Solving time was 10:00 to the second!
Got back later than expected, but here it is, just before midnight! Enjoyable puzzle with some interesting points, but on the easy side nevertheless.
| Across | |
| 1 | Mr Right? Chancer and pig in Mr Wrong! (6,8) |
| PRINCE CHARMING – (Chancer, pig in Mr)*. | |
| 9 | Joyful band connected to woofer, by the sound of it (4-1-4) |
| COCK-A-HOOP – HOOP (band) next to something that sounds like COCKER (i.e. Spaniel, a woofer). The enumeration gives it away, so there’s no need for precision here! | |
| 10 | Short winter seemingly draws in (5) |
| TERSE – hidden in “winter seemingly”. | |
| 11 | Omani capital, a relative haven (5) |
| OASIS – O(mani) + A + SIS (relative). | |
| 12 | Cold gas, natural (9) |
| HEARTLESS – HE (Helium, gas) + ARTLESS (natural). | |
| 13 | Superior unqualified to cover leave, on reflection (8) |
| ARROGANT – ARRANT (unqualified) around GO (leave) reversed. | |
| 15 | Item for colouring a source of light in blue (6) |
| CRAYON – RAY (a sort of light) inside CON (blue). | |
| 17 | Engine component to buy, with request for installation (6) |
| GASKET – GET (buy) around ASK (request). | |
| 19 | One jerk entering the game as a parliamentarian? (8) |
| POLITICO – I (one) + TIC (jerk) inside POLO (game). | |
| 22 | Grouse alongside pan, meat to cook (5,4) |
| ROAST BEEF – BEEF (grouse) next to ROAST (pan, i.e. strongly criticise). I’d quibble with the definition here – surely roast beef is meat that’s been cooked! | |
| 23 | ‘Swell’ certainly describes ‘good’ (5) |
| SURGE – SURE (certainly) around G(ood). I love this clue – it’s like an anti-&lit, where the surface defines a different meaning of the same answer! | |
| 24 | Accumulated facts about current in European river (5) |
| LOIRE – LORE (accumulated facts) around I (current). | |
| 25 | Consumed by anxiety, pal unfortunately lacking support (9) |
| STRAPLESS – STRESS (anxiety) around (pal)*. | |
| 26 | Where Americans get their gas — the dentist’s chair? (7-7) |
| FILLING-STATION – double definition, one cryptic. I don’t think “filling-station” is particularly American, but gas is – we Brits fill up with petrol or diesel. Of course, in a dentist’s chair you can get both gas and fillings! | |
| Down | |
| 1 | Structure for supporting managing director legal, there’s power at the top (8,6) |
| PECTORAL GIRDLE – (director legal)* underneath P(ower). | |
| 2 | Lead-free metal is on gold tooth (7) |
| INCISOR – ZINC (metal) minus the first letter (lead-free, geddit?) + IS + OR (gold). | |
| 3 | Fine form (5) |
| CLASS – double definition. | |
| 4 | Gear stick, terribly hot when engaged (8) |
| CLOTHING – CLING (stick) around (hot)*. | |
| 5 | An equal in conversation to come (6) |
| APPEAR – sounds like “a peer”. | |
| 6 | I am at rest after breaking parts of the foot (9) |
| METATARSI – (I am at rest)*. | |
| 7 | Area for development certainly managed to turn around with right investment (7) |
| NURSERY – YES (certainly) + RUN (managed), reversed around R(ight). | |
| 8 | Intimate relation and drinkers entertained by South American statesman (6-2-6) |
| PERSON-TO-PERSON – SON (relation) + TOPERS (drinkers), inside PERON (South American statesman). | |
| 14 | Oil covering end of document on a large emblem of sovereignty (5,4) |
| GREAT SEAL – GREASE (oil) around (documen)T + A + L(arge). | |
| 16 | Those burning wood among parts of a framework (8) |
| BONFIRES – FIR (wood) inside BONES (parts of a framework). | |
| 18 | Tongue rolling up berries, then I lick half off (7) |
| SWAHILI – HAWS (berries) reversed, then I + LI(ck). | |
| 20 | Begin, for example, as prime minister? Prime minister won’t begin! (7) |
| ISRAELI – Israel had a PM called Begin, and we had a PM called Disraeli. | |
| 21 | Flavour, one of four (6) |
| SEASON – double definition. | |
| 23 | Just over three entering water that’s brown (5) |
| SEPIA – PI (just over three) inside SEA (water). | |
Explanation appreciated.
David
Clear now.
David