Solving time: 37:04
I found this one generally straightforward for the most part. A lot of the answers went in without much thought required. There were a few, though, that took a fair bit of thinking about - 1a, 9a & 20a being the pick of the bunch for me.
I think 1a has to be my COD for its particularly sneaky definition.
cd = cryptic def., dd = double def., rev = reversal, homophones are written in quotes, anagrams as (--)*, and removalslike this
I found this one generally straightforward for the most part. A lot of the answers went in without much thought required. There were a few, though, that took a fair bit of thinking about - 1a, 9a & 20a being the pick of the bunch for me.
I think 1a has to be my COD for its particularly sneaky definition.
cd = cryptic def., dd = double def., rev = reversal, homophones are written in quotes, anagrams as (--)*, and removals
| Across | |
|---|---|
| 1 | ACROSS = C in (A + ROSS) - What follows 1 here, in 1 across. Obvious really. But one of my last ones in. |
| 5 | PANCAKE = (PEAK CAN)* - 'land in a bad way' is the definition, as a verb applied to aeroplane pilots |
| 9 | POUND NOTES - dd |
| 10 | T |
| 11 | SEED CORN = (CENSORED)* |
| 13 | |
| 14 | HAL + FINCHES - 'Half-inch' being CRS for pinch or steal |
| 16 | TUTU = "TWO-TWO" |
| 17 | GO |
| 18 | TAP-DANCERS = (CARPET AND S |
| 20 | LAMINA = ANIMAL rev |
| 21 | CAMP + BEDs |
| 23 | |
| 24 | HOUSE MUSIC - cd |
| 26 | GO SPARE = GORE about (S + PA) |
| 27 | SETTLE = SEATTLE without the |
| Down | |
| 2 | COO |
| 3 | O(W)NE + D |
| 4 | SUN + DOWN |
| 5 | PUT IN THE PICTURE = THE (article) in PUTIN PICTURE |
| 6 | NESTERS = (ERNES)* about ST |
| 7 | ART CRITICS - cd |
| 8 | ENCOUNTERED = (COUNT + 'ERE) all in (DEN)* |
| 12 | ELABORATING = O (love) in (ABLE)* + RATING |
| 15 | FAN(LIGHT)S |
| 18 | TRACHEA = TRA |
| 19 | AIMLESS = (MELISSA)* |
| 22 | BLUNT - dd - Anthony Blunt was the Soviet spy |
| 25 | ILL - dd |