Solving time: 61:50 – with one wrong
I started this last night, but fatigue overwhelmed me after 40 minutes with barely a third done. I got up early this morning to finish and polished it off in about 20 minutes, albeit with one careless mistake. Had I done it all this morning, I suspect I could have knocked 20 minutes off the total time.
I’m not quite sure about the synonym in 18, but otherwise a pretty good puzzle. The dd in 29a made me smile so I’ll give that my COD, but there were quite a few clever clues here – 1d, 2d, 12a, 13a & 24a to name but a few.
cd = cryptic def., dd = double def., rev = reversal, homophones are written in quotes, anagrams as (–)*, and removals like this
Across | |
---|---|
1 | JUST AS WELL = JUST (fair) + A + SWELL (balloon) |
6 | SKI + M |
9 | A + N + ARCHY (like the Arc de Triomphe) |
10 | OAK + LAND – Port in California |
12 | FEDERATION = FED (provided with fare) + RATION (allowance) about E (European), ‘Union’ is the definition |
13 | AWL – rev hidden – ‘hide sticker’ is the well-disguised definition |
15 | IMPART – ‘Not full admission’ is I’M PART |
16 | STURGEON = SURGEON about |
18 | AN(CHORE)D – a well-disguised definition, although I can’t quite see how CHORE and ‘fatigue’ are synonymous. |
20 | ADMIRE = MIRE (dirt) on DA rev |
23 |
|
24 | PETROL PUMP = (M + PER + L + TOP-UP)* – &lit |
26 | QUITE SO = QUITS (even) + O (old) about |
27 | DERVISH = DISH (course) abour E + RV |
28 |
|
29 | OFF-PUTTING – dd – I rather liked this one. |
Down | |
1 | JOAN = JOB (post) with the final B ‘upgraded’ to an A + N (new) |
2 | SHAKE-UP = SHAPE UK with K (king) exchanged with P (page) – this is where I went wrong, carelessly putting SHAPE-UP |
3 | ARC DE TRIOMPHE = (METRO RIDE CHAP)* |
4 | WAY + LAY |
5 | LOOKINTO = LOO (small room) + KIN (family) + OT (books) rev |
7 | KHANATE = (THE + |
8 | MUD-SLINGER = SUM (put together) rev about D |
11 | KIND + RED + SPIRIT |
14 | PI(CARES)QUE |
17 | MEAT LOAF = ME (yours truly) + TA (cheers) rev + LOAF (lounge) |
19 | CHEMIS |
21 | IS + MA(I)LI |
22 | HOLD-UP – dd |
25 | THUG = HUG after |
Among a fine bunch of clues, I thought 24ac didn’t really work as an &lit or an anagram, i.e. as a clue.
For the record my problems were with KHANATE (would never have thought of it), ISMAILI (simply DK), PICARESQUE (vaguely knew but it wouldn’t come out) and ANCHORED (simply should have got it!).
In my childhood I had an aunt of sorts who lived in OAKLAND so I didn’t have to think too long about that one, but is it just me, or is ‘barrel of sorts’ = OAK somewhat feeble?
On IMPART I had Dave’s parsing.
18ac:’Fatigues’ are ‘chores’ in the military, I think. Digging ditches etc.
Another thoroughly enjoyable puzzle though with plenty of really good clues.
Edited at 2012-11-09 07:51 am (UTC)
On the other hand, ‘I’m party’ could be construed as ‘I’m involved in this (action, agreement etc.)’.
Edited at 2012-11-10 05:26 am (UTC)
Could someone explain the link between ‘awl’ and ‘hide sticker’ please? I assume there is a connection?
Edited at 2012-11-09 09:22 am (UTC)
By the time I arrived at ANCHORED, I was so bamboozled I decided that it was itself a synonym for dog tired, and didn’t twig either the “and” or the “chore”, though the latter works well enough for fatigue, as any lowly private would know.
I can see what Ulaca means with regard to the &lit at 24, though at the time of solving I thought it an excellent example.
OFF PUTTING raised the biggest smile, KINDRED SPIRIT next best, most of the rest needed determination and much skull sweat for me to solve, not joyless but no relaxation either. Clever stuff.
By the way, thanks also to Jack for rescuing my post from the spam bin yesterday; I’ll avoid links until the problem is sorted out.
A highly enjoyable puzzle. I am full of admiration for the setter even if I don’t like him or her very much just at this moment.
I, too, enjoyed archy but my COD tick went to 19 for the short person dispensing.
Oops, just noticed I fell into the shape-up trap as well, just replacing the K in UK with any old P rather than swapping for the one in shape. I blame ONJ for telling John Tavolta he’d “better shape up”.
I spent about 20 minutes on this last night, very late and very tired, trying to solve it by staring really hard at it.
Spent at least as long this morning relishing some first rate clueing. I ‘solved’ KHANATE the way one solves the bit left over after putting together a flat-pack wardrobe – it looked plausible and fitted the hole. Never did work out where it came from, though, so thanks, Dave.
From Whitesnake’s Steal Your Heart Away:
I want some love and I want it now
And I’m going to take it any old how
But this is what crossword solving is all about – a delight from start to finish. I raise my hat to the setter.
Is anyone able to supply a suitable sentence showing this meaning?