A nice enough puzzle but a few too many cryptic definitions for my liking. Lots for new solvers to get their 5As stuck into though.
| Across | |
|---|---|
| 1 | WIND-BAG – a cryptic definition with a pun on “waffle”. |
| 5 | INCISOR – another cryptic definition. Think of the teeth as a food processor. |
| 9 | (POET PAINE)* – APPOINTEE. |
| 11 | F,RISKING |
| 14 | (STABLEMA[-t]E)* – BASE METAL |
| 16 | EG,A,DA< – “Saw” is a neat trick for catching solvers out although it is becoming a bit well-worn now. Lawyers in crosswords will usually be BAR or DA (District Attorney). |
| 17 | IN,CUR – more crossword staples for beginners to learn here: “batting” is IN and CUR is always a good choice for “scoundrel” or dog. |
| 19 | ESCALATOR – another cryptic def but not a very exciting one I thought. |
| 22 | (SKATER IS)* – you can see the answer to this right next to the closing bracket! |
| 27 | (CLUE)* in SPATE |
| 28 | ELECTOR – one more cryptic definition. |
| 29 | PAPYRUS – and another. |
| Down | |
| 1 | WHARF – the cryptic defs just keep on coming. The use of “tramp” (for tramp steamer – a type of cargo boat) and “loaded” (which can mean drunk) is very neat. |
| 7 | SATSUMA – I didn’t know that this was a type of Japanese pottery but with S?T?U?A and “sort of orange” in the clue there’s only one answer. |
| 8 | RACKETEER – can’t decide if this is a cryptic def or a double def or both. |
| 13 | BLACK SHEEP – a Suffolk is a black-faced sheep. |
| 20 | THIN AIR – the clue for this is “Balding ‘usband disappeared into…?” and I can’t work out why “‘usband” is there. Is it to indicate the missing H from “thin hair”? H is a valid indicator for “husband” so why not just say “husband disappeared into…”? Or am I missing something? |
| 25 | TSAR – “tars” are sailors so just move the S up a bit. |
For what it’s worth, my take on 20D is that the ‘usband makes for a more elegant clue. Were it ‘husband’ instead, ‘disappeared’ would have to work twice as hard, indicating loss of the H as well as being part of the definition. As it stands, the clue breaks up nicely into ‘thin hair’, ‘minus H’ = disappeared into…