*=anag, <=reversed, [] =dropped
I’ve not come across this compiler before, so wasn’t sure what to expect. It was a good, although not horrendously difficult puzzle with some excellent attempts at deception. The only clue I didn’t really follow was 16 across.
| Across | |
|---|---|
| 1 | Hors Doeuvres: Horse + s around (devour)*. This spelling of Hors D’oeuvres always throws me, although it’s come up a few times before, so it must be allowed. Horse clued as “unusual meat” might be a bit debatable, since it depends what country you’re in. Clearly, in the UK it would be unusual, but less so in countries like France. |
| 10 | Idiot: Id + o in it. |
| 11 | Transport: (torn past)* around r |
| 12 | Hairnet: Hair (Darryl, controversial test umpire) + net. |
| 13 | Lorelei: lore + lei. |
| 14 | Nontoxic: (On tonic)* around x. |
| 16 | Ferret: (Ref)< + re + t. I don’t know what ferret has to do with tape, unless there is such a thing as “ferret tape”. |
| 18 | Copper: Co + pp + er. |
| 20 | Portions: port + ions. |
| 24 | Sporran: SP + narro[w]<. |
| 25 | Pastime: PE around “as Tim”. |
| 27 | Lookalike: Kali + k in Looe. |
| 28 | Aware: A + ware. |
| 29 | Ethnocentric: (content reich)*. |
| Down | |
| 2 | Ovidian: (in a void)*. |
| 3 | Sit in: Nit is<. |
| 4 | Outstrip: Cryptic def (Gypsy Rose Lee was an old burlesque dance act). |
| 5 | Unable: U + (el ban)<. |
| 6 | Resurgent: Res + urgent. I’m not personally a big fan of having latin in puzzles (mainly because I didn’t do it at school, so usually end up having to guess what the latin word is). |
| 7 | Spoiler: (prose + i l)* |
| 8 | Lichen: chil[dr]en*. Not heard of lichen as a skin disease before. |
| 9 | Strict: Stir with i moved down 1 place + ct. |
| 15 | Overreach: over + reach. |
| 17 | Complete: (c + omelet + p)*. |
| 18 | Castle: Cast + l + e (chess piece aka rook). |
| 19 | Promote: Prom + (ot)< + e. |
| 21 | Origami: (I’m + a giro)<. |
| 22 | See red: Seer + ed. |
| 23 | Indigo: In + dig + o. Good deception to make it look like a word inside dig. |
| 26 | Shaft: double def with a clever surface that pointed towards prisons. |
I wouldn’t mind some enlightenment on TAPE = FERRET myself.
Very Ximenean debut from AL, although I think there could be some cake-throwing at the next bash involving those who would rather sleep with Ann Widdecombe than risk the ignominy of clueing Lorelei LORE/ LEI.
I’m sort of kidding of course – welcome AL, a fine start.
Chambers has “Ferret” as a narrow silk or cotton ribbon.
Not a début, I think – I seem to remember a previous Indy (just one) by Al three or four years ago. Enjoyable puzzle.
I’ve just clicked who ’tis. Thanks to Ray and NMS.
I was not impressed by 12 across. How can we be expected to know that Hair is a cricket umpire? A very 29 across clue.
As I alluded in the blog, he has been in the news a lot because of the controversy over his decision to accuse Pakistan of ball-tampering. You could equally well argue that it’s unfair to expect us to know latin or to have heard of Ovid or Gypsy Rose Lee.
Unless you’re going to make a rule that all crosswords should stick only to well known English words, there is always likely to be some bit of general knowledge you’re lacking.
Thanks to all for the kind words/feedback. I am slightly baffled by Paul B’s “Ann Widdecombe” comment…
Al