Apologies for the late blog. Firstly, the puzzle was no walkover, and secondly I lost the (unsaved) document when the battery on my laptop ran out. As they say, “it never rains…” In any case, it was a satisfying challenge, solving as well as parsing it. Thanks to Vlad. Definitions are underlined in the clues.
Across
1, 29 Got near the solution to this, but not overly impressive (2,5,6)
NO GREAT SHAKES : A reverse clue: GOT NEAR is the solution to anagram of(SHAKES …) NO GREAT.
5 Seductresses help removing our uniform — twice (7)
SUCCUBI : “succour”(help/aid) minus(removing) “our” + U(abbrev. for “uniform”) + BI-(prefix denoting “twice”).
Defn: Supernatural females in folklore who seduce men, usually into sexual intercourse.
10 Engaged Asian picked up at party (4,2)
TIED UP : Homophone of(… picked up) “Thai”(national of Thailand) plus(at) DUP(abbrev. for the Democratic Unionist Party, the unionist political party of Northern Ireland).
11 Prints articles initially in the City (8)
ETCHINGS : THINGS(articles/items) with its 1st letter(… initially) contained in(in) EC(abbrev. for the Eastern Central postcode area in London, which includes almost all of the City of London).
12 Priest‘s among non-believers (3)
ELI : Hidden in(among) “non-believers“.
Defn: … in the Bible.
13 Invest in road building (6)
ORDAIN : Anagram of(… building) IN ROAD.
Defn: …/formally confer holy orders on someone/make someone a priest or minister.
14, 30 New guy starts to renegotiate cheap fee for each writer (8,7)
GEOFFREY CHAUCER : Anagram of(New) [GUY + 1st letters, respectively, of(starts to) “renegotiate cheap” + FEE FOR EACH].
Defn: … in England in the Middle Ages.
15 Bungling Italy on three points (5)
INEPT : I(abbrev. for Italy) plus(on) [ N,E,PT](three points: N,E – abbrev. for the North and East compass points & PT – abbrev. for “point”).
16 Choice woman’s finally made to leave? Hear it’s fallacious (9)
SOPHISTRY : “Sophie”(woman who is the main character in the novel and movie adaptation, “Sophie’s Choice”)‘S minus last letter of(finally … to leave) “made” + TRY(to hear a case in a law court).
Defn: A false argument especially one intended to deceive.
19 Close to broke in most of country — no alternative to Tory policy? (9)
AUSTERITY : Last letter of(Close to) “broke” contained in(in) [last letter deleted from(most of) “Austria”(European country) ] + “or”(word introducing an alternative) deleted from(no … to) “Tory“.
Defn: … of tightening your belts.
21 Tea next to instant coffee (5)
MOCHA : CHA(tea) placed after(next to) MO(short for “moment”/an instant in time).
24 One piece of writing in leaflet is less convincing (8)
FLIMSIER : [ I(Roman numeral for “one”) + MS(abbrev. for “manuscript”/piece of writing) ] contained in(in) FLIER(a leaflet/handbill, usually advertising something).
26 Doris’s entertaining fellow when things go wrong (3-3)
OFF-DAY : [OF DAY](belonging to Doris Day, American pop singer/Doris’s, ignoring her surname) containing(entertaining) F(abbrev. for “Fellow”/member of a learned society such as an FRCS).
27 Matter of disrespect (3)
RES : Hidden in(of) “disrespect“.
Defn: A matter, chiefly in legalese.
28 Hearts lost twice — that coach’s messed up direction to players (8)
STACCATO : Anagram of(… messed up) [“h,h”(2 x/twice abbrev. for “hearts”/suit in card games notation) deleted from(… lost …) “that coach’s“].
Defn: … of musical scores.
29 See 1
30 See 14
31 Son went on Big Dipper in these? (7)
SPEEDOS : S(abbrev. for “son”) + PEED(alternative to “pissed”/went) placed above(on) OS(abbrev. for “outsize” in reference to clothing/big).
Defn: What a dipper/one who immerses oneself in a liquid, say, water, would be wearing/be in.
Down
2 Mike’s a different bloke after love letter (7)
OMICRON : [MIC(like “mike”, short for “microphone”) + RON(name of a bloke different from Mike/Michael) ] placed below(after, in a down clue) O(letter representing 0/love in tennis scores).
Defn: … in the Greek alphabet.
3 Course favourite gets special welcome (3,6)
RED CARPET : REDCAR(a course for thoroughbred horseracing in, well, Redcar, a town in N. Yorkshire, England) + PET(a favourite).
4 Join in with degree course, initially (6)
APPEND : AND(with/combined) containing(in …) PPE(abbrev. for/initially, “Philosophy, Politics and Economics”, a degree course first offered by Oxford University).
6 Nancy’s a fool getting man to strip (8)
UNCLOTHE : UN(“a”/one in the language of Nancy, a town in France) + CLOT(a fool) plus(getting) HE(pronoun for a man).
7 Bluff a national treasure? (5)
CLIFF : Double defn: 1st: …, a geographical feature; and 2nd: Sir Cliff Richard, who may be/? considered a British national treasure.
8 Tap on counter — a quarter admitted it’s annoying (7)
BUGBEAR : BUG(to tap/to eavesdrop electronically) placed above(on, in a down clue) BAR(a counter found in, well, a bar) containing(… admitted) E(abbrev. for “east”, a quarter/a direction or point of the compass).
9 Order given to ignore boner under newspaper — a dreadful rule! (5,2,6)
REIGN OF TERROR : Anagram of(Order given to) IGNORE + [ERROR(a boner/a stupid mistake) placed below(under, in a down clue) FT(abbrev. for the Financial Times newspaper) ].
17 ‘E’s upset about current criticism (one of a generation that’s easily offended) (9)
SNOWFLAKE : Reversal of(… upset, in a down clue) ‘E’S containing(about) [NOW(in the current time period) + FLAK(severe criticism/negative feedback) ].
Defn: Slang used disparagingly for a member of the Snowflake Generation, the adults, collectively, of the 2010s who are more prone to taking offence/easily offended.
18 Water right for fellow in one ship (8)
IRRIGATE : R(abbrev. for “right”) replacing(for) “F”(abbrev. for “Fellow”, see 26 across) in [ I(Roman numeral for “one”) + “frigate”(a warship) ].
Defn: … as a verb.
20 Open jar at lunch (7)
UNLATCH : Anagram of(jar/to shake) AT LUNCH.
22 Carrying drugs, must stop boat (5,2)
HEAVE TO : E(abbrev. for “Ecstasy”/drugs) contained in(Carrying …, …) [HAVE TO](must/required to).
23 Energy drink a bit special is inside talk (6)
GOSSIP : GO(energy/vigour) + SIP(to drink a bit at a time) containing(… is inside) 1st letter of(a bit) “special” .
25 Historian set out for Chinese region (5)
MACAU : Macaulay(Thomas Babington, British historian) minus(… out) “lay”(to set, as in “to lay the table for dinner”).
This was one of those that felt like a slog rather than a challenge, but some nice clues in there (17d, 22d, 19a). I wasn’t as happy with 10a having “up” in both clue & answer – why not Engaged Asian heard at party?
I confess to thinking 9d was a bit much even for a Paul offering until I found a less offensive meaning to one of the words in the clue! (31a had a Paul staple in there too.)
And while usually I sigh when someone complains that a clue is too anglophile for a foreign clientele (it’s an English paper), I think 7d goes too far. I’m also probably biased by the fact I can’t bear his sickly sweet drivel.
Thanks to Vlad and scchua.
Thanks to Vlad and scchua. A struggle for me. I did not parse NO GREAT SHAKES, did not know REDCAR or the PPE in APPEND, and did not connect CLIFF to Sir Cliff Richard.
Thanks for parsing of APPEND.
I thought-that cant be CLIFF-Keith Richards is surely our national treasure.
My other fear was that the writer would be G Archer but word count reassured me there.
Now with these Succubi creatures- wasnt it said that they preyed on sleeping men, who, one presumes might wake up.Not guilty m’lud!
Great puzzle as usual from Jim and very fine if late blog.
Well done on getting there in the end, scchua! I found this tough, although it did steadily yield. So thanks for a satisfying work-out, Vlad.
Like acd@2, I didn’t parse APPEND (actually, I didn’t parse either part: I might have got PPE if I’d seen the sneaky AND).
Oh, scchua, I think you meant to underline all of “Dipper in these” in 31A?
Thanks Vlad and scchua
I didn’t have a lot of problems filling in the grid (despite my computer being on the blink too, so no electronic help!), but there were several that I didn’t completely parse.
A couple of odd ones: why “non” in 12a? The hyphenated non doesn’t contribute to the hidden answer, and it makes more sense without it. And why “drugs” rather than “drug” in 22d?
Thanks appino. Blog modified.
And A Happy New Year to all!
A proper battle as one expects with Vlad. Led to a vaguely interesting discussion with Mr CS over (more) lunchtime bubble and squeak as to seductresses and other names for them.
Thanks to Vlad and scchua
Well that was another beast from the east – not helped by having to do it on my phone whilst zoning out the in-laws chatter. Couldn’t parse a few so particular thanks to Scchua for a great job unraveling them.
I thought the national treasure might have been one of the White Cliffs of Dover.
A bit of a toughie, this. Too many clues written in, imagining them to be correct, then checking the blog to discover why…
Thanks to Vlad and scchua. My views are in line with those already expressed. I started off quite well and began to think in was Vlad as his most benign. However, quickly ground to a halt with very little on the right hand side, and considered giving up a couple of times. After that it proved tough and slow going and the NE was last to fall. Sophistry, etchings and unclothe were the last in. That said I needed to come here to clarify quite a bit of parsing (e.g. succubi). I did like no great shakes and snowflake. Thanks again to Vlad and scchua.
As usual with Vlad this was no walkover. We had trouble parsing several, but got there in the end . Favourite was 1a n great shakes. Look forward to another toughie tomorrow. Thanks Vlad and Scsbua. Gossip 23d was another goodie. We were trying so hard for an energy drink
Alas! I had Machu instead of Macau for 25 down so that counts as a DNF (anyone else fill that one in too quickly?). Thanks to the Impaler for a great puzzle (19 across is superb), and scchua for a very thorough blog.
This was my second crossword of the day, having done yesterday’s earlier on. I must have limbered up cos I found this not too difficult. Had to come here to understand 4d though. Thanks to blogger and setter, and HNY to all (when it comes).
Thanks Vlad and Scchua. A real toughie but some great clues – 1dn, 9dn,31ac.
8dn reminded me of the Partridge entry for bete noire in (I think) “Usage and Abusage”: “What’s wrong with bugbear that it should be supplanted by this gallicism?”
Thank you Vlad and Scchua,
A great workout, as ever with Vlad.
I’ll use 17d as an excuse for repeating the link I appended yesterday:
For any natural philosophers/mathematicians/scientists out there, I thought the attached was wonderful.
What could a 17th century, impoverished refugee in Prague give as a present:
A SNOWFLAKE
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0001r8x
Thank you too to Marienkaefer, who has prompted me to explore the origin
of BUGBEAR. I’ll now give it to students with even greater relish.
And hear hear to Mr. Partridge.
2. (in English folklore) a goblin said to eat naughty children and thought to be in the form of a bear
For those with a NUT GLUT.
After my solecism con le noci yesterday, I’ll risk a NUT tip.
The wonderful Francesca turned up on Christmas Day evening
with wine, a hot roast dinner, chestnuts, panettone and WALNUTS.
The only nutcracker in my garret was a ballet programme. I’ve always found
that when the crackers finally smash the casing into billions of tiny
fragments, the same thing has happened to the contents.
The solution: a screwdriver.
I really enjoyed this, although like others I couldn’t parse APPEND or GEOFFREY CHAUCER. I’ve got used to Vlad’s tortuous ways, and like his cluing style. Favourites were NO GREAT SHAKES, SPEEDOS and SUCCUBI. Hadn’t heard of SNOWFLAKE GENERATION, but like the expression a lot! Many thanks to V & s.
Managed to confuse the word count of 23dn and had it as two words so it would have to have been GOSS IP and,yes, this was LOI! Also I admit to guessing some of these, and there were those -NO GREAT SHAKES which I found so obvious that I didn’t bother to work them out.
I did like TIED UP and SUCCUBI.
Quite tough but enjoyable.
Thanks Vlad.
Perhaps Cliff is a theme! – with oblique but pertinent links to 1/29, 13, 23 and 8. Or am I being fallacious?
Keef is yer man.
Thanks Vlad for a tough chew, and Scchua for an enlightening blog.
When l saw Vlad was the setter, l was apprehensive but managed to complete this toughie eventually. FOI ORDAIN, LOI CLIFF. COD 21a.
Now early hours Saturday here, but not to worry. Enjoyed this in a somewhat masochistic sort of way. Lots of deviously knotty Vladisms, like ppe in and, EC around the initial of things, the three points after Italian, ‘of Day’ for Doris’s, among others, plus a naughtyism or two, like the boner pun (in fact I didn’t know it as error, so a biff).
Thanks Vlad and Scchua.
PS hear hear to Keef not Cliff
A bit too tough for me for it to be enjoyable. Lots of checking and a couple of reveals in the end. Thanks anyway, Vlad! Very pleased to see the blog this morning NSW time for the several unparsed. Much appreciated, scchua.
Super puzzle. I didn’t finish in the top-right but I loved INEPT, AUSTERITY, SPEEDOS, APPEND and especially SNOWFLAKE
Very pleased to see Vlad pop up after what feels like a long time. I was on the right wavelength I think as I didn’t find this as tough as most of the prior puzzles of his I’ve tried. Actually failed though as I had an unparsed HEAVE-HO at 22d
On the same clue- muffin @5 – I think(?) E is also used as a plural/collective so drugS works and makes for a better surface and misdirection – I did spend a while considering ‘carrying drugs’ could be the definition
Nice detailed blog too which I needed for 26 (although for 14,30 isn’t it first letters of FEE & FOR as well, not the whole words?)
…just looked again- no you’re right scchua!
I had first two letters of all of ‘renegotiate cheap fee for’ … but that doesn’t actually work – apologies
Also meant to say – I liked the way that 1,29 and 14,30 created an additional link between the four quadrants which were otherwise fairly distinct
nobby @27
I agree that “drugs”works better as a surface, but I’m still not happy with “drugs” for “E”.
Thanks to scchua for an excellent blog and to others who commented.
Best wishes for 2019.
muffin – sure, I’m not really familiar with the vernacular and I don’t fancy searching the internet for an example usage and where that might lead! I guess you could say someone that was ‘on [taking] heroin’ or ‘on E’ was ‘on drugs’…not sure if that works
Did this one on the train from Norwich to Cambridge.
Failed on 16ac and 25d (the parsing) but managed to get everything else (right) during my train journey.
So, it must have been a doable crossword.
Yes, agree with those who have their doubts about E = ‘drugs’ but otherwise a puzzle that was never run-of-the-mill.
It just had the right feel [for me, that is].
Many thanks to scchua & Vlad.
3-quarters of this puzzle perfectly solvable. Unfortunately top right hand corner a total conundrum!
7D. I know a Bluff is a cliff but why is C R a national treasure? A POP STAR may be but not in the clue!
8D. Er..? Can’t even get it from the explanation above. Like er.. give us a clue!??
16A. Never heard of Sophie’s Choice. Clue totally lost on me… try using cryptic clues next time.. or an anagram ?
Otherwise a good crossword.
Compilers must not assume solvers know obscure films/stars etc… or that great pop stars are ‘national treasures’ … they are not. They are just pop singers or film actors etc…. full stop!.
‘Paul’ is very good at pointing to obscure ‘subjects’in his cluing. Even in his prize contributions.
Other setters should take note.
Was unable to parse well over 50% of the answers, even after filling in the correct answer and hitting the ‘check’ button, which made it an unenjoyable crossword for me. Now having read the parsings, it still seems a bit too obscure. Lets hope today’s Prize is better …
Bodge@34 – I would say “let’s hope today’s prize is half as good….!”
This was a lovely puzzle in my opinion, albeit less challenging than one might hope from this setter.
I particularly enjoyed NO GREAT SHAKES, AUSTERITY, SPEEDOS and SNOWFLAKE.
(Feel sure millions would cite Sir Cliff as first choice for ‘national treasure’. Mostly, but not exclusively, over a certain age and quite possibly not regular Guardian solvers! But that doesn’t make 7dn incorrect – actually, a good clue I thought. Both my grandmother and our cleaner – very different generations – adored Cliff even more than the queen mother! And such people still rove in droves…)
Many thanks to Vlad and sschua