Filbert is a really consistent setter. He’s pretty much a regular in the Independent on Sunday slot, and each week comes up with a deftly constructed and entertaining puzzle.
This week I found the offering a little easier than previous weeks (but that’s probably just me) which fell out steadily. A few references to films and actors in there, but whether it amounts to a theme, I wouldn’t like to say.
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 Pet minds Sam leaving in the morning
CARESS
A charade of CARES and S[AM].
4 Film creatures right inside eviscerated astronauts?
ALIENS
An insertion of LIEN in A[STRONAUT]S. A nod to the film Alien, which did indeed have a famous scene where the little critter emerged directly from John Hurt’s chest. Four takes, 23 litres of fake blood, and a pig’s intestine made it one of the most iconic scenes in 20th century cinema. Not for the fainthearted, which is why I’m not giving you a link.
8 Creator of lottery managed by complete Scrooge
RANDOMISER
A charade of RAN, DO and MISER.
10 Giant boob at Wembley, possibly concerning
OGRE
A charade of OG for ‘own goal’ and RE.
11 Dog willing to hump anyone in designer jeans? On the contrary
BASENJI
Great surface. An insertion of (JEANS)* in BI. The insertion indicator is ‘in’ and ‘willing to hump anyone’ is a slightly provocative definition of someone who is bisexual.
12 President‘s house knocked down
HOOVER
A charade of HO and OVER.
13 Monarchy, British one, stuck with old German character
BRUNEI
An insertion of RUNE in B and I. The insertion indicator is ‘stuck with’.
15 Tramp and horse meet
BUMP INTO
A charade of BUM and PINTO.
17 Husband trapped by murderer noticed weapon in horror
CHAINSAW
An insertion of H in CAIN, the Biblical ‘murderer’ followed by SAW. More film references: this time to the Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
19 Coming back through Lille today, really?
DO TELL
Hidden reversed in LiLLE TODay.
21 Sean Bean stripped off playing Trojan hero
AENEAS
(SEAN [B]EA]N])* with ‘playing’ as the anagrind.
23 Ape that is holding article in hand
IMITATE
An insertion of A in MITT, all inserted into IE for id est or ‘that is’. The two insertion indicators are ‘holding’ and ‘in’.
25 Agreed starting point for white queen?
DONE
In chess notation, the White Queen’s starting square is d1, or D ONE.
26 Lake George had various species of turtle
LOGGERHEAD
A charade of L and (GEORGE HAD)* with ‘various’ as the anagrind.
27 Today cops nearly used guns, booking waster
NO-SHOW
An insertion of SHO[T] in NOW. The insertion indicator is ‘cops’ and the reference is to folk who reserve a table at a restaurant and then don’t turn up. Which is really annoying for the owners. It’s also used in other contexts like airlines, of course.
28 Given no option, monster punches 12’s agent
FORCED
An insertion of ORC in FED, which would be an ‘agent’ in a US administration led by HOOVER. The insertion indicator is ‘punches’.
Edit: as miserableoldhack points out, the reference is to J Edgar Hoover rather than President Herbert Hoover.
Down
1 Slope around hospital room
CHAMBER
An insertion of H in CAMBER.
2 Fair features of women marrying with face hidden?
RIDES
[B]RIDES
3 Almost half opposed to crosswords on vacation — language issues?
SEMANTICS
A charade of SEM[I], ANTI and C[ROSSWORD]S.
5 Structure supporting weight beneath large tree
LARCH
A charade of L and ARCH.
6 Marx among others once mucked around with duck film
ECONOMIST
A charade of (ONCE)*, O and MIST, with ‘mucked around’ as the anagrind. Another clever surface, suggesting one of the comic brothers in Duck Soup, so another film reference; but the solution is Karl Marx, mostly referenced today as a revolutionary socialist because of his publication of The Communist Manifesto, but who was foremost a philosopher, social and political theorist and economist.
7 Too much sport on waves, with cup match coming up
SURFEIT
A charade of SURF and TIE reversed.
9 Maybe leg breaks cast that accommodates leg bend
SPIN BOWLING
An insertion of PIN and BOW in SLING. The insertion indicator is ‘that accommodates’.
14 Having no hooter keeps one quiet
NOISELESS
An insertion of I in NOSELESS. The insertion indicator is ‘keeps’.
16 Spaniard crazy with anger, wouldn’t you say?
MADRILENO
A charade of MAD, RILE and NO. Another good surface from Filbert, no?
18 Did weed have a dance?
HOEDOWN
A charade of HOED and OWN.
20 Pull fish up to one side of the boat
LEEWARD
A reversal of DRAW EEL.
22 Sudden burst of five entering hairdressers’ wanting trim
SALVO
An insertion of V in SALO[N] with ‘entering’ as the insertion indicator.
24 Case of delish locally certified bottles for the occasion
AD HOC
An insertion of DH for the outside letters of ‘delish’ in AOC for Appellation d’Origine Contrôllée, part of the French certification system for their wines. The insertion indicator is ‘bottles’.
Many thanks to Filbert for this Sunday’s puzzle.
I also found this one easier than usual but no less enjoyable. ‘Booking waster’ in NO-SHOW and the surface for BASENJI as Pierre has noted, among my favourites. I liked the reference to Duck Soup. I’ve just finished Zoo, set in Nazi Germany where the author called it ‘Broth of the Bird’ although I think the German title was actually Die Marx Brothers Im Krieg. Thanks Pierre and Filbert.
Another cracking puzzle from Filbert who, as Pierre says, is a consistently fine setter.
In FORCED, I’m pedantically forced to point out that the HOOVER referenced isn’t the president of that name as in 12ac, but J Edgar, who ran the FBI for decades. Another excellent clue. Thanks F&P.
Of course, moh, it’s J Edgar rather than Herbert. My bad.
I too found this slightly easier than usual, but no less enjoyable.I liked LEEWARD for the very smooth surface. When Bluejacket introduced me to a chess notation clue with Height (h8) the other day, I wondered if there were other possible ways of using it.