Solving Time: 1:11:27
Apologies for the delay on this one. I did the crossword last weekend, but haven’t written the blog yet. I’ll rattle one off now – won’t be long.
Not much to say about this one – there were certainly some good clues – 21a, 16a & 6d to pick out a few. There were some others that I wasn’t keen on, although I notice that PB has responded to most of my moans already in the official forum, so I’ll say no more about it.
cd = cryptic def., dd = double def., rev = reversal, homophones are written in quotes, anagrams as (–)*, and removals like this
Across | |
---|---|
1 | CATNAP – cd – I get the idea, but I’m not sure it quite works. Cats and dogs are both domestic animals, but they’re quite different. |
4 | SADDER = LADDER with S for L |
9 | CAVA = A + VAC rev |
10 | WEARING OUT = (ROUTINE + WAG)* |
11 | STATE + R – a coin of ancient Greece, one of those words that only crops up in crosswords. |
12 | IN THE AIR – cd, albeit not a very cryptic one |
13 | INFECTION = (CONFINE IT)* |
15 | AGO + G |
16 | CITY = part of the football team Man City, and C |
17 | CANDID + |
21 | REST HOME = (MOST HERE)* – An &lit, simple but very effective. My COD. |
22 | ERSATZ – hidden |
24 | PUNCH-DRUNK – just a straight dd, I think. |
25 | NOAH – dd – Apparently the founder of the Merriam-Webster dictionary was Noah Webster. I didn’t know that, although as a cruciverbalist it’s probably fair to assume that I might. The checkers and the first definition were enough though. |
26 | SCRAP + E |
27 | GNEISS = (GEN |
Down | |
1 | C |
2 | TOAST = TOT about (clothing) A |
3 | A + TWO + R + ST |
5 | ARISTO – hidden |
6 | DOG-LEGGED = DOGGED (determined) about LEG (on, cricket side) |
7 | R |
8 | MAD + IS + ON + A + VENUE |
14 | ESTATE CAR = STATE in RACE rev |
16 | CHEQUES = “CZECHS” – I’ve always though of the Czech Republic being part of Eastern Europe rather than being central, so that threw me a bit. But I suppose if you look at a map of Europe, including all the ex-Russian states, then it is quite central, really. |
18 | DOES + KIN |
19 | CUT + LASS |
20 | HOLD-UP – cd |
23 | SUNNI = IN NUS all rev |
Isn’t this 4594?
What I wrote in the club forum was: I see this one as Tim’s way of letting you enjoy the cat/dog coincidence in words about tiredness and rest. I’d count it as a cryptic definition.
All I can add is that I think this would have been recorded with no comment at all if it had appeared 40 years ago and crossword blogs had existed then. Someone expressed similar puzzlement over (quoting from memory) “Drawing room or filling station” for DENTAL SURGERY in one of the recent “vintage” puzzles provided online on a qualifier day. When I solved that puzzle, it was my favourite clue and it’s the only one I can still remember. This kind of cryptic definition is much less common than it used to be, but unlike fill-in-the-blank quote clues, I can see no good reason why we shouldn’t have them occasionally.
We struggled with the puzzle (didn’t finish but that’s a reflection on us, not the setter) but always enjoy the challenge.
Thanks to all involved. Glad Dave has made a full recovery.