Hello everyone.
Time: 14 minutes
Another enjoyable solve today. I probably took a little longer than I should have done. Nicely written clues with a couple of genuinely classy ones, for example 3 and 5 down.
Across | |
1 |
HARD SHOULDER – As I have previously mentioned, a question mark in a clue usually means that you have to do a little thinking outside the box, and that’s the case here. |
9 | HOTEL – HO (small house) + LET (rented) reversed with ‘..as temporary accommodation’ = definition. |
10 | BRISTOL – This held me up longer than it should have done, i guess. BR + I (Brother and I) + LOTS (in great quantity) reversed (sent back). |
11 | CLOBBER – Two definitions. To belt or sock someone has the same meaning as a slang word for things to wear. |
12 | PODIA – AID (relief) + OP (work) reversed (backing) – definition is ‘positions taken by speakers’. |
13 | PASTRY – PA’S (old man’s) + TRY (attempt) = definition of ‘dough’. |
14 | CACHET – ACHE (to long) inside CT (court). Definition is ‘mark of distinction;. |
17 | TIBET – Definition is ‘land in East’. T (time) + I BET (I’m sure). |
19 | ATHEIST – Definition is “person of no faith’ – T (trust, initially) inside A + HEIST (a robbery). |
21 | TABLOID – An anagram (oddly) of A BIT OLD gives you a word defined by ‘like most dailies today’. |
22 | BLOOM – The definition is ‘flourish’ – A word meaning report, as in gunshot (BOOM) with L (learner) inside. |
24 | PRESS RELEASE – ‘Statement to media’ is your definition PRESS (be insistent) + RE (about) + LEASE (property contract). |
Down | |
2 | AUTHORS – A + U (a university) + an anagram (changed) of SHORT. |
3 | DELIBERATIONS – Definition is ‘careful discussions’ – this is a word meaning ‘share’ inside the name of the composer of ‘Lakme’ and ‘Coppelia’, DELIBES. This is indicated by the use of ‘holder’ tacked onto ‘share’. Some crossword purists may not like it. But it works for me. |
4 | HOBART – BAR (watering-hole) goes inside HOT (sweltering) with the deifnition being ‘Australian city’. |
5 |
UNIMPEACHABLE – Probably my favourite clue in the puzzle. This is a double definition clue with one of the definitions cryptic. |
6 | DATED – Another double definition clue. Something that is old hat means the same as being taken out by someone in a romantic fashion. |
7 | RELIANT – An anagram (corrupt) of I LEARNT gives a meaning of the word ‘banking’. |
8 | CHIC – the first letters (starts off) of ‘cutting hair in classic’ gives a word meaning style, fashion. |
13 | PIT STOP – Definition is ‘opportunity to refuel car’. PITS (mine’s) + TOP (first). |
15 | HEINOUS – ‘Extremely bad’ is the definition and it’s an anagram (changes) of IN-HOUSE. |
16 | HANDLE – The definition is ‘manage’. HAND (width) + LE (length, not all of it). |
18 | BIBLE – A type of humour, as in fluid, BILE has B (bishop) inside to give a collection of religious books. |
20 | TOME – A (literary) work of some weight and size is, when split a phrase, TO ME, meaning ‘from my perspective’. |
Thanks to our setter for an enjoyable challenge today and I’ll see you next week.
EDIT: A couple of changes – that will teach me to try and dash off the blog.
Edited at 2014-04-17 02:40 am (UTC)
Have made a couple of changes.
My solving this week has been a bit off beam, and I was pleased to get back on track with this puzzle.
However, it look like my analysis skills have now gone wonky!
Edited at 2014-04-17 07:53 am (UTC)
Myles has only set for us once previously and on that occasion I recorded my slowest Quickie time of 28 minutes (excepting the very first day when the enumerations were up the spout).
At 1ac I think it helps to consider the wordplay elements separately, so ‘forcefully’ = HARD and ‘take responsibility for’ = SHOULDER.
Kevin, I’ve seen ‘Soft Verges’ signs in the UK too.
Please would someone say what the answer to 16 down was – it is listed above but the answer is 15 down. Even with alternate letters given, I have no idea of the answer.
Many thanks, Ange
You’ve missed 16 down off your solution.
You’re welcome.
Ange