Times 27772 – my first palindrome!

Time taken: 13:14, although even with checking through my answers I managed a particularly silly typo at 13 down, which was one of the ones I felt good about parsing.

I think this is a tricky puzzle and the early times are a bit slower than usual (since I’m writing this a bit later than I usually do, the SNITCH is up and is at 126. There are a number of entries I had to piece together from wordplay, but that is a good thing.

I do have an error, so it is a good day to get in front of me on the leaderboard!

Away we go…

Across
1	Trickery from monkey scratching rear (4)
	SCAM – the monkey is a SCAMP, remove the last letter
4	Cold friend’s wrapped in warm material (10)
	CHINCHILLA – CHILL(cold) inside CHINA(friend)
9	Possible relief from lumbago, an old issue (4,6)
	BACK NUMBER – if you have lumbago, your BACK could use some NUMBing
10	Dogs perhaps retreating, one in flight (4)
	STEP – PETS(dogs, perhaps) reversed
11	Instinct about welcoming policeman, a patent expert? (6)
	EDISON – NOSE(instinct) reversed, containing DI(policeman). Thomas EDISON was renowned for patenting his inventions
12	A number eleven entering field of play, hungry-looking? (8)
	ANOREXIC – A, NO(number), then XI(elven) inside REC(field of play)
14	Italian white jacket’s taken off over the hill (4)
	ASTI – remove the outside letters of PAST IT (over the hill)
15	Chance of a thousand in income, but not five (10)
	LIKELIHOOD – K(a thousand) inside LIVELIHOOD(income) missing the V
17	Like ham I repeatedly mixed with this corn (10)
	HISTRIONIC – anagram of two I’s and THIS,CORN. A stage ham, so right up my alley.
20	What indicates relief from power cut (4)
	PHEW – P(power), HEW(cut)
21	In this building, are those inside waiting to buy it? (5,3)
	DEATH ROW – cryptic definition
23	Exposed relative’s endless bill (6)
	UNCLAD – UNCLE(relative) missing the last letter, AD(bill)
24	Gas one twice bottles? (4)
	NEON – it would be hidden inside oNE ONe
25	TS Eliot works about animal giving a lump in the throat (10)
	EPIGLOTTIS – anagram of TS ELIOT surrounding PIG(animal)
26	Evil man providing returns with little cash (10)
	MALEFICENT – MALE(man), then IF(providing) reversed, and a CENT(little cash)
27	Dated scoundrel with hand missing and a slippery customer (4)
	HEEL – HAND without AND, then EEL(slippery customer)

Down
2	Group meeting fate underground (11)
	CLANDESTINE – CLAN(group) and DESTINE(fate as a verb)
3	Rough and ready ladies’ clothing brand put first (9)
	MAKESHIFT – SHIFT(ladies’ clothing) with MAKE(brand) first
4	Extremely nice lunch forged deep international connection (7)
	CHUNNEL – anagram of the outer letters in NicE with LUNCH
5	Where NYPD cop may put perp, clearly! (2,5,3,5)
	IN BLACK AND WHITE – NYPD cars ~~are black and white~~, so a titchy double definition. OK – I thought I remember the NYPD cars in the 90s being black and white, but the clue here really relies on Collins dictionary having “black-and-white” as US slang for a police car.
6	Wheels turn handle used by writer (7)
	CARROLL – CAR(wheels), ROLL(turn) for the writer Lewis
7	Tangerine’s skin in sloppy plant secretion (5)
	LATEX – outer letters of TangerinE inside LAX(sloppy)
8	Like image showing pork pie ingredient (5)
	ASPIC – AS(like), PIC(image)
13	Useless musical theatre about one revolutionary (11)
	INOPERATIVE – long reversal of EVITA(musical), REP(theatre) ON(about), I(one). I managed to switch the V and T at the end
16	Hard work put an end to child’s play (9)
	HOPSCOTCH – H(hard), OP(work), SCOTCH(put an end to)
18	National leader’s deposed by Tory statesman (7)
	ISRAELI – remove the first letter from Benjamin DISRAELI
19	Impressive feat by service lines (7)
	COUPLET – COUP(impressive feat) with LET(tennis serve)
21	Material exploited the wrong way (5)
	DENIM – MINED(exploited) reversed
22	Single fee for the main feature (5)
	ATOLL – A(single), TOLL(fee)

68 comments on “Times 27772 – my first palindrome!”

I got really stuck on the last two (1a and 2d) after 45 minutes, and was just about to abandon ship but decided to give myself another five minutes. I’m glad I persevered, because I finished with all correct. Not all parsed I must admit! 1a caused most trouble – I was sure we needed something with the rear of scratching for far too long. Eventually I realised it must be SCAM but couldn’t see it – thanks for the explanation George! Also for explaining NEON and IN BLACK AND WHITE.

That’s an interesting point that Corymbia makes about new techniques for hiddens. I find that they either jump out at me straight away, or they’re LOI. It will be interesting to see if these new tricks start to appear more frequently. This slowcoach hopes not too often, although I’m sure the whizzbangers will love them! Having said that, I got henna straightaway the other day. Wavelength, huh!

FOI Anorexic
LOI Scam
COD Back number
Time 49 minutes

Thank setter and George

14:24, but with MALIFICENT. I followed the wordplay but obviously this is how I thought it was spelled because my subconscious took control of my typing fingers and I didn’t notice the error when checking at the end. And after sitting through the damned movie with my kids, to boot.

Edited at 2020-09-17 11:16 am (UTC)

Tough but successfully navigated.

COD: CHINCHILLA.

19:48. FOI step. LOI couplet. Moment of inspiration needed to get Carroll and never quite parsed neon otherwise a steady solve.

Not easy, 69 minutes, and a number of rather obscure clues (like IN BLACK AND WHITE). LOIs were COUPLET and then UNCLAD. But at least I was not tempted to any mistakes and I didn’t have to make up any words at all today, a rare occurrence (I mean NOT having to make them up).

A few sittings for this one. NW held me up the longest, SCAM, CLANDESTINE and ASTI being last in.

Enjoyable though without too many unusual words.

That was me – went anonymous for some reason. Definitely not my day.

NW corner beat me today and I feel beaten up. I tried “Afar” for ” over the hill” as in Safari without it’s jacket ( I know it doesn’t work!). Even thought of Asti but couldn’t see why. I also got hung up on Nous instead of Nose. Couldn’t see Clandestine nor Makeshift nor the tailless monkey. Total washout.

30.00 on the dot. Another one done the day after. A toughie I thought. FOI back number ,LOI Asti which have me much grief before accepting that must be the right answer .

Some tricky little blighters clandestine would have been even tougher without the final e. Liked Edison,Carroll and phew.

Will try to catch up on the puzzle chronology later today.

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