Saturday Times 25376 (19th Jan)

Author   linxitPosted on Categories Weekend Cryptic
Solving time 13:41, so on the easy side for a Saturday. Some good clues though, my favourites being 1dn and 23ac, and for once a cryptic definition also deserves a mention at 25ac.

Across
1 CRABWISE – CRAB (sour apple) + WISE (sage).
5 MOHAIR – hidden reversed in “Austria, homespun”.
10 MACHINE-READABLE – CHIN (part of jaw) + ERE (before) + A DAB (an expert), all inside MALE (chap).
11 LURCHER – CH(urch) inside LURE (temptation) + R(esistance).
12 IMPERIL – IMPEL (drive) around R(oyal) I(nstitution).
13 LIBRETTO – LIB(eral) + OTTER (subject of Ring of Bright Water) reversed.
15 SUDAN – (and US)*
18 RUN-UP – RUNG UP (phoned), without the G.
20 BUTTRESS – BUT (simply) + TRESS (lock).
23 COMMONS – COME-ONS (beguiling invitations), with the middle letter replaced by M(aiden).
25 MASCARA – cryptic definition, nothing to do with cricket!
26 ON THE WRONG TRACK – double definition, the second descriptive.
27 SURREY – SURE (doubtless) around R(epublican) + Y (unknown).
28 REDOLENT – DOLE (state benefit) inside RENT (housing expense).

Down
1 COMPLY – COMPLEXITY (difficult condition) minus EXIT.
2 ACCORDION – ACCORD (agreement) + ON (about), around I (one).
3 WHITHER – H(ospital) inside WITHER (decline).
4 SWEAR – S(ons) + WEAR (are covered by).
6 OEDIPUS – OPUS (work) around E(nglish) D.I. (detective).
7 AMBER – (bream)*
8 RIESLING – RILING (bothering) around (b)ES(t).
9 HELIPORT – HE (man) + LIP (edge of mouth) + OR + T(ongue).
14 TO BE SURE – (beer’s out)*
16 DISPARAGE – DIE (fail) around SPA (resort) + RAG (flag).
17 GRACIOUS – (a corgi)* + US (oneself, in the royal first person singular).
19 PROTEGE – ROTE (learning by repetition) + G(ood), all inside PE (games).
21 RISOTTO – R (king) IS OTTO (has same name as Bismarck).
22 PACKET – PACE (to measure by foot) + T(ons), around K(ilometres).
24 MOTOR – T(ime) inside MOOR (dock).
25 MINCE – INC(orporated) inside ME (third note, doh-re-me etc).

7 comments on “Saturday Times 25376 (19th Jan)”

  1. A thoroughly enjoyable solve that took me 42 minutes. 10ac and 1dn were my last in with much delay caused earlier at 10 where I was convinced that ‘mandible’ was the jaw element of the clue.

    I too had 23ac marked out for special mention.

    My only query was at 17dn where I understand ‘we’ as the Royal first person singular but can’t recall ever hearing ‘us’ used as the Royal third person singular. I suppose it doesn’t have to be for crossword purposes but it did give me pause for thought.

  2. Sorry to be thick – penny hasn’t dropped yet – what has ‘batting’ to do with ‘mascara’.
    And why is a ‘bomb’ a ‘packet’
    Geoffrey (must get myself an Icon).
    1. One bats ones eyelids, presumably all the better for a little mascara.
      You can make a bomb or earn a packet, etc..
  3. I enjoyed this one too. I liked a number of specific clues, such as 10ac, 25ac, 21dn etc.
    I have occasionally heard “Us” used, as well as We, as in “Have him brought before Us immediately,” or “This displeases Us,” etc. But I don’t move in those circles very often..
  4. Can’t get the “galleon” at 24d – although the answer was obvious with checkers. Presumably there is something called a “motor galleon” which I’ve never heard of. Loved the MASCARA clue. Spent ages trying to find an alternative for CRABBISH as 1a. I though “sour” could be the definition. I got terminally stuck on this puzzle after 20 minutes with the NW still a blank. Had to go to aids for 1a before everything fell into place. 41 minutes. Ann
    1. I think the point is just that a galleon wouldn’t need a motor, as it has sails. I suppose any sort of sailing ship would have worked in the clue.

Comments are closed.