The usual Everyman mix of sound cluing and well-constructed surfaces.
Abbreviations
cd cryptic definition
dd double definition
(xxxx)* anagram
anagrind = anagram indicator
[x] letter(s) removed
definitions are underlined
Across
1 Real beano arranged, to include daughter, if back
BONA FIDE
An insertion D and IF reversed in (BEANO)*
5 Heartbreaking seeing soldier trapped in overturned vehicle
TRAGIC
An insertion of GI in CART reversed.
9 Unfashionable drink, we hear, non-member required
OUTSIDER
A charade of OUT and SIDER for a homophone in anyone’s language of ‘cider’.
10 Animal from mountain area, tailless cat
ALPACA
A charade of ALP A and CA[T]
11 Fang forming part of tattoo – thug’s?
TOOTH
Hidden in tatTOO THug’s.
12 Pick leader in secret ballot
SELECTION
A charade of S and ELECTION.
14 Reasonable reasons to create amusement parks?
FAIRGROUNDS
A cd.
18 Betray twin on trial
DOUBLE-CROSS
It’s a charade, and I’m assuming we get the CROSS bit in its HAVING A CROSS TO BEAR sense. Unless someone has a better idea.
21 Holly, say, perpetually growing
EVERGREEN
A charade of EVER and GREEN.
23 A flower emerged
AROSE
A ROSE.
24 US inventor is entertained by English university teacher
EDISON
An insertion of IS in E DON. Thomas EDISON, who while being best known for developing the long-lasting electric light bulb, was a prolific inventor.
25 Snake put away, so relax
WIND DOWN
A charade of WIND (‘the road snakes around the mountain’) and DOWN.
26 In centre of eastern country, a capital city
TIRANA
The capital of Albania is T for the middle letter of ‘eastern’, IRAN and A.
27 Exceedingly healthy fine
VERY WELL
A dd.
Down
1 Extremely drunk, bishop on top of house
BLOTTO
A charade of B and LOTTO. House in its bingo sense.
2 Alliance accepting one new country
NATION
An insertion of I in NATO followed by N.
3 Female, just horrible
FRIGHTFUL
A charade of F and RIGHTFUL.
4 Wear evening clothes round part of theatre
DRESS CIRCLE
A charade of DRESS and CIRCLE.
6 Historical object shown by RC priest inside
RELIC
An insertion of ELI, the setters’ favourite priest, in RC. Might have seen this once or twice before.
7 Slope that can get one treading laboriously
GRADIENT
(TREADING)*
8 Tribal conflict surrounding bar raised
CLANNISH
An insertion of INN reversed in CLASH.
13 Soldier in alien region, disorientated
LEGIONNAIRE
(ALIEN REGION)*
15 Bond and nasty criminal in a state of readiness for action
ON STAND-BY
(BOND NASTY)*
16 One supporting that woman during a depression
ADHERENT
An insertion of HER in A DENT.
17 City in Brazil surrounded by outstanding lake
SUPERIOR
An insertion of RIO in SUPER for one of the Great Lakes.
19 Foolish old man close to collapse after grabbing tail of very small wolf
COYOTE
An insertion of Y for the last letter of ‘very’ in COOT, followed by E for the last letter of ‘collapse’.
20 Herb from bog by New England lake
FENNEL
A charade of FEN, NE and L.
22 Playing organ may cause complaint
GROAN
(ORGAN)*
Thanks as always to Everyman for the Sunday morning entertainment.
I couldn’t get the intersecting 19a and 25a.
I don’t think I would ever have got coot for foolish old man. I was thinking of pa, pop, dad etc.
Not sure about down for put away in 25a. I may have put stopped reading the paper and put it down on the table but I haven’t put in the cupboard.
No, Bamberger, but you down, or put away, a double Scotch . . .
Thanks, Adam. I should have explained the DOWN bit more clearly in the blog.
COOT is a bit of an old-fashioned term, Bamberger. But as I’ve said before, Everyman is a bit of an old-fashioned setter (and I mean that as a compliment).
Thanks Everyman and Pierre.
I foolishly put OUTMODED at 9a to start with. I did like FAIRGROUNDS, LEGIONNAIRE and ADHERENT.
‘Old COOT’ was in current usage when I was young for and old man, a geezer.
Thanks Everyman & Pierre.
Relatively straightforward, I thought. I like ALPACA (always think of ‘Manx’ for tailless cat,) and ADHERENT.
14a is a charade of FAIR (reasonable) and GROUNDS (reasons).
CROSS in 18a comes from “on trial” as in cross-examine. If a twin was on trial and being question by their twin is would be a double-cross.
Gradient (7d) was my LOI as I never saw the anagram. Thanks Pierre and Everyman.
I think Pierre’s parsing of 18 across is on the right lines. Chambers gives trial as “a troublesome thing, a nuisance”, and CROSS as “adversity or affliction in general, or a burden or cause of suffering, as in ‘bear one’s cross'”.
After last week’s marathon this was a fairly easy canter. I missed coyote, I was trying to fit ob in for old man and that tripped me up. Liked clannish, alpaca and outsider. Big day for the black caps today against the Windies. Thanks Everyman and Pierre
The two animals both eluded me although I like to think I would have got them with more time and an earlier night last night. I didn’t even bother with the two geography clues. Bleagh. Ok so I have heard of Lake Superior, Audrey, but not the other place. Geography, schmography, it sucks. Always did, always will.
Yes, Rod, tense day today.
My final two answers were 9a and 2d combined. In keeping with others above I liked 14a and 18a and as per usual the penny dropped belatedly with some of the answers where the crossers led the way. I enjoyed 10a and 19d even if Barrie did not!
Whenever my son was competing in a big event his mantra was always “don’t wish me luck” ” wish me no bad luck”. So we are all on tenterhooks today hoping all goes well for the Black Caps.
Thanks Everyman for another stimulating morning and Pierre for the explanations.
I didn’t get the geography clue for 26ac either Barrie, and never heard of it, and of course you would get Superior. For some reason I couldn’t get 9d either . I thought it must be to do with clan but couldn’t think of the answer. Seemed easy once I saw it. Got all the rest though and once again this was a thoroughly enjoyable crossword. Thanks Pierre.
Now we can look forward to this afternoon’s game. Let’s hope it has the result we are all hoping for. Go the Black Caps.
Yes this was easier than last week. I got it right out with the help of google. I got coyote only because it fitted in. I liked Superior with Rio surrounded. Last one in was Tirana. Apparently Tirana is in the middle of Albania. The Black Caps are going very well. Martin Guptill is in great form. We are in with a good chance against the Windies.
Had 3 left after 15 mins, with only coyote to go after 30. Gave up on that clue
Haha had three left after two days!! Cannot understand it cannot be challenging finishing so quickly ?
I don’t mind missing clues like Tirana I don’t think life will be affected if I don’t remember that partic capital for later.
Well done black caps!! How can that maestro play so well with one mutilated foot ?? unbelievable,
The Hindu (Sunday Magazine) carries the same cross word puzzle. (no.2836). Is there a system followed? If so can we trace every Hindu cross word? Can we access the cross word puzzles directly? I know this is not a comment but a query. I hope to get a reply to sknchary@gmail.com. Can you at least tell me where I should address this query?