This is only Wurm’s second outing as our setter, his (?) first appearance being on 21st June this year when I completed the puzzle in 7 minutes. I needed 17 minutes to finish this one, although a good proportion of that time was spent on a single clue, 1dn, a double-definition which even now I am not 100% sure that I have understood completely. A nice puzzle though.
After all the trials and tribulations over at the revamped Crossword Club it’s a pleasant relief to spend time in QC-land where nothing has changed with the basic puzzle, but those who wish to do so can now participate in QC leader-board rivalry with other solvers. For myself, I doubt I shall ever bother with this as I don’t like solving on line one little bit..
As usual definitions are underlined in bold italics, {deletions are in curly brackets} and [anagrinds, containment, reversal and other indicators in square ones]
Across | |
3 | Arterial route in China or Taiwan (5) |
AORTA – Hidden in {Chin}A OR TA{iwan} | |
7 | Branch installing new vault (6) |
SPRING – SPRIG (branch) containing [installing] N (new) | |
8 | Metal to conduct (4) |
LEAD – I think words like this that are spelt the same but pronounced differently depending on their meaning are called heteronyms | |
9 | Cute and rare wild animal (8) |
CREATURE – Anagram [wild] of CUTE RARE | |
10 | Wounded Romeo put inside cabin (4) |
HURT – R (Romeo – NATO alphabet) contained by [put inside] HUT (cabin) | |
11 | Handed over dollar and avoided duty (6,3,4) |
PASSED THE BUCK – Two meanings with PASSED suggested by ‘handed over’ and BUCK by ‘dollar’ | |
15 | Scottish king worried about old country seat? (8,5) |
SHOOTING STICK – Anagram [worried] of SCOTTISH KING containing [about] O (old). A somewhat uncomfortable temporary seat that’s often associated with country pursuits. | |
16 | Character from SW? (4) |
TONE – A straight definition and a cryptic hint – ‘from SW’ = ‘to NE’ | |
18 | Former tie broken in WW1 battlefield (8) |
SOMETIME – Anagram [broken] of TIE in SOMME (WW1 battlefield). This answer appeared little more than a week ago in the main puzzle clued as “Former leaders of European triumvirate inevitably going into battle (8)” | |
20 | So far, one mythical hairy creature (4) |
YETI – YET (so far), I (one) | |
21 | Some girls have nails closely cut (6) |
SHAVEN – Hidden [some] in {girl}S HAVE N{ails} | |
22 | Edna turned south for the mountains (5) |
ANDES – Anagram [turned] of EDNA, S (south) |
Down | |
1 | Deal with / proposal (8) |
APPROACH – Two definitions. I took a long time to think of a single word that would fit all the checkers here as neither definition leapt out at me. I think the meanings work in these examples: How would you approach/deal with such-and-such? My approach/proposal would be to do so-and-so, | |
2 | Most famous listed building here? (4) |
PISA – A classic chestnut of a cryptic clue relying on ‘listed’ being interpreted as ‘leaning’ | |
3 | Silver used in renovated Christian emblem (5,3) |
AGNUS DEI – AG (silver), anagram [renovated] of USED IN. The symbol of the Lamb of God has appeared through the ages as an emblem of the Christian faith. | |
4 | Rough diamonds in Parisian street (4) |
RUDE – D (diamonds – cards) in RUE (Parisian street) | |
5 | Does it store all the letters one writes? (8) |
ALPHABET – A more original cryptic clue than 2dn, in the form of a question | |
6 | Hot wind causes shock (4) |
HAIR – H (hot), AIR (wind) | |
12 | Lost son alive in the country (8) |
SLOVENIA – Anagram [lost] of SON ALIVE | |
13 | Mum boards tall ship for solemn celebration (4,4) |
HIGH MASS – MA (mum) is contained by [boards] HIGH (tall) + SS (ship) | |
14 | Two coppers, married, live on river — it’s cool! (8) |
CUCUMBER – CU+CU (two coppers), M (married), BE (live), R (river), with reference to the saying ‘as cool as a cucumber’. | |
17 | Sign from ladies losing weight (4) |
OMEN – {w}OMEN (ladies) [losing weight] | |
18 | Potato small and sweet (4) |
SPUD – S (small), PUD (sweet) | |
19 | What’s changed in warmer weather? (4) |
THAW – Anagram [changed] of WHAT |
Didn’t like lost as an anagram indicator.
Haven’t heard of shooting stick.
Also 16a, 1d tricky.
Although this grid format is my least favourite, I thoroughly enjoyed today’s QC.
So many entertaining clues and particularly liked 11a, 3d and 14d.
Thanks to Wurm and Jackt
No time for me as I had to split this up into a few sessions.
Philip
Thanks for the blog jackkt.
Though not a speedy solver — I don’t enjoy treating the crossword as a time trial — it is rare indeed for me to be DNF with the QC. Can’t remember when I last didn’t finish it.
Treesparrow
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