Times 25591

Author   daveperryPosted on Categories Daily Cryptic
Solving time: 54:10

I found this quite tough, but enjoyable. There was quite a lot of fairly imaginative cluing and some good disguise.

12a just about gets my COD for it’s well-disguised definition, but 1a and 10d were both pretty good too.

cd = cryptic def., dd = double def., rev = reversal, homophones are written in quotes, anagrams as (–)*, and removals like this

Across
1 GRIP = Initials of President In Reining Government rev – Lift & separate required on ‘Vice president’
3 OFF-MESSAGE = OFF (race start) + AGE (time) all about MESS (confusion)
9 REFOCUS = (OF CoURSE)* – ‘nothing having gone’ meaning ‘remove an O’
11 STUNG (wounded) + UN (maquisard’s one)
12 FIRST OFFENDER = FIR + (EFFORT ENDS)* – ‘One’s never been up’ is the definition
14 IN TWO = “INN TOO”
15 GREEN BELT – dd
17 ANTIPATHY = ANY (some) about TIP (upset) + AT + H (husband)
19 BE OFF = FO (old government department) in FEB (month) all rev
21 OR + CHEST + RATION
24 P + ADDING
25 AUDITOR = A + UDI (Unilateral Declaration of Independence, breakaway bid) + TO + R
26 VINEGARISH = VIE (jockey) about N (North, pole) + GARISH (flashy)
27 IDLE – hidden
Down
1 GIRL FRIDAY = RID (delivered) in G + (FAIRLY)*
2 IN FOR IT = INFO (low-down) + RITe
4 FIST FIGHT = (THIS + F + GIFT)*
5 MESNE = alternative letters of iMpEl SiNnEr
6 SOUNDING BOARD = “SOUNDING BORED”
7 ALGARVE = ALGAE (simple life in pool) about RV (Revised Version, good book)
8 EDNA = AND + E all rev
10 COTTON-PICKING = TON (fashion) + PIC KING (photography supremo) all after COT (bed) – ‘blinking’ is the definition, as an expletive
13 STAFF NURSE = STAFFS (crooks) about RUN (trip) rev + E (drug)
16 EGYPTIANS = (dedicatioN IT PAYS)* after EG (for one)
18 TRODDEN = ODD (off the wall) in TRENt
20 O(MITT)ED
22 E-wAGER
23 SP (better price) + I + V (see)

52 comments on “Times 25591”

  1. 14:56 here for a puzzle which with hindsight looks a lot easier than I found it at the time. No complaints, though (apart from a slight feeling of unease brought on by 10dn).
  3. It’s often wise to avoid entries that could be construed, or even misconstrued, as insensitive in whichever way. Anything referring back to those awful days of slavery really ought to be struck out, in my view, and in such a fine puzzle necessarily removed.

    But please, how good was this as a Friday diversion? I enjoyed it very much.

    Tracey Taylor-Young

    1. Madness to suggest words that may cause offence should be avoided. Increasingly someone is offended by everything, including urban myth etymologies, so you’ll end up either catering for stupidity or deciding which sensitivities you think are important. Not that selective sensitivity bothers people of that ilk. Ban all references to ancient Rome, I say. Their human rights record was pretty poor.
  4. Challenging puzzle, and wildly entertaining blog. Is ‘high horse’ offensive? I sincerely hope so.
  5. A wrestle this for an inexpert solver, but fun. What a shame that the Maquisards could nt have been armed with a sten rather tan a stun
  6. Lots of expert hidden clues which made for a pleasurable time. I had Enna for 8 down – another girl’s name which has Ann(rev)and E, although I see where Edna’s coming from.

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