Solving time: 54 minutes. After a great start with 1ac going straight in and 3dn following on I thought this was going to be straightforward, but I really struggled with a lot of it. Explaining some of the wordplay wasn’t exactly a doddle either.
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]. “Aural wordplay” is in quotation marks. I usually omit all reference to juxtaposition indicators unless there is a specific point that requires clarification.
 Across |
|
| 1 | Military prison is unsuitable place for stoner? (10) |
| GLASSHOUSE | |
| The cryptic hint refers to the saying “People in glasshouses shouldn’t throw stones”. My AI assistant advises: The term ‘glasshouse’ in this context originated from the Aldershot military prison in the United Kingdom built in 1870. It was designed with a large glass lantern roof, which led to the nickname ‘The Glasshouse’ and over time, the term became synonymous with all military prisons in the UK. | |
| 6 | Fruit that stays on the ground (4) |
| KIWI | |
| The hint in the clue refers to the KIWI as a flightless bird. | |
| 9 | Mother cast in capital part? That’s a long story (10) |
| RIGAMAROLE | |
| MA (mother) contained by [cast in] RIGA (capital of Latvia) + ROLE (part). I thought of ‘rigmarole’ quite early on but it wasn’t 10 letters so I discarded the idea until checkers forced me to reconsider it. I’ve never seen it spelt with two A’s . | |
| 10 | Follower of ultimate gospel singers, say (4) |
| ACTS | |
| The ultimate gospel (after St Matthew, St Mark and St Luke) is St John, which is followed by The Acts of the Apostles. Singers and other entertainers perform acts. | |
| 12 | For example, I get in the way of financial assets (5,7) |
| BLOCK CAPITAL | |
| BLOCK (get in the way of), CAPITAL (financial assets) | |
| 15 | Statement of one needing doctor? Job description’s the opposite (9) |
| IMPATIENT | |
| I’ M PATIENT (statement of one needing doctor). In the Bible, Job is said to have had great patience because of his extraordinary endurance in the face of immense suffering, and this has given rise to the saying ‘The patience of Job’. This is a tricky clue because the definition and answer are what Job was not, but the wordplay alludes to what he was! | |
| 17 | Send person recording minutes back (5) |
| REMIT | |
| TIMER (person recording minutes) reversed [back] | |
| 18 | Sluggard and I had side-splitting ending of repartee (5) |
| IDLER | |
| I’D (I had), then {reparte}E [ending] goes side-splitting, sticking itself between L (left) and R (right) | |
| 19 | Separate layer covering ancient temple (9) |
| PARTHENON | |
| PART (separate), HEN (layer of eggs), ON (covering). The former temple was dedicated to the goddess Athena. | |
| 20 | Compulsive work for dressmaker among sisters? (5-7) |
| HABIT-FORMING | |
| A cryptic hint with reference to sewing nuns supports the main definition | |
| 24 | Right and wrong, best or worst? Absolutely (4) |
| ROUT | |
| R (right), OUT (wrong – that’s out!). As verbs, ‘best’ and ‘worst’ can both mean ‘defeat’, or if the victory is overwhelming, ROUT. | |
| 25 | Tattoo received by old man less well — this might be required (10) |
| PAINKILLER | |
| INK (tattoo) contained [received] by PA (old man) + ILLER (less well) | |
| 26 | Alternating current connected to receiver (4) |
| TIDE | |
| Aural wordplay [to receiver]: “tied” [connected] | |
| 27 | Treat indulgently with fine nosh, aromatically flavoured (7-3) |
| FEATHER-BED | |
| F (fine), EAT (nosh), HERBED (aromatically flavoured) | |
| Down |
|
| 1 | Either extreme in Germany showing effects of violence (4) |
| GORY | |
| G OR Y (either extreme in G{erman}Y) | |
| 2 | Bark of legendary retriever of golden coat? (4) |
| ARGO | |
| Cryptic. In Greek mythology the Argo was the ship in which Jason sailed to retrieve the Golden Fleece. The clue assumes that the Argo was a bark, a large boat propelled by oars or sails or a combination of both. | |
| 3 | With contrived smile, go through again for under-educated type (12) |
| SEMILITERATE | |
| Anagram [contrived] of SMILE, then ITERATE (go through again) | |
| 4 | Part of Hamlet is so flipping ridiculous, mostly (5) |
| OSRIC | |
| SO (reversed [flipping], RIC{h} (ridiculous) [mostly]. In the Shakespeare play, Osric is a foppish courtier known for his elaborate language and concern for appearances. | |
| 5 | Thus, alternatively, embracing permitted source of legal aid (9) |
| SOLICITOR | |
| SO (thus) + OR (alternatively) containing [embracing] LICIT (permitted) | |
| 7 | It displaces line of by no means fair provocation (10) |
| INCITEMENT | |
| IT displaces L (line) in INCLEMENT (by no means fair e.g. weather) to become INCITEMENT (provocation) | |
| 8 | Lagging round back of arena, causing slight crowds (10) |
| INSULATING | |
| INSULTING (causing slight) contains [crowds round] {aren}A [back of…] | |
| 11 | Even I, perhaps, could become nervous (12) |
| APPREHENSIVE | |
| Anagram [could become] of EVEN I PERHAPS | |
| 13 | Cut off daughter is at home — it overwhelms her (10) |
| DISINHERIT | |
| D (daughter), IS, IN (home) + IT, contains [overwhelms] HER | |
| 14 | Affected by charm in period before spring (10) |
| SPELLBOUND | |
| SPELL (period), BOUND (spring) | |
| 16 | One page is rewritten in work relying on intelligence (9) |
| ESPIONAGE | |
| Anagram [rewritten] of ONE PAGE IS | |
| 21 | Artist not quite ready on time (5) |
| MONET | |
| MONE{y} (ready [not quite], T (time) | |
| 22 | Part of pack for team (4) |
| CLUB | |
| Two meanings, cards and sport | |
| 23 | Colours of suits, one briefly reproduced (4) |
| BRED | |
| B + RED (colours of suits) [one briefly – B = Black). More cards. | |
After a stupid mistake yesterday (ONE THE MAKE for TAKE), this was more like it. 16’11” and my one guess — OSRIC — was correct. On the difficulty issue, I feel very happy with the way things are. There is a big variation in level from day to day, and every now and then I enjoy a real stinker. Most times, I get to complete them, even if it takes two or three sittings.
Ah. Thank you Jack.
20.33. ‘Bred’ nearly did for me, but the penny dropped just before I decided to admit defeat.
TACO for 26
I thought “container” as a definition for it was a bit loose but, since it fitted my reading of the cryptic so well, and was confirmed with the T when DISINHERIT appeared, it had to be right!