Independent 10736 / Rodriguez

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Puzzles from Rodriguez are becoming more frequent, which is fine.

 

 

 

I can’t see a theme today in either the clues or the entries.  I blogged a Rodriguez puzzle in January where there was a musical reference in every clue.

The grid has 90 degree symmetry  which is far less common that 180 degree symmetry found in most puzzles.  There may be a reason for it, but if there is, it escapes me.

The COHOE salmon at 15 across swims frequently though barred puzzles but it is less common in blocked national daily crosswords. GHETTOISE (16 across) is not a word I have seen before, but the wordplay was clear.

SPLIT INFINITIVE at 7 down was one of the last ones I solved and I had a bit of Doh! moment when I finally saw what was going on.

No Detail
Across  
1

Dressing down? Theatregoers are beneath it (7)

REPROOF (rebuke; dressing down)

REP (Repertory company [permanent company of actors] who perform in a theatre) + ROOF (top covering of a building).  Unless the play is being performed at an outdoor venue, the theatregoers will be sitting under the REP ROOF

REP ROOF
5

Less well-bred horse picked up (7)

COARSER (inferior; ruder; less well-bred)

COARSER (sounds like [picked up] COURSER [swift  horse])

COARSER
9

Frightening hanger from wood classed ‘poor’ (5,2,8)

SWORD OF DAMOCLES (the visible prospect of imminent calamity [from DAMOCLES, the Syracuse courtier, forced to sit through a feast with a SWORD suspended over his head by a single hair])

Anagram of (poor) FROM WOOD CLASSED

SWORD OF DAMOCLES*
10

Notes new centre for fashion (5)

MILAN (Italian city, one of the centres of the fashion industry)

MI (one of the notes of the tonic sol-fa) + LA (another such note) + N (new)

MI LA N
11

Hard drink after work? It’s child’s play (9)

HOPSCOTCH (game in which children hop over lines scotched or scored on the ground)

H (hard, as in description of pencil lead) + OP (opus; work) + SCOTCH (whisky; drink)

H OP SCOTCH
12

Tough guy dined out with grand trousers (9)

DEMANDING (challenging; tough)

(Anagram of [out] DINED + G) containing (trousers) MAN (guy)

DE (MAN) DIN* G
14

Youthful setter perhaps squeezing trendy model (3-2)

PIN-UP (someone, such as a model, who may have their photograph displayed by another for admiration)

PUP (young dog; youthful setter, for example [breed of dog]) containing (squeezing) IN (trendy)

P (IN) UP
15

Swimmer or runner outside shop undressed (5)

COHOE (Pacific salmon; swimmer)

COE (reference Lord Sebastian COE [born 1956], British middle distance runner and Olympic medalist) containing (outside) HO (letters remaining in SHOP when the outer letters S and P are removed [undressed])

CO (HO) E
16

Put in a slum site, he got out (9)

GHETTOISE (put in a poor [slum] area of town, inhabited by a racial or other identifiable group)

Anagram of (out) SITE HE GOT

GHETTOISE*
18

Drink brand keeping variety quiet (4,5)

MILK SHAKE (a type of drink)

(MAKE [brand] containing [keeping] [ILK {type; variety} + SH {directive to keep quiet}])

M (ILK SH) AKE
21

Sheepish bishop’s abandoned bull, say (5)

OVINE (relating to sheep; sheep-like)

BOVINE (relating to cattle ; bull]) excluding (abandoned) B (bishop)

OVINE
22

Getting stuck into pub food’s a help for negotiator (10,5)

BARGAINING CHIPS (advantages or assets possessed by one party which can be used to extract a concession in negotiations)

GAINING (getting) contained in (stuck into) (BAR [pub] + CHIPS [food])

BAR (GAINING) CHIPS
23

Bald guy’s welcomed in French by daughter (7)

DENUDED (made naked or bald)

(DUDE [person; guy] containing [welcomed] EN [French for ‘in’]) + D (daughter)

D (EN) UDE D
24

Press continuously on face of smooth operator (7)

SURGEON (operator in a hospital theatre)

S (first letter of [face of] SMOOTH) + URGE (press forward with insistence ; press continuously) + ON

S URGE ON
Down  
1

Think about wine bottles getting picked up (7)

RESUMED (picked up where something was previously left off)

RED (a type of wine) containing (bottles) MUSE (meditate; think) reversed (about)

R (ESUM<) ED
2

Issue being an issue? (7,8)

PROBLEM CHILDREN (those whose character presents an exceptionally difficult task for parents or teachers)

PROBLEM (concern; issue) + CHILDREN (progeny; issue)

PROBLEM CHILDREN
3

Soldiers execute steps to defend home rule (9)

ORDINANCE (rule)

OR (other ranks; soldiers) + (DANCE [execute steps] containing [to defend] IN [at home])

OR D (IN) ANCE
4

Dominant wolf, if threatening packs (5)

FIFTH (In music, the DOMINANT is the FIFTH scale degree [scale degree 5] of the diatonic scale

FIFTH (hidden word in [packs] WOLF IF THREATENING)

FIFTH
5

He gets gold and silver frame of necklace – it’s sparkling stuff (9)

CHAMPAGNE (sparkling wine)

CHAMP (the winner, the one who gets the gold medal) + AG (chemical symbol for silver) + NE (outer letters of [frame of] NECKLACE)

CHAMP AG NE
6

Lifeless spies touring Australia to the north (5)

AZOIC (without life)

(CIA [Central Intelligence Agency {spies}] containing [touring] OZ [informal term for Australia]) all reversed (to the north; down entry)

(A (ZO) IC)<
7

Leave countless cakes I see to bravely diet, say (5,10)

SPLIT INFINITIVE (an infinitive [the ‘to’ + ‘verb’ form] with an adverb between ‘to’ and the verb, as in ‘to bravely diet’)

SPLIT (make oneself scarce; leave) + (INFINITE [countless] containing {cakes] [I + V [vide, Latin for see])

SPLIT INFINIT (I V) E
8

Stirred hot ingredient of some teas (7)

ROSEHIP (the pseudo-fruit of the ROSE plant. ROSEHIP tea has a delicate, floral flavour that’s slightly sweet with a distinct tart aftertaste)

ROSE (stirred not sure of the definition here as many people stir without RISING) + HIP (in; trendy; hot)

ROSE HIP
13

As dirt may be stripped off, a Beatle showered (9)

INGRAINED (dirt may be INGRAINED into muddy clothing)

RINGO (reference RINGO Starr [born 1950], drummer in The Beatles) excluding the outer letters [stripped off] R and O) + RAINED (showered)

ING RAINED
14

Lightly knock then violently corral vehicle with force (6,3)

PATROL CAR (vehicle used by the Police Force for instance)

PAT (lightly knock) + an anagram of (violently) CORRAL

PAT ROL CAR*
15

Basic item for retirement affected teacher (4,3)

CAMP BED (portable folding bed [basic item] for sleep [retirement])

CAMP (affected) + BEd (Bachelor of Education, a qualification frequently obtained by people intending to become teachers, particularly Primary teachers)

CAMP BED
17

Writer who could make me snore (7)

EMERSON (reference Ralph Waldo EMERSON [1803 – 1882], American essayist and poet)

Anagram of (could make) ME SNORE

EMERSON*
19

Paradoxically, what one may do to gain a seat? (5)

STAND (candidates for a seat in Parliament STAND in an election)

STAND (opposite of sit, so it seems paradoxical to STAND for a seat)

STAND
20

Game to go topless in Clare’s town (5)

ENNIS (County town of County Clare in the Republic of Ireland)

TENNIS (game) excluding the first letter (go topless) T

ENNIS

 

18 comments on “Independent 10736 / Rodriguez”

  1. Very nice. The wording of 12A seemed a little strange but it just about works.. When I hear ‘sword of Damocles’ I always think of Tony Hancock pronouncing it ‘Damoakls’. Thanks Rodriguez and Duncan.

  2. Clear wordplay led to an enjoyable exercise of the cryptic grey matter

    Thanks to Rodriguez and Duncan

  3. Very nice, indeed.

    My favourites were SWORD OF DAMOCLES (Tatrasman, you, in turn, have reminded me of ‘a man of my cali’ bre’), BARGAINING CHIPS, ORDINANCE, CHAMPAGNE, SPLIT INFINITIVE, INGRAINED and OVINE – an old trick but an amusing new slant.

    Many thanks, Rodriguez and Duncan.

  4. I found this quite tough in parts and less enjoyable overall than previous Rodriguez puzzles.

    COHOE and AZOIC were new words for me but both were fairly clued. I don’t think DENUDED is synonymous with bald, but I suppose it is OK at a stretch in the crossword world. Although it is in Chambers, GHETTOISE is a ghastly word.

    I particularly liked SWORD OF DAMOCLES, PROBLEM CHILDREN and SPLIT INFINITIVE. I never thought I would say I liked a split infinitive! 😉

    Thanks to Rodriguez and to Duncan.

  5. Another good one from Rodriguez, number 5 I think, at least in the Indy. I didn’t find this quite as difficult as his earlier offerings, but AZOIC was new and my favourite, the excellent ‘Issue being an issue?’ at 2d, took a bit of working out.

    I see that GHETTOISE really is a word, despite my initial doubts. I propose a similar noun to verb formation – particularly for you, Rabbit Dave @4 – for the new word of the day: “to split infinitivise”. Let’s hope it doesn’t catch on.

    Thanks to Rodriguez and Duncan

  7. Finally finished a Rodriguez, having found him one of the most difficult of setters, so naturally I admired this crossword.

    Sorry to see “ilk” used in this way again, no doubt putting me in a minority (and I hate split infinitives as well).

    Have seen coho before, but not cohoe. Some great definitions and long answers and a thoroughly enjoyable workout.

    Thanks to Rodriguez and duncanshiell

  8. gwep @7 – I didn’t mention ILK, since we had it yesterday. As Quirister said then, ‘But it’s been used to mean “type” for a long time and the dictionaries grudgingly include it.’

    Chambers gives: of that class, type or kind’ (non-standard)
    And Collins: USAGE: Although the use of ilk to mean ‘a type or class’ is sometimes condemned as being the result of a misunderstanding of the Scottish expression of that ilk, it is nevertheless well established and generally acceptable.

    Our Scottish blogger let it go without comment – perhaps he’s become inured to it. 😉

  9. Like gwep @ 7 I’ve found Rodriguez very difficult previously so was pleased to finish this without aids. I needed the blog to complete the parsing, though (eg 13a), so my thanks to Duncanshiell. I tried to make 5a be chavier, until 7d put me right. Hadn’t heard of courser for a horse. Didn’t know the fish, either, but it couldn’t be anything else. Liked all of the long clues – especially the frightening hanger. Also rep roof.

  10. Ah, gwep @7, I like using split infinitives if only to playfully tease people (I suspect like you?). I always tried to surreptiously include one in reports to my boss on the basis that he’d be so pleased to gleefully spot it, that he’d miss any controversial stuff in the rest of the paper.
    A very enjoyable puzzle, by the way, and thanks for the blog.

  11. Not a fan… which is a shame as 2d went in after a millisecond.. the rest took what felt like a millenium.. the little niggles like “picked up” doesn’t imply RESUME until u add a few more words.. also picking “from” rather than “poor” as the anagram indicator in 9ac slowed things down a bit… ah well always next time..
    Thanks Rodriguez n Duncansheill

  13. Many thanks to Duncan for the tremendous blog.

    Here’s my quick take on the objections raised above:

    @Tatrasman – the wordplay for 12A uses the standard device of the omission of the relative pronoun “that” (not “who” because we’re referring to the letters of MAN, not to a man): Tough guy [that] dined out with grand trousers. The cryptic reading is: MAN [that] DINED* + G trousers (= encloses). Syntactically, this is equivalent to saying “A city [that] people visit” – you don’t need the word “that” in normal English syntax.

    @Undrell, by all means don’t be a fan, but “pick up” = resume is explicitly, word for word, given in all the major dictionaries, with example sentences like: “Let’s pick up where we left off yesterday” or “We’ll pick up after lunch.” In 9ac, “from” would be a pretty flimsy anagram indicator, wouldn’t it?

    Best wishes to all.

  14. Like Rabbit Dave@4, I didn’t find this quite as enjoyable as previous puzzles from this setter – perhaps some of the surface reads were to blame.
    I wasn’t familiar with either AZOIC or GHETTOISE – what a dreadful word the latter is!
    Picks of the bunch for me were PROBLEM CHILDREN and the simple but effective STAND.

    Thanks to Rodriguez for the challenge and to Duncan for the review.

  15. A steady solve with no real problems. A minor niggle about BARGAINING CHIPS – Chambers says that ‘chips’ is American usage, with ‘counters’ as the British form. Favourites were SPLIT INFINITIVE and SWORD OF DAMOCLES.
    Thanks, Rodriguez and Duncan.

  16. Tatrasman @ 1‘s ‘Damoakls’ and Eileen @ 3’s ‘cali-ber’ reminded me of the little-known Greek philosopher Testicles.

  18. Thanks Rodriguez@13 for your intriguing reply… of course i had to check. Using Collins online i put “pick up” into it’s search window.. RESUME was not mentioned in the first 14 senses quoted.. it was included in a further sub-section under “pick something up”.. which was the point i was rather clumsily trying to make, that adding words does allow PICK UP to imply RESUME. I feel that FROM is used quite frequently to imply an anagram whilst this is the first time i have encountered POOR used in that way .. I of course bow to your superior knowledge and experience… it is now noted… thanks again

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