Solving time: 12 minutes
Pleasant thematic start to the week, reminiscent of Altair’s puzzles, for those of an age. A nice puzzle for those wanting to find their way into cryptics and themed puzzles. With my purist’s hat on, I have a few reservations.
Hadn’t heard of 8 down before and not keen on 12 across as it part-uses an answer already in the grid. 13 across doesn’t quite work for me, either. Nevertheless, good fun and thanks to Auster for a nice challenge.
Mood music: Bad Penny Blues by the late, wonderful and incomparable Humphrey Lyttelton. RIP Humph.
ACROSS (*) = ANAGRAM – (R) = REVERSAL (CD) = CRYPTIC DEFINITION
1. EMBOSS EM (R) + BOSS (Master)
4 VACANT VA (Virginia) + CANT
9 OPEN O + PEN (How to address the writer!)
10 ACCESSIBLE ACCESS (Gate) = IB (1B) + LE Definition = 9 across
11 CANDID CANDID (ATE)
12 OPEN BOAT OPEN (9) + OB (R) + AT I don’t like to see a word used again in a puzzle.
13 INGENUOUS I presume this is supposed to be INGENIUS with the second “I” replaced by a homophone for “You” (U), but what about the “O”.
15 FREE Double def
16 UNDO Hidden answer – Discovered at just about works for me as a container indicator.
17 ASSASSINS ASS + ASS (Fools) + IN (as in cricket) + S (Start to spinners)
21 STALE AIR ALE inside STAIR
22 SECURE SEE around CUR
24 DAY-TRIPPER (CD)
25 AJAR A + JAR
26 HAS A GO HA(S) + SAGO (Pudding loved by grannies loathed by schoolkids)
27 PATENT PATIENT minus I
DOWN
1 EXPLAIN EX + PLAIN
2 BONED I don’t think this needs explanation!
3 SPANDAU SP (Spanish – NOT in Chambers though!) + AND + AU Prison where Rudolf Hess was held for many years.
5 ANSWER A NSW (There are states outside the USA, you know!) + RE (R)
6 ACID BURNS A C.I.D. + BURNS
7 TILLAGE TILL + AGE
8 OCTOPUS STRAPS OCT + OPUS + STRAPS Never heard of ’em!
14 ENDPLATES N PEDESTAL (*)
16 UNTEACH U (Turn) + CAN’T HE (*)
18 AUSTRIA AUSTRALIA minus AL (Gore)
19 NOR’EAST SENATOR (*)
20 GAPING GA + PING
21 CRANE RAN inside CE
Re. 13 Across
The word for “clever” is INGENIOUS, thus replacing the second I with U provides INGENUOUS meaning uncomplicated, open.
John McDonald
Thanks John, he said, with a rather red-face.
Lot of familiar stuff in here (assassins clue for example), plus some non-avoidance of root meanings in SI breakdown. Not my kind of puzzle, I guess.
OCTOPUS STRAPS are bungee-type ropes, but with several hooked legs coming off a central hoop. Enormously useful on ships, for tying down computer monitors or anything else likely to fall off a bench when the ship rolls. Use them lots, but never thought Id see the phrase used in a crossword!
Enjoyed this puzzle, in a target-practice sort of way. Paul B’s comments are pretty valid, but it didnt spoil it for me.
OCTOPUS STRAPS or OCCY STRAPS are pretty commonly known in Oz. More usually they’re a single strap with a hook at each end but Comfy explains where they’ve originated. Every household would have one or two rotting away in the garage waiting for ‘just the right time’.