Solving Time: About 15 minutes for this – it is not hard, as we have come to expect from a qualifier. However, I found it a very entertaining crossword, well produced and with some exceptionally good clues; 21 ac and 12 & 13 dn stand out in particular. Thank you, setter!
cd = cryptic definition, dd = double definition, rev = reversed, anagrams are *(–), homophones indicated in “”
ODO means the Oxford Dictionaries Online
Across |
|
---|---|
1 | qualifier – as = QUA, + I in LIFER, a long term prisoner – though not as long as all that, these days, apparently. Nice word to have as 1ac in a, well, qualifier. If qua is unfamiliar to you, see some usage examples here |
6 | bravo – dd, one from the NATO alphabet, Alfa, Bravo, Charlie etc.. (and yes, I thought it would be Alpha, too..) |
9 | in use – hidden, rev., in thE SUN Is |
10 | lay to rest – stake = bet = LAY + dashed = TORE + ST |
11 | To the Lighthouse – *(Tut High heels too). A reference to the well-known novel by Virginia Woolf. If you haven’t heard of it, rather than embarrassing us all by confessing, just bone up here |
13 |
Earl Grey – ( |
14 |
wrasse – W( |
16 |
titchy – T( |
18 |
unafraid – girl = UNA + F( |
21 |
middle-of-the-road – what a neat clue this is.. a dd, one def. being moderate, the other ( |
23 | objective – dd |
25 | datum – lawyer = DA + corporation = stomach = TUM. From the OED: “The body; the abdomen, esp. when large and prominent. colloq. and vulgar.” |
26 | eight – authority = WEIGHT, without the W. What we watch American post-graduate olympic rowing champions doing for Oxford and Cambridge, each year. |
27 | lord mayor – *(OLD ARMY) + ranks = OR |
Down |
|
1 | quilt – L(eft) in desert = QUIT |
2 | adulterated – I think this is ADULT and X-RATED, ie twice unsuitable for child viewing, with the X changed to E in a “change of heart.” Though in Venezuela one must be over 18 to see an E rated film.. |
3 | iceberg – zInC + GREBE rev. |
4 |
ill-timed – *(L( |
5 | rhythm – last letters of oR toucH lightlY chesT witH palM, the def. being “beat” |
6 | brother – soup = BROTH + ER, the US equivalent of what we would call A & E |
7 | ace – dd. The suit, ie clubs, has to be mentioned to make a single (club) = ace.. |
8 | on the mend – *(NOT) + edge = HEM + close = END. |
12 |
unseaworthy – *(REASON WHY TU( |
13 | extempore – 5 (= 5dn, rhythm) = TEMPO in partner no longer = EX, + religious classes = RE. another beautifully constructed clue |
15 | knitwear – sounds like “nit were.” When some people say it, anyway. Close enough for me, I don’t tend to get too sniffy about homophones |
17 |
half-cut – boy = ALF + C( |
19 |
fiefdom – F( |
20 |
jovial – work = JO( |
22 | demur – RUM ED, rev. |
24 | jog – a dd. |
Thanks for another fascinating blog, Jerry – especially the link to World Wide Words, which is new to me – and I quite agree with you that this was a fine puzzle.
>and should surely be required reading for all budding cruciverbalists.
I’ve already signed up.
I am definitely not qualified for the championship, although I can scrape by as a Monday blogger.
Re speed v pleasure – I’ve given this a bit of thought lately and I appear to be someone who solves for pleasure (and gets enormous pleasure from doing so, especially crosswords lke this one) but just happens to be speedy.
By the way Jerry, in your blog LORD MAYOR should be 27ac and you have omitted 26ac, which is (w)EIGHT.
But at least I finished it!