Solving time: 44:53 – with one clumsy mistake
Apologies for the lateness of the blog, I came to post it and realised I hadn’t written it up! I hate it when that happens. I solved the puzzle last week but obviously never got round to writing the blog for it.
I went through this one at a reasonable speed (for me), but failed to spell GASTROENTERITIS correctly. If I’d checked my letters against the anagrist, I would have realised I didn’t have enough Es as I’d put –ENTIRITIS.
TARDIGRADE was a new word to me. I rather liked the clever INDEED, so 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 | PATIENCE = PATE about (NICE)* |
5 | BIGWIG = GIB |
10/11 | YORKSHIRE DALES = (DRAY-HORSES LIKE)* – A very appropriate anagram. |
12 | INDIA = IN + AID rev |
13 | PROFESSOR = PRO + SS in (FE + OR) |
14 | TARDI |
17 | WIDE – dd – An extra in cricket |
19 |
|
20 | A + STRINGENT |
22 | ANCHORMAN = ANCHORAGE (chilly port) with AGE (a long time) replaced by MAN (staff) |
24 |
|
26 | IRONS – dd |
27 | RE + PRESENT (salute with weapon) |
28 | TI (note) + SANE (old healthy – I think ‘old’ implies a somewhat old-fashioned term for healthy) |
29 | P(LATTE)R + S – although I was torn between this and FLATTERS. I preferred FR as an abbreviation to PR, but I couldn’t make the definition fit. |
Down | |
1 | PHYSIOTHERAPIST = (HAPPIEST + HISTORY)* |
2 | T + I + RED |
3 | E(uphori)C + STATIC |
4 | CH + I + MP |
6 | INDEED – If BAT is literally put in DEED, you get DEBATED (discussed) |
7 | WILTS + H |
8 | GASTROENTERITIS = (STATION REGISTER)* |
9 | RECORD + ER |
15 | RAPACIOUS = (AU PAIR + COS)* |
16 | ROSE + MAR |
18 | IN SOLENT – The Solent is the strait of water that separates the Isle of Wight from Hampshire on the southern English coast. |
21 | POI |
23 | NE + PAL |
25 | OBESE = (SEB |
The clues I felt were lacking were:
1dn PHYSIOTHERAPIST – a physiotherapist is to a masseur as a professional engineer is to a washing machine repairman.
20ac ASTRINGENT – American = A is in Chambers, so I guess we have to accept it, but I felt we could have had something better here.
27ac REPRESENT – I can see that explain = state = represent, but I find it hard to see explain and represent as synonyms.
16dn ROSEMARY – This one, I think, is just plain wrong. To get betrothed is no more to marry, than to cock a gun is to fire it. They simply mean different (if related) things.
All in all, then, a very enjoyable puzzle marred by a few weaknesses.
I am posting this ahead of the blog coming out, so apologies, Dave, if any of this clashes with your comments.
On Keith’s points, I might accept “physiotherapist” cluing “masseur”, but not the other way round. I don’t have any problem with A = American as it’s in Chambers and Collins, and similarly “represent” = “explain” is in Collins so the setter is not at fault over that one either. 16dn seems obviously wrong to me too unless the idea is that when one marries one can be said to “get” one’s betrothed.
Edited at 2012-11-18 04:08 pm (UTC)
I agree with all the objections to the loose cryptics, particularly ‘bethrothed’ = ‘marry’. The editor could easily have changed it to ‘wed’.
The others were considered and I thought they were OK. At 1D, all the dictionary definitions I can find for physiotherapy mention massage.
I did we’ll on this one, but the most common US usage for ANCHORMAN is the principal (not the last) newsreader; that made ANCHOR LEG attractive, though clearly wrong.
Thoughtful in London
Worth reading about rhyming slang, it pops up often enough
Thoughtful in London
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fared rather well.
They also offer art workshops and have a 433 seat theater..
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