My time was about 40 minutes, I think, but I solved it offline while sat in the garden enjoying a 17 without a clock to hand.
I thought it a fairly average, but enjoyable solve. I enjoyed 20d, although it seemed a little chestnutty, and there were some good anagrams, particularly 11d.
There was a certain amount of discussion in the forum regarding an alternative solution to 14d, which I can only assume is CREAM SAUCE, but I don’t see how ‘brass’ can be thought of as a definition of CREAM, so personally I have no problem with the clue at all.
cd = cryptic def., dd = double def., rev = reversal, homophones are written in quotes, anagrams as (–)*, and removals like this
Across | |
---|---|
1 | INDEFINITE – mid Arkansas is |
6 | ASIA = IS rev in (A + A) |
9 | SANTA CLARA = (A CANAL + RATS)* – A city in California at the centre of Silicon Valley. Intel, McAfee & Nvidia all have their headquarters there. |
10 |
|
12 | REEFER – dd |
13 | AUTOBAHN – cd |
15 | HORNET’S NEST = (THE SON’S RENT)* |
18 | NEC |
21 | IN CREASE |
22 | P + A + ELLA |
24 | E |
25 | SUPPL(I + CAT)E |
26 | TIME = EMIT rev |
27 | GET THE CHOP – dd |
Down | |
1 | INSERT – dd |
2 | DINNER = RED rev about INN |
3 | FLAMETHROWER = (HELMET FOR WAR)* |
4 | NILE – rev hidden |
5 | TURBULENCE = (UNCLE BERT)* about U |
7 | STREAKER – cd |
8 | AMMONITE = (INMATE)* about MO |
11 | CONSERVATIVE = (NOT VICE VERSA)* – an excellent surface. My COD |
14 | BREAD SAUCE – Two uses of the word ‘brass’ – as ‘money’ (BREAD) and as ‘impudence’ (SAUCE) |
16 | IN + CIDE |
17 | I + C |
19 | B(L)EACH |
20 | MADE UP – a ‘wordplay in solution’ clue, as MADE rev is EDAM, a type of cheese |
23 | SPIT |
Regards,
Adrian Cobb (not really Anonymous but I dont have any of the accounts mentioned)
A Forum newcomer rashly opined that “bread sauce” was simply unacceptable in a prize puzzle and that it failed to satisfy the definition. To which various replies said what the… 17.56, which makes this a speedy Sunday for me. Thanks Dave.