Sorry this is a day late, but I was away all day yesterday assisting Pete Biddlecombe on his Crossword course.
Solving time 8:43 – one of my fastest times for a Saturday puzzle for a very long time. Although it wasn’t a ‘clean sweep’, I did manage to solve a lot of the clues at first look, and there was nothing very tricky here at all.
Across
1 | T(hat),I(s),T(rapped),MOUSE – nice easy start, from which I got all 4 crossing down answers straight away. |
5 | S(PINE)T – an old instrument like a small harpsichord. |
10 | AMERIGO VESPU(CC)I – i.e. CC=centuries, inside (previous image)* – Vespucci didn’t discover America but the new continent was named after him anyway. |
15 | CHARRED – two meanings. I didn’t know there was a verb to char meaning to do housework, but it makes sense. |
17 | CREW,CUT(e) – déjà vu – this answer was in another puzzle recently too (two Saturdays earlier actually), but the clue was very different. |
22 | UNEVEN,T,FUL(flu*) |
25 | UNKNOWN QUANTITY – last in Derby is Y, which as an algebraic variable is literally an unknown quantity. |
28 | WHIST,LED |
Down
1 | TRAF(FI)C – IF=condition, rev. inside craft* |
2 | TOE – first letters of T(hree) O(r) E(ight), but looks like it’s referring to two other clues. The online version spells out the numbers, but I wonder if they were given as digits in the paper? |
4 | SLOTH – one of the Seven Deadly Sins, and the animal. It’s quite common to see ‘native’ as meaning an animal or plant from whatever part of the world is mentioned. |
6 | POPE – I liked this one. If you put Alexander after POPE you get one of eight popes, if it goes after it you get the poet. |
9 | MEDI(O)C,RE – another answer that cropped up last week somewhere, with a very similar clue. |
14 | BEG,INNINGS – the ubiquitous clue with a cricket reference. |
18 | A,S(SAUL)T – the apostle Paul’s original name was Saul. |
23 | V,OUCH |
24 | FORA – A literal definition, with the wordplay putting for and a together – I can’t decide whether this clue is clever or not! |
11a Measure of warmth (fine hearth)* can produce (10)
FAHRENHEIT
13a Put cards on the table for business arrangement (4)
DEAL
18a (Red coat)* refashioned in 30’s style (3,4)
ART DECO
19a Morally instructs wickED IF I, ESpecially, take part (7)
EDIFIES
21a Island’s second rescue craft (4)
S ARK
27a Means to preserve artefact, finally, of ancient civilization (3,3)
T INCAN
3d Girl covers area for putting colour (5,5)
OLIVE GREEN
7d (Refine check)* as redesigned for cloth square (11)
NECKERCHIEF
8d Travel permit for one arriving with two others (7)
TRIP LET
12d Pay attention about time little brother gets distressed (11)
HEAR T BRO KEN
16d Doctor admitting possible cause of accidental death (8)
DR OWNING
20d Hurried outside to set out spread (7)
SP LAY ED
26d In short, the state of Chicago is bad (3)
ILL