Some very nicely compact cluing today, with a nice mix of double definitions, anagrams, hidden and reverse hidden clues, using most of the weapons available in the Setter’s arsenal. This took me 18 minutes today, which is either at the hard end of the spectrum, or could be a result of my brain not being fully functional at 05:30 this morning. There is a clue to why that might be the case in the last answer below.
A nice puzzle from Hawthorn, thanks.
Definitions underlined: DD = double definition: {} deletions, [] anagram fodder
Across
1 See storm smashing county (8)
SOMERSET– anagram (smashing) of [see storm]
5 Noisily peel fruit (4)
PEAR– homophone or sounds like (noisily) peal, as in PARE – to peel or strip off the outer edge
9 I love wearing stupid expression (5)
IDIOM– I then O (love) inside (wearing) DIM (stupid)
10 Passed out at end if upset (7)
FAINTED– anagram (upset) of [at end if]
11 Spreadable paste a brunette put in a stew (6,6)
PEANUT BUTTER– anagram (in a stew) of [a brunette put]
13 Build up a team reportedly (6)
ACCRUE– sounds like (reportedly) a crew
15 Breakalcove (6)
RECESS– straightforward DD
17 Lean one knee out, keeping centre of gravity balanced (2,2,4,4)
ON AN EVEN KEEL– anagram (out) of [Lean one knee] including (keeping) the middle letter (centre) of {gra}v{ity}
20 Letters from within Cairo and Lima, possibly (7)
AIRMAIL – middle letters of {C}air{o} with an anagram (possibly) of [Lima]
21 Rubbishpiece of offal (5)
TRIPE– another straightforward DD
22 Sharply pull back king? No! (4)
YANK– king gives us a K, No! gives NAY, reverse it all (back) and Bob’s your uncle!
23 Extension incorporated front of roof with ease (8)
INCREASE– incorporated gives INC, front of r{oof} and ease gives EASE
Down
1 Travel down piste with daughter and slide out of control (4)
SKID– travel down piste gives SKI with D{aughter}
2 Edible plant I found in labyrinth (5)
MAIZE– the labyrinth is a MAZE, put an I in it
3 Old-fashioned character in MCC, perhaps (5,7)
ROMAN NUMERAL– misdirection to make you think this is today’s cricket referenced clue, but MCC, as well as being the HQ of cricket, is also an example of a roman numeral, and is equivalent to 1200 in the Arabic kind that we use today. We had a question a couple of days ago about whether a numeral was in fact a character. My view is that we describe the set of letters and numerical digits that we use as alpha-numeric characters, so this is perfectly OK in my book.
4 Weak part of racket effective on return (6)
EFFETE– hidden (part of) and reversed (on return) in {rack}ET EFFE{ctive}
6 Give rightname (7)
ENTITLE– another DD
7 Medical organisation is ruddy annoyed (3,5)
RED CROSS– ruddy gives RED and annoyed is CROSS
8 Spotsperson works out on a trek for a change (6,6)
FIGURE SKATER – works out gives FIGURES and the rest is an anagram (for a change) of [a trek]. Bung in a space, and you have the (usually) elegant answer
12 Tree a pig’s tucked into a lot (8)
MAHOGANY– the pig is A HOG, which is inserted (tucked into) MANY (a lot)
14 Irritation? After tea, smile (7)
CHAGRIN - Tea is nearly always CHA in crosswordland, and smile is a GRIN. Chagrin, clued here by (Irritation?) is defined in my dictionary as a feeling of vexation, annoyance or embarrassment, which could mean the same thing.
16 Large island in Swiss capital or German capital (6)
BERLIN– put L{arge} I{sland} inside the Swiss capital (BERN) to give the German one.
18 Some lounge lizard’s girl (5)
ELIZA– hidden answer in {loung}E LIZA{rd’s}
19 Fair charge to include last of supplement (4)
FETE– charge gives FEE, bung in the last letter of {supplemen}T and you have a FETE, which is what I am enjoying this week, waiting for LCFC, aka the Foxes to be awarded the champions trophy on Saturday.
A nice puzzle from Hawthorn, thanks.
Definitions underlined: DD = double definition: {} deletions, [] anagram fodder
Across
1 See storm smashing county (8)
SOMERSET– anagram (smashing) of [see storm]
5 Noisily peel fruit (4)
PEAR– homophone or sounds like (noisily) peal, as in PARE – to peel or strip off the outer edge
9 I love wearing stupid expression (5)
IDIOM– I then O (love) inside (wearing) DIM (stupid)
10 Passed out at end if upset (7)
FAINTED– anagram (upset) of [at end if]
11 Spreadable paste a brunette put in a stew (6,6)
PEANUT BUTTER– anagram (in a stew) of [a brunette put]
13 Build up a team reportedly (6)
ACCRUE– sounds like (reportedly) a crew
15 Breakalcove (6)
RECESS– straightforward DD
17 Lean one knee out, keeping centre of gravity balanced (2,2,4,4)
ON AN EVEN KEEL– anagram (out) of [Lean one knee] including (keeping) the middle letter (centre) of {gra}v{ity}
20 Letters from within Cairo and Lima, possibly (7)
AIRMAIL – middle letters of {C}air{o} with an anagram (possibly) of [Lima]
21 Rubbishpiece of offal (5)
TRIPE– another straightforward DD
22 Sharply pull back king? No! (4)
YANK– king gives us a K, No! gives NAY, reverse it all (back) and Bob’s your uncle!
23 Extension incorporated front of roof with ease (8)
INCREASE– incorporated gives INC, front of r{oof} and ease gives EASE
Down
1 Travel down piste with daughter and slide out of control (4)
SKID– travel down piste gives SKI with D{aughter}
2 Edible plant I found in labyrinth (5)
MAIZE– the labyrinth is a MAZE, put an I in it
3 Old-fashioned character in MCC, perhaps (5,7)
ROMAN NUMERAL– misdirection to make you think this is today’s cricket referenced clue, but MCC, as well as being the HQ of cricket, is also an example of a roman numeral, and is equivalent to 1200 in the Arabic kind that we use today. We had a question a couple of days ago about whether a numeral was in fact a character. My view is that we describe the set of letters and numerical digits that we use as alpha-numeric characters, so this is perfectly OK in my book.
4 Weak part of racket effective on return (6)
EFFETE– hidden (part of) and reversed (on return) in {rack}ET EFFE{ctive}
6 Give rightname (7)
ENTITLE– another DD
7 Medical organisation is ruddy annoyed (3,5)
RED CROSS– ruddy gives RED and annoyed is CROSS
8 Spotsperson works out on a trek for a change (6,6)
FIGURE SKATER – works out gives FIGURES and the rest is an anagram (for a change) of [a trek]. Bung in a space, and you have the (usually) elegant answer
12 Tree a pig’s tucked into a lot (8)
MAHOGANY– the pig is A HOG, which is inserted (tucked into) MANY (a lot)
14 Irritation? After tea, smile (7)
CHAGRIN - Tea is nearly always CHA in crosswordland, and smile is a GRIN. Chagrin, clued here by (Irritation?) is defined in my dictionary as a feeling of vexation, annoyance or embarrassment, which could mean the same thing.
16 Large island in Swiss capital or German capital (6)
BERLIN– put L{arge} I{sland} inside the Swiss capital (BERN) to give the German one.
18 Some lounge lizard’s girl (5)
ELIZA– hidden answer in {loung}E LIZA{rd’s}
19 Fair charge to include last of supplement (4)
FETE– charge gives FEE, bung in the last letter of {supplemen}T and you have a FETE, which is what I am enjoying this week, waiting for LCFC, aka the Foxes to be awarded the champions trophy on Saturday.