Not much else requiring comment, so I’ll jusy say a big thank you to Harry for an enjoyable puzzle and get straight into my best attempt at explaining how it works.
Defibnitions underlined: DD = double definition: anagrams indicated by *(–): omitted letters indicated by {-}
| Across | |
| 1 | Being able to be in two minds? (8) |
| TELEPATH – Cryptic definition (with ‘being’ meaning ‘one who is’) | |
| 5 | Vessel to the east of small bridge (4) |
| SPAN – PAN (vessel) is positioned to the east of (in the context of an Across clue) S (small) | |
| 8 | Bed a woman (6) |
| BERTHA – BERTH A (bed a) | |
| 9 | Refer to more balanced broadcast for one on board (8) |
| SEAFARER – Sounds like (broadcast) SEE FAIRER (refer to more balanced) | |
| 10 |
A long way behind with paintings (no time for them) (4) |
| AFAR – AF{T} (behind) and AR{T} (paintings) both without their T (no time for them). Rather neat. | |
| 11 | Cheery gent must get sacked. Period (3,7) |
| THE REGENCY – *(CHEERY GENT) with “must get sacked” signalling the anagram | |
| 12 | Without first two grades, take up barbering and fail badly (4,1,7) |
| COME A CROPPER – {BE}COME A CROPPER (take up barbering) with B and E (‘two grades’ – as in A levels, for example) removed from the beginning | |
| 16 | You might say one old-fashioned tune (6,6) |
| SQUARE NUMBER – SQUARE (old fashioned) + NUMBER (tune), with 1 being an example (you might say) of a square number in maths | |
| 18 |
Big singer who might cover all hits by the Killers? (10) |
| SUPERGRASS – a supergrass might indeed inform on all the bumpings off (all hits) committed by killers. The clue also includes a neat parallel set of references to the contemporary music scene. (Is it coincidence that The Killers hit song “Read My Mind” ties in so well with 1ac?) | |
| 20 | Old American person’s home near California (4) |
| INCA – IN (home) beside (near) CA (abbrev. for California) | |
| 21 | I love you interrupting bosses of a hard-working bent (8) |
| STUDIOUS – I O (I love) + U (you in text-speak) inside (interrupting) STUDS (bosses – as in shirt studs) | |
| 22 | Where one might see some transcendentalists fly? (6) |
| INSECT – One might see transcendentalists IN SECT | |
| 23 | Honey is pricey (4) |
| DEAR – DD, the first as in the term of affection | |
| 24 |
Without female help, state didn’t produce so much (8) |
| MAIDLESS – Sounds like (state) MADE LESS (didn’t produce so much). I suppose the state of being without a maid is to be maidless, but I’d wager that it’s a word unlikely to be found anywhere other than in crosswordland. | |
| Down | |
| 1 | Forget about bringing in soldier’s climbing jumper? (4,4) |
| TREE FROG – *(FORGET) – with “about” pointing to the anagram – and RE also inside the mix (bringing in soldier) | |
| 2 | Bit of tear in material that’s about so long (5) |
| LATER – T (bit of Tear) ‘in’ REAL reversed (material that’s about) | |
| 3 | I might give some mugs a lift for money (7,7) |
| PLASTIC SURGEON – Cryptic definition | |
| 4 | Experience discrimination (5) |
| TASTE – DD | |
| 5 | Butcher and a pair of Poles sent up one given stick (5,4) |
| SNARE DRUM – MURDER + N & S (butcher and a pair of Poles) reversed (sent up) | |
| 6 | A dope case for city bureau (6) |
| AGENCY – A GEN (dope – as in information) + CY (case for C{it}Y) | |
| 7 | Decide my head requires slap on its crown (4,2,4,4) |
| MAKE UP ONES MIND – ONES MIND (my head) has MAKE UP (slap) on top (on its crown – in the context of a Down clue). At least, I think that’s how it works. | |
| 13 |
Soap company employee needs rate for distribution (4,5) |
| EAST ENDER – *(NEEDS RATE) with “for distribution” signposting the anagram. A member of the cast of East Enders could be said to be a ‘soap company employee’. | |
| 14 |
I’m used when catching crabs, octopus and rockfish at the front (3) |
| OAR – First letters of (at the front) Octopus And Rockfish (the definition referring, of course, to the rowing term where you either skim the water or stick the blade in too deep – in either case potentially triggering bad consequences if you are in a fast moving eight at the time). | |
| 15 | Tip for tucking into vegetables or fancy birds (8) |
| PEACOCKS – COCK (tip – as in tip / cock one’s hat) is ‘tucked into’ PEAS (vegetables) | |
| 17 | Desire base parts for actor Charlie Sheen (6) |
| LUSTRE – LUST (desire) + R E (last letters – ‘base parts’ – of actoR CharliE) | |
| 19 | Where one might find nine in a confused state (2,3) |
| AT SEA – A SEAFARER (‘nine’ across) may well be found here | |
| 20 | One’s bound to avoid Republican family (5) |
| ISSUE – I’S (one’s) + SU{R}E (bound to) without its R (avoid Republican) | |
LOI 2dn LATER
COD 10ac AFAR
WOD DEFIBNITIONS!
26:45 for me. I failed to parse 2 and 7 down, so thanks for that Nick. I liked AFAR and the mathematical precision of one as the first SQUARE NUMBER.
Edited at 2018-04-29 07:09 am (UTC)
Edited at 2018-04-29 09:56 am (UTC)
Edited at 2018-04-29 05:48 pm (UTC)
Otherwise enjoyed it, COD to Plastic Surgeon. David