A real toughie from Bradman this Friday. Had to seek online aid for 2 clues and confirmations for a couple of others. Thanks Don, for a strenuous workout.
FF: 8 DD: 9
| Across | ||
| 7 | NATATORY | Brown turning on a Conservative having the habit of a floating voter?! (8) |
| NAT (brown = TAN, reversed) A TORY (conservative) | ||
| 8 | VICARS | Ministers needing vehicles after six (6) |
| VI (six) CARS (vehicles) | ||
| 11 | OCTET | Group of old books contains quote, one proving elusive (5) |
| OT (old books, old testament) containing CiTE (quote, without the I {one proving elusive} ) | ||
| 12 | INTONATOR | Unusual notation right for acoustic instrument (9) |
| NOTATION R(right)* | ||
| 13 | TORCHED | Rejected rubbish guerrilla had briefly burnt (7) |
| TOR (rubbish = ROT, reversed) CHE (guerilla, guevara) D (had briefly = ‘d) | ||
| 14 | NEWGATE | One taking the place of an old swinger in prison long ago (7) |
| cryptic clue; swinger refers to a gate, a new gate would replace an old one. | ||
| 15 | EDWARD G ROBINSON | Actor broadening words out (6,1,8) |
| BROADENING WORDS* | ||
| 18 | ENNOBLE | Move to a superior house? (7) |
| cryptic clue | ||
| 20 | FELICIA | Herb is fine priest joining American agency (7) |
| F (fine) ELI (priest) CIA (american agency) | ||
| 22 | ALBACORES | Fish? Fifty caught by sailor, a fantastic score (9) |
| [ L (fift) in AB (sailor) ] A SCORE* | ||
| 23 | SAMBA | Man with an arts degree in Dance (5) |
| SAM (man) BA (arts degree) | ||
| 24 | SINNED | Returning boy menace was wicked (6) |
| reverse of DENNIS (the menace) | ||
| 25 | PLEONASM | Excessive use of words that may be found in one psalm (8) |
| ONE PSALM* | ||
| Down | ||
| 1 | ONE OF THESE DAYS | Sooner or later will provide a selection for a date in the diary? (3,2,5,4) |
| cryptic clue | ||
| 2 | STATER | Old coin, something initally missing inscription of king or queen (6) |
| 3 | STITCHER | Little fellow in the Home Counties runs in a sewer (8) |
| [TITCH (little fellow) in SE (home counties) ] R (runs) | ||
| 4 | CROIX DE GUERRE | Maybe Henri’s cross, having been involved in conflict (5,2,6) |
| cryptic clue; medal for military accomplishments in france | ||
| 5 | MINNOW | Little person at home currently, following end of term (6) |
| [ IN (home) NOW (currently) ] after M (end of terM) | ||
| 6 | MARTIANS | Aliens in vehicle turning up – Scotsman shudders initially (8) |
| MART (reverse of TRAM – vehicle) IAN (scotsman) S (Shudders, initially) | ||
| 9 | SERGEANT AT ARMS | East German star upset officer trying to keep order (8,2,4) |
| EAST GERMAN STAR* | ||
| 10 | STANDOFFISHLY | In an aloof manner as befits a type of rugby player? (13) |
| cryptic clue | ||
| 16 | WIND BAND | Musical group with no strings attached (4,4) |
| cryptic clue | ||
| 17 | ILLUSION | Deception provided by bad American, elected without love (8) |
| ILL (bad) US (american) [ IN (elected) outside O (love) ] | ||
| 19 | BECKET | Archbishop once in risky venture receiving ‘ell (6) |
| BET (risky venture) receiving h’ECK (‘ell) | ||
| 21 | COMBAT | Fighting doctor dressed for outdoors? (6) |
| [ MB (doctor) in COAT ] ~ dressed for outdoors | ||
*anagram
Really didnt seem too tough after the workout provided by Vlad-but well clued.
I’ve been struggling to understand 2d, but have finally got it. It is ‘starter’ (something initially’ missing ‘r’ for Rex or Regina.
Thanks Bradman and Turbolegs
Found this one solid going with a number of new words to me that had to be confirmed – PLEONASM, INTONATOR, ALBACORE and the actor EDWARD G ROBINSON. Didn’t know of the STAND OFF position in rugby (follow AFL Rules football down here – where rugby is only a minor sport, especially in southern states). Couldn’t find FELICIA as a herb, only as a flower of the sunflower family.
Hovis’ explanation of 2d now makes sense to me.
Finished it in two sessions with SINNED and BECKET the last couple in.
Many thanks Hovis@2. No doubt you are right. I should have come back to this rather weak parsing of mine after I had completed the grid.
Regards,
TL