The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/27882.
Paul up to some amusing tricks here, making for a satisfying solve.
| Across | ||
| 9 | INAMORATO | Presently, sleazeball has love for sweetheart (9) |
| A charade of IN A MO (‘presently’) plus RAT (‘sleazeball’) plus O (‘love’). | ||
| 10 | ICHOR | Divine fluid Christian initially snubbed, Church claimed (5) |
| An envelope (‘claimed’) of CH (‘church’) in [d]IOR (‘Christian’) minus the first letter (‘initially snubbed’), for the counterpart of blood in Greek gods veins. | ||
| 11 | ENTENTE | Understanding English, nothing missing from notes? (7) |
| A charade of E (‘English’) plus NTE, ‘n[o]te’ minus the O (‘nothing missing’) plus NTE (ditto, for the plural ‘notes’). | ||
| 12 | See 23 | |
| 13 | TERSE | Short stretch of shorter sentence (5) |
| A hidden (‘stretch of’) answer in ‘shorTER SEntence’. | ||
| 14 | SNARE DRUM | Instrument reading as if in Arabic, rub out answer? (5,4) |
| A reversal (‘reading as if in Arabic’ i.e. from right to left in an across light) of MURDER (‘rub out’) plus ANS (‘answer’). | ||
| 16 | ONE OVER THE EIGHT | A fraction high? (3,4,3,5) |
| Double definition. | ||
| 19 | SATISFIED | Retaining information, test is provided with content (9) |
| An envelope (‘retaining’) of I (‘information’) in SAT (‘test’, on both sides of the pond) plus ‘is’ plus FED (‘provided’). | ||
| 21 | PHOTO | Still very popular, Italian runner’s hurdling (5) |
| An envelope (‘hurdling’) of HOT (‘very popular’) in PO (River, ‘Italian runner’). | ||
| 22 | MO SALAH | Forward march, alas, omitted, some going backwards (2,5) |
| A hidden (‘some’) reversed (‘going backwards’) answer in ‘marcH ALAS OMitted’, for the Liverpool and Egypt soccer player. | ||
| 23, 12 | COLONEL SANDERS | A final piece of wallpaper, endless rolls around next to Mark, he finished off layer upon layer (7,7) |
| A charade of COLON (mark’) plus ELSANDERS, an anagram (‘rolls around’) of ‘a’ plus R (‘final piece of wallpapeR‘) plus ‘endless’, for the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken. | ||
| 24 | SPURN | Refuse kick up the backside by leader in nappies (5) |
| A charade of SPUR (‘kick up the backside’) plus N (‘leader in Nappies’). | ||
| 25 | See 4 | |
| Down | ||
| 1 | DIRECTIONS | Shocking cost in bombs, one way or another? (10) |
| A charade of DIRE (‘shocking’) plus CTIONS, an anagram (‘bombs’) of ‘cost in’. | ||
| 2 | SAUTERNE | White bird in alcohol, less cold (8) |
| An envelope (‘in’) of TERN (‘bird’) in SAU[c]E (‘alcohol’) minus the C (‘less cold’), for the (generally sweet) white Bordeaux wine. | ||
| 3 | TOWNIE | Bind private parts for Reading resident, say (6) |
| An envelope (‘parts’) of OWN (‘private’) in TIE (‘bind’). | ||
| 4, 25 | GAME OF THRONES | Original theme song for a fantasy drama (4,2,7) |
| An anagram (‘original’) of ‘theme song for a’. | ||
| 5 | MOUSTACHED | With hairy part for all to see, the majority longed to conceal it (10) |
| An envelope (‘to conceal it’) of U (film certification, ‘for all to see’) in MOST ACHED (‘the majority longed’). | ||
| 6 | VIENNESE | Queen finally seen off after struggle, as was Marie Antoinette (8) |
| A charade of VIE (‘struggle’) plus N (‘queeN finally’) plus NESE, an anagram (‘off’) of ‘seen’. | ||
| 7 | OH DEAR | In audition, character does well (2,4) |
| A charade of OH, sounding like (‘in audition’) O (alphabetical ‘character’) plus DEAR, sounding like (again) DEER (‘does’). | ||
| 8 | KRIS | Blade struck four Samurai warriors, all down below (4) |
| Final letters (‘all down below’) of ‘strucK fouR ScamuraI warriorS‘ | ||
| 14 | STRAIGHT ON | Ahead in first half of game, short moves saving time (8,2) |
| An envelope (‘saving’) of T (‘time’) in STRAIGHON, an anagram (‘moves’) of ‘in’ plus GA (‘first half og GAme’) plus ‘short’. | ||
| 15 | MOTIONLESS | Still dark, it’s blocked up (10) |
| An envelope (‘blocked’) of TI, a reversal (‘up’ in a down light) of ‘it’ in MOONLESS (‘dark’). | ||
| 17 | VASELINE | Jelly kept in a row of vessels? (8) |
| VASE LINE (‘a row of vessels’). | ||
| 18 | GROANING | Complaining, horse in horse sandwiches? (8) |
| An envelope (‘sandwiches’) of ROAN (‘horse’, the first one) plus ‘in’ in GG (‘horse’). | ||
| 20 | TISSUE | Paper lies, might you say? (6) |
| Double definition. | ||
| 21 | PALTRY | Piddling in crack, intimate at first (6) |
| A charade of PAL (‘intimate’, noun) plus TRY (‘crack). | ||
| 22 | MISS | Forget a title (4) |
| Double definition. | ||
| 23 | CUTE | Clever cricket shot over point (4) |
| A charade of CUT (‘cricket shot’) plus E (‘point’ of the compass). | ||
I don’t understand ‘might you say?’ at 20: seems like a homophone indicator, but no spelling difference.
Flavia @1
I read it as an indication of the phrase “a tissue of lies”.
My favourites were COLONEL SANDERS, PHOTO, GROANING, MOTIONLESS, VIENNESE (loi).
I could not parse 14a, 14d, 20d.
New phrase for me was: ONE OVER THE EIGHT.
Thank you Peter and Paul.
This was quite a mixed bag for me: some went in right away, some look a long time and even longer to parse.
Unless I’m missing something, the definition part of COLONEL SANDERS leaves a lot to be desired. Ok, so a chicken is a layer, but the underlined phrase is hardly a direct definition.
Regarding GAME OF THRONES, when the last season began, and then ended, I was kind of hoping for a GoT theme. The NY Times does occasional topical themes (for example, this Sunday’s featured Apollo 11), but the Guardian not so much. I suppose it would make the puzzles too easy, unless done in a crafty way like Nutmeg’s 100s the other day.
Thanks Paul and PeterO.
Dr. W, take a gander at this week’s Everyman. (That’s not a spoiler, since the rubric above the puzzle announces that it is occasional.)
As for this puzzle, Paul did quite a good job of disguising one device as another, in numerous places. I spent a LONG time trying to fit a word with an I in it at 21d because of “intimate at first,” for example.
I didn’t know MO SALAH or the expression ONE OVER THE EIGHT.
Bit better effort today, but not quick. Vaguely remembered over the eight, and the SAT test, couldn’t parse paltry, d’oh, and was too lazy to even attempt Colonel Sanders, just bunged it in once the p d’d. Quite fun in all, less gruelling than yesterday, thanks P and P.
Thanks to PeterO and Paul
I couldn’t be bothered to unpick 23,12 either.
Doesn’t the wordplay in 1d give DIRECTION?
For the plural I think ONE WAY AND ANOTHER is needed.
Surely 19 is an envelope of SATS (test) and I(information) plus FED
this was so far out there for me, the (over) abundance of envelopes (imho) and their “indicators”. i will in future not even bother with Paul puzzles
Pleased to have got there in the end, really liked Motionless, would rather prefer to remain in that state today as the temperatures soar ever upwards. Snare Drum and Oh Dear last ones in…
No wonder I had difficulty parsing LICENTIOUS
Whilst I really admire the cleverness in a number of these clues, and the inventiveness to come up with novel ways of doing classic crossword tropes, I can’t help but feel that this puzzle was overly convoluted. I am another who bunged in “colonel sanders” with only a paltry effort at parsing. “satisfied” and “straight on” defied parsing for me, though I had the “sat is” part. “Snare drum” was superb, and “vaseline” a rib-tickler. “Motionless” almost has an extra definition in “blocked up” (as my drains were the other day…ugh).
Lots to like here, and the week is getting tougher and tougher. However, too convoluted for me and this heat in places. IS Paul making room for someone’s century on Saturday in the Prize slot?
Many thanks PeterO for the unravelling.
7D – rueful smile at the “does”, which completely wrong-footed me. But Oh Dear = Well ? I must still be missing something.
Thank you Paul and PeterO.
Another here who had trouble trying to parse LICENTIOUS (copmus @11) – and I tried to fit SANDERSON into the wallpaper clue…
Yes – ‘over convoluted’ sums it up well, agree Z @12. Could carp that vaseline not really a jelly. Contrary to another suggestion, see no need for a GoT-themed crossword, have existed quite happily without seeing or hearing anything about it. 22a good: though had never heard of Mo, reading the clue put him there for easy confirmation by Dr Google. Another mo provided the way into 9a. Good work PeterO for the parsing.
All very fair, but I just couldn’t make any headway. I blame the weather; for example I saw “one over the ….” but couldn’t complete it.
Thanks to Paul and PeterO. Generally found this tough going and a typical Paul solve for me. Not much on first couple of passes, but gradually it all began to unpack. However, there was a lot of post-hoc parsing and eventually got bogged down in the NW. Last ones were townie, entente and Sauterne (strictly a red drinker). Favourites in a mo rat o, directions and motionless, and thanks again to Paul and PeterO.
Convoluted is an apt description. Nothing unfair, but I couldn’t really enjoy it much. I counted seven that I wasn’t able to parse even after solving or revealing the answer, so thanks to PeterO for the explanations and thanks to Paul for keeping me humble.
I must admit that a few of these went in unparsed, and as always with recent Pauls some of the definitions are devious. TOWNIE was last in
Thanks to Paul and PeterO
Mistakenly thought Paul would be a relief after Vlad and gave up completely on COLONEL SAUNDERS and would never have got it without coming here. Didn’t get VIENNESE either. Very rare to resort to here before having at least ‘guessed and checked’. Was convinced of SAINT for ICHOR ..several letters of Christian in there … though obviously not parsed.
Maybe I too will blame the heat.
Thanks Paul and PeterO.
I found this difficult, ending up with COLONEL SANDERS unparsed and never having heard of MO SALAH or the expression at 15a. Favourites were SAUTERNE and the homophone for the not so obvious sense of ‘well’.
It’s interesting, that as happens every now and then, one of the answers here (not a word commonly seen in cryptics) also appeared elsewhere today, clued very differently but in a similar position in the grid.
Thanks to PeterO and Paul
7d!
I did enjoy the clever 4.25 anagram though.
Another who failed to parse licentious here: it seemed to match the (wrong) definition, and contains the letters of ‘cost in’, plus lieu, which was where I left it. Also failed to parse the COLONEL, other than COLON, so it’s frustrating not to spot the anagram. Second outing for Red Rum this week?
Excellent as always from Paul, with some clever, “penny drop” clues. Favourites included VASELINE, INAMORATO (mainly for “IN A MO”) and SPURN (Spurs supporter here)
I’m sorry to read the comment from PiesMcQ @9 above that you will not bother with Paul again. All I can say is it’s worth persevering: Paul is a devious so and so, but ingenious and witty with it, and the sense of accomplishment from finishing a Paul puzzle (apart from DIRECTIONS in my case today) is greater than with most setters.
Thanks Paul and Peter – I’m tempted to rob one to pay the other.
Chinoz @ 15 Vaseline has been marketed as ‘Petroleum Jelly’ since the 19th century so I think Paul is on safe ground.
Tough going today but it kept my interest, thanks to Paul & PeterO.
Thanks both,
Another tussle but some very clever clues. I failed on snare drum and had ‘oh mega’ for 7d which I think fits the clue better than the answer, but not the last crosser. ‘Does’ = ‘deer’ gets me every time.
Am I alone in wondering if we are being given a lesson in humility this week?
Many were complaining the puzzles were getting too easy….the last few certainly put an end to that.
Re Col. Sanders, not all chickens are layers, what a convoluted clue.
Thanks to setter and bloggers.
More of a struggle and less fun than yesterday for me – and a dnf as I gave up without TOWNIE ICHOR PHOTO and PALTRY – although the last went in when I saw PHOTO here. And plenty of unparsed like many others. Thanks to PeterO for putting me straight and to Paul for getting me in a twist.
All done and dusted (but certainly not in 5 minutes!).
COLONEL SANDERS was more or less LOI. Had to explain it afterwards.
First one in was 16ac but I does not work for me, ‘one over eight’ is a fraction but ‘one over the eight’ is not.
In 2d SAUCE = ‘alcohol’? In the US, perhaps. Never heard of that before over here.
I think GAME OF THRONES (4d,25) was based on a beautiful anagram.
This week I had a déjà vu when solving Nutmeg’s puzzle and today I had another one.
In 14ac Paul used ‘reading as if in Arabic’ as a reversal indicator.
Not seen that before in the dailies, so kudos to him.
But when my alter ego used it in a crossword for Alberich’s website, years and years ago, opinions were quite unfavourable.
I clearly remember telling people about it at one of the very first Fifteensquared S&Bs in 2011, I also remember to be frowned upon from all sides.
By the way, what inspired me was seeing an Iranian student writing things down, indeed from right to left.
Good, enjoyable, if at times somewhat contrived (14d), crossword.
Many thanks to PeterO & Paul.
Surely – surely… Sauternes has an “s” on the end???
Gosh! So many of the comments above suggest this was fairly standard, but Yorkshire Lass and I found it a real tester. Completed, but with many not properly parsed before we had the benefit of PeterO’s blog. As an elderly pedant, I love the opportunity this place gives to the like minded. One Over the eight is indeed not a fraction, just as a battery does not store electricity a day or two ago. Hopefully I will get a chance to rant about refute being misused one of these days. My particular favourite today was GROANING, and the clue for ONE OVER THE EIGHT was wonderfully sparse. Thanks to Paul and PeterO.
Thanks Paul and PeterO
Ruth @ 29: whether we like it or ot, ‘Sauterne’ is supported at least by Chambers. I don’t like it personally, but I think you could get away with saying ‘a Sauterne wine’
For the same reason.as sil @28, 16A doesn’t work for me, as I posted on the graun thread this morning.
And I’m surprised that no one has commented on how poor some of the surfaces are.
Ruth @29 and Simon S @31
My Collins has Sauternes for a French wine, and sauterne for a Californian, (presumably an imitation but I’m no expert).
Irishman @30
If you visit FT 16047 ( 21/12/2018), you can have a good old rant.
Too hot for crosswords. I gave up on Vlad yesterday and just about managed today’s puzzle. Guesswork in far too many places to be satisfying. First in was GAME OF THRONES and then ONE OVER THE EIGHT. BOTH OF WHICH seemed fine to me. – Oh DEAR was LOI and I don’t understand it even now. Far too much like pulling teeth!
Thanks Paul
Thank you Dansar @32. Checked the FT reference and there was level-headed Eileen quietly pointing out that the battle over refute was lost in the dictionaries. Eheu! (Referencing our wonderful new PM’s classics degree).
Thanks to Paul and PeterO.
Came to this late yesterday and couldn’t believe the sparsity of bouquets. I enjoyed it immensely although it was a DNF from a long way out (only so much time available, busy day, late etc) so many reveals and re-visits gave much pleasure (but then I’m mainly on online solver, PiesMcQ@9, and can indulge myself).
Toadfather@8: I think you’re missing an “I”?
TheZed@12: TMI+LOL re MOTIONLESS although yours were not the drains I was thinking of
DaveinNCarolina@ I think we had a similar solving experience but I really enjoyed this. I thought MOTIONLESS was the clue of quite a while ,made me laugh. Great word, now to slip it into a conversation….
Sil van den Hoek@28: Agreed, superb anagram.
Sil – ‘Sauce’ is definitely an English/British use. Think, for example, of retired army officers at their club (or the worthies of the MCC) where ‘sauce’ may be the most usual word for booze.
Another enjoyable offering from Paul. If not his best, it’s still a terrific way to pass fifteen or twenty minutes IMVHO…..
I become increasingly irritated by those here who choose to blame their inadequacies on “convoluted” clues or else scratch away at some baseless quibble. Paul has proved repeatedly that he knows what he’s doing (I’d say he’s a ‘master’ at this game) whereas his critics here have not.
Many thanks, both and all.
Re COLONEL SANDERS I had the definition (exactly the phrase highlighted by PeterO in his excellent blog) as referring to the “finish” supplied by the Colonel’s special sauce (the first “layer”) to the chicken (the second “layer”) so a perfectly reasonable clue. And elevated by the use of wallpaper to misdirect or confuse given the Sandersons connection (cookie admitting to be nearly ensnared, as was I for an instant!)