Monday Prize Crossword/Nov 7
Pleasant starter of the week, this Dante. What struck me was that the clues were shorter than usual. Surfaces were great as ever …..
….. while my Top 3 (in random order) of favourite clues consisted of: 20ac (ESPY), 21 (CHURCHMICE) and 7d (CORPULENT).
| Across | ||
| 1 | BLOOMS | Flourishes and prospers without money |
| BOOMS (prospers) around L (money, a pound) | ||
| 4 | MANIAC | Mother, can I distribute some fruitcake? |
| MA (mother) + (CAN I)* | ||
| 8 | BATSMAN | Sportingly, he takes over |
| Cryptic definition | ||
| 9 | ESQUIRE | Address of a gentleman who sorts queries out |
| (QUERIES)* | ||
| 11 | DEPRESSION | Slump causing gloom |
| Double definition | ||
| 12 | NOUS | In France we show common sense |
| Double definition | ||
| Some might perhaps comment on the cryptic grammar, saying that ‘show’ should be ‘will/must show’, but I am not going to flag it up (again). Oops, I did. | ||
| 13 | THEME | I object to the subject of discussion |
| ME (I, in the object form) added to THE | ||
| 14 | OBSESSED | Persistently preoccupied, Bess does go wrong |
| (BESS DOES)* | ||
| 16 | COQUETTE | She vainly seeks masculine attention |
| Cryptic definition | ||
| In fact, a straightforward definition or is there something more to it? Still not sure about ‘vainly’, although it reminds me of the Dutch word ‘koket’ which indeed means ‘vain’. | ||
| 18 | MERIT | Deserve credit |
| Double definition | ||
| 20 | ESPY | Spot for parking inside, yes? Possibly |
| P (parking) inside (YES)* | ||
| 21 | CHURCHMICE | Poor little creatures |
| Cryptic/Double definition | ||
| 23 | ANISEED | One’s restricted by a lack of flavour |
| I S (one’s) inside A NEED (a lack of) | ||
| 24 | CLEAVER | A butcher may use it to cut credit without permission |
| CR (credit) around LEAVE (permission) | ||
| 25 | SISTER | Tender relative |
| Double definition | ||
| 26 | INSTEP | One part of Oxford just like the others? |
| Double definition | ||
| INSTEP is a part of a shoe (which ‘Oxford’ is), and IN STEP means ‘just like the others’. | ||
| Down | ||
| 1 | BRACE | Two support the church |
| BRA (support) + CE (the church) | ||
| 2 | OBSERVE | Watch and obey |
| Double definition | ||
| 3 | MEANS TEST | Statesmen arrange financial review |
| (STATESMEN)* | ||
| 5 | ARSON | The offence of one coming to light |
| Cryptic definition | ||
| 6 | IGUANAS | Lizards that may be using a double disguise |
| (USING + AA (‘a’ double))* | ||
| 7 | CORPULENT | With port, uncle becomes portly |
| (PORT UNCLE)* | ||
| 10 | NICODEMUS | Possibly mendacious? Not a supporter of Jesus |
| (MEND[a]CIOUS)* | ||
| 13 | THOUSANDS | Crowds joining you on the beach |
| THOU (you) + SANDS (the beach) | ||
| 15 | SEMICOLON | Monocle is readjusted half a stop |
| (MONOCLE IS)* | ||
| 17 | ULYSSES | Book in for July’s session |
| Hidden solution: [j]ULY S SES[sion] | ||
| 19 | RAMPART | An animal must have some means of defence |
| RAM (an animal) + PART (some) | ||
| 21 | CRETE | Island it would be hard to con? |
| With CON this would be CONCRETE (hard) | ||
| 22 | CHEAP | Inexpensive high explosive in a detonator |
| HE (high explosive) inside CAP (a detonator) | ||
Sil
I have been waiting for your blog because I had the same problem with 16A as you did.
A while back you wrote the following about what I read was Mr Squires’ 2 millionth clue
19 PATELLA Two girls, one on each knee
PAT and ELLA (two girls)
This is one of Dante’s favourite clues which he used in the past. And I think, it is a setter’s right to re-use clues that he thinks are fantastic and should be seen by the next generation. And I agree, it is a great clue.
Squires used this Coguette clue as Rufus in the Guardian back in June and the blog on it had a ? mark after the word cryptic. Perhaps you have unearthed something really cryptic about the word vainly. If not then I would suggest Dante not use this one again.
Having uttered this criticism I have to say I do love Dante crosswords for their cryptic clues.
I would prefer the word “find” to “joining” in 13 down and can I ask why HE can be used for High Explosive? Is that what is written on the container boxes?
I really liked 13A – theme.
John
Thanks John, for flagging up the COQUETTE connection.
Normally my memory serves me well, but COQUETTE didn’t ring a bell this time.
After I dived into Fifteensquared’s Archive, I came to the same conclusion as you: exactly the same clue as on June 6th.
In the Guardian blog, Eileen questioned the crypticness of it and no other commenter added something substantial.
I can’t either, I fear.
However, all in all it was a fine crossword, I thought.
Apologies for late posting – we have electricity problems meaning computers, lights etc are continually tripping. The joy of old houses – ours was built in 1854.
In the Coquette clue, the intended cryptic element is “vainly”, hoping the solver takes it to mean “futilely”, instead of the other meaning of “priding oneself inordinately on one’s appearance” (Chambers) as coquettes seem to do.
Re THOUSANDS, I shall add “find” to my card index, with thanks. I haven’t used the solution THOUSANDS for many years and I only have two clues on my card!