Solving time: I did this on paper amid interruptions, so it’s hard to give any kind of accurate time. I’d reckon about 40-45 minutes at a guess.
It’s an excellent crossword, a typical example from Dean. There are many great surfaces, particularly the wonderfully topical 19d which gets my COD. There were many other good clues – 7a, 13a, 10d, 15d, 17d & 20d all being fine specimens.
I must have spent a good 5 or 10 minutes at the end trying to get 23d. I guess it was easy for those who knew the word, but I didn’t.
cd = cryptic def., dd = double def., rev = reversal, homophones are written in quotes, anagrams as (–)*, and removals like this
Across | |
---|---|
4 | RUB – dd – Work in / trouble |
7 | RE + PROBATE – ‘will copy’ for PROBATE was very well disguised |
9 | AB(O)UT |
11 | GAVE + |
12 | SEAT (behind) + RAVEL (wind) |
13 | FAMOUS LAST WORDS = (AS + TWO) in (FARM SOLD US)* |
14 | AMNESIC = A + MC (host) about N |
16 | D(I’S + DA)IN |
18 | TRAVEL INCOGNITO = (IRON GLOVE IT CAN’T)* |
21 | POTBOILER = (BE POOR LIT)* – &lit |
22 | ERN(I)E – Ernie Wise was half of the great comedy double act Morecambe & Wise |
24 | NA(ST)Y |
25 | UNSPOILED – dd – one meaning virginal, the other in the sense of countryside that’s free from rubbish (using slag in the waste products sense) |
26 | MA + T |
Down | |
1 | P + RIG |
2 | JOEL + OUI + S |
3 | VASSAL = LASS + AV all rev |
4 | RE(LAPS)ED |
5 | B(A + R + R)OW |
6 | CONVERSATIONAL = (ACTOR NIVEN ALSO)* |
8 | PAVEMENT ARTIST – cd |
10 | TALKS INTO = (STATION)* about L |
13 | FEAST UPON = (OF PEANUTS)* |
15 | CHILL OUT = HILL (fell) + O (over) all in CUT (shortened) |
17 | SIGNED ON = (ENDING SO)* |
19 | EPONYM = ME (yours truly) rev about PONY (little horse) – an excellent topical surface gets my COD |
20 | CERISE = C |
23 | EDDA = ADDE |
What a nice peaceful blog here! I stayed out of the fight started on the Forum yesterday by some self-appointed purist. Honestlee, these are supposed to be fun.
Off to a bad start by carelessly putting “ado” in at 4A thereby breaking my own rules about 3 and 4 letter words. Luckily both 4D and 5D were on the easy side.
I think NAY is just No! as in “you don’t say!” or “really!”. Had no problem with EDDA – solved from definition and repeated appearance in bar crosswords.
Thought 19D a real gem
PAVEMENT ARTIST is one of my favourite clues of the year – “Flags down vehicle…”, indeed!
After getting caught out by EDDA once or twice a year for I don’t know how long, I think it’s finally sunk in. I put it in without checkers this time.
Happy Easter to all.
Had two missing after an hour (Cerise and Edda), so thanks Dave for explaining those two.
?answer could be drug, “old maid” is a name of a drug, then you have Dr + u for under and g for g force or pressure!
Edited at 2013-04-16 08:53 am (UTC)