An enjoyable crossword and clear clues. Nougettes sounded like a possibility for 11a - misled into thinking nutty was an anagram indicator, and yes, I know, that still doesn’t work! – but everything else went in smoothly. 21a was a clever hidden clue, and 10d my COD because it wasn’t the sort of plant I thought at first. And I wonder if Orpheus takes his/her dog for a caper on the beach as in 19a!
Thank you to Orpheus.
Thank you to Orpheus.
| Across | |
| 1 | Significance adult males observed in witty saying: MOMENT Adult males = MEN, inside witty saying = MOT[Definition as in of great significance/moment] |
| 4 | Evaluate last of loads carried by beasts of burden: ASSESS Last of loadS = S, inside beasts of burden = ASSES |
| 9 | Trick a girl into reforming a group of stars: CONSTELLATION Trick = CON, a girl = STELLA, anagram (reforming) of INTO |
| 10 | Sound made by farm animal over in Missouri: MOO Over = O, Missouri = MO |
| 11 | Memos about one group’s nutty chocolates: NOISETTES Memos = NOTES, about one = I, group = SET |
| 12 | Habitshopkeepers get from shoppers?: CUSTOM Double definition, one cryptic |
| 13 | Popular team serving a sentence: INSIDE Popular = IN, team = SIDE |
| 16 | Scottish city in French writer’s works at last: INVERNESS In = IN, French writer’s = VERNES, workS at last =S |
| 18 | Rejected gratuity is mine: PIT Gratuity = TIP, then reversed (rejected) |
| 19 | Shingle disturbed by crossword compiler’s dog: ENGLISH SETTER Anagram (disturbed) of SHINGLE, crossword compiler = SETTER |
| 21 | Part of dinghy on Derwent over there: YONDER Hidden clue |
| 22 | Strange lad’s starting-price perhaps: ODDS-ON Strange = ODD, lad = SON |
| Down | |
| 1 | Scotsman originally married at Crianlarich: MAC First letters (originally) of the three following words |
| 2 | Chap departs to get fruit: MANGOES Chap = MAN, departs = GOES |
| 3 | Like another writer’s autobiography? No way!: NOT ON YOUR LIFE Double definition, one cryptic |
| 5 | So keen, she had a broadcast to signal disapproval: SHAKE ONE’S HEAD Anagram (broadcast) of SO KEEN SHE HAD A |
| 6 | One of two writers sending material up: ELIOT TS or George, reversal (sending up) of material = TOILE |
| 7 | Ageing former nurse the last to use perfume: SENESCENT Former nurse = SEN, last to usE = E, perfume = SCENT |
| 8 | Unattractiveregion without trees: PLAIN Double definition |
| 10 | Plant a girl found around Dorset ravine: MACHINERY A girl = MARY, around Dorset ravine = CHINE |
| 14 | Drive MEP about in new suit: IMPETUS Anagram (about) of MEP, within anagram (new) of SUIT |
| 15 | Fuel for lamps satisfied husband and son: METHS Satisfied = MET, husband = H, son =S |
| 17 | Shunner of animal products, say, in light goods vehicle: VEGAN Say = EG, in light goods vehicle = VAN |
| 20 | Manage to upset old rail union: RUN Rail union = NUR, reversed (upset) |