A well-constructed entry-level puzzle from Everyman this morning, with a nice range of cluing devices and some pleasing surfaces. Perfect for beginning and improving solvers.
cd cryptic definition
dd double definition
(xxxx)* anagram
anagrind = anagram indicator
[x] letter(s) missing
Across
1 A stubborn type beginning to trust a lucky charm
AMULET
A charade of A MULE and T for the first letter of ‘trust’.
4 Drink one with a girl after time
TIA MARIA
Another one: of T for ‘time’ and I for ‘one’, then A MARIA to give you the liqueur.
9 Choked, the lord upset about IOM race
THROTTLED
(THE LORD)* around TT for the often fatal Isle of Man motorbike races. ‘Upset’ is the anagrind. The clue prompted me to find out what TT means: it’s ‘Tourist Trophy’.
11 Unusual paperback?
NOVEL
A dd.
12 I frame Swedish director seducing new Swedish actress
INGRID BERGMAN
An insertion of N for ‘new’ in I GRID and BERGMAN for the Swedish producer Ingmar BERGMAN (no relation). ‘Seducing’ is the insertion indicator, presumably in the sense of ‘attracting’. Anyway, it’s a good surface reading. INGRID BERGMAN is probably best remembered for playing Isla Lund in Casablanca opposite Humphrey Bogart. ‘Play it again, Sam’ is one of the famous movie misquotes; she never said that. What she actually said was ‘Play it, Sam’.
14 Device that spins to and fro
ROTATOR
The clue is relying on the fact that ROTATOR is a palindrome.
15 Drink, more bubbly, for top boss
SUPREMO
A charade of SUP and (MORE)* ‘Bubbly’ is the anagrind.
17 Hear about old shocking event
TRAGEDY
An insertion (‘about’) of AGED for ‘old’ in TRY (in its legal sense).
19 Brief increase in small dried grapes
RAISINS
A charade of RAIS[E] IN and S.
21 Medal winner? Initial clue required?
VICTORIA CROSS
A clever charade of VICTOR and I ACROSS to give you the medal.
24 Child about to leave Mediterranean island
MINOR
MINOR[CA]. CA is an abbreviation for ‘circa’, or ‘about’.
25 Not fully satisfied, cook eats a tin around one
INSATIATE
(EATS A TIN I)* ‘Cook’ is the anagrind.
26 Copy of short specification – mine smudged
SPECIMEN
A charade of SPEC and (MINE)* ‘Smudged’ is the anagrind.
27 Perhaps fly home ahead of party
INSECT
A charade of IN for ‘home’ and SECT.
Down
1 Sadly it’s a threat, if the situation stays as it is
AT THIS RATE
A clearly signposted anagram to give us plenty of starting letters for the acrosses. (IT’S A THREAT)* and ‘sadly’ is the anagrind.
2 Just out of bed? Correct
UPRIGHT
A charade of UP for ‘out of bed’ and RIGHT for ‘correct’.
3 New titles composed for famous bass guitarist
ENTWISTLE
(NEW TITLES)* ‘Composed’ is the anagrind and it’s John ENTWISTLE, the bass guitarist in The Who, who died from a cocaine-induced heart attack in 2002.
5 Popular group struggling badly
IN DIRE STRAITS
Everyman’s on a bit of a rock ‘n’ roll mission today. It’s IN for ‘popular’ and DIRE STRAITS for Mark Knopfler’s lot. I’m partial to a bit of Dire Straits myself, particularly the hauntingly melancholic ‘Romeo and Juliet’.
6 Note small car on motorway
MINIM
More music. A MINIM is the musical note that’s worth two crotchets and is a charade of MINI and M for ‘motorway’.
7 Earnings, extremely remunerative on location
REVENUE
A charade of RE for the outside letters of RemunerativE and VENUE.
8 Supporter in mass meeting, losing head
ALLY
[R]ALLY
10 Celebrity bid stupidly to secure old undergarment
LIBERTY BODICE
(CELEBRITY BID)* around O for old; ‘stupidly’ is the anagrind. It is indeed an old undergarment: younger solvers (if they are ready for a frisson of excitement) can find out here why Market Harborough is famous for something.
13 Pleased about half-sister being true to priniciples
CONSISTENT
An insertion of SIS for half of ‘sister’ in CONTENT.
16 Royal taken over to northern university
PRINCETON
Since this is a down clue, Everyman’s asking you to put PRINCE for ‘royal’ over TO and N for ‘northern’ to make the New Jersey Ivy League University.
18 Further loan
ADVANCE
A dd, relying on the English language’s capacity to have nounal and verbal meanings of the same word.
20 Cut off, one very much overdue
ISOLATE
A charade of I and SO LATE.
22 A dog may be company on rig at sea
CORGI
A charade of CO and (RIG)* ‘At sea’ is the anagrind.
23 Prophet from Arabia – Moses?
AMOS
And finally a hidden answer: it’s in ArabiA MOSes.
Fine stuff from Everyman, thank you as always.
Thanks, Pierre. Yes, this was straightforward but I needed your help in understanding how 21 across worked. It turned out to be a very good clue, in my opinion.
Thanks Pierre,
I thought this was the easiest Everyman in a long while but still entertaining and full of good clues. I particularly liked INGRID BERGMAN, TRAGEDY (excellent surface), VICTORIA CROSS (liked 1 Across), INSATIATE and IN DIRE STRAITS. Thanks Everyman.