Solving Time: 23 minutes
The usual demonstration from Phi that simple clear clue writing can be elegant and humorous – and a delight to solve.
ACROSS (*) = ANAGRAM (CD) = CRYPTIC DEF (R) = REVERSAL
8 ELASTICITY IT SALE (R) + CITY
9 TRIO Hidden answer
11 PREMATURE R (RECIPE) + MEAT* inside PURE
12 CLEFT C + LEFT
13 LOGOPHILE LOG + OLÉ with PHI inside
16 AIOLI AI (Excellent) + OLI(D)
17 HEIR PRESUMPTIVE Nice (CD)
18 AISLE A + ISLE (of Man)
19 RESIDENCY RE + SIDE (attitude) + C in NY
21 ALTAR AL(L) + TAR
22 SCRIPTURE Nice apposite anagram RC PRIEST + U*
24 HYMN Likewise ends of HarmonY and ModulatioN
25 DREAM WORLD (CD)
DOWN
1 PEN PAL P (head of police) inside PENAL
2 RACE AGAINST TIME RACE (people) + AGAIN + SET* with TIM inside
3 ETNA Hidden answer
4 SCRUTINEER RECOUNT RISE – O *
5 STYE STY(L)E
6 PRAETORIAN GUARD UPROAR TRAGEDIAN* Another nice clue
7 TORTOISE O + IS inside TORTE
10 SCRAPPED Double def
14 PUPPETRY PUP + PET + RY (Lines, as in railway)
15 EQUESTRIAN E + QUEST + RAN with I inside
17 HEADACHE AD + AC inside HE + HE (“men”!)
20 YIELDS Another nice clue Y + (F)IELDS
22 SURF SUR(E) + F
23 PAWN W inside PAN
Found this tougher than usual Phi – about double the expected time, partly from taking ages on those guards. Thought “offers on computers” = “IT Sale” was good work.
Some beautifully constructed clues.
A few ecclesiastical terms, three of which line up as the last three across clues on the left to give a nod to the old joke about the last three things a woman hears when she gets married, and repeats for the rest of married life: ‘Aisle’, ‘Alter’, ‘Hymn’. (Also linked to the clue for 23D?)
‘Altar’*