Guardian 29,375 – Vulcan

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The Mayday Bank Holiday sees Vulcan makes his regularly fortnightly appearance, with quite a few cryptic definitions and one technical word that may be unfamiliar.Thanks to Vulcan.

 
Across
1 BOG STANDARD Quality of ladies very ordinary (3,8)
BOG (toilet, e.g. the ladies) + STANDARD (very ordinary)
9 HOARSER He roars uncontrollably, becoming this? (7)
(HE ROARS)*
10 MASCARA I give black marks for going on the lash (7)
Cryptic definition – mascara is used to blacken eyelashes
11 GONDOLIER Roughly ignore old punter (9)
(IGNORE OLD)* – gondolas and punts aren’t the same sort of boat, though both are propelled by long implements
12 SHIED Thrown, Vulcan takes refuge in hut (5)
I (Vulcan) in SHED
13 NOPE Exercise unavailable? Definitely not (4)
There’s NO P.E.
14 CHALCEDONY Cyclone had disturbed rock (10)
(CYCLONE HAD)* – Chalcedony is a rock that comes in many forms, including agate and onyx
16 SECOND HAND I’ll be round in a minute (6,4)
Cryptic definition – a sceond hand takes a minute to go round a clock face
19 DELI I went first, coming round to shop (4)
Reverse of I LED
21 ON AIR A single short song going out to listeners (2,3)
ON[e] (a single) + AIR (song)
22 BOWLER HAT This ahead for person taking over? Unlikely (6,3)
Cryptic definition – a bowler in cricket “takes overs” but wouldn’t wear a bowler hat
24 PAINFUL Hurting Dad almost completely (7)
PA + IN FUL[L]
25 OMICRON Character is a moronic sort (7)
(MORONIC)*
26 THE TRENCHES They were cut out for war (3,8)
Cryptic definition
Down
1 BRAIN SPECIALIST Neurologist throws out crisp banalities (5,10)
(CRISP BANALITIES)*
2 GUSTO Exhilaration of oxygen after sudden wind (5)
GUST + O
3 TARNISH It’s awfully hard to hide a navy stain (7)
A RN (Royal Navy) in ITS* + H
4 NUMERAL Figure almost dead? A long time left (7)
NUM[b] + ERA + L
5 ASSISTER Like member of family to be a support (8)
AS SISTER
6 DRAW IN ONE’S HORNS Curtail activities, but complete self-portrait as a Devil? (4,2,4,5)
Definition + cryptic def.
7 SHOGUN Such a forced wedding heartless for Japanese ruler (6)
SHOTGUN less its middle letter or heart
8 TAWDRY After a time children’s author becoming vulgar (6)
T + AWDRY (The Rev W Awdry, writer of the books about Thomas the Tank Engine et al)
15 ENTRY FEE Charge through the gate (5,3)
Cryptic definition
16 SLOPPY Rather watery prune mole eats (6)
LOP (to prune) in SPY (mole – a term popularized by John Le Carré)
17 HOBBLER Henry, shoe repairer not opening for one with a limp (7)
H (Henry – the SI unit of inductance) + [C]OBBLER
18 NEW MOON A different satellite? It’s the same one each time (3,4)
Despite its name the NEW MOON is indeed the same satellite each time
20 INTENT The aim of camping? (6)
To camp is to be IN [a] TENT
23 EDITH Does she check and improve husband? (5)
EDIT + H[usband]

58 comments on “Guardian 29,375 – Vulcan”

  1. I had to check the spelling of CHALCEDONY but I’ve done enough Earth Caches looking at various rocks to spot that as a write in. The cryptic definitions are what hold me up. I had BOWLER HAT and wondered about City references as my knowledge of cricket comes from crosswords.

    Thank you to Vulcan and Andrew.

  2. Top faves: SECOND HAND, DRAW IN ONE’S HORN and NEW MOON.

    BOWLER HAT
    Does ‘ahead’ mean ‘on the head’ or is it a whimsical part of the cryptic def?
    Nice one in any case.

    Enjoyed the puzzle and the blog. Thanks Vulcan and Andrew.

  3. Pull your horns in mate! Draw sounds s bit polite, but hey ho. Dnk the children’s author so needed the crossers for loi tawdry. Pleasantly Mondayish, thanks V&A.

  4. I hadn’t heard the expression DRAW IN ONE’S HORNS, but it was pretty straightforward from the wordplay. Nor had I heard of Awdry — probably should have googled it.

    This was good fun with no sticky moments. Thanks, Vulcan & Andrew.

  6. Thanks Vulcan and Andrew
    I was puzzled by BOWLER HAT too, and it seems a bit whimsical.
    Gondolas are rowed, whereas punts are propelled by pushing off the bed of the river.

  7. Delightful Monday puzzle. I was especially tickled by MASCARA, SECOND HAND, THE TRENCHES, TARNISH, NUMERAL, BOWLER HAT, and NEW MOON. Had forgotten that the Rev. W Awdry wrote the Railway Series of books featuring Thomas the Tank Engine; nice to be reminded. Thank you Vulcan and Andrew

  8. Where there is a choice between YOUR and ONES (as in DRAW IN ONES HORNS), Guardian crosswords invariably choose the more formal ONES.

  9. KVa @2: I took ‘ahead’ to be whimsical but, yes, meaning ‘on the head’. The ‘a’ is a reduced form of ‘on’ in that usage. Like ‘afire’ I guess. Other than the GONDOLIER, a super Monday puzzle. I tried hard to justify the latter but it doesn’t appear the oars are designed for punting use. Plus they fit in a kind of rowlock making the punting action almost impossible. I believe the gondolier’s stroke is not dissimilar to that used to propel a coracle. A kind of figure of 8. Oddly enough one can propel a punt in that manner though it’s not particularly easy so to do.

    Thanks Vulcan and Andrew

  10. Nice puzzle, good for beginners.

    I could not parse 8d – never heard of Rev W Awdry, writer of the books about Thomas the Tank Engine et al.

    Thanks, both.

  12. Agree with GinF@3 on both counts. PULL held me up, as did TIN SOLDIERS for 26a – the first and last letters even checked with the crossers. CHALCEDONY is a mineral rather than a rock, but it was my second entry, so not a big problem. By and large, I struggled with the wavelength here. Thanks, Vulcan and Andrew.

  13. Same favourites as KVa and same eyebrow raise as muffin re GONDOLIER who doesn’t actually punt.

    However, my feeling with clues like this is that an element of wit or whimsy let’s the setter off the hook.

    Very enjoyable, thanks, both.

  14. Thanks Andrew and Vulcan

    Nice start to the week. I got a little fixated on the children’s author being (Nina) Bawden which caused a few problems. Ditto Tin or Toy Soldiers

  15. Lots of cryptic definitions which Vulcan is a master of. I particularly enjoyed BOG STANDARD, MASCARA, SECOND HAND and BOWLER HAT, although I parsed BOG STANDARD differently as “very ordinary” for the definition and BOG (Ladies) STANDARD (quality) as the cryptic definition.

  16. Self @9 and KVa @ 11: actually, I think ‘atop’ or ‘afoot’ would be much better examples than ‘afire’. The latter, in particular, is defined as ‘on foot’ which I’m taking as ‘on the foot’ rather than ‘travelling by foot’.

  17. Loved 1a BOG STANDARD, 10a MASCARA, 16a SECOND HAND, 1d BRAIN SPECIALIST, 7d SHOGUN, 8d TAWDRY, 15d ENTRY FEE and 18d NEW MOON, some of which are aforementioned. I couldn’t parse BOWLER HAT at 22a so it was good to have that explained and I’m glad I wasn’t alone. Thanks to Vulcan and Andrew.

  18. 22 BOWLER HAT This ahead for person taking over? Unlikely (6,3)

    The person taking the over (taking the strike etc) is the Batsman so they are unlikely to be wearing (a-head) a Bowler(‘s) Hat

    That’s how I managed to convince myself of parsing.

  19. TimC@15 That’s how I parsed BOG STANDARD too. Ladies’ quality. Although I went down another path thinking it might be Mens, not Ladies, as ladies sit and men stand. 🙂

  20. I liked the nicely spotted BRAIN SPECIALIST, even if it is a bit nonsensical. Matthew Newell @18: your parsing makes sense, although I presumed an upcoming bowler took the next over, but cricket is not my game. Also liked BOG STANDARD, PAINFUL and THE TRENCHES amongst others. Nice start to a typically dull Bank Holiday in Londinium.

    Ta Vulcan & Andrew.

  22. Thanks for the blog, I thought this was just right for the Monday tradition.
    After six themes in seven days good to have a normal puzzle, can the theme this week be no themes please ?

  24. I loved this puzzle and the cryptic definitions added to the fun. Favourites SHOGUN, MASCARA, BOWLER HAT, EDITH.
    Re BOWLER HAT. I’ve heard cricket commentators refer to bowlers ‘taking the (next) over.’ Any cricket aficionados able to comment?
    Thanks Vulcan and Andrew

  26. Good Vulcan start to the week with a few cds to be unravelled with crossers.

    I liked the MASCARA and SECOND HAND cds; like TT @12, I thought of tin soldiers for 26. I also liked the neurologist anagram and the SLOPPY surface. As others have commented, from Wiki: Contrary to popular belief, the gondola is never poled like a punt as the waters of Venice are too deep.

    Thanks Vulcan and Andrew.

  28. I had to check whether CRISP BANALITIES was an alternative crossword website to 15 squared.
    (Apparently not – but it would be a great name.)
    I thought this was brilliant for a BH Monday.
    Top thanks to the V@A.

  29. Thought the BRAIN SPECIALIST was a wonderful anagram, less impressed by HOBBLER, which I thought was, well, rather limp. Having worked in Ely in Cambs for many years we all knew that TAWDRY derived from St Audrey, which apparently was another version of Saint Etheldreda. She who founded the original cathedral there in 679. I think there was also a medieval Tawdry Fair where a certain type of lace was sold. A bit of a (possibly slightly inaccurate) history lesson. Bank Holiday Monday apologies therefore…

  30. Splendid Monday puzzle with excellent cryptic definitions à la Rufus. I agree that the Venetian boatmen don’t actually ‘punt’ (or row – the action is as PostMark @9 describes), and CHALCEDONY is indeed strictly a mineral rather than a rock, but hey ho. And I’m also with Tim C on the parsing of BOG STANDARD, and I took ‘ahead’ to be read as ‘a-head’.

    Thanks to Vulcan and Andrew

  31. The interface between pedantry and nuance is one solvers waste an inordinate amount of time on. Of course you can’t punt a gondola – but what word should Vulcan have used instead? Sculler, rower, propeller, paddler, helmsman, coxswain? There seems to be no English word to describe what a gondolier does with his pole. And if there were, using it would rather kill the clueyness of the clue. The corridor of uncertainty is where all the fun is. Oh and Boycott bowled in a cap.

  32. [ AlanC @25 so have I but I was keeping quiet. it is tracks from the difficult second album by The Masked Marauders ]

  34. A bit surprised that people haven’t heard of the Rev W Awdry and Thomas the Tank Engine!
    Lovely puzzle. Struggled to parse bowler hat, mascara and the trenches!

  35. [QuietEars
    Do you remember the animations with Ringo Starr’s dreadful voiceovers? He completely missed the point that the repetitive words were supposed to be train noises!]

  36. Michelle@10. Will beginners have enjoyed the high number of cryptic definitions here? I suppose Vulcan provides enough straightforward clues to be able to deduce these from the crossers (as I did with BOWLER HAT and THE TRENCHES)

    I am feeling as if I am the only person in the crossword community who is not familliar with the ‘rock’ in 14a.

  38. Stephen @36 – I had to use Word Wizard for 14a as it’s outside my sphere of knowledge, too.

    Overall though I enjoyed this, and found it fun and accessible enough (unlike Wed-Fri last week which I just didn’t seem to get on with) – the NE corner held out for a while but that’s not a complaint.

  39. Chalcedony is one of the foundation stones of the New Jerusalem in Revelation. Just sayin’.

  40. Happy Mayday Bank Holiday to all and thanks to Vulcan for a very enjoyable puzzle, some lovely constructions with an excellent mix of clues.
    Favourites:
    6a Second Hand,
    8d Tawdry,
    11a Gondolier, [fresh from our return from Venice we couldn’t miss this clue]
    16a Sloppy,
    24a Painful,
    23d Edith,
    Thx also to Andrew for the blog and the info on the rock ‘Chalcedony’

  41. This went on nicely, enough anagrams to get started and nothing too difficult. Some nice clues except for “Hobbler”…
    Thank you to Vulcan and Andrew

  42. Bog standard Monday fare. Kept me out of the rain for a few minutes.

    I did like MASCARA though.

    Thanks Vulcan and Andrew

  43. it’s not what the man with the ball may or may not be wearing.
    a bowler hat was the reward for three wickets in consecutive balls.
    hence “hat trick”. Unlikely as it’s a very rare occurrence.
    (the clue had me stumped for ages…)

  44. Nice one groniac7@43, that’s much more satisfying.
    KVa @21, I like the British or German standard theory which came out of the convo at that link. Sounds historically feasible.
    TtTE books were a regular for our kids when they were smaller and had fewer tats. My son could recite some of them before he could talk properly, and his missing t from Fa(t) Controller always brought a laugh.

  45. The hat trick has a much more specific origin, in 1858. Wiki will take you to the story in the Extended OED 1999.

  46. Well played groniac7@43, that is surely the right parsing – chapeau!

    Thanks to Vulcan for a perfect Monday offering, and to Andrew for his clear and helpful blog. Favourite SECOND HAND: simple and clever.

  47. Thanks both and a pleasant holiday entertainment.

    I feel compelled, since no one else has, to offer etymological insight into BOG STANDARD. A reliable source (QI? – so maybe not) avers that it derives from the range of Meccano box sets available long ago. There was the (inferior) ‘Box Standard’ which was affordable but limited (hence BOG STANDARD) as well as the infinitely more preferable ‘Box Deluxe’ which also made its way into common parlance, but only after being spoonerised.

    I shall now withdraw to a safe distance….

  48. Nice Monday puzzle. Tawdry was the LOI for me. Hadn’t heard of Awdry and I was misled by “…a time…” in the clue – wouldn’t “…time…” work better? I kept thinking of something that started with AT__

  49. @SwissSteve – thank you. I didn’t know the derivation of ‘hat trick’, but assumed that was what was meant. Alec – thank you for the pointer to the OED.

  50. Stephen @36 – nope, never heard of the rock. I know nothing about geology (amongst far too many other things).
    Nice crossie, good crossie.
    Currently in Bakewell, on hols, but have yet to sample the local tarts.
    Thanks both.

  51. Anyone as old as me remember the TtTE records of the stories voiced by the wonderful Johnny Morris?
    I had the whole series, but they got lost over time.
    The Rev. W Awdry lived near a goods yard and was inspired by the noises of the (then) steam engines shunting, to make stories to put his children to sleep at night.

  52. HYD@51 a Bakewell Pudding is better . Not heard Johnny Morris reading stories but he had a great voice for it, like Bernard Cribbins on Jackanory.
    Sprog3 keen on TtTE for a while but I did not like reading the stories with him.

  53. Lovely start to the week. LOI Edith – sitting under a bowler hat made me think of the great Edith Head. 8 Oscars – glory days. Thanks Andrew and Vulcan

  55. Thank you HoofIt @51 for mentioning Johnny Morris, almost infinitely better than Ringo Starr. JM really knew how to read aloud.

  56. Like Hoofit@51 I was stumped by CHALCEDONY. It’s one of those words that I just about recognise but recalling it cold is beyond me. I had to place the letters of the anagram as crossers emerged, but ended up with the middle C and D transposed. Amazed to see that only two of us (out of 56 comments) struggled with this, but about 20 did not know or could not recall the Rev W Awdry.

    Regarding the BOWLER HAT, a batter does not “take” an over, although they may “face” anything from one to all six of the balls. The bowler takes the over, and may have a hat passed around the crowd for a monetary reward if taking three wickets in succession (though not necessarily a bowler 🙂 ). Good clue, especially the use of ‘ahead’ for something worn on the head.

    Thanks to Vulcan and Andrew.

  57. [Muffin @35 – I don’t, actually; I read the books when I was small at my Granny’s house – I did know as GK that Ringo Starr did the voice over and did see some of the animations but I didn’t know that he read the words rather than made train noises (and it would have passed me by anyway as I can’t hear lol and they didn’t have captions back then!!)]

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