Guardian 24,768 – Rufus
Posted by Ciaran McNulty on August 3rd, 2009
A lot of cryptic definitions today, but nothing too fiendish.
Across
1. ADMINISTRATES. DISTANTARMIES*
10. CRIME WAVE. cryptic def.
11. MOVER. MOVE + (ap)R(il).
12. OUTRÉ. Centre spread could be (sp)RE(ad) + OUT, but not sure what ‘way’ is doing.
13. LOCKSMITH. double def.
14. EGO TRIP. TOGRIPE*·
16. EPICURE. PIE* + CURE.
18. ADDED UP. double def.
20. GENTEEL. GENT + EEL.
21. ISLE OF MAN. cryptic def, a reference to the three-legged symbol of the isle.
23. SPRIG. S.P. + RIG.
24. NONET. N(ON)ET.
25. EYELASHES. EYE + LAS(HE)S.
26. BOARDING CARDS. BOARDING + CARDS.
Down
2. DRIFTWOOD. DRIFT + WOOD.
3. IRENE. IRE + (0)NE.
4. IN A FLAP. IFAPLAN*.
5. TREACLE. The dormouse talks about a ‘treacle well’ in Alice in Wonderland.
6. ADMISSION. double def.
7. ENVOI. (giv)EN VOI(ce).
8. OCTOGENARIANS. ONCEAGAINSORT*
9. ARCHAEOLOGIST. cryptic def.
15. RADIO STAR. double def.
17. UNEARTHED. double def. If an appliance is unearthed you could get an electric shock from it.
19. POMPEII. cryptic def.
20. GINSENG. INEGGS* around (mor)N(ing).
22. LINGO. L + IN GO.
23. SCALA. (to)SCA LA(st).
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Ciaran
12a is OUT (striking) [sp]RE[ad] with the definition ‘way out’.
August 3rd, 2009 at 2:04 pm
Many thanks, Ciaran, a very easy start for the week.
However, I was very disappointed that BLACK HOLE was not the required solution for 15d.
August 3rd, 2009 at 2:05 pm
Gaufrid – oh well done – I was stuck on the idea of striking = outre
August 3rd, 2009 at 5:22 pm
17:20 and nowt much said, so better just say ta to Rufus.
August 3rd, 2009 at 5:32 pm
Yes, thanks Ciaran and Rufus. Again, lots of nice surfaces. I liked 17dn.
August 3rd, 2009 at 6:21 pm
I thought this was an easy and pleasant Rufus. For once, I finished it in one sitting (without having to return to it later in the day).
August 3rd, 2009 at 6:26 pm
As a newbie i was pleased to have finished this without the aid of a dictionary/google/making words up. And fairly quickly.
However i can’t get my head around 11ac – i put “mover” in, as it was the only word i could get to fit, but don’t get how it works.
Can anyone explain further?
August 3rd, 2009 at 6:30 pm
mover is one who proposes a motion (on a board, say)
move is as in a chess move (on a board) mid april is r, the middle letter.
August 3rd, 2009 at 6:51 pm
Thanks Jim.
Reckon i was overthinking it!
August 3rd, 2009 at 8:38 pm
Can’t believe I couldn’t see 26a with all the crossing letters in !
August 3rd, 2009 at 9:47 pm
1a When did ‘administers’ become ‘administrates’ ?
My 1953 Imperial Reference Dictionary has the latter form as ‘rare, except in US’. Like ‘billion’, then and much else….