Independent 7957 by Quixote
Posted by NealH on April 16th, 2012
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def, sp=spoonerism
| Across | |
|---|---|
| 1 | Trouble Spots: Tots around Roubles + p. |
| 9 | Affable: A f fable. |
| 10 | Nannies: San< around nine*. |
| 11 | Core: C[h]ore. |
| 12 | Terminate: Term + in + ate. |
| 14 | Smashing: M + ash in sing. |
| 16 | Baron: Bar + on. |
| 17 | River: [D]river. |
| 18 | Tinkling: T + inkling. |
| 20 | Camellias: Camel + sail<. |
| 22 | Yeti: Ye + it<. |
| 24 | Managua: Man + a g(ood) u(niversity). |
| 25 | Garment: Gent around arm. |
| 26 | Irreverently: (In revel Terry)*. | Down |
| 1 | Thatch: That + ch. |
| 2 | Oxford Movement: (Oft vexed Mormons)*. |
| 3 | Babe: B + Abe. |
| 4 | Evert: Evert[on]. |
| 5 | Pendragon: Pen + dragon. |
| 6 | Tennis Ball: (Sent in)* + ball. |
| 7 | Disarrangement: (Meandering star)*. |
| 8 | Astern: Aster + N. |
| 13 | Astrologer: (Star ogler)* around o. |
| 15 | Intricate: In + trie[s] around cat. |
| 17 | Raceme: “Race me”. |
| 19 | Wintry: Win + try. |
| 21 | Segue: Sue around EG. |
| 23 | Erse: Hidden in “islanders evidently. |
April 16th, 2012 at 11:55 am
Thanks, Neil H and Quixote. A very pleasant start to the week, v much on the easy side, I thought, even by Quixote’s standards. Always nice to be able to get a completely unknown word from clear wordplay. That was the case for me with 5 down. I thought the definition of THATCH was rather good.
April 16th, 2012 at 3:56 pm
Thanks Neal. Yes, as nms says, a gentle start to the week, but with some nice touches. I too liked THATCH, and TENNIS BALL had a nice surface.
Surprised though that Quixote referenced the Chelsea captain in 26ac, on today of all days. His editor is probably still under the duvet (commiserations btw; for once it is true to say that I know how you feel …)
April 16th, 2012 at 4:47 pm
Bit surprised NMS hadn’t come across 5d from the legend of KIng Arthur, yes very easy start to the week, thanks Quixote.
April 16th, 2012 at 5:20 pm
Thanks Quixote for an enjoyable puzzle – some lovely long anagrams – and Neal for the blog.
24ac: There is a small omission from the explanation: Man + a g(ood) u(niversity) a(cademia).
1dn: I agree with the comments above: an excellent definition.
K’s Dad @2: It never occurred to me that 26ac was a reference to any particular Terry.
April 16th, 2012 at 6:57 pm
Beauty (or irony in this case) is in the eye of the beholder, Pelham …
April 18th, 2012 at 9:43 am
Thanks; I was travelling, and had no way to check my answers, or to get the two I missed, which were driving me crazy. Cryptics are not as well known in the US, so I couldn’t even discuss the clues with anyone. So thank you, Neal, for sanity, and thank you, Quixote, for a puzzle of just-right difficulty for me.