Solving time 14:10
This was one of those puzzles which was a real pleasure to solve – not too difficult, but with loads of interesting and witty clues. I started writing this up just after lunch, but then the darts semi-finals came on and I couldn’t take my eyes off it. Should be a great final tomorrow.
Across
| 1 | GA(BRIE)L |
| 8 | VAR,SIT(I)ES |
| 11 | NO(I)SY – Online it said “One in seven is like thirteen”, which in this case made me wonder whether one or both referred to other clues or not. As it happens, it was both – 7 is CURIOUS, 13 HARD ROCK. This was no. 4 in PB’s list of problems with the Times Crossword Club website. |
| 17 | WITH IT – i.e. put “prof” with “it” to make profit. Sort of a backwards charade clue. |
| 22 | ROUGH,CAST |
| 23 | C,ROWD(y) |
| 24 | SHA(has*),FT – FT (Financial Times) is probably the most used newspaper in cryptic clues, especially short ones like this. |
| 26 | WO(GG,L)E – a woggle is what scouts hold their neckerchiefs together with. When I was in the cubs I had a leather one. |
Down
| 2 | BARRIE,R – J. M. Barrie was the author of Peter Pan |
| 3 | ICILY – “eye silly” |
| 5 | PO(SHE)R(n) – I liked that one, “short blue material” for POR(n). |
| 6 | ANTI-KNOCK (I,tank)* + conk* – it used to be lead, but other additives are used now. |
| 7 | CUR,IOU’S |
| 10 | WINED AND DINED – I thought this was a brilliant cryptic definition, COD is between this and 5D. |
| 14 | REICHSTAG (the GI’s car)* – couldn’t make head or tail of this anagram at first, until I realised the definition was “Foreigners assembled”. |
| 16 | W,A(L)T,ZING |
| 18 | T(OUR)ACO – usually spelled turaco, but the wordplay was clear enough (and that wouldn’t have fit!). |
| 20 | MOO,RIS(e),H |
| 21 | P(A)LATE – brilliantly succinct &lit. |
A fun puzzle – not too hard but with interesting clues and answers. The “easies” not included in the blog are Galahad’s XI:
5a Fish passed around in spECIAL Platter (6)
PLAICE
9a Try not to win shot-put event? (5)
THROW
12a Problem with car making you burst into tears? (9)
BREAKDOWN
13a Certainly not soft music (4,4)
HARD ROCK
15a (Dope is)* surprisingly self-assured (6)
POISED
19a Evangelist’s servant shot (8)
MARK’S MAN
25a (In it, a goat)* becomes restless (9)
AGITATION
27a Celebration held for knight (7)
GALA HAD
1d Put in charge of factory, treated with full honours (5,3,5)
GIVEN THE WORKS
4d Disinclined to make effort, learner is given two forms of support (4,4)
L AID BACK
23d Lacking experience in class, make slow progress (5)
C RAW L