Everyman is on a good run at the minute, I think. Another tractable crossword with a variety of clue types and the usual trademark constructions.
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 Approaches taking years – used to be
WAYS
An insertion of Y in WAS. The insertion indicator is ‘taking’.
3 Italian author sensible, prone to recycle
ECOLOGICAL
A charade of [Umberto] ECO and LOGICAL. Somewhat odd definition.
10 Ultimately, Kublai Khan granted country power because of plebiscite
INDYREF
The final letters of the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth words of the clue. The reference is to the Scottish vote on independence.
11 Down payment? Proceed
ADVANCE
A dd.
12 Steel trap improved … it’s explosive
SALTPETRE
(STEEL TRAP)* with ‘improved’ as the anagrind.
13 Finally: bijou ceramic item of use
UTILE
A charade of U for the final letter of ‘bijou’ and TILE. It’s the French word for ‘useful’ or ‘of use’; I learned this morning that it is also an English word, although marked in dictionaries as ‘rare’.
14 Wild ancestors dancing in royal residence
WINDSOR CASTLE
(WILD ANCESTORS)* with ‘dancing’ as the anagrind.
18 It helps see big picture as well, needing tweaking
WIDE-ANGLE LENS
(AS WELL NEEDING)* with ‘tweaking’ as the anagrind.
20 Somewhat regrettably, I’m a wading bird
EGRET
Hidden in rEGRETtably. An opportunity for the Obligatory Pierre Bird Link, which shows a Little Egret having a plodge in the clarts.
21 Spooner’s to try dancing in alehouses
BEER HALLS
A Spoonerism of HEAR BALLS. ‘Try’ for HEAR is in its judicial sense.
23 Gang welcoming fit bandit
BRIGAND
An insertion of RIG in BAND. The insertion indicator is ‘welcoming’.
24 In danger, like Joan of Arc
AT STAKE
A dd.
25 Upbeat section of allegro set in Te Deum
ROSE-TINTED
Hidden in allegRO SET IN TED Deum.
26 In Yorkshire, the vicar’s flipping green
VERT
A reversal of T REV in a stereotypical trouble at t’mill kind of way. Another French word used in English.
Down
1 Now, at last, nasty waspish carpenters use these
WHIPSAWS
A charade of W for the final letter of ‘now’ and (WASPISH)* with ‘nasty’ as the anagrind.
2 Primarily yell, oscillating down Eiger lyrically?
YODEL
The initial letters of the last five words of the clue, and a cad.
4 Ice tea and farl cut and served up – here
CAFETERIA
(ICE TEA FAR[L])* with ‘served up’ as the anagrind.
5 I’m asking you – not quietly – for tenure
LEASE
[P]LEASE
6 Betray Marley and go west?
GIVE UP THE GHOST
A cd cum dd.
7 Leggy type baked decent pie
CENTIPEDE
(DECENT PIE)* with ‘baked’ as the anagrind.
8 Tells untruths about – to give an example – Lords
LIEGES
An insertion of EG in LIES. The insertion indicator is ‘about’
9 What the best man did, nervously: rose; ‘To Dot’s Papa!’
PROPOSED A TOAST
(ROSE TO DOTS PAPA)* with ‘nervously’ as the anagrind.
15 At this moment, top blown off transportation vehicles: not a problem
NO WORRIES
A charade of NOW and [L]ORRIES.
16 Collect concrete material
AGGREGATE
A dd.
17 In my view, like, A-Ha has appeal
AS I SEE IT
A charade of AS, I SEE and IT for [sex] ‘appeal’.
19 Maybe arm your representative
MEMBER
A dd.
21 In the auditorium, waitin’ for former Pres.
BIDEN
Aural wordplay (‘in the auditorium’) for BIDIN’
22 Idyllic spot? Very. Everyman’s beginning to follow. Go away!
LEAVE
A charade of LEA, V and E for the first letter of ‘Everyman’.
Many thanks to Everyman for this week’s puzzle.
I agree with Pierre here; Everyman is on a good run recently. No issues with this one, although a Chemistry graduate such as myself would quibble that saltpetre (Potassium Nitrate) is not in itself an explosive, it’s just a commonly used oxidising agent when making them.
Thanks to Everyman & Pierre.
Also agree. I’ve enjoyed all the latest Everymen. Favourites LEASE and NO WORRIES. Thanks Pierre and Everyman!
Thanks for the blog , agree about the good run , long may it continue . Neat set of clues with a lot of variety , I had the wrong Marley in mind for a while .
Also agree on recent Everyman puzzles, just find it a shame it has to be behind a firewall. However, for anyone else who, like me, is having trouble getting to it, here is a link to this week’s puzzle:
https://cdn.slowdownwiseup.co.uk/media/documents/obs.everyman.20260308.pdf
Keep it somewhere safe, because it can be updated every week 🙂
Thanks for the link, vannucci @5. The paywalled Observer is frustrating.
Another enjoyable Everyman with varied, fun clues, all expected features featured, and an “ultimately” to go with the “primarily”.
ROSE TINTED was my favourite, for hiding a 10 letter answer in a plausible surface. BIDEN was least favourite: not the greatest homophone (to be fair, he wasn’t the greatest President either, although not as bad as some).
I was a poor science student, but I have heard the same point about SALTPETRE as raised by GrahaminSydney @1, and it raised a mild alarm when I filled it in, though the anagram and definition were pretty clear.
Thanks to Everyman and Pierre.
I still don’t understand 17D?
@7
AS (like) I SEE (a-ha) IT (sex appeal)
I interpreted A-Ha as in the band!
Vanucci@5: I assume you mean paywall, not firewall, but it actually isn’t. You do have to register an email address, but no payment is required.
I did query 22d for LEA as an idyllic spot, but I see it has a question mark by it, so fair enough. All plain sailing as far as I can recall with a generous helping of anagrams.
It’s still a mystery to me why the online puzzle is paywalled for some people and not others.
Thanks Pierre and Everyman
HumbleTim 11,
I think that the O allows anyone with a log in a limited number of free visits. The number of visits is recorded presumably on the O’s cookie(s).
I find that deleting those cookies restores the charge-free access.
So for those who don’t do that, the puzzle will be paywalled, but not for those who do.
I was not familiar with “fit” meaning “rig” (23A) or “tenure” meaning “lease” (5D).
Never heard of INDYREF but otherwise a good puzzle – unlike this week’s!!!
When I started on this overcast rainy morning, I thought EM’s difficult brother was responsible for 4141, but as I worked my way through it, I realized it was the old EM at work, probably just a bit more tricky.
It was fun, thanks to all.
Another good ‘un. Liked the royal residence anag and At Stake raised a chuckle. Dark humour.
Was I the only one who was relieved that the transportation vehicles in 15D were not tankers?
Gave up on 10ac. Otherwise a nice puzzle. Only just realized that 15d starts with LORRIES. No longer current in NZ.
I liked WIDE ANGLE LENS and WINDSOR CASTLE.
Yes. Like this. We have never utiled utile, so felt a little at a lose with that one.