*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone
I found this surprisingly easy, given it was littered with the sort of clues that I normally struggle with (e.g. double definitions involving the names of celebrities). Most of the clues were well written and the surface meanings were good.
| Across | |
|---|---|
| 1 | Cataclysm: (a city’s calm – i)*. The events of September 11th, 2001, are probably too well known for many people to be fooled into thinking this was a reference to clues 9 and 11, but a neat idea nonetheless. |
| 6 | Paris: Par + is. Paris was a figure in the Trojan War against the Greeks. |
| 9 | Anita: A n I + t[ennis] + a. The definition was Anita Roddick, the founder of the Body Shop, rather than Andy Roddick, the tennis player. |
| 10 | Partridge: Double definition – reference to Alan Partridge, Steve Coogan’s fictional TV presenter. |
| 11 | Rhubarb: double/cryptic definition. Rhubarb is pretend dialogue spoken by actors on stage, hence the reference to the house. |
| 13 | In short: In + Short. Nigel Short is a chess player. |
| 14 | Small minded: (demands ill)* around m. |
| 15 | Boa: boa[t]. |
| 16 | Fry: Double def, although “fry up” would be more common. Reference to Stephen Fry, the TV presenter. |
| 17 | Regent’s Park: EG in Rent + spark. |
| 19 | Falls to: All in F + sto[w]. |
| 21 | Examine: Hidden in Rex a minefield. |
| 23 | Up and down: (pawn old’un)*. |
| 25 | Sugar: Double definition. I’m not familiar with sugar as meaning money, so I got this fairly late. The other part is a reference to Alan Sugar, who seems to be better known these days for the TV series the Apprentice than for any business achievements. |
| 26 | Theme: Hidden in anthem explained. |
| 27 | Kidnapped: hom. of Kidd (Jodie Kidd) + napped. |
| Down | |
| 1 | Chair: Ch + air. |
| 2 | Tributary: Cryptic definition. I’ve never been sure whether the justification for river as banker is just that a river has banks or if a banker genuinely is a word for a river. |
| 3 | Chagall: Call around ha[n]g. Art not being a strong point of mine, this was the last one I got. |
| 4 | Yap: Hidden in rockery a pet. |
| 5 | Morris Dance: M + (carried on)* around S. Might have been more topical later in the year, but a great &lit nevertheless. |
| 6 | Phrased: sharp* + ed. |
| 7 | Rodeo: Cryptic def. Neat is an alternative word for a cow. |
| 8 | Sweet tallk: Stalk around wee t[erritory]. |
| 12 | Bring to book: cryptic/double definition. |
| 14 | Soft fruit: Suit around o FT + fr. |
| 15 | Bearing up: bearing + up (up = at university). |
| 17 | Residue: (S[u]re idea)*. |
| 18 | Swansea: [new sa[g]a)*. |
| 20 | Lease: L + ease. |
| 22 | Erred: Hom of ‘urd – a reference to the former cabinet minister, Douglas Hurd, I think. |
| 24 | Nod: Don<. One of those reversals where you’re not quite sure which bit is being reversed. Fortunately 23 across was very easy, which resolved the issue quickly. |
I found this quite easy too and enjoyable with my favourite clues 6 down and 15 down. Quite a few references to people, most of which I understood, but the clues were fairly easy so this was not a problem.
Just done this one while waiting in A+E and, yes, reasonably enjoyable. A lot of debate about tenses for today’s Rufus but one in here I wasn’t sure about. To be exhibited, hung, to exhibit, hang?
Was 5 dn just a co-incidence on the day Morris Dancing was said to be in danger of dying out?
I was puzzled by 5d because Maypole Dancing is not a form of Morris Dancing, which has different origins.