Monday Prize Crossword/Feb 16, 2015
While still in the aftermath of moving house, I did find the time to solve (and blog) this Dante puzzle. I think it was a typical one, wasn’t it?
Many thanks to Gaufrid for stepping in on the last two Monday occasions.
Definitions are underlined wherever possible and/or appropriate.
| Across | ||
| 1 | ASCENT |
A bouquet may give such a lift (6)
A + SCENT (bouquet) |
| 4 | FATIGUES |
Worn by soldiers for cleaning drains? (8)
Double definition It’s a military uniform worn by soldiers when doing menial tasks and also a word meaning ‘drains’. Initially, I didn’t separate the two which made me think that it was just a not so very cryptic definition. Comments 1 and 2 put me on the right track (for which thanks!). |
| 10 | INROADS |
Hostile incursions into Greek island, say? (7)
IN (into) + ROADS (homophone (‘say’) of: RHODES (Greek island)) |
| 11 | SPOILED |
Rotten pie sold in error (7)
(PIE SOLD)* [* = in error] |
| 12 | ABEL |
Third man sounds competent (4)
Homophone (‘sounds’) of: ABLE (competent) |
| 13 | LORGNETTES |
Glasses with handles, other than tankards (10)
(Cryptic) Definition |
| 15 | ENTRAP |
Take some back to quarters (6)
E,N (quarters) + TRAP (reversal (‘back’) of PART (some)) |
| 16 | PECCAVI |
Classical admission of guilt (7)
Cryptic definition It’s an archaic word for what the clue less ‘classical’ says, so how cryptic is this? |
| 20 | DROP OUT |
Unusually proud to make a fresh start at Rugby (4-3)
(PROUD TO)* [* = unusually] The definition is cryptic, Rugby should be seen as rugby (the sport). |
| 21 | APIECE |
A bit for each (6)
A PIECE (bit) |
| 24 | ALTERATION |
Change the blend of tea on trial (10)
(TEA ON TRIAL)* [* = the blend of] |
| 26 | SPED |
One’s pedometer shows how one went fast (4)
Hidden solution (‘shows’): [one’]S PED[ometer] |
| 28 | SHAMBLE |
Drag one’s feet in quiet stroll (7)
SH (quiet) + AMBLE (stroll) |
| 29 | CAPRICE |
The top cereal – fancy! (7)
CAP (top) + RICE (cereal) |
| 30 | CHASTISE |
It’s back in the race to beat one (8)
STI (reversal (‘back’) of IT’S) inside CHASE ((the) race) |
| 31 | BERTHS |
New arrivals, we hear, at the docks (6)
Homophone (‘we hear’) of: BIRTHS (new arrivals) |
| Down | ||
| 1 | ANIMATED |
I get married and set out full of beans! (8)
{I + MATE (get married)} with AND on the outside (‘set out’) |
| 2 | CARPENTER |
Fish needs to join chips (9)
CARP (fish) + ENTER (to join) |
| 3 | NEAT |
Cattle without water (4)
Double definition The second one like undiluted whiskey. |
| 5 | ASSIGNED |
Allocated as indicated (8)
AS SIGNED (indicated) |
| 6 | IN ONE’S CUPS |
Where coffees are served and drunk (2,4,4)
Double definition |
| 7 | UNLIT |
One accepts student as dim (5)
UNIT (one) around L (student) |
| 8 | SADIST |
Presumably he likes painstaking people (6)
Cryptic definition |
| 9 | ASCOT |
Where ladies wear new hats and new coats (5)
(ASCOT)* [* = new] |
| 14 | VAMPIRE BAT |
Nocturnal creature needing regular transfusions (7,3)
Definition plus a cryptic extension |
| 17 | VIEWPOINT |
Place for watching TV? It’s a matter of opinion (9)
Doublish definition |
| 18 | BUTTRESS |
It strengthens the wall, still needs a lock (8)
BUT (still) + TRESS (a lock) |
| 19 | NEEDLESS |
Unnecessary to curtail one’s requirements (8)
Double definition |
| 22 | BARSAC |
Wine container under the counter (6)
SAC (container) placed under BAR (the counter) A Bordeaux wine. |
| 23 | VOICE |
Articulate deputy admits nothing (5)
VICE (deputy) around O (nothing) |
| 25 | TIARA |
A capital decoration for the Pope (5)
Cryptic definition Without crossers it could have been ‘mitre’ (which was actually my first thought). |
| 27 | APSE |
Point a primate out in church (4)
S (point, South) with APE (primate) around it (‘out’) Bit of an incomplete definition, in my opinion. |
Thanks Dante and Sil
Unfortunately I will be joining you in that joyous task of moving house within the next month or two, so hope that yours went all right.
This was one of those rare occasions when I did the Saturday puzzle on the day of issue, rather than the day it was ready for the answers.
With FATIGUES, I think that it is a bit more than just a weak cryptic clue. Using the definition of FATIGUES is ‘drains’, it makes a more than useful double definition.
As for the rest, nothing really unusual for this setter.
Thanks to setter and blogger.
My last in was 15a, solved from the crossing letters rather than anything else, and while the surface is neat, and the wordplay clear enough, I still think “take” is a rather weak and woolly definition for ENTRAP. If it had been used to define “capture” I wouldn’t have given it a second thought, but “take” = ENTRAP seems too imprecise to me, giving no sense of ensnarement or entanglement.
No complaints apart from that, though I agree with Bruce @1 that 4a is a double definition, FATIGUES (plural) being military overalls. So the first is “worn by soldiers for cleaning” and the second “drains” (i.e. exhausts, tires out), with a question mark, of course, as FATIGUES are no doubt worn for many activities other than cleaning. Nice clue.
Thanks Sil. Pleasant enough but got quite bogged down with 16 ac., thinking that it as it was a cryptic crossword, there might be a little more to it!
Not my finest solve. Couldn’t get anything in the NW apart from 12a.
I’m far from convinced by 1d- animals mate but they don’t get married.
I thought I knew every single expression for 6d but that one has passed me by -surprised that no one else has commented on it.
Would never have got 16a.
25d I thought those diamante crowns were for women -you live and learn.
Bamberger @4, in Chambers the second definition of ‘mate’ (as a verb) is ‘to marry’.
Collins agrees: ‘to join or join in marriage’, so there you are.
But I’ll have to admit that it took me a while to find out what exactly was going on in this clue.
By the way, I don’t blame you for not finding 16ac (PECCAVI).
I had never heard of it (either) and had to call in external help.