Solving time: 6 minutes. I found this quite straightforward so I shall be interested to find out how others got on and hear about any difficulties that may not have occurred to me.
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]. I usually omit all reference to positional indicators unless there is a specific point that requires clarification.
| Across | |
| 7 | Complete dump, according to reports (5) |
| WHOLE | |
| Sounds like [according to reports] “hole” (dump). My first thought was that ‘dump’ and ‘hole’ are synonymous as slang words for an unpleasant place, which is true, but SOED also advises that a dump is deep hole in the bed of a river or pond. | |
| 8 | No vegetarian would swallow such a lie! (4,3) |
| PORK PIE | |
| A cryptic hint precedes the literal. CRS and our signature clue from Oink! | |
| 10 | A match once for the Devil (7) |
| LUCIFER | |
| Two meanings | |
| 11 | Some abandon Nairobi woman (5) |
| DONNA | |
| Hidden in [some] {aban}DON NA{irobi}. Also the Italian for ‘woman’ as in La Donna e Mobile. | |
| 12 | Proof statement has been altered (9) |
| TESTAMENT | |
| Anagram [altered] of STATEMENT | |
| 14 | Airline quietly serving you bread roll (3) |
| BAP | |
| BA (airline – British Airways), P (quietly – music) | |
| 15 | Grandma‘s sister having change of heart (3) |
| NAN | |
| NuN (sister) having change of heart | |
| 16 | Upper-class boozer holding raffle (3-6) |
| TOP-DRAWER | |
| TOPER (boozer) containing [holding] DRAW (raffle) | |
| 18 | £1000? That’s good money for an Afrikaner (5) |
| GRAND | |
| G (good), RAND (money for an Afrikaner) | |
| 20 | Occasionally smelly hooligan in successful show (4-3) |
| SELL-OUT | |
| S{m}E{l}L{y} [occasionally], LOUT (hooligan) | |
| 22 | Raise a glass to Her Majesty’s kitchen assistant? (7) |
| TOASTER | |
| TOAST (raise a glass to), ER (Her Majesty) and a cryptic definition | |
| 23 | Wholesome French article in tin (5) |
| CLEAN | |
| LE (French article) contained by [in] CAN (tin) | |
| Down | |
| 1 | Drama when you take your Christmas decorations down? (7,5) |
| TWELFTH NIGHT | |
| Two meanings, the first being a play by Shakesepeare | |
| 2 | Doctor manic ‘cos he’s put his foot in it? (8) |
| MOCCASIN | |
| Anagram [doctor] of MANIC COS | |
| 3 | Grumble head of branch has put up charge (4) |
| BEEF | |
| B{ranch} [head) then FEE (charge) reversed [put up] | |
| 4 | Argues ecstasy is in short supply (6) |
| SPARSE | |
| SPARS (argues), E(cstasy) | |
| 5 | Extremely clever newspaper man? You owe him (8) |
| CREDITOR | |
| C{leve}R [extremely], EDITOR (newspaper man) | |
| 6 | Sleeps on way north, being cross (4) |
| SPAN | |
| NAPS (sleeps) reversed [on way north] | |
| 9 | Annoying expats I anger anew (12) |
| EXASPERATING | |
| Anagram [anew] of EXPATS I ANGER | |
| 13 | Oddball diet not a cure (8) |
| ANTIDOTE | |
| Anagram [oddball] of DIET NOT A | |
| 14 | Knock down boyfriend at front of ship (4,4) |
| BOWL OVER | |
| BOW (front of ship), LOVER (boyfriend) | |
| 17 | Personal assistant’s attempt to make an eclair? (6) |
| PASTRY | |
| PA’S (personal assistant’s), TRY (attempt) | |
| 19 | Unfortunately it’s a girl, they say (4) |
| ALAS | |
| Sounds like [they say] “a lass” (a girl) | |
| 21 | Want chess player to sacrifice bishop (4) |
| LACK | |
| {b}LACK (chess player) [to sacrifice bishop – b] | |
As always Oink delivers a very nice puzzle. Thanks to him/her and Jackkt
FOI WHOLE
LOI CREDITOR
COD BEEF
TIME 3:16
COD 2dn Moccasin which I’ve just misspelt twice in typing this sentence!
Thanks to Jack and Oink
But all good LOI Top Drawer NHO Toper for boozer like some others.
Lucifer a dim recollection.
Thanks all
John George
Thanks to Oink for a pleasant experience and to Jack for a well constructed blog, as always.