A possibly error-free Azed! The usual mix of obscure words in both the grid and word play, some unusual devices and some great surfaces added up to a typically enjoyable Azed plain puzzle.
| Across | |
|---|---|
| 1 | BLABBERMOUTH — LAB + BERM + OUT in BH — BH is the IVR for Belize (formerly British Honduras). |
| 9 | OUTERWEAR — (UAR WE TORE)* — off was a popular anagrind in this puzzle, here it adds to the brevity of the clue. |
| 11 | BLOOD SUGAR — BLOOD + SUGAR |
| 12 | BUND — BUN + D — BUN is a term for a young squirrel or rabbit. |
| 14 | URDE — R in UDE (= hUnDrEd) — clever use of numerals to hide the three letters required. |
| 15 | ALHAGI — HAG in ALI — there’s a good chance an Arab will be Ali! |
| 16 | TAIAHA — AIA in (HAT)* — an AIA is a nursemaid in India during the Raj. |
| 19 | PALADIN — LAD in PAIN — here the surface suggests the reading that gives the insertion indicator. |
| 21 | SNOTTER — (RN SET-TO)* |
| 23 | LEGGED — EGG in LED — This is very neat. The question mark naturally follows from the question in the surface but in the word play “Was leader” isn’t a question and the question mark hints at a slightly cryptic definition. |
| 25 | TROADE — ROAD for IM in TIME — this device of replacing a bit of one word with another is used a couple of times in this puzzle; here it leads to a very clean surface. |
| 26 | ENVY — ENV(o)Y — duck = O and another fine surface. |
| 28 | NEEM — AS MEDICINE = (NEEM IS ACID)* — a classic Azed composite anagram. “This” does duty for the answer. |
| 30 | SEAKEEPING — AKEE in (EG NIPS)* — one of those clues that has you reaching for the dictionary for the clue rather than the answer. Skeely = skilful. |
| 31 | CRABEATER — BE+A in CRATER |
| 32 | STENTMASTERS — (TR MEANS TESTED)* — a very neat anagram. |
| Down | |
| 1 | BOAB — BOA+B and A in BOB — two sets of word play here just add to the initial confusion though both are simple in the end. |
| 2 | LUPULINE — UP in bLUe + LINE |
| 3 | BELDAM — BEDLAM with LD< — simple but effective. |
| 4 | BROUGHT — ROUGH for A in BAT — the definition is simply “Caused” which had me for a while. |
| 5 | REDSTARTS — RED STARTS — a slightly inexact snooker reference as this isn’t true of any break! A break can start with a colour if all the reds have been potted or if a colour is potted in lieu of a red following a foul. Still, it’s a very nice idea. |
| 6 | MASSA — ASSAM< — Assam is a tea-growing area of India. |
| 7 | UPGRADE — G in (A PRUDE)* |
| 8 | TOAD — “towed” |
| 10 | CREANCE — (NACRE)* in CE — hobby here is the bird of prey, falco subbuteo. Incidentally this bird’s Latin name gives us the name for the popular “flick to kick” table-top football game. |
| 13 | PIPE DREAM — A in (ME RIPPED)* |
| 15 | AUSLESE — (USES ALE)* — nicely observed anagram. |
| 17 | HINDERERS — RED< in (RHINE)* |
| 18 | DOGVANE — (GAVE NOD)* |
| 20 | LORRIES — O+RR in LIES — RR = roller = Rolls Royce. |
| 22 | DONNAT — N in DONAT — Dotheboys was the fictional school in Nicholas Nickleby, it was in Yorkshire and so here is used to qualify DONNAT as a Yorkshire word as well as creating a good surface. |
| 24 | EXERT — X in TREE< — TREE is a form of cross |
| 27 | NEXT — sectariaN EXTremist |
| 29 | MARS — MARSPORT – PORT — a MARSPORT is the same as a spoilsport. The definition is a reference to the old Mars Bar adverts, “A Mars a day helps you work, rest and play.” |
Indeed, another enjoyable puzzle, and one for which I managed to fill in quite a bit before having to resort to the big red book!
Very much enjoyed the PALADIN clue. Reminded me of the recent homo-sapiens LAMANTIN clue which the great man himself picked out as his favourite in the accompanying slip.