Introduction
5:22. Plenty of anagrams (and not very long or obscure ones) made this a very accessible puzzle for me.
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 Summed up — as a completed story? (3,4)
ALL TOLD = double definition
A completed story, for example, would be ALL TOLD.
5 Garment for women / in mind (5)
BRAIN = BRA + IN
8 Lovely first person, by the sound of it, arresting (3-8)
EYE-CATCHING = homophone of I + CATCHING
10 Soft cloth / considered (4)
FELT = double definition
11 Tool reinvented as a winch (8)
CHAINSAW = anagram of AS A WINCH
12 Protest, / at which action directed (6)
OBJECT = double definition
The second definition being synonymous with ‘purpose’ or ‘end’.
14 Beans cooked, / toast ultimately missing (6)
ABSENT = BEANS anagrammed + last letter of TOAST
16 America backed / dodgy gaffer [in] vote (8)
SUFFRAGE = U.S. reversed + anagram of GAFFER
18 Organised / a way to drink whisky (4)
NEAT = double definition
20 Nonsense — [with] two wives? (6,5)
DOUBLE DUTCH = double definition
DOUBLE DUTCH is, according to Chambers, ‘any unknown or unintelligible language’. DUTCH also means ‘wife’, so DOUBLE DUTCH is ‘two wives’.
22 Group of wild animals was curious, reportedly (5)
PRIDE = homophone of PRIED
23 Drunk angered, raise your weapon (2,5)
EN GARDE = anagram of ANGERED
Down
2 Subject for example in story (5)
LIEGE = E.G. in LIE
3 Stand to sort out letters (7)
TRESTLE = anagram of LETTERS
4 Endless spring meadow (3)
LEA = LEAP without last letter
6 Power shower audible? (5)
REIGN = homophone of RAIN
Funny surface!
7 Gran and I in awful fix (7)
INGRAIN = anagram of GRAN I IN
Chambers has ‘to fix a dye firmly in’.
9 A farce, race had to be fixed (7)
CHARADE = anagram af RACE HAD
11 Whistle — [or] miaow? (7)
CATCALL = CAT CALL
13 Villain [is] skipper? (7)
BOUNDER = one who bounds
Lucky guess for me.
15 Old performer partially unconscious, in a trance (7)
SINATRA = hidden in UNCONSCIOUS IN A TRANCE
17 Discovered nothing in kitty (5)
FOUND = O in FUND
19 Little pest ran for cover after father turned up (5)
APHID = HID after reversal of PA
21 Fellow in demand, once (3)
DON = hidden in DEMAND ONCE
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