Another fine crossword from Everyman, but there were some tricky ones in here. And a nod to what many people will be celebrating today.
Abbreviations
cd cryptic definition
dd double definition
(xxxx)* anagram
anagrind = anagram indicator
[x] letter(s) removed
definitions are underlined
Across
1 Comprehensive collection of books in vehicle
OMNIBUS
A dd. OMNIBUS is the dative plural in Latin of OMNIS, since you ask, and thus means ‘for all’. And the Clapham omnibus is of course available for all, including those doing crosswords.
5 Humbles me after interrupting church dignitaries
DEMEANS
An insertion of ME in DEANS.
9 Row about good, formidable opponent
TIGER
Another insertion: of G in TIER.
10 Three articles, mother’s objects of loathing
ANATHEMAS
The three ‘articles’ are AN, A and THE; then you need MA’S.
11 Astounding rhyme adapted for part of Lent
MOTHERING SUNDAY
Brilliant anagram. It’s (ASTOUNDING RHYME)* with ‘adapted’ as the anagrind. And of course today (or a week ago when you read this; or even further in the past for our NZ contributors) is MOTHERING SUNDAY. I never realised the connection with the Christian fasting season, but it always falls on the fourth Sunday of Lent, apparently. So there you go.
12 Continuously on strike, everywhere
THROUGHOUT
A charade of THROUGH and OUT. ‘Continuously’ for THROUGH? Give me a sentence where they are interchangeable, someone, please.
14 Appeal of Steeple Ashton
PLEA
Hidden in SteePLE Ashton. It does exist. In Wiltshire, because thanks to the wonders of the internet, I checked.
17 Ma’s toy?
YO-YO
If you didn’t know the musician, you’d have got it eventually anyway because of the enumeration, but it’s referring to YO-YO MA, the French-born Chinese American cellist. He does spell his (Anglicised) first name with a hyphen, in fact. A cd cum dd.
18 Agricultural worker’s garment made by 13?
SMOCK-FROCK
New one for this solver. ‘A smocked linen overgarment worn by an agricultural worker’ says my dictionary. And a RHYMESTER, 13dn, would make SMOCK rhyme with FROCK.
20 A huge amount free, in society as a whole?
THE WORLD AT LARGE
A charade of THE WORLD, ‘a huge amount’ and AT LARGE, ‘free’. ‘My children mean the world/a huge amount to me.’
22 Car worker admits to making robot
AUTOMATON
An insertion of TO in AUTO MAN. It’s ever so slightly sexist, but it wouldn’t work with WOMAN, would it?
23 I turn to follow a male friend
AMIGO
I GO after A and M.
24 Recent plays by key dramatist
TERENCE
(RECENT)* plus E for the key with four sharps in it. TERENCE was a playwright of the Roman Republic, of North African descent. Did I have to look that up? You can bet your sweet arse I did.
25 Sweet, having hair swept back
DESSERT
A reversal of TRESSED.
Down
1 Eye-care: book test after work
OPTOMETRY
A charade of OP, TOME and TRY.
2 Man on board heard in the dark
NIGHT
A homophone of KNIGHT, which would be a man on a chess board.
3 Pointed remark, suggestion involving English roast
BARBECUE
An insertion of E in BARB and CUE. Don’t ever, ever, think about spelling this with a Q instead of a C. It will mean you’ll never be invited to one again.
4 Dish on plate – items she used
SPANISH OMELETTE
(ON PLATE ITEMS SHE)*
5 Western film jaundiced – hang on, that’s wrong
DJANGO UNCHAINED
We all know Everyman is keen on his old films, but this one I’d never heard of, and it was only released in 2012. (JAUNDICED HANG ON)*
6 Elephant keeper, married, with a husband no longer in the game
MAHOUT
A charade of M, A, H and OUT. OUT as in England, OUT of the Cricket World Cup because we’re unadventurous and generally rubbish.
7 Nocturnal creature in a stream grabbing Daffy Duck?
ARMADILLO
Well, a bit convoluted for Everyman, but it’s another good surface. An insertion of MAD for ‘Daffy’ in A RILL for ‘a stream’, and O for a cricket ‘duck’.
8 Impertinent answer covering Saints
SASSY
An insertion of SS for ‘Saints’ in SAY.
13 Would-be poet met, merry with sherry
RHYMESTER
(MET SHERRY)*
15 Footwear item in joint, very British, held up
ANKLE-BOOT
Because it’s a down clue, it’s ANKLE followed by a reversal (‘held up’) of TOO B.
16 Gets rid of bad lots
OFFLOADS
A charade of OFF and LOADS.
19 Vulgar general
COMMON
A dd.
20 Quality paintings put up, Italian
TRAIT
A reversal of ART, followed by IT.
21 Breed fish, reportedly
RAISE
A homophone of RAYS.
Many thanks to Everyman for today’s reminder of how special Mums are.
Thanks Pierre. Re 12a, how about ‘for your homework, read pages 2 through 20 of the textbook’?
Although I realise that ‘continuously’ isn’t interchangeable there.
I couldn’t get 1a,3s,18a & 16s.
The shop is open nine through five? A bit American perhaps?
Until the checkers for 18ac put me on the right track I was wondering if a shepherd might wear something called a “flock-smock”.
Thanks Everyman and Pierre.
Last in were TIGER and TRAIT, can’t think why I had so much trouble with them, must be stupid.
Mother’s Day (the second Sunday in May) and Mothering Sunday have been combined in the UK. Mothering Sunday was the day one visited one’s mother church, i.e. the nearest cathedral or large church, and if that was not possible one’s local church. It was the only day servants were given off each year to visit their home church and thus to join their families.
Thanks, Cookie. I didn’t know that about Mother’s Day/Mothering Sunday.
I was confused since in New Zealand and Jamaica both are observed, so last Sunday decided to find out about it. Apparently by the 1930’s the keeping of many of the old Mothering Sunday customs had lapsed in most parishes. Its revival was brought about by the influence of American servicemen stationed in East Anglia during WWII. Away from their families they were surprised to find that the English did not have a Mother’s Day. They often regarded their English hostess as a kind of foster-mother and each year on this day gave her flowers and presents. British sons and daughters caught on to the idea and after the war they continued the practice, reverting back to marking it on the fourth Sunday in Lent.
It’s called Mothers’ Day here in New Zealand and is on the second Sunday in May – which is a pain as my birthday is just after that and my favourite pub will be full of kids and grannies.
Back to the crossword which I thought was excellent. Really enjoyed cracking 22a and 7, 8, 16 and 20d. Never got 24a, didn’t twig it was an anagram, and got 17a without knowing why.
I’m ok with through for continuously as in through and through but it’s a bit of a stretch.
Oh, and if I’m working through it means I’m working continuously and not taking the days off between Christmas and new year, for instance.
And sorry to outstay my welcome, but a barbie is also a BBQ hence barbeque will slowly replace barbecue imho. It’s already listed as an option in Chambers.
Pleased that I completed it all today though it was tricky. Bottom left corner was last finished. Thanks to Pierre for the explanation for 17ac. I’d forgotten about the musician. Worked out the film in 5d from the clues but had never heard of it. Nor had I heard of Terence though I worked him out from the anagram.
I can well remember when I was researching my husband’s Bedfordshire ancestors finding a hilarious photo of a group of agricultural labourers in their smocks and the foreman also wearing a top hat.
Once we used to wear a white flower to church or Sunday School on Mother’s Day, which has always been the second Sunday in May, and frequently also my birthday, as it is this year. Snap, Barrie.
I completed this one, too. The first for a while. I always seem to miss out on just one or two. There were some obvious ones and tricky ones. Last in was 5d. I took awhile to even consider the anagram. Very clever. The playwright (whom I have never heard of) is listed in my helpful dictionary as just ‘Terence’. Didn’t he use a christian name?
I knew smock-frock as something worn by ag. workers but I don’t remember where I’ve come across it. An artist? Someone like Bruegel’s peasants, perhaps???
A very nice puzzle. Finished all but BARBECUE in 1/2 hour. Thanks and till next weekend.
Margie @ 12 Publius Terentius Afer=Terence=Roman comic dramatist according to my dictionary which was required to confirm a couple of answers today, also a smock-frock (decorated with smocking! for ag workers) fortunately with the anagram and the crossers both clues were solvable and neither of my dictionaries offered an alternative spelling for barbecue-perish the thought.
Thanks for the explanation of 17a I was having difficulty in rationalising the answer, as with Audrey the name of the cellist had slipped my mind.
Some lovely anagrams as usual today. Thanks Everyman, Pierre and to our fellow contributors.
Woops, sorry folks about the capitals last week, was done off my phone and you were correct, after a couple of reds. I struggled this week, that’s all I’m going to say!
Interested to find this one elsewhere – http://www.thehindu.com/features/magazine/the-hindu-crossword-no-2840/article7184108.ece
Good fun