Solving time: 48:55
I never concentrated in History at school, but I managed to drag 23a up from somewhere. I’m also not sure where I managed to pull 11a from either, but it was in my head for some reason.
A decent workout overall, I thought, with some fairly solid clues. I particularly like 7d, so I’ll give that my COD.
cd = cryptic def., dd = double def., rev = reversal, homophones are written in quotes, anagrams as (–)*, and removals like this
Across | |
---|---|
1 | DEMONSTRATE = (NOT MASTERED)* |
10 | ODOUR = OD replaces T in TOUR |
11 | EGLANTINE = IN in (ELEGANT)* |
12 | OR(I + GIN)ATE |
13 | TYPE A – dd – the first letter of 15d being A, so online solvers would type it. |
14 | HEA |
16 | CUTPURSE = CURSE about (PUT)* – the (not me!) simply implies that a cut-purse wouldn’t be put off by pockets. |
18 | SET-ASIDE = (A |
20 | AB(US)E + D |
23 | YALTA – the venue of a famous post-WWII conference between the Allied heads of state = AT + LAY all rev |
24 | LARCENIST = (IS CENTRAL)* |
26 | REP + AIRING |
27 | TENOR = “TENNER” |
28 | SAFETY BELTS = (LEFT BY SEATS)* |
Down | |
2 | E COLI = I + LOVE all rev with C replacing V |
3 | OARFISH = OAR + F + (HIS)* |
4 | SEESAW = SAW after SEE |
5 | ROLLED-UP – dd |
6 | TANK-TOP = TANK (drink heavily) + POT (jerry, as in jerry can) rev |
7 | DOROTHY SAYERS = (DO SHORTER)* about (Y + SAY) – semi-&lit |
8 | B + IT PARTS |
9 | GET A HEAD’S TART |
15 | ANT + ELOPE |
17 | A + DEL |
19 | STAMINA = (AT MAINS)* |
21 | BREATHE = RE in BATH (Western spa town) + E |
22 | DRAGGY = 2 Gs (goods) in YARD rev |
25 | INN + IT – a word that some people use to stress a point. |
2d is the sort of clue which makes me very grateful for the enumeration. Imagine how hard that clue would be without it!
There’s no such thing as a bad pun in my world so GET A HEAD START naturally wins Clue Of the Day.
28 mins, so not as easy as some found it.
Rob
I share your reservations about jerry/pot but I try to restrict myself to one moan per clue. 🙂