Solving time: 6 1/2 minutes.
Hello everyone, long-time lurker, occasional poster, inveterate solver here. This was a nice pleasant stroll with nothing too challenging for me. I solved it on line so was held up by the cursor skipping and two clues didn't have indications that they were phrases. Minor grumbles that I'll either get used to, or the techies will sort.
Thanks to Flamande for a nice pleasant solve.
Hello everyone, long-time lurker, occasional poster, inveterate solver here. This was a nice pleasant stroll with nothing too challenging for me. I solved it on line so was held up by the cursor skipping and two clues didn't have indications that they were phrases. Minor grumbles that I'll either get used to, or the techies will sort.
| Across | |
| 1 | CONSTABLE - The definition here is the whole clue. STABLE (unlikely to waver" after a slang word for a criminal (CON) |
| 6 | PAD - P (very little money) + AD (these days, anno domini) Definition is 'accommodation' |
| 8 | DOGMA -A + M (male) + GOD (divinity) - all reversed |
| 9 | TERRIER - A double definition clue, but a bit cryptic - Breed of dog and volunteer refers to a type of soldier. |
| 10 | NORTH SEA - Given as 8 on line, but 5,3 in the paper. An anagram (indicated by drunk) of TENOR HAS. |
| 11 | MAZE - Take a type of corn and remove the 'kernel', middle letter. MA(i)ZE. |
| 13 | GRANDFATHER - A thousand pounds (GRAND) + obese (FAT) + woman's (HER) = relative. |
| 17 | POPE - I made this clue more complex than it is! One of those I wrote the answer in from the checking letters and looked why, assuming it was (Vox) POP - an ad hoc report. Nothing of the sort! POP = Unexpected report, i.e. a sudden bang. A report is another word for the noise of a gun or other weapon. Add E (European). |
| 18 | IN FLIGHT - Given as (8) on line, but it's (2,6). IF LIGHT (If not heavy) with N (any number) inside (carried)- the definition is 'during plane journey'. Edit: This should be (2-6) Thanks Jackkt! |
| 21 | RESERVE - Double definition. A word that means to book and the name for a substitute player. |
| 22 | TROLL - T (little time) + ROLL register. Definition is 'provocative post'. I knew the internet troublemakers were called trolls but I didn't realise one of their posts can also be called it. |
| 23 | THE - Definition is 'article'. THE(M) - those people abridged, i.e. last letter missing. |
| 24 | WISCONSIN - The definition is 'a state'. WIS(E) - mostly sage + CONS (Tories) + IN. |
| Down | |
| 1 | CEDING - 'Allowing' is the definition. CE (Church) + DING (bell's sound). |
| 2 | NIGER - NI (Part of UK) + GER (German) = NIGER (land). |
| 3 | TEACHING - TE (Half a term) + ACHING (feeling pain). Definition is 'working in classroom'. |
| 4 | BUTTERFINGERS - A double definition, with half of it cryptic (indicated by the question mark) A way of describing someone who is clumsy / a type of thin shortbread biscuits. |
| 5 | EARL - Definition is 'nobleman'. Answer is hidden inside FEARLESS |
| 6 | PRIVATE - Another double definition. A word meaning 'uncommunicative', keeping oneself to oneself, or a name for a soldier. |
| 7 | DOREEN - DO (social event) + NE'ER (never) - reversed (upset). |
| 12 | STILETTO - T (last letter, finally, of LEFT) inside an anagram (oddly) of TOILETS. The definition is 'pointed weapon'. |
| 14 | RIPOSTE - An anagram (possibly) of ROPIEST. Definition is 'comeback'. |
| 15 | SPIRIT - A double definition. Alcoholic drink / energy. |
| 16 | STOLEN - The definition is 'pinched'. Take the name for a type of Christmas cake popular in Europe, STOLLEN and remove L (middle bit missing). |
| 19 | GLOSS - A homophone (superficially) of the shortened form of Gloucestershire. Definition is 'attractive appearance'. Thought this was probably the only weak clue here. |
| 20 | CREW - A final double definition. The name for the company on a ship and the noise made by a cockerel. |
Thanks to Flamande for a nice pleasant solve.