Solving time: 1:22:27 – Another shocking time to add to my collection. I don’t think I’ve been under an hour all week. Not the fault of the crosswords, I hasten to add, just me.
Very tired tonight, and fighting drowsiness all the way through which undoubtedly added to my time, but I’ve been off my game all week so it wasn’t really any surprise. Maybe I’ll be back on form a bit next week.
A few unknown words for me which took a bit of working out – STOA, THOREAU, ORIOLES, FICHU & COADJUTOR. Some nice clues today – I think 6a & 2d were probably the best for my money, and I liked the cunningly hidden word at 9a.
cd = cryptic def., dd = double def., rev = reversal, homophones are written in quotes, anagrams as (–)*, and removals like this
| Across | |
|---|---|
| 1 | FRAUDSTER = (US REDRAFT)* – to ‘do’ someone is to con them, so ‘One who does’ is the definition |
| 6 | VISOR = R |
| 9 | omitted – very neatly disguised reverse hidden |
| 10 | WAXINGS – It took me a moment to parse this one. S (Small) follows (dogs) WAXING (apparently getting more substantial, as in the opposite of waning) |
| 11 | deliberately omitted |
| 12 | CAS |
| 13 | CAGE BIRD = CA + (BRIDGE)* |
| 14 | STOA = A |
| 17 |
|
| 18 | JOHN PEEL – dd – ‘Someone who was hunting’ is a reference to the subject of D’ye ken John Peel, while ‘Auntie’s old record player’ refers to the late BBC DJ. Auntie Beeb is commonly used affectionate name for the BBC. |
| 21 | JOYSTICKS = STICKS (bears) on JOY (transport) – a bit weak, I thought, but given away by the checkers. |
| 22 | C(HAS)M – to ‘have’ someone is another euphemism for duping them |
| 24 | THO(RE + A)U – Henry David Thoreau was a writer & transcendental philosopher. |
| 25 | O + RI(O)LES |
| 26 | RATTY = RAT + Y |
| 27 | FLY AGARIC = (FAIR CLAY + G)* |
| Down | |
| 1 | FICHU – a type of shawl. I can see the ‘shoe’ = “CHU”, but I don’t see how ‘Price’ = Fi, or is it “fish”? It looks like it’s “FEE + SHOE” – thanks to the anonymous blogger. |
| 2 | ACT THE GIDDY GOAT = (HAT ETC)* + GIDDY (anagrind) + (TOGA)* – The anagrind here is in the solution rather than the clue, for a change. |
| 3 | DIATRIBE = “DYE A TRIBE” |
| 4 | TAKE CAR + |
| 5 | deliberately omitted |
| 6 | VOX POP = V (very small) + POP (drink) about OX (neat) |
| 7 | SIN/BAD (twin evils) + TAILOR (fashion) about HE’S (fellow’s) |
| 8 | RUSTY + NAIL – A cocktail of Scotch & Drambuie – here’s how to make one |
| 13 | COADJUTOR = (A COURT + J + DO)* – I’ve not seen this word before and it took me a while to come up with the most likely arrangement of the letters. |
| 15 | SO(B |
| 16 | KNOCKING = KING (valuable diamond perhaps) after CONK rev |
| 19 | ST(EEL)Y – A Tamworth is a breed of pig. The breed became famous in the UK after a pair of them, nicknamed the Tamworth Two, escaped from an abattoir and went on the run for a week before recaptured. The story captured the public interest back in 1998, and the pair were named Butch and Sundance. |
| 20 | SC + RUFF – although I don’t know where the SC comes from. No doubt someone will enlighten me. SC is from the Latin silicet meaning ‘that is’ – thanks to rosselliot. |
| 23 | MU + SIC – SIC is from the Latin for ‘such’ and is used when a word or phrase is printed deliberately oddly because it is being reproduced verbatim from another source. |
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