Everyman 3,577

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The puzzle may be found at http://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/everyman/3577.

We have had a few more difficult puzzles from Everyman recently, but, while as sound as expected for the setter, this one I thought distinctly easier.

 

Across
1 TEMPT
Satisfied, coming back with point for draw (5)

A charade of TEM, a reversal (‘coming back’) of MET (‘satisfied’) plus PT (‘point’).
4 ABSURD
Silly sailor with singular language, mostly (6)

A charade of AB (able-bodied ‘sailor’) plus S (‘singular’) plus URD[u] (‘language’) cut short (‘mostly’).
10 PERPETUAL
Constant favourite in nation, a leader in legend (9)

An envelope (‘in’) of PET (‘favourite’) in PERU (‘nation’) plus ‘a’ plus L (‘leader in Legend’).
11 SUPER
Fantastic agent, American, going west (5)

A reversal (‘going west’) of REP (‘agent’) plus US (‘American’).
12 SLENDER
Second mortgage provider perhaps inadequate (7)

A charade of S (‘second’) plus LENDER (‘mortgage provider perhaps’).
13 INTERIM
Temporary home with unusual merit (7)

A charade of IN (‘home’) plus TERIM, an anagram (‘unusual’) of ‘merit’.
14 BEHIND THE TIMES
Old-fashioned greeting given in turn daily (6,3,5)

An envelope (‘in’) of HI (‘greeting’) in BEND (‘turn’) plus THE TIMES (‘daily’).
16 CHILLI CON CARNE
Line in eccentric circle on china dish (6,3,5)

An envelope (‘in’) of L (‘line’) in CHILI CON CARNE, an anagram (‘eccentric’) of ‘circle on china’. The more common name of the dish is without the second L.
19 BITTERN
Bird from extremely cold north (7)

A charade of BITTER (‘extremely cold’) plus N (‘north’).
21 BLESSED
Happy to a smaller extent inside base (7)

An envelope (‘inside’) of LESS (‘to a smaller extent’) in BED (‘base’).
23 SKINT
Time after surface broke (5)

A charade of SKIN (‘surface’) plus T (‘time).
24 ENDEAVOUR
Badly need approval, giving up fine enterprise (9)

A charade of ENDE, an anagram (‘badly’) of ‘need’ plus [f]AVOUR (‘approval’) without the F (‘giving up fine’).
25 HEARTY
Vigorous technique in call for attention (6)

An envelope (‘in’) of ART (‘technique’) in HEY (‘call for attention’).
26 KEELE
Endlessly eager learner beginning to enjoy university (5)

A charade of KEE[n] (‘eager’) cut short (‘endlessly’) plus L (‘learner’) plus E (‘beginning to Enjoy’). Keele University is in Staffordshire, England.
Down
1 TYPES
Characters in party pessimistic (5)

A hidden answer in ‘parTY PESsimistic’.
2 MARLENE DIETRICH
Broadcast learned item on prolific actress (7,8)

A charade of MARLENE DIET, an anagram (‘broadcat’) of ‘learned item’ plus RICH (‘prolific’).
3 TREADMILL
Philosopher after time studied boring routine (9)

A charade of T (‘time’) plus READ (‘studied’) plus MILL (‘philosopher’; several, John Stuart being the first to come to my mind).
5 BULLISH
Confident president covering misfortune up (7)

An envelope (‘covering’) of LLI, a reversal (‘up’ in a down light) of ILL (‘misfortune’) in BUSH (‘president’, your choice).
6 UPSET
Tip over unexpected result (5)

Double definition.
7 DEPARTMENT STORE
Leave coach, crossing street and beginning to explore large shop (10,5)

An envelope (‘crossing’) of ST (‘street’) in DEPART (‘leave’) plus MENTOR (‘coach’) plus E (‘beginning to Explore’).
8 PUTRID
Rotten plonk, free (6)

A charade of PUT (‘plonk’) plus RID (‘free’).
9 CRUMBS
Spirit in TV network that surprises me! (6)

An envelope (‘in’) of RUM (‘spirit’) in CBS (American ‘TV network’).
15 TRADEMARK
Characteristic conclusion of pundit with comment about commercial (9)

An envelope (‘about’) of AD (‘commercial’) in T (‘conclusion of pundiT‘) plus REMARK (‘comment’).
16 CUBIST
Young lion? It’s distracted painter (6)

A charade of CUB (‘young lion’) plus IST, an anagram (‘distracted’) of ‘its’.
17 CONVERT
Change name in secret (7)

An envelope (‘in’) of N (‘name’) in COVERT (‘secret’).
18 NOBODY
Cipher cracked by don about love (6)

An envelope (‘about’) of O (‘love’) in NBODY, an anagram (‘cracked’) of ‘by don’.
20 EXTRA
One in crowd scene, wide? (5)

Double definition – the second, a cricket reference, is an indication by example, hence the question mark.
22 DIRGE
Good to interrupt dreadful lament (5)

An envelope (‘to interrupt’) of G (‘good’) in DIRE (‘dreadful’).
completed grid

6 comments on “Everyman 3,577”

  1. Thank you Everyman and Peter

    My favourites were 14a and 9d

    New for me was KEELE University.

  2. I agree, PeterO, this seemed an easier puzzle this week.

    The clues were pretty standard but I liked 14ac’s surface.

  3. Thanks Everyman and PeterO.

    Yes, this seemed a little easier. Last in were HEARTY and CRUMBS, CBS did not come to my mind.
    I did like BEHIND THE TIMES, BITTERN, SKINT and TREADMILL.

  4. I thought that a cipher was a code but to my surprise, the dictionary confirms a nobody. How strange to have two different meanings.

  5. Curiously, I’d not found Everyman especially difficult recently, but this puzzle floored me. Which just goes to show: when you know the answer, it’s easy. And when you don’t…

  6. Thanks Everyman and PeterO.

    I didn’t find this particularly easy, especially as I misspelt DIETRICH at first. I’m another who didn’t know that cipher=NOBODY. My ODE, which is a good guide to current usage, suggests that that meaning is ‘dated.’

    I particularly liked BEHIND THE TIMES & ENDEAVOUR.

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