A nice crossword to start the New Year. That popular port of crossword setters makes another appearance – is it possible to know how many times it came up in 2015? My favourite clue, 3d, because, for some time, I couldn’t make it more than the sum of its parts, wondering what a dee-butt could possibly be. Thanks to Des.
Happy solving for 2016.
Across |
1 |
AGED – ancient; silver = AG (chemical symbol), English = E, penny no longer in circulation = D |
4 |
GOALLESS – cryptic definition |
8 |
MARBELLA – Spanish resort; anagram (ordered) of BAR MEAL outside large = L |
9 |
MILK – exploit; one = I, in Dutch airline = KLM, all backwards (recalled) |
10 |
EDIT – amend; hidden in (part of) uncorrectED ITem |
11 |
SIDESHOW – minor event; teams = SIDES, anagram (spoiled) of WHO |
12 |
ADVICE – counsel (noun form); lawyer repelled = DA backwards, wickedness = VICE |
14 |
NIMBLE – sprightly; doctor = MB, entering African river = NILE |
16 |
SPLENDID – smashing; anagram (upset) of SPINDLE, then daughter = D |
18 |
SKYE – Scottish island; sort of blue = SKY, plane’s last = E |
19 |
QUIT – leave; absolutely, without finishing = QUIT(E) |
20 |
OVERLOAD – too big a supply; deliveries = OVER, boy = LAD, receiving none = O |
22 |
NO MATTER – double definition, one cryptic |
23 |
TREE – ash, maybe; last letters of griT, oR, whitE, cigarettE |
Down |
2 |
GRANDAD – old relative; superb = GRAND, publicity = AD |
3 |
DEBUT – beginning; of Gallic = DE, objection = BUT |
4 |
GAL – young lady; old convict upset = LAG backwards |
5 |
ABANDONED – deserted; a group of players = A BAND, one = ONE, haD finally = D |
6 |
LUMP SUM – a lot of money to pay; I hesitate to say = UM, after some sugar = LUMPS |
7 |
SALVO – volley; hidden (some) in colosSAL VOlley. I believe that this is what’s termed an &lit clue, not often seen in the Quick |
11 |
SPEEDBOAT – racing craft; anagram (manoeuvring) of BE SO ADEPT |
13 |
INERTIA – reluctance to move; anagram (bats) of ARE IN IT |
15 |
LAY BARE – reveal; song = LAY (a favourite terminology in crosswordland), homophone (broadcast) of endure = BEAR |
17 |
PLUTO – double definition, one cryptic (animated as in cartoon) |
18 |
SPLIT – double definition |
21 |
EAR – cryptic definition |
Edited at 2016-01-01 09:11 am (UTC)
I finished it quite quickly but was held up at the end by 12a having confidently written in Grandpa for 2d; a sloppy error (PA =sort of advertising?).ADVICE for 12a seemed obvious after a long while searching for other solutions. I too took quite a time to get 19a. David
I would like to add my thanks to The Times, and the setters and bloggers for helping me get into cryptics. I started in May with two or three answers per day, now I finish more often than not although I still have the odd disaster.
One more thing, please don’t make me wait until Monday for the next one!
Thanks again,
Brian
Edited at 2016-01-01 12:42 pm (UTC)
Brian
Edited at 2016-01-01 05:06 pm (UTC)