Sunday Times 4580 (9 Mar 2014) by Jeff Pearce

Solving time: About 50 minutes, I think. The club timer read 1:10:04, but I had technical problems with it that day. I had to re-enter the grid 3 or 4 times before I successfully submitted it.

A good test. I liked 5a and the 3/17 combination. 7d was also a clever &lit. I think my favourite goes to 13d for the neat surface.

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

Across
1 ME + S + SUP
5 RED CARpet
9 PRINCETON = NOT rev after PRINCE
10 PeAr TrEe
11 O + STEAL – Not a word I knew, but I did know OS- as a prefix for bone so it wasn’t a great leap.
12 CENOTAPH = (NOT CHEAP)*
14 GUJARATI – I put this in without full understanding at the time, and I’m still not sure I get it now. I assume it’s I + JUG (bird, as in prison) all rev about A + RAT, but I can’t find any justification for RAT = ‘nose’. As verbs I guess they might both mean to peek or pry, but I’m not convinced.
16 OVERt
18 GARB = BRAG rev
19 TWIGGING = TWIGGi (model) + (GIN)*
21 DEC(R)EASE
22 L(O)ATHE
24 BALI = LAB rev + pacIfic
26 S(T)URGEONS
27 DErbyshire + MEAN
28 N + A + GOYA (canvasser, i.e. painter)
Down
2 EXPOSTULATE = (EX + LATE) about (POST + U)
3 & 17 SPIKE MILLIGAN = (I + SPEAKING)* about MILL
4 PECULIAR = (I CLEAR UP)* – Do you mind? I was solving this while having my lunch!
5 RUN-INS = S after RUN-IN
6 DIPHTHONG – cd
7 rAFT – &lit, rather clever
8 STICK-IN-THE-MUD = (THICK DUSTMEN + Irritate)*
13 PIE IN THE SKY – dd – A ‘castle in Spain’ is a fanciful notion, like a ‘castle in the air’, and a cottage is, of course, a type of pie, a bit like shepherd’s.
15 AUBERGINE = (BEN + I ARGUE)*
20 DAMSON = MAD rev + SON
23 A + LONG
25 APplE

8 comments on “Sunday Times 4580 (9 Mar 2014) by Jeff Pearce”

  1. 40 minutes apart from 14ac which I failed to solve without aids and then failed to parse having determined the answer. I think I spotted all the elements needed to parse the clue but never quite fitted them all together to make sense.

    NAGOYA and OSTEAL were unknown but not a problem to arrive at from wordplay.

    I wasn’t quite sure about 21 but apparently there’s an expression for death, “Eternal Rest”, which seems to make the necessary connection.

  2. I thought this was a good crossword; Jeff has produced some crackers recently.

    Dave, whenever I submit a crossword on the club website I *always* open the grid in a new window or tab. This has (touch wood) prevented any failures to submit…

  3. Yes this was truly excellent.

    It took me an absurdly long time to see “Redcar” (very nice indeed) and “Twigg(y)”.

    I clocked in at 21.17 (#70 on the club board), but while we’re on the subject Magoo was #18 and Jason #35. I’m very happy for the puzzles to be popular but are we going to reach a tipping point when they’re the only solvers who can post a recorded time on the w/e boards – I know they’re a bit pointless but then what?

  4. Took me forever to finish, and I actually didn’t, since I had to google to get REDCAR, which I’d never heard of. Also DNK nose=stoolie, but I was pretty confident it had to be GUJARATI. Quite irritated with myself for being so dense on a couple of comparatively easy clues, like 16ac and 21ac. Still, a very enjoyable, challenging puzzle.
  5. Bali is NOT in the Pacific Ocean – great puzzle – thank you…from June -Tasmania
    1. Hi June,
      you are right Bali is not in the Pacific but the clue is correct and is aiming to steer you the wrong direction.
      Middle of pacific is I, plus LAB (Labour party ) returned is Bali = island which is the clue.

      Richard, Brisbane

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