Great fun from Goliath.
An enjoyable and well-constructed puzzle.
ACROSS
1. Picture of parrot designed by computers (8)
PORTRAIT
PARROT* (*designed) by IT (computers, Information Technology)
5. Creative type playing sitar first on TikTok (6)
ARTIST
SITAR* (*playing) + T[ikTok] (first on)
9. See scam is real (8)
CONSTRUE
CON’S (scam is) + TRUE (real)
10. Current account is allocated chiefly for the plant (6)
ACACIA
AC (current, alternating current) + AC (account) + I[s] A[llocated] (chiefly)
12. African panache shown by Chad, finally (5)
ELAND
ELAN (panache) shown by [Cha]D (finally)
13. Fluency in Spanish: what stops billionaire going to church (9)
ELOQUENCE
QUE (in Spanish, what) stops ELON (billionaire, Musk) going to CE (church, Church of England)
14. We should leave sacks (4,2)
LETS GO
16. Grant him blessings securing digital protection (7)
THIMBLE
[gran]T HIM BLE[ssings] (securing)
19. Candy that’s found in lounges (7)
LOLLIES
I.E. (that’s, id est) found in LOLLS (lounges)
21. International agreement of request to abolish European borders (6)
TREATY
[en]TREATY (request, to abolish E[uropea]N (borders))
23. Taunt by one and all turned uncomfortable (3,2,4)
ILL AT EASE
TEASE (taunt) by I (one) and ALL< (<turned)
25. Soundly improves parts of Oxford (5)
HEELS
“HEALS” (improves, “soundly”)
Oxfords being a type of shoe
26. Reason networks contain lines (6)
SONNET
27. Getting rid of call about returning bribes (8)
DISPOSAL
DIAL (call) about SOPS< (bribes, <returning)
28. School is smug, not half producing discord (6)
SCHISM
SCH (school) + I[s] SM[ug] (not half, i.e. remove half of each word)
29. We saw it with our own eyes, say some people on a smartphone (8)
PLEONASM
[peo]PLE ON A SM[artphone] (some)
A pleonasm is a phrase using an unnecessary number of words to express something, for emphasis or by error
DOWN
1/24. Prepared meal wasn’t interesting to Spooner (6,5)
PACKED LUNCH
LACKED PUNCH (wasn’t interesting, to Spooner)
2. Someone at a door might sound familiar (4,1,4)
RING A BELL
3. Appreciated some wine touring empty apartment (5)
RATED
RED (some wine) touring A[partmen]T (empty)
4. Routine arrangement before birth (2,5)
IN UTERO
6. Solitary evil curse cast (9)
RECLUSIVE
7. South American getting preserved (5)
INCAN
8. Net, they say, helps sporting equipment (8)
TRAPEZES
TRAP (net) + “EASES” (helps, “they say”)
11/21. Settle with police officers supporting measure (4,3,4)
FOOT THE BILL
THE BILL (police officers, UK slang) supporting FOOT (measure)
15. Lazy and lacking motion around the beginning of February (9)
SHIFTLESS
SHITLESS (lacking motion) around F[ebruary] (beginning of)
Motion referring to bowel motion
17. Fish containers in London area (9)
BATTERSEA
BATTER + SEA (fish containers)
A fish might be covered in batter, or found in the sea, so either could ‘contain’ a fish
18. Outrageous lies about kissers… (8)
ELLIPSES
LIES* (*outrageous) about LIPS (kissers)
20. Break for photo (4)
SNAP
22. Runaway finally went into a ghetto for refuge (6)
ASYLUM
[runawa]Y (finally) went into A + SLUM (ghetto)
25. Member of endangered species needs joint operation that’s coming up (5)
HIPPO
HIP (joint) + OP< (operation, <that’s coming up)
Yes a vg puzzle and blog, and my third in a row without resorting to online cheats. Maybe I’m ready for the Times again?
Ellipsis stood out, as did the scatological 15d. Pleonasm also a beauty!
Btw I notice the blog has 18d ellipses, should be ellipsis to use the lies anagram fodder.
Very nice. 15d a bit naughty? (I solved it quickly but it I initially thought “Surely not …”)
Don’t worry, I’m not easily offended.
PLEONASM new to my lexicon. But I’ll never remember it, so I’ll stick with “tautology”.
[Pelham, I know they’re not quite synonyms.]
I agree with James P@1 and @2.
Great fun so thanks to Goliath and Oriel.
COTD: BATTERSEA
Other faves: PLEONASM and PACKED LUNCH.
Nice puzzle. Great blog.
Thanks Goliath and Oriel.
(ELLIPSIS:
Doesn’t the surface look a little forced?)
Great puzzle and blog. I share KVa’s favourites, but I can imagine people telling blatant find about others romantic engagements, so I am happy with ELLIPSIS.
Too late to edit blatant fibs.
Jaunty. I usually wince at Spoonerisms, but LACKED PUNCH was a rare delight. ELLIPSIS, as others have noted. I moved on before I was entirely certain I understood BATTERSEA, so thanks for the further explanation.
Another lovely puzzle from Goliath.
I share Cineraria’s view of Spoonerisms – but Goliath’s are always good.
My other ticks were for PORTRAIT, ARTIST, ELOQUENCE, PLEONASM, SHIFTLESS, ELLIPSIS and ASYLUM.
Thanks to setter and blogger.
Always a good start when 1ac gets a tick
SCHISM interesting device. IN UTERO nice surface. INCAN was cute. I also reluctantly like the spoonerism in 1dn
Thanks Goliath & Oriel
This puzzle seemed to have so much that I like about Goliath without anything that I dislike, so unreserved thanks to Goliath and Oriel
28ac: I took it as SCH[ool] I[s] SM[ug], with the first half of “School” being part of the same device as used for the next two words in the clue. I think that is more aesthetically pleasing, but it is just as valid to take Sch as the regular abbreviation the way Oriel has indicated in the blog.
Like Geoff, I had to do a double take, but loved 15D
Thanks Goliath. When I tick a spoonerism — the most hackneyed cryptic device — as a favourite, I know I’m solving an excellent crossword. My other favourites included PORTRAIT, the nicely hidden SONNET, IN UTERO (great anagram & surface), SHIFTLESS (liked lacking motion), and BATTERSEA after I saw the parsing. Thanks Oriel for the blog.
Really enjoyable today, though I’m probably only saying that because I found it easier than usual. I was a bit hesitant about construe = see. BATTERSEA was my clear favourite. Thanks to Goliath and Oriel.
three hiddens! but not easy to see. Los if fun. thanks all
9ac: SOED 2007 p 501 has construe verb 3 verb trans. Deduce, infer. Is that near enough to “see”? I am inclined to think so.