I struggled to get going on this one, perhaps a little in awe of the setter as I don’t often have the opportunity blog one of Izetti’s offerings, but having finished eventually after 14 minutes I wasn’t sure that there was any real difficulty here apart perhaps from the answer at 6dn which may not be familiar to some. The clue construction is precise and efficient as one would expect from a master but there’s nothing at all complex, consisting for the greater part of anagrams and double definitions.
Definitions are in bold italics, deletions in curly brackets and indicators in square ones
Across |
|
---|---|
1 | Governor cried ‘Rot!’ when upset (8) |
DIRECTOR – Anagram [upset] of CRIED ROT | |
5 | Boss wants some in vexatious TU dismissed (4) |
STUD – Hidden in {vexatiou}s TU d{ismissed}. One of those definitions one sees more often in Crosswordland than outside it. | |
8 | Pakistani maybe and a second man from Scotland? (5) |
ASIAN – A, S (second), IAN (man from Scotland) | |
9 | Aunt so troubled about cat initially getting birds (7) |
TOUCANS – Anagram [troubled] of AUNT SO C{at} [initially] | |
11 | In predicting, ignore facts foolishly (11) |
FORECASTING – Anagram [foolishly] of IGNORE FACTS | |
13 | Proclaim this female a lady regularly (6) |
HERALD – HER (this female), A, L{a}D{y} [regularly] | |
14 | Sullen little Maureen rebelled (6) |
MOROSE – MO (little Maureen), ROSE (rebelled) | |
16 | New York – no small temptation for Adam? (3,3,5) |
THE BIG APPLE – Two defintions, one straight one cryptic | |
18 | Old archdeacon comes in to be repaid (7) |
AVENGED – VEN (archdeacon) inside AGED (old) | |
19 | Any number may tuck into cheese that’s salty (5) |
BRINE – N (any number), inside BRIE (cheese) | |
20 | Wee drinks for little kiddies (4) |
TOTS – Two meanings | |
21 | Free to be given to a new tenant? (8) |
RELEASED – Two meanings | |
Down |
|
1 | Raffle that sees no one winning (4) |
DRAW – A definition with a cryptic hint relating to a second | |
2 | Strengthening for building material is under control (13) |
REINFORCEMENT – REIN (control), FOR, CEMENT (building material) | |
3 | Governing Conservative being nasty on the internet (11) |
CONTROLLING – CON (Conservative), TROLLING (being nasty on the internet) | |
4 | Devices in pubs for scientific study (6) |
OPTICS – Two meanings | |
6 | In certain plays I screamed – I got apoplectic (13) |
TRAGICOMEDIES – Anagram [apoplectic] of I SCREAMED I GOT. Not a word in everyone’s vocabulary I suspect. | |
7 | Intended journalist should turn up, endorsed (8) |
DESIGNED – ED (journalist) reversed [should turn up], SIGNED (endorsed) | |
10 | Notable pups running, bound to keep going for ever (11) |
UNSTOPPABLE – Anagram [running] of NOTABLE PUPS | |
12 | Insect given a hit went berserk (5,3) |
WHITE ANT – Anagram [berserk] of A HIT WENT | |
15 | Manage to convey composer’s sound (6) |
HANDLE – Sounds like “Handel” (composer) | |
17 | Given payment and something to eat (4) |
FEED – Two meanings, the first as in “paid a fee”, the second a noun as in “animal feed” |
Brian
Speaking of “feed” Jack, I see that you and Mohn sometimes post the feed for these puzzles in case of access problems. How is that done and where is it to be found?
Regards
J
Apparently an “optic” is the measuring device with a window on those upside down spirit bottles that you get in pubs, in case anyone else was wondering.
You sent me a private message via LJ today requesting the link to today’s Quickie but your LJ privacy options are set to prevent a reply being sent.
Anyway, here’s the link you wanted: http://feeds.thetimes.co.uk/puzzles/crossword/20160112/12913/
I solved the long anagrams pretty quickly and they were well signposted.The rest followed fairly easily. Optics seemed obvious but I only knew the pub meaning.I too paused at 18a and 15d. I could see Avenged fitted but it took a minute or two to parse; then Handle came quickly.I liked 8a which stumped me for a while.
David