Another straightforward puzzle. It’s good to see that the general standard of the puzzle has survived the transition between editors. I haven’t noticed any glaring mistakes in the few weeks either, so if there’s an improvement on that front then so much the better. I clocked myself at 28 minutes during my son’s swimming lesson, which left me with just 13 & 14 unsolved, and they came to me after a couple more minutes thought a bit later on.
Nothing much particularly clever here. I liked the cryptic def at 13. I spotted CAMERA very quickly, but it took me a long time to understand the 30 reference and get the first word. I’ll give that my COD.
cd = cryptic def., dd = double def., rev = reversal, homophones are written in quotes, anagrams as (–)*, and removals like this
Across | |
---|---|
1 | A + P |
6 | OP + I + ATE – I saw this quite early on, but it took me a while to justify the wordplay. ATE = took, and the definition is ‘drug to aid rest’. |
9 | T |
10 | SUPERSTORE = (PRESSURE TO)* |
11 | BETTER = dd – Improved as an adjective, and a layer of bets |
12 | ABSTRUSE = (STAB)* + RUSE |
14 | HEATSTROKE = (THEATRES)* about OK |
16 |
|
18 | PE + RU |
19 | BRAND + Y + SNAP |
21 | CRACKERS – The biscuit theme continues from the previous clue, plus a triple def – touched/nuts/bananas |
23 | ANTLER = (LEARNT)* |
25 | MINESTRONE = (IN STORE MEN)* |
27 | O |
28 | CAN( |
29 | DRAUGHTS – cd |
Down | |
2 | PER(SEVER)E |
3 | ALE + R+ T |
4 | INSCRUTABLE = (SERBIAN CULT)* |
5 | SOPRANO = (OP |
6 | O(A)R |
7 | INTERVALS = IN + (TRAVELS)* |
8 | TART + S |
13 | SPEED CAMERA – cd |
16 | TRUNCHEON = TR for L in LUNCHEON – I’ve not seen TR for Turkey before, but it was quite clear what was required. |
17 |
|
20 | ABS + CON + |
22 | RAITA = rev hidden |
24 | TH |
26 |
|
Edited at 2011-02-06 09:08 am (UTC)