Sunday Times 4556 (22 Sep 2013) by Jeff Pearce

Author   daveperryPosted on Categories Weekend Cryptic
Solving time: 50:07 (with aids for my LOI)

There were a few good clues amongst this lot, but there were also a few weak cryptic defs and quite easy ones. There was a spelling mistake in 29a (for which I notice PB has apologised in the forum). I also got completely stuck at the end on 7d. I didn’t know either the Island or the word so I had to get out my atlas to solve it. Overall, this one didn’t particlarly grab me.

I’m a sucker for the cheeky ones that make me laugh, so I’ll give my COD to 24d.

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

Across
1 C + HATTER
5 ChAMPION
9 LIBRA + R(I)AN
10 TIBET = IBEx (clip goat) in TT (dry)
11 S + TRESS
12 TIME BOMB – cd – although not particularly cryptic
14 APPRECIATE – dd
16 CLUE – another weak cd
18 & 19 BEEF STROGANOFF = (GOT SAFFRON)* after BEEF
22 B(L)ATHERS
23 INSANE – quadruple definition, although the last three are really the same
26 SHELF = SELF about His
27 IRON + CROSS
28 TAT + TIN + G
Down
1 CELESTA = (SELECT A)*
2 bAMBER – Bamber Gascoigne was the host of University Challenge for many years before Jeremy Paxman took over.
3 TRANSFER = (RANT)* + REFS rev
4 RAIL – dd
5 CONVICT + IONa
6 & 29a MOTHER THERESA = (HEART REST HOME)* – Although Mother Teresa spelt her name without the usual H. Oops!
7 IMBROGLIO = IMBROs + G + (OIL)* – I didn’t know the word or the Turkish Island, so I had to look at a map to get this one.
8 NO TABLE
13 DISTURBING = (BIG NUDIST + R)*
15 PREV(AL)ENT
17 BARNACLE = BAR + CAN rev + LargE
18 BABYSAT – cd
20 FREESIA = (FREES + A) about I
21 SHUFTI = (THUS IF)*
24 AR(O)SE
25 BOLT – initials of Bean Obscures Little Tomato

8 comments on “Sunday Times 4556 (22 Sep 2013) by Jeff Pearce”

  1. I didn’t know of Imbros either, but I was sure it had to be IMBROGLIO, although ‘dilemma’ seemed wrong as a definition. Also DNK SHUFTI, which went in on checkers alone. And the only Gascoigne I could think of (although in retrospect I had heard of the soccer one) was George, the Elizabethan poet; but that didn’t matter, given the clue. Never did parse TIBET, so thanks, Dave, for explaining.
  2. Also 50 minutes for me. Didn’t know the island and apparently its name was changed from IMBROS more than 40 years ago so an old atlas was required if looking it up. Didn’t notice the error at 29ac.

    I enjoyed this puzzle unlike this week’s effort which appears to contain at least one word/expression that’s not in any dictionary.

  3. Matter of taste Jack. I much preferred today’s Anax to this one. Had no idea about IMBROS; thought 16ac was silly and should have been edited up a bit; and hesitated with 29ac because I knew the correct spelling. So I’m calling this a bit below par for the ST.
  4. just over 8 minutes for me, possibly because I knew IMBROGLIO and my dad often used SHUFTI. Shame about the spelling error.

    Now to see what Dean has provided to trouble the old grey matter while making even more peach jam ….

  5. Enjoyed thus a lot, especially conviction, Tibet, notable and babysat. In terms of scatology, today’s Dean Mayer’s just pips Jeff’s arse.

    Ulaca

  7. 23:21 on the timer, so no real problems with this. I’m not sure about “dilemma” for IMBROGLIO, but no doubt it’s in one of the dictionaries.
    Always nice to see Philip Larkin: my favourite librarian in the history of librarians.
  8. The clue for 5 across seems to refer not only to the plant Campion but also to Marjory Allingham’s detective Albert Campion who could of course be brilliant.

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