Vulcan continues to slip comfortably into the Monday slot vacated by Rufus, to provide the traditional ‘gentle start to the week’.
We have the customary medley of anagrams, charades and double and cryptic definitions, providing a generally straightforward puzzle – thank you, Vulcan.
Definitions are underlined in the clues.
Across
1 Very exciting case in court, absolutely full (6-6)
ACTION-PACKED
ACTION [case in court] + PACKED [absolutely full]
9 Sky thus clearer, as university sportsman runs (5)
BLUER
BLUE [university sportsman] + R [runs]
10 Australian who believes in evolution? (9)
DARWINIAN
Double definition: the Australian port is named after the naturalist Charles
11 One showing appreciation of tongue (7)
CLAPPER
Double definition: the clapper or tongue is the hammer of a bell and clapper is a slang word for the tongue
12 Pen – only touched one end? (4-3)
FELT-TIP
FELT [touched] + TIP [one end]
13 Where one was punished, until completely motionless (5-5)
STOCK-STILL
STOCKS [where one was punished] + TILL [until]
15 Change feet over (4)
SWAP
A reversal [over] of PAWS [feet]
18 Witches can’t start cooker (4)
OVEN
[c]OVEN – a gathering of witches
19 Setting out virtues of joining euro? (10)
EXPOUNDING
Cryptic definition
22 The arts of growing lab specimen? (7)
CULTURE
Double definition
24 Prime us acting for those standing in the middle (7)
UMPIRES
An anagram [acting] of PRIME US – in cricket or tennis, only figuratively ‘in the middle’
25 No more jokes after this, said to be the longest? (4,5)
LAST LAUGH
Cryptic definition, referring to the saying, ‘He who laughs last laughs longest’
26 Half hope to take advantage of building (5)
HOUSE
HO[pe] + USE [take advantage of]
27 Need contract revised but not watered down (12)
CONCENTRATED
An anagram [revised] of NEED CONTRACT
Down
1 Distinctly superior cave about to be transformed (1,3,5)
A CUT ABOVE
An anagram [to be transformed] of CAVE ABOUT
2 Go and fish below the old road (8)
TURNPIKE
TURN [go] + PIKE [fish]
3 Give instructions for tidiness (5)
ORDER
Double definition
4 Range of investments: poor lot, if badly managed (9)
PORTFOLIO
An anagram [badly managed] of POOR LOT IF
5 Cold countryside at first and not flat (6)
CHILLY
C[ountryside] + HILLY [not flat]
6 Proclamation wrongly cited (5)
EDICT
An anagram [wrongly] of CITED
7 Counter on which one may tell one’s beads? (6)
ABACUS
Cryptic [?] definition
8 Quickly buy pans suggested (4,2)
SNAP UP
SNAP is a reversal [up] of PANS
14 Refund from the Revenue? (3,6)
TAX RETURN
This doesn’t work for me: my immediate thought was ‘tax rebate’ – which is not very cryptic! – but a tax return is ‘a yearly statement of one’s income, from which the amount due in tax is calculated’ [Chambers] – not a refund
16 Suddenly turn to make a collection (4-5)
WHIP-ROUND
Double definition
17 Picture that striker quickly takes (8)
SNAPSHOT
A rather weak double definition, since both mean a shot quickly taken
18 Secret business, turning up at sect (6)
OCCULT
A reversal [turning up] of CO [business] + CULT [sect]
20 Fuel kept without pressure seal (6)
GASKET
GAS [fuel] + KE[p]T minus p [pressure]
21 Sort of school for everyone? Yes and no (6)
PUBLIC
Cryptic definition – I found two explanations for private schools being called public schools:
i)’The term ‘public’ (first adopted by Eton College) refers to the fact that the school is open to the paying public, as opposed to a religious school, which was open only to members of a certain church’
ii)’The term public school emerged in the 18th century when the reputation of certain grammar schools spread beyond their immediate environs. They began taking students whose parents could afford residential fees and thus became known as public, in contrast to local, schools.’
23 Rope, look, tethering donkey (5)
LASSO
LO [look] round ASS [donkey]
24 Escort drug dealer for execution (5)
USHER
[p]USHER [drug dealer]
Thanks Vulcan and Eileen
Alas, a DNF for me. I had DARWINIST for 11a (the more common term in biological circles, though probably not in Darwin!), and so a somehwat baffling STOP UP for 8d.
Apart from that, all very smooth, though I agree about TAX RETURN.
Thanks both. I thought that DARWINIAN could be read as DARWIN IAN, i.e. Ian who lives in Darwin.
Re 14d, I suppose if the Inland Revenue “returned” some of your tax, that might be called a refund?
Thanks, Eileen. I took TAX RETURN? to be cryptic precisely because it only sounds as if money is being returned. Thanks to Vulcan for a gentle puzzle. Now back to Maskarade…
A bit too gentle for me, Eileen, in contrast to the weekend prize where I couldn’t even understand the instructions!
Someone will like 10a ha ha.
I presume you mean 10a muffin.
I think TAX RETURN is meant to be a slightly cryptic form of TAX REBATE, not the form. Hence the ? At the end of the clue.
Thank you Vulcan and Eileen (especially for the public school clarification).
That was quick, but enjoyable – now I will have time for the Quiptic. I loved the clue for PORTFOLIO.
I think the question mark at the end of the clue for TAX RETURN explains this answer, if it were ‘tax rebate’ the clue would not be cryptic.
I agree with Judy@3 about 14dn – the ? was there to warn you of a fake definition.
Just right for a Monday. Like IanOtley@6, I thought TAX RETURN was OK. Many thanks to Vulcan and Eileen.
But a tax return goes from the taxpayer to the revenue, rather than coming from them. I’m sorry, I still don’t see it.
Its just a play on words. You get your tax returned. Thats it. A gentle workout om a wet bank holiday. Thanks Vulcan and Eileen.
Yes pex@5, as you predicted the Australian mob will probably be happy to get another mention with 10a DARWINIAN, after Victoran last week. I was. I also liked 25a LAST LAUGH. In Australia if a person gets a refund payment from tax, it is quite often referred to, a little erroneously I guess, as getting a TAX RETURN (14d). I didn’t like the repetition of SNAP in 8d SNAP UP and 17d SNAPSHOT.
I am always wary of sounding a bit arrogant with any solve, but this felt like a walk in the park compared with the Maskarade Prize, but oh what fun to have such a challenge!
In this case though, thank you to Vulcan for introducing the daily puzzles for this week in an accessible way, and thanks to Eileen for a good blog.
What Julie@12 said. A relief not to be “taxed” (haha) more on a n. Thanks Vulcan and Eileen.
more on a Monday I meant – don’t know what happened.
Re TAX RETURN: I thought same as Eileen at first but now more inclined to go with the idea of separating the two words (as suggested by others) so a return of tax is a refund. The ? makes it OK either way.
Also Julie, interesting to see the Aussie take on it.
As for the puzzle, what Eileen said really – just right for Monday.
Even I got this in under an hour, so it is gentle (no poorer for that though). After quickly getting 1A, the first 5 down clues were a virtual write-in. The bottom half was a little more tricky.
I did wonder about TURNPIKE though; wasn’t it the motorway toll of it’s day, rather than the road itself? “Counting the cars on the New Jersey turnpike” I always took to be the former but I could well be wrong.
Keyser@16: it’s its. Sorry.
Thanks Vulcan and Eileen. This was pleasant and very Monday-ish. Perhaps the idea was that we’re all still trying to work through the Maskarade prize puzzle.
I’m inclined to agree with Eileen about 14d. It was easy enough to get, but feels like half a clue – as it stands it’s good enough as the wordplay part, but there’s no definition. (“Tax return?” itself would be fine as a cryptic definition of “tax rebate”, but not the other way round.)
Thanks Vulcan and Eileen for a good Monday solve.
Eileen @10, as others have intimated a return from the taxman would be a refund – at least that’s how I see it.
Thanks for the explanation of public school – I’ve always wondered about this.
Back online after NBN changeover glitch (it’s an Oz thing, like changing PMs). I had the same thought as you Keyser re turnpike but thought ‘whatever’. And ditto re the somewhat dodgy tax return. Yes pretty much a write-in, but my LOI was public, holding me up until the d’oh moment. Thanks to Vulcan and Eileen.
Keyser @16 – I did wonder whether to comment on turnpike: it was originally the spiked barrier set up on a toll road but it’s also applied to the road itself.
Can someone kindly explain how EXPOUNDING works?
baerchen@22 just a silly little joke you either spread on your toast or go ugh!
I quite liked it but what do you expect from an Essex boy?
@copmus
if there was a word EXPOUNDAGE I could sort of see ex-pound-age almost working as “end of the sterling era” but when I go shopping to my local LIDL I don’t go “Euroing” so I really can’t see how this works. Since no-one else has mentioned it – either here or on the G thread – I assume it must be me
Thanks to Vulcan and Eileen. Enjoyable. I didn’t get the second “collection” meaning of WHIP-ROUND and was intrigued by Eileen’s explanation of public school (very different sense in the US). Also in the US TAX RETURN, not rebate, is the term of choice so I had no problem there.
Thanks to Vulcan and Eileen. I found this a very straightforward solve, but nevertheless sill enjoyable. Nice to have a gentle solve now and then. I personally liked expounding (it made me smile after reading today’s Steve Bell) and also liked last laugh. I had no problem with tax return, but I understand the doubts raised. Thanks again to Vulcan and Eileen.
I’m with PetHay@26 in liking EXPOUNDING and I also like UMPIRES for the misleading definition as in cricket they do “stand in the middle”. Like Eileen and others I found 14d unsatisfactory, and thought ABACUS weak but otherwise found it a pleasantly straightforward solve.
Thanks to Vulcan and Eileen.
I can’t say I saw a problem with TAX RETURN or EXPOUNDING for that matter. My- minor- problem was having DARWIN-IST,rather than -IAN but SNAP UP sorted that out. Not a bad puzzle but perhaps a bit too gentle. Saturday’s Prize wasn’t a bit gentle but,it rained yesterday afternoon,so I managed to finish it- took quite a long time though!
Thanks Vulcan
Re EXPOUNDING I just thought about it as “coming out of the pound”. As copmus says, just a little joke, like TAX RETURN. Not to be examined too literally or over-analysed.
Baerchen @ 22: It’s a double definition, not a CD, EX-POUNDING impying leavig Sterling, presumably to join the Euro. Not much of a clue in my view.
Goujeers @30 – that’s how I interpreted it but I can’t agree that it’s a double definition, since EX-POUNDING is not a word. I agree that it’s a poor clue: I’d have disliked it less if it had read ‘process’ rather than ‘virtues’.
Not so easy for a Monday, as I had to take a break and come back with a fresh mind. And the NW needed a lot of crossers before it fell.
Re TAX RETURN (14d), the Inland Revenue has in the past sent me a Tax Return, which is a form that I fill in and send back to them. So it is “from the Revenue” – it originates with HMRC. Also, if you get a tax refund it is a return of taxes, and I think the question mark indicates the more literal meaning.
Though 19a depends on whether you think becoming EX-POUND is a virtue or not…
Anyway, I liked it, so thanks to Vulcan and Eileen!
Muffin @ 1 I had Darwinist too, at first, until I decided it must be in error because 8d wouldn’t work.
I don’t know why, but CULTURE, PUBLIC, LAST LAUGH and USHER brought me to a halt me this morning; but went straight in just now.
I thought I had finished but I see SNAPCHAT at 17d was incorrect.
When I can’t solve anagrams immediately, I write down the letters at random in a straight line; I think UMPIRES is the first time I have ever written out the answer at random!
Oh, PS: 25a reminded me of the mock proverb, “He who laughs last has found a dirty meaning”…
David Ellison @33
I’ve just read a Richard Dawkins book. He uses “Darwinian” solely as an adjective; he calls a believer in Darwinism a “Darwinist”, hence my entry. I doubt that a native of Darwin would call himself that, though.
STOP UP – my forced 8d – does partly work, as it is “pots” written “up”. No coherent definition, though!
Thanks to Eileen and Vulcan. As has been said, a gentle start to the week albeit one which reqired us to switch out of Maskarade mode and concentrate on simpler interpretations ! Good luck to all those who haven’t yet completed the Bank Holiday Prize puzzle. Alan Swale – if you could not understand the instructions for the weekend puzzle, how did you get on with Araucaria’s instructions in days of yore ? They were masterpieces of brevity and precision, but often took numerous re-reads and some concentrated thought before the penny dropped !
Trismegistus @35: Love it! One to remember.
I was wondering what the intended surface reading of 7d (ABACUS) is supposed to be. That is, if it’s a cryptic definition, what interpretation were we supposed to be misled into?
I found this puzzle to be pretty quick to solve, but I did have more questions than usual for a Monday in the end. The others have all been discussed here, and I think I’m pretty well sorted on them.
Thanks!
Ted @39 – ‘to tell one’s beads’ = to pray with a rosary. Your guess is as good as mine. 😉
Thanks, Eileen! I didn’t know that phrase. And presumably we’re supposed to take “counter” to be a flat surface, rather than a thing on which one counts. I’m still not sure that gets us there.
Thanks Eileen and Vulcan.
In the US Tax Return means the forms that you file, Fed1040, Fed1120 etc.
The RETURNS have a line item, (after computing taxes, and applying taxes already paid), Tax due or Refund due. It is not called “return” due.
The only other term used is “Tax Credit”; in certain circumstances, one can apply a certain sum as “tax credit” simply reducing the tax to be paid; it can also result in a refund.
The most plausible explanation, I see is by cookie@7:
“I think the question mark at the end of the clue for TAX RETURN explains this answer”
Um. Thanks to Vulcan and Eileen. I thought this tricky for a Monday, and had several mistakes that I had to correct (unparsed Expounding)… But, as an older solver I found Maskarade’s jeu d’esprit great fun, but a (relatively) easy solve… We are all dead keen to talk about it, aren’t we?
Yes but we should resist!
Yes, Hornbeam, we are – but we mustn’t!
All I will say to Alan Swale @4 – and anyone else who had difficulty understanding the instructions: so did I – but it’s well worth persevering. 😉
Ted @39 and Eileen @40which I have called
‘Counter’ also has ambiguous meanings.Some people seem to regard the mere presence of such ambiguities as justification for a cryptic definition, even if, as far as I can see here, the ambiguities do not suggest an alternative meaning, yet alone suggest it more strongly than that required to get the answer. This I would regard as the real justification for a cryptic definition: that it should be couched in a way which prompts the misleading interpretation. Along with that it should be used sparingly and wittily. Most of the time, I live in hopes.
The other CD that has caused comment here, 14D TAX RETURN is rather different. My take, which meshes with several others here, is that it is a kind of relative of a clue type which I have labelled “Definition and literal interpretation”, in which a reasonably well known expression is given a wordplay by treating its components literally. Here, we have the “CD” equivalent – the literal interpretation without the definition. I think this idea is no worse than many CDs. And not much better.
@46 “Which I have called” is an obvious stray. Evidently, this took me a while to type, yet alone think through, and the conversation has advanced in the meantime.
@39 – 41: I took the “tell” as in a teller, one who counts votes or money, thus counting the beads on an abacus.
Apologies Eileen for not thanking you for the blog in my earlier posting – very remiss of me: thanks, Eileen, and Vulcan.
A very gentle start to the week. Thanks to Vulcan and also to you, Eileen, for the blog. For CLAPPER I had the first definition (“one showing appreciation”) as being an audience member clapping to appreciate a performance or show. I didn’t know the second definition (slang for tongue) so thank you for confirming my guess!
David Ellison @48
Yes, that is the interpretation which gives the answer. Whet we were hoping for, and failed to find, was an alternative, misleading interpretation of the clue.
Thanks to both Vulcan and Eileen.
I was also a little confused by ABACUS until I remembered tell means to count so the beads are counted on the abacus.
With EXPOUNDING I thought it meant ex-ing the pound or getting rid of it. Whether that is a virtue or not is another question. But I could not find a way of inserting the pound according to the instructions so was unsure but it fitted.
All in all a gentle start to the week and all the more enjoyable for it.
PeterO @48, a ROSARY would fit the clue, but not the crossers…
apologies Eileen, I read your comment @38, but my short-term memory is not too good at the moment (Lyme disease, and not for the first time – hazard of living in a nature reserve…).
I’m more of a quiptic person, and accidentally clicked on the wrong puzzle, so was pleased to finish a regular Guardian, even if it is an easy Monday one. A bit confused by the parsing of [p]USHER. Does “execution” mean to behead, or is there another reason for chopping the first letter off of PUSHER?
Sorry JinA @12 but money received from the Australian Tax Office (ATO) in my hearing has always been called a tax refund. A tax return was that cumbersome set of paperwork about one’s income one had to prepare and send to the ATO in the dark old days before electronic lodgement via the internet. In any case, whatever it is called, it was far better than the dreaded tax debit!
Matt @54 – yes, in Crosswordland, ‘execute’ often means ‘remove the first letter’ [but a lot of people don’t like it].
You guys, now I have to have a go at Maskerade! Got 17 across, I think. The other 65 may be tough.
Eileen @56 Gotcha. Thanks, and thanks in general for your blogging. I’m getting better at these things, and you and the team are no small part of that.
Grantinfreo @ 20 – I hope we don’t have to change our internet as often as we change PMs! Am putting off NBN as long as possible…
Everyone @ everywhere – i think CDs like expounding and tax return are the sort where you just write them in and try not to think to hard about them…
Thanks Eileen and Vulcan for the puzzle/blog.