The puzzle may be found at https://observer.co.uk/puzzles/everyman/article/everyman-no-4163 (which seems to be no longer behind a paywall – or is it just that a cookie has expired? -; also the interactive presentation is marginally improved but still poor) or as a pdf at htpps://tinyurl.com/Everyman4163.
Plain sailing for an Everyman, The usual trademarks are highlighted in the grid (with the ‘primarily’ clue in disguise at 17A AIOLI; and, as last week, there is also an ‘ultimately’ clue at 11A LEI).
| ACROSS | ||
| 1 | NEAR MISS |
Seminar’s incoherent: that’s close to a disaster (4,4)
|
| An anagram (‘incoherent’) of ‘seminars’. | ||
| 5 | AGHAST |
American checks out of dilapidated Gasthaus, horrified (6)
|
| An anagram (‘dilapidated’) of ‘gastha[us]’ minus US (‘American checks out’). | ||
| 9 | ONE SECOND PLEASE |
Dueller’s request: give me a mo (3,6,6)
|
| Definition and literal interpretation, with a play on a dueller having an aide (second). | ||
| 11 | LEI |
Floral wreath that’ll symbolise Hawaii, ultimately? (3)
|
| Last letters (‘ultimately’) of ‘that’lL symbolisE HawaiI‘, with an extended definition. | ||
| 12 | TUTANKHAMUN |
Quivering in autumn, thank young monarch (11)
|
| An anafram (‘quivering in’ – the ‘in’ is awkward) of ‘autumn thank’. | ||
| 13 | HACIENDA |
Can I head off to find Spanish mansion? (8)
|
| An anagram (‘off’) of ‘can I head’. | ||
| 14 | DUNCE |
Nitwit implicated in horrid uncertainty (5)
|
| A hidden answer (‘implicated’) in ‘horriD UNCErtainty’. | ||
| 17 | AIOLI |
When choosing starters, alliums in oil, lemon intertwined …? (5)
|
| First letters (‘when choosing starters’) of ‘Alliums In Oil Lemon Intertwined’, with an &lit allusive definition. | ||
| 19 | SUSPENSE |
S American writes start of erotic film in Hitchcock style (8)
|
| A charade of ‘S” plus US (‘American’) plus PENS (‘writes’) plus E (‘start of Erotic’). | ||
| 22 | DISINTERRED |
Dug up abuse given to Milanese footballers (and one from Liverpool) (11)
|
| A charade of DIS (‘abuse’) plus INTER (‘Milanese foottballers’) plus RED (‘one from Liverpool’ – Liverpool Football Club are known as “The Reds”). | ||
| 24 | BOA |
Smell a snake (3)
|
| A charade of BO (body odour, ‘smell’) plus ‘a’. | ||
| 25 | SHOOTS THE BREEZE |
Makes film about movement of air, Gasses? (6,3,6)
|
| A charade of SHOOTS (‘makes film about’) plus THE BREEZE (‘movement of air’). The capital G of ‘Gasses‘ serves only to suggest a film title (and to emphasise this, the word is in italics in the original, not just because I use italics for definitions). | ||
| 26 | SPARSE |
Practises boxing with Earl that’s slight (6)
|
| A charade of SPARS (‘practises boxing’) plus E (‘Earl’). | ||
| 27 | UNDERDOG |
Where you might find blanket, one you expect to lose? (8)
|
| Definition and literal interpretation. | ||
| DOWN | ||
| 1 | NOODLE |
Ribbon for simpleton (6)
|
| Double definition. | ||
| 2 | AMERICANO |
Coffee brewing, nice aroma (9)
|
| An anagram (‘brewing’) of ‘nice aroma’, for what I now know is an expresso with added hot water. | ||
| 3 | MAESTRI |
Musicians playing Artemis (7)
|
| An anagram (‘plays’) of ‘Artemis’. | ||
| 4 | SHORT AND SWEET |
Perhaps a whisky with some ice cream, but not outstaying welcome (5,3,5)
|
| Definition and literal interpretation. | ||
| 6 | GALAHAD |
Festivity with bore that’s noble type (7)
|
| A charade of GALA (‘festivity’) plus HAD (‘bore’). | ||
| 7 | ALARM |
Fear a long tentacle (5)
|
| A charade of ‘a’ plus L (‘long’ – not a common abbreviation, and not in Chambers) plus ARM (‘tentacle’). | ||
| 8 | THE ANDES |
Serving of absinthe and espresso somewhere in S America (3,5)
|
| A hidden answer (‘serving of’) in ‘absinTHE AND ESpresso’ | ||
| 10 | DENTAL SURGEON |
If I work hard, I get a little plaque (6,7)
|
| Cryptic definition, with perhaps a play on the double meaning of ‘plaque’ – tooth deposit, or professional shingle. | ||
| 15 | NOSEBLEED |
Boxer’s injury: lobe needs to be treated (9)
|
| An anagram (‘to be treated’) of ‘lobe needs’. The surface suggests a cauliflower ear. | ||
| 16 | FADDISTS |
Tot embraced by bunches of five enthusiasts (8)
|
| An envelope (’embraced by’) of ADD (‘tot’) in FISTS (‘bunches of five’). | ||
| 18 | IGNITES |
Arrived with US soldier, offered up torches (7)
|
| A reversal (‘offered up’ in a down light) of SET IN (‘arrived’) plus GI (‘US soldier’). | ||
| 20 | ENDORSE |
Back to destroy heroin in E London (7)
|
| A dropped aspirate (‘in E London’) in END HORSE (‘destroy heroin’). | ||
| 21 | BAD EGG |
Preference to suppress dated Everyman gags, primarily unsavoury sort (3,3)
|
| An envelope (‘to suppress’) of DEG (‘Dated Everyman Gags primarily’) in BAG (‘preference’ – “current idiom is not my bag”). | ||
| 23 | SKODA |
While entertained by Jamaican music, do up Czech car (5)
|
| An envelope (‘while entertained by’) of OD, a reversal (‘up’ in a down light) of ‘do’ in SKA (‘Jamaican music’). The S should have a caron: Škoda. |
