A fairly average 15:13 for this, would probably have been faster if I was concentrating harder. Unusually for me, I solved this on Saturday - usually I don't have much time at the weekend and save them for the train on Monday morning. Looking at my printout today, I'm reminded by the neatness of the writing that I was sat at my desk at home for this one!
| Across |
| 1 |
MISHMASH - H(orse) inside M1 SMASH. |
| 5 |
SHADOW - (l)AD(y) inside SHOW (e.g. Crufts, the dog show), which ties in nicely with the definition. |
| 9 |
ACRIDITY - RID (cleared) inside A CITY. |
| 10 |
ALTAIR - AIR (appearance), after (h)ALT (interval without the first letter). A bright start in the constellation Aquila, and a common destination in science fiction, from Forbidden Planet to Star Trek. |
| 12 |
LIANA - A NAIL reversed. Convenient mode of transport for Tarzan. |
| 13 |
SUNDOWNER - alternate letters of S(p)U(r)N(e)D + OWNER (person who has). Mine's a Scotch, cheers! |
| 14 |
PARADE GROUND - PARA (soldier) + (complete)D + [ROUND (circuit) next to EG (such as)]. |
| 18 |
PROTESTATION - ROT (corruption) inside PE (outer letters, or walls, of POLICE) + STATION (headquarters). |
| 21 |
CONCOURSE - CON (study) + COURSE (lectures). I thought the definition was a bit dubious, but Chambers has "(an) assembly of people for some event", so it's OK. |
| 23 |
EYE UP - YE (you) + UP (high), next to E(cstasy). |
| 24 |
LOOKER - L(arge) + (c)OOKER (baking apple minus its first letter). |
| 25 |
COVERAGE - C (a hundred) + OVERAGE (too old). |
| 26 |
BUFFER - double definition. |
| 27 |
SENTINEL - SENT (transported) + LINE (rail) with the L moved to the end. |
| Down |
| 1 |
MEANLY - (laymen)* |
| 2 |
SCREAM - S(econd) + CREAM (best). |
| 3 |
MADE A DATE - DEAD (former) inside MATE (friend). |
| 4 |
SATISFACTORY - I(ntelligence) inside SATS (exams) + FACTORY (works). |
| 6 |
HALLO - ALL inside HO(me). |
| 7 |
DRAWN-OUT - double definition, one cryptic. If you've had enough as a cartoonist, you could well be DRAWN OUT. Edit: or better, as pointed out by Anonymous below, sounds like "DRAW NOWT". |
| 8 |
WAR BRIDE - A RIDE around BR(itain), next to W(ife). |
| 11 |
UNDER THE ROSE - (rented house)* around (summe)R. I knew the Latin expression sub rosa, but not this English translation! |
| 15 |
ROOSEVELT - (sole vote)* underneath R(epublican). |
| 16 |
SPACELAB - PAC(k) (no end of stuff) inside BALES (bundles) reversed. Spacelab was a part of the space shuttle, so not really a remote research base (apart from during missions). |
| 17 |
SOUND OFF - double definition, one which means loud noise, the other silence. You gotta love the English language! |
| 19 |
RETAIN - REIN (control) around TA (army). |
| 20 |
APPEAL - sounds like a Peel. Sir Robert Peel, prime minister 1834-5 and 1841-6. |
| 22 |
OBESE - hidden reversed inside these boxers. |
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