A fairly brief blog today, simply because it is as usual a well-crafted puzzle from Everyman with no quibbles, so there’s not a right lot to say.
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 About hundred in expanded team at airport (6,4)
GROUND CREW
An insertion of ROUND and C in GREW
6 Speaker’s manner, one entitled to succeed (4)
HEIR
A homophone of AIR for ‘manner’.
9 In solitaire get nice round number (7)
INTEGER
Hidden reversed in solitaiRE GET NIce.
10 Curving in a circle around church (7)
ARCHING
An insertion of CH in A RING.
12 Introductory remarks from peer, similar in broadcast (13)
PRELIMINARIES
(PEER SIMILAR)*
14 Reconfigured base conserving energy (5)
RESET
An insertion of E in REST.
15 Question about husband with name in claim (9)
CHALLENGE
A charade of C for circa or ‘about’, H and N in ALLEGE.
16 Release inspector’s accusation (9)
DISCHARGE
A charade of DIS for [detective] ‘inspector’s’ and CHARGE.
18 Tent torn initially by sword (5)
TEPEE
A charade of T for the first letter of ‘torn’ and EPEE.
20 King in end has got son prepared? What a relief (5,8)
THANK GOODNESS
An insertion of K in (END HAS GOT SON)*
23 Prohibition as it affected coffee shop worker (7)
BARISTA
A charade of BAR nd (AS IT)*
24 Assist in scripting ceremony after scare (2-5)
CO-WRITE
A charade of COW and RITE.
25 Aims for extremities (4)
ENDS
A simple dd.
26 Trauma? Pay attention to temperature and rest
HEARTBREAK
A charade of HEAR, T and BREAK
Down
1 Once more missing a profit (4)
GAIN
[A]GAIN
2 Company up above leading American ink producer (7)
OCTOPUS
A reversal of CO followe dby TOP and US. My favourite this morning.
3 Giant with terrible hate asks after knight? Not very good (2,5,6)
NO GREAT SHAKES
A charade of N, OGRE and (HATE ASKS)* with ‘terrible’ as the anagrind. N for ‘knight’ is from chess notation.
4 Dog appearing to be otherwise in animated graphics? (5)
CORGI
An insertion of OR in CGI for Computer Generated Imagery.
5 Destroy order, losing time after time (9)
ERADICATE
A charade of ERA for ‘time’ and DIC[T]ATE with the removal of the T for ‘time’ indicated by ‘losing’.
7 Incitement to riot? No small issue (7)
EDITION
[S]EDITION
8 Indicated substance on middle of fern, cutting plant (10)
REGISTERED
An insertion of GIST for ‘substance’ and ER for the middle two letters of ‘fern’ in REED.
11 Quantity in map on distribution of bees around west in children’s book (10,3)
CHARLOTTE’S WEB
An insertion of LOT in CHART followed by W in (BEES)* gives you the 1952 children’s novel by E B White. In 2000, Publishers Weekly listed the book as the best-selling children’s paperback of all time, so don’t whinge that you’ve never heard of it.
13 Revolutionary appeal in line deserving praise (10)
CREDITABLE
An insertion of RED and IT for [sex] ‘appeal’ in CABLE.
15 Shared nothing expert raised in case (9)
CORPORATE
An insertion of O PRO reversed in CRATE. As in CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY, for example.
17 Played leading role and looked about right (7)
STARRED
An insertion of R in STARED.
19 Father with odd items required for hobby (7)
PASTIME
A charade of PA and (ITEMS)*
21 Expression of surprise, following tips for divine colour scheme (5)
DECOR
A charade of DE for the outside letters of ‘divine’ and COR!
22 Guard, rising, giving sly look (4)
PEEK
Everyman is asking you to reverse (‘rising’, since it’s a down clue) KEEP. Thank you to him for this morning’s puzzle.
Very enjoyable Sunday puzzle as always!
My favourites were CHALLENGE + GROUND CREW (loi)
Thanks Everyman and Pierre
Morning all.
I was held up for ages in the NE corner by having LORD for 6a, my reasoning being ‘speaker’s manner’ = ‘manor’ > lord (of the.) After eventually solving 7 and 8, I changed it, by synonymous association, to PEER. I should have known this was too loose a construction for Everyman. Otherwise all ok.
Thanks Everyman and Pierre.
A nice straightforward puzzle that was thoroughly enjoyable. Lots of long answers that looked a little scary at first, but which were all eminently solvable with a few letters and definitions none of which were obscure.
I struggled to finish this even though I’ve been doing crosswords for 40+ years. In fact, I didn’t finish it till Friday (oh the shame !).
It took me ages to parse GROUND CREW which like michelle was my last one on. I also managed to miss the INTEGER reversal although I did notice GET back. The boy’s a fool.
Thanks to Pierre and Everyman for what is always a very entertaining puzzle
Thank you Everyman and Pierre.
Quite a challenge for me, but enjoyable. GROUND CREW was also my last in, and I failed to parse CORGI!
At Tutukaka bach for long weekend. Too windy to paddle board across for Herald so decided to do this on the Guardian site instead. NE was a bit challenging just like the wind today.
It was way beyond me to finish today. However Ground crew was my first one in, unlike most others.
Off to Palmerston North tomorrow. Bet it’s cold.
Finished, albeit failed to parse Integer (I suck as spotting Hiddens) and Corgi.
Corporate was LOI and took ages for no good reason.
Pretty gloomy on the Coromandel today.
Staying put this dismal weekend, so crossword done today rather than my Sunday afternoon obsession. LOI corporate! first one in ground crew. very enjoyable.
Goldilocks again. LOI was “corporate”.
Everyman was one of two bright spots on this dark, grim, wet long weekend. (The other *will be* going to hear Rita Paczian conduct Bach Musica at the Town Hall at 5 this arvo.
Didn’t start this until this northing. A very enjoyable crossie. Enjoyed challenge, edition and ground crew.