Felix is making one of his occasional appearances today with a puzzle that lies certainly at the harder end of the scale. A number of slightly more obscure definitions didn’t help and if you managed to race through this, I would guess you may be ready for a move across to the bigger brother. I thought we were heading for a pangram but it wasn’t to be.
Apologies for the format today, I am using my laptop and haven’t got my templates.
ACROSS
1 TABLE MANNERS
We start with one of those clues where part of it indicates the answer, but the whole clue provides the definition. An anagram (indicated by fresh) LAMB’S A TENNER gives you a phrase that refers to the etiquette you need when eating it!
9 RASTA
The name for someone who worships Haile Selassie is a reversal of A + TSAR (Russian emperor).
10 NURSERY
Early school is the definition. NURSE (Sister) + reverse of YR (year).
11 QUITE SO
Indeed! is the definition. E’S (abbreviation of European’s) inside QUITO (capital of Ecuador).
12 EERIE
Ghostly is the definition with the answer hidden backwards inside FIGURE I EMERGE.
14 ADOPTIONS
Takings is the definition. AD (commercial) + OPTIONS (possibilities).
18 OUTRO
Another all-in-one type clue. The name for a conclusion in music is provided by the last letters (conclusions) of SOLO, IMPROMPTU DUET, OR and CONCERTO.
20 STEROID
Compound is the definition. An anagram (refurbished) of EDITOR’S.
21 JACUZZI
A type of bath is the definition. CU (copper) inside JAZZ + I.
23 LIMBO
A double definition. A type of Caribbean dance is also something you are when you are left in suspension.
24 MINESWEEPING
Something carried out by naval troops is made up be MINES (Pits) + WEEPING (in floods).
DOWN
2 ASSAILANT
Aggressor is the definition. ASS (fool) + AIL (to bother) + ANT (insect for which a worker is a type).
3 LEAVE GO
Give up is the definition. LEAVE (holiday) + GO (travel).
4. MONMOUTHSHIRE
A part of Wales is the definition. MON (Start of week) + MOUTHS (outlets) + HIRE (to rent).
5. NERVE
Bottle is the definition. NEVE (nearly the whole of a word meaning at no time) with R (top, first letter of RUM).
6. ERE
Before is the definition. A homophone of HEIR (next in line).
7. STYLED
Fashioned is the definition. STY (pen) + L.E.D. (type of glowing light).
8. IRAQI
Middle Easterner is the definition. The last letters of EMIR added to the even letters of the word MARQUIS.
13 ROSCOMMON
An anagram (set) of NO ROMCOMS gives a place in Ireland.
15 OVERLAP
If you drink too much (as a cat, for example) you might do this, a word that means something you may have as a surplus.
16 LOG JAM
My favourite clue today, a clever cryptic definition, reminding me of the legendary DIE OF COLD? for ICE CUBE.
17 ODEON
The name for a type of cinema. ODE (poetry) + ON (about). Did you know ODEON is an acronym for Oscar Deutsch Entertains Our Nation. Oscar D being the founder of the chain of cinemas.
19 OOZES
Escapes from is the definition. SE (abbreviation for the Home Counties) + ZOO (menagerie) all reversed.
22 CON
Double definition. An abbreviation for a member of a political party is the same as someone who opposes a political motion.
See you next week.
Thanks for the blog -Philip