Challenging and really entertaining – need help explaining 26 across
Across
8 IDLE out of a job (Eric – Monty Python)
9 CHATELAINE mistress of castle CHAT (talk) ELAINE (girl)
10 PITA Greek bread hidden in [hos]PITA[l]
11 WAGE FREEZE no chance of a raise
Z (unknown amount) in (WE AGREE FE[w])*
13 CRÈME DE MENTHE green liquid
REMED[y] (solution almost) in CEMENT glue HE man
15 EPISCOPAL CHURCH see people – diocese
(CLOSE UP RICH CHAP)*
19 PEOPLE CARRIER highway monster
O duck (PLACE)* in PERRIER water
24/7 TWENTY-FOUR SEVEN! – all the time
26 FEET OF CLAY hidden defects
Down
1 HIP POCKET found in trousers HIPPO huge beast [pa]CKET
3/2/27 WHO ATE ALL THE PIES &lit question
P[asties] in (SO ATHLETE A WHILE)*
4 ETHEREAL fine [sw]E[et] THE article REAL true
5 CLARET drink CLARE college T time
6 LIFE PEER noble IF providing EPEE weapon in L[eft] R[ight]
12 MERC Mercedes German car ME (I) Roman Catholic
14 WHERE ELSE nowhere better ER queen in WHEELS car [palac]E
16 IN PIECES shattered I (single) P[aren’t] in NIECES relatives
17 PALE FACE Native American for white man – not brave
18/25 HARD TIME unpleasant experience H[itler] (I DREAMT)*
20 OUTBOX defeat in boxing ring – computer file
21 COUGAR cat [t]OUG[h] in CAR Jaguar perhaps
22 IRITIS eye inflammation I (sounds like eye) R (runs) IT IS (confirmation)
23 STIFF dd (hard and to cheat)
( )* = anagram [ ] = omit dd = double definition
26A is a reference to Muhammad Ali/Cassius Clay’s self proclaimed ‘floating like a butterfly’ referring to his footwork in the ring.
Hound dog beat me to 26. Was expecting more rude stuff from punk but nice linked theme. Cheers jed.
24/7 made me laugh out loud.
I’m with Dormouse. 24/7 inventive and hilarious. Best thanks Punk and Jed.
How does ‘I’m the Pope’ lead to ‘I’m RC’? Surely ‘the Pope’ is not a definition of ‘RC’.
Otherwise a good crossword (apart from those 40% checked answers, but I think that is a lost cause).
Comment #5 reminds me of a billboard campaign by a drinks company some years ago which read “Are you going for a pint?”
Someone wrote underneath it “Is the Pope a Catholic?”
We started the puzzle late last night and then were too tired to finish it! The last few clues were filled in this morning with 24/7 being a real laugh out loud moment! A great start to the day – thanks Punk!
Thanks Jed for the blog.
Punk has decided to blog all his puzzles in his various guises on his crossword centenary site. Here is a link to his explanation for this puzzle:
http://100yearsofcrosswords.co.uk/?p=142
Word play for 17D omitted -f[emale] in (or accessing) lea (field) all in pace (walk). Pa[le(f}a]ce.