It’s spring (meteorologically, at least) and Chandler springs into action with a fine crossword for new and improving solvers.
Abbreviations
cd cryptic definition
dd double definition
cad clue as definition
(xxxx)* anagram
anagrind = anagram indicator
[x] letter(s) removed
definitions are underlined
Across
1 Rental property close to ground now in a mess? That’s disappointment
LET-DOWN
A charade of LET, D for the final letter of ‘ground’ and (NOW)* The anagrind is ‘in a mess’.
5 Plant if such to be cultivated by area
FUCHSIA
A charade of (IF SUCH)* and A. The anagrind is ‘to be cultivated’. I used to struggle to remember how to spell this plant, but some kind soul ages ago on 225 pointed out that it was named after the German botanist Leonhart Fuchs, and I’ve remembered it ever since.
10 Impulse in abrupt removal of people after loss of power
URGE
[P]URGE
11 Vacate Iran suffering turmoil in conflict
AT VARIANCE
(VACATE IRAN)* with ‘suffering turmoil’ as the anagrind. Given the headlines in this Sunday’s papers, and that crosswords are submitted well in advance of publication, this couldn’t be more prescient.
12 Debacle taking place in Sofia’s condemned
FIASCO
(SOFIAS)* with ‘condemned’ as the anagrind.
Edit: this is bollocks. It’s hidden in soFIAS COndemned. Thanks to Pobulose @ comment #3
13 Repeated word, not new, linked to policy for conversational service
CHATLINE
A charade of CHA[N]T and LINE.
14 Commercial exhibition somehow rated reasonable
TRADE FAIR
A charade of (RATED)* and FAIR. The anagrind is ‘somehow’.
16 Correspond with a person keen on recycling, shortly
AGREE
A charade of A and GREE[N].
17 Perform dental hygiene following feeling of deprivation
FLOSS
A charade of F and LOSS.
19 Consider register by old military reserve at home
ENTERTAIN
A charade of ENTER, TA and IN. The TA is the Territorial Army, rightly described as ‘old’: it’s been called the Army Reserve since 2012.
23 Absence of singer Stevie? Hardly a surprise!
NO WONDER
A dd cum cd.
24 Take on a case for some about particular amount of money
ASSUME
A charade of A and SUM inserted into SE, the outside letters of ‘some’. The insertion indicator is ‘about’.
26 Variety of things scattered on mattress
ASSORTMENT
(ON MATTRESS)* with ‘scattered’ as the anagrind.
27 Hostelries favoured by two Poles
INNS
A charade of IN, N and S.
28 Cheapen degree, dear when reviewed
DEGRADE
A charade of DEG and (DEAR)* with ‘when reviewed’ as the anagrind.
29 Some bubbly, cheese and tropical fruits
LYCHEES
Hidden in bubbLY CHEESe.
Down
2 Titled figure, one with old queen previously
EARLIER
A charade of EARL, I and ER for Elizabeth Regina.
3 Prepare article of clothing
DRESS
A dd.
4 Lose intensity with sport cancelled
WEAR OUT
A charade of WEAR and OUT. ‘He was sporting/wearing his new shirt.’
6 Commotion from posh pair over thing for rowing
UPROAR
A charade of U, PR and OAR. U for ‘posh’ is standard, but very dated, crosswordspeak. Blame Nancy Mitford.
7 Eighth lad repaired feature of a car
HEADLIGHT
(EIGHTH LAD)* with ‘repaired’ as the anagrind.
8 Source of sweet smell in faculty, reportedly
INCENSE
A charade of IN and CENSE, aural wordplay (‘reportedly’) for SENSE.
9 A court could issue this direction over criminal
EVICTION ORDER
(DIRECTION OVER)* with ‘criminal’ as the anagrind.
15 Scandal is repressed by Dutch queen, perhaps
DISHONOUR
An insertion of IS in D and HONOUR. The insertion indicator is ‘repressed by’. The ‘queen’ is one of the ‘honour’ cards in games like bridge.
18 Gents, maybe, with king appear largely for brief inspection
LOOK-SEE
A charade of LOO, K and SEE[M].
20 Times shown by a court in Fenland place in a precise way
EXACTLY
An insertion of X for ‘times’, A and CT in ELY. The insertion indicator is ‘in’.
21 Small measure seen surprisingly to be huge
IMMENSE
A charade of IMM for one millimetre (a ‘small measure’) and (SEEN)* The anagrind is ‘surprisingly’.
22 Like a checked report with appeal kept by two journalists
EDITED
An insertion of IT in two lots of ED. IT for [sex] appeal is more standard, but outdated, crosswordspeak.
25 Soprano has desire to be impressively smart
SWISH
A charade of S and WISH.
Many thanks to Chandler for this week’s Quiptic.
Favourite: EARLIER (loi).
I did not understand 15d HONOUR = queen. Thanks for explaining.
I couldn’t parse DISHONOUR either – not good on card games – and I needed the blog to explain ENTERTAIN because TA rarely comes to mind. But a really enjoyable Quick Cryptic. I loved NO WONDER and INCENSE. Thanks for the tip about the spelling of FUCHSIA, Pierre. I’ll try to remember that.
12a is a hidden not an anagram!
I’ve been playing bridge for over 40 years and I missed the queen=honour in 15d, too, even after solving it.
I agree with Pobulose@4 re 12ac
I read 12a FIASCO as an anagram too but of course it can’t be because there’s no ‘c’ and an extra ‘s’ in Sofia’s! Easy mistake.
Short but sweet..
I especially liked building up the neat charades ASSUME and EXACTLY. it’s very satisfying, with an almost audible click as the various bits slot into place.
Happily, Stevie Wonder is still with us – though I had to check to make sure. The musicians etc. of my youth are increasingly slipping away.
Thanks, Chandler and Pierre!
Thank you, pobulose #3. Blog corrected.
Good puzzle. The clue for AT VARIANCE is horribly topical, as Pierre notes. The anagrams for ASSORTMENT and EVICTION ORDER are particularly well done.
I was pleased to see that Ely wasn’t a cathedral this time 🙂
Thanks to C & P
This was just about as good as it gets with all sorts of clever devices. I thought FUCHSIA, EVICTION ORDER and EXACTLY were top notch. In a proper Cryptic, I don’t think a setter would be as generous with ‘Stevie’ which for me was either Nicks or WONDER, both favourites from my EARLIER years. Thanks for explaining HONOUR.
Ta Chandler & Pierre.
Comment #11