Independent 11,110/Hoskins

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A puzzle from Hoskins to start the Indy 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

8 Princess cut by a bit of rig in which one gets the chop?
KARATE
An insertion of A and R in KATE.

9 With ecstasy seized, arrests up in state again
REASSERT
An insertion of E in (ARRESTS)*

10 Repellent Tory goes off parts of a church service
NOCTURNS
A charade of CON reversed and TURNS.

11 Revolutionary holding court around Gloucester?
CHEESE
An insertion of SEE reversed in CHE.

12 Infantryman backed-up toilets in chilly domiciles
IGLOOS
A charade of GI reversed and LOOS.

14 Drive to succeed? No, I’m a bit stupid
AMBITION
(NO IM A BIT)*

16 Raise bottom
REAR
A dd.

17 Perhaps run off and smother short love god in kisses
XEROX
An insertion of ERO[S] in XX.

18 Energy-filled writer is bit of a tool
PEEN
An insertion of E in PEN.

20 Gad about with nurse and actor in part of London
DAGENHAM
A charade of GAD reversed, EN and HAM.

22 Moon son at home, work and heading to eatery
SINOPE
A charade of S, IN, OP and E.

23 One tolerates a Democrat president briefly meeting Republican
ABIDER
A charade of A, BIDE[N] and R.

25 Greek character grabbed by child is bullish bloke
MINOTAUR
An insertion of TAU in MINOR.

27 French and German articles by priest getting popular support
UNDERPIN
A charade of UN, DER, P and IN.

28 Claim to be totally out of new cocktail
MAI TAI
MAI[N]TAI[N]

Down

1 City where one might find a smithy hugging posh French poet
LAFORGUE
A charade of LA and U inserted into FORGE.

2 Ensure boat lashed in seaside resort
EASTBOURNE
(ENSURE BOAT)*

3 Those leading negligently-kept ewes away railed at hand
NEAR
The initial letters of the third, fourth, fifth and sixth words of the clue.

4 Medic heads to young sick anti-drink folk
DRYS
A charade of DR, Y and S.

5 Cases containing some struck on their heads?
MATCHBOXES
A cd.

6 Ultimately life is aimless, futile existence
ESSE
The final letters of the second, third, fourth and fifth words of the clue.

7 A book collection knight brought up for lord?
ARISTO
A charade of A then OT and SIR reversed.

13 A shy expert in a state gets counselling for it
SEX THERAPY
(A SHY EXPERT)*

14 Plan to drink Bass queen filled to the top
ABRIM
An insertion of B and R in AIM.

15 Cut off bits of fruit to aid plant in trouble
TOP AND TAIL
(TO AID PLANT)*

19 Partner finally raised a pound for support
ESPOUSAL
A charade of SPOUSE with the E moved to the front, A and L.

21 A floor covering containing black and white?
ALBINO
A charade of A, and B inserted into LINO.

24 Nest, one of four around top of elm
DREY
An insertion of E in DRY.

25 Leaders of Metz enterprise rejected a French tariff
MENU
A charade of M and E for the initial letters of the third and fourth words of the clue, and UN reversed.

26 Centre visited by male on opium?
NUMB
An insertion of M in NUB.

Many thanks to the setter for today’s puzzle.

12 comments on “Independent 11,110/Hoskins”

  2. These days I don’t look for a nina in Hoskins’ crosswords so thanks for the heads up. Nice one.

  4. Good fun as ever from this setter except for the totally obscure (to me) French poet. I even spotted the Nina although I had no idea what it was referring to, so thanks to Mw7500 for the explanation.

    I particularly enjoyed CHEESE, MAI TAI and ABRIM.

    Many thanks to Hoskins and to Pierre.

  5. I too saw the Nina and was hoping to be first to mention it, never mind! I had to search online for LAFORGUE, as did most solvers, I suspect. DRYS resulted in a domestic chez Tatrasman, whose partner insisted it should be ‘dries’ as ‘drys’ should be pronounced ‘driss’ Anyway, thanks Hoskins and Pierre.

  6. Missed the Nina – well done to Mw7500 for spotting it. I found this more difficult than usual from Hoskins with some unknown words in DREY and NOCTURNS. I’d never heard of the ‘Moon’ or ‘French poet’ either. I recognised the word, but now I know what a PEEN is. I wonder how many twenty-somethings would know what XEROX refers to.

    The cryptic def for MATCHBOXES was my favourite.

    Thanks to Hoskins and Pierre

  7. Boys From The County Hell is an incredibly sweary song, but a damn fine one.

    Great puzzle, thanks to Hoskins and Pierre

  8. Picked up on the Nina but assumed it was a comment our compiler might well use rather than lyrics from a song!
    Had problems with NOCTURNS as I was determined to spell it incorrectly until a friend pointed out the error of my ways and hadn’t previously come across PEEN – live and learn. XEROX was my favourite which doubtless speaks volumes about my age!

    Thanks to Hoskins and to Pierre for gritting his teeth and carrying on.

  9. Thanks both. Looked for a Nina and missed it, so it must be Monday. I would have had some hope of getting LAFORGUE only if he had played in the Premier League yesterday, and should also admit that I wondered if Smithy referred to the character in Gavin & Stacey, which says far too much about my knowledge of the classical arts

  10. Although I hadn’t met PEEN before, I did know of a BALLPEEN HAMMER and now I know why it’s called that.

  11. As often happens, it took me too long to get to Eastbourne. XEROX was my favourite, but I am from the carbon copy era.

  12. Many thanks to The French Lieutenant’s Woman for a fine blog and to all who solved and commented.

    I’m glad to have brought Laforgue to a slightly wider audience as he is prolly in my top fifty – maybe even top forty – favourite French symbolist poets. McGowan is one too, of course, though not French or too symbolist.

    I’ll be back two weeks on Sunday with an easy little number that’s so inoffensive I offended myself by writing it – but until then its cheers and chin chin from me and goodnight and good luck to all. 🙂

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