Solving time: 53:20
I solved most of this quite quickly, but came unstuck in the NE, and that took me an age to untangle.
Some good clues here – 19d was a good spot by the setter, also the notes in 10a and the substitution in 12a.
cd = cryptic def., dd = double def., rev = reversal, homophones are written in quotes, anagrams as (–)*, and removals like this
Across | |
---|---|
1 | HORSEWHIP = (HIRE SHOP)* about W |
6 | GU(PP)Y |
9 | SUGAR – rev hidden |
10 |
|
11 | TENT PEG – cd |
12 | MIDWIFE = MID-LIFE with L replaced by W |
13 | THE BUTLER DID IT – cd |
17 | SAVED BY THE BELL – cd |
21 | IN UTERO – hidden |
23 | ROT + A + TOR |
25 | AFTERGLOW = (OR WET FLAG)* |
26 | CU + BAN |
27 | AUDIT – I’m not sure where the ‘for cooking, say’ comes in – is it just a cd? |
28 | TURN LOOSE = (OR NO LET US)* |
Down | |
1 | HESITATE = SIT (to meet) in HEATE |
2 | REGAN = |
3 | ENRAPTURE = |
4 | HAIR GEL = (RALEIGH)* |
5 | PROMMER = PRIMMER with I replaced by O |
6 | GRAN’D |
7 | P(RIM)IT + I’VE |
8 | YANKEE – dd |
14 | EVACUATED = TAU in DEC + AVE all rev |
15 | IDENTICAL = DENT in II (two) + CAL |
16 | FLORENCE = LOR |
18 | BOOK + LET |
19 | TURF WAR = RAW FRU |
20 | CI(CAD)A |
22 | EGRET – becomes GREET if the opening E is moved to the middle |
24 | TAB + O + O |
I seem to be able to understand well enough how the clues work when I read them, but I still don’t get the answer until much later.
‘Yankee’ is a word that means one thing in the US, and something not quite the same in the UK.
— For the southern states, anyone from the north.
— For the northern states, anyone from the eastern seaboard.
— For the eastern seaboard, a person from Massachusetts.
— For Massachusetts, a person from upstate.
— For upstate Massachusetts, a person from [the name of a town I’ve forgotten].
I assumed 27 was simply a cryptic reference to the auditor’s task of preventing cooking of the books.
I wondered about the origin of “The butler did it” and found this article which may be of interest: http://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2010/dec/09/why-we-think-the-butler-did-it
HESITATE was unparsed (could it have been hesitant?), so was not sure if the initial T was correct. Also, dithered over PROMMER / primmer, so ISOLATION was another late one, and also unparsed. MIDWIFE also took a second look to make sure of the W.
I enjoy seeing phrases like THE BUTLER DID IT in a crossword, and the clue was a nice red herring — I was sure it would be something to do with tennis!
I fell for the IT slant on 13ac, so it didn’t succumb until most everything else was in.
Kudos and respect to our esteemed Ed. for his comments and action on yesterday’s weirdnesses.
Perhaps we can hear from an Accountant. I’m not certain than an auditor looks for fraud – I think that’s the job of the Fraud Squad. I think an auditor is more concerned with ensuring an enterprise is keeping adequate financial records and will report suspicion of fraud to the management.
No-one ever said that chartered accountancy was rivetting but we do say Jim that actuaries are trainee chartered accountants who had to jack it in as it was too exciting :-)).
You’re right about actuaries of course, although the real turning point for me came when I realised that I lacked the charisma to succeed as an undertaker.
The auditor’s report usually says something like the accounts give a “true and fair view” of the state of the company’s affairs.
This took me 9 minutes, so I seem to have been on the wavelength. Quite a nice puzzle, even though quite a lot went in straight from definition. The editor’s taste for cryptic definitions is clearly being indulged by this setter. I’m not a particular fan of them – particularly in such concentration – but there’s nothing wrong with them.
Was in Florence in summer 2012 on, by chance, the day the Mille Miglia came to town. Will never forget the sight and sound of all those sportscars, new and vintage – mostly Ferraris.
(Apart from PROMMER.)
Check the keyboard shortcuts. If not, you could use use the mobile version, that works on my iPod.
I can see how the two long CDs could cause hold-ups if you don’t spot them quickly with there being no “other way in”.
Fun puzzle with some interesting devices.
Thanks for explaining 1d Dave as I couldn’t parse that one.
paul in london (but away from my computer and login)
On that note, thanks to Dave and regards to all.
I thought this was a classic Times crossword, and, after yesterday’s, all the more enjoyable for it. Some nice cryptic definitions, particularly 13ac (THE BUTLER DID IT), which took me far longer than it should have done.
I never did manage to parse EGRET, and spent a long time looking for a bird to which an H could be added.
Glad to see everyone here and well after my brief absence. I had some leave owed, and decided to catch up on my drinking, which has suffered of late due to pressure of work.
Accident of the Day was a young entrepreneur who had poured half a ladle of molten metal down his boot. When he’s well enough, there are some gentlemen who will be talking to him about his hobby of making his own pound coins.
As with nearly everybody, just couldn’t see why “for cooking, say” was part of the clue for AUDIT, and kept that in reserve until I had all the crossers, and even later. “For cooking” implies the auditor is part of the “cooking” process, whereas – if anything – it is the reverse, quite apart from the legal niceties of audit as explained at length above. Poor clue. Especially as many Times readers will have had some experience of company audits, in active or passive roles.
FOI HORSEWHIP, LOI PROMMER (I was one, many years ago), COD EVACUATED for giving the humble “tau” a starring role.