Another carefully-constructed and challenging cryptic from Filbert to brighten our Sunday morning.
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 Nobody climbing from 12 to 7?
STRAWMAN
If you read the part solution/solution to 12d and 7d from the bottom up, you get STRAWMAN.
6 Correct wordplay is hard
PUNISH
A charade of PUN, IS and H.
9 Discourage power-crazy revolutionary
DAMP
A reversal of P and MAD.
10 Spooner’s blend, basic flavour whiskey
SINGLE MALT
Spooner would have this as MINGLE SALT. Interesting choice of spelling for ‘whiskey’. It’s not wrong, but is used for the Irish and American versions of the drink. I’m no expert, but would associate SINGLE MALT with the Scottish product, which would be a whisky. Whiskey is the standard spelling for the NATO/phonetic alphabet, which careful setters always use when they are clueing W.
11 Weapon‘s elm haft troubled man wielding blade
FLAMETHROWER
A charade of (ELM HAFT)* and ROWER. The anagrind is ‘troubled’.
14 Touching melody on piano, more than a tune?
REPAIR
A charade of RE, P and AIR. I think the definition is referring to the fact that if you took your car into the garage for more than just a TUNE-UP, it might constitute a REPAIR.
15 Pre-natal changes concerning dad?
PATERNAL
(PRENATAL)* with ‘changes’ as the anagrind. I made life difficult for myself by initially entering PARENTAL here. Which works. But is wrong.
17 Ravenous Shakers ate sandwiches
FAMISHED
An insertion of AMISH in FED. The insertion indicator is ‘sandwiches’. The Amish and Shakers are both non-conformist Protestant groups, but have separate identities, according to sources that I checked.
19 Leaving home, trainees worked extra long weekend
EASTER
(TRA[IN]EES)* with ‘worked’ as the anagrind.
20 Cold following track across glen, now recovering
CONVALESCENT
A charade of VALE inserted into C, ON and SCENT. The insertion indicator is ‘across’.
23 Thin rope in bad condition, time for chain
CORDILLERA
A charade of CORD, ILL and ERA. A ‘chain’ of mountain ranges.
25 Winter Olympics aerial manoeuvre beginning for Lindsey on chopper
AXEL
A charade of AXE and L. A figure skating jump, named after Norwegian Axel Paulsen, who first performed it in 1882.
26 New pen, say, Charlie gently agitated with line not appearing
CYGNET
A charade of C for the phonetic/NATO alphabet ‘Charlie’ and (GENT[L]Y)* The anagrind is ‘agitated’. Males are cobs, females are pens, and the young are cygnets.
27 Whole form replaced in ceremony by child
TOTALITY
Filbert is inviting you to replace the FORM in FORMALITY with TOT.
Down
2 Improvement in relationship seen during month away
THAW
Hidden in monTH AWay.
3 Name from range in eastern US, you hear
APPELLATION
Aural wordplay (‘you hear’) for APPALACHIAN.
4 Muscly type miles more posh after makeover
MESOMORPH
(M MORE POSH)* with ‘after makeover’ as the anagrind.
5 Express back to Waterloo departing midday’s best
NON-STOP
A charade of NO[O]NS and TOP.
6 Look upset, wearing standard alternative to brown or black?
POLAR
An insertion of LO reversed in PAR. The insertion indicator is ‘wearing’. Your three basic colours of bear are indeed black, brown and white.
7 American war, oh boy, on the rise
NAM
A reversal (‘on the rise’) of MAN. ‘Oh boy’ and ‘Man’ are both expressions of surprise.
8 New Orleans pal producing silent generator
SOLAR PANEL
(ORLEANS PAL)* with ‘new’ as the anagrind.
12 Design shoe during walk with regular gaps, showing what’s better hidden
WARTS AND ALL
An insertion of ART and SANDAL in WL for the even letters of ‘walk’. The insertion indicator is ‘during’.
13 Blue skirts from Amazon received by Sporty Spice, divine
MELANCHOLY
An insertion of AN for the outside letters of ‘Amazon’ in MEL C and HOLY. Sporty Spice is Melanie Chisholm, usually known as MEL C.
16 Scathing daughter put off by fashion mantra
TRENCHANT
A charade of TREN[D] and CHANT.
18 Most genuinely felt insect repellent reduced irritation
DEEPEST
A charade of DEE[T] and PEST. DEET (N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide) is a highly effective, widely used active ingredient in insect repellents, I learned today.
21 Divide a tax on motorists up
ALLOT
A charade of A and TOLL reversed.
22 Round microwave?
HEAT
A dd. ‘I can microwave/heat the ready meal for you.’
24 Retreat without warning, in the second half
DEN
[SUD]DEN
Many thanks to Filbert for this Sunday’s puzzle.
I had the same eyebrow raise as Pierre over the whisky/whiskey but checked on the Web and apparently there are indeed single malts across the Irish sea. No reason why there would not be. American single malt is also a Thing but only officially since January of last year.
FLAMETHROWER, CORDILLERA and MELANCHOLY my faves today.
Thanks both
A few difficulties here. Never heard of Shakers or CORDILLERA. I also entered PARENTAL for 15a. Given the ‘?’ at the end, I feel this fits better than PATERNAL. I had (hid)DEN for 24d but I think (sud)DEN is better. 13d should read AN in MEL C + HOLY.
Such a pleasure to have a Filbert puzzle to enjoy on a Sunday morning, (as always). I liked everything. I had no idea about the insect repellent but the solution was clear and the muscly type was new but the anagram fodder helped. Maybe CYGNET was a favourite and/or STRAW MAN which was last to fall. Thanks for the blog, Pierre. Thanks Filbert.
sofamore’s flagging of STRAWMAN reminds me of the Rebus novels, the only time I have encountered the term before.
I found this a tough grind, I’m afraid; just couldn’t get on the setter’s wavelength.
MELANCHOLY, 12(d), felt awry, ( viz, “blue” is melancholic ), but the noun can double as an adjective, apparently.
In my accountancy years, “a man of straw” was a term applied to someone with very little cash or assets, thus not worth incurring the legal cost of suing them.
Despite my poor performance, a very sound puzzle. Thanks, Fil & Pierre
Comment #6