(Please click here for this same blog but with a picture quiz added. Please do NOT post hereinbelow any comment relating to the picture quiz. Thank you.) A straightforward and enjoyable puzzle from Armonie, to whom, thanks. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Definitions are underlined in the clues.
Across
1 Polemic can change submissiveness (10)
COMPLIANCE : Anagram of(… change) POLEMIC CAN.
6 Virtuoso injects heroin when in pain (4)
ACHE : ACE(a virtuoso;an expert) containing(injects) H(abbrev. for “heroin”).
9 Irritable, having no more classes (3,2,5)
OUT OF SORTS : OUT OF(having no more, eg. stock) SORTS(classes;categories).
10 Informer keeps president absorbed (4)
RAPT : RAT(an informer;a betrayer) containing( ) P(abbrev. for “president”).
12 Ought in more difficult circumstances to stop here (4,8)
HARD SHOULDER : SHOULD(ought to) contained in(in … circumstances) HARDER(more difficult).
Defn: … if you are having difficulty driving on a motorway. Nice surface.
15 “This drug is awful”, he repined (9)
EPHEDRINE : Anagram of(awful) HE REPINED.
Defn: … used to treat asthma, hay fever, and colds.
17 Motor specialist is a half-hearted landscapist (5)
TUNER : “Turner”(J.M. William, English landscape artist) minus 1 of its 2 central letters(half-hearted …).
Defn: … who adjusts your vehicle engine for maximum performance.
18 Brief taken from master sergeant (5)
TERSE : Hidden in(taken from) “master sergeant “.
Defn: Spare with;using few words.
19 Lout astir, prepared for lessons (9)
TUTORIALS : Anagram of(…, prepared) LOUT ASTIR.
20 On reflection audit should include old-style goods (2,10)
IN RETROSPECT : INSPECT(to audit;to examine, correct and certify) containing(should include) RETRO(old-style goods;fashion, styles, and designs reminiscent of a past period).
24 Time to keep close to hoodlum (4)
THUG : T(abbrev. for “time”) + HUG(to keep close to, as in “the lazy ocean hugs the shore”).
25 Desk for display in south-east Mediterranean island (10)
SECRETAIRE : AIR(to display;to show openly) contained in(in) [ S.E.(abbrev. for “south-east”) + CRETE(the Greek Mediterranean island).
26 Deer takes one for a ride (4)
DOES : Double defn: 1st: … of the female kind; and 2nd: Slang for “dupes;fools one”.
27 Pretty sash gets undone in dance (10)
STRATHSPEY : Anagram of(… gets undone) PRETTY SASH.
Defn: … in 4/4 time, originating from Scotland.
Down
1 Bird caught with string (4)
CROW : C(abbrev. for “caught” in cricket) plus(with) ROW(a string of similar things).
2 Silencer Mike put on Victorian pick-up (4)
MUTE : M(letter represented by “Mike” in the phonetic alphabet) plus( , in a down clue) + UTE(a term used in Australia, including its state of Victoria, for a utility vehicle;a pick-up truck).
Defn: A device for muting the sound from an instrument – though not much use if it totally silences.
3 Daft headline becomes critically important (4-3-5)
LIFE-AND-DEATH : Anagram of(… becomes) DAFT HEADLINE.
4 Keep away from a chasm (5)
AVOID : A + VOID(a chasm;an emptiness).
5 Hear people talk initially in drainage basin (9)
CATCHMENT : CATCH(to hear, as with a conversation) + MEN(people in general, or at least about half of them) + 1st letter of(… initially) “talk “.
Defn: A structure, eg. a reservoir, for collecting water drained from the surroundings.
7 Cautious about Italian woman’s white wine (10)
CHARDONNAY : CHARY(cautious;wary of) containing(about) DONNA(a polite form of address for an Italian woman).
8 Plan to go in by force (10)
ENTERPRISE : ENTER(to go into) plus(by) PRISE(to force open).
Defn: An undertaking;a project to achieve an end.
11 Bachelor says bed companion is sweet (12)
BUTTERSCOTCH : B(abbrev. for “Bachelor”) + UTTERS(says) + COT(a small bed, especially for a baby) + CH(abbrev. for the British title, “Companion of Honour”). An amusing surface.
13 Authoritarian breaks instrument that’s not for public use (10)
RESTRICTED : STRICT(authoritarian, as an adjective) contained in(breaks) REED(a primitive instrument made of a hollow reed stalk, or any of the modern instruments with a mouthpiece with a reed;a strip of cane or metal).
14 Plan to recycle liqueur (10)
CHARTREUSE : CHART(to plan;to plot in detail a course of action) + RE-USE(to re-cycle stuff).
16 Vagrant entered in race is withdrawn (9)
INTROVERT : ROVER(a vagrant;a wanderer) contained in(entered) [IN + TT(abbrev. for the Tourist Trophy motorcycle races held annually on the Isle of Man) ].
21 Coat for relative touring old vessel (5)
PARKA : PA(a familiar term for one’s father, a very close relative) containing(touring) ARK(an old vessel).
22 Softy with little devil (4)
WIMP : W(abbrev. for “with”) + IMP(a little devil;a mischievous child).
Defn: One who is figuratively spineless.
23 Contradict unknown understudy? (4)
DENY : Y(symbol for an unknown quantity in mathematics) placed below(under …, in a down clue) DEN(a study;a room for quiet activity).
(Please do NOT post hereinbelow any comment relating to the picture quiz. Thank you.)
Thanks scchua – and Armonie. My LOI was 29. It’s an old trick but I still didn’t tumble to it right away.
A straight-forward, pleasing gambol from Armonie, thanks. I’m afraid I had to cheat electronically on 25 (not allowed in this house) and then could have kicked myself. I thought 23 was rather neat. Thanks too to scchua.
Thanks for the blog, Scchua
Generally a good crossword, but ‘Victorian pick-up’ = UTE was unforgivably obscure.