Solving time: About an hour with one mistake.
I found this one on the easy side compared to some of the others I’ve blogged. The two full length across clues both went straight in without any need for thought, which gave me plenty of letters to work with at the start. I made a mistake by not looking closely enough at 52d, and judging by the comments on the forum, I was not alone in that. I was surprised by the number of people in the forum claiming ignorance of the great Oscar Peterson, but then my Dad’s a huge jazz fan so I grew up to the sound of it.
Several good clues amongst this lot – I like the &lit at 22d, and the simplicity of 3d, but 29a gets my COD.
cd = cryptic def., dd = double def., rev = reversal, homophones are written in quotes, anagrams as (–)*, and removals like this
| Across | |
|---|---|
| 1 | DIGRESSING = |
| 6 | DIETARY FIBRE = (RYE BREAD IF IT)* |
| 14 | BELTS UP – dd – stops talking / puts ones seatbelt on |
| 15 | P(LAY)ACT |
| 16 | GARCONS – hidden |
| 17 | USER = RESU |
| 18 | BUSHEL = HE (fellow) in BUS (double decker) + L (fifty) – ‘eight gallons’ is the definition. It’s always worth knowing those imperial measures. 1 Bushel = 4 Pecks = 8 Gallons = 32 Quarts = 64 Pints = 128 Cups = 256 Gills |
| 20 | CAR(TON)ED |
| 24 | HOW LONG IS A PIECE OF STRING – cd |
| 25 | DUDGEON = DUDE (American fellow) + ON (about) all about G |
| 26 | TURN OVER – dd |
| 27 | UNREST = (NURSE)* + |
| 29 | WHIPPERSNAPPER – A ‘cat’ can be a whip, so a ‘person with cat’ is a WHIPPER, so one who photographs such is a WHIPPER SNAPPER – I rather liked this one. |
| 31 | POWER CUT = PUT (place) about O (old) + CREW (band) rev |
| 34 | LEG BREAK – dd |
| 36 | FEATHER-BRAINED = (FRIEND ATE A)* about HERB |
| 39 | DIGEST = “DAI” + “JEST” |
| 41 | FARCICAL = FAR (extreme) + IC |
| 43 | LATERAL = LATE (dead) + R |
| 46 | WHO’S BEEN SLEEPING IN MY BED – cd |
| 47 | IN + CREASE |
| 48 | COR (My!) + SET (collection) – COR for ‘my’ is a bit of an old chestnut and well worth remembering |
| 49 | ONUS = SUN (daily, as in the newspaper) + O (globe) all rev |
| 53 | ALGIERS = (IS LARGE)* |
| 54 | ID + I + |
| 56 | EROTICA = OT (books) in |
| 57 | I’M POSING + NESS |
| 58 | ABSTRACTED = ABSTRACT (summary of book) + ED (editor) |
| Down | |
| 1 | DEBAUCHED = DEB (society girl) + ACHED (longed) about |
| 2 | GOLDEN WEDDING = GOLDING (writer – William, author of Lord of the Flies) about DEN (study) + WED (day) |
| 3 | ER’S + E |
| 4 | SEPTUAGENARIAN = (ATE UP EARNINGS)* about A |
| 5 | NIP – dd |
| 7 | I |
| 8 | TE(TRAM)ETER – ‘lines’ in the poetry sense |
| 9 | RIGHT OFF = “WRITE-OFF” |
| 10 | FOR INSTANCE = INSTAN |
| 11 | BROAD + SIDE |
| 12 | EASY = AS (when) in |
| 13 | GALLOPER = GALLO |
| 19 | HESITANT = (THE SAINT)* |
| 21 | B + ONE UP |
| 22 | DEFOREST = D |
| 23 | A + GI + |
| 28 | NON-BELLIGERENT = (NOBLE RELENTING)* |
| 29 | WOLF DOWN = FLOW (run) rev + DOWN |
| 30 | PREACHER = PAC |
| 32 | CONTRABANDIST = CON (mislead) + DIS (policemen, Detective Inspectors) in TRABANT (old German car) |
| 33 | RECLINER = RE (about) + C |
| 35 | RUST BUCKETS = (BET TRUCK)* about US (useless) – ‘crates’ is the definition |
| 37 | AU + TU(M)N |
| 38 | JAM SESSION = JAMS (is fast) + NOISE rev about S |
| 40 | GROWING UP = WING (one faction) in GROUP (another faction) |
| 42 | CAP + A + CITY |
| 44 | LADY’S MAID = LADS + “MADE” about Y (unknown) |
| 45 | PETERSON = TE (note) in PERSON (individual) – Oscar Peterson is the jazz musician |
| 50 | MAXI = M (maiden) + X (kiss) in AI (best, A1) |
| 51 | MISS – hidden |
| 52 | COLA = |
| 55 | CUB |
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