Solving time: 8:34
Is our porcine friend getting bolder? Two signature answers in this right-on-the-money QC? Be prepared for their next effort which may be a gridful of piggy product references…
Oink has conjured a tidy puzzle, full of interesting words, which perhaps took me a shade longer than it should have, thanks to my inability to solve 5d in good time.
Let me know how you all got on…
Definitions are underlined in bold italics, {deletions and substitutions are in curly brackets} and [directions in square ones].
| Across | |
| 8 | Cook uses Aga to make a bite to eat (7) |
| SAUSAGE – Anagram [Cook] of USES AGA
Ostensibly a porcine reference, though SAUSAGEs can be made from virtually all varieties of meats. Vegetarian and vegan SAUSAGEs are also available. |
|
| 9 | Sneak off with east European, heading west (5) |
| ELOPE – E (east) POLE (European) all reversed [heading West]
ELOPE probably stems from 1590s Middle Dutch (ont)lopen “(away from) run”. The sense of “run away in defiance of parental authority to marry secretly” is from the 19th century. There is also an earlier Anglo-French word aloper which complicates the etymology, meaning “run away from a husband with one’s lover” though it may be a modification of the Middle Dutch word. |
|
| 10 | Liberal MP getting stuck into booze (5) |
| AMPLE – Stick MP into ALE (booze) | |
| 11 | Walk like a duck at start of trip? Rubbish! (7) |
| TWADDLE – WADDLE (Walk like a duck) after first letter of [at start of] T{rip} | |
| 12 | Fraudulent thesis Don concocted (9) |
| DISHONEST – Anagram [concocted] of THESIS DON | |
| 14 | Vegetable some reap early (3) |
| PEA – Hidden [some] in reap early | |
| 16 | Endless uproar in port (3) |
| RIO – Take last letter from [endless] RIO |
|
| 18 | I wondered about cover in retirement (9) |
| EIDERDOWN – Anagram [about] of I WONDERED gives this mildly cryptic definition | |
| 21 | Porridge-maker beginning to overeat at breakfast? (7) |
| OATMEAL – First letter [beginning to] of O{vereat} AT MEAL (breakfast?)
The question mark is there as breakfast is one of several MEALs to choose from (though it is the most likely for the overeating of porridge). |
|
| 22 | One occupying seat in European capital (5) |
| SOFIA – I (one) inserted into [occupying] SOFA (seat)
SOFA is a Turkish word (derived from the Arabic suffah) first recorded in the 1620s meaning “raised section of a floor, covered with carpets and cushions.” The meaning “long stuffed seat for reclining” is recorded from 1717. The origin of the Bulgarian capital SOFIA is in the Greek word σοφία (sophia) meaning “wisdom”. Before 1879, the city was known by its Thracian name, Serdica, which was derived from a Celtic tribe called the Serdi. |
|
| 23 | Ideal position husband found in French resort (5) |
| NICHE – H (husband) found in NICE (French resort)
The fourth definition from Collins Online gives “a job or activity which is exactly suitable for you.” |
|
| 24 | Mostly respect a Liberal naval officer (7) |
| ADMIRAL – ADMIR Ultimately from medieval Arabic amir “military commander,” amiral de la mer “commander of a fleet of ships” is found in late-13th century Anglo-French documents. |
|
| Down | |
| 1 | I defame a Sicilian perhaps (8) |
| ISLANDER – I SLANDER (defame)
Sicilians are from Sicily which is, of course, an ISLAND |
|
| 2 | A commotion behind you and me (6) |
| RUMPUS – RUMP (behind) US (you and me) | |
| 3 | Expose Teddy, might one say? (4) |
| BARE – Homophone [might one say?] of BEAR (Teddy) | |
| 4 | Notice article that makes you fume (6) |
| SEETHE – SEE (Notice) THE (article)
SEETHE comes from the Middle English sethen, from Old English seoþan “to boil, be heated to the boiling point, prepare (food) by boiling.” Its figurative use, implied in seething, “to be in a state of inward agitation” is recorded from 1580s. |
|
| 5 | Margate’s unlikely to become a name known to millions (8) |
| MEGASTAR – Anagram [unlikely] of MARGATE‘S
Though this was my LOI and I had four checkers, it took me ages [ok, a minute or so…. but relatively speaking, ages!] to see what was going on here! The meaning of STAR as “leading performer” is from 1824. The first recorded use of MEGASTAR referenced by the OED is from 1969: “This year, with megastar Spencer Haywood departed for the pro ranks, the Titans have accumulated a 1-6 record” |
|
| 6 | Delay robbery (4-2) |
| HOLD-UP – Double definition | |
| 7 | Two ambassadors causing outburst of amusement (2-2) |
| HE-HE – An ambassador is generally referred to, in the third person, as ‘His/Her Excellency’ abbreviated to HE, therefore two ambassadors would be HE HE… | |
| 13 | Public watched, astonished (4-4) |
| OPEN-EYED – OPEN (Public) EYED (watched)
Nothing more to see here… |
|
| 15 | Girl meeting posh friend every year (8) |
| ANNUALLY – ANN (Girl) next to [meeting] U (posh) ALLY (friend)
U (posh) refers to “upper class”, a term coined in the 1954 by Alan C Ross, along with its opposite Non-U (those aspiring to be upper class). Popularised soon after through the writings of socialite and author Nancy Mitford. |
|
| 17 | Chooses to include single Conservative in scientific study (6) |
| OPTICS – OPTS (Chooses) to include i.e. insert I (single i.e. one) C (Conservative)
OPTICS is the branch of physics that studies the behaviour and properties of light. |
|
| 19 | US city prosecutors admitting everything (6) |
| DALLAS – DAS (prosecutors i.e. District Attorneys) containing [admitting] ALL (everything) | |
| 20 | Where you might get blue shoe? (6) |
| OXFORD – Double definition, the first slightly cryptic
A “blue” is an award of sporting colours earned by athletes at some universities and schools for competition at the highest level. The awarding of blues began at OXFORD and Cambridge universities in England. OXFORD shoes first appeared in Scotland and Ireland, where they were originally called “Balmorals” after Balmoral Castle. However, the shoes were later named OXFORDs after Oxford University. |
|
| 21 | All right to go round home making beastly noise? (4) |
| OINK – OK (All right) around IN (home) gives us our setter’s favoured soubriquet | |
| 22 | Oslo occasionally depressing me a bit (4) |
| SOME – I read this in two ways, depending on what the word ‘depressing’ is doing here.
Either “Every other even letter [occasionally] of OSlO ‘depressing’ ME i.e. pushing ME down into a lower position – apposite as this is a down clue” Or “Every other odd letter [occasionally] of I favour the first explanation… |
|
10 minutes.
I’m slightly annoyed as I was on for a sub-10 until my LOI, OXFORD.
Thanks for the blog.
16:28
Oh dear! That was so easy but ruined by 7 minutes (seven!) on LOI OXFORD.
On holiday in the Cotswolds at the moment and solved this over a drink in a very nice pub.
What could be better? 😊
We had the same struggle as others with OXFORD, despite passing road signs to the same today 🤦♀️
Thoroughly enjoyed this excellent offering from Oink – thank you!
Didn’t need the blog for solving/parsing but really appreciated all the informative details – many thanks for putting all that work in, Mike.
A really well pitched puzzle. Very enjoyable solve.
Glad you are feeling better Penny
Nice qc, about one course.
14ac worked either way round!
23/26. V happy with that. NHO RUMPUS. I had all the letters for EIDERDOWN and MEGASTAR, but just couldn’t see the solutions.
Decent performance Ian, well done 👏
13:27, an aggravating amount of it spent on LOI OXFORD. Haven’t heard of an Oxford shoe, despite (as it turns out, having googled it) owning a pair. Don’t look at me like that, I never denied being an uncultured peasant.
Thank you to Mike for a very informative blog!
Like others I was stumped by Oxford and then kicked myself with them.
Once in, I was able to draw up the EIDERDOWN, leaving my LOI MEGASTAR!
Liked the two HEs, nice to see a clue to appeal to younger folks who are always writing HE HE on their WhatsApps.
Thanks Oink and Mike for an interesting blog.
Was heading for a sub 20 min finish but couldn’t get Oxford. Also slowed down by looking for a far to complicated solution for Dishonest. Most of the rest got on first reading or with a checker or two. Thanks all
Wow after struggling last week I did my fastest ever today. Something pitched in the middle is probably my target puzzle but I do like some of the toughies for a challenge
I solved this in the Highlands with a large dram while reclining on my Turkish word derived from the Arabic suffah. Marvellous. Even though I have a Blue it’s from the other place, so OXFORD (where?) was LOI on my way to 06:44.
Super puzzle and blog, many thanks both.
Did this at the end of a long day pottering round the East Devon coastline and a lobster feast to round things off, so it was a late night solve – all except for Oxford, which defeated me. I see I’m in good company. Is the shoe called an Oxford brogue? (Vague reminiscence). Loved HE HE and OINK: only real hold up was deciding between TUMULT and RUMPUS for 2d – AMPLE for Liberal soon decided that. Thanks Oink and Mike.
13:04, no errors. FOI SAUSAGE, LOI OXFORD, COD OINK – liked the inclusion of the setter’s nickname. Thanks Oink and Mike