Fine puzzle from Everyman. Some delightful surface readings; good variety of clue types; no obscurities; solver-friendly grid. Not much to be grumpy about, is there?
Abbreviations
cd cryptic definition
dd double definition
(xxxx)* anagram
anagrind = anagram indicator
[x] letter(s) removed
definitions are underlined
Across
1 Sit next to former partner in show
EXPOSE
A charade of EX and POSE
4 Outlaw, almost docile, is chicken
BANTAM
A charade of BAN and TAM[E] for a small chicken.
10 Regret harsh tune played for primitive folk
HUNTER-GATHERERS
(REGRET HARSH TUNE)* I fancy that many anthropologists would take issue with the use of ‘primitive’ in the definition. There are many peoples on the third rock from the sun who are still HUNTER-GATHERERS, but just because they don’t have the latest Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge doesn’t mean that they aren’t sophisticated societies.
11 Rabble repeated phrase with force, receiving service
RIFF-RAFF
A charade of RIFF for the musical ‘repeated phrase’ and F for ‘force’ with the insertion of RAF for ‘service’.
12 Revolutionary work gathered pace
TEMPO
A reversal of OP and MET.
14 Dislike eating seconds in hurry
HASTE
An insertion of S in HATE.
15 Incisive tips from tipster with charm
TRENCHANT
The outside letters of ‘tipster’ followed by ENCHANT.
17 Wild group, number inhabiting trailer?
ABANDONED
An insertion of BAND and ONE in AD.
20 Fielder, mind wandering, catching nothing
MID-ON
Cricket and cryptics, BFF. An insertion of O in (MIND)* Good surface.
21 Be resistant to pressure during dance
REPEL
An insertion of P in REEL.
23 Crumbs cleared by old cleaner finally in passage
CORRIDOR
Another good surface reading. A charade of COR! RID, O and R for the last letter of ‘cleaner’. You need to take RID as the past simple form of the verb, although it’s the same as the present tense.
25 Fraud with ton in secret stack
CONFIDENCE TRICK
An insertion of T in CONFIDENCE and RICK. Think HAYRICKS.
26 Store of food some shared, rallying round
LARDER
Hidden reversed in shaRED RALlying.
27 Stage complete story
LEGEND
A charade of LEG and END.
Down
1 Repeat part of speech once
ECHO
Hidden in speECH Once.
2 Device used by writer to make a point
PENCIL SHARPENER
A cd.
3 City‘s defence full of energy, very loud
SHEFFIELD
The Yorkshire city is SHIELD with E and FF for the musical ‘very loud’ inserted.
5 Expert answer with endless profundity
ADEPT
A charade of A and DEPT[H]
6 Dynamic duo lethal in same film
THELMA AND LOUISE
(DUO LETHAL IN SAME)* I’m going to risk being mauled by the &lit rottweilers and say that this is &lit. Which, for newer solvers, stands for ‘and literally so’: in other words, the whole clue is the definition for the solution. Whatevs, good clue – my favourite this morning. The 1991 film starring Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon.
7 Pro within minutes resolved trouble
MISFORTUNE
An insertion of FOR in (MINUTES)* with ‘resolved’ as the anagrind.
8 Horrified husband in story turning up on time
AGHAST
An insertion of H in SAGA reversed, followed by T.
9 Hold back stone weapon, dropping resistance
STIFLE
A charade of ST and [R]IFLE. Think yawns.
13 Dramatic act the liar arranged
THEATRICAL
(ACT THE LIAR)*
16 Carry out peg and board
COMMITTEE
A charade of COMMIT and TEE.
18 Steal Spanish article and coin
NICKEL
A charade of NICK and EL for one of the Spanish definite articles.
19 Immediate order
DIRECT
A dd.
22 Knowledge about island in river
LOIRE
An insertion of I in LORE.
24 Small child’s slide
SKID
A charade of S and KID.
Many thanks to Everyman for this morning’s puzzle – a good’un.
Unfortunately 6d is not an &lit, as the word “film” does not form part of the wordplay.
4 in a row solved without errors or aids. This one solved over breakfast. I am sure I’ll get my comeuppance today, but it doesn’t seem to be on the website yet.
Thanks Pierre, Yes very nice. I also liked Thelma and Louise (6d) but my favourite was Pencil Sharpener (2d).
Thanks Everyman and Pierre.
I had to google THELMA AND LOUISE after solving the anagram with the help of the crossers, a film unknown to me. I particularly liked CORRIDOR, CONFIDENCE TRICK and PENCIL SHARPENER! Still no crossword on the Guardian site.
Cookie
“Still no crossword on the Guardian site.”
The pdf of today’s Everyman can be found here.
Thanks, Pierre. Very enjoyable puzzle.
Has anyone seen today’s Everyman?
Gaufrid @5, thank you!
A nice Sunday puzzle. Like the anthropologists Pierre mentioned, I did cringe slightly at “primitive folk”. On the other hand, although I’m not usually keen on cricket-related clues, I did like the mental image created by 20a (MID-ON). My other favourite is THELMA AND LOUISE, also a very appropriate surface, and other noteworthy clues are PENCIL SHARPENER, MISFORTUNE and THEATRICAL.
Thanks, Everyman and Pierre.
jennyk @8, 20a struck me as a “silly” clue, never worked out what that means…
Thank you, Gaufrid!
Thanks Everynan and Pierre. Enjoyed this, seemed just right for the slot. Thanks Gaufrid for the pdf.
Me @9, just checked, a fielder would be better not to have his mind wandering at “silly” MID-ON since it is a dangerous position being close to the batsman, day-dreaming at MID-ON would not be so risky I guess…
Nothing to be grumpy about indeed. 🙂 2d and 6d both very nice clues I thought.
Cookie @9 & 12
🙂 Perhaps at silly mid-on his mind would be wandering because he had been hit on the head in the past?
Thanks Gaufrid for the pdf.
I don’t usually come here on a Sunday. Hello everybody!
The Guardian website now seems to have given up on getting an interactive version of this week’s Everyman online and is telling us to download the PDF instead (link from Gaufrid @5 or on the Guardian website).
I thought this hit the spot perfectly. Failed to parse 25a and I agree the def for 10a was rather iffy but everything else spot on and a good variety of word play today. Thanks Everyman, thanks Pierre.
This must be the most straightforward one yet by this setter. I can say that with confidence as I know the brain is not getting any sharper. Getting those longer ones in early sure does help. Good one! Thanks to all.
Yes a good crossword. I liked 10 ac, 12 ac, 20 ac, 2d, and my favourite was 16 d. Can’t always parse them even when I know I have the right answer,
Thanks Pierre and Everyman
Not a bad crossword. I almost solved it correctly. Thelma and Louise is a great film, but the end is a bit naff. The pro-feminist heroines drive their car over a cliff to their deaths to escape the police. Is that what flawed heroes do? Vanishing Point is fairly similar. Hero drives car at high speed into a bulldozer.
It’s all good entertainment. Thank you.
Yes, this was a good one, felt sorry when I’d finished it.
Love it when you first look at a clue and have got no idea what it’s all about. Then gradually, with the help of the crossers it all becomes crystal clear. Very satisfying. Thanks Pierre for explaining the inexplicable, and Everyman for creating my Saturday morning brain exerciser!