Good fun from Goliath
A fun challenge. We have quite a few double definitions, and semi &lit clues in this puzzle. Plenty to enjoy including a few trademark tricks to keep us on our toes. Thanks to Goliath!
LOCK (hair) and DOWN (feathers)
PAR[am]OUR* (leaves A.M. (in the morning), *creating)
(MAPS TRUE)* (*to form)
M[ake] Y[ou] S[ee] (starts to) + ELF (creature of legend)
Double definition
(BRIDE (woman about to get married) + A[ppear] (first to)) in HEN (her type of party)
COR[o]NER (inquisitor, heartless)
I may be missing something here. Hyde Park does indeed have a Corner, but I’m not sure what it has to do with anything else in the clue I’m afraid
Double definition
A painter is a nautical rope used to tie a boat up to the quay
RUB (massage) + ICON (picture)
N[ational] (chief) in UK (this country) on board JET (plane) – semi &lit
CRAP (rubbish) + U (you, “say”) + SOUL* (*destroying)
[roc]K (bottom) by EDGE (shore) – semi &lit
A ‘kedge’ is a small anchor
Double definition
From the saying ‘to know one’s onions’ (be knowledgeable about)
SINE (function) as DELI (shop) keeper (i.e. DELI (shop) kept by SINE (function))
LADIES* (*can be)
Reverse anagram: (I HELD)* (*new)
In L[ov]E (case of); OUCH (it hurts)
[stilett]O (tip of) + STAB (knife) into COMB (hair stylist?)
STRAD< (instrument, Stradivarius, <the wrong way round)
4. Amongst clothing, article usually chosen to suit this (7)
Amongst WEAR (clothing), THE (article) – semi &lit
‘Wear’ can be a noun in the sense of ‘evening wear’
“FIZZY” (champagne, “said”) + ICI (here, in Paris, i.e. in French) + A + N[on] (starter)
[disr]OBE SE[xily] (only a bit)
R[e]E[f] (oddly) given FINERY (regalia)
T[hum]B S[tra]P (the outline of)
Abbreviation for tablespoon, a measure often used in baking for example
(UNCL[e] TO[m] RAN)* (*out, leaving ME)
MADE* (*out) in TRILL (song)
Double definition
Referring to the producer Albert Broccoli, perhaps best known for his work on the James Bond franchise
Double definition
(gas / lighting)
JUST ICE (no water or soda)
ENEMY* (*new) pursued by I (one)
Double definition
(NAKED)* (*is shocking)
Two of my favourite setters one after the other; good stuff!
I had ticks for exactly half of the clues which amply demonstrated this setter’s playfulness and great surfaces. Among them were HEBRIDEAN, RUBICON, NEON and KNEAD but my top picks were NOCTURNAL and ONIONS.
Thanks for providing some welcome mirth, Goliath, and Oriel for the blog.
I think 6d is just ‘fizz’ (for champagne), as in Buck’s Fizz, followed by ‘ici’ +A+N.
Hyde Park Corner is a major junction of the park.
The SE quarter was my Waterloo. Looking here I can see some of the wordplays I missed were quite cunning. I assumed that CORNER required knowledge that was beyond us non-Brits. New to me: LOUCHE, CRAPULOUS and producer BROCCOLI.
This was a very satisfying and enjoyable solve. I think 14a doesn’t really need the “here” in the clue. Otherwise, no issues. JUNKET and CRAPULOUS are fine words. One wishes they could be used more often in everyday conversation.
Lost patience with this which I found a slog to complete. Just couldn’t get on his wavelength. Looking at the blog I’m can’t see quite why not. Tomorrow is another day.
14a: Perhaps the clue is suggesting that a heartless inquisitor might be a soapbox orator of the kind traditionally found at Speakers Corner, which is adjacent to the intersection (and London Underground station) called Hyde Park Corner.
Hector@6: As I understand it Speaker’s Corner is in the NE corner of the park and Hyde Park Corner is the SE, so some distance apart and certainly not interchangeable.
A lot to be enjoyed here and I like the sort of “semi &lit” clue in which the whole plays some part as well as the individual parts, even if one cannot point to every word and say “this fulfills this role and this role alone”. “junket” and “kedge” worked well in that respect – with the latter I had enough confidence to check the meaning of the word after writing it in.
However, I think “corner” falls just short of the mark. It was my last one in on the website so the “you’ve completed” message was welcome because I had little certainty on entering it. I think that, above all, once you have completed a clue and seen how it works (in this case the heartless coroner) you should always feel sure you have the answer. It’s one reason I am not a fan of cryptic definitions. Personal opinion of course. Anyhow, lots of smooth clues and some clever hiding of the wordplay made this a fun puzzle to solve. Many thanks Goliath and Oriel.