A well-crafted and relatively straightforward puzzle from Vigo to get the Indy week started.
Abbreviations
cd cryptic definition
dd double definition
cad clue as definition
(xxxx)* anagram
anagrind = anagram indicator
[x] letter(s) missing
definitions are underlined
Across
1 Rebel state embraced by Jagger?
MAVERICK
An insertion of AVER in MICK, of Rolling Stones fame.
5 International vehicle American gives legendary high flyer
ICARUS
A charade of I, CAR and US. Always listen to your Dad’s advice.
9 Message from detective’s district
DISPATCH
A charade of DIS and PATCH.
10 Ambitious study covering right current and velocity
DRIVEN
An insertion of the three abbreviations R, I and V in DEN.
12 Boast outrageously about crew in 2
STEAMBOAT
An insertion of TEAM in (BOAST)*
13 Regularly shuns chain providing cold food
SUSHI
The regular letters of ShUnS cHaIn.
14 Juliet getting French article for another girl
JUNE
A charade of the phonetic alphabet J and UNE.
16 Giant embalms oddly deficient insect
MAMMOTH
The even letters of eMbAlMs and MOTH.
19 Rock bass getting louder when played
BOULDER
A charade of B and (LOUDER)*
21 Waster intently seeking pub heads for Strand
WISP
The initial letters (‘heads’) of the first four words of the clue.
24 Boomerang was retested as weapon
TASER
A reversal (‘boomerang’) of RESAT.
25 Arty group writhing in torment
PURGATORY
(ARTY GROUP)* The place where some folk believe you go if you have been bad, but not very very bad, and get toasted for a bit.
27 Murmur softly by artisan
COOPER
I won’t say this clue is unfair, because it isn’t; but it’s tough even with the crossing letters, because there are lots of ‘artisans’ and COOPER isn’t the first to spring to mind. It’s a charade of COO and PER for ‘by’.
28 Less intelligent huntsman possibly found around middle of Kentucky
STUPIDER
The middle letters of ‘KenTUcky’ inserted into SPIDER.
29 Fake queen posed with Zulu
ERSATZ
A charade of ER for Elizabeth Regina, SAT and Z for another phonetic alphabet letter.
30 Outraged by posh nail guns?
UP IN ARMS
A charade of U, PIN and ARMS.
Down
1 Two ways to be demure
MODEST
Nice clue. A charade of MODE and ST for street, playing on two meanings of the word ‘way’.
2 Elves dancing across top of shoe container
VESSEL
An insertion of S for the first letter of ‘shoe’ in (ELVES)*
3 Genuine male territory
REALM
A charade of REAL and M.
4 Vacant celebrity copy causing storm
CYCLONE
A charade of CY for the outside letters of ‘celebrity’ and CLONE.
6 Festival flourishing its charms
CHRISTMAS
(ITS CHARMS)*
7 Change concerning phantom
REVISION
A charade of RE and VISION.
8 Illumination provided by peace keepers during cut
SUNLIGHT
An insertion of UN in SLIGHT used in its ‘offend’ sense.
11 Check waste matter’s hidden
STEM
Hidden in waSTE Matter.
15 Bore beneath damp covering bottom of cabin
UNDERWENT
A charade of UNDER and N inserted into WET.
17 Old boy has jazz fans rising at the Parisian bar
OBSTACLE
A charade of OB, CATS reversed and LE for one of the French words for ‘the’.
18 Idiots excited by small portraits
MUGSHOTS
A charade, which took me ages to see, of MUGS, HOT and S.
20 Caught up in snare top to bottom
RAPT
Vigo is inviting you to place the first letter of TRAP at the end; it works with ‘top to bottom’ because it’s a down clue.
21 Operate on best kitchen surface
WORKTOP
A charade of WORK and TOP.
22 Pulverise duke in command
POWDER
An insertion of D in POWER.
23 Cold syrup blended in foreign isle
CYPRUS
A charade of C and (SYRUP)*
26 Snake Eve noted initially in tree
ASPEN
A charade of ASP and EN for the first letters of ‘Eve’ and ‘noted’.
Many thanks to Vigo for today’s puzzle.
“A well-crafted and relatively straightforward puzzle from Vigo to get the Indy week started” – what more can one say? Thanks, Vigo and Pierre.
As always, a highly enjoyable puzzle from Vigo. I’ve absolutely no idea why there is a tradition for “a nice gentle start to the week” (the heading on today’s blogs for the puzzles by Armonie/Chifonie) but if that’s the case they might as well be good and Vigo’s crosswords are perfect for the brief imo.
Thanks to V&P
Thanks Vigo; good Monday Indy.
There is usually a theme or a pangram with Vigo. There seems to be some reference to the film or TV Series MAVERICK, with STEAMBOAT and COOPER, but I can’t see many other references.
Thanks to Pierre for a good blog.
A good start to the week, concisely clued as always from this setter and very enjoyable.
Thanks, Vigo – and thanks to Pierre for the blog.
I agree with you, Pierre, about 27ac. It was my LOI, and then only after I’d done a word search.
Enjoyable stuff, though not as difficult as yesterday’s Loglady. As Pierre, I breezed through most of it, but was stuck for ages on MUGSHOTS, which was my LOI. Even used a word finder in desperation, that failed to solve it, so went back and had another long look before getting the “hot” part and then going through the alphabet for the opening letter. Bingo!
Thanks to Vigo and Pierre.
Another lovely Vigo puzzle. I enjoy the simple elegance of straightforward surfaces. I thought BOULDER was particularly satisfying, also really like the boomerang being retested. UNDERWENT was good too, and many others.
COOPER was my last one in. I was trying to use ‘softly’ separately, until i realised coo-per already gave me the artisan, duh.
Even the 4-minipuzzle grid, with only one connection between adjacent quadrants, was no 17d today.
Many thanks Vigo and thanks Pierre
Robi@3 Maverick, Cooper and Steamboat are also US ski resorts as are Mammoth, June, Purgatory, Aspen, Boulder, Christmas, Sunlight and Powder (I think). Guess who went skiing in California this Easter….
Thank you to Pierre for the blog and to all who commented.
Victoria
Victoria @8; I should have noticed ASPEN and BOULDER, thanks for explaining the theme.
thanks Vigo, like robi@8 i recognised boulder and aspen, and mammoth, but didn’t connect. Is boulder a ski resort as well as the city?
I’ve only been to keystone and snowbird.
I think Boulder is within an hours drive of a few resorts but have never been there…
Delayed getting here (hot weather on the line or something) but have to say that I found this very enjoyable. Was held up by the same two as most of you (MUGSHOTS and COOPER), and had to make a couple of returns to the crossword before they would yield.
TASER was my favourite of lots of lovely clues.
Thanks Vigo and Pierre.