(Please click here for this same blog but with a picture quiz added. Please do NOT post hereinbelow any comment relating to the picture quiz. Thank you.) This was made easier for me by the number of anagrams present. Thanks to Provis. Definitions are underlined in the clues.
Across
1 Observed habitual reaction by journalist following denial (7)
NOTICED : [ TIC(a habitual reaction by a muscle) plus(by) ED(abbrev. for “editor”;a journalist) ] placed after(following) NO(an expression of denial).
5 Makes sure company starts to save unexpected profit (5,2)
FIRMS UP : FIRM(a commercial company) + the 1st letters, respectively, of(starts to) “save unexpected profit “.
9 Tree found in Nepal (5)
PLANE : Anagram of(found in) NEPAL.
10 Cruel ban I ordered can’t be put right (9)
INCURABLE : Anagram of(… ordered) CRUEL BAN I.
11 Lead in Italian international musical makes a comeback (10)
INITIATIVE : IN + IT(abbrev. for “Italian”) + I(abbrev. for “international”) + reversal of(… makes a comeback) EVITA(the Webber-Rice stage musical).
12 Celebrate a lot we hear (4)
FETE : Homophone of(… we hear) “fate”(one’s lot;destiny).
14 County politician didn’t tell the truth about whip becoming involved. (11)
COMPLICATED : CO(abbrev. for “county”) + MP(abbrev. for Member of Parliament;a politician) + LIED(didn’t tell the truth) containing(about) CAT(short for cat-o’-nine-tails;a whip with nine knotted cords).
18 Half the population taken in by mad inventor’s surroundings (11)
ENVIRONMENT : MEN(half, or thereabouts, of the population) contained in(taken in by) anagram of(mad) INVENTOR.
21 Earth turned over in neat ridges (4)
DIRT : Hidden in(in) reversal of(… turned over) “neat ridges “.
22 Absurd for setter to get drawn into ludicrous muddle (10)
RIDICULOUS : I(self-referential pronoun for the setter of this puzzle) contained in(to get drawn into) anagram of(… muddle) LUDICROUS.
25 Object to transformation including east end of Marseille (9)
CHALLENGE : CHANGE(a transformation) containing(including) the last 3 letters of(east end of) “Marseille “.
26 I led revolt against right layabout (5)
IDLER : Anagram of(… revolt) I LED plus(against) R(abbrev. for “right”).
27 Recorded theories regularly in conclusion (7)
ENTERED : The 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th letters of (… regularly) “theories” contained in(in) END(the conclusion).
28 Without purpose, goes after boy shyly (7)
TIMIDLY : IDLY(without purpose;aimlessly) placed after(goes after) TIM(a boy’s name).
Down
1 It protects clothing from spilled ink after pan is upset (6)
NAPKIN : Anagram of(spilled) INK placed after(after) anagram of(… is upset) PAN.
2 Dreadful soldier caught by short hunt (6)
TRAGIC : GI(abbrev. for an American soldier) contained in(caught by) “track” or “trace”(to hunt down) minus its last letter(short …).
3 Eccentric person supports recognition for payment method (6,4)
CREDIT CARD : CARD(an eccentric person) placed below(supports, in a down clue) CREDIT(recognition, as in “to give credit to his wife for his achievements”).
4 Current doctor provided treatment, finally (5)
DRIFT : DR(abbrev. for “doctor”) + IF(provided;on condition) + the last letter of(…, finally) “treatment “.
5 Franc’s opening excellent price is apparently what it’s worth (4,5)
FACE VALUE : The 1st letter of(…’s opening) “Franc” + ACE(excellent;top-notch) + VALUE(the price, used loosely, of something).
6 Unusual to expose rook rather than bishop (4)
RARE : “bare”(to expose) with “r”(abbrev. for “rook” in chess notation) replacing(rather than) “b”(abbrev. for “bishop” in chess notation).
7 We, for example, are also citizens (8)
SUBJECTS : Double defn: 1st: The word “we” is an example of these in grammar.
8 Falsely claims corrupt rep finishes behind time (8)
PRETENDS : Anagram of(corrupt) REP + [ ENDS(finishes;conclusions) placed below(behind, in a down clue) T(abbrev. for “time”) ].
13 Cruise to Mexico’s borders could be a way to help preserve nature (10)
ECOTOURISM : Anagram of(… could be) [CRUISE TO + the 1st and last letters of(…’s borders) “Mexico “].
15 Reported break in to back of house during repair (9)
MENTIONED : [ Anagram of(break) IN TO + the last letter of(back of) “house ” ] contained in(during) MEND(to repair).
16 Problem for leader to meet a revolutionary (8)
HEADACHE : HEAD(a leader of any sort of group) plus(to meet) A + CHE(Guevara, Argentinian revolutionary).
17 Gloomy about company (8)
OVERCAST : OVER(about, as in “the fight was over money”) + CAST(a theatrical company;group of players).
19 Worked towards getting back specialist food store (6)
TOILED : TO(towards, as in “he walked to town”) + reversal of(getting back) DELI(short for “delicatessen”, a store selling unusual or foreign prepared foods).
20 A street light is not in the right place (6)
ASTRAY : A + ST(abbrev. for “street”) + RAY(a beam of light).
23 Part of airliner threatens to be unresponsive (5)
INERT : Hidden in(Part of) “airliner threatens “.
24 Noise of eating unendingly is an insult (4)
SLUR : “slurp”(a loud sucking noise made whilst eating, or drinking) minus its last letter(unendingly).
(Please do NOT post hereinbelow any comment relating to the picture quiz. Thank you.)
Thanks both. Ideal for a Quiptic. Liked 22a
What Shirl said.
I thought this was a bit tough for a quiptic. A couple of examples:
1. COMPLICATED being a charade of four words plus a container. It’s… quite complicated.
2. HEADACHE defined as ‘problem’. It’s a bit broad.
Don’t get me wrong – all the clues were fair and enjoyable, but I just thought it could be a bit much for a beginner to plough through.
Thanks Provis and scchua.
Thank you Provis ans scchua.
I found this puzzle similar to the “new” Everyman, enjoyable, but several of the clues have rather complex word-plays, INITIATIVE for example – perhaps the Quiptic and Everyman are now considered to have the same level of difficulty?
I agree with Cookie on the level of difficulty.
I am indeed a beginner.
I enjoyed this. It’s true that some constructions were complicated for a quiptic, but with one quibble I thought they were all scrupulously fair and often quite elegant. Thanks, Provis and scchua!
The quibble: I’m not wild about “we, for example” being used to clue SUBJECTS. Despite referring to multiple people, the word “we” is just one subject of just one sentence, so it should lead to SUBJECT. “He and I” would have worked better, I think.
I expected to see someone complain about “east end of Marseille” leading to LLE: I know that some people don’t like vague indicators that don’t tell you how much of the word to keep. Personally, I’m OK with it.
One other minor blemish: it’s a bit inelegant to have two variants on “idle” sitting so close to each other at 26a, 28a, although there’s certainly nothing wrong with either one on its own.
I’m another who thought this was on the tough side for a Quiptic, although the clues are (mostly) fair and I did enjoy it. My personal quibble was “found in” as an anagram indicator. To me it indicates inclusion, not an anagram. It does not suggest any need to rearrange the letters.
Thanks, Provis and scchua.
Ted @6, I found “east end of Marseille” rather fun, I assumed the west end was “Mar” , the middle “sei” and the end “lle”, no complaints.
I do not understand your complaint about “we”, are you royal? Rather tired at this hour, 23.25 in France, but yes, after thinking about it, I get what you mean.
Thanks Provis and scchua
I enjoyed this, but (sorry, Provis) I thought it was ridiculoulsy difficult for a Quiptic almost an early Anto!
In the old days, I used to these on a Saturday because the Prize was too hard. It still is but not so much, and on top of that this blog started and wanting to help it on its way, I started doing these on Mondays. Eventually,I went back to saving these till Saturday once this blog was up and running. Today totally justifies that action. If you don’t know what I mean, just take a look at the Special Instructions on the Prize! Complete nightmare. Glad to have this entertaining puzzle in reserve!