For those who still want to give it a go, the crossword by Mitz can be found here: Mitz @ Cambridge . It is a puzzle with some cross references, also one that reminds us of the fact that there’s an election coming up soon.
There are a few clues that have a rather original definition (to say the least) to support the wordplay.
These and other definitions are underlined wherever possible and/or appropriate.
| Across | ||
| 1 | PSEPHOLOGY |
Posy, go and help confused analysis of the 5 7 acrosses (10)
(POSY + GO + HELP)* [* = confused] The sociological and statistical study of election results and trends (Chambers), including opinion polls (the pluralised solution to 5, 7 across) |
| 7 |
See 5 Down
|
|
| 9 | ACCEDE |
Reach the top during the best month on the rebound (6)
CED (reversal (‘on the rebound’) of DEC (month)) inside ACE (the best) |
| 10 | ICEBOUND |
Rocks president, initially, and German is stuck (8)
ICE (rocks) + BO (president, initially – B[arack] O[bama]) + UND (and, in German) |
| 11 | HELSINKI |
Rachel’s in kindergarten in capital? On the contrary (8)
Hidden solution (‘in’): [rac]HEL’S IN KI[ndergarten] |
| 12 | DELPHI |
I’d help out in ancient city (6)
(I’D HELP)* [* = out] |
| 13 | MARGIN OF ERROR |
Forming a measure of accuracy? (6,2,5)
Reverse anagram: FORMING A = (MARGIN OF)* with ERROR as the anagram indicator |
| 17 | ROCKET SCIENCE |
Study of salad? It’s complicated (6,7)
Cryptic definition – think: rocket salad |
| 20 | THRUST |
Fundamental of 17 Northern personnel imperative? Don’t start… (6)
T’ HR (i.e. the (as some Northerners would say) Human Resources (personnel)) + [m]UST (imperative, not starting) |
| 23 | PEDESTAL |
Display set deal on penny dreadful (8)
P (penny) + (SET DEAL)* [* = dreadful] |
| 24 | PUNCTUAL |
Rotten, it is said, to lose 5 from endless Pacific island on time (8)
PUNC (homophone (‘it is said’) of PUNK (Rotten, Johnny of Sex Pistols fame)) + TU[v]AL[u] (Pacific island, with no end (U) and also losing 5 (V)) |
| 25 | ORIOLE |
Baltimore pitcher, say, gives gold 10 to the French (6)
OR (gold) + IO (10) + LE (the, in French) The solution is a bird, sometimes called ‘Baltimore’. |
| 26 | ISN’T |
It’s denied that centres of thick ash lined attic (4)
Middle letters (‘centres’) of: [th]I[ck] [a]S[h] [li]N[ed] [at]T[ic] |
| 27 | BLACK DEATH |
Tab chalked off? Rats! Not guilty, apparently (5,5)
(TAB CHALKED)* [* = off] |
| Down | ||
| 2, 19 | SECRET BALLOT |
Mo Butler, we hear, with second class share, everyone giving their 5 privately (6,6)
SEC (mo, a second) + RET (homophone (‘we hear’) of RHETT (Butler)) +B (second class) + ALLOT (share) Rhett Butler is a character from Gone With The Wind. |
| 3 | PRESSMARK |
Hacks pay attention to book locator (9)
PRESS (hacks) + MARK (pay attention) |
| 4 | OVERNIGHT |
Suddenly, when the 19 is counted? (9)
Double definition |
| 5, 7ac | OPINION POLL |
A special number to enter many layered thing cut back, left questions of popularity (7,4)
{PI (a special number) inside ONION (many layered thing)} + POL (reversal (‘back’) of LOP (cut)) + L (left) |
| 6 | YIELD |
My time fled evenly – give up (5)
The even letters of (‘evenly’): [m]Y [t]I[m]E [f]L[e]D |
| 7 | PROWL |
Spin 4 flyer, sneak (5)
PR (spin) + OWL (4 flyer, i.e. overnight flyer, a nightbird) |
| 8 | LYNCH MOB |
Murderously angry crowd throw unknown number at church, many inside (5,3)
{Y (unknown) + N (number) + CH (church) + M (many, 1000)} inside LOB (throw) |
| 14 | FIELDWORK |
Ploughing through data collection? (9)
Double definition |
| 15 | RECESSIVE |
Alcove setter has – its effect is masked (9)
RECESS (alcove) + I’VE (setter has) |
| 16 | JODHPURS |
Riding gear Lawrence presents with most of the takings; little woman goes first (8)
{DH (Lawrence) + PURS[e] (the takings, most of it)} preceded by JO (little woman) DH Lawrence, writer of Lady Chatterley’s Lover etc. |
| 18 | CAPELLA |
Head back, everyone, to bright little goat (7)
CAPE (head) + LLA (reversal (‘back’) of ALL (veryone) |
| 19 |
See 2
|
|
| 21 | UNCUT |
Peacekeepers done away with in a raw state (5)
UN (peacekeepers) + CUT (done away with) |
| 22 | THUMB |
Request lift of stench found in disease (5)
HUM (stench) inside TB (disease, tuberculosis) |
Thanks very much for doing this Sil. If anyone would like to have a go but would prefer to do it interactively online, Mitz 51 (and all of its predecessors) can be found by following the link in my name.
Cheers,
Mitz
Just done this in the pub, didn’t see it on Saturday, thanks mitz. A strange mix of obvious and bleeding difficult. Somehow I expect the election theme to be a little more pervasive, seems like it was a grid starter then petered out. Def for 27 was a corker. Well played on that.
Cheers Sil, I’ll have a go at another of these tomorrow.