Hectence is one of our long-standing Quiptic setters and brings us this Sunday’s offering.
First off, it’s a pangram: all 26 letters feature, and this is itself a feature of all Hectence’s Quiptic offerings. I had one or two niggles with this crossword, outlined below, but generally I think it’s a good one for less experienced solvers to get their teeth into.
Across
8 Firstly find uniform then give it repair for runaway
FUGITIVE
A charade of F for the initial letter of ‘find’, U for the phonetic alphabet ‘uniform’ and (GIVE IT)* with ‘repair’ as the anagrind.
9 Pawn taken by you earlier turned game
HOCKEY
A charade of HOCK and YE reversed. ‘Earlier’ is an indication that the usage is archaic. O ye of little faith …
10 Old Impressionist’s not succeeded making a comeback
AGED
A reversal of DEGA[S].
11 International organisation has long year tackling China being hostile
UNFRIENDLY
An insertion of FRIEND in UN and LY. The insertion indicator is ‘tackling’ and China for FRIEND is Cockney rhyming slang – China Plate/Mate.
12 About to be contracted with American travelling show
CIRCUS
A charade of CIRC[A] and US.
14 Injured person relaxed with telly, drained
CASUALTY
A charade of CASUAL and T[ELL]Y.
15 Regret right nipple’s last extra special piercing
REMORSE
A charade of R, E for the final letter of ‘nipple’ and an insertion of S in MORE. The insertion indicator is ‘piercing’.
17 Passed out studies about women’s eggs
SWOONED
An insertion of W and OO for ‘eggs’ in DENS reversed. ‘About’ is the reversal indicator but is also doing double duty as the insertion indicator, which is not ideal.
20 Enjoys tickling component of game controller
JOYSTICK
Hidden in EnJOYS TICKling.
22 Writer isn’t regularly in cheap restaurant
BISTRO
An insertion of ST for the even letters of iSnT in BIRO. The insertion indicator is ‘in’.
23 Split most of money by family couple
BREAK IN TWO
A charade of BREA[D], KIN and TWO.
24 Performance requires soprano with range
SAGA
A charade of S and AGA. The ‘range’ most often to be found in Aga Sagas.
25 Take audible deep breath, essential to find the inner self
PSYCHE
Aural wordplay (‘Take audible’) of SIGH and KEY.
26 Promoted first four in team by date applied
ELEVATED
A charade of ELEV[EN], V and (DATE)* with ‘applied’ as the anagrind.
Down
1 Queen has a good rage over misguided leader in a pickle
QUAGMIRE
An insertion of M for the initial letter of ‘misguided’ in QU, A, G and IRE. The insertion indicator is ‘over’.
2 Victory by Germany’s a breeze
WIND
A charade of WIN and D.
3 Heard Jagger drinks cocktails?
MIX-UPS
Aural wordplay (‘heard’) of MICK SUPS.
4 Crepe tailored around female model is superb
PERFECT
An insertion of F in (CREPE)* followed by T. The insertion indicator is ‘around’ and the anagrind is ‘tailored’.
5 Was brought up having a tether on power tool
CHAINSAW
A charade of CHAIN and WAS reversed (‘brought up’, since it’s a down clue).
6 Demonstrate heartily, loud as possible outside prison: outrage
SCANDALOUS
An insertion of CAN for ‘prison’ in S for the central letter of demonStrate and (LOUD AS)* The insertion indicator is ‘outside’ and the anagrind is ‘possible’. But I can’t equate ‘outrage’ and SCANDALOUS, since they are different parts of speech.
7 Shot French girl during training session
PELLET
An insertion of ELLE in PT. The insertion indicator is ‘during’.
13 Angry person has course stopped by college following sign something’s wrong
CROSSPATCH
A charade of CROSS and C inserted into PATH. The insertion indicator is ‘stopped by’.
16 Religious practice in South Dakota is zealous
SPIRITED
An insertion of PI and RITE in SD. The insertion indicator is ‘in’.
18 Tea’s dull after real bubbly
EARL GREY
A charade of (REAL)* and GREY. The anagrind is ‘bubbly’.
19 Glide quickly has winter sportsperson securing race
SKITTER
An insertion of TT for the Isle of Man ‘race’ in SKIER. The insertion indicator is ‘securing’. Not sure I’ve ever come across this word before, but it’s clearly clued.
21 Love national sport having quiet surge
ONRUSH
A charade of O, N, RU and SH.
22 Awful bore traps Australian in pub
BOOZER
An insertion of OZ in (BORE)* The insertion indicator is ‘traps’ and the anagrind is ‘awful’.
24 Bar put small work area inside
SOAP
An insertion of A in S and OP. The insertion indicator is ‘inside’.
Many thanks to Hectence for this week’s Quiptic.
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