Independent 6526/Nimrod
Posted by neildubya on September 21st, 2007
Quite a few long answers in this which made it a fairly quick solve. Naturally, there are a couple of answers which I don’t really understand: 13 and 15A. Oh, and 16D.
| Across | |
|---|---|
| 1 | W,AGE – or is it just WAGE? I can’t decide if this clue defines the word three times (“Carry on”, “with long term” and “payment”) or just twice (“Carry on” and “long term payment” where “with” is just a link word). Answers on a postcard please. |
| 3 | BUBBLES – which was the name of Michael Jackson’s chimpanzee. There’s also a reference to “I’m forever blowing bubbles”, the West Ham (hence “hammers”) song. |
| 7 | TwItCh – excellent &lit. |
| 11 | (HELP LATE TRIO ON)* – APOLLO THIRTEEN. |
| 13 | HUNT THE SLIPPER – don’t get this one. Full clue is “Quarry’s Aim” (Spooneresque game)”. |
| 15 | YOUR NUMBER IS UP – “The end is in sight” is clear enough but what about “Solver’s favourite drink”? |
| 17 | (UNSOLICITED SON)* – NUDIST COLONIES. |
| 20 | IDI in (S,SUBS)* – SUBSIDIES. “King of Scotland” is a reference to IDI Amin and the novel/film “The Last King of Scotland” . |
| 22 | ENS – N is last letter of “an Herculean human” and ENS means a being or entity. |
| 24 | LAST – which was the LAST one in for me. It’s a triple definition as a LAST can be “a wooden or metal form in the shape of the human foot on which boots or shoes are shaped or repaired” or “model” in the clue. |
| Down | |
| 1 | WOOD ASH – very sly and subtle. Full clue is “Remains – after court”; “-” is DASH after WOO (“court”) |
| 2 | (GOD TEN TWO)* – GET DOWN TO. |
| 3 | BIG GIRL’S BLOUSE – I’ve always wanted to see this phrase appear in a crossword, for some strange reason. |
| 4 | (BUT PARALYSE OUR)* – BEAUTY PARLOURS. I loved this clue: “They prettify women but paralyse our nuts”. |
| 14 | (INSTEAD)*,AI (going up) – the first part of the clue “Part of 19 [ASIA] docked in London” is a sort of semi-cryptic definition in itself. |
| 15 | YEN – quite chestnut-ty. |
| 16 | PASS OUT – “faint” must be the definition but don’t know what the rest is about: “Faint words on this allow one’s return”. |
| 18 | hidden in “thUMBELina” – guessed this with U?B?L filled in, so not exactly a stab in the dark. |
| 19 | AS,I,A[-m] – “big place” as a definition for ASIA. Hmmm [scraches chin suspiciously]. |
September 21st, 2007 at 12:19 pm
“Solver’s favourite drink” = “Your number 1 sup”
September 21st, 2007 at 12:27 pm
A quarry’s aim would be to slip the hunter.
September 21st, 2007 at 12:30 pm
In 16D is it “words” or “wards”. “wards on this” would give “pass outwards” which could be a permit to allow one to return.
September 21st, 2007 at 12:35 pm
The clue has “words” but I like your explanation for “wards”. Not sure that the surface reading of the clue would make much sense though…
September 21st, 2007 at 1:07 pm
PASS OUT In years gone by at dances, if you wanted to leave the hall, you were given a pass out and you showed it when you wanted to return – that’s how I read this clue.
September 22nd, 2007 at 11:09 am
W + with; AGE = long term
YOUR NUMBER 1 SUP
October 10th, 2007 at 5:52 am
16D Faint = Pass out
Printed return to venue ticket = Pass out