Solving time: 24 minutes
I sometimes imagine Paul, in his spare time, at the end of Southend Pier, playing his banjo and telling rude jokes to the assembled punters in a straw boater and striped jacket. However, having met the man, I can confirm that he doesn’t indulge in such behaviour. However, sometimes, his puzzles
make you wonder whether he should indulge in the odd trip to the seaside, if the crosswords ever dried up, not that they ever would.
This one is no exception and is full of the usual fun. Bravo (and encore!) Paul!
ACROSS * = ANAGRAM cD = Cryptic Definition (R) = Reversal.
9 OVULATION This is a bit complicated and if I have it wrong, please advise.
“I appreciate that, darling, nothing = TA LUV O (R) + I + ON. “It happens
once a month” = definition. Very clever.
10 YEAST Y (UNKNOWN) + EAST (Point)
12 UNCHAIN CHA(P) [short bloke] inside UNI(O)N [loveless marriage].
13 MAJOR JAM (R) + T(OR)Y
14 GREENGAGE G + RE-ENGAGE
16 AMBULANCE CHASER LANCE (To pop) inside SUCH A* inside AMBER. nice clue and image.
19 EXPEDIENT EX PEN (old writer) about DIE (end) + T
21 PERCH Two defs.
22 NEMESIS Release of man = SEMEN (R) + IS Even Cyclops would be hard-pressed to beat this!
23 SHOTGUN SHOGUN with T (end of biggest) inside.
24 VIOLA Double def.
25 ACROPOLIS CROP + SILO attached to A
DOWN
1 CONSUMMATE MATE (couple) with C + ON + SUM – Total = definition.
2 PUT-UP JOB PUT-UP (Has to accommodate) + JOB (Biblical character, famous for patience)
3 RANKER Double def. I am sure the idea of using Jonathan Ross must have crossed his
fertile mind.
4 PIMP PI + MP
5 INDUCEMENT cockneys, famous for dropping their aitches, would use ‘INDU CEMENT for biding.
6 HYACINTH HINT + H with CAY (r) inside
7 PANAMA Double def. A Panama is a type of hat.
8 STUN NUTS (R)
14 GINGER SNAP GP with GRANNIES* inside.
15 EARTHINESS EAR + SHE ISN’T *
17 LODE STAR LOST READ *
18 STRUGGLE ST +RUGGE(R) with L inside.
21 PROMPT Dbl def
22 NAVY The main body of a church is the Nave, so……
23 SERF Hidden answer.
Thanks again to Paul for the knockabout fun!
For 4 down, why is PI = good?
Shortened form of pious = religious, sanctimonious.
A smashing puzzle to get the brain in gear after the usual dumbed-down Monday fare.
pi is a colloquial form of pious
Brilliant crossword. I loved ‘indu cement!
9ac has to one of the most outrageous, funniest, cleverest, on the edge clues ever. Intricate construction, but not so arcane to be ‘ungettable’, surface reading meaningful and, er, witty (hope my dear wife does not read this though :-). Brilliant.
Chuck in the ‘indu cement and ‘release of man’, and the fact that I finished it without recourse to thesaurus, dictionary, or other prop; altogether very satisfying.
Probably not the place to ‘discuss’ this, but Fletch: I don’t know how many times Rufus has said on here that he is specifically asked to produce an ‘easier than average’ crossword for Monday, since the crossword editor tries to accommodate a fairly broad ‘audience’ (if that’s the word). Cut the guys some slack, eh? And spare a thought for those of us at the other end of the speed curve from you…