*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def, sp=spoonerism
| Across | |
|---|---|
| 1 | Personable: (P[e]el one’s bra)* – the E being “taken” i.e. removed. |
| 7 | Veto: Hidden in leave toper. |
| 9 | Tilt: DD. This particular meaning of tilt – a type of canopy or awning – was totally unknown to me. Unfortunately, list also fitted, which would make it difficult to decide which was correct without a dictionary. |
| 10 | Rotisserie: Rot + is serie[s]. |
| 11 | Fedora: Fe[z] + Dora (Bryan). |
| 12 | Eclipsed: EC (older term for the EU) + lips + [sw]ed[en]. |
| 13 | Stand-Off: Anag of T[wickenham] + D(=500) + “of fans”. Stand-off half is a term for Jonny Wilkinson’s number 10 position, although it seems to be more commonly called fly-half these days. |
| 15 | Item: Even letters of diathermy. |
| 17 | Scut: [burglar]s + cut. A scut is an animal’s tail. |
| 19 | Yuletide: Hom of you’ll + tied. |
| 22/23 | Four leaf clover: (Careful of)* + lover. Some good misdirection here because I originally thought the anagram was “paramour’s charm”. |
| 25 | Incomplete: P[arty] + let in income. |
| 26 | Icon: Setter pores = I con. |
| 27 | Odds: Odd letters of “old odes”. |
| 28 | Retirement: Trireme* + [d]ent. |
| Down | |
| 2 | Eminent: Clue is “Celebrated “Shady Bottom” set aside and given to National Trust”. Obviously, National Trust gives the NT but not sure exactly where the emine part comes from. |
| 3 | Set to: DD. |
| 4 | Narrator: (Rota + ran)<. |
| 5 | Butterfly Effect: Butter + (fat left Effy c)*. |
| 6 | Easily: Even letters of “because inlays”. |
| 7 | Viewpoint: Initial letters of “vary in every way” + point. |
| 8 | Trireme: Hom of try + ream. |
| 14 | Notorious: Hom of no tory + [h]ous[e]. |
| 16 | All Clear: DD. |
| 18 | Crowned: C + wonder*. |
| 20 | Die down: Die (=stamp) + down(=feathers). |
| 21 | Vesper: Hidden in thieves perform. Vesper is a somewhat archaic word for evening-time. |
| 24 | Odium: [S]odium. |
Hi Neal
After much web research I think the ’emine’ in 2dn comes from EMINE[m] (‘bottom set aside’ indicating removal of the last letter in a down clue). Apparently Eminem is a rap musician who is also known as Slim Shady.
I loved the Eminem reference, though the punctuation in the clue was very misleading and it took me a while to get it. Failed on 9A, but otherwise a really enjoyable puzzle. FOUR LEAF CLOVER my fave.
Enjoyable puzzle, my favourite too was FOUR-LEAF CLOVER, also esp liked ODDS.
I loved this puzzle, even though I totally failed with the reference to a rap musician. I did know “tilt” because the canvas soft top to a military land rover is always called a tilt for some reason. But I still failed on that clue. Mostly, jolly good fun. Thanks!
Just when I thought I was improving! Hats off to all who found this solvable.Got about 5 clues!