A tricky little number from Filbert this morning, I thought. Your experience may have differed, of course. I’ll leave you to mull over this one while I go and blog the Quiptic.
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 Phosphorus, possibly an atom?
PARTICLE
A charade of P, the chemical symbol for Phosphorus, and ARTICLE, of which ‘an’ is an example of the indefinite kind.
6 Hard like that hat
SOLID
A charade of SO and LID.
9 Sons want less busy time
SLACK
A charade of S and LACK.
10 Uncivilised local lawyers, many naked on island
BARBARIAN
A charade of BAR (for ‘local’), another BAR (for ‘lawyers’), I and [M]AN[Y].
11 Ready to drop ball soon enough
ALL IN GOOD TIME
A charade of ALL IN (‘I’m all in/ready to drop’) and GOOD TIME (‘I’m having a ball/a good time’).
13 Hide prunes inside empty envelope
ECLIPSE
An insertion of CLIP in E[NVELOP]E. The insertion indicator is ‘inside’.
15 Wise man that has time off initially, between degrees
MAHATMA
An insertion of [T]HAT in MA and MA – two ‘degrees’. The insertion indicator is ‘between’.
16 Volume drunk by cold climbers not uniform
CIVVIES
An insertion of V in C and IVIES. The insertion indicator is ‘drunk by’.
18 Gold parts most womanly, like thighs
FEMORAL
An insertion of OR for ‘gold’ in FEMAL[E]. The insertion indicator is ‘parts’
19 Mad dog had a trilby, for the midday sun?
BROAD DAYLIGHT
(DOG HAD A TRILBY)* with ‘mad’ as the anagrind. Nice reference to Mad Dogs and Englishmen (… go out in the midday sun).
22 Church wine, never dull bottles
NOTRE DAME
An insertion of RED in NO and TAME. The insertion indicator is ‘bottles’.
23 Calculate maximum that trade union will accept? On the contrary
TOT UP
An insertion of TU in TOP. The insertion indicator is ‘will accept’. ‘On the contrary’ is telling you how to make the insertion.
24 Reason guitar clamps fit centrally
BASIS
An insertion of I for the central letter of ‘fit’ in BASS. The insertion indicator is ‘clamps’.
25 Yep, Trump oozes incompetence
MUPPETRY
(YEP TRUMP)* with ‘oozes’ as the anagrind. Describing Trump as a muppet would be too mild, I fancy.
Down
2 Help Dave’s heart trouble
AVAIL
A charade of [D]AV[E] and AIL.
3 Seniors note park runs are ruthless
TAKE NO PRISONERS
(SENIORS NOTE PARK)* with ‘runs’ as the anagrind.
4 Last car in America has shorter boot in case
CABOOSE
An insertion of BOO[T] in CASE. The insertion indicator is ‘in’ and the Americanism is noted. My SOED marks it as AmEng and defines it as ‘a railway wagon with accommodation for the train crew, typically attached to the end of the train’.
5 Old mare wanders grand estate
EARLDOM
(OLD MARE)* with ‘wanders’ as the anagrind.
6 Veggie meal range is in Latvian store finally
SPANISH OMELETTE
Surprisingly for such a long clue, a charade: of SPAN, IS, HOME, LETT and E for the final letter of ‘store’. LETT is an archaic word for ‘Latvian’; the language is similarly LETTISH.
7 Walkers’ home large and cool amid spreading trees
LEICESTER
A charade of L and ICE inserted into (TREES)* The insertion indicator is ‘amid’ and the anagrind is ‘spreading’. LEICESTER, as well as being notoriously difficult to pronounce for foreigners, is famous for a number of things. One of our most experienced and beloved 225 bloggers lives there; the footie team has just been promoted back to the Premier League; and it is the home of Walkers Crisps. You have no excuse for not knowing that, because national treasure Gary Lineker, who hails from the city, has been advertising the products on the telly for the last umpteen years (but has just handed over the gig to Beckham and Henry). Pay more attention in future.
8 Kebab almost sufficiently cooked
DONE
DONE[R]
9 Fish pie’s crust coated with fish
SEA PERCH
An insertion of PE for the outside letters of ‘pie’ in SEARCH. The insertion indicator is ‘coated with’.
12 Plane carrying meals not able to provide sandwiches
TABLE TOP
Hidden in noT ABLE TO Provide.
14 Embarrassing marks, when you suck at subject you like?
LOVEBITES
Great surface, making you think of exam results. Teenagers these days probably get their kicks in a more explicit way, but back in the day taking the side of your boyfriend or girlfriend’s neck in your mouth and sucking hard left a bruise that demonstrated your affection for them for several days afterwards. Embarrassing? Depended how much you were in lurve. It’s a cd.
17 Sergeant-major carries one close
SIDEARM
An insertion of I and DEAR in S and M. The insertion indicator is ‘carries’, and it’s a cad.
18 Outbreak from feral bats ahead
FLARE UP
A charade of (FERAL)* and UP. The anagrind is ‘bats’.
20 Reptile somewhat resembling a tortoise
GATOR
Hidden in resemblinG A TORtoise.
21 Flat and broad cakes that must be flipped
SNUB
A reversal of BUNS.
LOVEBITES
(My reading was like this:)
The subject you like=(your) LOVE
It sucks=it BITES=you suck at it. If your LOVE BITES that means you suck at it.
Def: A cd as the blog says. Also, it could simply be ’embarrassing marks’.
Top faves: ALL IN GOOD TIME and SIDEARM.
Thanks both.
LOVEBITES more like a badge of honour than an embarrassment? I liked the question mark on ‘the midday sun?’ BROAD DAYLIGHT and
SEA PERCH are my tops. Thanks for the blog Pierre and thanks for the tricky-ish puzzle, Filbert.
Loved this from beginning to end (but didn’t leave any bite marks). Not a bad clue to be seen and some outstanding anagrams, especially 3d. Filbert at his best, I thought.
KVa @1: on this occasion, if I’m reading it aright, I think you are seeking a parse that may not be there. I think LOVEBITES is a straight-out cd. I agree this was another Filbert smasher and, actually imho, not at the tougher end of his range. PARTICLE, BARBARIAN, ECLIPSE, MUPPETRY, SPANISH OMPLETTE, TABLE TOP, LOVEBITES, SIDEARM and GATOR is my list of favourites.
Thanks Filbert and Pierre
I was told to solve this. I’m glad I did. It’s brilliant. Perfect, concise, precise clueing with brilliant surfaces.
PostMark@4
LOVEBITES
As I said in my post @1, it’s certainly a cd. I agree with the explanation given in the blog.
I saw an additional layer. As you say, Flibert may not have meant it to be that way. Still… 🙂
Agree with all the compliments above. This was brilliant from beginning to end.
Perfect Sunday fare. Very enjoyable.
Thanks Filbert, this hit the spot. My top picks were PARTICLE, BARBARIAN, MAHATMA, TAKE NO PRISONERS, CABOOSE, TABLE TOP (took me forever to see this), and SIDEARM. It should be noted that American trains no longer have cabooses; the word, however, remains in use as a way to describe a persons ‘rear end’. Thanks Pierre for the blog.
A 15×15 masterclass. 14dn is IMO far and away the best CD I’ve seen anywhere in as long as I can recall. Bravo setter. Pity so few people (bother to) comment on the Indie.
We have been busy all day and have only just had time late this evening, to start and finish the Indie. Lots to enjoy as others have already said especially 25ac for the surface reading. After Monk’s comment we thought we ought to add something to the blog even though it’s so late.
Has there been a change to the Independent app. I used to be able to access the cryptic crossword for free – now it seems I need a subscription. Hope I am just missing something obvious
Matthew Newell@12
I solved this puzzle yesterday online. No sub. Free.
Thanks KVa. I went back this morning (after a very tough Paul in Grunniad) and all seemed to be back working for me. Glad I still have this option. Now I just have to do the crossword 🙂
Commenting because Monk mentioned the lack of engagement. I do complete the Independent crossword more often than I comment, but usually not on the day, (I’ve completed 10 this month, the app tells me). I save them to while away tube schlepps. This one I finished this morning.
Lots of great clues in this, and I also think LOVEBITES was a great cryptic definition. All in and parsed, except NOTRE-DAME, which was last in, and I forgot to puzzle out.
Thank you to Filbert and Pierre.
Re Monk’s comment on lower engagement: for me it is that I do the Grunniad with my morning coffee and the Independent with late night tea; thus it feels a bit superfluous to comment on a crossword at 2200z or later as it is unlikely to be read. I might start alternating
[matthew newell @16: With the time difference in the US I’m always late to comment but often I do anyway. Many setters read the comments and the bloggers always do. Even if they’re the only two who read what you wrote it’s still worthwhile.]
Loved the mad dog in the midday sun and the atomic particle. Never liked lovebites.