26 minutes, so another straightforward solve and the second within my 30 minute target this week, including all the parsing. There's nothing more to say really so I'll get straight on with the blog...
* = anagram, { } = deletions
* = anagram, { } = deletions
Across | |
|---|---|
| 1 | TEASER - Hidden inside {qui}TE A SER{ies} |
| 5 | MARMOSET - Odd letters of S{e}E{n} inside MARMOT (rodent) |
| 9 | SCAREDY-CAT - SC (Special Constable), READY*, CAT (whip). The anagram's indicated by 'crack'. Definition: 'one may fear'. Not sure if this expression is known outside the UK. |
| 10 | TOPE - TO, PE (exercise) |
| 11 | PLUMBAGO - P{ersistent}, LUMBAGO (back pain). Definition: 'found in certain writers'. I only remembered this as a shrub so I was puzzled by the definition until I looked it up and found that 'plumbago' is another name for graphite as used in pencils. |
| 12 | EXODUS - ED (editor) encloses OX (neat) reversed, US (American) |
| 13 | OSSA - ASS (donkey) + O (over) all reversed. In Greece or Tasmania - take your pick! |
| 15 | ANTECEDE - ANTE (bet), CEDE (surrender) |
| 18 | PRIE-DIEU - Anagram of I (one) RUPEE I'D. This is a prayer seat, stool or desk for kneeling at. |
| 19 | PARK - Double definition |
| 21 | VIZIER - VIZ (namely), I (one), ER (monarch). My heart sank on seeing the definition here in case it was something I didn’t know, but fortunately the wordplay was helpful and I recognised the title. |
| 23 | HOOLIGAN - HOGAN (old golfer - Ben) encloses I + LO (see) reversed. I'm not hot on golfers' names but even I knew this one. |
| 25 | MILL - Double definition |
| 26 | TRENDINESS - TRESS (lock) encloses {boatme}N + DINE (eat) |
| 27 | ENORMOUS - E (English), NOUS (intelligence) encloses O (old) + RM (marines) |
| 28 | RIDING - Double definition. 'Up' can mean mounted on a horse and is 'riding' definition number one. The second refers to the ancient sub-divisions of Yorkshire which may have been changed or abolished as far as civil administration is concerned but are still very much a part of the culture and traditions of the wider county so it's probably not necessary for the clue to specify 'once'. On the other hand some would probably complain if it didn't. |
Down | |
| 2 | EXCEL - EX (former), CE (church), L{eader} |
| 3 | SCRUMMAGE - CR (credit) inside SUM (problem), GAME*. Anyone who biffed 'scrimmage' will be disappointed. I'm puzzled by the vagueness of the definition 'arrangement' and wonder if there's something I'm missing. If it's technical sporty thing I'm very unlikely to know of it. |
| 4 | REDCAP - D (duke) + C (caught) inside REAP (harvest). Definition: MP (military policeman) |
| 5 | MUCH OF A MUCHNESS - (SON SAFE CHUM CHUM)* |
| 6 | RETREATS - RE (about), TREATS (entertainments) |
| 7 | OUTDO - OUT (unelected), DO (party). I'm saying nothing… |
| 8 | EXPOUNDER - {bibl}E, X-POUNDER (one of unknown weight). Definition: 'person interpreting'. |
| 14 | SARDINIAN - SIAN (girl in Wales) encloses A+R (right) +DIN (racket) |
| 16 | CAPTIONED - CAPONE (gangster) encloses TI (note), D (daughter). Definition: 'provided with heading'. |
| 17 | LIBRETTO - LIB (politician), OTTER (strong swimmer) reversed. Definition: 'book' e.g. the words of an opera or oratorio. |
| 20 | FODDER - FE (iron) encloses ODD (unusual), R (monarch) |
| 22 | IDLER - ID (papers), LE (the, French), R (resistance) |
| 24 | ARSON - A,R (run), SON (family member) |