Apologies for the late post – I wrote half of this earlier in the week and then forgot that I hadn’t finished and scheduled the post. As ever with Paul, this was a witty and fair puzzle, although for me it was much harder than I typically find his puzzles, perhaps just because of a few key words that were unfamiliar to me? Anyway, there’s lots to enjoy here, I thought – thanks, Paul!
Across
1. As some stones of course ground, grit’s back (4-3)
ROSE-CUT
(COURSE)* + [gri]T = “grit’s back”
Definition: “As some stones” (referring to gemstones)
5. Say what you might do with cheese for bird? (4,3)
GREY TIT
Sounds like “grate it” (“what you might do with cheese”)
Definition: “bird”
9. Player referring to publication’s withdrawal (5)
GAMER
RE = “referring to” + MAG = “publication” all reversed (“withdrawal”)
Definition: “Player”
11. Fruit: bloke gets one out (10)
MANGOSTEEN
MAN = “block” + (GETS ONE)*
Definition: “Fruit”
12, 18. Be honest, singer flat: lack of effort about the same? (4,1,5,1,5)
CALL A SPADE A SPADE
CALLAS = “singer” + PAD = “flat” followed by EASE = “lack of effort” around PAD = “the same” (i.e. the flat)
Definition: “Be honest” – for an interesting history of this expression and whether it has racist connotations nowadays, this NPR article is worth reading
14. Fun with a tot never in doubt for abandoned child (6,6)
ENFANT TROUVÉ
(FUN A TOT NEVER)*
Definition: “abandoned child”
21. Father held back by mother, I see (4)
SIRE
Hidden reversed in [moth]ER I S[ee]
Definition: “Father”
22. Britain is split about one getting behind party — what might reward loyalty? (3,7)
DOG BISCUIT
GB = “Britain” + IS + CUT = “split” around I = “one”, all “behind” DO = “party”
Definition: “what might reward loyalty?”
25. Laying off vodka in particular, atmosphere initially has turned sour (9)
OVIPAROUS
O[ff] V[odka] I[n] P[articular] A[tmosphere] + (SOUR)*
Definition: “Laying” (i.e. egg-laying)
26. Part needing no introduction, slow burner (5)
EMBER
[m]EMBER = “Part needing no introduction”
Definition: “slow burner”
28, 10. Programme that’s tedious? (7,9)
OUTSIDE BROADCAST
A reverse clue (note the question mark) – BROADCAST is a common anagram indicator, so OUTSIDE BROADCAST might clue “tedious”
Definition: “Programme”
Down
1. Ruling system, for example, welcomed by prince after revolution (6)
REGIME
EG = “for example” in EMIR = “prince” reversed
Definition: “Ruling system”
2. One day in solitary on the borders for religious offence (6)
SIMONY
I = “One” + MON = “day” in S[olitar]Y = “solitary on the borders”
Definition: “religious offence” – I somehow managed to drag this word up from memories from school, where it came up as one of sins committed by people in Dante’s hell
3. Stew seeing German city commercial: worry about that (10)
CARBONNADE
BONN = “German city” + AD = “commercial” in CARE = “worry”
Definition: “Stew”
4. Norman’s half-hearted uprising in Far Eastern land (5)
TIBET
TE[b]BIT = “Norman half-hearted” reversed (“uprising” in this down clue)
Definition: “Far Eastern land”
5. March, when bird with budgies and canaries flying north? (5-4)
GOOSE-STEP
GOOSE = “bird” followed by PETS = “budgies and canaries” reversed (“flying north?” in this down clue)
Definition: “March”
6. Current dispute, sound and fury ultimately (4)
EDDY
[disput]E [soun]D [an]D [fur]Y = “dispute, sound and fury ultimately”
Definition: “Current”
7. Where pain registered like that, a hit lodged? (8)
THALAMUS
THUS = “like that” around LAM = “hit”
Definition: “Where pain registered”
8. Wrecked, having carried round the entire load (8)
TOTALLED
TOTED = “carried” around ALL = “the entire load”
Definition: “Wrecked” (as in “the car was totalled”)
13. I go on trail that’s colourful (10)
IRIDESCENT
I + RIDE = “go on” + SCENT = “trail”
Definition: “colourful”
15. Similar capital in Uganda, Angola so different (9)
ANALOGOUS
(U ANGOLA SO)*
Definition: “Similar”
16. Key pulling spring up in timing mechanism (4,4)
CAPS LOCK
SPA = “spring” reversed in CLOCK + “timing mechanism”
Definition: “Key”
17. Role is in religious text for Riley, say? (2,6)
OP ARTIST
PART = “Role” + IS in OT (Old Testament) = “religious text”
Definition: “Riley, say?” referring to Bridget Riley
19. Asian metropolis offering relative security, briefly (6)
MUMBAI
MUM = “relative” + BAI[l] = “security, briefly”
Definition: “Asian metropolis”
20. Go without eyeball having restricted vision, primarily (6)
STARVE
STARE = “eyeball” around V[ision] = “vision, primarily”
Definition: “Go without”
23. Voice of albatross, a bird ascending (5)
BASSO
Hidden reversed in [albatr]OSS A B[ird]
Definition: “Voice”
24, 27. Produce little balls of fluff and feel hair stand on end? (4,7)
HAVE KITTENS
Double definition: “Produce little balls of fluff” and “feel hair stand on end?”
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