-off way of cooking meat which I thought was only used for desserts. |
17 |
HARMONICA – ‘HAR’ is harp without the p for the ‘incomplete instrument’, followed by a girl (‘MONICA’) to ‘provide another’ (instrument). Pet name of Rachel Aniston in Friends |
19 |
BYE – ‘reportedly’ indicates a homophone for purchase (buy). ‘BYE’ is an extra (extras are runs not scored by the batsmen in cricket) that wicketkeepers hate conceding. Def = extra |
20 |
REVENUE – ‘RUE’ is the Parisian street, with ‘EVEN’ (‘flat’) inside it to give ‘REVENUE’ (income). Def = income |
21 |
TRIPE – ‘T’ is the centre of canTeen, followed by ‘RIPE’ (ready to eat) to give a food (in a manner of speaking). I’m not one for offal. Def = food |
22 |
HOLD – ‘H’ is husband, followed by ‘OLD’ (advanced in years) to give HOLD. A nice surface. Def = support |
23 |
ALL RIGHT – nothing left is ‘ALL RIGHT’ (geddit). A neat clue. Def=safe |
Down |
1 |
BAMBINO – ‘BA’ (bachelor of arts) is the graduate (scientists never get a look-in in crosswordland) followed by ‘MB’ (doctor) and ‘IN’ (at home) and ‘O’ love to give the sweet Italian word for infant. Nice misdirection with the use of love child by the setter. Def = child |
2 |
OUNCE – ‘U’ is the chemical symbol for uranium, inside (brought in) ‘ONCE’ (long ago). Def = small amount. Setters often use ounce as a synonym for cat, ounce also being a snow leopard (a large feline mammal) |
3 |
COMMON GROUND – COMMON is familiar followed by GROUND (stadium). Def = shared views |
4 |
STIFF – ‘S’ is son, followed by ‘TIFF’ (spat). Def = difficult. |
6 |
TANTRUM -‘T’ is time after ‘time, an’ to give ‘TANT’ followed by ‘RUM’ (odd) to give the bane of every parent. Hat tip to Ulaca- I couldnt parse this, being thrown by the comma after ‘time after time’. Nice clueing. Def = a childish fit of rage |
7 |
NIECE – ‘NICE’ (kind) keeping ‘E’ (energy) inside it. The containment indicator is ‘conserve. Def= relative |
8 |
SCHOOLMASTER – anagram of ‘TOO CHARMLESS’. Possibly is the anagrind. Def = teacher |
14 |
ARRIVAL – ‘A RIVAL’ (a challenger) crossing ‘R’ (river) to give ‘ARRIVAL’. Def = newcomer |
16 |
EVEREST – ‘sEVEREST’ is most serious, with the first letter removed (heading off) to give ‘EVEREST’. Def = high peak (or double glazing firm that has thankfully stopped its advertising) |
17 |
HARSH – Last of cheddar is ‘R’ inside (into) ‘HASH’ (to mince). Def = grating |
18 |
IDEAL – ‘IDEA’ (plan) over ‘L’ (lake). Def = perfect |
19 |
BRING – ‘B’ is bishop (chess notation?) following by ‘RING’ (token of his authority). Rings are worn by catholic and anglican bishops. Def = fetch |
Much quicker than normal for me. Don’t know why, but they all just seemed to fly in. Most gratifying after yesterday.
I seem to do well when the first letters of each solution mostly check with the others. Having say the second letter isn’t as helpful for me.
I’m also noticing that the QC seems to have few clues requiring more than two bits of construction in the wordplay e.g. BAMBINO, TANTRUM. Main puzzle normally contains more and the wordplay is more complex.
Good puzzle with last one in HARSH and favourite ALL RIGHT.
Quite straightforward, liked ALL RIGHT and HARMONICA.
Edited at 2014-04-02 12:23 pm (UTC)
It’s so simple it’s confusing! T (‘time’) after T+ AN (‘time an’) + RUM
Edited at 2014-04-02 11:55 am (UTC)
Agreed that this was a fine puzzle.
Edited at 2014-04-02 11:58 am (UTC)
I like the hints that the blog gives that could help solvers with future puzzles. Nice job Allan.
A steady solve for me, in which those I had skipped fell into place on second thoughts (except waiting for the H before getting HARMONICA). I liked BOOKCASE for the surface reading of the clue, but I groaned when I saw ALL RIGHT (sorry Nick!), having spent several minutes juggling Os and Ls in my head.
Thank you again and please keep up the good work.
Beautifully clear blog, Allan, many thanks 🙂
Edited at 2014-04-02 11:26 pm (UTC)