Today’s sees Punk’s latest offering, sure to stretch and to entertain in equal measure.
In actual fact, this puzzle stretched me less than many of Punk’s creations have, although the dip in level of difficulty was more than compensated for by the increase in the fun factor, for me at least. That said, this puzzle was doubtless not to the taste of more prudish solvers, immune to the appeal of puerile toilet humour!
I am happy with my parsing of all but the mention of “book” in 25, although my answer has to be right because of the link to 19. One has to admire the topicality of this puzzle, at 9 and above all at 19 – did Punk anticipate the outcome of 19’s trial, or has this puzzle really been compiled over the last few weeks? Maybe the reference to 25 was added to 19 once the verdict was known; had it gone the other way, the puzzle would have worked equally well without that reference.
My favourites today were 7 and 12, both for their surfaces, as well as 19, for its construction and tone. The musical reference in 5 was new to me.
*(…) indicates an anagram; definitions are italicised; // separates definitions in double-definition clues
| Across | ||
| 07 | SUPPORT | Champion has a couple of drinks
SUP (=drink) + PORT (=drink); “(to) champion” here is a verb meaning to back, advocate |
| 08 | RELAPSE | With which ‘e’s looking more sickly after a setback?
‘E’S + PALER (=more sickly); “after a setback” indicates a reversal; partially & lit. |
| 10 | CLOCKWORK | Stopper containing security device, watch’s first timing mechanism
[LOCK (=security device) + W<atch> (“first” means first letter only)] in CORK (=stopper, i.e. for bottle) |
| 11 | SCREW | Turn // in prison warder
Double definition |
| 12 | ELY | See bank lacking leadership
<r>ELY (=bank (on), i.e. count on); “lacking leadership” means first letter is dropped; “see” here is a noun meaning diocese |
| 13 | HONEY BADGER | My darling nag is a vicious beast
HONEY (=my darling) + BADGER (=NAG, i.e. as a verb) |
| 15 | AUTOPSY | Doctor pays out for examination of body
*(PAYS OUT); “doctor” is anagram indicator |
| 17 | COJONES | Nuts a Welsh business?
CO (=business) + JONES (=Welsh, i.e. a typical Welsh surname); “cojones” is a US slang term from Spanish for testicles, balls |
| 19 | MAX CLIFFORD | 25 publicist the most bluff – or dickhead?
MAX (=the most, i.e. maximum) + CLIFF (=bluff) + OR + D<ick> (“head” means first letter only); the definition is “sentenced (=entry at 25) publicist”, referring to the recent prison sentence imposed on the publicist in question |
| 22 | PRO | Expert put back into corporation
Reversed (“put back”) and hidden (“in”) in “cORPoration” |
| 23 | RIGHT | Moral // direction of the Conservatives?
Double definition |
| 25 | SENTENCED | Put away – as is a book, might you say?
Cryptically, a book is “sentenced”, i.e. divided into sentences |
| 26 | RELIEVE | Always about to admit priest is free from duty
ELI (=priest) in REVE (EVER=always; “about” indicates reversal) |
| 27 | SHEBEEN | Disreputable drinking establishment – did you see her there?
(has) SHE BEEN (there?) (=did you see her there?)
|
| Down | ||
| 01 | SPOOKY | Aeroplane toilet has just been emptied? That’s weird
(there’s) POO in SKY (=aeroplane toilet has just been emptied) |
| 02 | PORK CHOP | King tucked in to supply of food brought over before spring – some pig?
K (=king, i.e. in chess, cards) in PORC (CROP=supply of food; “brought over” indicates reversal) + HOP (=spring) |
| 03 | ATTORNEY | Expert in law on treaty, corrupted
*(ON TREATY); “corrupted” is anagram indicator |
| 04 | CRIKEY | Well I never shed tears about US president!
IKE (=US president, i.e. Dwight Eisenhower) in CRY (=shed tears) |
| 05 | ALASKA | US state styled on offbeat music?
À LA (=styled on) + SKA (=offbeat music, i.e. from Jamaica) |
| 06 | SPAR | Bottom missing from extra box
SPAR<e> (=extra); “bottom missing” means last letter is dropped |
| 07 | SECRET ADMIRER | Stalker possibly arrested, crime abominable
*(ARRESTED CRIME); “abominable” is anagram indicator |
| 09 | EDWARD SNOWDEN | Source of leaks winding downwards in the garden
*(DOWNWARDS) in EDEN (=garden); “winding” is anagram indicator; the reference is to the leaking of NSA documents by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden |
| 14 | GIN | The alcoholic’s trap?
(a) “gin” is a type of trap, while gin is an alcoholic beverage |
| 16 | TAX | Charge for nails, say?
Homophone (“say”) of “tacks” (=nails) |
| 17 | COOLNESS | Consoles faked – what nerve!
*(CONSOLES); “faked” is anagram indicator; “nerve” is coolness in the sense of to hold one’s nerve, keep cool |
| 18 | JUDDERED | Jack, describing cows, shook
J (=Jack, i.e. in cards) + “UDDERED” (=describing cows, whimsically) |
| 20 | LITTER | Babies // make a mess
Double definition |
| 21 | FASTEN | Pin number under fire, all sixes initially
F<ire> A<ll> S<ixes> (“initially” means first letters only) + TEN (=number); to pin is to fasten, fix |
| 22 | PECKER | Cock or hen?
Cryptically, a hen is a “pecker”, i.e. a creature that pecks; “pecker” is US slang for penis |
| 24 | GOLF | Drivers required for this // Volkswagen
Double definition: drivers are a type of “golf” club, while the Volkswagen Golf is a model of car |
Someone wondered where Paul had been hiding his innuendo clues lately – he’d obviously saved them up for his alter ego Punk to use.
Very topical crossword with lots to enjoy so thank you to Paul and RR.
I echo Sue’s comments. Very enjoyable, if you like this sort of thing, and I do. PECKER was my LOI after SENTENCED.
LBJ used to say about politicians whose vote he could rely on ‘I’ve got his pecker in my pocket’.
Great puzzle. My favourites were 1d and 17ac both of which made me laugh. In fact the image conjured up by 1d has kept me sniggering like a schoolboy all day. Thanks to setter and RR.
I took 23A to be a triple definition – moral/direction/(of the) Conservatives.
Great fun this one, thanks to Punk and RatkojaRiku.
Indeed, not everyone’s tasse de thé, but I enjoyed it a lot. Thank you to both S & B.
I found this on the difficult side, but when I did get the answers, at least they often caused me to smile. I’d never heard of the HONEY BADGER but I’d guessed the first word and got it by looking in Chambers. Last two were 17 and 18, and it was only by doing an e-search on 18dn that getting the first letter of that quickly gave my 17ac.
And I couldn’t parse 1dn. Should have once I realised the tenor of some of the other clues. Thanks for that.
I always enjoy Paul’s cheekier side, so it’s good to see more of it here. All fairly straightforward – last in was HONEY BADGER. Thanks to RatkojaRiku and Punk.
Yes – it’s good to have some naughtiness from time to time. And a few highly tickable clues. To think I’ve only just realised the true meaning of “keeping one’s pecker up”!
Big thanks to Punk and RR.