ST 4255 (Sun 16 Dec) – Non compos mentis

Solving time: 8:50

Got stuck on 14ac at the end – yet another neglection of the rule that if you can’t solve a clue, just check that it’s not an anagram.

* = anagram.

Across
1 SCAREDY-CAT; SCAR + (DYE)* + CA + T – shouldn’t this be (7-3)? The online version also had a rogue capital in the middle of the clue, but that’s the least of the Times Crossword Club’s problems at the moment.
7 CARP (double definition) – but ‘carp’ = ‘moan’, not ‘moan about’.
9 PAVEMENT (cryptic definition)
10 RUMBLE (cryptic definition)
13 A + L(EH)OUSE
14 COMPOS MENTIS; (MP ECONOMISTS)* – aaarggh. How did this take me so long to spot?
17 BALLET-DANCER – a good cryptic definition, though ‘take steps’ was easy to see through.
21 DIESEL; 1 in (LEEDS)*
22 LE(VAN)T
23 ARTESIAN; A + (RETSINA)*
25 MESS (double definition)
26 RED ADMIRAL; (MARRIED LAD)*

Down
2 C(H)AMPION
5 C(OTT)AGE
6 TOR(MEN)TE + D
7 COMMONS + E,N,S,E – but this is given as (11), so has to be an adjective, whereas gumption is a noun.
15 SOLICITOR; (I STIR COOL)*
18 EMERALD (double definition) – ’emerald’ is a type (in printing), as well as a gemstone.
19 SEVER + E
21 D.A. (= ‘duck’s arse’) + TED

One comment on “ST 4255 (Sun 16 Dec) – Non compos mentis”


  1. I managed to biff COMPUS MENTIS at 14a without due care for the anagram fodder. I wonder if I will remember the correct spelling?

    This was not so difficult otherwise. There are a row of 8 left out of the blog:

    11a Oxford has many Scholarly Professors Instructing Rich English Students, primarily (6)
    SPIRES. Sour grapes clue from someone who didn’t get in to dream?

    20a Average doctor carries oxygen about (8)
    MEDI O C RE

    3d Regret using odd RoUtE (3)
    RUE

    4d Put on a female garment (5)
    DRESS

    8d Really enjoy savoury stuff (6)
    RELISH

    12d Those against the monarchy start to rile English innkeepers (11)
    R E PUBLICANS

    16d Sugar (made rare)* by modification (8)
    DEMERARA

    24d Starts to School Keen Irish runner (3)
    SKI

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