More Cryptic Defs (CDs) in the clues than usual this time.
| Across | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1 | THROWS UP | Worth getting pissed on drink? Proves otherwise, maybe (6,2) WORTH* AInd: getting pissed, SUP drink. Def. is semi-&Lit. First read and answered – I thought this might be an easy solve at this point. |
| 9 | STODGE | Dick tosses off Rex after second sticky mess of food (6) S[econd] TODGE[r] Rex delivers the R to be lost |
| 10 | DEARIE ME | Mere idea’s bad shit (6,2) (MERE IDEA)* AInd: bad. Last in. Was that a tricky anagram? The large number of vowels fooled me, that’s my excuse. Kicked myself when I got it. “Oh Dearie Me” the memorable catchphrase from “The High Life” |
| 11 | FAIR PLAY | Right sort of treatment: just a shag to contain pressure (4,4) FAIR (just) P[ressure] LAY (a shag) |
| 12 | GO-KART | Racy little model, fashion expert, wants painting? (2-4) GOK [Wan] (fashion “expert”) ART (painting) Does art want painting? |
| 13 | HAPPY | Tickled pink dwarf (5) DD |
| 15 | UNSPOILT | Natural politician (not right wing) Sun rubbished (8) (SUN POLIT[ician])* AInd: Rubbished. Not right wing indicates the action to lose the second half of politician. |
| 16 | FIFTIETH | Buggered if the FT’s merged with Independent for special anniversary (8) (IF THE FT I[ndependent])* AInd: Buggered |
| 19 | MR BIG | Crime boss getting vacant ex-Labour PM to return in plane (2,3) B[lai]R< inside MIG. |
| 21 | ANDREW | “One represented one’s offspring” (6) AN (one) DREW (represented) Ref. Randy Andy being described in the Queen’s English, by the Queen I presume |
| 22 | CAMPAIGN | An MP pissed about with cigar – “right off electioneering process“? (8) (AN MP CIGA[r] )* AInd: pissed about |
| 24 | FILIGREE | Lacy stuff‘s good after one’s into ‘stimulated relief’ (8) G[ood] after I (one) inside RELIEF* AInd: stimulated |
| 25 | ELIXIR | You’ll be able to keep going for ever if you can take it (6) CD based on the elixir of immortality as produced from the Philosopher’s Stone (as documented by H. Potter et al.) |
| 27 | HUSTINGS | Electioneering battle – one’s ousted by UKIP leader (8) HASTINGS swap A for U. That was a nice clue. It had me trying to make something out of Farage or Nigel |
| Down | ||
| 2 | HOT BATH | Just the place for steamy scrubbers (3,4) CD I doubted this till confirmed with crossing letters as it seemed just too literal |
| 4 | SHELLEY | Percy‘s affirmative erection when clutching ‘down there’? (7) HELL (down there) inside YES< Referring to Percy Bysshe Shelley |
| 5 | PODGY | Chubby Prescott’s only started upsetting party – bloke’s heartless (5) P[rescott] DO< G[u]Y. Spent too long trying to justify Porky |
| 6 | STINK BOMB | But no need for sniffer dogs to detect this? (5,4) CD This Cryptic Def. was also a bit of a giveaway but I liked it. |
| 7 | IMMORAL | “Wicked” introduction of Mowlam by right on vice president, once? (7) “I’M MO” (as Mo Mowlam used to say) R[ight] AL (Gore) |
| 8 | HAGGIS | Shag matting covering, chiefly, ground insulation which is piped in? (6) SHAG* AInd:? Around G[round] I[nsulation]. The great chieftain o’ the puddin’ race is piped in (by the bagpipes) on Burns Night (Jan 25) before addressing its honest, sonsie face, then shovelling it down your own. |
| 14/6 | PATERNITY SUIT | Action started some time after a bit of how’s your father (9,4) CD Here’s another. What else could it be? |
| 15 | UGH | Distasteful ejaculation? Hug rocks (3) HUG* AInd: rocks |
| 17 | INN SIGN | “Sinning out of control”: local’s evidence (3,4) (SINNING)* AInd: out of control |
| 18 | EDWARD | Pop duo jack off Prince (6) [j]EDWARD. Another of the Queen’s sons, this time clued via a pair … oh never mind |
| 19/26 | MEMBERS ONLY | Just pricks to be found in such an area? (7,4) CD This one is OK (suspect Mr C has clued this similarly on an earlier occasion |
| 20/3 | GAGGING ORDER | “Tell me a joke!” – like the attempt to shut up Private Eye, etc (7,5) DD Both halves of the Double Def a bit tongue in cheek |
| 22 | CZECH | Like Robert Maxwell said “audit” (5) Homophone check. Maxwell, in his day, was known as the bouncing Czech in the Eye (among other names). |
| 23 | ALIBI | Excuse Monica, Clinton’s bit on the side, you might say (5) [Monica] ALI BI[ll] The first half of Ex-Pres’s name is a bit on the side. Not the Monica we expect from Cyclops – nicely misleading |
Where to you find all the (dead) single ladies?
At a Seyoncé!
Thanks for the blog, bm – an excellent Cyclops, as usual.
on 19/26, “Just pricks etc..” PRIVATE CLUB sprang to mind, but I knew it wasn’t right. So your comment rang a bell too!
Very enjoyable. Thanks.
Hi beermagnet.
For the anagram lead in 8dn, “mat¹ vi to become tangled in a mess” (Chambers 2008).
I didn’t know anything about “The High Life” (Scottish or US version?), so had taken “Dearie me” as just a welcome instance of comic disparity between genteel usage and coarse reality. I liked the “sylvan” for the wood ant in #501 too.
Couldn’t find another “Members only” in my incomplete archive, but there was “Prick’s excuses for Westminster perks?” -> “Members’ allowances” in #365, a mere five years ago. 🙂
Thank you PB for explaining that “matting” is indeed a perfectly adequate Anagram Indicator in 8D.
lemming: I’m sure you are right about “Dearie me”, I doubt Cyclops had the High Life in mind. It’s just that I cannot see that phrase without imagining Alan Cummings and Forbes Masson sing-songing it. [ Actually it’s “Oh Dearie Me” – the “Oh” is important. ] I spent too long trying to find a 5 sec clip to illustrate but failed – there is most of the series on YouTube and I’m sure you don’t have to wait long in any episode before there is an example.
I must be wrong about Members Only – probably the Member/Prick mechanism used at other times poss. in other places.