The Independent puzzle today is set by the usual Friday setter, Phi
It was good to see a quadruple definition today with BAR at 5 down. I wonder what the record is for multiple definitions within the same clue? I think I have blogged a clue with five although I can’t remember which puzzle it was. I expect there are examples using six or more.
There were a couple of entries using words I don’t come across in routine conversation – UNDECEIVE and FRENCHIFY – which made me wonder whether they had to be accommodated because of a theme elsewhere in the puzzle, but I can’t see one.
I always struggle with what is an &Lit clue, so I am not sure whether the clue for HOUDINI is such a clue. Within the clue ‘Harry’ or even ‘Harry (name) needed’ is being used as the definition and part of the wordplay using a construction I haven’t seen very often. HOUDINI has escaped from irons, such as handcuffs.
| No | Detail |
| Across | |
| 1 |
Cheers concert, having extra round in bar? (7) TAPROOM (a ROOM where beer is served from the TAP or cask) TA (thank you [cheers] + PROM (PROMenade concert containing [with an extra] O [round character]) TA PR (O) OM – either O could be the extra one |
| 5 |
Monk changing sides, as it were, in disorderly house (7) BROTHEL (house or establishment where prostitution is practised; disorderly house) BROTHER (member of a religious order, e.g. a monk) with R [right] replaced by [changing sides to] L [left] BROTHE L |
| 9 |
One declares a bit of poo’s astonishing for roses (9) PROFESSOR (one who states or declares) P (first letter of [bit of] POO) + an anagram of (astonishing) FOR ROSES P ROFESSOR* |
| 10 |
Veritable cut applied to ship support (5) TRUSS (framed structure for supporting a weight) TRUE (veritable) excluding the final letter (cut) E + SS (steamship) TRU SS |
| 11 |
Fine cut of meat? One has indifferent dressing (5) FRUMP (dowdy woman who wears dull-looking, clumsy, ill-shaped clothes) F (fine) + RUMP (cut of meat) F RUMP |
| 12 |
Enlighten a French woman embracing one around end of year (9) UNDECEIVE (reveal the truth to; enlighten) (UN [one of the French forms of ‘a’)] + [EVE {woman’s name} containing {embracing} I {Roman numeral for one}]) all containing (around) DEC (DECember, last month [end] of the year) UN (DEC) E (I) VE |
| 14 |
Place to record relocation of fifty groceries (8,6) REGISTRY OFFICE (place where details, such as births, marriages and deaths are recorded) Anagram of (relocation of) FIFTY GROCERIES REGISTRY OFFICE* |
| 17 |
Point associated with craft-worker‘s irritation after contracting (8,6) KNITTING NEEDLE (implement with a point used by a craft-worker [knitter]) KNITTING (contracting, the brows for instance) + NEEDLE ([a feeling of] irritation) KNITTING NEEDLE |
| 21 |
Flowering plant almost buried awkwardly in a bit of land that’s turned over (9) AUBRIETIA (flowering plant often grown in rock gardens) – one of a number of spellings for the plant Anagram of (awkwardly) BURIED excluding the last letter (almost) D contained in (in) (A + AIT [small island; bit of land] reversed [turned over]) A (UBRIE*) TIA< |
| 23 |
Senior executive keeping graduate back for a minor role (5) CAMEO (small role in a play or film, often giving scope for character acting) CEO (Chief Executive Officer; senior executive) containing (keeping) MA (Master of Arts; graduate]) reversed (back) C (AM<) EO |
| 24 |
Comment after death involving King’s sphere of influence (5) ORBIT (sphere of action or influence) OBIT (obituary; comment after death) containing (involving) R (Rex; King) O (R) BIT |
| 25 |
Doctor has a meal in unusually extensive gloom (9) MOODINESS (gloom) MO (Medical Officer [doctor]) + (DINES [has a meal] contained in [OS [outsize; exceptionally large; unusually extensive]) MO O (DINES) S |
| 26 |
Stream song that’s loud then quiet (7) AIRFLOW (stream [of AIR]) AIR (song) + F (forte [loud, in music]) + LOW (quiet) AIR F LOW |
| 27 |
Yen to be subsumed by minor deity? Just take the plunge! (3,2,2) TRY IT ON (do something risky; commit; take the plunge) Y (yen, Japanese currency) contained in (subsumed by) TRITON (minor Greek sea god) TR (Y) IT ON |
| Down | |
| 1 |
Suggestion pencil-sharpener is needed? (3-3) TIP-OFF (hint; suggestion) TIP OFF (if a pencil has a TIP OFF it probably needs sharpening|) TIP-OFF |
| 2 |
Yield, like some wartime Italians? (7) PRODUCE (yield) PRO (in favour of) + DUCE (Benito Mussolini [1883-1945], leader of Italy from 1922 to 1943. He was supported by many Italians. He took the title DUCE) PRO DUCE |
| 3 |
Conceal original picture? No longer keen on itch to conceal one (9) OVERPAINT (cover an original picture with another, by PAINTing on top) OVER (no longer keen on) + (PANT [desire; itch] containing [to conceal] I [Roman numeral for one]) OVER PA (I) NT |
| 4 |
Inquest moot after reviewing protection against disease transmission (8,3) MOSQUITO NET (a physical protection against transmission of diseases spread by MOSQUITO bites) Anagram of (after reviewing) INQUEST MOOT MOSQUITO NET* |
| 5 |
Lawyers exclude brasserie staff (3) BAR (legal profession; lawyers) BAR (exclude) BAR (cafe; brasserie) BAR (rod; staff) quadruple definition |
| 6 |
African Christian not originally perceived by eye (5) OPTIC (informal word for the eye) COPTIC (relating to Christian descendants of the ancient Egyptians; African Christian excluding the first letter [not originally] C) OPTIC |
| 7 |
Harry (name needed) in irons – initially! (7) HOUDINI (reference Harry HOUDINI [1874-1926] Hungarian-American escapologist and illusionist) HOUD (the letter N can be added [needed] to form HOUND [harry]) + IN + I (first letter of [initially] IRONS) HOUD IN I HOUDINI would often escape from constraints made of metal [iron] so the clue could be seen as an &Lit |
| 8 |
Holy woman aboard ship, one taking confession? (8) LISTENER (a priest taking confession is an example of a LISTENER ) STE (abbreviation for Sainte, the female form of Saint [holy woman]) contained in (aboard) LINER (ship) LI (STE) NER |
| 13 |
Continually subject to changes regarding popularity? (3,2,3,3) DAY IN DAY OUT (for an indefinite succession of days; continually) DAY IN followed by DAY OUT suggests a DAY when you are popular (IN) and then a DAY when you are not popular (OUT) – taken together the phrase could cryptically indicate that something is subject to changes in popularity DAY IN DAY OUT |
| 15 |
Make like Le Moulin Rouge, where youngsters will take in topless woman provided (9) FRENCHIFY (make FRENCH or FRENCHlike, Le Moulin Rouge is a cabaret location in Paris) FRY (youngsters) containing (will take in) (WENCH [young woman] excluding the first letter [topless] W + IF [provided that]) FR (ENCH IF) Y |
| 16 |
State agreed US city not entirely in America? (8) OKLAHOMA (one of the United States of America) OK (agreed) + LA (Los Angeles; US city) + HOME (in) excluding the final letter (not entirely) E + A (America) OK LA HOM A |
| 18 |
Drinker heading off for wood in which one Bass is hidden (7) IMBIBER (drinker) TIMBER (wood) excluding the first letter (heading off) T containing (in which … is hidden) (I [Roman numeral for one] + B [bass] IMB (I B) ER |
| 19 |
Shining expression of disappointment about British (7) LAMBENT (light and brilliant; shining) LAMENT (sorrow expressed by crying out; expression of disappointment) containing (about) B (British) LAM (B) ENT |
| 20 |
Revolutionary work is to do with pollutant (6) POISON (malignant influence; pollutant) OP (opus; work) reversed (revolutionary) + IS + ON (about; to do with) PO< IS ON |
| 22 |
Some maintain television provides useful information (5) INTEL (INTELligence; useful information) INTEL (hidden word in [some] MAINTAIN TELEVISION) INTEL |
| 25 |
Starts to make everyone weep and cry (3) MEW (high-pitched cry of a cat) MEW (first letters of [starts to] each of MAKE, EVERYONE and WEEP) MEW |
At 7D I spent some time fruitlessly trying to incorporate the homophone ‘who’ as part of the answer, but then the penny dropped. Excellence as usual from Phi so thanks to him and Duncan.
Found this in one of the blogs here:
Frank can be unjust, unrefined, ignorant and cold (3)
Quintuple def.
Liked TIP-OFF, PRODUCE and HOUDINI.
Doubtful about the parsing of 3D as “PAIN” already contains “I” and the T is unaccounted for. Not entirely sure what it should be though.
I had a – very brief – ‘Oh no. Not another one …’ moment when 10a delivered TRUSS. I feel I’ve seen rather a lot of Tory leadership clueing over recent weeks. But, thank Goodness, it turned out to be a truss of unquestionable standing. As enjoyable as always on a Friday and no theme that I could spot – which means absolutely nothing, of course.
I enjoyed the surfaces of BROTHEL and PROFESSOR as well as the remarkable anagram for REGISTRY OFFICE. BAR, of course, is delightful along with HOUDINI, both – rightly – highlighted by our blogger. The nice surface for LISTENER and then the sweet IMBIBER complete my big ticks. I didn’t really recognise the definition for TRY IT ON which I associate with being deceptive, cheeky or taking liberties (or, of course, testing clothing for fit). And I’d never have got FRENCHIFY from the definition so thank Goodness for the wordplay.
Thanks Phi and Duncan
Adrian Gibson @ 3
It’s my mistake, the blog should show PANT rather than PAIN as the container. Both PANT and ITCH can be defined as ‘desire’.
I have updated the blog
Adrian Gibson@3
I think there is a typo. duncanshiell has actually taken PANT for itch (the last line of his explanation makes it clear).
Sorry. I was busy typing and didn’t check the blog before posting my message. 🙂
Adrian Gibson @3 (and Duncan): I think the blog is actually giving us two parses for 3d. Although Duncan has explained the clue as OVER + PAIN containing I, the coloured lettering shows OVER + PANT containing I which is how I parsed it.
Oh, Duncan, I feel for all bloggers. If ever there is a social media space where posters can expect forensic examination of their contributions by an eager army of pedants … 😀 (No criticisms intended; I include myself fairly and squarely in that pack!)
PM@9!
🙂
PostMark @ 9
Bloggers have thick skins. Fair criticism goes with the turf and I know I make a few mistakes. I’m happy to correct the mistakes.
That’ll teach me to bung in from def and crossers. For 5d, I had the first letter B from solving 5a, saw ‘Lawyers’ in the clue and with a 3-letter answer, it just had to be BAR, so in it went without looking at the rest of the clue and realising it was a nice quad def. Similarly, HOUDINI went in only semi-parsed.
I was happy to remember AUBRIETIA, which I did have to parse properly, and glad to finally get UNDECEIVE at the end.
Thanks to Phi and Duncan
Nice one Phi albeit an amount of help needed from duncanshiell.
I remember some time back, when REGISTRY OFFICE turned up in a puzzle, contributors pointed out that the ‘correct’ expression (at least what was written over the door) was ‘Register Office’. We seem to have moved on but I was impressed by the pedantry at the time.
Thanks both. A couple of my frequent nemeses here….plants, whereby there are thousands yet I know/remember approximately eleven, and people’s names, in this case Eve, not getting her regular First Lady tag, simply clued as ‘woman’….admittedly, I know more than eleven of those – I could get past the subs’ bench and into the spectators
The appearance of PROFESSOR TRUSS in the same line is surely not an accidental reference to Liz Truss’s father?
Well we have got BAR, TAPROOM, OPTIC, POISON and IMBIBER but maybe I’m just wishing myself elsewhere…
I now realise that my confusion about the spelling of AUBRIETA is widely shared. Reddevil@16 with Moulin Rouge and BROTHEL there’s a definite fin de siecle feel to this.
No theme today. At the time I set the puzzle I doubt I would have had any particular reason to think of Ms Truss – just an overseas politician. She might get a bit more coverage here if she wins though only if she’s as amusing as he who would then be her predecessor.
David McLean ( aka Hoskins) had a nonuple definition in a recent Sunday Times puzzle: Find out court judge and witness visit Ely’s one escort to get it? Imagine! (3)