Guardian Cryptic 27,491 by Philistine

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Really enjoyed this, with a lot of smiles. Particular favourites were 19ac and 6dn

…and 22ac for reminding me of Abe Simpson’s “a little from Column A…”. Thanks to Philistine

Across
9 OBLIVIOUS Not aware of manifest covering intelligence centre (9)
  OBVIOUS=”manifest” around the centre letters of intelLIgence
10 REHAB Getting rid of some dire habits (5)
  Hidden in diRE HABits
11 EMPTIES Containers used without a design for meat pies (7)
  =empty bottles, glasses etc
(meat pies)*, without the a
12 OVERDUE Late heading to Dover, slips to face EU backlash (7)
  the head letter of DOVER slipping down to the end, plus a reversal/”backlash” of EU
13 FOLK People switch political allegiance on Trident (4)
  FORK=”Trident”, with the R[ight] switching “political allegiance” to the L[eft]
14 FIXED ASSET Seats from this property (5,5)
  FIXED ASSET in a crossword clue might indicate an anagram of ASSET=>’seats’, therefore you can get “Seats from” FIXED ASSET
16 RAPPORT Knock and Cork possibly have kinship (7)
  RAP=”Knock”, and Cork is an example of a PORT city in Ireland
17 FIG LEAF Surprisingly agile in very loud minimal clothing (3,4)
  (agile)* in FF=fortissimo=”very loud”
19 LAVATORIAL Halfback lads in rout take valour for humour of sorts (10)
  ‘Half/back’ => take half of the letters from each of these words, all reversed:
LAds In ROut TAke VALour
22 BLOC Political alliance rejected cola’s follower? (4)
  COL A might be followed by COL B, rejected/”reversed”
24 RHUBARB Plant nonsense in power hub arbitration (7)
  hidden in poweR HUB ARBitration
25 EXHIBIT Endlessly sexy, this piece is for show (7)
  “Endlessly”=> remove the outer letters from sEXy tHIs, plus BIT=”piece”
26 PITTA Low pay mostly for bread (5)
  PITTAnce=”Low pay mostly”
27 INCOGNITO Secret of gin and tonic? Mix with love (9)
  (gin tonic)*, plus O=”love”
Down
1 MONEY FOR OLD ROPE Transplant donor pool — my free way to a quick buck (5,3,3,4)
  (donor pool my free)*
2 FLIP-FLOP Change of decision afoot? (4-4)
  two definitions, the second more indirect referring to flip-flops as something worn on a foot
3 OVOID Shape of nothing and nothingness (5)
  O=zero=”nothing”, plus VOID=”nothingness”
4 GOD’S GIFT The best manna? (4,4)
  double def: as in ‘they think they’re God’s gift to ____’; and food given to the Israelites by God in the Book of Exodus
5 ASHORE Deposits on land (6)
  ASH and ORE are both “Deposits”
6 FREE RANGE Anger may be, but not battery (4-5)
  =of a chicken, not kept in battery cages
FREE RANGE in a crossword clue might indicate an anagram of RANGE=>”Anger”, therefore Anger may be indicated as FREE RANGE
7 SHADES Shell colours (6)
  Shell=>S + hell=>S + HADES
8 OBJECTIFICATION Dehumanising, if CIA somehow infiltrates dissent (15)
  I think this parses as below, but it would be missing a second T
IF plus (CIA)*; all inside OBJECTION=”dissent”
15 PORTRAYAL Entrance in which some light is showing (9)
  PORTAL=”Entrance” around RAY=”some light”
17 FLAMENCO Sergeant may be led by lover in dance (8)
  a “Sergeant may be” a Non Commissioned Officer; after FLAME=”lover”
18 EX LIBRIS This book belongs to teacher, up supporting LibDem now, presumably (2,6)
  =a label indicating ownership of a book
SIR=”teacher”, reversed/”up” and after EX LIB: members of the Liberal Party presumably now support the Liberal Democrats
20 VAULTS Jumps over roofs (6)
  double def
21 RABBIT Updike’s quartet talk (6)
  double def: John Updike wrote a quartet of novels about a character named Rabbit [wiki]
23 THIGH Skirt edge raised to see it (5)
  the edge or end letter of SkirT, plus HIGH=”raised”

40 comments on “Guardian Cryptic 27,491 by Philistine”

  1. Thanks Philistine and manehi

    I found this very easy (for a Philistine, that is), though I didn’t parse BLOC or SHADES. Favourites were FIG LEAF and OVOID.

    I found FOLK slightly irritating as it needed the crosser to establish whether it was that or FORK to be entered. Not too keen on “Low pay mostly”, though it is technically accurate.

  2. Enjoyable puzzle, liked  overdue, fixed asset, lavatorial. Was not 100% satisfied with exhibit, even if I got the right parsing. Endlessly referred to both ends sounds not totally correct.

  3. Thank you Manehi.  I parsed 8dn as you did – I wonder if it is an error or if there is an alternative parsing?  Look forward to others’ comments.  I loved the in-jokes at 14ac and 6dn and I loved the inventive devices throughout (19ac is a good e.g.).  Thanks for a classy crossword, Philistine.

  5. I think that 8d is probably an error. The only other possible explanation I can see is that ‘somehow’ is meant ti signify ‘To a t’, but that woukd be very tenuous.

  12. Thanks to Philistine and manehi. An enjoyable puzzle which I found easier to solve than parse. Last one bloc, which had to be the answer but I could not see the parsing. I was also puzzled by the missing t in 8d and needed to come here to clarify some other bits of parsing. I also spent some time contemplating mixed asset for 14 until deciding it did not make sense. That said lots of nice clues and thanks again to Philistine and manehi.

  13. Just like PetHay @12, I was thinking about MIXED ASSET at 14a; now, I recall seeing the correct term in numerous financial reports. Annoying end to a good puzzle.

  14. I enjoyed this puzzle, found it pretty easy.  I especially liked FIG LEAF and BLOC (Col B indeed!).

    Thanks, Philistine and manehi.

     

  15. Thanks to Philistine and manehi. Much fun. I needed help parsing several items: LAVATORIAL; BLOC; SHADES; and I did not know that battery = cage in FREE RANGE..

  16. Annoyed not to get 4d but enjoyed 6d & 14a when I eventually solved them. I’m slightly uncomfortable with 10a though – using rehab in the sense of ‘rid’ doesn’t work for me. Or perhaps it’s just me.

  17. Off topic: Under yesterday’s Guardian cryptic, I have posted a message on derog/offensive words. I would appreciate if it receives a comment or two.

  18. Had two nibbles at 26A PITTA, and on both occasions couldn’t justify the reduced pay. MOO (low) but how was LA a shortened synonym for pay ( even if moolah was Ozenglish only, which I didn’t check.) Then when it had to be PITTA, low=pit. and again,  what was the word beginning with TA which was short pay?  Thanks manehi for the explanation re PITTA(nce), but I don’t like it, the clue that is, not very n(i)ce.

    I’m another for 13A going either way, especially with imaginary punctuation, and knowing Philistine is not true to name.

    Shame about 8D as others have said. It’s getting to be fun to ‘spot the mistake’.  We’re such a forgiving lot, prepared to give the setter/editor the benefit of the doubt.  As a fallible  solver I  always doubt myself and turn my head inside out trying to work it out. Thank goodness for this blog for a sanity check.

    Favourite was the toilet humour ( for the wordplay that is).

  20. Not keen on 14 across, but plenty to enjoy in this xword. Which part of the clue provides ‘fixed’?

  21. Thanks Philistine for an interesting crossword. He must have been reading: Make an objjection to the council via this link, which can be found here. I must say I didn’t spot the extra ‘T’.

    Thanks manehi, I liked ASHORE and PORTRAYAL. I tend to agree with mynollo @2 that ‘endlessly’ does not usually signify chopping off both ends but it’s a small point.

     

     

  22. Thanks both. I can’t agree with Rog @ 10 about 13a, as I confidently entered FORK only to correct it when I did 2d.
    Always nice to see a setter dropping in, even with a confession!

  25. To Emberiza @16, I think 10ac is supposed to be an &lit – which just about works.

    I enjoyed this, but entered 19ac and 5dn unparsed (slight quibble with the blog for 5ac – the definition is “on land” not just land). Didn’t even notice the error at 8dn.

    Thanks to Phillistine and manehi.

  26. Most of my thoughts have been covered though I wanted to add that I liked 16a RAPPORT, 27a INCOGNITO, 17d FLAMENCO and 18d EX LIBRIS.
    I think we’ve had this discussion before, but can’t remember the general consensus – should 4d GOD’S GIFT be enumerated as (3’1,4)?
    With thanks to Philistine, manehi and other contributors.

  27. 9ac. OBLIVIOUS does not mean unaware. It means HAVING FORGOTTEN. You once knew it but have forgotten it – not the same as unaware.

  28. ………. or at least to crossword solvers in the mid 15th century it would have. But apparently, since 1862 ……

  29. Crossbencher@27: according to Chambers:

    oblivious adjective

    1. Raptly or absent-mindedly unaware (with of or to)
    2. Forgetful
    3. Apt to forget

    etc.

    Interesting how FIXED can mean either altered or invariant.

  30. Buddy @28, what are you referring to? Arabic numerals became common in Europe in the 15th century, in case that’s what you mean, but what happened in 1862?

  31. Great puzzle with innovative clueing.
    We were definitely in the FOLK camp and to me the clue doesn’t make one more likely than the other. Putting a comma after PEOPLE would make FOLK the solution, putting one after ALLEGIANCE would make FORK the solution. Fortunately crosswordland operates on conventions rather than hard and fast rules so setters are at liberty to make things as ambiguous as they like, which keeps us solvers on our toes. Lots of favourites which have all been mentioned and I think I’d make BLOC my top pick. I didn’t spot the missing T.
    Loi was GOD’S GIFT where once again the apostrophisation defeated me for a while (good to see you commenting again JinA). I’ll have to try and remember this possibility next time I’m stuck.
    Thanks to Philistine and manehi.

  32. Valentine @30. According to the invaluable Thesaurus.com, “oblivious” in its archaic sense dates from the mid 15th century. Its current meaning is recorded as dating from 1862.

    Hard to keep up with all these modern usages, though.

  33. There were some really good clues here.  I thought REHAB was a great &lit.  The surfaces were mostly very clever, 27a just as an example.

    poc @29: yes, fascinating how FIXED can potentially have two opposite meanings.  It also struck me that VAULTS can mean opposite parts of a building, both roofs and cellars.

    23d was a bit Paul-ish.  After yesterday’s discussion about what is or isn’t offensive, I wondered if someone would complain, but no takers (yet)!

    It was a pity about the error in 8d, but decent of Philistine to step up and apologise.  How about this as an alternative clue: “Dehumanising Thing 1, one in story (15)”?

  34. Even though this was quite straightforward, I got stuck on GOD’S GIFT and used the check button to help.  Having “sarcastically” added at the front would probably have helped me.  Is it ever used non-sarcastically?  I can’t remember.

    Shame about 8, but it didn’t really stop the solving of it.  Been a bit of a bad run for the Graun over the last week, errata-wise.  Nice alternative, Lord Jim.

    21: “Bobbed Bonnie belts bishops’ bunny”?

    A fun way to spend lunchtime.  Thanks, Philistine and manehi.

  35. A very good brain exercise for me today, with such a variety of tricks and devices to grapple with. My favourite clues were ASHORE, THIGH, EX LIBRIS, FLAMENCO and MONEY FOR OLD ROPE. My least favourite were FORK, PITTA, FIXED ASSET, BLOC and OBJECTIFICATION.
    I appreciated the setter’s intervention to explain 8d.
    Both SHADES and LAVATORIAL were tough to parse: I got SHADES but not LAVATORIAL.
    Thanks to Philistine and Manehi.

  36. There are also “mixed assets”-mt solve for 14A

     

    A Mixed Assets Fund invests primarily in a mix of bonds and equities. Mixed Assets Funds have different risk levels, depending on the allocation between equities and bonds, and generally lie somewhere between the risk of a Bond Fund and an Equity Fund, with higher risks associated with greater investment in stock. Always read the offering document and other fund updates to ensure that you fully understand the risks attached to a particular fund.

  38. Thanks to Philistine and Manehi.  Phew, that was a bit of a work-out although a very enjoyable one – I particularly liked BLOC and LAVATORIAL.   Annoyed with myself for not quite completing the puzzle, FIXED ASSET and as a consequence GOD’S GIFT defeated me.  I agree about the parsing of OBJECTIFICATION, the extra ‘T’ was not clued although the solution was still obvious.  But at least the enumerations were right today.  Onwards and upwards !

  39. Thanks to both.
    Like most others I was a little 9a to the 8d T.
    Peter Lawson @20. No one seems to have put that to “fix” something is to correct it, so if you have fixed asset, you have SEATS.
    As always I found much to enjoy here and I did struggle with PITTA as I too was looking for a bovine inclusive solution which derailed me for a while. But my worst problem was confidently putting 4d as GODS WILL thinking swill from god is a good thing. Took me ages to spot 4,4 and not 3,5 as the word count! Mutter grumble.

  40. I’m glad to finally get back here again, even if it is now the wee hours for those in the UK (and probably afternoon, I’m guessing, for 15^2 enthusiasts from Oz).  Here it is merely late evening.

    I thoroughly enjoyed this puzzle, and didn’t sweat the missing T in 8dn.  There were many fun clues here — I enjoyed the wordplay for BLOC and also LAVATORIAL, even if the surfaces for both were a bit clunky.  GOD’S GIFT, my LOI by a long stretch, was great once the penny finally dropped.  There were several other good-uns.  CotD for me was EXHIBIT.

    MONEY FOR OLD ROPE is not a familiar expression to me, other than my vague recollection of having possibly encountered it in a prior UK crossword at one point or other.

    Lord Jim @33 and phitonelly @34, I enjoyed your alternative clues!

    Many thanks to Philistine and manehi and the other commenters.

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