Monday Prize Crossword / Jul 20, 2015
Dante as Dante can be. Meaning: mostly easy but then he’ll have you to start thinking about how to fully complete the puzzle.
Definitions are underlined wherever possible and/or appropriate.
| Across | ||
| 1 | AS GOOD AS GOLD |
Copper isn’t very well behaved (2,4,2,4)
Double definition, the first one a bit cryptic |
| 10 | UNTRIED |
Lacking Test experience, I run Ted out (7)
(I RUN TED)* [* = out] |
| 11 | FANFARE |
An enthusiast to get on and flourish (7)
FAN (an enthusiast) + FARE (to get on) |
| 12 | YEARN |
Long to reach agreement on service (5)
YEA (agreement) + RN (service, Royal Navy) |
| 13 | START OUT |
Renowned solicitor to open proceedings (5,3)
STAR (renowned) TOUT (solicitor) |
| 15 | HARVESTERS |
The more they cut down the more they gain (10)
Cryptic definition |
| 16 | STUN |
Shock caused by teachers union retraction (4)
Reversal (‘retraction’) of: NUT’S (caused by teachers union, National Union of Teachers) I think my explanation of where the S comes from does make sense, doesn’t it? |
| 18 | FLAG |
Standard laid down for pavements (4)
Double definition |
| 20 | HOLIDAY PAY |
Workers’ reward for doing nothing? (7,3)
Cryptic definition |
| 22 | UNDER AGE |
Legally only of minor importance (5,3)
Cryptic definition For me, not the strongest of the set. Clear enough, though, and a typical Dante cd. |
| 24 | RANCH |
Managed to get central heating at the farm (5)
RAN (managed) + CH (central heating) |
| 26 | TORNADO |
Rent-a-party? It’s a wind-up (7)
TORN (rent) + A + DO (party) The definition is kinda cryptic. |
| 27 | PERGOLA |
Walk between the plants (7)
Cryptic definition Is it? My LOI, being held up by a wrong entry at 17d (‘hair clip’ instead of ‘hair grip’). |
| 28 | NAME-DROPPING |
Celebrity parachuting in attempt to impress (4-8)
NAME (celebrity) + DROPPING (parachuting) |
| Down | ||
| 2 | SET FAIR |
Party with blonde when weather forecast’s favourable (3,4)
SET (party, as in: a body of people) + FAIR (blonde) |
| 3 | ONION SET |
Developing vegetables for gardeners (5,3)
Definition plus a cryptic extension My Penultimatye One In. It is only to be found in Oxford, not in Chambers nor Collins. I am not a gardener either. |
| 4 | DADO |
The prosecutor has to act – see foot of column (4)
DA ((the) prosecutor, District Attorney)+ DO (to act) The prosecutor having American origins should perhaps been signposted. |
| 5 | SAFETY RAIL |
Fairy tales will give security for children, say (6,4)
(FAIRY TALES)* [* = will give] Really nice anagram! That said, the indicator (‘will give’) is very minimalistic. Will give after doing what? |
| 6 | OWNER |
A possessive type (5)
(Not so) Cryptic definition |
| 7 | DRAG OUT |
Lengthen transvestite apparel no longer in fashion? (4,3)
DRAG (transvestite apparel) + OUT (no longer in fashion) |
| 8 | JULY THE FOURTH |
Ruth upset after ruining the joyful holiday abroad (4,3,6)
(THE JOYFUL)* followed by (RUTH)** [* = ruining][** = upset] |
| 9 | BEATEN BY A HEAD |
Narrowly failed, received a school caning (6,2,1,4)
Double definition, the second one taken literally Poor kid. |
| 14 | STRONGHOLD |
A powerful grip, useful in defence (10)
STRONG (powerful) + HOLD (grip) |
| 17 | HAIR-GRIP |
Lock controller (4-4)
Cryptic definition See 27ac. |
| 19 | ANDIRON |
Bar and a club (7)
AND + IRON (a club) If Dante is so keen on using articles, then I would have preferred ‘A bar and a club’. Just to be consistent. |
| 21 | PONTOON |
Game of bridge? (7)
Double definition |
| 23 | REALM |
True capital of Moroccan kingdom (5)
REAL (true) + M[oroccan] |
| 25 | UP TO |
Put out – nothing is fit for the job (2,2)
(PUT)* + O (nothing) [* = out] |
Thanks Sil and Dante.
Another one for 15 mins at bedtime and 5 to finish off on the train.
Typically Dantean with a number of the CDs pretty weak – like Under Age, Pergola (questionable) and Hair Grip.
I think that the clue for Stun is missing an ‘S’ indicator. Should it have been ‘union’s’?
Sil’s explanation of Stun seems fine to me. The possessive ‘s is implied by “caused by”.
For me a typical Dante , romp through about 80%, get the other 10% with a bit of thought and fail to get the last 10% no matter how hard I try.
Just could not get
3d I thought it might be onion bed -I really do not see how it equates to developing.
4d I thought dado was as per https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dado_(architecture) and had nothing to do with being the base of a column.
11a, 19a -never heard of it and 27a ditto .
Thanks Dante and Sil
Sil, how very strange – my solve of this was almost identical to yours – in particular the PERGOLA / HAIR GRIP experience, ONION SET as the one before that pair and having to search in the Oxford to find it and even the parsing of NUT’S (which in retrospect I think just doesn’t work!)
The only difference is that it took 3-4 elapsed days to unwrangle the 17d-27a issue.
SET FAIR was new and like ONION SET and HAIR GRIP only found it in the Oxford.
Quite a different solve to the normal Dante for me this time.