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Another pleasing and well-constructed crossword from Everyman. Plenty here for the less experienced solver to get their teeth into.
Abbreviations
cd cryptic definition
dd double definition
cad clue as definition
(xxxx)* anagram
anagrind = anagram indicator
[x] letter(s) removed
definitions are underlined
Across
1 At times, lags repurposed mineral deposits
STALAGMITES
(AT TIMES LAGS)* with ‘repurposed’ as the anagrind.
9 In forum, greeting with fury: that’s mean?
AVERAGE
A charade of AVE and RAGE. The first element is the Latin word – which would have been spoken in the Roman forum. It is most commonly translated as ‘Hail!’, hence the ‘greeting’. Many will recognise it from Ave Maria, Hail Mary.
10 Hamburger, perhaps English finding appropriate
GERMANE
A charade of GERMAN and E. A Hamburger would be a resident of the German city.
11 Once again, secure some sureties
RETIE
Hidden in suRETIEs.
12 Battle song winning Eurovision
WATERLOO
A dd. 1974, since you ask.
14 Lingua franca never starting to be translated for Central American
NICARAGUAN
([L]INGUA [F]RANCA)* with ‘to be translated’ as the anagrind.
15 Regularly unsteady, second-hand
USED
The odd letters of UnStEaDy.
17 Those working for newspaper’s fees
SUBS
A dd.
19 Mentor gone berserk somewhere in the Balkans
MONTENEGRO
(MENTOR GONE)* with ‘beserk’ as the anagrind.
21 Denature bananas and ingest too little
UNDEREAT
(DENATURE)* with ‘bananas’ as the anagrind.
23 In the end, burnt serving of beef heart?
TRUMP
A charade of T for the last letter of ‘burnt’ and RUMP. The reference is to when a heart may be used as a trump in certain card games.
25 Tell the story of electoral procedure
RECOUNT
A dd.
26 Motel’s installation: nifty invention bearing alcoholic refreshment, primarily?
MINIBAR
The first letters of the first seven words of the clue, and a cad.
27 Speak the same language, as pupils do?
SEE EYE TO EYE
A dd cum cd. The ‘pupils’ are, of course, the parts of the eye.
Down
1 I doubt 100 will enter kind of tank
SCEPTIC
An insertion of C in SEPTIC. The insertion indicator is ‘will enter’.
2 Dabblers: one ripens with energy rising
AMATEURS
A charade of A and MATEURS. For the second element, Everyman is inviting you to move the letter E in MATURES two places upwards (‘rising’, since it’s a down clue).
3 Notice: bachelor Everyman’s beginning to tuck in, not seizing the day
ABED
An insertion of B and E for the initial letter of ‘Everyman’ in AD. The insertion indicator is ‘to tuck in’.
4 John OKed this refined armagnac: cheers!
MAGNA CARTA
A charade of (ARMAGNAC)* and TA. The anagrind is ‘refined’. King John, Runnymede, June 15th, 1215, around tea-time.
5 Fit cast, we’re told
THROE
Aural wordplay (‘we’re told’) for THROW. Most often heard in the phrase ‘in the throes of …’
6 They bind potatoes, rice etc
STAPLES
A dd.
7 Country in fashion – out of fashion – honestly!
FAIR AND SQUARE
An insertion of IRAN in FAD, followed by SQUARE. The insertion indicator is ‘in’.
8 Maybe drop scone fried with seconds to spare? Unbeatable
BEYOND COMPARE
(MAYBE DROP [S]CONE)* with ‘fried’ as the anagrind.
13 Bishop giving way to tirade, dishonourably, displaying lack of knowledge
IGNORANTLY
The setter is asking you to replace the B in IGNOBLY with RANT.
16 Mention, as example, trendy position
INSTANCE
A charade of IN and STANCE.
18 Following hygiene issue, daughter does away with tight garments
BODICES
A charade of BO for body odour, D and ICES.
20 Complain, taking extract of strong rum blearily
GRUMBLE
Hidden in stronG RUM BLEarily.
22 Stir up arguments in speech
ROUSE
Aural wordplay (‘in speech’) for ROWS.
24 Bits of soot in opening, Santa belly up
SMUT
A charade of S for the opening letter of ‘Santa’ and TUM reversed.
Many thanks to Everyman for this week’s puzzle.
Bunged in THROE but don’t see how it is = fit.
And didn’t get ABED – groan
Favourites were GERMANE, MAGNA CARTA, IGNORANTLY
Thanks Everyman and Pierre
Fiona, the first definition of THROE in my dictionary is “pang, spasm.” That’s also one of the meanings of fit, as in “epileptic fit”.
Fiona@1. I don’t have Chambers but various Onelook entries describe THROE as a spasm. Does that fit?
Ah, mrpenney and I crossed. I should have added a smiley face to me@3. Trying to lighten up what is otherwise a pretty painful subject.
Thank you Pierre for the blog and for leaving us the fun of discovering Everyman’s trademark clues.
Rhyming pair: FAIR AND SQUARE, BEYOND COMPARE. ”self-referential” clue: ABED. I couldn’t see a “primarily” clue.
Favourites BODICES, SMUT and SEE EYE TO EYE. Made me laugh.
Didn’t like WATERLOO, another Sunday with that earworm.
IGNORANTLY
Is there a part of speech mismatch between the solution (an adverb) and the def (an adjectival phrase?)?
The clue is my top fave nonetheless.
SEE EYE TO EYE
What do pupils do? From ‘EYE to EYE’ they ‘SEE’? Like pupils see in every eye?
(not getting into the actual biological functions of a pupil)
Or am I missing something?
Liked FAIR AND SQUARE too.
Thanks, Pierre for the blog!
@paddymelon, 26A was the “primarily” clue.
Oh, thanks bellsup@9. Not seeing with both eyes this morning. The word ”primarily” just jumps off the page, nothing tricky with this one. Strangely, I had read over the clue for MINIBAR a couple of times last week as I didn’t exactly agree with the definition. No alcohol or even minibars in most motels I know of. Then I probably don’t stay in more upmarket ones. And, since COVID, there’s almost nothing that you can put your hands on in motels these days and leave for the next person, if you don’t consume it or take it with you. My supplies of coffee and shampoos are running out. 🙂
paddymelon@10
You don’t like MINIBAR. That’s secondary. 🙂
Primarily-It’s there.
A cool one, I thought!
Not stuffy–a complaint or a compliment?
For those who like the FT news puzzles, an excellently crafted ‘news puzzle’ by Buccaneer is available online today. Widdersbel has blogged this puzzle masterfully with plenty of cross-references and sprinkled the blog with topical humour.
KVa @11. LOL
@8. I may be showing my ignorance and others can step in, but dunno about IGNORANTLY. I tried looking up adverbial phrases with a gerund but couldn’t find an example for illustration. It has an adverbial sense to me, with the word displaying.
I think you might be looking too deeply into EYE TO EYE. For me it doesn’t matter if its referring to both eyes of the person seeing, or into both eyes of another, or all of their eyes at once. I’m happy with the question mark at the end and a bit of whimsy perhaps.
A typical Everyman, which is a good thing. The primarily clue, MINIBAR @ 26a, was particularly nifty.
Thanks Everyman for the fun, and a special thanks to Pierre for the blog at 5d THROE and 22d ROUSE. Much appreciated.
Thanks for the blog, a good set of clues and I think just the right standard.
Quite a bit of geography but only MONTENEGRO makes the restricted (bird) list.
MAGNA CARTA , I know about this from “Three Men in a Boat” which was meant to be a historical novel about places on the Thames, but the comedy took over.
All solved, but not the quickest I often solve these (as in this morning’s I solved in less than half the time)
Roz @15 In the ancient London Transport walks book I used to work up to the Pennine Way in my youth, there’s a long walk around Runnymede and Windsor along the Thames, so I’ve actually been to the site of the signing of the Magna Carta. (Ancient as in predates the M25, so not all the lines or buses run any more).
Very enjoyable.
Favourites: FAIR AND SQUARE, IGNORANTLY, GERMANE, THROE (loi).
Thanks, both.
KVa @8 and paddymelon @13: how about “Displaying lack of knowledge, I used the wrong knife for the starter” / “Ignorantly, I used…”?
Enjoyed this. Thank you! Finished it, but I don’t understand the parsing for BODICES… Probably basic, but I don’t know where ICES comes from. Can anyone help?
ICES = does away with = kills . It is sort of Mafia slang for hitmen.
Thank you, Roz. Would never have got that!
17 minutes this week 🙂 I particularly enjoyed MAGNA CARTA and FAIR AND SQUARE.
Roz@15 with reference to the geography list, by my count (not to be entirely trusted of course), Everyman has hit 55 references this year and is well on his way to exceed last year’s total of 67.
And we haven’t had many birds recently, the last one was TERN, I think. 🙂
In London. Found that solution is not posted for a week!
Never heard of a singular throe but all else fine
All good.
Beat Australia at league today so everything is well.
I was baffled with 5d
I have never seen a minibar in a motel with alcohol
Rob.