Sunday Times 4505 (30 Sep 2012) by Jeff Pearce

Author   daveperryPosted on Categories Weekend Cryptic
Solving time: 20:27 – Although I would have been under 20 minutes if I hadn’t spent 30 seconds checking at the end.

As my time suggests, I thought this was very straightforward by recent standards. Technically, it was perfectly sound – I have no quibbles (although 2d was a tad weak), but I suspect that it won’t keep some of the more experienced solvers entertained for more than a few minutes.

But, of course, it’s a good thing that the ST should throw in puzzles of this standard from time to time to allow the more casual solver a better chance at completion.

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

Across
1 CA(RA)FE
5 TURKEY – dd – ‘down on one?’ being the second, referring to down being a bird’s soft plumage
9 PETIT FOUR = (TRIPE + TOFU)* – although it sounds both revolting and pointless!
10 A + RUM
11 HO(A)RSE
12 SEDATIVE = (DEVIATES)*
14 sleeP + RIM + ROSE
16 ACNE = ACE about wimbledoN
18 TAN + G – Tan is short for Tangent, a mathematical (trigonometric) function
19 LYONNAIS = SILk about ANNOY all rev
21 PEN + CHANT – I was expecting some sort of reference to silence, but it was simpler than that
22 RE + SORT
24 GAGA = A + GAG rev – ‘bananas’ is the definition, as in mad
26 PROMINENT = (O + MP + INTERN)*
27 TENDER – dd
28 RANTED = ANT (Soldier, sat) in the RED (owing money), a cheeky little bit of wordplay that crops up from time to time.
Down
2 APPROPRIATE – dd – although both definitions are essentially the same – ‘trouser’ and ‘pocket’ can both mean to pilfer or steal. This makes it a little weak in my eyes. I would have preferred to see different meanings referred to, like ‘trouser fitting’ perhaps.
3 mASTER
4 ENTREPOT = ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat) + TOPER rev – This wasn’t a word I knew, but Toper was fresh in my mind as it cropped up in the last puzzle I did, so this was the most obvious guess. Incidentally, while I think of it, I would just like to thoroughly recommend last weekend’s Jumbo No 1000 to anyone who hasn’t tried it yet. It’s on the tough side, but really well put together, and celebrates its own anniversary perfectly.
5 T(I)RADE
6 ROAD TRAIN = (N + RADIATOR)*
7 EMU – hidden
8 CONSTELLATION = (SET TO CALL IN ON)* – Draco means Dragon in Latin, and the constellation surrounds Ursa Minor to the south, separating it from Ursa Major. A good Harry Potter surface.
13 VINAIGRETTE = R in (VINTAGE TIE)*
15 MAGIC WAND – cd
17 COURTIER = COURIER about hamleT
20 JA(S)PER – I’ve not come across JAPER as such, but a know a jape is a joke so the inference is clear.
23 S + TERN
25 pALE

8 comments on “Sunday Times 4505 (30 Sep 2012) by Jeff Pearce”

  1. I finished all but two in 24 minutes then allowed myself another 6 before resorting to aids as I was tired and getting nowhere on 8dn and 19ac. Didn’t know ENTREPOT or ROAD TRAIN but worked them out.

    I thought there were some delightful clues, 5ac for example, and including 2dn which has come in for some criticism both here and in the Club forum. It might not be a perfect double definition but I can understand that once the setter had seen the possibility of “Trouser pocket” it would be hard to resist. It raised a smile here anyway.

    Edited at 2012-10-07 01:09 am (UTC)

  2. 15:25, with 5ac and 20d my LOIs.I was one of those (the only one?) on the forum to have negative feelings about 2d, but then I didn’t know TROUSER in that sense; but still, I agree with Dave. I think I was misled for a bit by the ‘a’ in 22ac, since articles are so often deleted when not part of the wordplay.TURKEY was nice, especially since I don’t normally associate down with turkeys (hence the LOI). I didn’t know ROAD TRAIN, either; my (Japanese) dictionary lists it as Australian.
  3. I liked this one, the second recent crossword by Jeff that has impressed me. I know it is easier than some but variety is the spice of life. And shockingly, half of all crosswords are easier than average!

    I see I wrote “poor” next to 2dn, for the same reason Dave gives.. hardly a dd at all, though I suppose I can see how it might be hard to resist.

  4. 33 minutes, with the last few on the excellent bird. Unlike Jerry, I put a ? next to 2dn, since I didn’t get it at all. Now I do, I see it as a gem with a flaw. I endorse Dave’s praise for Jumbo 1000, and will give it more publicity in tomorrow’s blog – it richly deserves it.
  5. 17m. 2dn held me up or a while: I thought I must be missing something.
    I’ve lost the habit of jumbos but will try and find time for number 1000.
  6. I couldnt have said it any better to be honest! keep up the awesome work. You are very talented & I only wish I could write as good as you do 🙂 …
  7. All straightforward except for 28ac which gave no indication that ‘ant’ was to be found in ‘red’. When all other clues are logically constructed, this is misleading.
    Otherwise, an enjoyable puzzle.
    1. The ANT (soldier, say) is ‘owing money’. When someone owes money, they are said to be ‘in the red’, so the setter is hiding the containment indicator within the synonym. This particular construction crops up fairly regularly (as you can imagine, there are a lot of words that fir the pattern R—-ED), but the technique gets used more rarely with other phrases too. I blogged a puzzle this week which used ‘invented’ to clue EDAM, because it’s ‘made up’. It’s the same idea.

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