Times 25674

Author   daveperryPosted on Categories Daily Cryptic
Solving time: I couldn’t time it as I did it in bits on the train/tram on the way to work. From start to finish probably about forty minutes, but there was a 10 minute bike ride and good deal of changing trains, etc. in there so probably no more than 20-25 minutes actual solving time. I should also point out that I’ve not had a chance to enter my answers online yet, so it’s unchecked, but I’m pretty confident about it all.

I completely forgot it was my turn to blog last night so I was grateful for an easy one that I could sprint through on the train and then quickly type up when I got to work. No time for more preamble now.

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

Across
1 SET ASIDE = contenT in (SEA + SIDE)
5 PRELIM = R + (LIE)* in PM – ‘heat’ was the definition – an excellent clue with a good surface and good misdirection. My COD
9 newspapeR + UN
10 INSPECTIONS = (SPINE)* + aCTIONS
12 CORIOLANUS = vIOLA in COR (My!) + NUS (students)
13 BORE – dd
15 SMYRNA = MaYoR in SuburbaN + A – I know this one from the Diplomacy board game, so is it that ancient? On edit: It was known as Smyrna until 1930, so relatively recently, but it is at least 3,500 years old, so it’s certainly ancient from that perspective.
16 SHIFTED = (FISH)* + Tons Eaten Daily
18 REVENUE = EVEN (stable) in EURope rev
20 ON TICK – hidden
23 SITE = “CITE”
24 RESPIRATOR = (A SPORTIER)* + R
26 OLIVER TWIST = OVER (finished) + TWIST (unexpected plot development) all about (I + L) rev
27 LAB = BALl rev – informal word for labrador
28 FILL INg
29 ATTORNEY = “A TOURNEY”
Down
1 S + TRUCK
2 TANTRUM = T after (T + AN) + RUM (odd)
3 SKI-TOURING = KIT in SO + U + RING – I’ve not heard of the sport so I had to work it out from the wordplay
4 DISPARAGEMENT = D + (A + GEM) in PARENT
6 RAT + sentencE
7 LOOKOUT – dd – ‘cave’ in its Latin meaning of ‘beware’
8 MISLEADS = M + (LADIES)* + Seducer
11 EMULSION PAINT = (ON AN IMPULSE I)* + caT
14 TINTORETTO = RE (about) in TINT (shade) + OTTO (German)
17 B + RUSH-OFF
19 VITRIOL = TRIO in VILe
21 CAT + ALAN
22 C(R)ABBY
25 SE + MI

45 comments on “Times 25674”

  1. 14:24. I seem to have been relatively off the pace for this one compared to yesterday, but it was straightforward enough.
    I wondered both about the Englishness of Alan and the Spanishness of CATALANs. The latter is a political fact of course but there’s no need to rub it in. Alan Greenspan might feel the same way.
  2. A disappointing 10:53 for me, never getting into my stride and making heavy weather of some easy clues.

    No problem with TINTORETTO (seen plenty of his paintings in Venice :-), but (like others) I hadn’t come across SKI-TOURING before.

  3. Sat down to this over supper, with one eye on Goldeneye, so no true timing possible, but all completed within two and a bit hours elapsed time. Found the “way in” to this one difficult, but once a few fell, the rest proved tricky but not fiendish. Went RHS, then NW finally SW, LOI SITE/VITRIOL. Some nice surfaces, agree PRELIM is excellent.

    Enjoyed putting together CORIOLANUS – involving two plays for the price of one! Twelfth Night was our college summer play back in the day. I still remember my wig – it certainly hung “like flax on a distaff”!

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