Solving time: I didn’t time it but it must have been over two hours spread across several sessions.
This felt like very tough one to me, but maybe I just wasn’t on the setter’s wavelength. Lots of good clues though – 14a, 18a, 3d & 8d were all particuarly good in my eyes, but there were probably others that I’ve overlooked.
cd = cryptic def., dd = double def., rev = reversal, homophones are written in quotes, anagrams as (–)*, and removals like this
| Across | |
|---|---|
| 1 | SCHWA = (H + W) in SCA |
| 4 | POST-BAG – cd |
| 8 | PROGNOSIS = PRO (expert) + |
| 13 |
|
| 14 | INNER HEBRIDES = INN + (HERE)* + BRIDES (misses in match) – an inch is a Scottish word for a small island |
| 15 | NO CAN DO = CON (racket) rev + AND (with) + O (ball) |
| 16 | RE(HE)ARS |
| 17 | STONE ME – dd – ‘Gracious!’ is the straight definition. |
| 18 | YES WE HAVE NO BANANAS – cd – made me smile. |
| 21 | GOBI = I + BOG all rev |
| 23 | ON BALANCE = (LOAN CAN BE)* |
| 25 | RE(E)FER |
| 26 | ADORAL – hidden |
| 28 | DA + TIN + GAGE + N(C)Y – although I wasn’t aware gauge could be spelt without the U. |
| 30 | FREE-TO-VIEW = F + REVIEW about OTE (On Target Earnings) rev |
| 33 | SOMALILAND = (ANIMALS + OLD)* – ‘originally’ is the anagrind. |
| 34 | A KING’S RANSOM – cd |
| 37 | F(L)URRY |
| 39 | ABSEIL – cd |
| 40 | PORT(RAY)AL |
| 42 | RUDD |
| 43 | REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE = B in REEL + WITHOUT (missing) + A CAUSE (author) – I wasn’t entirely happy with ‘author’ for CAUSE but I guess it’s OK. I thought ‘Picture of Dean’ was a well disguised definition, though. |
| 46 | GARLAND = LAND (alight) after RAG (paper) rev |
| 47 | SLAINTE = SLATE about |
| 48 | P |
| 50 | THOUGHT POLICE = (ETC + L + TOO HIGH UP)* – Just one of many phrases to originate from George Orwell’s 1984 |
| 51 | CHIHUAHUA = CHILL + HULA-HULA with all the Ls (fifties) removed. When I think of a dog being ‘man’s best friend’ though, a chihuahua is not really what I picture! |
| 52 | ENDORPHIN = END + ORPHAN with I instead of A |
| 53 | GI (serving American) + SELLE |
| 54 | NONET = TEN ON rev, ten being one too many for a nonet |
| Down | |
| 1 | SWEENEY TODD = (OWNED SEEDY + |
| 2 | HAVOC = HOC (word often accompanying ad) about (A + V) |
| 3 | ABSENTEE LANDLORD = (A + B + LORD) about SENT (shipped) + EEL (fish) + AND (along with) – ‘letter abroad maybe’ is the definition |
| 4 | PERSONA = A + NO’S + REP all rev |
| 5 | SUPERSEDE = SUPER (police officer) + “CEDE” |
| 6 | BRIGHTON ROCK = ON in between BRIGHT (promising) and ROCK (to astound) – Graham Greene’s gangland novel. |
| 7 | GIN PALACES = G (grand) + IN (Home) + PA (Secretary) + LACES (doctors, as in spikes a drink) |
| 8 | PARIS – PAR 1s on a golf course could be equalled but never beaten. |
| 9 | OVERSTAY = OVER (some cricket) + STAY (supporter) |
| 10 | N + |
| 11 | SEDGEMOOR = GEM (stone) + OO (circles) in SE (Home Counties) + RD (thoroughfare) rev – The Battle of Sedgemoor was the final battle of the Monmouth Rebellion in 1685 |
| 12 | SISTER-IN-LAW = ( |
| 19 | SUBATOM = MOT A BUS all rev |
| 20 | AVE + YR + ON |
| 22 | ODE ON A GRECIAN URN = (EG RADIO ANNOUNCER)* |
| 24 | NEARLY = N/E (opponents at cards) + AY (agreed) about R/L (hands) |
| 27 | GEYSER = “GEEZER” – ‘from trap’ being a homophone indicator, as ‘trap’ is a slang term for mouth |
| 29 | ENNOBLE – rev hidden |
| 31 | I ASK YOU = IOU about (A + SKY) |
| 32 | SKELETON KEYS = (SEEKS + L)* about (TON + KEY) |
| 33 | SUFFRAGETTE = (UTTERS GAFFE)* |
| 35 | MALT EXTRACT = MA + ACT about (L + TEXT + R |
| 36 | GET + W(E)AVING |
| 38 | UNDERSO(I)L + D |
| 40 | PROVEN + CA + L |
| 41 | RED + DITCH |
| 44 | TOP SIDE |
| 45 |
|
| 47 | SPOON – dd – a reference to the nursery rhyme Hey Diddle Diddle in which the cow jumped over the moon and the dish ran away with the spoon. |
| 49 | ASHEN = SA (It, Sex Appeal) rev + HEN (chicken) |
In 28A GAGE is the US spelling and is, I guess, allowed with the reference to New York in the clue. Thanks for explaining SPOON (47D) – while I got it from the definition, I’d no idea of the rest.