Lots of nice clues in this puzzle.
I spent a lot of time looking at 21A but still can't work that one out. Of the other clues, I liked 4D, 23D and 12A.
| ACROSS | ||
| 9 | ATROPHY |
First-class memorial in decline (7)
|
|
A(=first class) + trophy(=memorial) |
||
| 10 | EVIDENT |
Clear papers to enter sports contest (7)
|
|
Id(=papers) in event(=sports contest) |
||
| 11 | RADAR |
Locating apparatus right next to drama school (5)
|
|
R{ight} after RADA(=famous drama school) |
||
| 12 | OPEN COURT |
Promote saving time – choose cases where trials are accessible (4,5)
|
|
Opt(=choose) around(=cases) (encour[age])(=promote with age=time removed) |
||
| 13 | NITRATE |
Starting over without covering earth in fertiliser (7)
|
|
[S]tartin[g]< + e{arth} |
||
| 14 | BREATHE |
About to wash trousers and relax (7)
|
|
Bathe(=to wash) around(=trousers) re(=about) |
||
| 15 | ALPHA PARTICLE |
Appear chill at parties – it might cause a harmful reaction (5,8)
|
|
(Appear chill at)* |
||
| 21 | PLACEBO |
Time and time again leave bottle cap off fake medicine (7)
|
|
Don't get this |
||
| 23 | MIRACLE |
Surprising event coming primarily after God breaches distance (7)
|
|
(Ra(=Egyptian sun god) + c[oming]) in(=breaches) mile(=distance) |
||
| 25 | NEFARIOUS |
Are fusion bombs immoral? (9)
|
|
(Are fusion)* |
||
| 26 | GAMMA |
Mum accompanying school’s third grade (5)
|
|
Ma(=mum) after gam(=a word for a school of whales). Gamma is the third letter of the Greek alphabet, so sometimes used to mean third best. |
||
| 27 | EMOTION |
Put back book about following one’s passion (7)
|
|
Tome<(=book) + (on(=about) after I(=one)) |
||
| 28 | EXTRACT |
Take out additional vacuous comment (7)
|
|
Extra(=additional) c[ommen]t |
||
| DOWN | ||
| 1 | WARRANT |
Authorisation to go on supporting struggle (7)
|
|
Rant(=go on, as in "go on at someone") after war(=struggle) |
||
| 2 | CREDIT |
Acknowledgement of direct shot (6)
|
|
Direct* |
||
| 3 | APPROACH |
Program fish to draw near (8)
|
|
App(=type of computer program) + roach(=type of fish) |
||
| 4 | ZYGOTE |
Ultimate couple turned up and received drug for successful conception (6)
|
|
Yz<(=ultimate two letters of the alphabet) + got(=received) + e{cstasy}(=drug). In biology, a zygote is a fertilised egg cell. |
||
| 5 | REMEMBER |
Pay tribute to one of the Sappers? (8)
|
|
CD/DD. RE member(=one of the sappers i.e. member of the Royal Engineers) |
||
| 6 | CIRCLE |
Ring some friends, maybe (6)
|
|
DD |
||
| 7 | REBUTTAL |
Statement denying actual bottom-pinching (8)
|
|
Real(actual) around(=pinching) butt(=bottom) |
||
| 8 | STUTTER |
Second person expressing disapproval in hesitant speech (7)
|
|
S{econd} + tutter(=someone tutting) |
||
| 16 | LEAP FROG |
A golfer played entertaining power game (4-4)
|
|
(A golfer)* around p{ower} |
||
| 17 | PROFOUND |
Deep division in a stone, for climbing inside (8)
|
|
Pound(=division of a stone, as in 14 pounds make a stone) around for< |
||
| 18 | IRRIGATE |
Mad doctor enters water (8)
|
|
Rig(=doctor as a verb) in irate(=mad) |
||
| 19 | SPANNER |
One going over what mechanic might need (7)
|
|
DD |
||
| 20 | PENALTY |
Fine plan yet to unfold (7)
|
|
(Plan yet)* |
||
| 22 | EARWIG |
Secretly try to catch bug (6)
|
|
DD |
||
| 23 | MASTER |
Guide beginner away from debris going up river (6)
|
|
[J]etsam<(=debris) + r{iver} |
||
| 24 | COMBAT |
Engagement from search party ignoring the odds (6)
|
|
Comb(=search, as in "comb the area") + odd letters removed from [p]a[r]t[y] |
I think 21a is an anagram of BOTTLE CAP without the two T’s
An enjoyable puzzle with some very tight cluing. Some of the container/insertion clues were quite tricky to spot. And I spent far too much time trying to think of an illness or similar instead of ALPHA PARTICLE. LEAP FROG is delightful.
Thanks both
A very good puzzle, quite chewy in the places. I also couldn’t parse PLACEBO but it’s obvious once pointed out! That can go straight onto my list of favourites, joining LEAP FROG, IRRIGATE, MASTER and ZYGOTE. Thanks T & N
I’m a fan of insertions/containers and particularly liked BREATHE and PROFOUND (very clever), also REBUTTAL, IRRIGATE, PLACEBO AND ALPHA PARTICLE made me smile. I did wonder if EMOTION needed a QM as a DBE? – thanks Temple for a great puzzle
A good chewy puzzle. I filled the grid with OPEN COURT, PLACEBO and NITRATE unparsed. I eventually worked out the first two, but I needed the blog for NITRATE. BREATHE and LEAP FROG my favourites.
Lots of precisely constructed instructional clues of the type I find hard to unpick from the surface, so I found this very tricky, but rewarding! Some very clever clues and my favourites were LEAP FROG, EARWIG, PROFOUND and IRRIGATE. Thanks to Temple and Neal H for the blog.
Thanks for a tough yet fun and fair crossword, Temple. I’m especially fond of CREDIT, PROFOUND, PENALTY, and EVIDENT. Thanks also to NealH for the blog, including the parsing of REMEMBER and GAMMA.
A very enjoyable puzzle, though possibly the trickiest I’ve encountered in this MyCrossword series so far! It took a few visits with thinking time in between 😁
Liked PROFOUND, IRRIGATE, PENALTY, BREATHE, PLACEBO and NEFARIOUS.
Thanks both!