The puzzle may be found at http://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/everyman/3585.
I think that 5D epitomises what many solvers (or would-be solvers) have found so disconcerting about the new Everyman: a fairly complex construction and a definition which, while valid, is not particularly helpful. At least in this puzzle, there are plenty of simpler clues, which I hope provided a sufficient entry for the those still unused to the setter. And there are some decent surfaces.
| Across | ||
| 1 | SCORPIO |
Sign in front of camera in broadcast is poor (7)
An envelope (‘in’, the second one; the first one is just connective tissue) of C (‘front of Camera’) in SORPIO, an anagram (‘broadcast’) of ‘is poor’. |
| 5 | HOSANNA |
Noah’s arranged new start for animals, getting cry of praise (7)
A charade of HOSAN, an anagram (‘arranged’) of ‘Noahs’ plus N (‘new’) plus A (‘start for Animals’). |
| 9 | REEDS |
Reportedly studies water plants (5)
A homophone (‘reportedly’) of READS (‘studies’). I doubt if anyone could object to that homophone – or to which version is the answer, even without the crossing letter in place. |
| 10 | HOPSCOTCH |
Game and drink after hard work (9)
A charade of H (‘hard’) plus OP (opus, ‘work’) plus SCOTCH (‘drink’). |
| 11 | PISTACHIO |
One absorbed by weird topic has to be a nut (9)
An envelope (‘absorbed by’) of I (‘one’) in PSTACHIO, an anagram (‘weird’) of ‘topic has’. |
| 12 | LEDGE |
Projection in line with advantage (5)
A charade of L (‘line’) plus EDGE (‘advantage’). |
| 13 | ETERNAL TRIANGLE |
Unfolded letter, learning about a tense relationship (7,8)
An envelope (‘about’) of ‘a’ in ETERNLTRIANGLE, an anagram (‘unfolded’) of ‘letter learning’. |
| 16 | MIDDLE-OF-THE-ROAD |
Idol, notice, following heart, frequently extreme? Far from it (6-2-3-4)
A charade of MIDDLE (‘heart’) plus OFT (‘frequently’) plus HERO (‘idol’) plus AD (‘notice’). |
| 18 | CLANG |
Metallic sound in futuristic language (5)
A hidden answer ib ‘futuristiC LANGuage’ |
| 20 | ORCHESTRA |
Group of players in short race out of shape (9)
An anagram (‘out of shape’) of ‘short race’ |
| 22 | BALLERINA |
Dancer having left Ireland settled in Welsh town (9)
An envelope (‘having … settled in’) of L (‘left’) plus ERIN (‘Ireland’; see Wikipedia for the relationship of this to Eire) in BALA (‘Welsh town’). |
| 23 | STOUT |
Brave saint no longer in prison (5)
A charade of ST (‘saint’) plus OUT (‘no longer in prison’). |
| 24 | EXTINCT |
Unknown vessel with hundred captured by alien being wiped out (7)
An envelope (‘captured by’) of X (‘unknown’) plus TIN (‘vessel’) plus C (Roman numeral ‘hundred’) in ET (‘alien’). |
| 25 | HOMINID |
Little in note about primate (7)
An envelope (‘in’) of MINI (‘little’) in HOD, a reversal (‘about’) of DOH (‘note’, the first note of the tonic sol-fa). |
| Down | ||
| 1 | SCRUPLE |
Collapse, losing heart after second doubt (7)
A charade of S (‘second’) plus CRU[m]PLE (‘collapse’) without its middle letter (‘losing heart’). |
| 2 | OVERSPEND |
Finished dispatch admitting pressure and excessive outlay (9)
An envelope (‘admitting’) of P (‘pressure’) in OVER (‘finished’) plus SEND (‘dispatch’). OVERSPEND must be read as a noun, an amount overspent – Chambers gives this. |
| 3 | PASTA |
Food made from dough by middle of day (5)
A charade of PAST (‘by’ as in “he walked straight by me”) plus A (‘middle of dAy’). |
| 4 | OPHTHALMOLOGIST |
One caring for eyes unaccustomed to Soho lamplight (15)
An anagram (‘unaccustomed’) of ‘to Soho lamplight’. |
| 5 | HIPPOCRATIC OATH |
Funny actor, one with company in trendy way giving promise of ethical treatment (11,4)
An envelope (‘in’) of OCRAT, an anagram (‘funny’) of ‘actor’ plus I (‘one’) plus CO (‘company’) in HIP (‘trendy’) plus PATH (‘way’). |
| 6 | SICK LEAVE |
Predicament, having no pence in store for time off when ill (4,5)
An envelope (‘in’) of [p]ICKLE (‘predicament’) without the P (‘no pence’) in SAVE (‘store’). |
| 7 | NOTED |
Famous end to novel (5)
An anagram (‘novel’) of ‘end to’. |
| 8 | ACHIEVE |
Complete account on busy place filled with energy (7)
A charade of AC (‘account’) plus an envelope (‘filled with’) of E (‘energy’) in HIVE (‘busy place’). |
| 14 | NILE GREEN |
Colour, for example, about to be found in fresh linen (4,5) (9)
An envelope (‘to be found in’) of E.G. (exempli gratia, ‘for example’) plus RE (‘about’) in NILEN, an anagram (‘fresh’) of ‘linen’. |
| 15 | GHOST TOWN |
Presenter, tousled initially in dress, deserted place (5,4)
An envelope (‘in’) of HOST (‘presenter’) plus T (‘Tousled initially’) in GOWN (‘dress’). |
| 16 | MACABRE |
Vehicle’s driven into horse? Ghastly (7)
An envelope (‘driven into’) of CAB (‘vehicle’) in MARE (‘horse’). |
| 17 | DRAFTED |
Selected for service, composed (7)
Double definition. |
| 19 | ALLOT |
Dispense completely with part of Bible (5)
A charade of ALL (‘completely’) plus OT (Old Testament, ‘part of Bible’). |
| 21 | EPSOM |
Be gloomy, upset about small location of course (5)
An envelope (‘about’) of S (‘small’) in EPOM, a reversal (‘upset’ in a down light) of MOPE (‘be gloomy’). |
An easier puzzle this week. As a crossword novice I found this more in keeping with the spirit of the everyman. I managed to do 4/5 of the puzzle, only struggling on the bottom right clues.
Nice puzzle. Two in a row completed unaided. Getting to know the new setter’s style maybe.
Thanks PeterO and Everyman. Being a bit slow, I hadn’t realised there was a new Everyman, though on reflection I have found a few Observer puzzles taking a bit longer lately, and consequently have been more satisfying.
I couldn’t say I agree with you about 5dn though. I should have thought the phrase “promise of ethical treatment” and the distribution of letters (11,4) would send the solver straight to Hippocratic Oath”, and then to look for ways to derive that solution from the rest of the clue. I have been battling crosswords for many years, but I imagine I would have been on top of that one in my early days. It has just dawned on me that some clues involve wrestling with the parsing, and some start with the solution, such as this one (I did say I was a bit slow!).
Thanks Everyman and PeterO.
I had not heard of the Welsh town BALA. The four long answers I entered, then parsed afterwards.
I enjoyed this puzzle. My favourites were 11a, 6d, 1a, 15d, 25a.
Thanks Everyman and PeterO.
The intersection of 21 and 25 at the end gave me pause, but for the most part this felt as straightforward as Everyman used to be. Just right when I’ve got half an eye on the puzzle, and half on the Sunday dinner.
Yes, happy with this which I completed. And there are some good surfaces but also some which are just words thrown together at random.
I’m with Blanchflower @3, got the answer immediately from the def and then had to unravel enough of the parsing to be happy with it.
Bring on next weekend!
I agree with Peter’s comments about the new setter. Still haven’t managed to complete one of his crosswords. Couldn’t get three of them this time – scruple, hominid and Epsom. The clues are too long and complex with often little to direct me to the answer, and often I can’t parse them even when I’ve got the answer.
Thanks PeterO for your explanations.
By far the easiest from the new Mr Everyman. Managed to get through this in about an hour which is my record thus far from current setter.
Unlike last weekend, there were some nice surfaces. 7dn and 11ac were particularly good.
I’ve got to say, I enjoyed solving this puzzle this week. When I say solve, I mean getting most of the answers! I got 1a simply because it’s the only sign with 7 letters! I find once you have begun it gives that required impetus to nut out a few more and then a few more after that. As I have said before, our new friend is transporting me back in time to when I started solving and this is probably not a bad thing. Really appreciate your “reasons why ” Peter O.