The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/30045.
A quick solve for me, although it took a little digging to make sense of 7D THE SEAGULL. In all, an enjoyable romp.
| ACROSS | ||
| 1 | ADAM AND EVE |
Dave made an alternative biblical origin story (4,3,3)
|
| An anagram (‘alternative’) of ‘dave made an’. | ||
| 6 | STOP |
Component of post-operative check (4)
|
| A hidden answer (‘component of’) in ‘poST–OPerative‘. | ||
| 9 | PROVENANCE |
History of article found in French region (10)
|
| An envelope (‘found in’) of AN (indefinite ‘article’) in PROVENCE (‘French region’). | ||
| 10 | MEME |
Widespread idea setter repeated (4)
|
| ME (‘setter’) ‘repeated’. | ||
| 12 | IN RETROSPECT |
Restrict open representation during review (2,10)
|
| An anagram (‘re-presentation’) of ‘restrict open’. | ||
| 15 | SPAGHETTO |
Recreation area beside slum provides very small portion of pasta (9)
|
| A charade of SPA (‘recreational area’) plus GHETTO (‘slum’), for the singular of spaghetti. | ||
| 17 | MUG UP |
Do some research for facelift? (3,2)
|
| Definition and literal interpretation. | ||
| 18 | RETCH |
Almost vomit from contents of secret chamber (5)
|
| A hidden answer (‘from contents of’) in ‘secRET CHamber’. | ||
| 19 | OBSTACLES |
Blocks former pupil’s heartless challenges (9)
|
| A charade of OB’S (‘former pupil’s’) plus TAC[k]LES (‘challenges’ eg in soccer) minus its middle letter (‘heartless’). | ||
| 20 | AN ALL-TIME LOW |
Limbo dancer’s record performance? It couldn’t be worse for some (2,3-4,3)
|
| Definition and literal interpretation. | ||
| 24 | UNIT |
Incompetent fellow quits squad (4)
|
| A subtraction: UN[f]IT (‘incompetent’) minus the F (‘fellow quits’). | ||
| 25 | ISAAC HAYES |
I dismiss unclear vision articulated by soul pioneer (5,5)
|
| Sounds like (‘articulated’) I SACK HAZE (‘I dismiss unclear vision’). | ||
| 26 | LEND |
Advance! It’s part of command Nelson rejected (4)
|
| A hidden (‘part of’) reversed (‘rejected’) answer in ‘commanD NELson’. | ||
| 27 | BETTER HALF |
Spouse felt breath getting uneven (6,4)
|
| An anagram (‘getting uneven’) of ‘felt breath’. | ||
| DOWN | ||
| 1 | AMPS |
Current measures while politician is inside (4)
|
| An envelope (‘is inside’) of MP (‘politician’) in AS (‘while’). | ||
| 2 | ATOP |
Queue said to follow these characters on the summit (4)
|
| Q (‘queue said’) ‘to follow’ A TO P (‘these characters’). | ||
| 3 | ACE IN THE HOLE |
Champion, before successful putt, reveals secret edge (3,2,3,4)
|
| A charade of ACE (‘champion’) plus (‘before’) IN THE HOLE (‘successful putt’) | ||
| 4 | DRAPE |
Cover beginnings of debate regarding act prohibiting euthanasia (5)
|
| First letters (‘beginnings’) of ‘Debate Regarding Act Prohibiting Euthanasia’. | ||
| 5 | VICARIOUS |
Indirect service provider promises to pay (9)
|
| A charade of VICAR (religious ‘service provider’) plus IOUS (‘promises to pay’). | ||
| 7 | THE SEAGULL |
Drama created by one stealing chips (3,7)
|
| This is a reference to an actual bird, dubbed Steven Seagull, notorious for stealing bags of chips (aka crisps in the UK). The ‘drama’ is by Anton Chekhov. | ||
| 8 | PRETTY PASS |
Difficult spot with picturesque route through mountains (6,4)
|
| A charade of PRETTY (‘picturesque’) plus PASS (‘route through mountains’). | ||
| 11 | ASK ME ANOTHER |
One has market in chaos? I can’t answer that (3,2,7)
|
| An anagram (‘in chaos’) of ‘one has market’. | ||
| 13 | USER MANUAL |
Lama unsure about guidance it provides (4,6)
|
| An anagram (‘about’) of ‘lama unsure’, with a Yodaesque definition. | ||
| 14 | CASTRATION |
Actors’ share that ensures kids are excluded in future (10)
|
| A charadeof CAST (‘actors’) plus RATION (‘share’). | ||
| 16 | TOOK ISSUE |
Kidnapped but had disagreement (4,5)
|
| Definition and literal interpretation. | ||
| 21 | EXALT |
Praise plasticity of latex? (5)
|
| An anagram (‘plasticity’) of ‘latex’. | ||
| 22 | MYNA |
Bird impersonator sounds lightweight to some (4)
|
| ‘Sounds … to some’ like MINOR (‘lightweight’). | ||
| 23 | USAF |
It protects Americans caught in calamitous aftermath (4)
|
| A hidden answer (‘caught’) in ‘calamitoUS AFtermath’, for the initialism of United States Air Force |
Amazing how many phrases I’ve never heard of. ACE IN THE HOLE, MUG UP, PRETTY PASS were all new to me. Also never heard of THE SEAGULL, and only a vague recollection of ISAAC HAYES. But all were gettable from the wordplay. I’d have said (1,1,1,1) for USAF, regardless of what style guides might say. CASTRATION my favourite.
Nice puzzle to end the weekend with.
Crossers plus knowing of the Chekov drama got me THE SEAGULL, but unlike our blogger didn’t have the energy to track down the chips connection.
Tx
I did like CASTRATION, witty, and ATOP was pretty neat too. No idea why I’m so early onto this blog for once. Must be because I’m on Vancouver time on holiday?
Thanks PeterO.
An interesting reference for SEAGULL, but I took this to be SEAGULLs in general, well known for stealing chips (the ones you buy from fish and chips shops).
Thanks Anto too, much easier than the last one
Thanks Anto for the Monday entertainment. My top picks were ISAAC HAYES, ATOP, VICARIOUS, CASTRATION (COTD), TOOK ISSUE, and MYNA. I nho PRETTY PASS but it couldn’t be anything else. Thanks PeterO for the blog.