Sil is still out of the country and back in the Netherlands having his plumbing sorted out, so I’m again standing in for him. The puzzle is from Monday 18th June.
As ever lots of cryptic and double definitions as is Dante/Rufus’s style. Oh to correct any misunderstanding it’s his place he owns and is trying to sell that has the plumbing problem not Sil personally. 🙂
Across:
| 1 | PATENT | Double definition |
| 4 | SAUSAGES | (A + USAGE) in S.S. (on board ship) |
| 9 | ADMITS | (MAIDST[one])* |
| 10 | MAGNOLIA | [ANIMAL GO]* |
| 12 | FLOURISH | DD |
| 13 | SCONCE | DD |
| 15 | LAID | DIAL rev. |
| 16 | DRAWBRIDGE | Cryptic DD |
| 19 | FREE FOR ALL | DD |
| 20 | IMAM | I’M + A + M(uslim) |
| 23 | NICKED | DD |
| 25 | STAND FOR | DD |
| 26 | AGITATOR | DD Type of washing machine |
| 27 | PLOUGH | To fail at Oxford U. |
| 28 | LIFELINE | 1 in L + FELINE |
| 29 | BRIDAL | CD |
| Down: | ||
| 1 | PLAYFUL | [FULL PAY]* |
| 2 | TEMPORISE | TEMPO + RISE |
| 3 | NOTARY | NO. + A in TRY |
| 5 | AJAR | A + JAR |
| 6 | SINECURE | IN in SECURE |
| 7 | GOLAN | [A LONG]* |
| 8 | SCALENE | (A + L) in SCENE type of triangle |
| 11 | USURERS | UR in USERS |
| 14 | TWELFTH | DD glorious/twelfth/night |
| 17 | DUMBFOUND | DUMB + FOUND |
| 18 | AFTER ALL | DD |
| 19 | FANTAIL | [IN A FLAT]* |
| 21 | MARSHAL | DD |
| 22 | ANTLER | CD |
| 24 | CHIEF | I in CHEF |
| 26 | MOON | MOO + N(orth) |
The NE was blank for me not helped by looking at 4a ?a???g?? and cabbages immediately springing to mind. Too many times I have failed to write in a correct answer because I couldn’t see the wordplay but of course when I do write it in ….
I don’t think I’ve come across 2d temporise before nor sconce meaning head . Bonce “On me bonce, son” yes but sconce no.
Thanks flashling, but can you explain more for me – Why is twelfth a day of sport and why is sconce an imposed fine at university? A special thanks for 4A as I couldn’t see the cryptic def.
From my Chambers re sconce “(at Oxford University) a fine imposed for some breach of university rules or etiquette (paid in ale or in attempting to drink a large amount of ale without taking a breath, or otherwise)”
The Glorious Twelth (of August) is the day the grouse shooting season starts – some consider it a sport alas.