The puzzle can be found here.
Hi everyone, I hope all is well with you. Thanks to Hypnos for today entertainment. My favourite clues were those for CODE (1a) and ODIN (31a). I also liked 9d, LOSE WEIGHT, (once I stopped thinking the sole might be a fish!) but I’m not sure I fully agree with the surface. Ice cream might just have some importance!
Definitions are underlined in the clues below. In the explanations, quoted indicators are in italics and I’ve capitalised and emboldened letters which appear in the ANSWER.
Across
1a Fake message lately in cryptic form? (4)
CODE
COD (fake) + the last letter of (… lately) messagE
3a Most of line teacher prepared is free from trouble (2,3,5)
IN THE CLEAR
An anagram (… prepared) of all but the last letter of (most of) LINe with TEACHER
10a One trailing criminal reportedly noticed repellent sight (7)
EYESORE
EYE (one trailing criminal) + SORE, a homophone of (reportedly) SAW (noticed)
11a Noted Soviet from Georgia represented in rag (7)
GAGARIN
GA (Georgia, US State) + an anagram of (represented) IN RAG
12a For example, housing publication (5)
ISSUE
A double definition
13a Place to see square, maybe, taken by joint authority (8)
LORDSHIP
LORDS (place to see square maybe, i.e. part of a cricket ground) is next to (taken by) HIP (joint)
16a Fall first right away for figure in force (6)
COPPER
C[r]OPPER (fall), without the first R (first right away)
17a Crowd supported end to fine, lively celebration (8)
JAMBOREE
JAM (crowd) + BORE (supported) + the last letter of (end to) finE
19a Stock German touring second of conferences is one frequenting meetings? (8)
RACEGOER
RACE (stock) + GER (German) around (touring) the second of cOnferences
21a Light touch shown by popular Australian in film (6)
PATINA
PAT (light touch) next to (shown by) IN (popular) + A (Australian)
24a Heavily criticise article about memorial to the dead? (8)
PANTHEON
PAN (heavily criticise) + THE (article) + ON (about)
25a Current US prosecutor with influence not half in Western state (5)
IDAHO
I (current) + DA (US prosecutor) + HOld (influence) without half (not half)
27a Greek character given retreat that’s secluded in warm wind (7)
CHINOOK
CHI (Greek character) next to (given) NOOK (retreat that’s secluded)
29a Exotic name taken by singular plant (7)
ANEMONE
An anagram of (exotic) NAME next to (taken by) ONE (singular)
30a Secure period of time around Thailand to get scooter, maybe (10)
MOTORCYCLE
MOOR (secure) and CYCLE (period of time) around T (Thailand, IVR)
31a Powerful deity representing peace? (4)
ODIN
O DIN, zero noise, might possibly represent peace
Down
1d Councillor, correct character to get source of funds (6,4)
CREDIT CARD
CR (Councillor) + EDIT (correct) + CARD (character)
2d Masquerade about extremists in sections inside a NI party (5,2)
DRESS UP
RE (about) and the outer letters of (extremists in) SectionS inside DUP (a NI party)
4d Dislike poverty on the outskirts of Lille (6)
NEEDLE
NEED (poverty) preceding (on, in a down entry) the outer letters of (outskirts of) LillE
5d School gets stick about a main thoroughfare (8)
HIGHROAD
HIGH (school) + ROD (stick) around (about) A (from the clue)
6d Impediment left out for lowly member of company? (3)
COG
C[l]OG (impediment) without L (left out)
7d Titled figure with estate overlooking country in Ireland previously (7)
EARLIER
EARL (titled figure) next to (with) E[state] missing (overlooking) STATE (country) in IR (Ireland)
8d Small part of litter found in bar untouched (4)
RUNT
The smallest member of a litter is contained within (found in) baR UNTouched
9d Possibly sole importance is to get thinner (4,6)
LOSE WEIGHT
An anagram of (possibly) SOLE followed by WEIGHT (importance)
14d One not viewed professionally in the main? (10)
SUBMARINER
A cryptic definition. Where in 5d I had been misled by the possibility that the main would be the ocean, in this clue it is
15d Hurry up playing with game on TV, one lacking name (3,1,4,2)
GET A MOVE ON
The answer is found by making an anagram of (playing with) GAME ON TV O[n]E without N (lacking name)
18d Key part arranged around end of revue for comedian (5,3)
PETER KAY
KEY PART anagrammed (arranged) around the last letter of (end of) revuE
20d Companion, a type causing hilarity in horse-drawn vehicle (7)
CHARIOT
CH (Companion) + A (a) + RIOT (type causing hilarity)
22d How one might describe letters briefly (2,1,4)
IN A WORD
Letters might be IN A WORD. (Other letters might be in an envelope, or after someone’s name, but neither of these options fits the checking letters or definition)
23d Supported by everyone after onset of COVID-19 – like some doctors? (2,4)
ON CALL
ON (supported by), then ALL (everyone) after the first letter of (onset of) Covid-19
26d Meat cost regularly on reflection is a swindle (4)
SCAM
Alternate letters of (… regularly) MeAt CoSt reversed (on reflection)
28d Film award namely brought out, something familiar to Redgrave? (3)
OAR
O[sc]AR (film award), with SC (namely) removed (brought out). For the surface meaning, there are a couple of actors named Redgrave, but for the definition we have to think of rower Steve
Very enjoyable puzzle with lots to like.
I’m not too sure about the first definition for ISSUE and I couldn’t quite parse EARLIER so thanks to Kitty for explaining that one.
Many thanks to Hypnos and to Kitty.
Excuse my ignorance, but in the very last clue, why is SC namely?
Hi Skinny @3. It’s short for the Latin scilicet, meaning to wit, or namely.
Thanks Kitty, genuinely not seen it before
I’m with RD re 12a. But I won’t make an issue of it.
Thanks H & K for the fun.
I also agree that issue as a definition of housing issue is too vague.
DNF as I did not get jamboree and without that B in place I remained convinced the answer to 14d would be scubadiver.
Of course I appreciate that not all scuba divers are professionals and chambers has it as two words anyway so wrong on both counts .
Thanks all
With the first two checkers in place, it took quite some time to dismiss ‘Hogwarts’ as the answer to 5d and – like RD – I took some persuading where ISSUE and EARLIER were concerned.
Favourite was ODIN – the twinkly-eyed one at his most roguish!
Thanks to Hypnos for the puzzle and to Kitty for the illustrated review. Nice to see a ‘softie’ policeman.
Thanks Hypnos and Kitty LOI Pantheon. Favourites clues 10a took me ages to see EYESORE 19a and 21a.
I had 11 (Eleven) Did Not Parse’s. The shame.
Didn’t know:
COD for Fake
EYE for Trailing a criminal
JAM for Crowd
Main for Ocean
CH for Companion (any help anyone please?)
SC for Namely (already explained, but I incorrectly guessed so called)
I didn’t parse but only through different wavelengths:
ISSUE … but I don’t personally have problem with it. It’s a reference you hear pretty commonly.
HOld for Influence
ODIN
ANEMONE – just didn’t get the wordplay for some reason.
EARLIER – had to cheat on this. Mainly due to the fact that my eyes saw Tilted rather than Titled. Unsurprisingly it made no sense to me at all.
Thanks very much for the blog Kitty, and for the puzzle Hypnos.
Does anyone know if Hypnos is a Spurs fan?
I’ve just noticed that Highroad is crossed by Lordship.
The Spurs stadium is on Tottenham High Road and Lordship Lane intersects it just south of the ground.
Hi rocket@9.
I thought this was rather tougher than usual, certainly for a Sunday, so no shame!
CH is the abbreviation for Companion of Honour, often clued in crosswords as just “companion”.
Re query at #10, I think I can safely say that Hypnos is not a Spurs fan, but one of a club, far more recently than Spurs champions of England (2016 to be precise). Thanks Kitty for the blog.