Solving time: Unknown - I did this one offline, and I forgot to make a note of the time I took before I shredded it. If I remember rightly it was 40-45 minutes.
Plenty of good stuff here - 16a was particularly devious, and I liked the double definition at 6d, but I think I'll give my COD to 18d for its neatness and natural surface.
No new words for me this week, although a new meaning to the word 'cod'. I was aware of GASPEREAU and CALIPER in the sense of a leg brace, but only dimly.
cd = cryptic def., dd = double def., rev = reversal, homophones are written in quotes, anagrams as (--)*, and removalslike this
Plenty of good stuff here - 16a was particularly devious, and I liked the double definition at 6d, but I think I'll give my COD to 18d for its neatness and natural surface.
No new words for me this week, although a new meaning to the word 'cod'. I was aware of GASPEREAU and CALIPER in the sense of a leg brace, but only dimly.
cd = cryptic def., dd = double def., rev = reversal, homophones are written in quotes, anagrams as (--)*, and removals
| Across | |
|---|---|
| 1 | STAB = BATS rev |
| 3 | DISPOSED - dd - 'of a mind' being the second |
| 10 | CLIENTELE = LIEN (right) + TEL (contact number) all in CE (this French) |
| 11 | OSAKA = OS + AKA (2d: alias) |
| 12 | OBSERVE - dd |
| 13 | IRKSOME = I + (SMOKER)* |
| 14 | ROARING TWENTIES = R |
| 16 | AT THE DROP OF A HAT - to get OR (alternate) from PANORAMA you'd need to drop the PANAMA (hat) |
| 20 | COO + LO + F/F |
| 21 | CA + L |
| 23 | POINT = (TIP ON)* - &lit |
| 24 | GASPER + EAU - a type of herring |
| 25 | GLYCEROL = (CLERGY)* + O |
| 26 | NESH - hidden - I always thought this word was peculiar to the north of England. I don't recall ever having come across it while growing up in Essex, but I've heard it many times since I moved to the Northwest. |
| Down | |
| 1 | SUCCOUR = "SUCKER" |
| 2 | ALIAS = A in ALI'S |
| 4 | ICEBERG = GREBE (diver) + C |
| 5 | PREVIEW = P |
| 6 | STOCKING FILLER - dd - 'leg' being the second |
| 7 | DRAGONISH = DISH about RAG (cod, in the 'to tease' sense) + ON (being cooked) |
| 8 | UNPRAISEWORTHY = (NATURE-WORSHIP)* + |
| 9 | CARE(S)S |
| 15 | A + U + TH(OR)ING |
| 16 | AC(CEP)T - CEP for 'mushroom' is an old favourite |
| 17 | REFUGEE = REF + GEE about U |
| 18 | PICASSO = PIC (shot) + AS (like) + SO (very) - very neat |
| 19 | TH(R)OUGH - two definitions offered here for the price of one - over/finished |
| 22 | PIECE = "PEACE" |
Page Summary
jackkt : (no subject) [+0] - sotira : hat-drop moment [+0]
- mctext : NESH [+0]
- john_from_lancs : (no subject) [+0]
- falooker : (no subject) [+0]
- kevingregg : (no subject) [+0]
- (Anonymous) : Nesh [+0]
Comments
28:40 .. hugely enjoyable battle.
AT THE DROP OF A HAT is one of my favourite clues in a long time. Brilliant.
CALIPER: I remember quite a few youngsters wearing these in the village where I was brought up; they had been victims of polio, outbreaks of which occurred regularly during the 1940s and 50s.
AT THE DROP OF A HAT had a fine clue and reminded me, of course, of Flanders & Swann, particularly during our current summer.
The only difficulty I had was with UNPRAISEWORTHY, where I was looking for an & lit.
About half an hour, I think. Thank you, Dave, for the blog; and regards to everyone this wet July Sunday: maybe a good day to have a go at the Mephisto?
Edited at 2012-07-01 10:42 am (UTC)