Sunday Times 4476 (11 Mar 2012)

Author   daveperryPosted on Categories Weekend Cryptic
Solving time: 36:03

I found plenty to like here without it being too tough. No new additions to my vocabulary, which is unusual, although MARATHONER was a derivative that I can’t recall having come across before.

SECOND-IN-COMMAND, ANAGRAM, MAITRE D’HOTEL were probably to pick of the bunch for me this week, but there were several others that I liked. Plus I don’t remember finding anything to quibble about (which must be a first!). My compliments to the setter.

cd = cryptic def., dd = double def., rev = reversal, homophones are written in quotes, anagrams as (–)*, and removals like this

Across
1 FALSETTO = (A + L) in (F + SET-TO) – I rather liked ‘handbags’ for SET-TO
6 AB + DUCT
9 TORC – hidden in pendanT OR Chain
10 MASCARPONE = ONE after MA’S CARP
11 THUNDERBIRDS = (UNDER + B) in THIRDS – Gerry Anderson’s classic marionette-based adventure series for kids
14 C(LINT)ON
15 M + UTTER
16 FRighten + ACAS – The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service is an independent UK organisation that attempts to prevent and resolve industrial disputes.
18 IN FOCUS = CU’S after INFO
20 MAITRE D’HOTEL = (RELATED TO HIM)* – rather a neat anagram
22 MARATHONER = MARe about (RAT + HONE) – I can’t say I’ve ever heard David Coleman talk about marathoners before, only marathon runners.
24 N(A)IL
25 WOO + DEN
26 PALISADE = (IS + AD) in PALE
Down
2 APOTHECARY = A + POT + HE + CARrY – although this went straight in from the definition alone and a couple of checkers. I didn’t bother to parse it until afterwards.
3 SECOND-IN-COMMAND – one of those ‘wordplay in solution’ type clues. RESIGN is S (second) in REIGN (command). This also went in from the definition (and the enumeration) alone, but as the clue was so succint, I did feel obliged to work it out at the time. My COD.
4 TEMPEST = TEMP + (SET)*
5 O(P)S
6 ANAGRAM – DBE indicated by ‘One is’ – SOMEWHAT TIRED = (WAITER’S METHOD)*
7 DEPOSIT ACCOUNTS = (PIN CAUSED COST TO)*
8 CAN + T – although I nearly spat my tea out when I thought I was looking for a slang word to fit C*N*!
12 BONN + IE + R
13 GETS BEHIND = G + (IN DEBT HE’S)*
17 S + WITHIN – Best known for the old wives’ tale that says the weather on St Swithin’s Day (July 15th) will continue unchanged for 40 days. Complete rubbish, of course, the weather in the UK never remains the same for four days, let alone forty.
19 FED + ERA + arsenaL
21 TA + CO
23 NAP = PAN rev – ‘pile of material’ is the definition, as in deep-pile carpet. As for ‘pan’ = ‘sweep’, a pan shot and a sweep shot in film, I think, are much the same.

16 comments on “Sunday Times 4476 (11 Mar 2012)”

  1. 52′, but one wrong; ‘matter’ instead of MUTTER. Somehow object=matter=mass seemed close enough that I didn’t actually think the clue through. I had not the slightest idea of how FRACAS worked, but couldn’t think of anything else; thanks, Dave,for enlightening me. And I’m still trying to figure out how ‘handbags’ gives us ‘set to’.
    1. To “handbag” was coined as a term to describe Margaret Thatcher’s idea of reaching a compromise
      1. I knew that but I was still concerned about the point of grammar until I looked it up in Collins.
  2. 50 minutes, so not too bad for this solver on a puzzle by this setter.

    There was lots of very good stuff here but much of the detail didn’t need to be understood in order to get to the answers.

    DKs: TORC and S = SABBATH (it’s in Chambers).

    I wasn’t absolutely clear how ‘handbags’ (n.pl) can mean a singular incident e.g. ‘set-to’, but Collins gives the example ‘handbags at dawn’ which seems to cover it.

  4. To me this seemed a little easier than most previous Anax ST crosswords.. none the worse for that. Absolutely top class clueing
  5. Just over 20 minutes to solve this one. A pleasure as always with Anax. I didn’t understand the brilliant 3dn (thanks Dave – too subtle for me!) but did at least get the breathtakingly good 6dn. Bravo!
  6. Hello all – thanks to Dave for the review and to all for your kind comments. Just a slight amend; at 20a I’d be thrilled if HEAD WAITER OR could be arranged for the answer (that would be a corker) but it’s actually RELATED TO HIM.
    3d was a dread moment; so easy for a reverse engineering clue to go way over peoples’ heads so I’m delighted that most spotted it.
    Next one is 1st April. Hmm. I wonder…
    1. I’m expecting your sense of humour to get the better of your innate conservatism
    2. Thanks for pointing that out. I have amended the blog accordingly. I must have had 6d in my head when I was writing the blog! I’m surprised no on else picked up on it.
  7. Despite the lateness I’d also like to thank Dean for another entertaining offering. I particularly enjoyed handbags and the cheesy fish clue.

    As I was entering second-in-command it occurred to me that in addition to the S in REIGN treatment this was also open to something involving the letter O.

  9. T/T to setter – enjoyable as always ..thanks all for lots of help..my FOI was mascarpone..my COD is 6d ..some new words.. TORC eg & find it hard to accept MARATHONER [ but we must!!]

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