Gurney is today’s setter.
I normally solve a puzzle by solving as many across clues as possible, then move on to the down clues, but I approached this one differently, solving the top half first, then the bottom. Seeing RATIONALISTIC and COMPASSIONATE immediately gave lots of crossers. There was nothing terribly obscure (except possibly PTOLEMAIC) or overly difficult, so it was a steady solve.
Thanks, Gurney
| ACROSS | ||
| 1 | ACROSS |
Like this clue, a pain? (6)
|
| A + CROSS (“pain?”, presumably as in “a cross one has to bear”) | ||
| 4 | PROPOSER |
One presents expert with difficult question (8)
|
| PRO (“expert”) with POSER (“difficult question”) | ||
| 9 | POSSE |
Penny, sob sister, regularly seen in group (5)
|
| P (penny) + (s)O(b) S(i)S(t)E(r) [regularly seen] | ||
| 10 | CATERWAUL |
Aware cult could somehow make you shriek! (9)
|
| *(aware cult) [anag:could somehow make] | ||
| 11 | ACRONYM |
On way back, parent welcoming friend in Nato? (7)
|
| [on way back] <=(MA (“parent”)) welcoming CRONY (“friend”) | ||
| 12 | OVEREAT |
Plain unlimited meal must be included for pig? (7)
|
| [unlimited] (m)EA(l) must be included in OVERT (“plain”) | ||
| 13 | SKIT |
Small set of tools — source of mirth? (4)
|
| S (small) + KIT (“set of tools”) | ||
| 14 | BASALTIC |
Rocky — a cab? List changes required (8)
|
| *(a cab list) [anag:changes] | ||
| 17 | TALL SHIP |
Hard to believe at first some fashionable people sail in this (4,4)
|
| TALL (“hard to believe”) + [at first] S(ome) + HIP (“fashionable”) | ||
| 19 | GOOD |
Suitable for purpose — well-behaved (4)
|
| Double definition | ||
| 22 | AVOCADO |
Active at the start, outspoken almost to the end, party — Green? (7)
|
| A(ctive [at the start] + VOCA(l) (“outspoken”, almost to the end) + DO (“party”) | ||
| 24 | TURMOIL |
Expression heard to fuel uproar (7)
|
| Homophone/pun/aural wordplay [heard] of TERM (“expression”) + OIL (“fuel”) | ||
| 25 | PTOLEMAIC |
Topic male developed referring to Sky viewer? (9)
|
| *(topic male) [anag:developed]
Ptolemy was an ancient astronomer, hence “referring to one who views the sky”. |
||
| 26 | AWAIT |
Expect a heavy load, by the sound of it (5)
|
| Homophone/pun/aural wordplay [by the sound of it] of A WEIGHT (“a heavy load”) | ||
| 27 | SIDESTEP |
Avoid team’s darling, after reflection (8)
|
| SIDE’S (“team’s”) + <=PET (“darling”, after reflection) | ||
| 28 | CHEEKY |
Sound of surprise after church finally very forward (6)
|
| EEK (“sound of surprise) after Ch. (church) + [finally] (ver)Y | ||
| DOWN | ||
| 1 | APPLAUSE |
Recognition of program the French employ (8)
|
| APP (“programme”) + LA (“the” in “French”) + USE (“employ”) | ||
| 2 | RESTRAINT |
Check features train tracks in part (9)
|
| Hidden in [in part] “featuRES TRAIN Tracks” | ||
| 3 | SIENNA |
Queen is looking up colour (6)
|
| <=(ANNE IS (“queen is”), looking up) | ||
| 5 | RATIONALISTIC |
Logical, with particular focus on country, after change at top (13)
|
| (n)ATIONALISTIC (“with particular focus on country”) after change at top becomes (R)ATIONALISTIC | ||
| 6 | PORTENT |
Sign left on part of hospital (7)
|
| PORT (“left” on a ship) on ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat, (department), “part of a hospital”) | ||
| 7 | SPACE |
Room superb after singular pressure (5)
|
| ACE (“superb”) after S (singular) + P (pressure) | ||
| 8 | RELATE |
Give account of riotous excesses, initially after hours (6)
|
| R(iotous) E(xcesse) [initially] + LATE (“after hours”) | ||
| 10 | COMPASSIONATE |
Kindly, arrive carrying type of fruit, date essentially (13)
|
| COME (“arrive”) carrying PASSION (fruit) + (d)AT(e) [essentially] | ||
| 15 | CHOCOLATE |
Unexpectedly cool chat, ultimately memorable, sweet (9)
|
| *(cool chat) [anag:unexpectedly] + [ultimately] (memorabl)E | ||
| 16 | IDOLATRY |
Shifted tardily about love? Too much of it? (8)
|
| *(tardily) [anag:shifted] about O (love, in tennis) | ||
| 18 | LEADERS |
Looks, not nice, about a daily’s opening opinion pieces (7)
|
| LEERS (“looks, not nice”) about A + D(aily) [‘s opening] | ||
| 20 | CAMPUS |
A politician visiting copper’s place of learning (6)
|
| A + MP (Member of Parliament, so “politician”) visiting Cu’s (copper’s) | ||
| 21 | BROACH |
Bring up subject of jewellery, we hear (6)
|
| Homophone/pun/aural wordplay [we hear] of BROOCH (“jewellery”) | ||
| 23 | OVOID |
Originally one very often in development, like some farm produce? (5)
|
| [originally] O(ne) V(ery) O(ften) I(n) D(evelopment), being like an egg (“farm produce”) |
Very enjoyable. Liked Ptolemaic, acronym. Thanks both.
Good fun. Nothing too difficult. 10d didn’t really work for me. ‘Passion fruit’ is a fruit but I don’t think you can say ‘passion’ is a fruit.
By the way is the top left down Nina an accident?
Hovis@2 – the clue for COMPASSIONATE says “type of fruit” – I missed the “type of” in my shorthand.
Loonapick @4. Don’t see the difference. I would still say ‘passion fruit’ is a type of fruit, not ‘passion’.
Thanks for the blog , good set of neat clues . PTOLEMAIC has to be my favourite , he defined and named 48 “classical” constellations , 47 still used today , only Argo Navis has been split . Southern constellations have been added .
I don’t time myself – I don’t have a big enough watch – but this was easily my quickest ever solve.
Thanks all.
For IO, I time myself with a calendar 😀
Most enjoyable and solved in just two passes. We liked ACRONYM, BASALTIC and PTOLEMAIC.
Thanks, Gurney and loonapick.
Very pleasant solve – thanks Both.
Funny, I found this a bit of a battle. Oh well, I was on other threads saying everything in The Guardian had been easy this week and not everyone agreed. Horses for courses I guess!
It was a good puzzle anyway. I liked AVOCADO, IDOLATRY and APPLAUSE.
Thanks Gurney and loonapick.
Many thanks, loonapick, for the excellent blog, and thanks also to all who commented.