As usual with this setter’s puzzles, it took me two goes to finally wrestle it to the ground. But an enjoyable challenge, with a range of subject matter to keep you interested.
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 Wedge hammered in restricts small moving part
PISTON
An insertion of S in PITON. The insertion indicator is ‘restricts’.
4 Worried RAF leaders for instance make fighters stand by
AFFIRM
(RAF IMF)* with ‘worried’ as the anagrind.
9 Quite good number by singer
ALTOGETHER
A charade of ALTO, G and ETHER (which would ‘numb’ you as an anaesthetic). ‘It was altogether/quite the best afternoon we had ever spent together.’
10 F1’s brand representative?
FACE
A charade of F and ACE. ‘David Beckham is the face of Adidas/Stella Artois/McDonalds …’
11 Floppy alien creature adapted to Klingon, you hear?
LIMPET
A charade of LIMP and ET. LIMPETS make a life out of clinging on to rocks, and KLINGON is a soundalike (‘you hear’) for ‘cling on’.
12 Managing debts at university, might one signal bitterness?
TASTE BUD
(DEBTS AT U)* with ‘managing’ as the anagrind.
13 E.g. Georgian opposed to what Spaniard says
ANTIQUE
A charade of ANTI and QUE. ¿QUÉ? is the blunt Spanish word for ‘What?’
15 Unlikely name for new baby aunt oddly picked at random
ANDREW
A charade of A[U]N[T] and DREW. I didn’t much like this clue; for me it’s a bit too left-field. Filbert is suggesting that no-one would name a baby ANDREW now for fear of it being associated with the ex-royal formerly known as Prince. Who, to keep the 225 lawyers happy, denies any wrongdoing.
17 Article on green bananas named botanical types, say
GENERA
A charade of (GREEN)* and A. The anagrind is ‘bananas’. GENERA is the plural of GENUS, one of the levels of classification in the Linnean hierarchical taxonomic system. King Prawns Cry Over Fish Going South gives you the initial letters of the seven levels: the G is for GENUS.
19 Cover fastens in case of effervescence
ECLIPSE
An insertion of CLIPS in EE, the outside letters of ‘effervescence’. The insertion indicator is ‘in case of’.
21 Like meal to be successful?
FLOURISH
A cd cum dd. The first definition is the whimsical one: if you define meal in its ‘cornmeal’ sense, then it could be described as flour-ish.
23 Son asks earnestly for paints straight out of the can
SPRAYS
A charade of S and PRAYS.
24 A little kid awoke, coming round in bed that’s dried out
WADI
Hidden reversed in kID AWoke. A word I remember from A-level Geography, a long time ago.
25 Dodgy file naming intelligence operative published in 1950s
IAN FLEMING
(FILE NAMING)* with ‘dodgy’ as the anagrind. The definition refers to the author of the James Bond novels. He worked in intelligence during WWII.
26 Shot, taking aim with it
TRENDY
An insertion of END in TRY. The insertion indicator is ‘taking’.
27 Seat on jumbo had to be turned on using what?
HOWDAH
A charade of HOW and HAD reversed. ‘Using what?’ is another rather inelegant way of expressing ‘how?’. ‘Using what/how do you make puff pastry?’ The ‘jumbo’ is the pachyderm, of course.
Down
1 Receiving contrary tip, friend had flutter
PALPITATE
An insertion of TIP reversed in PAL and ATE. The insertion indicator is ‘receiving’.
2 Group given lift in Transit up to HS2’s trackside event
SHOT PUT
Hidden reversed in TransiT UP TO HS2.
3 Exercise too much without shower in public
OVERT
OVERT[RAIN]
5 Anticipate logging area completely
FORESTALL
A charade of FOREST and ALL.
6 Heathen has daughter dropped in marked area around bases
INFIELD
Filbert is inviting you to ‘drop’ (since it’s a down clue) the D in INFIDEL by two places. The sport referenced is baseball.
7 Lay off child who was Home Alone in busy city
MACAU
MACAU[LAY]. Macaulay Culkin was the child star in the Home Alone movies. He’s now 45.
8 Arranging new pet health insurance, primarily big waste of money
WHITE ELEPHANT
(NEW PET HEALTH I)* with ‘arranging’ as the anagrind.
14 Sentence of many years cut by one in court, subject to conditions
QUALIFIED
An insertion of LIF[E] I in QUAD. The insertion indicator is ‘in’.
16 9 in complete list of Scottish islands
EVERY INCH
The solution to 9ac is ALTOGETHER. There are a number of Scottish islands with INCH as part of their name: it is derived from the Gaelic word for ‘island’, innis. So you could in theory list EVERY INCH.
18 Doctor reunited with Newton leaving full of knowledge
ERUDITE
(REU[N]ITED)* with ‘doctor’ as the anagrind.
20 Wood for cremation almost in centre of mausoleum
PYRAMID
A charade of PYR[E] and AMID.
22 Smallest portion left for banquet’s starter
LEAST
Another letter replacement: this time of the F in FEAST for an L.
23 Five in comfortable bar save on round of shots
SALVO
An insertion of V in SALO[ON]. The insertion indicator is ‘in’.
Many thanks to Filbert for another fine Sunday puzzle.
Excellent variety and every surface reading is cunningly apt, wonderfully veiled instructions to the solution.
Faultless, interesting, and enjoyable.
Hats held high, thanks Filbert & Pierre
A few tricky ones that caused a head scratch but everything resolved in the end without assistance and in a sensible time. ANDREW was LOI as I could see neither the def nor the second syllable for a while. Not helped by having an unparsed INFIDEL before I realised what bases Filbert was referring to. Add in the tricky deletion to get MACAU and the NW was easily the trickier corner.
As always, I admire Filbert’s ability to pick the right indicator to make his surfaces pop. AFFIRM, ALTOGETHER, LIMPET, IAN FLEMING, HOWDAH, WHITE ELEPHANT, EVERY INCH and PYRAMID my faves today.
Thanks both