Independent 7957 by Quixote

by

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def, sp=spoonerism

A fairly standard Quixote with some nice clues. As a sceptic, I rather liked 13 down.
 

Across
1 Trouble Spots: Tots around Roubles + p.
9 Affable: A f fable.
10 Nannies: San< around nine*.
11 Core: C[h]ore.
12 Terminate: Term + in + ate.
14 Smashing: M + ash in sing.
16 Baron: Bar + on.
17 River: [D]river.
18 Tinkling: T + inkling.
20 Camellias: Camel + sail<.
22 Yeti: Ye + it<.
24 Managua: Man + a g(ood) u(niversity).
25 Garment: Gent around arm.
26 Irreverently: (In revel Terry)*.
Down
1 Thatch: That + ch.
2 Oxford Movement: (Oft vexed Mormons)*.
3 Babe: B + Abe.
4 Evert: Evert[on].
5 Pendragon: Pen + dragon.
6 Tennis Ball: (Sent in)* + ball.
7 Disarrangement: (Meandering star)*.
8 Astern: Aster + N.
13 Astrologer: (Star ogler)* around o.
15 Intricate: In + trie[s] around cat.
17 Raceme: “Race me”.
19 Wintry: Win + try.
21 Segue: Sue around EG.
23 Erse: Hidden in “islanders evidently.

6 comments on “Independent 7957 by Quixote”

  1. Thanks, Neil H and Quixote. A very pleasant start to the week, v much on the easy side, I thought, even by Quixote’s standards. Always nice to be able to get a completely unknown word from clear wordplay. That was the case for me with 5 down. I thought the definition of THATCH was rather good.

  2. Thanks Neal. Yes, as nms says, a gentle start to the week, but with some nice touches. I too liked THATCH, and TENNIS BALL had a nice surface.

    Surprised though that Quixote referenced the Chelsea captain in 26ac, on today of all days. His editor is probably still under the duvet (commiserations btw; for once it is true to say that I know how you feel …)

  3. Bit surprised NMS hadn’t come across 5d from the legend of KIng Arthur, yes very easy start to the week, thanks Quixote.

  4. Thanks Quixote for an enjoyable puzzle – some lovely long anagrams – and Neal for the blog.

    24ac: There is a small omission from the explanation: Man + a g(ood) u(niversity) a(cademia).

    1dn: I agree with the comments above: an excellent definition.

    K’s Dad @2: It never occurred to me that 26ac was a reference to any particular Terry.

  6. Thanks; I was travelling, and had no way to check my answers, or to get the two I missed, which were driving me crazy. Cryptics are not as well known in the US, so I couldn’t even discuss the clues with anyone. So thank you, Neal, for sanity, and thank you, Quixote, for a puzzle of just-right difficulty for me.

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