Dac?! On a Thursday!? After Phi’s unexpected appearance yesterday, I assumed that Dac was probably due a Saturday slot, we’d have a date-related puzzle tomorrow and that today would be the usual Thursday torment. I’ve dodged a bullet here, clearly.
I don’t think I’ve ever blogged a bad word about a Dac puzzle. I’m beginning to think I never will. This was fantastic stuff, as always.
| Across | |
|---|---|
| 1 | PRODUCER – PRO DUCE [-wa]R |
| 9 | INTERSTATE – [-w]INTER STATE |
| 10 | SODA – SO + DeAr |
| 11 | HOLD UP – Double def. |
| 12 | IN THE END – HE in IN (home) + TEND (care) |
| 13 | UNMOVING – Double def. |
| 15 | BRIDLE – “Bride’ll” |
| 16 | ADVENT – A D[-ecember] VENT |
| 18 | END USERS – (RUDENESS)* |
| 20 | EYESIGHT – YES in EIGHT |
| 22 | IMPISH – 1’S in 1 MPH |
| 24 | MINX – MIN[-ute] + X (kiss) |
| 25 | LAVATORIAL – LAVA (outpouring) + TO + [-b]LAIR rev. |
| 26 | RE-EDIT – (DIETER)* |
| 27 | LINGERER – GER. in LINER |
| Down | |
| 2 | RUN-DOWN – Cryptic def. |
| 3 | DREAD – RE: in DAD |
| 4 | CASHPOINT – (I CAN’T SHOP) * &lit. |
| 5 | READING FESTIVAL – (LIVE SINGER A TAD) * about F |
| 6 | SWEET – “Suite” |
| 7 | MYSTERIES – T[-hese] in MY (Dac’s) SERIES (collection) |
| 8 | ORDINAL – (IN ROAD)* + L |
| 14 | OVERSEXED – VERSE + X in OED |
| 15 | BADMINTON – BAD + M(ale) + INT(ernational) + ON |
| 17 | DAYTIME – (TIDE MAY)* |
| 19 | RESTAGE – AGE after REST |
| 21 | GILET – G.I on LET (leave) |
| 23 | PER SE – Hidden in camPER’S Equipment |
Hi, you missed out 6 across which is ‘summon’
Thanks, Ali. I think I commented a little while ago that we get so few words on the blog from commenters about Dac, but that it’s a reflection of the quality of his puzzles and the soundness of his clueing. In other words (unlike in Another Place) there’s seldom anything to go on about!
Today I was amused in particular by the two intersecting X clues: MINX and OVERSEXED. But there were many other good offerings too. The boy’s got talent.
Boss man tomorrow, then?
Thanks for the blog, Ali, and to Dac, another setter you can depend on for an enjoyable puzzle.
Favourites were 20A EYESIGHT, 25A LAVATORIAL, and 14D OVERSEXED, all a pleasure to parse.
Yes, this was very good and not too difficult. Thanks, Dac, and Ali for the blog. Favourite clues SUMMON (great surface), I think, Draig, Ali may have just missed it by accident it’s MO N after SUM, I think. and MYSTERIES
Ah yes, apologies, I missed 6A out for some reason. Thanks Niall for adding it in.
I liked 20ac too – ‘seeing sense’ was a lovely definition for EYESIGHT.
24 Naughty girl’s 30-second kiss (4)
Why is this minx? There are 60 seconds in a minute, aren’t there? I don’t get it.
Thomas99
30 seconds is half a minute which gives MIN[ute] and this is followed by X (the symbol for a kiss).
Particular mention for 4dn cashpoint, and 8dn ordinal from me: real ‘Oh yes’ moments. Got stuck on the idea that the latter began with an ‘m’.
Thanks Ali.
Super stuff from the ever reliable Dac.
I thought 4 down was a brilliant &lit and also liked the very clever definition in 20 across.
The NW corner was a bit slow for me till I realised 1a wasn’t a personal name, but then it all came together.
But great stuff as usual from Dac