Phi on Friday as usual.
A fun solve, and nothing too obscure, though with a few niggles as noted below. I’d have to say I got a bit bored with one = I when explaining it for the fourth time, and I’m happy to be corrected if you can find a cryptic explanation for 17a. My favourite was the long anagram at 7d. Thanks Phi as always.
Definitions are underlined; BOLD UPPERCASE indicates letters used in the wordplay; square brackets [ ] indicate omitted letters.
| ACROSS | ||
| 1 | MALTA |
Old woman going round key or island (5)
|
| MA (old woman = slang for mother) around ALT (key on a computer keyboard). | ||
| 4 | CLASSMATE |
Schoolfellow had meal after ship brought in shellfish (9)
|
| ATE (had a meal), after SS (abbreviation for a steamship) inserted into CLAM (shellfish). “Brought in” is misleading because the sense we need is SS “brought into” CLAM, not a ship “bringing in” (carrying) CLAM. | ||
| 9 | PUCCINI |
Composer recalled trophy given to contralto in Italy (7)
|
| CUP (as in World Cup = trophy) reversed (recalled), then C (abbreviation for contralto voice, though these days it’s more often called A for alto) + IN (from clue text) + I (abbreviation for Italy). | ||
| 10 | FELT TIP |
Writer was keenly aware of suggestion (4,3)
|
| FELT (was aware of) + TIP (suggestion = hint or recommendation).
Fibre-tip pen, marker pen, or various other names: a writing implement with a tip made of compressed fibres. |
||
| 11 | TIARA |
Sailor embracing one with a crown (5)
|
| TAR (slang for a sailor) containing I (one in Roman numerals), then A (from clue text). | ||
| 12 | GERIATRIC |
Rather ancient anger returning in Georgia with scheme falling short (9)
|
| IRE (anger) reversed (returning), inserted into GA (abbreviation for the US state of Georgia) + TRIC[k] (scheme = attempted deception) without the last letter (falling short).
The word means “relating to medical treatment for conditions associated with ageing”, but is often used as a facetious term for “elderly”. |
||
| 13 | BATHING MACHINE |
Victorian device indicative of changing times? (7,7)
|
| Cryptic definition: in the Victorian era, a wheeled carriage on a beach, which allowed the user to change into a bathing costume and take a dip in the sea without being seen in such an undignified state of undress. | ||
| 17 | BUSMAN’S HOLIDAY |
Vacation inspiring Sayers novel (7,7)
|
| I’m not sure what Phi intended here. “Busman’s holiday” means a time when someone should be on holiday but is doing much the same as they normally do at work, on the analogy of a bus driver having to drive to his own holiday destination. Dorothy L Sayers wrote a novel called Busman’s Honeymoon, featuring a detective couple who find themselves solving a murder during their honeymoon. But to say that the idea of a “busman’s holiday” inspired the title of the novel is hardly cryptic. | ||
| 19 | VACILLATE |
Be unsteady, being sick during leave (9)
|
| ILL (sick) inserted into VACATE (to move out of a property or resign from a role = leave). | ||
| 22 | BEECH |
Person who’s busy with letters on taps, wooden (5)
|
| BEE (busy bee = slang for a busy person), then C + H (indicators on cold and hot water taps). | ||
| 23 | POLY BAG |
Activist willing to talk, but losing heart when backing common use of plastic (4,3)
|
| POL (slang abbreviation for a politician or political activist), then GA[b]BY (slang for talkative) without the middle letter (heart) and reversed (when backing).
Short for polythene (polyethylene) bag: I don’t think I’ve heard one called anything other than “plastic bag” for years. |
||
| 24 | TRANCHE |
Dazed state after consuming hot slice (7)
|
| TRANCE (a dazed state), containing H (abbreviation for hot).
French word for a slice, but used more generally in English to mean a portion of a larger whole. |
||
| 25 | ROYAL GALA |
Bit of apple glory, cultivated in the style of NZ variety (5,4)
|
| Anagram (cultivated) of the first letter (a bit) of A[pple] + GLORY, then A LA (French à la = in the style of).
Extended definition: Royal Gala is an apple variety originally produced in New Zealand. |
||
| 26 | NIPPY |
Feeling cold? Note fast-food shop, not church (5)
|
| N (abbreviation for note) + [ch]IPPY (slang for a fish-and-chip shop) without CH (abbreviation for church).
Slang description for cold weather: “it’s a bit nippy out there”. (Well, not in the UK at the moment, but I’m sure we’ll be complaining about the cold in six months’ time.) |
||
| DOWN | ||
| 1 | MAPUTO |
Prominent Communist holding position in African capital (6)
|
| MAO (Mao Zedong, former chairman of the Chinese Communist Party) containing PUT (position, as a verb).
Capital of Mozambique. |
||
| 2 | LACKADAISICALLY |
Need a platform – supported by one Conservative associate ineffectually (15)
|
| LACK (need) + A DAIS (a platform), before (above, in a down clue = supported by) I (one in Roman numerals) + C (abbreviation for Conservative) + ALLY (associate).
Lackadaisical = lazy and unenthusiastic. |
||
| 3 | ARIMATHEA |
Biblical city with one American subject in region (9)
|
| I (one in Roman numerals) + MATH (US short name for mathematics as a school subject, generally called “maths” in the UK), all inserted into AREA (region).
The Gospels mention Joseph of Arimathea, who provided a tomb for Jesus’ burial. |
||
| 4 | CLING |
Demanding to drop target? Hold on (5)
|
| CL[aim]ING (demanding), without AIM (target). | ||
| 5 | ALFA ROMEO |
A sign outside ranch, home to old car marque (4,5)
|
| A + LEO (star sign), outside FARM (ranch), containing O (abbreviation for old). | ||
| 6 | SALSA |
Son sadly getting half twisted in dance (5)
|
| S (abbreviation for son), then ALAS (sadly) with the second half of the word reversed (twisted).
Latin American dance style. |
||
| 7 | A STORM IN A TEACUP |
Crap to animate us immoderately? It’s nothing important (1,5,2,1,6)
|
| Anagram (immoderately) of CRAP TO ANIMATE US.
Phrase meaning an angry fuss over something trivial that will be quickly forgotten. |
||
| 8 | EXPECTED |
Former partner went to involve court, as anticipated (8)
|
| EX (former partner) + PEED (went = slang for urinated), containing (to involve) CT (abbreviation for court). | ||
| 14 | NOSTALGIA |
Reminiscences? No way seaweed will grip one (9)
|
| NO + ST (abbreviation for street = way) + ALGA (seaweed), containing I (one in Roman numerals). | ||
| 15 | CHILBLAIN |
Bill getting misplaced in sequence? It’s due to the cold (9)
|
| Anagram (misplaced) of BILL, inserted into CHAIN (sequence, as in “chain of events”).
Painful inflammation of (usually) fingers and toes, occurring in cold damp weather. |
||
| 16 | ABOVE PAR |
A pig securing very old record? It’s better than average (5,3)
|
| A BOAR (a male pig), containing V (abbreviation for very) + EP (abbreviation for extended-play record: “old” = from the days when recorded music was mainly distributed on physical vinyl discs).
Golfers will point out that “above par” should mean taking more shots than a typical player would, therefore worse than average. But in common usage the phrase generally means “better than expected”. It’s all a matter of context. |
||
| 18 | CHEEKY |
Central heating smelly, not initially fresh (6)
|
| CH (abbreviation for central heating), then [r]EEKY (smelly) without the initial letter.
Cheeky = fresh = disrespectful. |
||
| 20 | LABEL |
Record company bringing up some imperishable ballad (5)
|
| Hidden answer (some . . .), reversed (bringing up = upwards in a down clue) of [imperishab]LE BAL[lad]. | ||
| 21 | EXTRA |
Edition of newspaper – English Times – reflected skill (5)
|
| E (abbreviation for English) + X (multiplication sign = times, as in “3 times 2”), then ART (skill) reversed (reflected).
A special edition of a newspaper, usually prompted by a notable new development: “Extra! Extra! Read all about it!” |
I really enjoyed this, buoyed up by one of my quickest times, only to find from Ms.Q that I had miscued 13(ac) with WASHING MACHINE, so VAR have disallowed it.
I think Q’s rationale for BUSMAN’S HOLIDAY is bob on, but I found it a nicely constructed clue, and worthily cryptic.
In fact, no quibbles from me on anything, ( I didn’t even spot the proliferation of “one/I”), so….
both Thumbs up , Phi and Q
Thanks for the blog Quirister, and for the crossword Phi.
I was wondering whether I’d missed a cryptic construction in 17A but I think it is the “simple” cryptic definition which I quite like.
13A I read as having two layers of meaning, changing as per its use for protecting modesty whilst changing to bathing costumes, and changing times reflecting the different views on modesty between the Victorian era and now.
Like ENBoll& @1 I also put WASHING MACHINE instead of BATHING MACHINE but was doubtful that was right as I don’t think washing machines were around in the Victorian era
The other one that stumped me was POLY BAG as I’ve never heard that term before and I couldn’t get it from just the wordplay as I’d never heard of POL for political/political activist, and it would’ve taken me a while to think of GABBY for talkative
As always with a Phi there were a few answers that were new to me – the aforementioned POLY BAG, VACILLATE (though I may have come across that one before but I can’t remember), TRANCHE and ARIMATHEA
I always thought it was LACKSADAISICAL(LY) or LAXADAISICAL(LY) rather than LACKADAISICAL(LY) but now I know
Thanks Phi and Q
Another put through the wringer with WASHING MACHINE and POLY BAG.
In memory of FrankieG, who I’m sure would have commented, a bit of 14d here for the Lynsey de Paul song 7d from a mere 54 years ago. One of my own earliest vinyl purchases.
Thanks Phi and Q.
Thanks both. In a great hurry owing to trains overheating!….however nearly raced through within my foreshortened deadline, though ultimately sought help with nho pol or POLY BAG ( might it be antipodean?) and thought BATHING MACHINE was a bathing hut or similar so misguessed like others around laundry. If BUSMANS HOLIDAY proves itself to be cryptic, no doubt my trains will all run on time.
Jamie@3: these days, almost anything goes for LACKADAISICAL, and I have, under advice, stopped correcting people who choose their own pronunciation! (My better half has her own variation, enough said) .
It stems from ” alack the day”, by which one might say, ” I’m feeling sorry for myself”, uttered by cheerless, lazy people: ” I just can’t be bothered”.
I like your play, LAXADAISICAL, gets my vote for new word of the year.
BATHING MACHINES always reminds me of The Hunting of the Snark, “which it constantly carries about”.
I’d never come across POLY BAG before and had to do a word search for MAPUTO,