We’ve had some very good puzzles in the IoS slot recently, I think, and this was another one. All pretty gettable (which is the brief for the Independent on Sunday) but with some excellent surfaces, a good range of references, and one or two smiley moments. Enjoyed this one.
Abbreviations
cd cryptic definition
dd double definition
(xxxx)* anagram
anagrind = anagram indicator
[x] letter(s) missing
definitions are underlined
Across
1 M, Alfie, ET and Surf’s Up, say?
FEATURE FILMS
A clever anagram to start us off. (M, ALFIE, ET SURF)* with ‘ is up’ as the anagrind, and the whole clue is the definition. So it’s &lit. And the italicised bits are indeed all films. Alfie was one of Michael Caine’s early successes.
9 Battering an assortment of food in capital of Greece
BUFFETING
A charade of BUFFET, IN and G.
10 Bet on turning over joker first
WAGER
A reversal of RE for ‘on’ preceded by WAG.
11 Drug I encountered within clubs – it makes me sick
EMETIC
Took me a while to see what Commoner was getting at. It’s E for ‘drug’ and I, with MET inserted (‘within’) followed by C for clubs.
12 Barney‘s posh, married in white
ARGUMENT
An insertion of U and M in ARGENT. In heraldry, ARGENT is ‘white’.
14 Great help for a change to give advance notice
TELEGRAPH
(GREAT HELP)*
15 Lacking in taste, like gum
TACKY
A dd.
17 One who helps marauders edges away
AIDER
[R]AIDER[S]
19 A confused answer after doctor comes to
DRAWS NEAR
A charade of DR, A and (ANSWER)*
21 Perhaps artist Ray in his early years?
YOUNG MAN
Referring to the artist MAN RAY.
23 Think about capturing German soldier
KNIGHT
The clue does what it says on the tin: reverse THINK and insert G into it.
25 Belch leads to ravening, unpleasant creature appearing in Alien
ERUCT
My favourite today: RUC for the first letters of ‘ravening, unpleasant creature’ in ET. And it’s an ‘extended definition’ clue, because it’s referring to the classic scene in Alien where John Hurt’s character starts to belch at the dinner table, and the creature explodes out of his stomach. The director used pig’s blood in the effect without telling the other actors about it, which is why they all look genuinely frightened. Done in one take.
26 Lean on sticky, unknown object
THINGUMMY
A charade of THIN and GUMMY. Good clue.
27 Arrange journey by sea around island – it’s easy
PLAIN SAILING
An insertion of I in PLAN SAILING.
Down
2 Exhausted nurse, drained, receiving payment
ENFEEBLED
An insertion of FEE in EN for ‘enrolled nurse’ and BLED. It used to be (and still is in some crosswords) SEN for ‘State Enrolled Nurse’, but now the NHS is being slowly privatised and state involvement is on the wane, this seems to be the preferred abbreviation.
3 Appearing topless after casual shirt becomes full of creatures?
TEEMING
A charade of T for a ‘casual shirt’ and [S]EEMING.
4 Line by storyteller written up
RAIL
A reversal (‘written up’, since it’s a down clue) of LIAR.
5 Following guide, hear about carved decoration
FIGUREHEAD
A charade of F for ‘following’ and (GUIDE HEAR)* The anagrind is ‘about’ and it’s referring to the carved wooden decoration which adorned the front of vessels in times gone by.
6 Spooner noticed stolen goods in case
LAWSUIT
A Spoonerism of SAW LOOT. Not even spelled the same way, which is why this is my least favourite form of clue.
7 Proceed immediately enveloped in loose guernsey
SEGUE
Hidden in looSE GUErnsey.
8 Reasonably cleverly made knickknack
PRETTY-PRETTY
Took a bit of a furtle in the dictionary to explain this one. PRETTY-PRETTY as a definition of ‘knickknack’ is not in my Collins, but is in my SOED. ‘Reasonably’ for PRETTY is straightforward: ‘this clue was pretty/reasonably easy to solve’. The ‘cleverly’ definition is marked in the SOED as only a 17th century usage. Anyway, I think that’s what this is all about.
9 This may indicate a late sherry got drunk after opening of brandy!
BREATHALYSER
A charade of B and (A LATE SHERRY)*, with an &littishness about the clue. Or perhaps it is &lit. The anagrind is ‘got drunk’.
13 Flyer written by two writers named George
SAND MARTIN
The two writers are George SAND (actually a female French writer who used this as a pseudonym) and George (RR) MARTIN, the American novelist. More importantly, a chance for the obligatory Pierre bird link. A common visitor to our shores in the summer, wintering further south (sensible bird). Easily distinguished in flight by the narrow brown band on its breast.
16 Maybe learn about health club with Conservative minister
CLERGYMAN
A charade of C and an insertion of GYM in (LEARN)*
18 Upset German teetotaller in Alcoholics Anonymous meeting
REGATTA
A reversal of GER followed by TT in AA.
20 Actor George touring North East African country
SENEGAL
An insertion of NE in George SEGAL, the American actor.
22 Seize American lawman, say
USURP
A charade of US for ‘American’ and URP for a homophone of Wyatt EARP.
24 Send up enthusiastic singer
DIVA
A reversal of AVID.
Fine Sunday prize puzzle from Commoner – well done to him.
Not sure this is number 1290 as per title as I have the IoS for 16th with puzzle 1290 by POINS in it.
This would seem to be previous weeks.
Hi redddevil
I think the title is correct. Poins is 1291 according to the copy on the Indy’s website and the previous week’s Hypnos was 1289.
Whoopee ! I actually finished a crossword in the i today, with a lot of help from my electronic friend. Let’s have more from The Commoner.
Congrats Tortoise VM!