All the usual Everyman trademarks in this Sunday’s puzzle.
The coupled clues are TRAFALGAR SQUARE and SCARBOROUGH FAIR; the self-reference is to be found in GRIM; and the initial letter clue asks you to turn on, tune in, drop out. Not a bad option for a lazy Sunday morning.
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 Fly – or endlessly, repeatedly to sea
TSETSE
T[O] SE[A] repeated.
5 Brothers who may give prior approval
ABBOTS
A cd. Abbots appoint priors.
8 A supporter twice defending scoundrel, it might be said – for a spell
ABRACADABRA
An insertion of CAD in A BRA A BRA. The insertion indicator is ‘defending’.
11 One in the green helping those in the red?
ROBIN HOOD
A cd. Robin of Loxley wore green, and helped those in debt to the horrid Sheriff.
12 LSD enthusiast allegedly revolutionising youth in their heads?
LEARY
The initial letters of the first five words of the clue, and a cad. Timothy LEARY was a Harvard clinical psychologist in the 1960s who advocated for the use of psychedelic drugs. He was either ‘a hero of American consciousness’ (Allen Ginsberg) or ‘the most dangerous man in America’ (Richard Nixon). ‘Polarising’ is the adjective that springs to mind.
13 Study hard about … about … primarily Italian … Italian engineer
MARCONI
A charade of CRAM reversed, ON and I.
14 Kingpin mixed drink
PINK GIN
(KINGPIN)* with ‘mixed’ as the anagrind.
15 Accommodation husband finding stimulating – run away
HOUSING
A charade of H and [R]OUSING.
17 With head cleared, migraine treated somewhere in W Africa
NIGERIA
([M]IGRAINE)* with ‘treated’ as the anagrind.
20 Causes of discomfort hidden in tea chest
ACHES
Hidden in teA CHESt.
21 Method with which you prepare the quince
TECHNIQUE
(THE QUINCE)* with the central part of the clue as the anagrind.
22 At first, Aston Villa (without No 1) hoping to animate emotion of England fans
ANGLOPHILIA
(A [V]ILLA HOPING)* with ‘to animate’ as the anagrind. At the time of writing the blog, the boys have done good.
23 Good: musical instrument’s flipping free
GRATIS
A charade of G and SITAR reversed.
24 Speechified, valued by none
ORATED
A charade of O and RATED.
Down
2 Traditional number of herbs?
SCARBOROUGH FAIR
A cd. SCARBOROUGH FAIR is a traditional English folk song with a number of variants. Paul Simon nicked Martin Carthy’s version when he was in England in the 1960s, which soured their relationship for the next five decades, and turned it into the Simon and Garfunkel version, which is actually two songs in one (Scarborough Fair/Canticle) but still retains the line Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme. The original song is an 18th century version of what Gen Z would call ‘breadcrumbing’: it sets a potential lover a number of impossible tasks if he/she wishes to gain favour. Tell him to find me an acre of land, between the salt water and the sea strand. Can’t be done. Tell him to wash it in yonder well, where never sprung water nor rain ever fell. Ditto.
3 What may be taken from Raptor on tour somewhere in Ontario
TORONTO
Hidden in RapTOR ON TOur.
4 Penning rubbish long since
ENCLOSING
(LONG SINCE)* with ‘rubbish’ as the anagrind.
5 On social media, befriended a journalist bored by Double Dutch
ADDED
An insertion of DD in A and ED. The insertion indicator is ‘bored by’.
6 Continue to divulge secrets, overheard in city of sin
BABYLON
A soundalike clue (‘overheard’) for BABBLE ON. The den of vice, according to the Book of Revelation.
7 A larger squat, far off in London location
TRAFALGAR SQUARE
(A LARGER SQUAT FAR)* with ‘off’ as the anagrind.
9 Vacuous ‘gagster’, Everyman’s leaving you stony-faced
GRIM
A charade of G[AGSTE]R and I’M.
10 What has holy musician turned out?
HYMN
H[OL]Y M[USICIA]N and a cad. Good clue.
14 His dishonesty increases the bill
PINOCCHIO
A cd.
15 In hearing, ne’er-do-well is to improve
HEAL
A soundalike clue (‘in hearing’) for HEEL.
16 Imminent aperçu
IN SIGHT
A dd. The second definition requires (7) and not (2,5). Which is okay.
18 Criminals and perjurer throwing off tail: some nerve!
GANGLIA
A charade of GANG and LIA[R].
19 Fires X and Y?
AXES
A dd.
21 Mechanically produces seat for cycling
TOOLS
STOOL ‘cycled’: in other words, with the first letter relocated to the end.
Many thanks to Everyman for this week’s puzzle.