Solving time: 1:53:04
I wasn’t keen on this one. Some of the general knowledge required seemed very obscure – particularly in 12d & 33d. I also have issues with the spelling in 53a, and the logic in 54a and 46d.
cd = cryptic def., dd = double def., rev = reversal, homophones are written in quotes, anagrams as (–)*, and removals like this
1 | MAC + HIS + MO |
5 | E + CLAIR or possibly CLAIRE with the E moved to the front. It depends how you spell the girl’s name, I suppose. |
9 | WILD + CAT |
14 | COMFORT ZONE – cd – to console being to comfort |
15 | RADIO + ACTIVE |
16 | ICONS = I’S about CON |
17 | RAF + FISH |
18 | A + D(V)ENTIST |
19 | GONDOLA = GO + N + (OLD)* + A |
20 | BLOOMSBURY GROUP = BURY (cover up) in BLOOMS (flowers) + GROUP (set) – Roger Fry was the artist. |
22 | PREFER MEN + |
23 | RINGER – dd |
25 | SORE = EROS rev |
28 | PLEASED AS PUNCH = PLEASE (If you would) + SAD (miserable) rev + PUNCH (hit) – semi-&lit |
30 | JOCKEYED = EYED after JOCK |
32 | SCOURGED = URGE in (S + COD) |
34 | WELLINGTON BOOT = WELLINGTON (southern city, in New Zealand) + BOOT (it’s an order – to be given ‘the order of the boot’ is to get fired) |
37 | G(L)UT |
38 | SYNTAX = “SIN” + TAX |
39 | SUMMERTIME – cd |
43 | INCOMPREHENSION = (NINE MICROPHONES)* |
45 | EXCEEDS = EX-C of E + E |
47 | HANDLEBAR = “HANDEL” BAR |
49 | S(MET)AN + A – Czech composer |
51 |
|
52 | GREAT CIRCLE = CIRCLE (group) after GREAT |
53 | COMEUPPANCE = COME UP + PACE about |
54 | NOT THIN + G – Another one where I might be missing something. If it’s not thin, then it is fat. Isn’t it? |
55 | S + |
56 | W(EARTH)IN |
Down | |
---|---|
1 | MOCKING = COM |
2 | COMPOUND EYE – cd |
3 | IRONSTONE = (IN STORE ON)* |
4 | MOTORWAY MADNESS – cd |
6 | CREDITOR = CREDO about IT + R |
7 | ABRAHAM + LINCOLN |
8 | RED(CAB + BAG)E |
9 | WHOEVER = HOWEVER with the W moved to the start |
10 | LAC |
11 | CRIMINOLOGY = (I + GRIM COLONY)* |
12 | TREETOPS – dd – Some fairly obscure general knowledge is required here. Our current Queen was touring in Kenya and was staying at Treetops Hotel when her father died. Also the top of a tree can be known as the crown. I put this in without full understanding as I had no idea about the royal connection and only found it out later when I came to the blog. |
13 | GO OF |
20 | BANISH = BASH (party) about IN rev |
21 | GHERKIN – hidden |
22 | PAPIST = PAT about (PI + S) |
24 | ROOM TEMPERATURE = (EMPEROR TO MATURE)* |
26 | QUEEN ANNE’S DEAD – dd – as a phrase it is a response made to someone giving old news. Apparently, unsuccessful attempts were made to hush up the death of Queen Anne, so that by the time the annoouncement was made, everyone already knew. |
27 | ODETTE – dd – Swann & Odette were the central characters of Marcel Proust’s À la recherche du temps perdu. |
29 | STR(AT)UM |
31 | IN TURN = TURN IN with the worde reversed |
33 | ONLY CONNECT – dd – A BBC4 quiz program and the epigraph to E. M. Forster’s Howards End. |
35 | OLIVE + B + RANCH |
36 | ON THE ROCKS = O + (THEN)* + ROCKS |
40 | RICE PAPER – def + pun |
41 | MICHIGAN = (I’M ACHING)* |
42 | WISEACRE = WIRE about (CASE)* |
44 | RIBBING = (I + B x2) in RING |
46 | SHEBEEN = ‘SHE BEEN’ being an illiterate way of saying ‘woman was’. I don’t like it. Illiterate means ‘unable to read or write’ and has nothing to do with having bad grammar. |
48 | LATHI – hidden |
50 | A + CM + E |
The “just deserts” referred to in 53ac is the correct spelling, with “deserts” meaning “what you deserve”.
I’ve been aware of the “Queen Anne’s dead” phrase ever since one of my teachers at primary school made our class aware of it, although his explanation of its origin was wrong. He told us it came about after the news of her death took so long to get around the country due to the slow communication methods of the age. The explanation in your blog is obviously the right one because of the potential for insurrection that accompanied the change of dynasty after her death.
Edited at 2013-10-06 08:03 am (UTC)