I hope I’m not alone in finding this one quite tricky. There is plenty to get you started, including several short answers and two hidden words (although one is cleverly obfuscated by brackets), and yet this means bouncing all over the grid without really getting a foothold anywhere. 8ac is especially devious, in that it includes an unusual synonym in its wordplay and a definition that I am still to encounter outside of crossword-land. I am indebted to my friend Francesca Arnold for introducing me to both the vegetable and its alternative name at 22ac; those of you who do not know Fran, or are less familiar with West African cuisine, may have found that one slightly harder. Then there’s a socialite that required looking up post-solve.
I hope the rest makes sense! Definitions underlined.
I hope the rest makes sense! Definitions underlined.
| Across | |
| 3 | A grim terribly ancient plant (8) |
| MARIGOLD - anagram of (terribly) A GRIM plus OLD (ancient). | |
| 7 | This helps one to see in garret (in attic) (6) |
| RETINA - hidden in garRET (IN Attic). | |
| 8 | Cautious bringing in youth as cleaner (8) |
| CHARLADY - CHARY (cautious) surrounding (bringing in) LAD (youth). | |
| 9 | Did battle, reportedly, in old trading station (4) |
| FORT - homophone of (reportedly) “fought” (did battle). | |
| 10 | In favour of concert being shortened (3) |
| PRO - shortened PRO | |
| 11 | Man perhaps after fine knitwear pattern (4,4) |
| FAIR ISLE - ISLE (of Man, for example) after FAIR (fine, like the weather). | |
| 13 | Tots turn over (4) |
| NIPS - SPIN (turn) reversed (over). | |
| 15 | Helpful hint about river excursion (4) |
| TRIP - TIP (helpful hint) surrounding R (river). | |
| 17 | Word puzzle bringing on a vexed moment, by the sound of it (8) |
| ACROSTIC - homophone of (by the sound of it) “a cross tick” (a vexed moment). | |
| 19 | A record for a high mountain (3) |
| ALP - A with LP (long play, record). | |
| 22 | Fine artist depicting ladies' fingers (4) |
| OKRA - OK (fine) plus RA (Royal Academician, artist). | |
| 23 | I haven't a cluewhat suspicious customs officer might do (6,2) |
| SEARCH ME - double definition. | |
| 24 | Distant meteor disintegrated (6) |
| REMOTE - anagram of (disintegrated) METEOR. | |
| 25 | Fired back in the course of fight — not with this weapon! (8) |
| STILETTO - LIT (fired) reversed (back) inside (in the course of) SET-TO (fight). One cannot ‘fire back’ with a dagger. | |
| Down | |
| 1 | Elegant socialite being broadcast (8) |
| DEBONAIR - DEB (debutante, socialite) ON AIR (being broadcast). | |
| 2 | Very coldbeer (6) |
| BITTER - double definition. | |
| 3 | Man's first card, a club (4) |
| MACE - first letter of Man, plus ACE (card). | |
| 4 | Show up again to gather fruit (8) |
| REAPPEAR - REAP (to gather) and PEAR (fruit). | |
| 5 | Liquid measure, litre, held by girl, working (6) |
| GALLON - L (litre) inside GAL (girl) and ON (working). | |
| 6 | Ballad about duke and lord's wife (4) |
| LADY - LAY (ballad) around D (duke). | |
| 12 | Photograph game attacked with gun (8) |
| SNAPSHOT - SNAP (game) plus SHOT (attacked with gun). | |
| 14 | In religious house it is something given special attention (8) |
| PRIORITY - inside PRIORY (religious house), IT. | |
| 16 | Police using bad PR a lot (6) |
| PATROL - anagram of (bad) PR A LOT. | |
| 18 | Passionate romance captivating millions (6) |
| STORMY - STORY (romance, for example) surrounding (captivating) M (millions). | |
| 20 | Told to go with group touring North (4) |
| SENT - SET (group) around N (north). | |
| 21 | Emperor in Wagner opera (4) |
| NERO - hidden in wagNER Opera. | |