Independent 7561 by Hypnos
Posted by NealH on January 10th, 2011
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def, sp=spoonerism
| Across | |
|---|---|
| 1 | Hog: I assume this is H + go<, although my knowledge of football doesn't extend to whether there is a (presumably Korean) footballer called Go. |
| 3 | Prosaicness: Casino* in press. |
| 9 | Aroma: Hidden, reversed in “team or association”. |
| 10 | Ethnicity: ET + [nort]h + NI city. |
| 11 | Theresa: Easter* around [mont]h. Referring to Theresa May, the Home Secretary. A nice idea, although it might have read better if it had appeared in April. |
| 12 | Inaptly: Nap in It[a]ly. |
| 14 | Air conditioning: Airing around condition. |
| 16 | Hit the headlines: Hi[p] + (athlete shined)*. |
| 19 | Ringlet: Let (tennis service which hits the net) after ring. |
| 21 | Camorra: Ca around a mo(ment) + RR (Rolls Royce). The Camorra are a Mafia-type group in Italy. |
| 22 | Disrepair: Dire pair around s(on). |
| 23 | Alibi: Lib in AI. |
| 24 | Wedge Heeled: Wheeled around edge. |
| 25 | Yemen: Ye[ME]n. | Down |
| 1 | Headteacher: He + (date)* + a Cher. |
| 2 | Globetrot: G trot around L OBE. |
| 3 | Placebo: Ace B in PLO. |
| 4 | Open and shut case: CD. |
| 5 | A Christmas Carol: (Sort acclaims har[d])*. “Seasonal work” here refers to the novel being a work written for the Christmas season. |
| 6 | Chicago: A + g[angsters] in Chico (Marx). |
| 7 | Eliot: Eli + OT. |
| 8 | Spy: DD. |
| 13 | Yugoslavian: (Once valuing soya)* |
| 15 | Inner City: Inn + E RC + [p]ity. |
| 17 | Hellene: HE around Ellen |
| 18 | Lampard: Lard around amp. |
| 20 | Nosed: No[r]se + d. |
| 22 | Dew: Hom of “due”. |
January 10th, 2011 at 7:44 am
Thanks NealH, and Hypnos, for, as you say, a gentle puzzle.
1A HOG is H(ard) + OG (=own goal, which is a “setback”).
Favourites were 12A INAPTLY, 2D GLOBE TROT, and 6D CHICAGO
January 10th, 2011 at 7:57 am
Thank you, Neal. I seem to remember Hypnos providing us with some tough challenges, but this one was pretty straightforward. Very pleasing, though. I had several favourites, including OPEN AND SHUT CASE, ETHNICITY and DISREPAIR. Good start to Monday morning.
January 10th, 2011 at 11:56 am
Thanks for the blog, NealH, and Hypnos for the puzzle. I too found this enjoyable and quite easy, my favourite clue being RINGLET. I saw OPEN-AND-SHUT-CASE as a clue with two elements rather than a CD with the definition ‘simple legal matter’. Trickiest clue ETHNICITY.
January 10th, 2011 at 3:14 pm
Yes, a two-part clue for sure. Nice puzzle, seemed to be just right for a Monday, and very well-written. Good stuff Hypnos!!
January 10th, 2011 at 3:21 pm
Thanks NealH, but I think you’ll find the anagram fodder for 13d doesn’t require ‘once’, which is actually part of the clue, as the country no longer exists.
Other than that slip, great blog for a relatively gentle stroll.
January 10th, 2011 at 4:27 pm
Personally I found this very, very easy, I don’t generally do fast solves, I like to take my time and enjoy it, but ’twas over before I’d started my pint. Still after Nimrod on Friday and the Bann man on Saturday it was a pleasant relief. Thanks Neal/Hypnos.
January 10th, 2011 at 4:50 pm
Many thanks to Neal for the blog and all for comments. There were in fact only 2 football references in the whole puzzle – but I appreciate that’s probably two too many for the soccerphobes among us. Talking of which, re K’s D and nmsindy, I’d better not mention recent giant-killing feats in the 3rd round of the FA Cup…..
January 10th, 2011 at 5:22 pm
Gaufrid has forbidden any off-topic mention of football on this blog, Hypnos. I’m surprised at you. The first goal was a foul in any case.
January 10th, 2011 at 6:09 pm
Seeing the word ‘giant’ used is nice tho…
January 10th, 2011 at 7:38 pm
It is wrong to talk about Blackpool’s defeat by Southampton here, as I know Gaufrid will attest.
So I will talk only about the crossword here, which is an excellent one by Hypnos, a member of The Independent’s swaggering, swashbuckling, swanky, flamboyant, dare-devil, dashing, occasionally drunken, often youngish, potentially seafaring crossword compiler’s team. Bravo hearty shipmate.
Now for those lily-livered swabs in red.
January 10th, 2011 at 11:04 pm
I enjoyed this. Just got stuck on 6dn as I was sure the answer involved “capo” rather than “g” for head of gangsters. I don’t understand AI=capital, in 23 ac so enlightenment would be appreciated
January 10th, 2011 at 11:41 pm
@pennes A-One top notch, capital etc.
January 11th, 2011 at 10:20 am
Thoroughly enjoyed it, I had never heard of Camorra but scraped home from the wordplay.
Favourite was 10A which was also the last one in. Many thanks Hypnos and Neal for the blog