Introduction
Watch my solve here: https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1162086431 .
4:38, which means there was a lot of biffing. I’m looking forward to figuring out what some of the wordplay was!
General remarks
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 is otherwise irrelevant. Proper nouns will appear capitalized, but otherwise capitalization is irrelevant as well.
- 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.
Here is a Glossary of all the wordplay indicators and abbreviations in this puzzle.
Glossary
Wordplay indicators
Abbreviations and little bits
Solutions
Across
3 Check to board earlier vessel (8)
SCHOONER = CH in SOONER
7 Warm garment / to take to the cleaners (6)
FLEECE = double definition
8 Surprise greatly — like Villa? (8)
ASTONISH = ASTON-ISH
9 Googly say bowled everyone! (4)
BALL = B + ALL
A cricket reference.
10 Fitting in gap tightly (3)
APT = hidden in GAP TIGHTLY
11 House one French / girl in Cockney district (8)
BUNGALOW = UN + GAL in BOW
13 Advantage [where] bushy boundary has front clipped (4)
EDGE = HEDGE without first letter
15 Olympian [from] Egyptian port returned (4)
ZEUS = SUEZ reversed
17 Year in capital strangely unrepresentative (8)
ATYPICAL = Y in anagram of CAPITAL
19 Old man [in] contemporary music (3)
POP = double definition
22 Sea / bass (4)
DEEP = double definition
A ‘bass’ voice is a deep voice.
23 Maintenance / at no cost without worries (8)
CAREFREE = CARE + FREE
24 Newspaper published something spicy (6)
RAGOUT = RAG + OUT
25 Broken chord disrupted opera gig (8)
ARPEGGIO = anagram of OPERA GIG
Down
1 Satisfaction guaranteed after request (8)
PLEASURE = SURE after PLEA
2 Pirate’s prop to fix on stage? (3,3)
PEG LEG = PEG + LEG
3 American commando [in] ocean and lake (4)
SEAL = SEA + L
4 Bard’s missus doth show style! (8)
HATHAWAY = HATH A WAY
I hadn’t parsed this at the time, but it’s lovely!
5 Misshapen ear not decorated (6)
ORNATE = anagram of EAR NOT
6 Choppy sea, ultimately stormy, not a problem (4)
EASY = anagram of SEA + last letter of STORMY
12 Spring / activity for the kids? (8)
LEAPFROG = double definition
14 Elegant people in / volatile Gulf (8)
GRACEFUL = RACE in anagram of GULF
16 Shakespeare’s first / page / present [in] Globe (6)
SPHERE = first letter of SHAKESPEARE + P + HERE
18 Colour in like circle? (6)
INDIGO = IN + DIG + O
Another good one.
20 Blonde female character (4)
FAIR = F + AIR
21 An Odysseus in another Odyssey? (4)
HERO = hidden in ANOTHER ODYSSEY
Strange phrasing of the definition, but I suppose if you said, “She’s an Odysseus.”, that means, “She’s a hero.”.
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