Monday Prize Crossword/Feb 17
Once more a puzzle in which about half of the clues were double and/or cryptic definitions. Still an enjoyable solve, though. Many thanks to Dante/Rufus.
Definitions are underlined wherever possible and/or appropriate.
| Across | ||
| 1 | GAUCHE | Left in Paris – could be awkward (6) |
| Double definition, although they are probably related | ||
| 4 | OINTMENT | Before starting treatment mention new remedy (8) |
| (MENTION)* coming before T[reatment] | ||
| 10 | ENDOWMENT | Contract women tend to break (9) |
| (WOMEN TEND)* | ||
| 11 | AMBER | A doctor required – about to turn yellow! (5) |
| A + MB (doctor) + ER (reversal (‘to turn’) of RE (about)) | ||
| 12 | NARK | Grass to irritate (4) |
| Double definition | ||
| 13 | PATISSERIE | Shop Irishman is opening, with Republic’s backing (10) |
| PAT (Irishman) + IS + SERIE (reversal (‘backing’) of EIRE’S (Republic’s, very appropriate!)) | ||
| 15 | CLEAVER | Smart enough to possess a chopper (7) |
| CLEVER (smart (enough)) around A | ||
| 16 | SPLASH | Excitement created by the coming down of an astronaut (6) |
| Double / Cryptic definition | ||
| 19 | ARARAT | Where the Ark went fast (6) |
| Cryptic definition | ||
| 21 | RUN DOWN | Indisposed to be criticised? (3,4) |
| Double definition | ||
| 23 | PITCH-BLACK | Bowl last ball in the dark (5-5) |
| PITCH (bowl) + BLACK (last ball, in snooker) | ||
| 25 | APSE | Mock taken around start of summer recess (4) |
| APE (mock) around S[ummer] | ||
| 27 | NONET | Musical composition to catch on the heart (5) |
| NET (to catch) with ON at its heart | ||
| 28 | IMPATIENT | I’m open about one for those who hate waiting (9) |
| I’M + {PATENT (open) around I (one)} | ||
| 29 | ESCAPADE | Inserted plug in leak – a daring exploit (8) |
| AD (plug) inside ESCAPE (leak) | ||
| 30 | WHISKY | Why is cocktail mixed together with spirit? (6) |
| (WHY + IS + [coc]K (cocktail, ie the last letter of ‘cock’))* | ||
| Down | ||
| 1 | GUERNICA | A nice rug spread out in Picasso painting (8) |
| (A NICE RUG)* | ||
| 2 | UNDERWEAR | Possibly slips beneath surface of river (9) |
| UNDER (beneath surface of) + WEAR (river) | ||
| 3 | HAWK | Try to sell a bird (4) |
| Double definition | ||
| 5 | IN TAILS | Formally dressed Italians lacking a change (2,5) |
| (IT[a]LIANS)* | ||
| 6 | TRANSPLANT | Organ movement (10) |
| Cryptic definition | ||
| 7 | EMBER | What is left of a fire at the end of three months (5) |
| At the end of these three months: September, November, December | ||
| 8 | TURRET | Revolutionary development in naval firepower (6) |
| Cryptic definition | ||
| 9 | REPAIR | Put right and couple up again (6) |
| Double definition | ||
| 14 | OVER THE TOP | Too far to charge from trenches in battle (4,3,3) |
| Double definition | ||
| 17 | STOP PRESS | A good man to break the latest news (4,5) |
| ST (a good man, Saint) + OPPRESS (to break) | ||
| 18 | ANCESTRY | Around noon, top fighter pilots attempt descent (8) |
| {ACES (top fighter pilots) around N (noon)} + TRY (attempt) | ||
| 20 | TALLIED | Agreed everything was bound to come out (7) |
| ALL (everything) with TIED (bound) outside of it | ||
| 21 | RECIPE | Crêpe I cooked, instructions provided (6) |
| (CREPE I)* | ||
| 22 | SPONGE | Used for washing, put out on pegs (6) |
| (ON PEGS)* | ||
| 24 | TONIC | Medicine that may be mixed with gin (5) |
| Double definition | ||
| 26 | UTAH | State university starts teaching ancient history (4) |
| U (university) + T[eaching] A[ncient] H[istory] | ||
Solved all bar 1d where I had g?e?n?c? and a,i,r& u to fit in. Too The last two unknowns had to be vowels but the start could be gr or g vowel.