A nice crossword to start the New Year. That popular port of crossword setters makes another appearance – is it possible to know how many times it came up in 2015? My favourite clue, 3d, because, for some time, I couldn’t make it more than the sum of its parts, wondering what a dee-butt could possibly be. Thanks to Des.
Happy solving for 2016.
| Across |
| 1 | AGED - ancient; silver = AG (chemical symbol), English = E, penny no longer in circulation = D |
| 4 | GOALLESS - cryptic definition |
| 8 | MARBELLA - Spanish resort; anagram (ordered) of BAR MEAL outside large = L |
| 9 | MILK - exploit; one = I, in Dutch airline = KLM, all backwards (recalled) |
| 10 | EDIT - amend; hidden in (part of) uncorrectED ITem |
| 11 | SIDESHOW - minor event; teams = SIDES, anagram (spoiled) of WHO |
| 12 | ADVICE - counsel (noun form); lawyer repelled = DA backwards, wickedness = VICE |
| 14 | NIMBLE - sprightly; doctor = MB, entering African river = NILE |
| 16 | SPLENDID - smashing; anagram (upset) of SPINDLE, then daughter = D |
| 18 | SKYE - Scottish island; sort of blue = SKY, plane’s last = E |
| 19 | QUIT - leave; absolutely, without finishing = QUIT(E) |
| 20 | OVERLOAD - too big a supply; deliveries = OVER, boy = LAD, receiving none = O |
| 22 | NO MATTER - double definition, one cryptic |
| 23 | TREE - ash, maybe; last letters of griT, oR, whitE, cigarettE |
| Down |
| 2 | GRANDAD - old relative; superb = GRAND, publicity = AD |
| 3 | DEBUT - beginning; of Gallic = DE, objection = BUT |
| 4 | GAL - young lady; old convict upset = LAG backwards |
| 5 | ABANDONED - deserted; a group of players = A BAND, one = ONE, haD finally = D |
| 6 | LUMP SUM - a lot of money to pay; I hesitate to say = UM, after some sugar = LUMPS |
| 7 | SALVO - volley; hidden (some) in colosSAL VOlley. I believe that this is what’s termed an &lit clue, not often seen in the Quick |
| 11 | SPEEDBOAT - racing craft; anagram (manoeuvring) of BE SO ADEPT |
| 13 | INERTIA - reluctance to move; anagram (bats) of ARE IN IT |
| 15 | LAY BARE - reveal; song = LAY (a favourite terminology in crosswordland), homophone (broadcast) of endure = BEAR |
| 17 | PLUTO - double definition, one cryptic (animated as in cartoon) |
| 18 | SPLIT - double definition |
| 21 | EAR - cryptic definition |