Times 25710

Author   daveperryPosted on Categories Daily Cryptic
Solving time: 23:50

I half expected some sort of Valentine theme today, then after meeting Macbeth, Richard and Othello in the first half dozen clues, I thought I was in for some sort of Shakespearean theme, but there was no further evidence of one.

It’s always a pleasant surprise to get a nice easy one on a blogging day, and at less than 25 minutes for me, it was certainly that. Anything sub-30 for me is a noteworthy achievement! Several good clues in here, although I think my COD goes to the cryptic def at 9d which I rather liked.

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

Across
1 CHAMBER POT = (MACBETH)* about (R + PO) – All those Dean Mayer Sunday puzzles put me onto this one in a flash – he does like a bit of schoolboy toilet humour!
6 MARC = CRAM rev – Marc Chagall was a French painter
10 DRASTIC = DR + C about ASTI
11 HOusE + DOWN
12 ST(ONE + W)ALL
13 RADII – cd
14 CHINA – hidden – CRS (china plate = mate)
15 DO + O + LITTLE – ‘Girl made grand’ is the definition, a reference to Eliza Doolittle in G.B. Shaw’s play Pygmalion, and the musical My Fair Lady that was based upon it.
17 NOTRE DAME = NOTE about (RED + MA rev)
20 WHERE = “WEAR”
21 IGLOO = GI rev + LOO (smallest room)
23 IN(T)UIT + I’VE
25 INSTEAD = IN (hot, as in trendy) + TEA (meal) in (S + D)
26 CURE-ALL = CU + L about REAL (physical)
27 N + ARK
28 TENDERLOIN = TEND (nurse) + EOIN (Irishman) about R/L
Down
1 pindariC + ODES
2 ANATOMIST = ANT about (ATOM + IS)
3 BY THE SAME TOKEN = (ENEMY TAKES BOTH)*
4 RI(CHAR)D
5 OTHELLO = (THE + L/L) in O/O (rounds) – the definition is a reference to a quote from the play where Iago tells Brabantio that ‘an old black ram is tupping your white ewe.’
7 AV(O)ID
8 CENTIPEDE = CEDE about (TIP after E + N)
9 REAR-VIEW MIRROR – cd, and rather a good one I thought.
14 CONDITION – dd
16 THE MIKADO = (KID AT HOME)*
18 ARIADNE = ARIA + END rev
19 ENTICED – It reads as if ENTERED (went in) is having ER (monarch) replaced by ICE (diamonds), although that would leave an extra E in the answer, so there may be a better solution.
22 LASER = L + (EARS)*
24 fEeLs LiEiN

53 comments on “Times 25710”

  1. Well, that was all very nice. Didn’t spot the problem w. 19d, though I agree it looks like a bit of a bludner.

    I’m ashamed to admit I enjoyed 1ac. I also liked 13ac (RADII), though the checkers made it too easy.

    Failed to parse 28ac, never having heard of Eoin. I’m not sure one should encourage these other countries in their perverse spellings – if Ian is good enough for us, it ought to be good enough for them.

    Well, I’m off duty yet again on a Friday night, and wondering why. Honestly, leave just one pair of forceps in a patient they lose all confidence in you. It’s not even as if we’re particularly short of forceps.

  2. Hello all from an appreciative regular reader but only occasional contributor. Much enjoyed this, mainly because it was nice and easy and therefore aimed squarely at idiots like me. 50 mins, a veritable triumph. Puzzled over 19d for some time even after getting it, and was relieved to see that everybody thinks it’s a mistake. I had no problem with 1d – as a lapsed classicist myself I think the setter enjoyed the in-joke of ‘Pindaric’ which alludes neatly but obliquely to the ODES clued by ‘works’. Although pretty straightforward the puzzle was a bit of a throwback to earlier times, with all the classical and Shakespearean references. After yesterday’s fiendish effort it was nice to finish the puzzle AND feel erudite for getting all the references. I look forward to being cut down to size tomorrow.
    Tom
  3. 9:43 for me, including about a minute spent wondering if there could be some alternative answer to 19dn that would actually fit the wordplay. Apart from that, a nice puzzle, though I have to admit I’d forgotten the quote from Othello (last seen on stage with Willard White, Ian McKellen and Imogen Stubbs at the Young Vic). Like Tom (Anon), I also enjoyed 1dn.

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