All fairly straightforward this week from Everyman – which, to be fair, is usually the case. It was only the famous (mis)quote that I couldn’t see for ages.
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 Bawdiest heresy describing OT character
ESTHER
Hidden in BawdiEST HEResy.
5 With overacting, big effect
WHAMMY
A charade of W and HAMMY.
8 Arriving with technology loaded
ROLLING IN IT
A charade of ROLLIN IN for ‘arriving’ and IT.
11 After cooking, unsure: cod of unspecified origin
UNSOURCED
(UNSURE COD)* with ‘after cooking’ as the anagrind.
12 A right barney, seeing weapon
ARROW
A charade of A, R and ROW.
13 Boasting support, going up against trouble
BRAVADO
A charade of BRA, V for versus and ADO.
14 Advances sharp arriviste
UPSTART
A charade of UPS and TART.
15 Do a mild shuffle for card game
OLD MAID
(DO A MILD)* with ‘shuffle’ as the anagrind.
17 Regrettably seedy, entertaining commercial gets you looking glum
SAD-EYED
An insertion of AD in (SEEDY)* The insertion indicator is ‘entertaining’ and the anagrind is ‘regrettably’.
20 Idle type deadheaded Michaelmas daisy
ASTER
[W]ASTER
21 Exist with insolence, one time lacking delight
BEATITUDE
A charade of BE and A[T]TITUDE. ‘One time lacking’ is the instruction to remove only one of the letter Ts. ‘Delight’ is certainly a synonym for the word. Many will associate it with its ecclesiastical usage, referenced in Jesus’ eight beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:3-12, where the most unlikely of people are pronounced blessed.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God
Cheesemakers, or any manufacturers of dairy products, are alternative options for the beatitude for the hard of hearing.
22 With which you’re lost in space?
AGORAPHOBIA
A cd.
23 I’ll be blessed if I do this
SNEEZE
Another cd.
24 Adjoining enclosure, river to become less shallow
DEEPEN
A charade of DEE and PEN.
Down
2 Emphasise, with melody, pressure
STRESS AND STRAIN
A charade of STRESS, AND and STRAIN.
3 Primarily hokey expression, leisurely label, unsophisticated ‘very’, adverbially?
HELLUVA
The initial letters of the last seven words of the clue and a cad.
4 One may spit on you, awfully uncordial
RAINCLOUD
(UNCORDIAL)* with ‘awfully’ as the anagrind.
5 Campaigned to be regularly paid
WAGED
A dd.
6 6% of plants in Guinness Book of Records, etc
ANNUALS
A dd. Approximately 6% of flowering plants are in fact annuals.
7 Madcap’s entered, eaten our jam, silly clumsy introduction
ME TARZAN YOU JANE
An insertion of ZANY in (EATEN OUR JAM)* The insertion indicator is ‘entered’ and the anagrind is ‘silly’. The phrase is in a thousand memes, even songs, but it’s a famous movie misquote: it is never said in either the original Edgar Rice Burroughs’ novels or the famous 1932 film. Add it to the other quotes that were never quotes like ‘Play it again, Sam’ and ‘Beam me up, Scotty’.
9 Perhaps onion making you weep on counter
BULB
A reversal of BLUB.
10 Studious type finally finishes jigsaw. So what?
SWOT
The final letters of the last four words of the clue.
14 Wound staunched, with no harm done
UNSCATHED
(STAUNCHED)* with ‘wound’ (to rhyme with ‘sound’) as the anagrind.
15 Gemstone in ring, mate
OPAL
A charade of O and PAL.
16 Publicise predicament, that’ll give you breathing space
AIRHOLE
A charade of AIR and HOLE.
18 Slaver, taking portion of BBQed rib, blessedly
DRIBBLE
Hidden in BBQeD RIB BLEssedly.
19 Bear up, Everyman’s forced into healthy eating
DIET
An insertion of I for ‘Everyman’ in TED reversed. ‘Up’ works because it’s a down clue. The insertion indicator is ‘forced into’.
21 Stopping mechanism to develop a fault, as can be heard
BRAKE
A soundalike clue (‘as can be heard’) for BREAK.
Many thanks to Everyman for this week’s puzzle.
A classic Everyman with all in place. Pedant’s corner; an ARROW is a projectile, not a weapon. Discuss! 🙂
Thanks to Everyman and Pierre.
I had Airlock for 16 down so couldn’t complete it.
I thought that the clue for 24a should have been River adjoining enclosure… as that puts the parts in the correct order and feels smoother. I did not get the Bear/TED explanation for 19d, so thanks for that, P. And thanks to E for a good crossword too.
Very enjoyable crossword. As a keen gardener I would have been hard put to guess what percentage of flowering plants are annuals – so that’s something learned this week (whilst something else is no doubt quietly forgotten).
I made a daft mistake with SAD EYES instead of SAD EYED, which meant I never got DIET.
However, today when I finished the using the checker on that last word, it flagged that I had 15d wrong and that the correct answer is ORAL (not OPAL, which is clearly the actual correct answer).
I hope that whoever invigilates the prize draw checks more thoroughly!
I knew I’d kick myself for not getting AGORAPHOBIA when I had all but one of the crossers, but I couldn’t for the life of me see what word could possibly fit. Of course, completely obvious now, don’t know how I couldn’t see it. So often the way.