Guardian 25,785 – Rufus

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Typically gentle and pleasant from Rufus. Favourite clues 16ac and 13dn.

Across
1 IMPRECISE =”Approximate” (price semi)*
6 POOL double def. =”People available”; =”a game”
8 INSCRIBE =”Write letters” IN + CRIB=”bed” inside S[outh] and E[ast]=”quarters”
9 PURIFY =”Make clear” (fry-up)* around I=”one”
10 BRAISE =”cook” B=”note” + RAISE=”more money”
11 AGONISED =”Suffered” (so gained)*/td>
12 EGOISM =”vanity” EGO is Latin for “I” + IS + M=Roman numeral for a thousand=”many”
15 TRIALIST =”this person may prove their promise” TRIAL=”Court case” + (it’s)*
16 CONFINED =”jailed” CON=”Swindle” + FINED=”made to pay”
19 EATING you might get a pie for this (Get in a)* “pie” can mean a jumble of printing type, hence an anagrind
21 ASIAN FLU =”serious complaint” AU=”Gold” outside of [the opposite of “in”] (finals)*
22 DEPOSE =”Put down” (PE does)*
24 LOSERS cryptic def
25 LOLLIPOP double def =”Sweet”; =”sort of lady giving children guidance”
26 STOP =”stay” rev(POT’S)=”Kitty’s”
27 ONSLAUGHT =”attack” (Talons hug)*
Down
1 INNER =”pretty good shot” just missing the bull’s-eye in archery [w]INNER=”Victor”, without w[est]
2 PUCCINI =”composer” (Picnic)* around U=”posh”
3 ELITE =”Pick” [of the bunch, etc] rev(TILE)=old slang for “hat” + [leav]E
4 INEXACT =”It’s not right” IN + ACT=”law” around EX=”divorcee”
5 EXPLOSIVE =”like jelly” [gelignite] the MK 2 hand grenade [wiki] was known as the “pineapple”
6 PARTIAL double def =”Fond of”; =”to some extent”
7 OFF SEASON =”when trade is slack” OFF=”Not on” + SEASON=”time”
13 GOOD SPORT =”likeable chap” stevedores would work at a GOODS PORT
14 MANIFESTO =”Promises of party” MANIFEST=”show” + O=”ring”
17 FRAME-UP =”conspiracy” snooker is played in rounds called “frames”
18 DOUBLES =”Big drinks” a doubles match might bring people to e.g. a tennis court
20 TIPPING double def =”Upsetting” [e.g. a tray]; =”habit in restaurants”
22 DELTA cryptic def at the mouth of a river
23 STOUT double def =”Full-bodied”; =”drink”

24 comments on “Guardian 25,785 – Rufus”

  1. Thanks Rufus and manehi.

    For 17, I thought of ‘balls up’ before enlightenment.

    I particularly liked EXPLOSIVE, GOOD SPORT and DOUBLES. I well remember ASIAN FLU and it was pretty nasty.

  2. I didn’t really like my answer of HOMEYS for 24ac so thanks, Manehi, fo putting me right. And thanks Rufus for a short but rather pleasant struggle.

  3. “lollipop lady” >smacks forehead< & me with a school over the road too. my excuse is they don't appear to have lollipop ladies in madrid, though I may be wrong & in any case, that's no excuse. :-/

    d.

  4. Thanks manehi and Rufus

    An enjoyable puzzle, a bit harder in places than some Rufus offerings. Many good surfaces and clever ideas in the clues.

    I ticked 6a, 12a, 16a, 14d, 17d, 20d, 22d.

    I was held up for a time by 24a – there seemed so many possibilities. I nearly tried ‘movers’ as dancers to a beat on a record track but the penny dropped before I committed myself to that.

  5. Thanks Rufus and Manehi, particularly for your ‘jumbled type’ explanation. I had darts in mind, not archery, for 1d, which I suppose is a sign of my misspent youth. As you say, a pleasant Monday, though with perhaps a few more teeth than some recent challenges.

  6. Thanks manehi and Rufus. I was on his wavelength today, and found this enjoyable, though brief.

    Hi Duncan, I forgot about the lollipop lady, too. Maybe it does have something to do with living in Spain.

    One year when I was young, our lollipop lady was given an O.B.E. or something for her years of service 🙂

  7. Thank you Rufus. Liked 11a, 3d and 22d in particular – lovely surfaces.
    Had to guess 5d, so thank you Manehi for your explanation. I’ve led a blessedly sheltered life.

  8. Hello all. I think the Molotov Cocktail was known as the pineapple too.

    Good one today by Rufues, enjoyed it.

    Cheers,
    Rowly.

  9. Thanks rufus and manehi.

    I had confidently put in TAGINE for 19ac, so the SE corner took rather longer than it should have!

    Didn’t see LOSERS either.

  10. Thanks all
    When you come across a puzzle where 90% of the clues need no more than reading to solve but you are left with three or four to think about, then you do feel a certain but limited sense of satisfaction.
    This was not one such puzzle.

  11. Many thanks Manehi & Rufus – if it really was set by Rufus.

    A tad harder than usual and there were no nautical references that I could see.

    But none the worse for that.

    Will the real Setter now please put his hand up?

  12. Muffin @9, I had exactly the same problems as you. Decided on LOSERS after comparison of other possibilities – not Rufus’s finest hour, this clue, I think.

  13. Re: LOSERS – if I hadn’t been blogging this puzzle and having to look for a reasonable explanation, I’d have left this as my initial MOPERS.

  14. Thanks manehi and Rufus. A nicely constructed if somewhat easy puzzle. RCW @10. Your droll put down made me smile. Stella Heath @ 6. In very rural southern Spain where I live we don’t need them. Lollipop Ladies that is. From the link you left me on the Paul blog I guess you are up north. If they did exist do you think they would be Damas de la paleta

  15. As regards 24a I couldn’t decide from amongst BOXERS, DOZERS or MOWERS. I still don’t see where the track come in for losers.

  16. Thanks manehi and Rufus.
    As per other comments, I tried various possibilities for 24a, including cOmEtS
    Why is LOSERS the answer?

  18. I find any cryptic crossword a bit like running ten miles.

    I’m always pleased I can do it at all.

    I found a bit more in this than some Mondays’ too.

  19. The fuss about losers is surely a bit contrived.
    If you are ‘beaten’ you are a loser, by definition.
    You might be, but not essentially, several other things which are quoted above.
    The ‘track’ reference just makes the obvious more obvious.

  20. Usual Monday fare.

    However, having considered the options, I rejected LOSERS preferring ROVERS.

    As with many a RUFUS there isn’t really a definitive answer. (Except of course the one he chose to which there is no certain path! :-()

  21. 24ac – I settled on “covers” with beaten track as the definition. Beaters beat the covers in a pheasant shoot. Just my aristo upbringing 🙂

  24. RCW @23 Actually very close. 🙂 But “The Plastics” are not to be mentioned in football circles in my home town!

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