Solving time: 28 minutes
I found this straightforward. How did you do?
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 | Fruit went up in price? Hiked at first by smallest amount (7) |
| ROSEHIP | |
| ROSE (went up in price), H{iked} [at first], 1P (smallest amount – one penny) | |
| 5 | Harry taken in by smooth cheat (7) |
| FINAGLE | |
| NAG (harry) contained [taken in] by FILE (smooth) | |
| 9 | Raiment so fashionable — that’s good for evening out (5,4) |
| STEAM IRON | |
| Anagram [fashionable] of RAIMENT SO | |
| 10 | Key used by Scottish group making harsh sound (5) |
| CLANG | |
| CLAN (Scottish group), G (key) | |
| 11 | Walking to pub, real man resolved to neck one (13) |
| PERAMBULATION | |
| Anagram [resolved] of TO PUB REAL MAN, containing [to neck – swallow] I (one) | |
| 13 | Retired bore back amongst Aussies missing flight (8) |
| EMERITUS | |
| TIRE (bore) reversed [back] contained by [amongst] EMUS (Aussies missing flight). A title often given to retired professors. | |
| 15 | Like some Cretan scripts nonsensical poet keeps at home (6) |
| LINEAR | |
| LEAR (nonsensical poet – Edward Lear) contains [keeps] IN (at home). My AI assistant advises: The Linear A script was used by the Minoans of Crete from 1800 to 1450 BC. It was the primary script used in palace and religious writings of the Minoan civilization. It was succeeded by Linear B, which was used by the Mycenaeans to write an early form of Greek. | |
| 17 | Kick in the teeth from theological expert? (6) |
| REBUFF | |
| RE BUFF (theological – Religious Education – expert) | |
| 19 | Place of massacre, or safe place to go? (8) |
| PETERLOO | |
| PETER (safe), LOO (place to go). The massacre took place in Manchester in 1819. | |
| 22 | What the bridesmaid shows? Rum’s location (5,8) |
| INNER HEBRIDES | |
| Hidden [INNER] in {t}HE BRIDES{maid}. ‘Rum’ is the name of one of the islands in the group. | |
| 25 | Small island in centre of this nation (5) |
| HAITI | |
| AIT (small island) contained by [in]{t}HI{s} [centre] | |
| 26 | Collection for each politician after resistance by English (9) |
| REPERTORY | |
| R (resistance), E (English), PER (each), TORY (politician) | |
| 27 | First Lady having snooze — struggle here getting up? (7) |
| EVEREST | |
| EVE (first lady), REST (snooze) | |
| 28 | Earthy expression used endlessly by Descartes? (7) |
| TERRENE | |
| TER{m{ (expression used) [endlessly], RENE (Descartes). I wrote NHO this on my copy. It has come up a couple of times over the years, just never stuck in my head and I didn’t recognise it when I found it in the archive. | |
| Down |
|
| 1 | Volcanic product seen after Ranau’s initial eruption (4) |
| RASH | |
| R{anau’s} [initial], ASH (volcanic product) | |
| 2 | Telescope firm put out for modification shows tower (7) |
| STEEPLE | |
| Anagram [for modification] of TELES{co}PE [firm put out] | |
| 3 | Big hit from Ruth as poet? (5) |
| HOMER | |
| The cryptic hint refers to HOMER as a ‘home run’ a major stroke in baseball and George “Babe” Ruth who was a legendary exponent of the game. | |
| 4 | Secret lover for Parisian entertaining alpha male? (8) |
| PARAMOUR | |
| POUR (‘for’ Parisian) containing [entertaining] A (alpha) + RAM (male) | |
| 5 | Fine cooking expected in dish for dippers (6) |
| FONDUE | |
| F (fine), ON (cooking), DUE (expected). Fondue parties were all the rage at one time but mercifully they’re out of fashion now. | |
| 6 | Fruit from tree in can that needs a shake (9) |
| NECTARINE | |
| Anagram [that needs a shake] of TREE IN CAN | |
| 7 | Stone from six counties placed in jar (7) |
| GRANITE | |
| NI (six counties of Northern Ireland) contained by [placed in] GRATE (jar) | |
| 8 | Eastern figure seizing good opportunity gets influential part (6,4) |
| ENGINE ROOM | |
| E (Eastern), NINE (figure) containing [seizing] G (good), ROOM (opportunity – e.g. for manoeuvre) | |
| 12 | Plea for patience heard from Queen, her afternoon tea guest having arrived? (4,4,2) |
| BEAR WITH ME | |
| The cryptic hint refers to the video of our late Queen taking afternoon tea with ‘Paddington Bear’ made to mark the Platinum Jubilee celebrations last year. | |
| 14 | Assume tradesman finishing early is not productive (9) |
| INFERTILE | |
| INFER (assume), TILE{r} (tradesman) [finishing early] | |
| 16 | Fiat lacking finish? Mine’s in late stages of decay (8) |
| DECREPIT | |
| DECRE{e} (fiat) [lacking finish], PIT (mine) | |
| 18 | Warmer outside on day to remember? (7) |
| BONFIRE | |
| Cryptic with reference to ‘Guy Fawkes Night’ aka ‘Bonfire Night’ and the nursery rhyme:
Remember, remember, the 5th of November, So far so good, but has anyone ever heard the rest if it? I’m sure I hadn’t before today! Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, ’twas his intent |
|
| 20 | Flexible line is what this writer’s all about! (7) |
| LISSOME | |
| L (line), IS, SO ME! (what this writer’s all about!) | |
| 21 | Feel remorse having run over white bird (6) |
| REGRET | |
| R (run), EGRET (white bird) | |
| 23 | Article in German featuring old city artist (5) |
| DURER | |
| DER (definite article in German) containing [featuring] UR (old city) | |
| 24 | Yorkshireman extremely testy with reduced knowledge (4) |
| TYKE | |
| T{est}Y [extremely], KE{n} (knowledge) [reduced]. Some of the meanings of this are considered offensive but I’ve always had the impression that Yorkshire folk are proud to be described as such so I guess it’s all a matter of context. | |
Another who found this definitely a game of two halves. Perhaps I’m still suffering from the trauma of trying to enter the Stade Velodrome on Saturday in Marseille. I swear, on those steps, I thought my life was over. Frightening.
Last two in, PETERLOO and LISSOME. I found that I solved a lot from the clues and then had to make the wp confirm the answer which, I did not always manage. Normally the other way round for me.
Loved HAITI.
Thanks Jack and setter.
One interesting point about Peterloo is that the ‘loo’ was a reference to the earlier battle of Waterloo. A bit like ‘gate’ being affixed to scandals following Watergate. I am not aware, however, that any further battles were given the ‘loo’ suffix. Blame the lack of social media in the 19th century perhaps.
What about the battle of Hullaba?
And not forgetting the battle of Porta.
or, indeed, Toodle
No indeed. That came just before the battle of Vinda if I recall.
I was slow in the SW corner – eventually saw “Bear With Me” but never cottoned on to the Paddington connection until coming here ( thought it was some weird Be A R with Me).
My COD – Inner Hebrides.
Nice puzzle.
Trying to be clever I entered “BEAR WITH US” and misspelt HAITI so the SW corner offered extra resistance.
Lovely, well balanced puzzle, thanks setter and Jack
Might not have been clever, but jolly good form nonetheless. We are pleased.
Took ages but failed by putting TERRESE and I think I’m alone in that respect.
FOI STEAM IRON
LOI PETERLOO
COD BEAR WITH ME (now I understand it)
48:22 , held up by the SW corner. Had never heard of AIT, so could not parse HAITI. LTI were BONFIRE and REBUFF – I spent a long time wondering about theological experts in various religions before spotting that one.
COD was BEAR WITH ME. Paddington was the high spot of the jubilee celebrations.
Thanks Jack and setter.
Failed on TERRENE- didn’t know Descartes first name so tried to make an endless anagram of Descartes instead- the adjective tarcese seemed possible! Otherwise all correct.
Puzzle of two halves: I agree. Top half good going (apart from FINAGLE – a word I’d forgotten), but slowed in the south with needing a hint for EMERITUS as I couldn’t find a definition ( is it really just “retired”?), and having WATERLOO for way too long. I also bunged in OUTER at 22a, making 12d impossible, until I backtracked with HAITI in place and ‘seeing’ BEAR WITH ME. Bit of a furfy getting HAITI, as I did by taking the ‘centres’ of tHIs and nATIon. I know, I know., but I’d rather believe the setter made a mistake than I did. 😶 CODs to BEAR WITH ME ( now I know the Paddington connection!) and HAITI.