Pan is one of the longest-standing Quiptic setters, and he/she always produces an enjoyable and well-constructed puzzle to start the Guardian week.
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 Bird found in pram with giant wheels
PTARMIGAN
I am sitting in sun-kissed Burgundy writing this, there are only three hours till lunch at the local auberge, and a bird clue first up. La vie est bonne. (PRAM GIANT)* with ‘wheels’ as the anagrind. A plump bird, which you’d have to go to the highest ground in Scotland to find, but if you did, you could be rewarded with a glimpse of its fine winter plumage. Here, after what seems like an age since the last one, is the obligatory Pierre bird link.
6 Emblem featuring tailless animal
BADGE
BADGE[R]
9 Former partner in newspaper returned bond
NEXUS
An insertion of EX in SUN returned. Is The Sun really a newspaper? Discuss.
10 Siren seen by casual worker at lock
TEMPTRESS
A charade of TEMP and TRESS.
11 Kinky colonel wrapping feminine garment over part of upper body
COLLAR BONE
An insertion of BRA reversed in (COLONEL)* with ‘kinky’ as the anagrind.
12 Virus close to waste pipe
FLUE
A charade of FLU and E for the last letter of ‘waste’.
14 Tenor with awkward gait delivers silly talk
TWADDLE
A charade of T and WADDLE.
15 Increase in integral neckwear returned
ENLARGE
Hidden reversed in intEGRAL NEckwear.
17 Unpredictable measure said to be used by part of hospital
WAYWARD
A charade of a homophone of WEIGH and WARD.
19 Keen to get piece of plant to propagate
CUTTING
A dd.
20 Animal fur, allegedly
HARE
A homophone of HAIR.
22 Following hit, let’s repair joint in man-of-war
BATTLESHIP
A charade of BAT, (LETS)* and HIP.
25 Charge less when peacekeepers visit the German part of prison, reportedly
UNDERSELL
A charade of UN, DER for one of the German words for ‘the’ and SELL, a homophone of CELL. We’re having a few homophones this morning.
26 Anticipation surrounding a spot for alfresco dining?
PATIO
Hidden in anticiPATIOn.
27 Bone damaged by unknown in a dark wood
EBONY
A charade of (BONE)* and Y.
28 A guy’s gone out to find somewhere to pray
SYNAGOGUE
(A GUYS GONE)*
Down
1 Snapshot featuring a new alarm
PANIC
An insertion of A and N in PIC.
2 Should say type of verb
AUXILIARY
A dd. ‘Should’ is an example of an auxiliary verb. I would use the term ‘modal verb’, but it’s too hot to argue.
3 1,000 guards injured around top of trench by a second chemical weapon
MUSTARD GAS
A charade of M for ‘1,000’, T for the first letter of ‘trench’ in (GUARDS)*, A and S.
4 Good English furniture is within reach
GETABLE
A charade of G, E and TABLE.
5 Number assigned to setter’s European candidate
NOMINEE
A charade of NO, MINE and E.
6 Nocturnal creature sitting on hot tub
BATH
A charade of BAT and H.
7 Live with wife in a valley
DWELL
An insertion of W in DELL.
8 Segregate parts of a seasonal offering
EASTER EGG
(SEGREGATE)* Not sure I’ve seen this before, and it’s a clever anagram.
13 Suspender for stocking?
CLOTHES PEG
Something of a rarity in a Quiptic: a cd.
14 Doctor won’t go to Home Office with application for somewhere to live
TOWNHOUSE
A charade of (WONT)*, HO and USE.
16 Chairs get rearranged in German parliament once
REICHSTAG
(CHAIRS GET)*
18 Payment returned to southern artists?
DRAWERS
A charade of REWARD reversed and S.
19 A “thank you” in tribe’s language
CATALAN
An insertion of A TA in CLAN.
21 Went on horseback to old exhibition of cowboy skills
RODEO
A charade of RODE and O.
23 Examine top of Primark dress
PROBE
A charade of P for the first letter of ‘Primark’ and ROBE.
24 Lacking water without a cart
DRAY
An insertion of A in DRY.
Lunch beckons. Many thanks to Pan for a fine Quiptic et bonne journée à tous.
Thanks Pan and Pierre
Very enjoyable indeed. I’ve never seen “getable” before, and my Chambers only has “gettable”.
Very nice Quiptic. A welcome return for the once popular crossword bird. Expect to see a merganser along soon.
Is The Sun a newspaper?
I seem to recall an episode of Porridge in which Fletcher is in the prison hospital. Goober visits him and asks if he can bring anything next time. Fletcher asks for a copy of The Sun, and then, after a pause says “Oh yeas, and something to read.”
And then there’s the famous “Yes Prime Minister” sketch, where the readers of The Sun don’t care who runs the country, as long as … ( https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DDGscoaUWW2M&ved=0ahUKEwiXiJXXtoDcAhWSPFAKHQ1RCGkQwqsBCCMwAQ&usg=AOvVaw1h8Vf00rJScxtjIlS0ArNI )
[Bear of little brain
You can make your links much neater quite easily in the new interface. Copy the URL of the site you want. Highlight a word or words in your post, then click on the “Link” icon above (2nd from right). Paste your URL in to this, then click the retirn arrow to enter the link.]
[Like this…]
Thanks to Pan for an enjoyable puzzle and to Pierre for the blog post from Burgundy. I enjoyed CATALAN. It was one of those clues where I had no idea how to approach until I got some crossers and it became obvious. I appreciated the explanation for the AUXILIARY verb. Also thanks to Bear of little brain for the link to Yes Prime Minister – in my opinion one of the very best written, and acted, TV series – and still applicable today.
[Thanks Muffin, but I don’t think that option is as easily available on the Android tablet version.]