Another brilliant puzzle from Brendan, where (no spoiler alert needed, I think) almost every clue contains a reference to doubling of some kind…
… two exceptions being those for 13a and 8d, where the answer begins with DOUBLE, followed by [a]CROSS and DOWN. Very nice indeed – thanks to Brendan.
| Across | ||||||||
| 5 | TAHITI | That island repeatedly disturbed this island (6) Anagram of THAT + twice I[sland] |
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| 6 | DEALER | Person distributing shares is fraudster if doubly so (6) A fraudster is a double dealer |
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| 9 | COLORADO | Shade in US area, with same again for state (8) COLOR (US spelling of colour, shade) + A[rea] + DO (ditto, the same again) |
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| 10 | PAWPAW | More than once, clumsily handle fruit (6) PAW (handle clumsily) twice |
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| 11 | POOH | Bear what is ridicule if repeated (4) Winnie the Pooh, and to ridicule is to pooh-pooh |
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| 12 | SUBSECTION | Replacement notices changed as one result of twice dividing (10) SUB (substitute, replacement) + NOTICES* |
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| 13 | DOUBLE-CROSS | Cheat producing score in old notation (6-5) A score is 20, which is XX (two crosses) in Roman numerals, an “old notation” |
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| 18 | BADEN BADEN | Initially beat a retreat, then once more in German town (5-5) B[eat] A DEN (retreat), twice |
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| 21 | GROW | Good argument for double, for example (4) G + ROW – doubling in size would be an example of growing |
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| 22 | BETRAY | Reveal 13 (6) Double definition |
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| 23 | WITTIEST | With it in audition, one most like to make others double up (8) W[ith] + IT + I (one) in TEST (audition) |
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| 24 | SAUNAS | Continent reflected about multinational group in hot spots (6) UN (international group) in SA (South America) and its “reflection” |
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| 25 | RINGER | Doppelgänger translated from writer in German (6) Hidden in writeR IN GERman |
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| Down | ||||||||
| 1 | CHOO-CHOO | Train – train endlessly, train endlessly (4-4) SCHOOL without its “ends”, twice |
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| 2 | STRAPS | Secures in carriage, sandwiched between twin sons (6) TRAP (a horse-drawn carriage) in two S[on]s |
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| 3 | REAPPEAR | Once more show up a rep being doubly wrong (8) Two different anagrams of A REP |
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| 4 | BLEW IT | Lost opportunity in double withdrawal (4,2) Hidden in douBLE WIThdrawal |
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| 5 | TOO-TOO | Moreover, encored excessively (3-3) TOO (moreover) twice; “excessively” as in Hamlet’s “O, that this too too solid flesh would melt,” though that doesn’t use a hyphen |
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| 7 | REASON | Indication of ‘again’ verbally supported by a boy, and why (6) RE (as a prefix, an indication of “again”) + A SON |
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| 8 | DOUBLED DOWN | Reaffirmed commitment, thus made pillow much softer (7,4) If you double the amount of down in a pillow then it would be softer |
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| 14 | BOB DYLAN | Nobel Laureate who lyrically discouraged doublethink (3,5) A reference to the 1962 Bob Dylan song “Don’t think twice, it’s all right”, which was the B side of “Blowin’ in the Wind” |
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| 15 | SIGNINGS | New members of team reorganised Sing Sing (8) (SING SING)* |
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| 16 | PAPERS | Guardian etc. added section about double (6) APER (a copier, double) is PS (postscript, added section) |
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| 17 | MOUSER | Second person on computer is chasing kitty (6) MO (moment, second) + USER (person on computer), giving a cat that chases mice |
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| 19 | EARFUL | Reprimand making one sad or scared, losing head – it’s even worse in stereo? (6) A headless TEARFUL or FEARFUL – not sure about the “worse in stereo” bit |
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| 20 | NITWIT | Silly ass – it follows direction repeatedly (6) N (direction) + IT + W (another direction) + IT |
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Thanks Brendan and Andrew
Yes, very clever, but also rather tedious – much more fun to set than solve, I think.
I did like MOUSER.
I wondered if the in stereo in 19dn might be a homophone indicator and earful might become awful. It’s a stretch!
Yes, lots of fun. Couldn’t parse PAPERS, but a bit of a tour de force. Many thanks to B & A.
Enjoyable puzzle. Great blog.
Thanks Brendan and Andrew.
REASON
‘verbally’ because ‘re’ basically modifies a verb?
EARFUL
Does ‘stereo’ indicate twice of EARFUL (whimsically)?
Like muffin@1, I was left indifferent towards this, despite the cleverness. Perhaps it was too soon after the last Brendan pan-theme, but whereas the trees one didn’t interfere greatly with the clueing in that prize puzzle, here I felt the puzzle suffered to the point that I found parts of it tedious and forced.
That said, DOUBLE-CROSS was excellent and I’m kicking myself for failing to parse it, and I also didn’t twig the DOUBLE-CROSS / DOUBLED DOWN relevance to crosswording, which in hindsight was probably the neatest part of it all.
I assume the reference in EARFUL is that two earfuls simultaneously would be stereo. I don’t see what “verbally” is doing in REASON.
Cheers to Brendan for the effort, and to Andrew for the blog.
Couldn’t miss the theme, which helped with the solving, making it perhaps a bit too easy.
I did have the thought that DOUBLED DOWN in a pillow wouldn’t make it softer if it was already stuffed full.
Favourites COLORADO, MOUSER.
Thanks Andrew and Brendan.
For Goodness’ sake … I can understand the setters who choose not to read the blogs. Were I Brendan, how disappointing I would find comment #1. Could you not have waited a bit, muffin, so at least the snipe would have appeared a little further down the page? I could not disagree with you more. A masterclass in pretty much every aspect of the setter’s art – from grid selection, to choice and positioning of solutions, to the brilliant cluing. And it would have taken a long time to make all that fit together so, no, not a question of easier/more fun for the setter. Chapeau to Brendan; an absolute tour de force.
Thanks to both
Brendan sometimes reminds me of a precocious student who rather than just write the set essay, completes it in pig Latin, backwards
Individually there were some good clues here but as a whole the pudding felt somewhat over-egged
I’ll leave others to marvel at his brilliance
Cheers A&B
I’ve heard the phrase ‘double earful’ to mean a severe scolding, such as the manager of a football team might deliver to an underperforming team during the half-time interval.
I thought it was brilliant too – and really enjoyable seeing how many ways Brendan had included the theme in the clues and solutions.
I read EARFUL as AP @5 – getting an earful in both ears would be doubly bad. (and when/if the comment above appears, it was on hold for approval when I typed this>)
Thank you to Brendan and Andrew
Even though it was pretty obvious what was going on with the doubling up effect it took me a while to get on Brendan’s wavelength. Such that I was tending to (successfully each time) guess what the solution might me, but puzzled by the exact clueing, hitting the Reveal button. Certainly with CHOO CHOO and TOO TOO. And at one point, with DOUBLE CROSS in place and Y already in at the tail end of 22ac I impetuously dashed in Twenty there. As in XX representing the Roman numerals. However, having said all that, great ingenuity as ever from this wonderful setter, with Andrew explaining everything so concisely…
A third of the way through I started to feel the theme was becoming a bit forced/joyless but was won back over by the quality and variety of the remainder of the clues and finished thinking it was a lovely puzzle. Thanks.
I’m with you @ Postmark #7.
I don’t want to carp, but I also felt that this puzzle was a bit too clever for its own good. A tour de force but some contrived clues. I enjoyed the solve so won’t complain.
I failed to parse WITTIEST and DOUBLE CROSS but they were obvious answers. I had a smile over BOB DYLAN and the song reference. Favourite DOUBLED DOWN. Incidentally I recently discovered that this widely used phrase comes from the casino game Blackjack.
I can add nothing to Postmark’s comment @7, apart from the usual thanks to Brendan and to Andrew (I’m glad it was you blogging.)
We’re in the ” thoroughly enjoyed it” group, marvelling at the ingenuity therein.
Thanks Brendan! Always happy to see your name at the top of a puzzle
I’ll add myself to the ‘this was brilliant’ camp.
I’m amazed Brendan has copped so much flak. This was one of the most fun crosswords ever, IMO
I really enjoyed this – not only the way Brendan slipped a theme into every clue but also the way he managed self-referential across and down clues which crossed in the centre, doubling the cleverness. I much prefer this kind of theme to, say, finding the names of works by a Bolivian poet or three thousand different meanings of the word “book”. It’s like a fugue or a cannon – the composer sets themselves a limitation and then works around and outside that to surprise and delight. That’s just me though – clearly others didn’t enjoy as much.
Thank you Andrew and Brendan.
Brilliant puzzle, so playful and witty – fully agree with Postmark@7 et al. Many thanks to Brendan, and to Andrew for the blog, I needed help with parsing 16 down.
“Brilliant” was my thinking too. Boy, do I love a Brendan!
The double-(a)cross and double-down went over my head and was the cherry on top. So thank you Andrew for highlighting that and thank you Brendan for yet another wonderful puzzle! (Or is that yapelzzu? 😉 )
Brendan’s ingenuity never fails to amaze me. Every puzzle is a work of art.
My thanks to him and to Andrew.
Interesting theme of doublings but I found this quite tricky to solve and it was hard or impossible to parse all my answers.
Favourites: BOB DYLAN (don’t think twice); DEALER.
I could not parse 13ac, 1d, 5d, 16d, 17d as well as 9ac DO = same again.
I enjoyed this, very clever and witty but unfortunately finished in record time. That’s certainly not a complaint!
I was in the negative camp on themes the other day, but I thought this was fine because there was some point to it for the solver, not just the setter. I enjoyed it.
One of the solutions almost appeared at the weekend, which helped me spot it more quickly today (I trust that’s oblique enough not to be a spoiler).
It was all about the theme, though, so I don’t have any particular favourite clues.
Thanks Brendan and Andrew
Interesting point, KVa @4, I can’t think of a re- that is followed by not a verb … hmm re-infusion …
Brilliant puzzle! Loved it. Thanks Brendan! Also to Andrew for parsing ‘double-cross’.
… reinvestment … oh well 🙂
I posted a simple ‘brilliant’ on the G thread last night and that’s all that was needed. Fully with PM @7. With Brian we are blessed, no reference to the loud thespian intended.
Ta Brendan & Andrew.
Coming in late, I know, but I could have stood on a chair and cheered loudly, PostMark@7, when I read your indignant riposte. Perhaps some people have such unhappy lives that they can only take pleasure in being the one who always grumbles – every single, blessed day – thus (they hope) demonstrating how far superior they are to all the sad saps who enjoy displays of master wit and ingenuity? Can’t think why these disconsolate types keep on bothering with crosswords. For me and probably the vast majority of solvers, the daily Guardian crossword gives me a surge of life-enhancing pleasure and an opportunity to marvel at the brilliant setters. Thank you Brendan, for what you do so consummately.
…and when BOB DYLAN appeared in the grid, wonderfully cleverly clued, I did think back to when I bought his vinyl double album Blonde on Blonde in the Sixties. Perhaps one of the very first double albums. And I played it over and over again….
For me, the pleasure of crosswords lies not only in the process of solving, but also in the appreciation of the ingenuity of the setter and enjoyment of the intricacy of the English language, so I am always happy to see Brendan’s name. Should the editor have put the last two puzzles further apart? Maybe. Are some solutions, like choo-choo and Baden Baden, gettable from the theme rather than the word play? Perhaps, but all that is made up for by the delight in the puzzle as a whole.
grantinfreo@26
REASON
Verbs or verbal nouns…should we say?
Otherwise, there should be some other explanation for ‘verbally’.
EARFUL
me@4 contd…
I meant to say the same thing as what AP@5 said. Probably, I didn’t
word my comment well.
‘Stereo’ fits in the DOUBLE theme as well. There’s a DOUBLE in the
WP-1 (tearful or fearful). DOUBLE WP with each clueing something DOUBLE.
I think this is one of the better themed crosswords I’ve seen in a while; sure we were whacked over the head with the theme repeatedly but to sustain it through every clue with a decent quality deserves a good amount of credit.
Compared with some of the in-jokes and overwrought ideas you sometimes get in themed cryptics, I’m surprised this one has drawn the criticism it has. May just be the first comment setting the tone of discussion though…
Thank you Brendan and Andrew!
Well said Postmark@7 and TerriBlislow@30! Most commentators seem to appreciate the brilliance of Brendan’s craft, but if you don’t, there’s always the Telegraph!
Another one agreeing with PostMark @7. An ingenious puzzle, as always with Brendan. And a puzzle with a theme (even one not so comprehensive and brilliant as this) is more fun than a puzzle without it, ceteris paribus.
I messed up PAPERS – couldn’t parse them and instead opted for CARERS, which also meet the definition and which I wouldn’t parse, either, but vaguely thought of “about double” CA and RE :(. Kicking myself – it wasn’t TOO-TOO difficult. The rest wasn’t, either, and much fun. Thanks Brendan and Andrew!
PM@7 From what I know of Mr Gleeson I can’t imagine he’ll lose much sleep over what muffin, myself or anyone else here thinks of his crossword. I’d like to think this is a forum where people can feel free, subject to the site guidelines, to express their opinions without being castigated by other users. TB@30 I’m sure, if you put your mind to it, you could find a way to disagree with people without insulting them or impugning their motives?
14d is a work of genius, containing a work of genius.
An earful in stereo would be two earfuls, twice as bad.
bodycheetah @37: I’m sure the Irish actor won’t lose any sleep whatsoever!
I’m with PostMark@7, Auriga@22, TerriBlislow@30, and many others.
Brendan is a fine setter. I enjoyed this crossword tremendously – especially the clues for DOUBLE-CROSS and BOB DYLAN.
Thanks as well to Andrew for the blog. I needed your help with the parsing of WITTIEST (I was fooled by the word “audition”) and CHOO-CHOO (I rarely remember that “endlessly” can mean both ends).
Very clever and enjoyable as always from Brendan. Great theme, brilliantly carried out, particularly the two DOUBLE answers crossing across the middle.
(bodycheetah @37: I’m not sure if “Mr Gleeson” is a joke, but if not you’ve got the wrong Brendan 🙂 )
Many thanks Brendan and Andrew.
I usually agree with Muffin, but in this case I beg to differ. That said, I think PM@7 is rather over the top.
Failed to parse PAPERS and didn’t see REASON at all. The grid led me to expect a Nina, but that would have been a lot to ask.
Th8s was fun. What more could I ask for?
Thanks to Brendan and Andrew
No complaints at all
I became hooked on Brendan from when I solved his remarkable crossword in which the letter ‘e’ was not used in any answer or indeed in any clue (to my shame, I didn’t notice whilst solving but alerted to the fact on this site). Since then, I marvel at the range of tricks and devices he uses. Today’s was another fun puzzle – not overly easy but ingenious and entertaining. It certainly started the day off well for me. Thanks Brendan for the enjoyment and thanks Andrew for filling in one or two parsings for me.
Just to be a bit picky, should 23a read “one most likely to” rather than “one most like to”?
Joining the chorus of approval here – I thought it was a lovely, witty crossword.
Clyde@40 I vaguely recall an intense debate here some time ago over whether “endlessly” could refer to both the start and the finish, possibly because the word “end” does doubly-duty in English. I doubt anybody would object to “he cut both ends off the loaf”, perhaps because there is no inherent directionality to a loaf. Similarly both ends of a stick, a street, etc.
It becomes a bit stickier, IMO, for things that do have a directionality and therefore one might distinguish the start and the end (finish), such as a race, a word, or a debate.
Some puzzles have a theme in the clues, some have a theme in the answers. Few manage to have a theme in both. OK it was the same theme – appropriate as we are on the subject of doubling – but expecting two independent themes would be asking too much. Has anyone ever achieved such a feat? I’m sure some here with long memories might be able to say
Many thanks to Brenda and Andrew
I enjoyed this very much but I think muffin @1 is entitled to offer his take on the crossword without being overly criticised. Brendan is always ingenious and I liked COLORADO with its shade, visited again. I also liked BADEN-BADEN with its beat in retreat, the well-hidden RINGER, and the computer user chasing kitty.
Thanks Brendan and Andrew.
after failing to see how RENEWED VOWS could possibly fit, I managed to have “SETTLED DOWN” figuring that you can make a pillow softer by fluffing it until I was disabused by the check button for 12ac. Minor note that in 25ac I think “translated” is part of the definition.
Thanks Brendan and Andrew!
I’d never heard of “Don’t Think Twice, it’s All Right” and assumed “discouraged doublethink” referred to Pennebaker’s film, “Dont (sic) Look Back”. Andrew’s parsing makes more sense. The “B-side” song is a bit obscure (to me anyway) but no complaints. A great crossword.
A question. Paddy Melon (also present here) on the Guardian site seems to suggest there is a theme in all of the solutions as well as a ghost theme. Is there a theme in addition to the “doubling” or have I misunderstood Paddy’s comment in the Guardian?