My solving time was 35 minutes and I found it quite straightforward. There were a couple of unknown bits and pieces but assisted by friendly wordplay.
As usual definitions are underlined in bold italics, {deletions and substitutions are in curly brackets} and [anagrinds, containment, reversal and other indicators in square ones]. I usually omit all reference to positional indicators unless there is a specific point that requires clarification.
|
Across |
|
| 1 | Arrogant, having been promoted, a matter for regret (6) |
| UPPITY : UP (having been promoted), PITY (a matter for regret) | |
| 4 | Got to the bottom of friend having no stomach to hold party (8) |
| FATHOMED : F{rien}D [having no stomach] containing [to hold] AT HOME (party). SOED defines an ‘at-home’ as a reception of visitors within certain stated hours, during which the host has announced that he/she will be at home. Oh for the long-ago days when we were allowed to receive visitors? | |
| 10 | One goes with hose that’s found in gutter (7) |
| DOUBLET : DOUBLE T (that’s found in gutter). In the 15th century the combination of doublet and hose was the well-dressed man’s basic outfit. | |
| 11 | Act under compulsion to cancel church Mass (7) |
| PERFORM : PERFOR{ce} (under compulsion) [cancel church – CE] | |
| 12 | Great success of small group setting leader back (4) |
| RIOT : TRIO (small group) becomes RIOT when its leader -T – is set back | |
| 13 | Not always on hand, went travelling (3,3,4) |
| NOW AND THEN : Anagram [travelling] of ON HAND WENT | |
| 15 | Endlessly tough for each general author (6,3) |
| HARPER LEE : HAR{d} (tough) [endlessly], PER (for each), LEE (general – Robert E Lee). Author of To Kill a Mockingbird. | |
| 16 | I hadn’t turned round paintings (5) |
| TONDI : I’D NOT (I hadn’t) reversed [turned round]. Paintings in circular form. | |
| 18 | Board to manage progress (3,2) |
| GET ON : Two meanings. Board a postbus and progress one’s career. Edit: see brnch’s and Kevin’s comments below for a third definition. | |
| 19 | Some hours which minutes on piano might stretch into? (9) |
| AFTERNOON : M (minutes) on P (piano) = PM (afternoon). The rule for Across clues, ‘A on B = BA’ applies here. I’m not sure whether this clue is clever or clumsy. | |
| 21 | One adds zest as Liberal, in showing partiality (10) |
| FLAVOURING : L (Liberal) contained by [in] FAVOURING (showing partiality) | |
| 23 | Dressed heel, nicked by end of chisel (4) |
| CLAD : CAD (heel) contains [nicked – is cut into – by] {chise}L [end] | |
| 26 | Inspired by a new religious centre (7) |
| VATICAN : VATIC (inspired – prophetic), A, N (new). ‘Vatic’ was new to me. Sounds more like a brand of hoover! | |
| 27 | As soon as clocked in the workplace can be heard (2,5) |
| ON SIGHT : Sounds like [can be heard] “on site” (in the workplace). ‘Clocking’ is slang for spotting or seeing something. The surface refers to the old practice of ‘clocking in’ at one’s place of work using timed punch cards, now superseded electronic gadgets if practised at all. I had to do this in my first paid employment as a student working part-time in a department store. | |
| 28 | Course a little short for its country’s patron (2,6) |
| ST ANDREW : ST ANDREW{‘s} (Scottish golf course) [a little short] | |
| 29 | Announced changes of course on crime sentencing rules (6) |
| SYNTAX : Sounds like [announced] “sin” (crime) + “tacks” (changes of course – sailing). Using grammar proper. | |
| Down | |
| 1 | Managed by mistake to ignore two leaders (5) |
| UNDER : {bl}UNDER (mistake) [ignore two leaders] | |
| 2 | Capitalist rating business: union record on the up (9) |
| PLUTOCRAT : TAR (rating – sailor) + CO (business) + TU (trades union) + LP (record) all reversed [on the up] | |
| 3 | Up to work checkout (4) |
| TILL : Three meanings – until / work the land / a checkout at the supermarket | |
| 5 | Quickly encompassing end of life — euphemism for “dead” (2,5) |
| AT PEACE : AT PACE (quickly) containing [encompassing] {lif}E [end] | |
| 6 | Looking wrong, yet red hair is in the family (10) |
| HEREDITARY : Anagram [looking wrong] of YET RED HAIR | |
| 7 | Skulk around, not the first to kiss (5) |
| MOOCH : {s}MOOCH (kiss) [not the first]. I don’t need much excuse… | |
| 8 | Time for one obscure worry? No time (9) |
| DIMENSION : DIM (obscure), {t}ENSION (worry) [no time]. Collins explains: In physics, the fourth dimension is time. The other three dimensions, which exist in space, are length, width, and height. | |
| 9 | Start to sketch possibly libellous poster, no hurry (6) |
| STROLL : S{ketch} [start], TROLL (possibly libellous poster) | |
| 14 | Operating in colour that’s extra strong (10) |
| REINFORCED : IN FORCE (operating) contained by [in] RED (colour) | |
| 15 | Hands up for success in school sport (4,5) |
| HIGH FIVES : HIGH (school), FIVES (sport). Stuff beyond my ken, but I’m vaguely aware of it. | |
| 17 | One’s taken wrong line in the dark, lacking this? (4,5) |
| NEON LIGHT : Anagram [taken wrong] of ONE, then L (line) contained by [in] NIGHT (the dark). Semi &lit. | |
| 19 | Fix up say to go beyond Scottish island (7) |
| ARRANGE : ARRAN (Scottish island), then EG (say) reversed [up] | |
| 20 | Not be serious about woman as PA (6) |
| TANNOY : TOY (not be serious) containing [about] ANN (woman). Public address system. | |
| 22 | Cavities in human trachea (5) |
| ANTRA : Hidden [in] {hum}AN TRA{chea}. Unknown to me although I think the singular ‘antrum’ may have come up before. Collins has: a natural cavity, hollow, or sinus, esp in a bone. | |
| 24 | Healing process getting both sides in debate to vote (5) |
| DETOX : D{ebat}E [both sides], TO, X (vote) | |
| 25 | One share in decision that’s a surprise (1,3) |
| I SAY : I (one), SAY (share in decision). I have no say in this. | |
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