The first IoS crossword of 2016, Raich as the setter, and my turn to solve and blog. Life is good.
You can always rely on Raich to provide a good Sindy offering. A good variety of clue types and subject matter; clear cluing. There’s one I don’t quite understand, but I fancy that there’s a typo in it.
Abbreviations
cd cryptic definition
dd double definition
(xxxx)* anagram
anagrind = anagram indicator
[x] letter(s) removed
definitions are underlined
Across
1 County academic clutches English volume
DEVON
An insertion of E and V in DON.
4 See taps giving water
LOCH
A charade of LO! and CH, which is what you’ll see on many taps (although not necessarily in that order if you read from left to right).
6 Metal lines yielded to attack
FELL
A charade of FE for the chemical symbol for iron, or ‘metal’, and LL for ‘lines’.
10 Select worst from them?
IDENTITY PARADE
I think that Raich is suggesting that you’d select the guilty party from an IDENTITY PARADE.
11 Tycoon from US city with King and Queen
LAKER
A charade of LA, K and ER and referring to Freddie LAKER, who – for those who are old enough to remember – set up Laker Airways, the first ‘no-frills’ airline. It went bust, but enjoyed some success before it did.
12 Using tips, Napoli name the eleven (and eight subs?)
NINETEEN
The outside letters of NapolI, NamE, ThE and EleveN. Unlike Raich to reference footie in one of his puzzles.
14 Man frantically hides extra food
SIDE DISH
A charade of SID and (HIDES)*
16 Bondsman brought back firm’s painting
FRESCO
A reversal (‘brought back’) of SERF and CO.
18 State low to seize returning vessel
MONACO
If you’re new to this cryptic stuff, remember that ‘low’ can mean ‘the cattle are lowing’. So it’s a reversal of CAN in MOO.
20 Attractive woman incorporated in crowd
PRINCESS
An insertion of INC in PRESS. I’m not sure where the definition comes from. It certainly wouldn’t apply in the country where I live.
23 Given too much – potentially avoid repeat, cutting 50%
OVERPAID
(AVOID REP)* with ‘potentially’ as the anagrind.
24 Charming quality of good people
GRACE
A charade of G and RACE.
27 I entered, content, surprisingly, here?
DETENTION CENTRE
(I ENTERED CONTENT)* and an extended definition. I won’t call it &lit otherwise the &lit Rottweillers will be ripping me limb from limb.
28 Take legal action against extreme character in port
SUEZ
A charade of SUE and Z for the last letter of the alphabet.
29 Reportedly taking long to find fruit
SLOE
A homophone of SLOW.
30 Deserve 1000 coming back weary?
MERIT
A charader of M and TIRE reversed.
Down
1 Medic one’s going to makes one exercise
DRILL
I presume that this is the answer, but the surface grammar isn’t right, so perhaps there’s a typo. It’s DR plus I, plus …?
2 Five drank like some jumpers?
V-NECKED
A charade of V and NECKED for a slang word for drinking too quickly.
3 He jots things down regularly – snoop, the pro
NOTER
Hidden ‘regularly’ in sNoOp ThE pRo.
4 Continue collecting money, international, for language expert
LATINIST
An insertion of TIN for ‘money’ and I in LAST. And it wasn’t LINGUIST, was it?
5 Managing wall feature
COPING
A dd.
7 Infinite idleness – one left shaken
ENDLESS
([I]DLENESS)* with ‘shaken’ as the anagrind.
8 Large, first to lean over
LIST
A charade of L and IST for 1st.
9 Members of Society, British, assembled there at noon
BRETHREN
A charade of BR, (THERE)* and N.
13 Team manager sobs when beaten?
BOSS
(SOBS)* Too much footie.
14 Introductions to some elected Members in House
SEMI
The first letters of Some Elected Members In.
15 After conversion, truth’s foremost in credo?
DOCTRINE
(T IN CREDO)*
17 Caution Northern Church supporting person initially disrespectful
PRUDENCE
A charade of P, RUDE and N CE. It works because it’s a down clue.
19 Gemstone from China vetted
NAVETTE
Hidden in chiNA VETTEd. A new one on me – I always had it down as a shuttle.
21 Former player – demanding one
EXACTOR
A charade of EX and ACTOR.
22 Artist, one investigating a left tyre
RADIAL
A charade of RA, DI for ‘District Attorney’ and A and L.
24 Publication’s written up about the French light glow
GLEAM
Again, because it’s a down clue, it’s LE in MAG reversed.
25 Meeting patient never upset nurses
EVENT
Hidden reversed in patienT NEVEr.
26 Day that is timeless?
IDES
ID ES[T]. As in ‘Beware the Ides of March’.
Many thanks to Raich for this one. Keep them coming. But less footie, please.
Pierre, I thought about 1d too.
I think it is: DR (medic) + I’LL (one’s going to).
Which ‘makes one’ (gives us) ‘exercise’ (the definition).
Thanks, Sil, that makes sense. Just couldn’t quite see how it worked.
And I think the surface grammar works in 1dn if “Medic one’s going to” is a noun phrase.
I think there is a 1956 theme here (Devon Loch, Suez, Princess Grace etc), in which case, it will be Jim Laker for his cricketing exploit of that year.
Thanks to setter and blogger.
Sorry. Of course, Jim would not fit the definition “Tycoon”.
No, I think you’re on the right lines, Rullytully. Raich likes his cricket as well, so it wouldn’t surprise me if he referenced LAKER in the clues to remind us of Jim Laker’s 19-90 against the Aussies at Old Trafford in 1956. Still considered one of the greatest Ashes achievements.
Thanks for the excellent blog, Pierre, and the comments. Yes, there is a 1956 theme, with DEVON LOCH FELL / LAKER NINETEEN / MONACO PRINCESS GRACE / SUEZ.
Thanks Raich (and Pierre). Another ingenious theme passed me by. Ho hum. Liked the puzzle though.
I once flew with Laker’s Skytrain to New York (and back). Unfortunately on that flying deathtrap The DC10.