A classic Io puzzle.
Tricky indeed, but I will say that Io seems to include more and more ‘standard’ cryptic clues which certainly helps to get things going. A very enjoyable solve. Thanks to the setter.
BARS (secures) + TOOL (gun)
A[bba] (‘s first) + UNTIE (release)
‘Auntie’ is a nickname for the BBC, where ‘Top of the Pops’ came about
ABE’S (Lincoln’s, B (bishop) and S (special) doubly so)
N[igel] (at the outset) and ELECTS (chooses) to retain G (government)
(EAT (corrode) + HER (ship’s) + CU (copper)); FT (paper) bags
[th]E CHO[ir] (from)
(BULKY [ca]SE)* (*awfully, CA (about, circa) to split)
SEAT (mansion) maintains RIG< (appearance, <from behind)
Double definition
(IN FATHER)* (*revelling) inhaling HE (helium)
AT (in) + OM (Order of Merit) + IS + ED (newspaper chief)
RIP (saw) through TOD (one’s own)
From Cockney rhyming slang: Tod Sloan (a famous jockey) rhymed with “on one’s own/alone” which over time came to be “on one’s tod”
Reverse anagram
(HELENE + COMES)* (*to order) = LEMON CHEESE
“ODOUR V” (cologne number 22, “are you picking up”)
If odour A is cologne number one, odour B is cologne number 2 etc.
J (judge) + [l]AW BREAKER (criminal, waiving [counse]L (right to))
AS HE (playing a man) and A SHE (a woman)
Io offers two alternative clues in one
[t]ROUSSEAU (woman’s collection, robbed of top)
Double definition
Newgate is a former (old) prison (nick)
BETWEEN
1. THE DEVIL (from 4 down, “Old Nick”) and THE DEEP (from 19 down) BLUE (half of 16 across) SEA (half of 17 across)
2. A ROCK (2 across, with a bit of imagination) + A HARD PLACE (starting at 22, and working anticlockwise in the grid) – as highlighted
(Apologies, I didn’t highlight the A at 22, but this should be included.)
K[ilt], N[egligee] E[tc] (principles of) + (LEG THEN)* (*sporting) – &lit
IF (provided) ingredients for GT (popular cocktail drinks, gin and tonic)
BUT< (objection, <raised) wanting THUMPER (friend to fawn)
Thumper is a character from Disney’s Bambi, the fawn
(CHOICE MIRO)* (*surreal)
(V (very) + FLUENT + E (English))* (*in translation)
THE DEE (Scottish runner, river) takes [u]P (finally)
F1 SHED (storage facility at Silverstone?)
Silverstone is the home of British Formula 1
HEA[t] (warm up, T (temperature) rising maximally)
I.D. (check authenticity of) + EA (each)
My faves: ABBESS, FEATHER CUT, ATOMISED, HELENE, EAU DE VIE, JAW-BREAKER, ASHE,
CAUGHT, FISHED and IDEA.
Excellent puzzle. Superb blog.
Thanks Io and Oriel.
Beyond my pay grade. Re 6d was wondering if principle is doing the job of principal.
JS@2
KNEE-LENGTH
Principle in the sense of ‘origin’ works all right, I think.
Glad I gave up on this. Too many nigh-impossible (and iffy) clues. A thumbs down from me.
For ABBESS, I took ABBE to be ABE having B (Lincoln’s Bishop). The blog seems to be giving ABESBSS.
Hovis@4 it is ABES with a double B and double S .
Roz. That makes more sense. Thanks.
Thanks for the blog and grid , always good to see IO Wednesday with quite a range of clues , some very tough .
ABBESS a clever idea and a neat compound anagram for HELENE , great use of fawn for TUB-THUMPER .
I thought CAUGHT overdoing it a bit with the detail . Slight correction to blog , it is half of 16 17 together not half of each .
A minor point on GIFT
I took it as…
provided=IF (as the blog says)
ingredients for popular cocktail=GT
GT drinks IF
A dnf in the SE. Master of succinct obliquity, this bloke; like ‘rip’ inside ‘tod’ with ‘table’ as the def: all three steps are nicely oblique. Similarly ID as verb, ‘idea’ as ‘plan’. So, had to reveal the ‘i’ to finish this corner. Otoh, 17ac shouldn’t have taken such a long bear-stare, given the “girt by sea” line in the Oz anthem (on repeat in Glasgow). Enjoyable challenge as ever from Enigio, and thx Oriel.