Once again, Phi takes us into the weekend with his latest puzzle.
I found this to be towards the easy end of the Phi spectrum and made swifter than normal progress through one of his puzzles. I think that I am relatively happy with my parsing, although I hesitated in respect of “proffered” at 21 and “follower” at 27. It took me a long time to work out which leader was intended at 23 and to work out how 25 worked, although I was just being slow on the uptake, I think.
My favourite clues today were 1D, for its inclusion of the two dining references; and 26, for the misdirection around “like”. Despite the grid lending itself to one, I have not spotted a Nina, or indeed a theme today – I wonder if anyone else has?
*(…) indicates an anagram; definitions are italicised; a break in underlining separates definitions in multiple-definition clues
| ACROSS
|
||
| 6 | SMASH-UP |
Accident sees pulpy material put in drink (5-2)
|
| MASH (=pulpy material) in SUP (=(to) drink) | ||
| 8 | HELIUM |
Steer around iodine and uranium for another element (6)
|
| [I (=iodine) + U (=uranium)] in HELM (=(to) steer, direct) | ||
| 9 | CLEARANCE |
Plain card containing new authorisation (9)
|
| CLEAR (=plain, straightforward) + [N (=new) in ACE (=card, in pack)] | ||
| 10 | RULER |
Liberal, in regret, meeting Republican leader (5)
|
| [L (=liberal) in RUE (=(to) regret)] + R (=Republican) | ||
| 12 | PHARAOH |
Old King Henry: a row recalled in pub (7)
|
| [H (=Henry) + A + RAO (OAR= (to) row, i.e. a boat; “recalled” indicates reversal)] in PH (=pub, i.e. public house); a pharaoh was an “old king” of Egypt | ||
| 13 | TACTICS |
Way of approaching habitual responses about part of play (7)
|
| ACT (=part of plays) in TICS (=habitual responses, twitches) | ||
| 15 | ACT UP |
A successful period after court malfunction (3,2)
|
| A + CT (=court, in addresses) + UP (=successful period, as in ups and downs) | ||
| 17 | DON |
Put on party before November (3)
|
| DO (=party, as in a leaving do) + N (=November, in the NATO alphabet); to don e.g. a robe is to put it on and wear it | ||
| 19 | LET-UP |
Respite? Allowed out of bed (3-2)
|
| LET (=allowed, permitted) + UP (=out of bed) | ||
| 20 | TIRADES |
Lectures one engaging in skilled activities (7)
|
| I (=one, in Roman numerals) in TRADES (=skilled activities); to lecture someone on something is to launch a tirade, diatribe | ||
| 22 | RICARDO |
Mostly wealthy, with a good deal of passion for American economist (7)
|
| RIC<h> (=wealthy; “mostly” means last letter only is dropped) + ARDO<r> (=passion for American, i.e. US spelling of ardour; “a good deal of” means last letter is dropped); the reference is to British economist David Ricardo (1772-1823) | ||
| 24 | CLEAN |
Cold and unproductive, but honest (5)
|
| C (=cold, as on tap) + LEAN (=unproductive, as in lean years economically) | ||
| 26 | LOOSE-LEAF |
Idiot turned round, hiding broken easel: “Like some tea?” (5-4)
|
| *(EASEL) in LOOF (FOOL=idiot; “turned round” indicates reversal) | ||
| 27 | MINION |
Authority not the same for a follower (6)
|
| <do>MINION (=authority, rule; “not the same (=do, for ditto)” means letters “do” are dropped); a minion is a servile follower, a dependant | ||
| 28 | STARVED |
Celebrity challenged to ignore one without food (7)
|
| STAR (=celebrity) + V<i>ED (=challenged, contended; “to ignore one (=I)” means letter “i” is dropped) | ||
| DOWN
|
||
| 1 | MALEFACTOR |
Villain overturned brasserie, cracking open whisky with soldiers (10)
|
| EFAC (CAFE=brasserie, simple restaurant; “overturned” indicates reversal) in [MALT (=whisky) + OR (=soldiers, i.e. other ranks)] | ||
| 2 | SHERPA |
Guide son meeting that woman with father (6)
|
| S (=son) + HER (=that woman) + PA (=father); a Sherpa is a Himalayan guide | ||
| 3 | THREAT |
Menace from husband interrupting pleasant event (6)
|
| H (=husband) in TREAT (=pleasant event) | ||
| 4 | CLERICAL |
Conservative line taken by Poor Clare about one of the ministry? (8)
|
| C (=Conservative) + L (=line) + [I (=one) in *(CLARE)]; “poor” is anagram indicator | ||
| 5 | DULL |
Unimaginative European leaving dispute with Luxembourg (4)
|
| DU<e>L (=dispute; “European (=E) leaving” means letter “e” is dropped) + L (=Luxembourg) | ||
| 6 | SYCOPHANTIC |
Flattering City chap and son may be misguided (11)
|
| *(CITY CHAP + SON); “may be misguided” is anagram indicator | ||
| 7 | PINCHED |
Stole power: moved slowly (7)
|
| P (=power, in physics) + INCHED (=moved slowly, edged towards) | ||
| 11 | RUSTPROOFED |
Doorstep treated with fur, protected against some of the elements? (11)
|
| *(DOORSTEP + FUR); “treated with” is anagram indicator | ||
| 14 | INTERLEAVE |
Add page to one set of religious books, and go after expression of uncertainty (10)
|
| I (=one) + NT (=set of religious books, i.e. New Testament) + ER (=expression of uncertainty) + LEAVE (=go, depart) | ||
| 16 | PEDANTIC |
Very precise journalist against blocking constable (8)
|
| [ED (=journalist, i.e. editor) + ANTI (=against, not in favour of)] in PC (=constable, i.e. Police Constable) | ||
| 18 | NERVOUS |
Good sense to accept run in Tesla, say, having some qualms? (7)
|
| [R (=run, on cricket scorecard) in EV (=Tesla, say, i.e. electric vehicle)] in NOUS (=good sense) | ||
| 21 | SILENT |
Quiet source of support I proffered (6)
|
| S<upport> (“source of” means first letter only) + I + LENT (=proffered, advanced) | ||
| 23 | CAESAR |
Old Mediterranean leader with a lot of concern about rising ocean (6)
|
| AES (SEA=ocean; “rising” indicates vertical reversal) in CAR<e> (=concern, worry; “a lot of” means last letter is dropped); the reference is, of course, to the Roman emperor! | ||
| 25 | EVIL |
Be up for bad deeds? (4)
|
| LIVE (=be, exist); “up” indicates vertical reversal |
Very enjoyable as ever. Caesar and Nervous my favourites. I wondered if there was a Fantasy Island theme with Ricardo (Montalban) but I can only see Pharaoh.
I agree that the puzzle is not too difficult but a few of the parsings I missed. The clueing was elegant although I can’t put my finger on any particular favourites… maybe RICARDO. Thank you Phi and RR!
Seconded (thirded?) that this was as easy as Phi gets. But that’s not a complaint–I prefer elegant to difficult, if it comes to a choice, and Phi puzzles are rarely if ever inelegant.
He’ll probably swing by and give a hint at the theme that I inevitably missed…
To helm as verb has come up before but still feels a bit weird. Wiki says it’s common in commerce (Ms Jones will helm the new venture); well, they like ‘style’ I guess. To oar feels similar. Anyway, cruisy puzzle, ta Phi and RR.
I could have included REMOTE and INEFFECTUAL,,,
Apart from Phi reminding me of the PM, I’m no nearer to finding a theme. Enjoyed the puzzle regardless. Entertaining all through. RUSTPROOFED was good and brought back distant memories of 1960s motors.
Thanks both 🙂
Hilaire Belloc “Lines to a Don” Powerful stuff. I always like the poems Phi gets me to read.
Mind you, criticizing Chesterton is probably not the most egregious of sins.
[AlI remember of GK C, Petert, is …
So I stuff away for life
Shoving peas in with a knife
Because I am so very vegetarian
(Apols to non-meat eaters)]
I’ve followed a strict vegetarian regime all my life. I’ve never knowingly eaten a carnivore…..
Thanks both – worth the fee for PHARAOH.
[Why is GKC breaking out all over?]
Alphalpha@10 The thematic poem by Hilaire Belloc is an invective against a Don who criticised GKC, if that’s what you’re asking.