A pleasing and reasonably accessible puzzle from Hubble to get the crosswording week in the Independent underway.
Abbreviations
cd cryptic definition
dd double definition
cad clue as definition
(xxxx)* anagram
anagrind = anagram indicator
[x] letter(s) removed
definitions are underlined
Across
1 Idiot‘s late checking French and German articles on hotel
DUNDERHEAD
An insertion of UN and DER, indefinite and definite ‘articles’ in French and German and H for the phonetic alphabet ‘hotel’ in DEAD. The insertion indicator is ‘checking’.
6 Cliff Wilde’s leaving capital
SCAR
[O]SCAR. ‘I can resist everything but temptation.’
10 Name hospital hiding large sum paid to church
TITHE
Hubble is inviting you to replace the L for ‘large’ in TITLE with H for ‘hospital’. The tenth of your income that historically, in the Christian and Jewish traditions, would be contributed to the religion.
11 Wind-up merchants in playground serve nuts around one
RECEIVERS
A charade of REC for ‘playground’ and I inserted into (SERVE)* The insertion indicator is ‘around’ and the anagrind is ‘nuts’. The references is to RECEIVERS, where stolen goods wind up.
12 Dishonest bloke stealing bread in vessel
CAROTID
An insertion of ROTI in CAD. The insertion indicator is ‘stealing’.
13 Dog from Kansas biting director Howard in Canadian location
TORONTO
‘Toto, I have a feeling we’re not in Kansas any more,’ said Dorothy, famously. Insert RON [HOWARD] into the little dog and you have your Canadian city.
14 Women footballers (Italian) exercise with special competitions on cold surfaces
WINTER SPORTS
A charade of W, INTER, SPORT and S.
18 Not yet signed in, urge resident to get moving
UNREGISTERED
(URGE RESIDENT)* with ‘to get moving’ as the anagrind.
21 Promises to take away support from governing bodies
COMMITS
COMMIT[TEE]S
23 Graceful English member introducing a collection of books
ELEGANT
A charade of E, LEG, A and NT for New Testament.
24 International trains crashing en route
IN TRANSIT
A charade of INT and (TRAINS)* with ‘crashing’ as the anagrind.
25 Abbreviated lecture covering predatory avian’s weapon
TALON
A charade of TAL[K] and ON.
26 Standard minor majorette carries
NORM
Hidden in miNOR Majorette.
27 May and Penny, I see, meeting society contenders
CANDIDATES
A charade of CAN, D for denarius or the old ‘penny’, I, DATE and S.
Down
1 Cut off end of beard plus other facial hair when cycling
DETACH
A charade of D for the final letter of ‘beard’ and TACHE ‘cycled’ – in other words, moving the last letter to the front.
2 Character periodically going through in last quarter
NATURE
The even letters of iN lAsT qUaRtEr.
3 Regulate critic playing instrument
ELECTRIC GUITAR
(REGULATE CRITIC)* with ‘playing’ as the anagrind.
4 Champion Mark crowning America’s old historian
HERODOTUS
A charade of HERO, DOT and US.
5 Place where you can get better type of neckwear
ASCOT
A dd. The ‘better’ is the gambling type to be seen at the racecourse.
7 Initially Narnia author’s welcoming less bulky dailies
CLEANERS
An insertion of LEANER in CS, the initials of Clive Staples Lewis, author of The Chronicles of Narnia.
8 Reaction of press with one running riot
RESPONSE
(PRESS ONE)* with ‘running riot’ as the anagrind.
9 Gave wrong account of my boss supporting girl reportedly dealing with gift
MISREPRESENTED
A charade of MIS, a soundalike (‘reportedly’) of MISS, RE for ‘dealing with’, PRESENT and ED. ‘Supporting’ works because it’s a down clue.
15 Once again put in bookstand sailors left behind (conserved by Oliver in film)
RE-ELECTED
An insertion of LECTE[RN] in Oliver REED, the actor best known for drinking 101 pints on his wedding weekend (he claimed it was fewer) or getting his kit off and wrestling naked in Women in Love.
16 Maybe crossroads where Jack gets oil
JUNCTION
A charade of J and UNCTION.
17 Organiser spilling more port
PROMOTER
(MORE PORT)* with ‘spilling’ as the anagrind.
19 Risk involving everyone producing Romeo and Juliet?
BALLET
An insertion of ALL in BET. The insertion indicator is ‘involving’.
20 Puts up with two saints
STANDS
A charade of ST AND S, both of which are accepted abbreviations for ‘saint’.
22 Young Obama‘s first belt?
SASHA
Barack and Michelle Obama’s second daughter. A ‘first belt’ could be SASH A.
Many thanks to Hubble.
Very nice Monday puzzle. For 11ac I read the def as referring to receivers who are appointed to wind up a failed company, but either way works, I reckon. Thanks to both.
Thanks to Pierre for the excellent blog. I could really use a technical test solver. If interested, please use the contact form at Hubble crosswords.com
No toil and trouble here, a kindly-clued puzzle, very enjoyable.
11(ac), RECEIVERS: strictly speaking, they are appointed to manage a company, to recover a secured debt. Though in practice, it’s usually game-over, and the LIQUIDATORS soon follow ( the actual wind-up merchants). I liked Pierre’s take on it – very arch!
I can’t fault the compiling, ( perhaps one too many anagrams? ), very clever clues throughout, and no bizarros.
Lovely stuff, Hubble et Pierre
Yes, the RECEIVERS definition referring to company wind-ups is much more likely.
Whizzed through this apart from misspelling HERODOTUS. NATURE probably my favourite.
Thanks both
Nice to see Romeo and Juliet freed of their NATO responsibilities. Interesting how varied the role of a receiver can be.