Carpathian is also a regular setter of the Quiptic and the Quick Cryptic, and there are plenty of clues here that would be suitable for beginners, but all nicely done. Thanks to Carpathian.
| Across | ||||||||
| 8 | DISCONCERTINGLY | Recycling I’d not sorted contains sheep’s head alarmingly (15) S[heep] in (RECYCLING I’D NOT)* |
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| 9 | THRESH | Article quietly includes Queen hit (6) R (queen) in THE (definite article) + SH (quietly!) |
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| 10 | FRIGHTEN | Startle Conservative in bog (8) RIGHT in FEN |
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| 11 | MISNOMER | Memoirs rewritten to include name and unsuitable title (8) N[ame] in MEMOIRS* |
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| 12 | UNDIES | A Parisian passes on garments (6) UN (French indefinite article) + DIES |
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| 13 | LEAKAGE | Something released by mistake hidden by bleak agency (7) Hidden in bLEAK AGEncy |
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| 16 | CENTIME | Bit of Swiss bread? (7) Cryptic definition: a centime is one hundredth of a Swiss franc |
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| 19 | AGENDA | Programme goal in range (6) END (goal) in AGA (brand of kitchen range) |
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| 21 | ENVIRONS | Surroundings of bridge players with five clubs (8) E N (two bridge players) + V (5) + IRONS (golf clubs) |
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| 24 | MURALIST | Altruism redirected for one decorating (8) ALTRUISM* |
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| 25 | SAFETY | Protection for example covering fleet on and off (6) Alternate letters of FlElT in SAY (for example) |
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| 26 | REVOLUTIONARIES | Right development sign for rebels (15) R + EVOLUTION (development) + ARIES (zodiac sign) |
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| Down | ||||||||
| 1 | HIGH-FIVE | Celebrate great quintet (4-4) HIGH (great) + FIVE (quintet) |
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| 2 | SCREEN | Show shield (6) Double definition |
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| 3 | ANTHEM | Song from worker on edge (6) ANT + HEM |
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| 4 | PERFORM | Function for a class (7) PER (a, as in “twice a/per year”) + FORM (class, in a school) |
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| 5 | ATTITUDE | Approach carriage (8) Double definition |
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| 6 | ON THE DOT | Fuss about keeping new article sharp (2,3,3) N THE in reverse of TO-DO |
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| 7 | ALLEGE | Profess everything, say, with energy (6) ALL + E.G. (say) + E[nergy] |
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| 14 | KINKAJOU | Black ink a journalistic piece used to portray animal (8) Hidden in blacK INK A JOUrnalistic; the kinkajou is (rather endearingly) also called the honey bear |
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| 15 | GRACIOUS | Courteous cougars excitedly embracing one (8) I (one) in COUGARS* |
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| 17 | MINSTREL | Musician wandering in street about to follow master with loyalty at first (8) M[aster) + IN ST RE (about) + L[oyalty] |
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| 18 | FELT TIP | Marker touched summit (4,3) FELT (touched) + TIP (summit) |
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| 20 | GLUTEI | Excess that is lifted to develop muscles (6) GLUT + reverse of I.E. (that is) |
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| 22 | VISHNU | Six shun wayward God (6) VI + SHUN* |
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| 23 | REFURB | Brighten up tops of random equipment for use round bar (6) First letters (tops) of Random Equipment For Use Round Bar |
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All too brief, but nicely constructed with the usual elegant clues, KINKAJOU (not Kangaroo) the only obscurity. It did have a Quiptic feel about it though.
Honey bear made me think of this https://youtu.be/zaMdfkpi8HA?si=MZwE-1_6Mf7oFNC3
Ta Carpathian & Andrew.
Fun puzzle.
I could not parse 19ac.
Thanks Carpathian and Andrew. I did wonder if a writing/news theme was emerging in the clues: ‘journalistic piece’; ‘article’ (x2); ‘memoirs rewritten’; ‘agency’ but with hindsight, probably not enough to be more than a coincidence.
A pleasant few minutes stroll for a Wednesday morning. Surprised to see how many solvers on the G’s own page saw ‘animal’ beginning with K and shoved in KANGAROO. I enjoyed the surface for MINSTREL – very Blondel.
Thanks both
Never heard of a kinkajou. Having solved all the intersecting clues, I thought it could only be “kangaroo”, which I confidently entered, then tried very hard to parse. [Edit: looks like I was not alone.]
That was my only speed bump — all else was tickety boo. A most enjoyable crossword.
Such a quick solve over breakfast. I’m not complaining. Except now I’m not sure what to do when I go out for a coffee later.
All nicely done, as Andrew said. Weirdly, LEAKAGE and KINKAJOU held out on the first run despite the answers being in plain sight. As is often the case, they became quickly apparent after a quick break for some housework. If I had to pick a favourite it would be the Swiss bread; gave me a chuckle when the centime dropped. Thanks Carpathian and Andrew.
Interesting, that. I saw the included KINKAJOU straight off (having already a couple of crossers), and had a vague feeling I’d heard of it before – a quick DDG confirmed it. Kangaroo just never came to mind at all. Thanks, Carpathian and Andrew.
If I had to pick a favourite it would be the courteous cougar – though the Swiss bread was good too. Short but sweet today – and I managed not to fall into the kangaroo-trap – understandable when the wrong answer fitted all the crossers. Not sure about attitude=carriage, my last in.
Postmark#4. KINGJAKOU. It wasn’t only that the animal began with K but all the crossers, depending in which order you’d solved the clues, as gdu and gladys have mentioned. It’s a word picture thing, that can either work with you, or agin you.
Stopped just short of being too easy, and some enjoyable surfaces. KINKAJOU a particularly satisfying solve.
Thanks Carpathian and Andrew
Nice puzzle, as always with this setter. No problem with KINKAJOU – I remember seeing them at Regent’s Park Zoo.
I did have a pause when I tried to work out why ANTRIM was a song @3d.
And neither Kingjakou nor Kangaroo are cute and cuddly creatures. They’d both rather kill you, if you get in their way.