A perfectly innocent-looking crossword filled with mines and boobytraps to catch out the unwary (of which I was one). Thanks Alberich!
| Across | ||
| 1 | FLAMING |
Wretched fellow’s a convict, with short time inside (7)
F (fellow) with LAG (a convict) with MIN (short time) inside – “flaming” and “wretched” are two examples of curses meaning “exceedingly so” |
| 5 | PITCHER |
US sportsman’s agent retired when about to die (7)
REP (agent) reversed (retired) containing (when about) ITCH (to die, yearn for) |
| 9 | TUTSI |
Dress suit tailored principally for African (5)
anagram (dress) of SUIT and Tailored (principal letter of) |
| 10 | EMINENTLY |
Very gradually heading off, carrying explosive device (9)
gENTLY (gradually, missing head) containing MINE (explosive device) – I wasted a lot of time trying to make this EVIDENTLY with V1 as the explosive device |
| 11 | PROPAGATE |
Spread rumour of decent attendance at match? (9)
sounds like (rumour of) “proper gate” (decent attendance at match) |
| 12 | CUPID |
Could odd characters secure relationship with his help? (5)
CoUlD (odd letters from) contain (secure) PI (relationship, in geometry) – an extended definition |
| 13 | MOUE |
Timid sort ignoring son’s sulky expression (4)
MOUsE mising S (son) |
| 15 | INSTANCE |
I will get pole position, for example (8)
I with (will get) N (pole) STANCE (position) |
| 18 | HYSTERIA |
Bad hair day set lawyer going, resulting in panic (8)
anagram (bad) of HAIR daY SET missing DA (lawyer) |
| 19 | TARN |
A mere 1,000 feet above sea level, perhaps (4)
a mountain lake in the North of England (where 1,000ft counts as high up) |
| 22 | ELOPE |
Run away from animal, not a tiny one (5)
antELOPE (aniimal) missing ANT (a small animal) |
| 24 | SIDESWIPE |
Passing criticism as teams cancel (9)
SIDES (teams) WIPE (cancel) |
| 26 | INANIMATE |
Single old lady needs one friend, having no life (9)
I (single) NAN (old lady) needs I (one) MATE (friend) |
| 27 | ALOFT |
A room and where it’s found (5)
A LOFT (a room) |
| 28 | HEALTHY |
Fit Liberal into old PM’s diary at last (7)
L (liberal) in HEATH (Edward Heath, old PM) then diarY (last letter of) |
| 29 | SOLVENT |
Having enough to pay for alcohol perhaps (7)
double definition) |
| Down | ||
| 1 | F-STOPS |
Dandy’s clothes extremely smart – they’re of interest to snappy types? (1-5)
FOP’S (dandy’s) contains (clothes) SmarT (extreme letters of) – appeture settings on cameras |
| 2 | ASTRONOMY |
It involves moon, star and far side of galaxy (9)
anagram of (it involves) MOON, STAR and galaxY (far side of, last letter) – definition is &lit |
| 3 | IBIZA |
Island with a touring business? (5)
I (island) with A containing (touring) BIZ (business) – definition is &lit |
| 4 | GRENADIER |
Soldier on with one European, going around south of Greece (9)
RE (regarding, on) with I (one) DANE (European, for example) all reversed (going around) following (south of) GR (Greece) |
| 5 | PRIDE |
Under pressure to go on for self- respect (5)
RIDE (to go on) under P (pressure) |
| 6 | TRENCHANT |
Cutting or ditch primarily attracts conservationists (9)
TRENCH (ditch) with Attracts (first, primary letter of) with NT (national Trust, conservationists) |
| 7 | HET UP |
Male sheep pursues clipped female, getting agitated (3,2)
TUP (male sheep) following (persues) HEn (female, clipped) |
| 8 | RIYADH |
Commonwealth Day, Irish Guards raised capital (6)
found reversed (raised) inside (guarded by) commonwealtH DAY IRish |
| 14 | EXTREMIST |
In live broadcast term is one unacceptable to many (9)
TERM* anagram=broadcast in EXIST (live) |
| 16 | ST ANDREWS |
For starters, sack traffic wardens randomly? It’s popular among drivers (2,7)
Sack Traffic (starting letters of) then WARDENS* anagram=randomly – a golf course |
| 17 | CARNIVORE |
Worry about new fellow’s dog, for example (9)
CARE (worry) containing (about) N (new) IVOR (fellow, man’s name) |
| 20 | FETISH |
On vacation enjoyment is restricted by what may be sole obsession (6)
EnjoymenT (vacated, empty inside) inside (is restricted by) FISH (sole, maybe) |
| 21 | BEAT IT |
Act contemptibly? Get lost! (4,2)
BE A TIT (act contemptibly) |
| 23 | OMAHA |
Without authorisation, left troubled Oklahoma City in US (5)
anagram (troubled) of oklAHOMA missing OK (authorisation) and L (left) |
| 24 | SCARY |
Maybe estate agent gutted houses? That’s frightening! (5)
CAR (estate maybe) inside (housed by) SpY (agent, gutted) |
| 25 | SNAIL |
After second arrest, one makes slow progress (5)
NAIL (arrest) after S (second) |
definitions underlined
Thanks Alberich; highly entertaining puzzle with some great clues.
Thanks PeeDee; clever reverse for RIYADH, which I didn’t spot at first.
I particularly enjoyed PROPAGATE, HYSTERIA & ASTRONOMY.
Thanks pd 8d what a great hidden answer clue. Caused a naughty word well done alberich.
Thanks Alberich and PeeDee
A very enjoyable puzzle with a host of cleverly constructed clues. Took quite a while to find the link between ITCH and ‘about to die’ at 5a.
Have noticed the increasingly improving ability of setters to hide words within the wordplay of a clue – RIYADH was one of the best that I’ve seen.
Finished with words all over the grid with HEALTHY, MOUE (a new term for me) and FLAMING (a cleverly disguised use of the two intensifiers) were the last few in.
Thanks PeeDee and Alberich.
This is an intriguing and rich puzzle with a wealth of unusual devices and misdirections.
Moue was new to me too.
There’s no point in trying to identify favourites. What a pity so few people seem to have noticed.