A slow burner that I eventually enjoyed
I started off thinking that this looked like it wasn’t going to be much fun, probably because of the choice of grid, which seemes to be four loosely connected mini-grids, but gradually, the indirect definitions and wordplay grew on me, so that it became a pleasant challenge. The SW mini-grid was the last bit to be completed.
My favourite clue was 2dn.
| Across | ||
| 1 | FUSELAGE |
Safeguard for example, aluminium going back in plane’s body (8)
FUSE (“safeguard” – in a plug, for example) + <=E.G. AL (“for example, aluminium”) |
| 5 | PROPER |
Real quiet bloke with lasso? (6)
P(“quiet”) + ROPER (“bloke with lasso”) |
| 9 | CHAT SHOW |
Husband’s tucked in so watch revamped programme? (4,4)
H (“husband”) in *(so watch) |
| 10 | SHREWD |
Knowing a thing or two animal finally scarpered (6)
SHREW (“animal”) + D (“finally (i.e. end of) “scarpered”) |
| 11 | OPEN-EYED |
Public looked attentive (4-4)
OPEN (“public”) + EYED (“looked”) |
| 12 | SAFARI |
From South Africa I will follow distant expedition (6)
S.A. (“from South Africa”) + FAR folloed by I |
| 14 | METHUSELAH |
He must heal sick old man with bottle (10)
*(he must heal) and 2 definitions |
| 18 | WHOLEGRAIN |
Good bread (so some say) while argon welding (10)
*(while argon) |
| 22 | ELEVEN |
Team found inside motel eventually (6)
hidden in “motEL EVENtually” |
| 23 | ESCAPIST |
Space? It’s prepared for one mad on getting away (8)
*(space its) |
| 24 | EXTRAS |
We make a crowd? Divorcees grabbing pictures, say, back (6)
<=ART (“pictures, say) grabbed by EX’S (“divorcees”) Wasn’t sure about this as EX’S looks clumsy as a plural, but according to my Chambers, EX’S is acceptable as a plural? |
| 25 | NOISETTE |
Little hubbub in Paris, I imagine, for lamb cut (8)
Play on words. If NOISE is a hubbub, then a NOISETTE is a little hubbub? |
| 26 | SACHET |
Pack an ostentatious way of going, we hear (6)
homophone of SASHAY (“ostentatious way of going”) |
| 27 | TELEGRAM |
Doctor met with large message (8)
*(met large) |
| Down | ||
| 1 | FACTOR |
Female thespian could be an influence (6)
F (“female”) + ACTOR (“thespian”) |
| 2 | SHADES |
Sun hell? —– may help (6)
S(“sun”) + HADES (“hell”) |
| 3 | LISTEN |
Get a load of tinsel tangled up (6)
*(tinsel) |
| 4 | GOOSEBERRY |
I often hang around fruit (10)
Double definition |
| 6 | REHEARSE |
Practise on what moves late- comers, perhaps (8)
RE (“on”) + HEARSE (“what moves late-comers”) Not keen on the “late-comers” as I would argue that the dead are going rather than coming? |
| 7 | PREVAILS |
Spooner, say, with a beer outside gets the upper hand (8)
REV (“Spooner, say”) + A in PILS (“beer”) |
| 8 | RED LIGHT |
Seedy district where waiting is a must (3,5)
Double definition |
| 13 | CHAIN STORE |
Restraints ruined one from a group of sellers (5,5)
CHAINS (“restraints”) + TORE (“ruined”) |
| 15 | TWEETERS |
We do short messages – time with little rest breaks (8)
T (“time)” + WEE (“little”) + *(rest) |
| 16 | DOMESTIC |
She cleans heads with habitual response (8)
DOMES (“heads”) + TIC (“habitual response”) |
| 17 | SERENADE |
Bill, eg, slipped into calm romantic song (8)
AD (“bill, eg) in SERENE (“calm”) |
| 19 | HASSLE |
Steamship stuck in strong struggle (6)
SS (“steamship”) in HALE (“strong”) |
| 20 | WINTER |
Season what’s first set to rest? (6)
W (first letter of “what”) + INTER (“set to rest”) |
| 21 | STREAM |
This may trickle right through mist, possibly (6)
R (“right”) in STEAM (“mist”) |
Thanks Jason and loonapik
Similar experience from a setter who is usually pretty straightforward. Think that the four mini-puzzles actually added to the experience with this one. Did them in the order – NW NE SW SE, with each of them stepping up to be a little more difficult. Finished with the clever NOISETTE and the well disguised WINTER.
Thanks loonapick and Jason.
SW corner was the last of the four mini puzzles to fall to me too.
I agree about the iffy definition of EXTRAS but equally marked it as a favourite because of the surface.
Long time since I’ve heard the term GOOSEBERRY in that context – although as the youngest of 5 boys that was something I was often accused of being when young.