Blog done in a hurry as off on trip across Europe so apologies for any errors.
Sorry will not be able to field any queries / comments today whilst en route, but I’m sure the mainstays of this site will.
Definitions underlined: DD = double definition: anagrams indicated by *(–): omitted letters indicated by {_}
Across | |
1 | Support hawk, we hear — then issue retraction (4-5) |
BACK-PEDAL – BACK (support) + PEDAL (sounds like “peddle” – hawk, we hear) | |
6 | Country featuring in main diagram (5) |
INDIA – Hidden in (featuring in) maIN DIAgram | |
8 | Reward for not standing still? (9) |
PROMOTION – PRO (for) MOTION (not standing still). Lovely cryptic definition. | |
9 | Call on small girl to pose (5) |
VISIT – VI (small girl – short form of Victoria, Virginia, take your pick) + SIT (to pose) | |
10 | Noticing nothing strange in disguise (9) |
INCOGNITO – *(NOTICING + O (nothing)) with “strange” as the anagram indicator | |
12 | Streetcar crossing close to you: a shock (6) |
TRAUMA – TRAM (streetcar) with U included (crossing close to yoU) + A | |
13 | Braved winds courageously, for example (6) |
ADVERB – *(BRAVED) with “winds” signalling the anagram | |
16 | Relative in awful rage with Barb (5-4) |
GREAT-AUNT – *(RAGE) – with “awful” as the anagram indicator – with TAUNT (barb) | |
18 | Correct edition is about people (5) |
EMEND – ED (abbrev. edition) goes around (about) MEN (people) | |
19 | Isaac’s son hugged by short bird in book (9) |
THESAURUS – ESAU (Isaac’s son) included in THRUS{H} (short bird) | |
21 | One being taught French you support on course (5) |
TUTEE – TU (French ‘you’) + TEE (support on course – i.e. what golfers rest their balls on). Never heard a tutor refer to their “tutees”, but there you go – this is crosswordland… makes sense | |
22 | Heartless sports official, with endless zest, imposes suspensions again? (9) |
REFREEZES – REF{E}REE (heartless sports official) + ZE{st} (endless zest). Definition requires us to think cryogenics |
Down | |
1 | Initiation ceremony unsettled MPs a bit (7) |
BAPTISM – *(MPS A BIT) with “unsettled” signposting the anagram | |
2 | Vulgar option (6) |
CHOICE – DD. The first definition had me puzzled for a while until I thought of “choice language”. At, least, I think that’s how it works. | |
3 | In bad odour, leader finally makes point (5) |
PRONG – R (leadeR finally) in PONG (bad odour) | |
4 | One following lawyer is a Welshman? (3) |
DAI – I (one) ‘following’ DA (lawyer – District Attorney) | |
5 | Bond girl done for vandalising Thames landmark (6,6) |
LONDON BRIDGE – *(BOND GIRL DONE) with “for vandalising” signalling the anagram. Super anagram. | |
6 | Explorer, perhaps, wearing singlet — one meeting reptile (12) |
INVESTIGATOR – In VEST (wearing singlet) + I (one) + GATOR (reptile) | |
7 | Move mountains: I’d upset church (8) |
DISPLACE – ALPS ID reversed (mountains I’d upset) + CE (church) | |
11 | Trendy old flame: saucy — and clumsy (8) |
INEXPERT – IN (trendy) + EX (old flame) + PERT (saucy) | |
14 | Is unable to stand outside for 7 exams (7) |
DETESTS – Outside letters of 7 down DisplacE + TESTS (exams) ( | |
15 | Mineral: at least four pints spoken of? (6) |
QUARTZ – Sounds like “quarts” – ‘at least four pints’ – being at least two quarts (each quart being two pints) | |
17 | Suspicion to follow (5) |
TRACE – DD | |
20 | Mischievous child ’s identity, the first to be concealed (3) |
ELF – {S}ELF |
8. carefully chosen, appropriate, e.g.a few choice words will do the trick
and
9. vulgar or rude e.g. choice language
I think 9. was probably originally intended as a sarcastic or humorous version of 8.
Didn’t really like 14d detests.
COD London Bridge
Just to clear up a point raised yesterday about including parsing in my QC solving times. I don’t necessarily, as someone suggested, hold back on writing in an answer until I’ve understood a clue fully. I might well choose to biff it, but I’ll put a query in the margin and return to parse it later in the solve, or at the end before finally stopping the clock. Obviously I solve on paper, as solving on-line whilst using the automatic timer doesn’t give room for manouevre.
Edited at 2017-07-26 05:14 am (UTC)
I thought this was pretty tough for a QC and took more than 20 minutes to solve for the second day running.
I held myself up by putting in Back Track for 1a and then trying to find a Bond girl starting with K. Anyway I soon realised I had made a mistake.
There were lots of good clues. COD to 13a. Also I liked 2d -clever and original. Could not parse 14d -thanks Nick.
I had the RHS done quickly but had to work through the LHS. Finished with 19a in 18 minutes. David
LOI 14dn DETESTS
COD 5dn LONDON BRIDGE
WOD 10ac INCOGNITO
Good challenge
PlayUpPompey
Wordplay: Streetcar crossing close to you: a
Definition: shock (6)
Definition shock = TRAUMA
wordplay
TRAM (streetcar)
has inside (crossing) U (close to you = last letter of you = U)
+ A
Nor do I link suspicion with trace…
Crispian