Another sound Sunday puzzle from Everyman.
Abbreviations
cd cryptic definition
dd double definition
(xxxx)* anagram
anagrind = anagram indicator
[x] letter(s) removed
definitions are underlined
Across
1 Student pulls back
SWOT
A reversal of TOWS.
4 Maiden happening to lose old shoe
MOCCASIN
A charade of M for the cricket ‘maiden’ and OCCASI[O]N.
9 Teacher absorbed by translation of review had not finished
OVER AND DONE WITH
An insertion of DON for ‘teacher’ in (REVIEW HAD NOT)* with ‘translation’ as the anagrind.
11 Curses former partner, vile pest out of order
EXPLETIVES
A charade of EX and (VILE PEST)*
12 Limit river level
TIER
Another charade: of TIE for ‘limit’ and R.
14 Newspaper article containing latest in showbiz material
ORGANZA
An insertion of Z for the last letter of ‘showbiz’ in ORGAN and A.
16 Garment that’s ragged not apt to be worn by king
TANK TOP
The ‘king’ is wearing (NOT APT)* Very nineteen seventies, if I remember well.
17 Roistering in port, dishevelled, led away
RIOTOUS
A charade of RIO for the ‘port’ and TOUS[LED]
19 Soup and food with colour brought round
CHOWDER
A charade of CHOW and RED reversed gives you the fishy ‘soup’.
20 Not any old name in north-east
NONE
An insertion of O and N in NE.
21 New open space secured by party in country
BANGLADESH
An insertion of N and GLADE for ‘open space’ in BASH for ‘party’.
24 Willing to talk about crime, holding summit with good conditions
ON SPEAKING TERMS
A charade of ON for ‘about’ and PEAK for ‘summit’ in SIN for ‘crime’ followed by G for ‘good’ and TERMS for ‘conditions’. Phew.
25 Devious in peril, spy adapted
SLIPPERY
(PERIL SPY)*
26 Cook some lunch efficiently
CHEF
Hidden in lunCH EFficiently.
Down
2 Pup needing assistance to support weight
WHELP
Since it’s a down clue, this is HELP underneath W for ‘weight’.
3 Changing routine and forming association for workers
TRADE UNION
(ROUTINE AND)*
6 Top copy with sign of error
APEX
A charade of APE for ‘copy’ and X for ‘sign of error’.
7 Launched popular appeal with new idea, consuming time
INITIATED
A charade of IN for ‘popular’ IT for (sex) ‘appeal’ and T inserted into (IDEA)* The anagrind is ‘new’.
8 Judge agitation of hero ominous for manager
JOSE MOURINHO
If you’re not into football you might have struggled, I guess. It’s J for ‘judge’ followed by (HERO OMINOUS)* The current manager of the Red Devils.
10 Greeting followed by agent with tips for user on hunt for payment plan
HIRE PURCHASE
As I’ve said before, this setter likes his multi-part clues: this is HI plus REP plus UR for the outside letters of ‘user’ followed by CHASE for ‘hunt’.
13 Hard-headed leader of uprising near country with muscular movement
UNROMANTIC
What was I saying? Perfectly fair: it’s U for the first letter of ‘uprising’ followed by NR for ‘near’, followed by OMAN for ‘country’ and TIC for the
‘muscular movement’.
15 Plant damaged under logs
GROUNDSEL
(UNDER LOGS)*
18 Dispute over cabbage lacking a shine
SPARKLE
A charade of SPAR and K[A]LE. Again, it’s a down clue.
19 Reticent about information on Conservative in power
COGENCY
An insertion of GEN for ‘information’ and C in COY.
22 Lord giving up power? That is strange
EERIE
A charade of [P]EER and IE for ‘that is’
23 Observe delay
KEEP
A dd.
Many thanks to Everyman for this morning’s puzzle. Don’t eat too many chocolate rabbits.
Thank you Everyman and Pierre.
A pleasant solve as usual. Seem to remember I put the Judge and HERO OMINOUS through the anagram torture device.
Pierre, you have missed out 4d, MADIERA, and 5d, CLOSEST (I think).
hmm, that should be MADEIRA…
Ha! I don’t follow football, but had heard Mourinho’s name in news reports and saw the anagram — except I didn’t check it properly and entered MOURINIO – tut!
I don’t normally do this crossword, only the Guardian Prize (hello, Cookie!) but I was looking for a tough one to try and thought that was the Everyman’s reputation (don’t know why, given the name). It was a challenge for me, but not too tough — maybe same as a typical Prize. Maybe I will try the Azed next time and see how far I can get with that.
A little harder than usual for Everyman I thought. I didn’t know how to spell 8d and needed all the checking letters, and I won’t admit how long 13d took to fall at the very close.
Just couldn’t get 23D. I’m still not entirely sure keep means delay but hey ho.
An excellent puzzle I thought. I did have to look up the exact spelling of Jose’s surname but that aside, I found the clues quite challenging but mainly gettable. Except that I did have “peep” instead of “keep” and thought nothing of it until I saw the answer in this blog. I’m sure I’ve heard the term “wait a peep” (delay) but maybe I’m imagining it….
Thanks to all.
Lots of trickery in this one – never got Jose but do know that name -I guess you have got to be an ardent football follower to realise what a manager is.
I had peep in stead of keep too, although I also dont know get the keep=delay?
Liked 4ac 10d best and needed to read the blog to get the reasons behind Sparkle, Bangladesh, on speaking terms and a few others.
I only do the crossie if I go to my folks place on a Saturday. This was pretty easy. Only one I didn’t parse was UNROMANTIC.
Vanessa @7, the way I understood this is that when you talk to someone you keep (delay) them from what they were doing.