Sunday Times 4482 (22 Apr 2012) by Anax

Author   daveperryPosted on Categories Weekend Cryptic
Solving time: 39:12

I’d say I found this a fairly average difficulty for one of Dean’s offerings. I had to work hard for the last half-dozen or so, but I got there without aids and inside 40 minutes, so I can be satisfied with that.

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

Across
1 C(ROUT)ON
5 WICKLOW – dd – once I’d realised that ‘guttering’ could be used to describe a candle flame going out, then the answer was obvious
9 RIFLE = IF in R/L + Empty
10 MA IN BRA + CE – this made me chuckle. I’ll give it my COD for sheer entertainment value.
11 EVAPORATION = PAVE rev + ORATION
14 REALLY – dd
15 AGITATOR = A + ROTATInG rev
17 EXCISION = XCI in NOISE rev
18 MIRIAM = RIM rev + 1 AM
20 IMPERTINENT = (PRINT TIE MEN)*
23 HIT-AND-RUN = (AIN’T)* after H + DRUNk
24 T + ROVE
25 NEW DEAL = “NUDE EEL”
26 Y-FRONTS – dd – the first of which is ‘What you might say about YOUR’
Down
1 CAR FERRIES = CARRIES (is freighter) about FER (French for iron)
2 OFF + BALANCE
3 THE NOBLE SCIENCE = O in (NICE STEEL BENCH)* – I’ve not heard the expression before, and I can’t say I agree with the sentiment, but each to their own.
4 NUMB + AT – Never heard of a numbat – a wombat, yes, but not a numbat.
5 WR(IT)INGS
6 CABINET MINISTER = BIN + (TIME)* all in CANISTER
7 LO + A + F – from Cockney Rhyming Slang – ‘loaf of bread’ – head
8 WHEY = “WAY”
12 STRIKE DOWN = (SKIRTED)* + OWN
13 PROMETHEUS = (UP THERE SOMe)*
16 CORPORAL – dd
19 GRANNY = G + N/N about RA + Y
21 THINk – referring (twice) to the LOAF at 7d
22 STOW = The letters S TO W form the alphabetical run-up to X. I’ve certainly seen this device used before, both for this word and for ATOM.

5 comments on “Sunday Times 4482 (22 Apr 2012) by Anax”

  2. 47 minutes with 3dn & 4dn requiring checking. Never heard of either nor of CORPORAL, the cloth. People in the Club forum were moaning last weekend about the homophone at 8dn but I don’t have a problem with it as it relies on RP and I think that’s fair enough.

    There’s discussion about ‘guttering’ with reference to a song by Noel Coward and a more famous one (these days, sadly) from ‘Cats’, in this blog: http://times-xwd-times.livejournal.com/445917.html#comments

  3. There were a lot of moans about them being too hard when the first Anax crosswords appeared in the ST, and I wonder if he was asked to try and tone them down a bit.. this one and the previous one certainly do seem easier to me. Not that I mind much either way, it is the economical cluing and slick surfaces that I like, and there are plenty of those here, from 1ac on..
  4. I agree by Anax standards this was easy, and that makes two on the trot. It would be very disappointing if he’s been asked to dumb them down a bit.

    Like Jack I remembered the previous “guttering” discussion and memories of the old lamp lighters that used to walk round turning the street lights on and off. Good to see that Ma only had one bra on at 10A

  5. This blog and comments confirmed what I’d surmised – that this was an easier Anax. Just for a brief while I thought perhaps I was getting better at them. The only one that gave me trouble was the boxing one. For some reason lost in the annals of US sports journalism (can’t be bothered to look it up)it’s sometimes known as the “sweet” science here. Noble or sweet aren’t exactly adjectives that come to mind when it comes to pugilism but sweet got me off track for a while. Not sure how long I took because it was done in parts – probably a bit over 30 minutes total.

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