Another Saturday Anax – how devious will this one be clued?
I would say definitely up to his usual high standard of subterfuge. The nice thing about an Anax puzzle is the answer seems so obvious, but how on earth do you derive it from the wordplay? He always seems to twist the meaning just that little bit more to get you thinking it’s xxxxxx but why?
Anyway I got there in the end though 11ac left me a little baffled – Is AUF really a German toast? maybe an acronym I haven’t come across? or did I miss the intent entirely.
Nice to see Ruritania crop up – many years ago I was given a book of Sunday Times crosswords with an introduction to the cryptic style and that was an example clue in there. Wardour Street English was certainly new to me and this in conjunction with 4ac and 9dn made me think of the decadence of Soho (but then 20dn would be a long way from home). 1oac and 25ac was an interesting touch AGAIN being the apt solution to both.
My favourite clue 5dn – so neat and tidy.
Many thanks Anax – a lovely puzzle as always
Key:
rev. reverse; DD Double definition; * anagram; Underline = definition
ACROSS
1. Young explorer’s put on iron hat (6)
Dora (As in Dora the Explorer) after Fe (Iron) = FEDORA
4. Recalled identity parade’s opener in sweaty strip club? (8)
Rev. (self (identity)) + p (parade’s opener) in hot (sweaty) = FLESHPOT
10. Predictably perhaps, inches seen on a ruler (5)
aga (ruler) + in (inches) = AGAIN
11. For good health of German gypsy, season with cheese (2, 7)
Auf (German word for on – not quite sure how this relates to the clue) + Rom (gypsy) + age (season) = AU FROMAGE
12 See 6
CONSIDERATION
14 Record and forget to include loud rattle (9)
Disc (record) + omit (forget) around f(loud) = DISCOMFIT
16 Heat covers area with zero waste (5)
gun (US slang heat) around a(area) + o (zero) = GUANO
17 Is about to get added power (5)
Rev (Is) + new (added) = SINEW
19 Fantasy world game character turns to tackle it – a knight (9)
Ru (game) + (it + a + n (knight)) in Rev (air(character)) = RURITANIA
21 See 18
STREET ENGLISH
24 Having entered races, keeping car quiet (9)
in (having entered) + tt (races) around rover (car) = INTROVERT
25 10 10 makes a return
A gain (return) same as 10 = AGAIN
26 Close to land is an island that’s separate (8)
d (close to land) + is + Crete (island) = DISCRETE
27 Fuel bottles right for oarsman (6)
Stoke(fuel) around r (right) = STROKE
DOWN
1 after fall oddly, mishap changing direction – most limp (10)
FaLl (fall oddly) + accident – n + s (changing direction) = FLACCIDEST
2 Picked bones while initially slicing one (5)
Dr (Bones – ship or Star Trek) + an (one) around w (while) = DRAWN
3 Right about Clash over short piece of music (7)
r(right) + on (about) + din (Clash) + o(over) = RONDINO
5 Fear that I’d feel lost in paradise(4,5,5)
(Fear that Id feel)* = LIFE AFTER DEATH
6/12 23‘s Appearance money (7, 13)
showing (appearance) + consideration(money) = SHOWING CONSIDERATION
7 And I will run and run in aim to get stitch (4, 5)
Plan (aim) around (and I)* + r (run) = PLAIN DARN
8 So soon?
DD THEN
9 For use of police network we will come in for stick (3, 11)
Lan (network) around we + for + cement (stick) = LAW ENFORCEMENT
13 To spice up fine tea, cutting fruit (3, 1, 6)
f (fine) + orange (fruit) around cha(tea) = FOR A CHANGE
15 What’s wrong? States it’s a nasal problem (9)
sin (What’s wrong) + us (states) + it is (it’s) = SINUSITIS
18/21 ‘Affected’ are the resulting words —?
(are the resulting words)* = WARDOUR STREET ENGLISH
20 A horse straddled by sarcastic detective (7)
a gg (horse) in tart (sarcastic) = TAGGART
22 Satellite crossing enjoyed over US state (5)
Io (satellite) around Rev. (had (enjoyed)) = IDAHO
23 One’s own daughter’s character (4)
KIN (one’s own) + d (daughter) = KIND
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