A very nice grid from Knut to kick off the weekend.
Oddly not much to say about the grid itself, other than it being very pleasant with nothing too gristly to chew on. Even the few words that were NHO for me could be parsed without much grunt work. With an unusually liberal smattering of hidden word clues, I might even suggest this would be a useful grid for the relative beginner to enjoy.
You all know I’m a sucker for a pun, and there are a couple of belters to enjoy here. Overall, my pick for stand-out clue for today is 13D for the artistry.
However, there’s something of a Nina around the outside letters. I can see they’re all anagrams of ROMANCE, but can’t yet see the connection or reference. Your thoughts are very welcome!
Thank you, Knut, for the grid
ACROSS
8 An exceptional person, bloody Dicky! (4,4)
RARE BIRD
Double definitions: bloody [RARE] Dicky [BIRD (cricket umpire)]
9 As one group, trash noble Conservative (2,4)
EN BLOC
Anag [“trash”] NOBLE + conservative [C]
10 Sorry guys! Regulars only – it’s a wild party (4)
ORGY
Even characters [“regulars only”] SORRY GUYS
11 Streetcar runs into rock that measures four feet (10)
TETRAMETER
Streetcar [TRAM] runs into [placed inside] rock [TEETER]
12 Supermodel commercial that’s known for its intelligence (6)
MOSSAD
Supermodel [MOSS = Kate] commercial [AD]
Pun clue: Mosssad is a branch of the Secret Intelligence Service of the state of Israel
14 Unfussy diner ordering more vino (8)
OMNIVORE
Anag [“ordering”] MORE VINO
15 Retired TA soldier settled in Los Angeles, a city in the US (7)
ATLANTA
Retired TA [backwards = AT] soldier [ANT] settled in [inside] Los Angeles [LA]
17 Noble America maiden lady, rather old (7)
GRANDAM
Noble [GRAND] America [A] maiden [M]
20 Use Mister Newton for spreading EU’s bile (8)
NEBULISE
Newton [N] for spreading [anag] EUS BILE
22 Klopp elated about taking on City (6)
ALEPPO
Hidden word [“taking on”] backwards [“about”] KLOPP ELATED
23 Direct last UNESCO missions (10)
CONSULATES
Anag [“direct”] LAST UNESCO
24 Island cycling feature (4)
CHIN
Anag [“cycling”] INCH (island in the Republic of Ireland)
25 Old money key upper-class party (6)
ESCUDO
key [ESC = escape] upper-class [U] party [DO]
26 Before Tori Amos spends months in the capital (8)
PRETORIA
Before [PRE] Tori Amos spends months [TORI AMOS]
DOWN
1 Fulfil Scottish takeaway order (5,3)
CARRY OUT
Double def
2 Zane Grey occasionally visionary (4)
AERY
Alternate letters [“occasionally”] ZANE GREY
3 Rich intellect Lawrence possessed (6)
MINTED
Intellect [MIND] Lawrence [TE] possessed [inside]
4 Issue heading off incitement against the state (7)
EDITION
Heading off incitement against the state [SEDITION]
5 Family servant fee paid in advance (8)
RETAINER
Double def
6 Exotic robes put on VP in religious ritual (10)
OBSERVANCE
Exotic [anag] ROBES put on VP [VANCE = J.D. US Vice President]
7 Spooner’s enemy close? Not likely! (2,4)
NO FEAR
Spooner’s [swap first letters] enemy close = FOE NEAR
13 Ecstasy-fuelled rock band, endless energy, very imposing (10)
STATUESQUE
Ecstasy-fuelled [place E inside] rock band, [STATUS QUO] endless [QU O] energy [E]
16 Enormous number hunt missing adult big cat (8)
TRILLION
Hunt missing adult [TRAIL] big cat [LION]
18 A measure of speed I built initially on northbound A1 (frog and toad?) (8)
AMPHIBIA
A [A] measure of speed [MPH] I built initially [IB] on northbound [reversed] A1 [IA]
19 Dreaded police stooges tap our houses (7)
GESTAPO
Hidden word [“houses”] STOOGES TAP OUR
21 Selfishness, for example, over one’s millions? (6)
EGOISM
For example [EG] , over [O] one’s [IS] millions [M]
22 Reply first of all right, receiving four points (6)
ANSWER
First of all right [AR], receiving [around] four points [North South West East = NSWE]
24 Treat for starters consumed hot or cold (4)
CHOC
For starters [first letters] CONSUMED HOT OR COLD
Aging ginf brain is definitely dimming; even after entering nebuliser, did not get the mist connection, d’oh. And although it wasn’t essential, didn’t think of the much loved cricket ump re rare bird. Also, took ages to get mind round te. Oh well, we potter along, ta Knut and Climber.
Thanks both. Mostly a gentle work-out, however I only got TETRAMETER and GRANDAM by accident, in different forms – the latter I simply entered in case there was the potential for a dyslexic version of grandma. MINTED went in unparsed, as I’d decided the ‘int’ element was an acceptable shortening of intellect….my own intellect is evidently also shortening.
The umpire’s name is Dickie Bird, so I think Dicky here is just bird as in the phrase “dicky bird”. Smashing puzzle, Knut. Nebulise and tetrameter two of many top clues. Cheers K and L.
Excellent. This was great fun with a quirky but clever Nina to boot, although I’m not sure if this has any significance. I’ve got too many ticks to try to pick a favourite.
Many thanks to Knut and to LC.
Very enjoyable. Would have been easier if I’d seen the anagrams round the edges. My cotd was 20a- still didn’t see it even after I’d put it in. I thought ‘use’ was a bit of a random synonym. As the man said, ‘doh!’
Thanks to setter and blogger for their fine efforts.
Thanks both, saw the four way anagrams coming which sped things along. Wasn’t sure with 24a whether it would be inch or chin without crossers.
After a poor week, where a bad leg disturbed my solving, I seem to have recovered enough to nearly finish this. The only hold out was 24ac, where I kept thinking cycling CLIP. If I’d noticed the border anagrams, I might have got it.
Well, I found this a right old test, hence such a late post.
A tough Knut to crack. (I’ll get me coat).
13(d) STATUESQUE, took me so much time to solve, my beard needed trimming.
Very clever stuff, all round. But….”a grid for the relative beginner to enjoy” [Leedsclimber]??
” A gentle workout”. ??
I’m in the wrong game.
NINA. Knut 9678. + MENORCA.
A grand puzzle, but a toughie for me: thanks, Knut
Thanks Knut. I missed a few but enjoyed this generally with NEBULISE (liked mister), GESTAPO, & EGOISM being favourites. Thanks Leedsclimber for parsing.