A few slightly more obscure answers and a little fiendish wordplay here and there (8dn in particular) made this one a bit tricky, but hopefully pretty fair. Some lovely surfaces dotted about too. I particularly liked 25ac and 3dn.
| Across | |
|---|---|
| 1 | MACAW – M(imic) + A + CAW |
| 2 | LADY’S MAID – SADLY* + ADIM* |
| 9 | MAUDLIN – MAUD + L + IN |
| 10 | OPEN-AIR – OP + E(arly) + RAIN* |
| 11 | OBSTINATE – OB + [IN in STATE] |
| 12 | KEATS – hidden in (Spe)KE AT S(ervice) |
| 13 | IMPERSONATOR – cd |
| 17 | CUPBOARD LOVE – CUPBOARD + LOVE |
| 20 | ICING – first letters of I(t) C(overs) I(t), N(ice) G(ateau) &lit |
| 21 | TOP-FLIGHT – dd with the second slightly cd |
| 22 | LAURELS – dd |
| 23 | TIMBALE – [I + MB] in TALE |
| 24 | STEVENAGE – STEVEN + AGE |
| 25 | SMART – S(tock) + MART |
| Down | |
| 1 | MAMMON – M(ention) + AMMON |
| 2 | COURSE – “COARSE” |
| 3 | WILLIAM CONGREVE – CMARLOWELIVING* + (playhous)E |
| 4 | LEND AN EAR – DANE in LEARN* |
| 5 | DRONE – DR + ONE |
| 6 | SPEAKING VOLUMES – SPEAKING + VOLUMES |
| 7 | ATALANTA – A in ATLANTA |
| 8 | DERISORY – SIRE< in DORY |
| 14 | SALTPETRE – SALT + PET + RE |
| 15 | ACHILLES – ACHES around ILL |
| 16 | APTITUDE – UPDATE* around IT |
| 17 | IGUANA – AGAIN around U {=universal – for all to see} |
| 19 | ATTEST – AT + TEST |
| 21 | TESSA – ASSET< |
Common crossword abbreviations this week:
left = L
work = OP
old boy = OB
one = I
doctor = MB, as well as the more obvious DR (both used in this crossword)
area = A
Italian = IT
one = I
East = E
Thanks Arthur,
I can’t let the situation arise where there are no comments, as you have been good enough to post your analysis of the answers. A week is a long time in the crossword world but I do remember being stumped for a while by 3 or 4 clues including MAMMON which I vaguely knew and DERISORY to which you have referred already.
An entertaining puzzle from Everyman as always and today’s follows a similar pattern with about 4 clues requiring a lot of thought.
Yes, I’m always grateful to Everyman for introducing me to crosswords. I do AZED most weeks now, but like to have a go at Everyman as
my ‘dictionary free’ puzzle. Finding it tougher than usual this week.
Hi and thanks for the blog. I was down to two missing when LAUREL twigged. Not getting DERISORY is embarrassing, though, especially considering sire and dory were words I was trying to stuff into it.
Sadly I can’t remember from 5-6 days ago what I liked most or didn’t!
Got but didn’t fully understand IGUANA, couldn’t find the “U” for the anagram.
Anyway, I do remember enjoying it.