I find some of Dante’s clues quite brilliant, but then some of them I just don’t get at all. Happily the balance always falls down on the positive side for me, so I’m still a happy bunny. Thanks Dante.
| Across | ||
| 1 | CANTANKEROUS | “Ratty” making sure a knot can be undone? (12) |
| anagram (making…be undone) of SURE A KNOT CAN | ||
| 10 | UTTERED | Said to have issued currency (7) |
| double definition – to speak and to put money into circulation | ||
| 11 | IN ORDER | Involved with a classic style of architecture – as a monk will be (2,5) |
| IN (involved with) ORDER (a classic style of architecture) | ||
| 12 | UNCUT | Kind of diamond not reduced in price (5) |
| double definition | ||
| 13 | HOPELESS | Full of despair, he takes not as much work in (8) |
| HE with (takes) LESS (not as much) containing (with…in) OP (work) | ||
| 15 | EYE-WITNESS | Seer? (3-7) |
| definition – I can’t bring myself to write “cryptic” here | ||
| 16 | OSLO | The capital is very large to behold! (4) |
| OS (out-size, is very large) with (to) LO (behold) | ||
| 18 | EPEE | Arm offensively thrust out (4) |
| cryptic definition – a thrusting weapon | ||
| 20 | DANISH BLUE | Cheese of unusual hue is bland (6,4) |
| anagram (unusual) of HUE IS BLAND | ||
| 22 | FORT KNOX | US treasury base had struggle with pounds, say (4,4) |
| sounds like (say() “fought knocks” | ||
| 24 | MEANS | Has plans to make money (5) |
| double definition | ||
| 26 | CHIANTI | Coming from China, it is bottled in Italy (7) |
| anagram (coming from) of CHINA IT | ||
| 27 | EFFENDI | Find fee appropriate to Turkish official (7) |
| anagram (appropriate to) of FIND FEE. I think the anagram indicator is stretching it a bit, but that is the way with anagram indicators in cryptic crosswords, anything goes. | ||
| 28 | GLOBE THEATRE | Shakespeare’s playhouse in the round? (5,7) |
| cryptic definition? – a globe is round, Shakespeare’s The Globe is round, plays there are performed “in the round”. Not what I would think of as cryptic but the best I can do I’m afraid. | ||
| Down | ||
| 2 | ARTICLE | Recital review seen in the paper (7) |
| anagram (review) of RECITAL | ||
| 3 | TURN TAIL | Reveal oneself to be a beastly coward (4,4) |
| cryptic definition – one discovers the coward is a beast when they turn and reveal their tail. “Beast” might refer to the The Devil or an animal. | ||
| 4 | NODS | Agrees to one result of decimal coinage (4) |
| NO DS is “no old pennies” (D was the pre-decimalisation symbol for pence) | ||
| 5 | EDITORSHIP | So I’d tip her for an important post in journalism (10) |
| anagram (not explicitly indicated) of SO I’D TIP HER | ||
| 6 | OZONE | Gas – a lightweight one (5) |
| OZ (ounce, a light weight) and ONE | ||
| 7 | SADDENS | Gloomy studies makes one blue (7) |
| SAD (gloomy) DENS (studies) | ||
| 8 | FUTURE PERFECT | It’s tense, but what’s ahead couldn’t be better (6,7) |
| double/cryptic definition | ||
| 9 | PRESS ONES SUIT | Try to look smart in order to go courting? (5,4,4) |
| double/cryptic definition – a suit of clothes and a law suit (in court) | ||
| 14 | ANTAGONISE | Could be one against change (10) |
| anagram (could be…change) of ONE AGAINST. I can’t find the definition here. | ||
| 17 | THE MAFIA | Those in Italian society who break the rules (3,5) |
| cryptic definition – members of a criminal society rather than society as a whole | ||
| 19 | EARNING | Getting in range, perhaps (7) |
| anagram (perhaps) of IN RANGE. My first answer was NEARING, which gave a nice combination of anagram and &lit definition. The actual solution came as a slight disappointment. | ||
| 21 | LEARNER | Apprentice who is paid under a pound? (7) |
| EARNER (one who is paid) under L (a pound) | ||
| 23 | KENDO | Oriental bamboo fencing (5) |
| cryptic definition – martial arts rather than gardening | ||
| 25 | SETH | One of the first people named in Somerset House? (4) |
| found inside (in) somerSET House – named in The Bible | ||
*anagram
definitions are underlined
I write these posts to help people get started with crosswords. If there is something here you do not understand feel free to ask questions; chances are there are others wondering the same thing.
Thanks Dante and PeeDee.
I think the anagram indicator in 5dn may be meant to be “for”. I could not find a definition in 14dn either.
I also had ‘nearing’ for 19d until I realised the crossers wouldn’t work.
Didn’t know the 2nd meaning for 10a.
I agree some of the clues are a bit weak.
Hello Pelham, I considered “for” as an anagram indicator. I know I said “anything goes” for anagrinds earlier in the post, but for me the word “for” does not carry any indication of rearrangement whatsoever.
It links the two parts of the clues together and so performs a useful function, but I don’t think it is actually an anagram indicator. The only indication that the first part of the clue is an anagram (as opposed to any other device) is that the letters there are an anagram of the solution.
Thanks Dante and PeeDee.
As usual I could only complete around 50%.
Thinking about an explanation for 14d: “could be” indicates the anagram of “one against”, and to “change” something is to antagonise it. Not a great definition but perhaps acceptable.
My best guess for the definition of 14dn is that there is an error. When deciding on the definition Dante was thinking of ANTAGONIST rather than ANTAGONISE, the intention was to make the definition &lit.
PeeDee@3 re 5dn: I agree with every word you say there. I was just trying to work out Dante’s intentions with the clue: the very tentative language I used meant that I was far from convinced either that I was right about his intentions or that the device used actually works.
Just for the record: I don’t think anagram indicators are always required, and I’m OK with 5dn not having one if that’s how Dante wants it. My comments about “for” not being an anagrind are for academic interest and not intended as a criticism of the clue.
Only 9d prevented from finishing the puzzle. I found it almost too easy (and I generally find Dante’s puzzles relatively easy).
Thanks Dante and PeeDee
Did this one on Wednesday but only got around to checking it off now. As you say, a mixed bunch of clues that left one more happy than not when finished.
With 9d, I took PRESS ONE’S SUIT to mean ‘courting’ in the sense of “pursuing romantically or asking for one’s hand in marriage” rather than the legal perspective – making it a purely double definition.
I wonder if in 14d, there is not a misprint and ‘change’ should be ‘charge’ and then it just about works a surface reading and as a definition. It was my third to last in, followed by the tricky KENDO and ÉPÉE which took nearly as long to see as the rest of the puzzle.