Time: 30 minutes
Music: Paul Simon, Rhythm of the Saints
This one proved tougher than usual for a Monday – a lot of knowledge required. If you are an experienced solver, you will just follow the cryptics and see what you get – surprise! There were a few tough ones that stretched my knowledge, but I came though in the end. But if you are missing a crucial piece of knowledge, you may not be so lucky.
I would like to thank everyone who got LiveJournal IDs and clicked “Join This Community” – it makes it easier for the administrators, even if it doesn’t fix all our problems. As you know, running a large online discussion group is not easy. I have tried to keep things pretty liberal here, with just a few gentle nudges when things get a little out of line. I would also like to thank Jackkt and Jerry for their work in controlling spam and ejecting undesireables.
| Across | |
| 1 | Having tantrums on retreat, one in flight (4) |
| STEP – PETS backwards, my FOI. | |
| 4 | One responsible for standards in cabbage and beer (4,6) |
| COLE PORTER – COLE + PORTER, different sorts of cabbage and beer. A great literal! | |
| 9 | Note covering wraps round nuts and washer (10) |
| LAUNDROMAT – LA (anagram of ROUND) MAT. | |
| 10 | Son an amusing character spoils (4) |
| SWAG – S + WAG. | |
| 11 | Political assistant has quiet time seizing power (6) |
| SHERPA – SH + ER(P)A. | |
| 12 | Everything from Gatti at last seen in a French poem (8) |
| UNIVERSE – UN([gatt]I)VERSE. | |
| 14 | Almost eat too much, coming back for drink (4) |
| GROG – GORG[e] backwards. | |
| 15 | This thing shattered reveller finally wears? (10) |
| NIGHTSHIRT – Anagram of THIS THING + [revelle]R. | |
| 17 | Old submarine docks at eastern island — almost everyone knows it (4,6) |
| OPEN SECRET – O PENS + E + CRET[e]. | |
| 20 | Case having been dismissed, criminals cheat at cards (4) |
| ROOK – [c]ROOK[s]. | |
| 21 | Photographic solution in second best city (4,4) |
| STOP BATH – S + TOP + BATH. | |
| 23 | Leave vehicle burning (6) |
| ALIGHT – Double definition. | |
| 24 | Short bloke has drug habit (4) |
| ROBE – ROB + E. | |
| 25 | Rumble from ocean was disturbing to the ear (3,7) |
| SEE THROUGH – Sounds like SEA THREW, with rumble as a verb. | |
| 26 | Tale recounting Catherine’s demise? (7,3) |
| HOWARDS END – A novel by E.M. Forster, with the cryptic referring to Catherine Howard. | |
| 27 | Rest in peace as everlasting (4) |
| EASE – Hidden in [peac]E AS E[verlasting]. | |
| Down | |
| 2 | In-form favourite confuses respect with hate (8,3) |
| TEACHER’S PET – Anagram of RESPECT and HATE. | |
| 3 | Arthur’s dad shut up having become tedious (9) |
| PENDRAGON – PEN + DRAG ON. | |
| 4 | Drape with the end cut short? (7) |
| CURTAIN – CURTAIN[s]. | |
| 5 | Member has desire: see her excited about cold dairy product (9,6) |
| LIMBURGER CHEESE – LIMB + URGE + anagram of SEE HER around C. | |
| 6 | Nationalist group getting in touch (7) |
| PATRIOT – PA(TRIO)T. | |
| 7 | Rise of drag performer? (5) |
| TOWER – Double definition, one jocular. | |
| 8 | Villain shows vigour heading north in Parisian street (5) |
| ROGUE – R(GO upside-down)UE. | |
| 13 | Archaeological find: group with cash prepared to support it (11) |
| SARCOPHAGUS – SA (sex appeal, which = it) + anagram of GROUP and CASH. | |
| 16 | Leaves one’s food? (9) |
| HERBIVORE – Cryptic definition. | |
| 18 | Went by valley keeping especially to the north (7) |
| ELAPSED – D(ESP)ALE upside-down. | |
| 19 | Elevated works building maliciously ruined (7) |
| TRASHED – ART upside-down + SHED. | |
| 21 | Revolutionary nearly put frighteners on Mrs Siddons? (5) |
| SARAH – HARAS[s] upside-down. | |
| 22 | Steer then give way finding large bend (5) |
| OXBOW – OX + BOW, as in bow out. | |
70 comments on “Times 27979 – It’s no secret, but you may not know it!”
Comments are closed.