A sound Monday puzzle in the usual Raich style. Several that I found difficult to parse, and one I can’t parse at all.
Abbreviations
cd cryptic definition
dd double definition
(xxxx)* anagram
anagrind = anagram indicator
[x] letter(s) removed
definitions are underlined
Across
1 Detestable person – not from modern times
TOAD
Given T?A? my ineluctable desire was to write in TWAT. Of course Raich’s vocabulary is more restrained than mine, but it still took me ages to remove my option from what passes for my brain and to see that it was TOAD. A whimsical way of saying that TO AD would be BC, or ‘not from modern times’.
3 Extend across rider’s seat, crossing river after time
STRADDLE
An insertion of T and R in SADDLE.
9 Article that’s returned I check. Easy for starters, simplicity itself
NAIVETÉ
A reversal of AN, followed by I VET and E for the first letter of ‘easy’.
10 High point as Left accepts support after reflection
TREETOP
A reversal (‘after reflection’) of TEE inserted in PORT.
11 Calm those remaining taking on oil, say, when energy’s lost
RESTFUL
A charade of REST and FU[E]L.
12 Self-disciplined – sure, ate differently
AUSTERE
(SURE ATE)*
13 Savings opportunity marshal can recall with ease
CLEARANCE SALE
(CAN RECALL EASE)*
14 Exciting nil-nils as a ref is being scrupulously impartial?
IN ALL FAIRNESS
(NIL NILS AS A REF)* Clever of Raich to work his beloved Sunderland’s favourite result into a clue.
18 Polite – looking embarrassed about penalty
REFINED
An insertion of FINE in RED.
19 Soldier initially believed the French story
PARABLE
A charade of PARA, B and LE.
21 Lets her off in refuge
SHELTER
(LETS HER)*
22 Was strangely greeting fifty-one in foreign tongue
SWAHILI
A charade of (WAS)* HI and LI for ‘fifty-one’ in Roman numerals.
23 Forget an idiotic facade
FRONTAGE
(FORGET AN)*
24 Dry and tense religious group
SECT
A charade of SEC and T. SEC is French for ‘dry’, often applied to wines. But you knew that already. It comes ultimately from the Latin word for ‘dry’ and also worms its way, in slightly altered form, into DESICCATE.
Down
1 Note new Yorkshire runner’s set time?
TENURE
A charade of TE, N and URE for the Yorkshire river that flows through Wensleydale.
2 Trouble about one son’s farewell
ADIOS
An insertion of I in ADO followed by S.
3 Lodging in hostel, large, outstanding
STELLAR
Hidden in hoSTEL LARge.
4 After vessel leaves return drops – learn new skills
RETRAIN
RET[URN] followed by RAIN.
5 Final practice as Doctor (English) tries again to be introduced to girl from South
DRESS REHEARSAL
Good job this was obvious with a few crossers, because I’d never have got it from the surface reading. A charade of DR, E and REHEARS for ‘tries again’ in S SAL for ‘Southern Sal’ or ‘girl from South’.
6 Flipping grumble about university article for believers?
LUTHERANS
An insertion of U THE in SNARL reversed. SNARL for ‘grumble’?
7 Dish – healthy, often being prepared outside
BEEF WELLINGTON
An insertion of WELL in (OFTEN BEING)* Good clue, although BEEF WELLINGTON wouldn’t be on your GP’s list of healthy options.
8 Area of interest, special, in this place
SPHERE
A charade of SP and HERE.
13 Banter about posh street in Paris upset driver
CHAUFFEUR
An insertion of U in CHAFF followed by RUE reversed.
14 Sudden arrival of cleaner making Bishop popular
INRUSH
Can’t really see this, I’m afraid. If there were a Bishop RUSH, then IN RUSH would make him popular, but where the ‘cleaner’ is coming from I don’t know. Ask the audience time, and I thank you in advance.
15 European principality with “no-frills” livestock pen
ANDORRA
A charade of AND and [C]ORRA[L]. The ‘no-frills’ instruction is telling you to remove the outer letters of CORRAL.
16 Ready to absorb East German counterattack
RIPOSTE
An insertion of OST, the German word for ‘east’ in RIPE.
17 Stop rude sister? Not entirely
DESIST
Hidden in ruDE SISTer.
20 Book trip for woman attending event
BRIDE
A charade of B and RIDE.
Many thanks to Raich for this morning’s puzzle.
I think for INRUSH, we are required to take the word BRUSH (a cleaner) and convert (make) the “B” (bishop) to “popular” (“in”)
Ah, thanks, baerchen. That is it for sure.
I raced through much of this – not being sure of 14D Inrush or 4D retrain, but writing them in – then spent the same time again on 1A Toad, 2D Adios and 1D Tenure. Once I understood Toad and Adios, I thought they were fine clues. Once I tentatively wrote in Tenure to finish the puzzle, I thought that a bit tough, needing an understanding of Yorkshire geography beyond my reach. Nevertheless, good fun, so thanks to Raich for the entertainment and to Pierre and baerchen for the explanation.
5dn – I took ‘girl from south’ to be a reversal of LASS
Thanks, Pierre and baerchen – I couldn’t parse INRUSH either, and hadn’t bothered to parse DRESS REHEARSAL or LUTHERANS as they were pretty obvious.
And thanks to Raich for a pleasant Monday stroll – completed in just two passes.
Thanks, Paul A. That makes much more sense for DRESS REHEARSAL. I’ve never been that great at multi-part clues.
Isn’t 1A simply TO (not from) + AD (modern times)?
You could well be right, gwep, about TOAD.
Many thanks, Pierre, for the blog and thanks too to those who commented.