An easy solve today, but enjoyable.
…………….
Thank you to aztobesed for pointing out that the perimiter of the grid spells BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER
| Across | ||
| 8 | RIALTO | Bridge books returned by rail, perhaps (6) |
| OT (Old Testamant, books) reversed following RAIL* – a bridge in Venice | ||
| 9 | AVE MARIA | Prayer books changing non- Conservative America (3,5) |
| AV (Authorised Version, the Bible, books, again) AMERIcA* missing C=Conservative – definition is ‘prayer’ | ||
| 10 | EDGE | The advantage of backing, say, given to editor (4) |
| EG (say) reversed then ED (editor) | ||
| 11 | SNEAK THIEF | He nicks your stuff if he’s taken off (5,5) |
| (IF HE’S TAKEN)* off=anagram | ||
| 12 | HA-HA | Ditch hotel with a scornful expression (2-2) |
| H (hotel) with A then HA (scornful expression) – a ditch acting as a hidden wall or fence. | ||
| 13 | AUTOMATISE | Make like a robot when A-team is out for change (10) |
| (A TEAM IS OUT)* anagram=for a change | ||
| 17 | THAI | Broadcast link with eastern language (4) |
| sounds like (broadcast) “tie” (link) | ||
| 18 | OVERT | Clear source of tension after lover’s executed (5) |
| T (first lettter of tension) following lOVER (executed=head chopped off) | ||
| 19 | EDDA | English theologian has a couple of books in Norse (4) |
| E (English) DD (theologian) has A – books of Norse folklore | ||
| 21 | EASY STREET | Simple part of postman’s job offering financial security (4,6) |
| double/cryptic definition | ||
| 23 | LENT | Slow very nearly becomes fast (4) |
| LENTo (slow, nearly completed) – period of fasting | ||
| 24 | GOALKEEPER | A person who maintains objectives and always tries to save (10) |
| double/cryptic definition | ||
| 28 | CASH | Money from accident runs out (4) |
| CrASH (accident) missing R=runs | ||
| 29 | ONCOMING | Approaching China, for example by working with firm (8) |
| MING (an example of china, pottery) following (by) ON (working) with CO (company, firm) | ||
| 30 | AVENUE | The approach one takes to a meeting place? (6) |
| A with VENUE (meeting place) | ||
| Down | ||
| 1 | BIRDBATH | Bad arrangement in Genesis for avian facility (8) |
| BAD* (arrangement=anagram) in BIRTH (genesis) | ||
| 2 | ILLEGALITY | Sick, before rising maturity cast light on unknown law-breaking (10) |
| ILL (sick) before AGE (maturity) reversed (rising) LIT (cast light on) Y (unknown, maths) | ||
| 3 | ROUSTABOUT | Oil worker tours around, getting sailor dismissed (10) |
| TOURS* (anagram=around) getting AB (sailor) OUT (dismissed) – a labourer on a rig | ||
| 4 | DATE | For example, sell by appointment? (4) |
| double definition – a ‘sell by date’ is an example of a date | ||
| 5 | SEEK | Try to fnd and understand source of knowledge (4) |
| SEE (understand) with K (first letter of knowledge) | ||
| 6 | OATH | Curse course showing love for power (4) |
| pATH (course) with O (love) replacing P (power) | ||
| 7 | FIXERS | People arranging things for Russian leader beset by problems (6) |
| R (leading letter of Russian) surrounded by FIXES (problems) | ||
| 14 | THEME | Subject of note crossing border (5) |
| TE (musical note) going around (crossing) HEM (border) | ||
| 15 | METATARSAL | Thanks sailors during dinner, say, for a bone (10) |
| TA (thanks) TARS (sailors) in (during) MEAL (dinner say) | ||
| 16 | TREBLE CLEF | Flat pitch – triple century left unfnished (6,4) |
| TREBLE (triple) C (century) LEFt (unfinished) – I’m guessing that ‘flat pitch’ is another name for the treble clef, but I can’t find references anywhere | ||
| 20 | DINOSAUR | Earth’s ruler no longer is around, unfortunately (8) |
| (IS AROUND)* anagram=unfortunately – dinosaurs no longer rule the Earth | ||
| 22 | AMOUNT | Sum of money for doctor kidnapped by relation (6) |
| MO (doctor) in AUNT (relation) | ||
| 25 | LOOK | Ladies finally check appearance (4) |
| LOO (Ladies, toilet) K (final letter of check) | ||
| 26 | EPIC | Large-scale source of power in melting ice (4) |
| P (first letter of power) in ICE* (anagram=melting) | ||
| 27 | POGO | Stick plough on unevenly (4) |
| PlOuGh On (missing the even letters) – a pogo stick | ||
*anagram
Thanks for the blog, PeeDee, and to ORENSE for an amusing crossword (LOOK made me smile).
I can’t explain the Flat Pitch bit of TREBLE CLEF, unless it’s to do with instruments like the clarinet, where B flat = C.
I agree generally quite straightforward, but enjoyable, although FIXERS held me up a little at the end.
I was torn between EDDA and EDDS and eventually chose the wrong one as I felt it fitted a bit better with the surface and cryptic elements – ignorance of Norse folklore was my undoing here.
Thanks for the blog PeeDee. I had INCOMING at 29 (in+ Co + Ming) — and was pleased that the nina proved useful for once. Very enjoyable puzzle.
Oh dear, another NINA missed. That would have helped with EDDA, and makes the clue even fairer.
Well spotted aztobesed!
I’m a day late with Orense’s enjoyable crossword. Thanks for your blog, PeeDee.
Re: 16dn TREBLE CLEF (Just an idea)
A pitch is a playing field. If a Treble Clef could be described as a place to play (notes,
some of which are ‘flat’) then a ‘Treble Clef’ could be described as a ‘Flat pitch’.