After a run of blogging successively trickier Independent on Sunday puzzles I get a straightforward puzzle form Hypnos again, though no less enjoyable for that. Both accessible and interesting is what I thought. At the time of writing this I am more than a little tipsy after a long family dinner, so I hope I do Hypnos justice. Thank you Hypnos.
| Across | ||
| 1 | WINNEBAGO |
Wagon being shortly converted as this? (9)
anagram (converted) of WAGON BEINg (shortly) – manufacturer of motorhomes in the US |
| 6 | ALLY |
Colleague getting to waste time with day disappearing (4)
dALLY (waste time) missing D (day) |
| 8 | HEADHUNT |
Recruit leading Cabinet minister (8)
HEAD (leading) Jeremy HUNT (Cabinet minister) |
| 9 | SUPINE |
Lethargic backing for American jazz musician (6)
US (American) and Courtney PINE (jazz musician) reversed (backing) |
| 10 | TURRET |
Feature of tank tops in tailor’s, unusually retro, raised eyebrows there (6)
first letters (tops) of Tailors Unusually Retro Raised Eyebrows There |
| 11 | ENSWATHE |
Cover four points with two articles (8)
E N S and W (four points of the compass) with A and THE (two articles) |
| 12 | ROBERT PESTON |
BBC journalist probes rotten reforms (6,6)
(PROBES ROTTEN)* reforms=anagram |
| 15 | EVEN TEMPERED |
Calm English politician in race perhaps with European socialist (4-8)
E (English) MP (politician) in EVENT (race perhaps) with RED (socialist) |
| 17 | CLOCK OFF |
Grandfather, say, on holiday to record time of departure (5,3)
CLOCK (grandfather say) OFF (on holiday) |
| 19 | FUMBLE |
Mishandle fellow of modest means in the East End (6)
F (fellow) ‘UMBLE (of modest means) in East End accent |
| 21 | TYCOON |
Magnate from unknown firm in fashion (6)
Y (an unknown, maths) CO (company, firm) in TON (fashion) |
| 22 | HELPLINE |
Beatles record left in back of store – a free resource? (8)
HELP (Beatles record) L (left) IN storE (back of) |
| 23 | ODDS |
Dispute betting chances (4)
double definition |
| 24 | RATIONALE |
Restrict supply of drink in principle (9)
RATION ALE (restrict supply of drink) |
| Down | ||
| 1 | WOEFUL |
Deplorable fine carried by low EU manoeuvring (6)
F (fine) in LOW EU* anagram=manoeuvring |
| 2 | NADIR |
Poster in Northern Ireland supported by Republican in low point (5)
AD (poster) in NI (Northern Ireland) then R (republican) |
| 3 | EQUITABLE |
Fair quite rowdy by lake in Lincoln? (9)
QUITE* anagram=rowdy by L (lake) in ABE (Abraham Lincoln) |
| 4 | AT THE DROP OF A HAT |
Hothead atop raft capsized immediately (2,3,4,2,1,3)
(HOTHEAD ATOP RAFT)* anagram=capsized |
| 5 | OASIS |
Like Status Quo after old Britpop group (5)
AS IS (like status quo) after O (old) |
| 6 | APPRAISED |
Valued works disappear (9)
DISAPPEAR* anagram=works |
| 7 | LUNCHEON |
A French companion entering Spanish city getting fare at one? (8)
UN (a, French) CH (Companion of Honour) in LEON (Spanish City) |
| 12 | RUN ACROSS |
Chance upon series with a cold chat show host (3,6)
RUN (series) with A C (cold) Jonathon ROSS (chat show host) |
| 13 | PORTFOLIO |
Set of papers a minister’s responsibility (9)
double definition |
| 14 | EVIL EYED |
Horrible yard fringed by rising river with a dire look? (4-4)
VILE (horrible) Y (yard) inside (fringed by) DEE (river) reversed (rising) |
| 16 | PLUNGE |
Pitch exercises interrupted by breather (6)
PE (exercise) containing (interrupted by) LUNG (breather) |
| 18 | OWNER |
One has depressing experience without degree (5)
dOWNER (depressing experience) missing D (degree) |
| 20 | MALTA |
Island state locked in formal talks (5)
found inside (locked in) forMAL TAlks |
definitions are underlined
Entertaining puzzle, with some amusing wordplay. Liked OASIS and LUNCHEON.
Gallant effort from PeeDee under difficulties, only two I would mention are 9A the reversal only relates to “US” and 15A E for European has been omitted from the parsing.
Thanks to Hypnos and PeeDee.
Yes everything seems to be well in order, PeeDee – but then I’ve just solved it in a similar post prandial haze, so I might not be the one to ask!
A few well-turned clues among that lot I thought.
Thanks to both.
Yes, a pleasant afternoon stroll through Crosswordland. Held up for a while on SUPINE and RATIONALE as I failed to recognise where the definitions were in the clues. EQUITABLE was my CoD.
Thanks, Hypnos and PeeDee
It was a delight to charge through this puzzle, thanks, Hypnos. Straightforward but very satisfying. Well done to PeeDee too.