Nothing to “gurn” about here.
A technically proficient puzzle her, with a good range of devices. Would make a good puzzle for teaching people about cryptics. The only clue that gave me some trouble was 19dn, but that was only because it took me an inordinately long time to see the hidden NESTOR.
| Across | ||
| 1 | SURPRISE |
Unexpected teacher is being nosy, reportedly (8)
Homophone of SIR PRIES |
| 5 | MATTER |
Topic – dull, I hesitate to say (6)
MATT-ER |
| 9 | RICOCHET |
Staple food cut short – revolutionary opens holy books? Movement hard to predict! (8)
RIC(e) + O(CHE)T CHE – Che Guevara |
| 10 | ETHANE |
Restricted by Lambeth: a nerve gas (6)
Hidden in (ie “restricted by”) “LambETH A NErve” |
| 11 | WESTERLY |
Our group way before time missing answer – a blow (8)
WE (“our group” + ST + E(a)RLY |
| 12 | AMULET |
Charm stubborn guy overwhelmed by thanks on return (6)
MULE in <=TA |
| 14 | GOVERNANCE |
Control travel before Jules welcomes African party (10)
GO – VERN(A.N.C.)E A.N.C. = African National Congress |
| 18 | ITALIANISM |
Mainsail it’s adapted for Naples usage? (10)
*(mainsail it) |
| 22 | CHALET |
Prince in cold alien house (6)
C(HAL)E.T. |
| 23 | NAKED EYE |
No aid in sight if this is used? (5,3)
Cryptic definition |
| 24 | SLIVER |
Piece cut, small, as it happens, right! (6)
S-LIVE-R |
| 25 | PANTSUIT |
Aunt’s tip: loose clothing (8)
*(aunt’s tip) |
| 26 | NIMBLE |
Agile Northern Ireland doctor backed by the French (6)
N.I. + MB + LE MB = Medicinae Baccalaureus (Bachelor of Medicine) |
| 27 | HEAR HEAR |
Husband getting attention on the double? Well said! (4,4)
H + EAR (twice) |
| Down | ||
| 1 | SPRAWL |
Vacated shop lacking refinement and left urban area (6)
S(ho)P-RAW-L |
| 2 | RECESS |
Break ranks, expecting charge; exclude some soldiers initially (6)
Initials of “Ranks, Expecting Charge; Exclude Some Soldiers” |
| 3 | RACKET |
It is used in court fraud (6)
Double definition |
| 4 | SPELLBOUND |
Time limit for having one’s attention held (10)
SPELL-BOUND |
| 6 | ANTIMONY |
Element opposed to non- English currency (8)
ANTI-MON(e)Y |
| 7 | THAILAND |
Country lad in hat running (8)
*(lad in hat) |
| 8 | ROENTGEN |
Green ton? Wrong scientific unit! (8)
*(green ton) |
| 13 | DE-ESCALATE |
Reduce intensity after 1st of December: cease cooking in evening? (2-8)
D(ecember)+*(cease)+LATE |
| 15 | DIOCESAN |
Bishop Dai coaches Shaun regularly (8)
Letters taken regularly from DaIcOaChEsShAuN |
| 16 | PARADIGM |
Model soldier dropped cutting remark, maladroit originally (8)
PARA-DIG-M(aladroit) |
| 17 | SIDEREAL |
Relating to star team, one from Madrid? (8)
SIDE + REAL (Madrid) |
| 19 | NESTOR |
Fine story featuring Greek (6)
Hidden in “fiNE STORy” |
| 20 | BEAUNE |
Wine lover disheartened nurse? (6)
BEAU+N(urs)E Beaune is the wine capital of Burgundy |
| 21 | FETTER |
Restrict free rambling around motorcycle races (6)
T.T. in *(free) T.T. = Tourist Trophy (motorcycle races on the Isle of Man) |
Thank you for the excellent blog, Loonapick.
Thanks Gurney and loonapick
Lovely crossword here in the mid range of difficulty and pretty high up in the fun factor. Particularly liked ANTIMONY, SIDEREAL, the cleverly hidden NESTOR and PARADIGM.
Finished down in the SE corner with PANT SUIT, BEAUNE and NESTOR the last few in.
Think that I’ve mentioned it before, but seriously hope that many more people actually do, and enjoy, the FT puzzles than are represented by the (lack of) comments here.