Solving time: Easier end of the scale
Apologies for the brief blog today – dashing between hospital appointments. A nice fairly straightforward puzzle that shouldn’t cause too much angst, I think.
| Across |
| 1 |
PARTICULAR – A double definition to start with. A word that can mean something distinctive or individual, as well as a person who is pernickety or fussy. |
| 8 |
VERDICT – The word for the decision of a jury is found by takling the name of an Italian composer VERDI and adding CT (court). |
| 9 |
TOTAL – In all is the definition. TOT (small drink) + A + L (litre). |
| 10 |
NEAR – Just round the corner is the definition. N (northern) + EAR (listener). |
| 11 |
BULGARIA – The name of a country is your definition. BULG(E) [swell, unfinished, i.e. minus its last letter] + ARIA (song). |
| 13 |
INDIAN – The name for a type of Asian meal is what’s required here. AID (help) reversed (over) inside INN (tavern). |
| 14 |
SNAP UP – I have talked before about newer solvers having a book to list definitions often used in crosswords and here is one. The definition is seize. SNAP (crack) + UP (expression meaning you are at university, often used in puzzles through probably nowehere near as much in real life.). |
| 17 |
AMRITSAR – Punjabi city is the definition. A + M (male) + anagram (playing) of SITAR + R (first letter, front of RESTAURANT). |
| 19 |
FREE – Double definition clue. To release and something that costs nothing. |
| 21 |
ERATO – One of those clues where the whole thing sort of defines the clue. You are looking for someone that may have inspired in ancient Greece, namely a muse. It’s hidden in VERSIFIER AT OLYMPUS. The name of the muse of poetry. |
| 22 |
CAPRICE – Thought this was one of the harder clues. A word meaning fancy is what you seek. CAP (to better something) + RICE (cereal). |
| 23 |
MEDITATION – Time for thought is the definition. MEDIATION (shuttle diplomacy) with T (time) inside. |
| Down |
| 2 |
AIR RAID – Unusual to use the same definition and word twice in a puzzle as an indicator. Bombardment from above is the definition. Inside AID (help) goes IR (Irish) + RA (standard abbreviation for an artist – member of the Royal Academy). |
| 2 |
TAIL – Rather complicated clue for a short answer, one of those clues where the explanation is more complicated than the answer. Follow is the definition. Reverse (up, in a down clue, means reverse. In acrosses, it’s more likely to be an anagram indicator) with A inside + L (lead, first letter of LOOKER-ON). |
| 4 |
CUT OUT – Suited is the definition, as in cut out for something. After CU (copper) goes TOUT (one who solicits). |
| 5 |
LITIGANT – Party to lawsuit is the definition. LIT (inflamed) + an anagram (confusion) of GIANT. |
| 6 |
ROTOR – A cryptic definition for a word that something that turns, but is the same backwards and forwards, i.e. a palindrome. Here the up and down is used, as it’s a down clue. In an across, it would have been ‘back and forth’! |
| 7 |
ALTARPIECE – Work of art in a church is the definition. An anagram (vandalised) of REPLICATE A. |
| 8 |
VINDICATED – Supported is the definiton. V (very) + INDICATE (mean) + D (daughter). |
| 12 |
FAST FOOD – Here we have a double definition clue, where one of the answers is cryptic. The description of burgers, etc. is also a way of saying things you (don’t) eat during Lent. |
| 15 |
PORTICO – An architectural way of describing an entrance to a building is the definition. PORT (harbour) + I (one) + co (first and last letters, i.e. outskirts of CAIRO) |
| 18 |
MASCOT – One bringing good fortune is the definition. M (maiden) + ASCOT (racecourse). |
| 13 |
REALM – Province is the definition. REAL (actual) + M (miles). |
| 20 |
SPOT – See is the definition. S (son) + POT (slang for a trophy). |
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