Four 6×6 squares had to be filled with answers from unnumbered clues. The four mini grids could then be positioned according to four hints hidden in the completed grid.
According to the Solving Strategies (which I avoid looking at until I’ve finished the puzzle), the clues were easier than the previous week. They certainly were. After the first pass through I had 30 out of 48. A few educated guesses as to what could go where soon had the four small grids filled. I suppose I was lucky in that the top two grids had TURBOT and TOMTOM adjacent to each other, and BOTTOM jumped off the page. The four grids could then be positioned so that TOP LEFT RIGHT and BOTTOM appeared in their correct place in the complete 12×12 diagram.
Solving time: just over the hour. Solving Strategies gives the general level of difficulty as Daily Telegraph Cryptic. EV always used to be a fairly tricky solve, easier than the Listener and roughly on a par with Inquisitor. However, there do seem to be a hell of a lot of anagrams and initial letters in this week’s puzzle. It seems that EV is being made much easier, hopefully to encourage a higher interest, which is not necessarily a bad thing.
I am looking forward to “This week’s clues will have you tearing your hair out!!” in a future Solving Strategy.
I have listed the clues in the order given in the puzzle, together with the grid they appear in (TL, TR, BL, BR) and clue number within that grid (1A – 9D).
Legend:
ABC* = anagram
ABC< = reversal
abCDef = hidden
| Clues | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BR-3D | ALARUM | warning mechanism: AL (Capone, gangster) + A + RUM (strange) |
| 2 | TL-1A | ALECTO | Fury (as in Greek legend): ALEC (little man, ie diminutive of Alexander) + TO (tax office) |
| 3 | TR-8A | ANTS | social creatures: WANTS (needs) – W (wife) |
| 4 | BL-3D | ARMOUR | protective clothing: in hARM OURselves; ‘on the contrary’ refers to switching the two halves of the first sentence |
| 5 | TR-10A | ASTI | drink: (IT’S A)* |
| 6 | BR-7A | BLITE | goosefoot (a plant): BITE (snack) containing L (bit of lettuce) |
| 7 | TL-4D | CARUSO | former singer: CAR (vehicle) + US (not working, as in unserviceable) + O (drop of oil) |
| 8 | BL-11A | CHURL | surly fellow: LURCH* |
| 9 | BR-9D | DADO | wooden wall border: DAD (father) + O (on) |
| 10 | TR-5D | DERIG | initial letters of Dismantle Equipment Required In Garrick &lit |
| 11 | BR-2D | EBON | wood: ONE* outside B (barrel) |
| 12 | BR-6D | EGEST | discharge: GETS* after E (end of sentence) |
| 13 | TL-3D | ENAMOR | charm (American spelling): ENA (girl) + MO (Missouri) + R (river) |
| 14 | TL-12A | ERRORS | mistakes: TERRORS (mischievous children) – T (time) |
| 15 | BL-7A | ERUCA | herbs: [CURATE – T (pinch of thyme)]* |
| 16 | TR-12A | EXARCH | bishop’s representative: REACH* embracing X (Christ) |
| 17 | BL-1A | FLASHY | gaudy: (FLY HAS)* |
| 18 | BR-8A | GOAL | aim: GOA (part of India) + L (liberal) |
| 19 | BL-8A | IAMB | foot: in guccI AMBience |
| 20 | TL-7A | INAPT | unqualified: (IN TAP)* |
| 21 | BL-2D | LEAD | guide: LAD (boy) around E (Spain) |
| 22 | TR-4D | LESSOR | one letting property: LOSES* + R (first instalment of rent) |
| 23 | TL-2D | LIST | catlogue of items: L (left) + I (in) + ST (street) |
| 24 | TL-11A | LOOSE | unattached: LOO (toilet) + SE (half of seat) |
| 25 | TL-10A | MUSE | contemplation: SUM< + E (dunce finally) |
| 26 | TR-11A | NOMOI | Greek departments (plural of nomos): NOMOI with US gives OMINOUS* |
| 27 | BL-9D | OSLO | overseas capital: regularly in lOanS to LabOur; I personally prefer regular letters to be symmetrical in the whole phrase, here there’s one unused letter at the beginning and two at the end |
| 28 | TR-9D | OTIC | of the ear: O (oscar, radio comms word) + TIC (involuntary twitch) |
| 29 | TL-5D | OTTER | mammal: (R)OTTER (cad beheaded) |
| 30 | BL-10A | OUSE | river: MOUSE (rodent) – M (motorway) |
| 31 | TR-6D | PANNE | velvety fabric: P (prince) + Anne (Princess Royal) |
| 32 | TR-1A | PURLED | fell heavily: PURL (spiced ale) + ED (editor) |
| 33 | BR-10A | REAR | 2 meanings: build up & back |
| 34 | TR-7A | REEVE | steward: RE (second note) + EVE (first lady) |
| 35 | TR-3D | RETAMA | Spanish broom (plant): [AMATEUR (non-professional) – U (university)]< |
| 36 | BR-4D | SILENT | cryptic def: LISTEN*; up is anagram indicator |
| 37 | BR-11A | SOUND | 2 meanings: measure the depth & strait |
| 38 | TL-6D | STALE | no longer fresh: ST (half of best) + ALE (beer) |
| 39 | BL-4D | SUBURB | district adjoining town: [RUB (polish) in BUS (double-decker)]< |
| 40 | BR-5D | TEARS | drops: [S (society) + RATE]*; building is anagram indicator |
| 41 | BR-1A | TEA SET | equipment for serving drinks: E (earl) in TASTE* |
| 42 | BL-6D | TINCT | alchemist’s elixir (Shak): TIN (can) + C(hange) + T(hings) |
| 43 | BR-12A | TOM-TOM | drum: TOM (boy) + TOM (big bell) |
| 44 | TL-8A | TSAR | despot: S (succeeded) in RAT< |
| 45 | BL-12A | TURBOT | fish: [TROUT + B (bass)]* |
| 46 | TR-2D | URNS | vases: TURNS (uses lathe) – T (piece of teak) |
| 47 | TL-9D | USER | drug addict: SURE* |
| 48 | BL-5D | YAMEN | house for mandarin: [YEOMAN – O (nothing)]* |