Solving time: 11 minutes
Very enjoyable but not without a tricky moment or two. How did you do?
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]. “Aural wordplay” is in quotation marks. I now use a tilde sign ~ to indicate an insertion point in containment clues. I usually omit all reference to juxtaposition indicators unless there is a specific point that requires clarification.
 Across |
|
| 1 | State benefit is about right (6) |
| ASSERT | |
| ASSE~T (benefit) contains [is about] R (right). The tilde sign ~ indicates the insertion point. | |
| 4 | To walk around a bit in shoes (6) |
| TOECAP | |
| TO, then PACE (walk) reversed [around] | |
| 8 | Initially Kitchener has a kit inspection so some uniforms appear (5) |
| KHAKI | |
| K{itchener} + H{as} + A + K{it} + I{nspection} [initially] | |
| 9 | Disconcert gunners over abandoning all cover (7) |
| UNNERVE | |
| {g}UNNER{s} + {o}VE{r} [abandoning all cover] | |
| 10 | Manage to get uniform in Royal Navy (3) |
| RUN | |
| U (uniform – NATO alphabet) contained by [in] R~N (Royal Navy) | |
| 11 | Gem of a game (9) |
| SOLITAIRE | |
| Two meanings. A precious stone set in a piece of jewellery by itself. A card game for one player aka Patience. | |
| 12 | Commotion raised by one who rows on river (6) |
| UPROAR | |
| UP (raised), R (river), OAR (one who rows) | |
| 13 | A learner taking on additional confidence (6) |
| MORALE | |
| A + L (learner) contained by [taking on] MOR~E (additional) | |
| 16 | Outlaw road speed changes (9) |
| DESPERADO | |
| Anagram [changes] of ROAD SPEED | |
| 18 | Hunting bird’s cry heard in east London (3) |
| OWL | |
| Aural wordplay [heard in east London]: “{h}OWL” (cry) | |
| 19 | Cause of chemical change damaged a green tree at first (7) |
| REAGENT | |
| Anagram [damaged] of A GREEN T{ree} [at first] | |
| 20 | Bury losing the first of season (5) |
| INTER | |
| {w}INTER (season) [losing the first of…] | |
| 22 | Rather small-minded welcoming king (6) |
| PRETTY | |
| P~ETTY (small-minded) containing [welcoming] R (king). Pretty easy! | |
| 23 | Dog breaking in where pigs are heavy to eat (6) |
| STODGY | |
| Anagram [breaking] of DOG contained by [in] ST~Y (where pigs are). Puddings may be this if made badly. | |
| Down |
|
| 1 | Request job is not started (3) |
| ASK | |
| {t}ASK (job) [is not started] | |
| 2 | Tool I lost from small basket on bicycle (7) |
| SPANNER | |
| S (small), PANN{i}ER (basket on bicycle) [‘I’ lost]. The French invented the word ‘panier’ and the Americans use that spelling, so why can’t the Brits spell it properly? | |
| 3 | Restoration of controls on gallery male staff beginning to thieve (13) |
| REINSTATEMENT | |
| REINS (controls), TATE (gallery), MEN (male staff), T{hieve} [beginning to…] | |
| 5 | Sight loon trio? That might have me excited (13) |
| ORNITHOLOGIST | |
| Anagram [excited] of SIGHT LOON TRIO. Knowing that ‘loon’ is a bird is the key to this as it indicates the subject matter. I guess this has to be &lit to get us round the double usage but no doubt the enforcers will tell me I’m wrong! |
|
| 6 | Canine clubs Igor’s running (5) |
| CORGI | |
| C (clubs), anagram [running] of IGOR | |
| 7 | Gradual cessation of war reportedly upset male (9) |
| PIECEMEAL | |
| Aural wordplay [reportedly]: “peace” [cessation of war] / PIECE, then anagram [upset] of MALE | |
| 9 | Unpleasant to see guy left distraught (4) |
| UGLY | |
| Anagram [distraught] of GUY L(left) | |
| 10 | Journey using cycle before start of fall? (5,4) |
| ROUND TRIP | |
| ROUND (cycle), TRIP (start of fall?) | |
| 14 | Fuss over point editor took up (7) |
| ADOPTED | |
| ADO (fuss), PT (point), ED (editor) | |
| 15 | Hold back, needing time for one old engineer (4) |
| WATT | |
| WAIT (hold back) becomes WATT (old engineer) when T (time) replaces I (one). James Watt’s work on the development of the steam engine was fundamental to the changes brought by the Industrial Revolution. | |
| 17 | Receive following second post (5) |
| STAKE | |
| S (second), TAKE (receive) | |
| 21 | Fish that’s regularly greasy (3) |
| RAY | |
| {g}R{e}A{s}Y [regularly] | |
Threw the towel in @ 20 mins with Toecap and Ornithologist (despite it clearly being an anagram of Sight Loon Trio) defeating me.
COD Stodgy
Thanks J & J
18.22 Mostly fine but WATT and ORNITHOLOGIST were slow and I was stuck for ages on PIECEMEAL and TOECAP. Thanks Jack and Joker.
26 minute nightmare.
Having almost completed the puzzle in yesterday’s ST, I saw a light at the end of the tunnel. Turned out to be this oncoming train! 🤣
I thought that the clue for ORNITHOLOGIST was the cleverest for several months. I’m still smiling about it.
Really enjoyed this challenging and fun QC.
I don’t time myself.
Tough start to the week. Needed to look up a few!
Late to this and very slow. 23:12, with aids needed for TOECAP and STAKE, where I’m unconvinced that “take” is a synonym of “receive”.
Thanks to Joker & Jackkt.