Everyman N° 3,493 (September 15)

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The puzzle may be found at http://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/everyman/3493.

This one gave me more pause than usual for an Everyman, both in the solving and the blogging. The difficulty with the latter was mainly the result of what seem to me to be a few uncharacteristically loose definitions.

Across
1. Copper’s going back into wood, as it is described (2,4)
AS SUCH An envelope (‘going … into’) of SUV, a reversal (‘back’) of CU’S (‘copper’s) in ASH (‘wood’).
4. Improves looks at college (6,2)
SHAPES UP A charade of SHAPES (‘looks’; not the most obvious synonym, but I suppose something along the lines of “He had the look/shape of a fighter” would pass) plus UP (‘at college’). 
10. Icing in tandoori? Unlikely tandoori may have it (3,12)
AIR CONDITIONING An anagram (‘unlikely’) of ‘icing in tandoori’. The definition is rather strange; perhaps it makes sense if ‘tandoori’ is read as a tandoori restaurant. 
11. Warm and stimulating drink (7)
CORDIAL Double definition. 
12. Henry has information about oxygen and iodine, perhaps (7)
HALOGEN A charade of HAL (‘Henry’) plus O (chemical symbol, ‘oxygen’) plus GEN (‘information’). 
13. Girl heading off for a Hebridean island (4)
IONA A subtraction, [f]IONA (‘girl’) without the first letter (‘heading off’). 
14/18. Einstein and Wittgenstein are of the same opinion, or so the saying goes? (5,5,5,5)
GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE Definition and literal interpretation. 
18. See 14
– See 14
19. A small songbird occupied in a particular way (2,2)
AT IT A charade of ‘a’ plus TIT (‘small songbird’). 
21. Nobleman, one pleased to be backed in House (7)
HIDALGO An envelope (‘in’) of I (‘one’) plus DALG, a reversal (‘to be backed’) of GLAD (‘pleased’) in HO (‘house’). HIDALGO is a traditional title for Spanish nobility or gentry. It literally means ‘son of something’, which does not sound very noble. 
22. Copy in smithy by railway (7)
FORGERY A charade of FORGE (‘smithy’) plus RY (‘railway’). 
23. Take charge as stormy weather approaches vulnerable US resort (4,3,8)
WEAR THE TROUSERS WEAR THE, an anagram (‘stormy’) of ‘weather’ plus TROUSERS, another anagram (‘vulnerable’) of ‘US resort’.
24. Most demanding Irish novelist stumped (8)
STERNEST A charade of STERNE (Laurence, ‘Irish novelist’) plus ST (cricket summaries, ‘stumped’). 
25. Oppressive, the French port (6)
LEADEN A charade of LE (‘the French’) plus ADEN (‘port’). 
…
Down
1. Worker admits knowing one’s a bolshevik (9)
ANARCHIST An envelope (‘admits’) of ARCH (‘knowing’) plus I (‘one’) I’S (‘one’s) in ANT (‘worker’). I am sure that Bolsheviks would have denied being anarchists (and probably vice versa), but the two are used loosely as synonymous, in the sense of agitator. 
2. Navigator sinks, carried far out (3,7,5)
SIR FRANCIS DRAKE An anagram (‘out’) of ‘sinks carried far’. 
3. Dispense with popular composer (6)
CHOPIN A charade of CHOP (‘dispense with’) plus IN (‘popular’). 
5. Vehicle to reverse after clutch employed (9)
HATCHBACK A charade of HATCH (as a noun, in the sense of brood, ‘clutch’) plus BACK (‘reverse’). 
6. Difficulties learner found in examination paper initially (8)
PROBLEMS An envelope (‘found in’) of L (‘learner’) in PROBE (‘examination’) plus MS (manuscript, ‘paper’). 
7. Dangle weights in at sea (old nautical term) (8,3,4)
SWINGING THE LEAD An anagram (‘at sea’) of ‘dangle weights in’. It seems generally agreed that SWINGING THE LEAD, meaning avoiding a job, derives from the nautical image of sounding by means of a lead-weighted line, but there does not seem to be much evidence of the phrase being used nautically. 
8. Heathen opening up before article appears (5)
PAGAN A charade of PAG, a reversal (‘up’ in a down light’) of GAP (‘opening’) plus AN (‘article’). 
9. Blue-eyed boy: not working, reportedly (4)
IDOL A homophone (‘reportedly’) of IDLE (‘not working’). 
15. They make for a bigger pool as waves engulf central part of cove (9)
ROLLOVERS An envelope (‘engulf’) of OV (‘central part of cOVe’) in ROLLERS (‘waves’). 
16. Notice fixed right inside loose one (3,4,2)
SET EYES ON An envelope (‘inside’) of YES (‘right’) in SET (‘fixed’) plus EON, an anagram (‘loose’) of ‘one’. 
17. Smallest  bones? (8)
SKELETON Double definition (“a SKELETON crew”). 
20. See game bird in Greek river (6)
GROUSE A charade of GR (‘Greek’) plus OUSE (‘river’). 
21. Birds of prey – last of such birds, we’re told (5)
HAWKS A charade of H (‘last of sucH‘) plus AWKS, a homophone (‘we’re told’) of AUKS (‘birds’). 
22. Plant found in bogland bordering river (4)
FERN An envelope (‘found in’) of R (‘river’) in FEN (‘bogland’). 

9 comments on “Everyman N° 3,493 (September 15)”

  1. Thanks Peter…and many thanks to Everyman for another top puzzle. He always manages to construct
    interesting clues which have good surfaces. I will not pursue a crossword which I find boring or
    impenetrable because I want to be entertained.

    I particularly liked WEAR THE TROUSERS, SIR FRANCIS DRAKE (clue of the day), CHOPIN (simple but effective),
    PROBLEMS (took me a while to parse) and ROLLOVERS, the clue for which painted a lovely picture.

    Great stuff Everyman.

  2. Yes Peter, I agree that this one seemed to be harder than usual, and it took me a little longer than most of the Everyman puzzles I have done.

    I also agree with your ANARCHIST/Bolshevik comments, although they are probably close enough in common parlance for crossword purposes.

    SHAPES UP was my LOI.

  4. This was the hardest Everyman I can remember and I gave up with only half solved which is very rare for me and Everyman,
    It would have helped if I’d got 10a and 2d but I think 21a would have been blank whatever

  6. Peter,

    I was sure that someone would have pointed it out by now but you have LRAD in 7d instead of LEAD.
    Just a bit of finger trouble.

  8. Thanks to Everyman and PeterO.

    I found this one difficult to get started, but with a few in it fell into place.

    I particularly liked HATCHBACK, ROLLOVERS and HAWKS.

  9. Loved Rollovers , didn’t get Hidalgo.
    I got Anarchist but couldn’t justify it.
    A good puzzle .
    Thanks E

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