Guardian Cryptic 29,174 by Picaroon

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Enjoyed this a lot – many favourites including 9ac, 15ac, 3dn, 6dn, 7dn, and 21dn. Thanks to Picaroon

 

ACROSS
8 EMPHASIS
Speed taken by European in present condition for stress (8)
MPH (miles per hour, speed), inside: E (European) + AS IS=”in present condition”
9 EXEUNT
Playing tune after late instruction for players (6)
in definition, “players” as in actors

anagram/”Playing” of (tune)*, after EX=former=”late”
10 RESCUE
On supplier’s van, prompt delivery (6)
for definition: as in ‘deliver us from evil’, with delivery = rescue as a noun

RE (concerning, “On”) + the front (van, vanguard) of S-[upplier’s] + CUE=”prompt”
11 EYE PATCH
Buccaneer’s accessory with borders of ebony jazzed up the cap (3,5)
outer letters (borders) of E-[bon]-Y; plus anagram/”jazzed up” of (the cap)*
12 RIAL
Ex-PM leaving Britain returns in Omani capital? (4)
definition: Omani currency – “capital” as in money

Tony BLAIR is the “Ex-PM”, leaving out the B (Britain) and reversed (returns)
13 SCIENTIFIC
One wearing perfume, I see, after doubt concerning lab tests? (10)
I=”One”, inside/wearing SCENT=”perfume”; plus I C=”I see” after IF=”doubt” as in ‘too many ifs and buts about the proposal’
15 GLUTTON
Might one have stomach bearing large weight? (7)
GUT=”stomach” around L (large); plus TON=”weight”
16 INVEIGH
Rail vehicle emptied in India, almost (7)
definition: “Rail” as a verb meaning to complain or protest

V-[ehicl]-E emptied of its inner letters; in I (India, NATO alphabet) plus NIGH=”almost”
18 WEBMASTERS
Sex bomb periodically poking idlers in IT staff (10)
periodic letters from [S]-E-[x] B-[o]-M-[b]; poking inside WASTERS=”idlers”
19 RIFF
Bit of rock, say, extracted from boulder if fractured (4)
for definition, a guitar RIFF might be a bit of rock music

hidden in [boulde]-R IF F-[ractured]
20 ASTUTEST
Most insightful, in a way, given university assessment (8)
A + ST (street, way) + U (university) + TEST=”assessment”
22 CANUTE
Old King Cole’s coat worn by a superfan (6)
outer letters (coat) of C-[ol]-E, going around A NUT=”a superfan”
23 CRUSOE
Fabled sailor ignoring isle in voyage, touring round (6)
CRUISE=”voyage”, ignoring the I (isle), and around/touring O=”round”
24 GIN RUMMY
Drink and drink? Picaroon’s game! (3,5)
definition: a card game

GIN=”Drink” + RUM=”drink” + MY=”Picaroon’s”
DOWN
1 IMPERIAL MEASURE
The Yard, say, certain to pursue scallywag, with fury about a male criminal (8,7)
the yard is an imperial unit of measurement

SURE=”certain”, after all of: IMP=”scallywag”, plus IRE=”fury” reversed/”about”, plus A, plus anagram/”criminal” of (male)*
2 CHOCOLATE MOUSSE
Sweet Disney film about horse getting behind deer, we hear (9,6)
COCO [wiki] is a Disney film, around H (horse); plus LATE=”behind”; plus MOUSSE sounds like ‘moose’=”deer, we hear”
3 ASPERSIONS
Slanders according to newspaper put in issue (10)
AS PER=”according to”; plus I=”newspaper” [wiki] inside SONS=”issue” as in offspring
4 ASTERIX
Comic figure in swinging parties wanting soft kiss (7)
definition: the title character [wiki] of a comic book series

anagram/”swinging” of (parties)*, without/”wanting” the p for piano=”soft”; plus X=a “kiss” symbol
5 MEZE
Turkey-based snacks embezzler oddly rejected (4)
definition refers to Turkish cuisine

odd letters removed from [e]-M-[b]-E-[z]-Z-[l]-E-[r]
6 RELATIVE PRONOUN
Brother maybe supporting sister, receiving love for that? (8,7)
definition: the word “that” is a relative pronoun

RELATIVE=”Brother maybe” + PRO=”supporting” + NUN=”sister” around O=”love”
7 KNOCKING-OFF TIME
End of work — Crime and Punishment (8-3,4)
for definition, ‘knocking-off’ can mean leaving work at the end of the day

KNOCKING OFF can also be slang for stealing=”Crime”; plus TIME (in prison)=”Punishment”
14 NANOSECOND
Crazy and inspiring feature on politician in segment of Time (10)
anagram/”Crazy” of (and)*, taking in (inspiring) both of: NOSE=”feature” + CON (Conservative, “politician”)
17 VERTIGO
I’m uncertain and tense, tucking into Spanish port — it makes my head spin! (7)
ER=hesitant sound=”I’m uncertain” + T (tense); all inside VIGO=”Spanish port” [wiki]
21 EWER
Pitcher‘s fierce throw — take cover at the back (4)
definition: a pitcher as in a container for water

“back” letters from fierc-E thro-W tak-E cove-R

52 comments on “Guardian Cryptic 29,174 by Picaroon”

  3. I thought this morning that we must be due for a Picaroon, and my face lit up when I saw it. As usual, a very enjoyable experience, with plenty of smiles. Had only a vague recollection of MEZE. I thought “I” for newspaper was a bit mean.

    Thanks Picaroon & Manehi.

  4. Tough but fair. Lots of ticks but thought RELATIVE PRONOUN was the standout clue. Pleased to remember that meaning of van, haven’t seen it for a while. Very clever puzzle. [I got another mention Roz in 1d].

    Ta Picaroon & manehi.

  5. Thanks manehi, i was on the right wavelength today but couldn’t parse INVEIGH nor EWER (so simple now you have explained it!), didn’t know the Disney film and forget if I ever knew that a moose was a big deer. I wondered why Picaroon referred to his FT alter ego rather than just using “My” in EYE PATCH – maybe he didn’t want to duplicate the self-ref in 24a? Agree on the high level of entertainment value and ingenuity in both long and short clues, thanks Picaroon.

  6. Great fun! And it’s rare for a Guardian puzzle to be a much faster solve than an FT (thanks to IO!). My thanks to Picaroon and to Manehi.

  9. Always look forward to a Picaroon and this was no exception. Too many great clues to pick a favourite, and no duds!

  10. This was difficult to complete for me, and I could not parse a few. I put in EXUENT instead of EXEUNT, which held me up quite a while, leaving RELATIVE PRONOUN my LOI. Did not know of the “I” newspaper, and didn’t spot “nigh”, so I failed to parse ASPERSIONS and INVEIGH. Thanks for the enlightenment.

  11. All about the long down clues today. Once they started going in the rest followed. Picaroon always sets a high standard and this was no exception. Thanks to him and manehi.

  12. Picaroon on top form – as he usually is!

    I echo all the favourites above – I have too many of my own to list – especially the four long down clues.

    GDU @3 and gregfromoz @10 – the useful I for newspaper is fairly often used by setters, so worth remembering.

    Many thanks to Picaroon for a super puzzle and to manehi for a super blog.

  13. Masterly.
    It’s invidious to try and single out clues among so many superb examples of the setter’s art, but I think RESCUE (brilliant use of “van” in harmony with the surface), INVEIGH (clever misdirection with “rail”) and IMPERIAL MEASURE stood out for me. Haven’t enjoyed a puzzle so much in ages.
    Many thanks to Picaroon and manehi.

  14. Very difficult but was helped greatly by solving the 4 long down clues.

    New for me: COCO Disney film (for 2d).

    Favourite: INVEIGH.

    Thanks, both.

  15. What Eileen said. I found this friendlier than usual for a Picaroon but the usual great fun

    Thanks to Picaroon and Manehi

  16. I’m with the majority today in having enjoyed this a great deal. I too liked the misdirecting ‘rail’ for INVEIGH, the four long downs (esp. the neat wordplay for RELATIVE PRONOUN), and the thoughtful defs in many of the clues (bucaneer’s accessory, bit of rock, end of work, the &lit for GLUTTON).
    Spiffing!

  20. Loved it. Thankyou both. Faied to parse CHOCOLATE, I was looking for a sweet and got MOUSSE and the crossers started to fit, so I forgot to go back and look again as usual. Unusual that none of the long solutions were anagrams.

  21. This seemed more straightforward than some of Picaroon’s puzzles, although I had the LH side largely bare to begin with.

    I liked the extended definition of GLUTTON, the surfaces of ASTERIX and NANOSECOND, and the Crime and Punishment.

    Thanks Picaroon and manehi.

  22. After yesterday’s whizz through I knew I shouldn’t feel over confident. This took me a few sessions over the course of the morning. I didn’t feel I was on Picaroon’s wave length until about half way through. The SW was toughest for me. Plenty of excellent clues . I liked INVEIGH, RELATIVE PRONOUN, EXEUNT and CHOCOLATE MOUSSE. I’d never heard of the Disney film but could guess. With thanks to Picaroon and manehi.

  25. Didn’t crack this on first attempt as usual but did after a short break. I was fixated on Muscat for Omani capital and didn’t get RIAL nor did I see from where EWER sprang.
    Thanks both

  26. Some wonderful constructions here. It took me an age to see WEBMASTER even after I’d figured out the wordplay

    Cheers P&M

  27. Thanks for the blog, I share the praise for GLUTTON , not &LIT but a good description with clever wordplay, INVEIGH also very neat. Did not know the Disney film COCO , probably a lucky escape, but easy to work out.
    { AlanC@4 I would not call you a scallywag despite your numerous offences in the competition this year ]

  29. I was late to get to the puzzles today but this was well worth waiting for and luxuriating over. Picaroon is always high standard – this one seemed a notch up on some of his others – which is meant as a compliment to this one rather than a denigration of the rest. Fizzing with ideas and full of sparkle. The Disney movie was nho so I had wondered if Disney were responsible for Chocolat and then had no idea what to do with the horse etc! But everything else parsed beautifully with IMPERIAL MEASURE, KNOCKING-OFF TIME, RESCUE, GLUTTON, INVEIGH, ASTERIX and EWER my – rather predictable – faves.

    Thanks Picaroon and manehi

  30. I have a confession to make. I hadn’t heard of the Disney film either. I didn’t say so earlier as I was worried that I might be the only one, and people would say “Can’t believe you hadn’t heard of it,” thereby dangerously lowering my self-esteem. But clearly I’m not alone. (And I’m sure most people here wouldn’t be so unkind anyway.) 😉

  31. Did pretty well today, with first one in ASPERSIONS. But foiled at the very end by both MEZE and CRUSOE, both of which I really should have nailed. Thanks Picaroon and Manehi…

  32. manehi, thanks for parsing CHOCOLATE MOUSSE. I’d forgotten about COCO (I remember now from news coverage that it’s set in Mexico on the Day of the Dead and has a memorable song) and was wondering if Disney had made a film called “Chocolate.” And thanks for EWER, that crossword perennial, which baffled me.

    I don’t like “as per” meaning “according to” in 3dn.

    Really liked Crime and Punishment in 7dn as well as the other long’ uns. Same faves as everbody.

    Thanks, Picaroon and manehi.

  34. I’d completely forgotten the Disney film but it came back to me in post hoc parsing. Never seen it but I remember the posters being very colourful. Nice clue. INVEIGH was my fave though. Thanks, Picaroon and manehi.

  36. For those who are unfamiliar with Coco, it’s one of their best recent efforts, the kind of film that adults need not have children to enjoy. As Valentine notes, it’s themed around Dia de los Muertos, and…well, most of the characters are dead. Very rare to see a children’s film–a warm, fun, funny one at that–that deals with accepting mortality. Also about the power of music. Would recommend.

    Unlike others, I actually didn’t find this puzzle especially hard, though I got lucky with the long down clues, which did help tremendously with the rest.

    Newspapers are always either the I or the FT. Always. Well, almost always.

  37. Huge thanks to Picaroon. Absolutely loved this. Tough but enjoyable and some wondrous cluing. Too many faves but laughed out loud at MEZE. Thanks to manehi for the blog and help with parsing a couple.

  38. A big groan when I realised (very belatedly) that the capital was not a capital city. Some swearing ensued. At myself, not Picaroon! Thanks for the tussle and to manehi for the blog.

  39. I was going to comment, but Eileen @12 and PostMark@29 said exactly what I would have, so I won’t.

    Thanks Picaroon for the witty fun and manehi for the superb clear and comprehensive blog.

  40. At the risk of being the skunk at the garden party I found this to be more of a slog than a joy. I ended up revealing the clever GLUTTON as well as 6d; I just guessed a number of others, not a fun way to solve. I did like EYE PATCH, RIAL, GIN RUMMY, and NANOSECOND. Thanks to both.
    [GDU @30: Picaroon could have left “Disney” out of 2d so it would have read, “Sweet film about …” for once “film” would not mean “ET”.]

  41. I found this an easy solve, even though I NHO meze or Coco. I was also thinking riff was some feature of a mountain, but my answer was still right. A pleasant solve during lunch here in the USA .

  42. I found this tough and am glad I started earlier in the day than usual. I missed the NIGH in INVEIGH and didn’t have a clue about CHOCOLATE MOUSSE, even though the crossers meant that had to be the answer. I’d never heard of COCO, which didn’t help. Thanks for the explanations, manehi, and for the mental tussle (and enjoyable experience), Picaroon.

  44. Marvellous fun as always.
    But, I took KNOCKING-OFF TIME as a double definition.
    Thanks for the blog and the puzzle.

  45. Yes, Tony @ 40, qnd there was me whinging the other day that the only film we ever seem to see in crosswords is ET!

  46. A toughie, this, no question! I had most of the East side done, then I just had to abandon it for a few hours. At least I managed to finish without cheating.

    Never heard of COCO as a Disney film – thought he was a clown – but then there are so many Disney films and my knowledge of them stops around Dumbo… But CHOCOLATE was an easy write-in, then all I had to think about was Cervidae homophones. Took me a while! ‘Dough’? ‘Row’? ‘Rain, Dear’? Why I took so long to hit on MOOSE => MOUSSE I’ll never know!

    In fact I have to commend all the long’uns, excellent work. IMPERIAL MEASURE with its misdirection of “The Yard” certainly takes some beating! Were any of our American friends flummoxed?

    Thanks to Pickers and Manehi.

  48. A tour de force–very satisfying to puzzle over one like INVEIGH and then see the pieces come together logically. Laccaria@4, I for one didn’t have trouble with “Imperial,” I do know it as “the thing that isn’t metric”–I realized that “The Yard” surely wasn’t what it looked like but it took a while to realize what it could be, until I figured out what the word ending in SURE was. (Then I thought maybe “fury” was PERI but that’s a different mythological creature.)

    Thanks Picaroon and manehi.

  49. Saw the aIRmEnFlypUbLic prime numbers trick. Fed (or was it Bluth?) has used it before.
    For DIABOLO maybe the square brackets represent the sticks at each end of the rope that the top shuttles between?

  52. @35: “[I know, off topic, but why is there an Araucaria puzzle on the app today?” Hi, I was hoping someone might explain, but alas no mention. Not today (15th) either. It was a treat, and although I was a regular Grauniad solver in the 70s, I don’t think I was into solving at that time.

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