Introduction
6:07. Nothing too wild. EDIT: I realized while writing the blog that many of the answers I put in from the definition had quite complicated wordplay! I’m interested to know if people got tangled in it, or found it mostly straightforward.
Solutions
A brief summary of cryptic crosswords —feel free to skip— :
- Each clue has at least one “definition”: an unbroken string of words which more-or-less straightforwardly indicates the answer. A definition can be as simple as a one-word synonym; but it can also be a descriptive phrase like ‘I’m used to wind’ for REEL or SPOOL. A definition by example must be indicated by a phrase like ‘for example’, or, more commonly, a question mark (?). Thus ‘color’ is a definition of RED, while ‘red, for example’ or ‘red?’ are definitions of COLOR. Punctuation (and capitalization) is otherwise irrelevant.
- Each clue may also have an unbroken string of words which indicates the answer through wordplay, such as: using abbreviations; reversing the order of letters; indicating particular letters (first, last, outer, middle, every other, etc); placing words inside other words; rearranging letters (anagrams); replacing words by words that sound alike (homophones); and combinations of the above. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but the general theme is to reinterpret ordinary words as referring to letters, so that for example ‘lion’s head’ indicates the first letter of LION: namely, L.
- Definitions and wordplay cannot overlap. The only other words allowed in clues are linking words or phrases that combine these. Thus we may see, for example: “(definition) gives (wordplay)” or “(definition) and (definition)” or “(wordplay) is (definition)”.
- The most common clues have either two definitions, or one definition plus wordplay, in either order. But a single, very misleading definition is not uncommon, and very occasionally a definition can also be interpreted as wordplay leading to the same answer. Triple definitions (and more) are also possible.
My conventions in the solutions below are to underline definitions (including a defining phrase); put linking words in [brackets]; and put all wordplay indicators in boldface. I also use a solidus (/) to help break up the clue where necessary, especially for double definitions without linking words.
After the solutions, I list all the wordplay indicators and abbreviations in a Glossary.
Across
1 Again start to take for granted after loss of pressure (6)
RESUME = PRESUME without P
4 Heads for Tower Hamlets: / spots a party (6)
THRASH = first letters of TOWER HAMLETS + RASH
8 Education employee [having] variety of chocolates given to her (6-7)
SCHOOL-TEACHER = anagram of CHOCOLATES + HER
I biffed this, but what a lovely clue!
10 Planet seen in the art here (5)
EARTH = hidden in THE ART HERE
11 Pensive, will shortly set / about / weird stuff, mostly (7)
WISTFUL = WILL without the last letter, around anagram of STUFF without the last letter
13 Fake map including US city and area north (9)
CHARLATAN = CHART around LA, followed by A + N
17 Armed force I illuminated entering / target, but retreating (7)
MILITIA = I + LIT in reversal of AIM
18 Weak King restricted by collapse (5)
FRAIL = R in FAIL
19 Opening given to hobbyist — a money-gathering job (4-9)
RENT-COLLECTOR = RENT + COLLECTOR
Collins has RENT = “a slit or opening made by tearing or rending”.
21 Subsequently swathing / top of head [in] soap (6)
LATHER = LATER around first letter of HEAD
To ‘swathe’ is to bandage — a word I didn’t know.
22 Cane applied to boy’s rear? [That could be] awkward (6)
STICKY = STICK + last letter of BOY
Down
1 Apple Hardy heroine picked up / after run finishing early (6)
RUSSET = TESS reversed after RUN without the last letter
Heroine of Thomas Hardy’s ‘Tess of the d’Urbervilles”.
2 Clear ship at sea [will get] round (9)
SPHERICAL = CLEAR SHIP anagrammed
3 Skulk about church after / feeling diminished (5)
MOOCH = CH after MOOD without the last letter
5 Advertisement brought in these unusual phones? (7)
HEADSET = AD in anagram of THESE
Here ‘phones’ is informal for ‘headphones’ = ‘headset’.
6 A quiet wood (3)
ASH = A + SH
7 Announcer arrested after intervention by artist (6)
HERALD = HELD with RA inside
9 All wet or sloppy / around one? Things can dry here (5-4)
TOWEL-RAIL = ALL WET OR anagrammed around I
12 Wonderful enthusiast / starts to tell company / about wine (9)
FANTASTIC = FAN + first letters of TELL COMPANY around ASTI
I’m starting to realize that a lot of these I got from the definition alone have quite intricate wordplay!
14 Item in magazine [showing] extraction of power from proton, say (7)
ARTICLE = remove P from PARTICLE
15 Unethical [having] exam in the morning (6)
AMORAL = A.M. ORAL
16 Religious figures clear — not a / good year (6)
CLERGY = CLEAR without A, followed by G + Y
18 Navy supports holding line (5)
FLEET = FEET around L
20 Lifting barrel [to find] seed (3)
NUT = reversal of TUN
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