Sunday Times 4832 by Jeff Pearce
7:34. No problems this week: nothing too obscure in either definitions or wordplay, the odd minor query here and there but a fun puzzle with some nice touches.
Definitions are underlined, anagrams indicated like (THIS)*, anagram indicators like this.
Definitions are underlined, anagrams indicated like (THIS)*, anagram indicators like this.
Across | |
1 | Is one at Billingsgate to get such after 27? |
CHEAPSKATE - CD. Because if you were a CHEAPSKATE you might buy CHEAP SKATE that’s past its SELL-BY DATE at Billingsgate fish market. | |
6 | Some fantastic wine |
ASTI - contained in ‘fantastic’. | |
9 | Peruvians once home get lots of money |
INCAS - IN, CAS |
|
10 | Belittle lad with one good grade |
DENIGRATE - DEN, I, G, RATE. For me DEN is less lad and more evil east-end landlord, but… | |
12 | Ride posh car to Ascot — travelling with royalty |
ROLLER COASTER - ROLLER (posh car), (ASCOT)*, ER. | |
14 | Once more found wagon capsized in long grass |
RETRACED - reversal of CART in REED. | |
15 | University chief backing brilliant work in Latin |
UTOPIA - U, TOP, reversal of AI. | |
17 | Old chief died leading kingdom |
DOMAIN - O, MAIN preceded by D. | |
19 | Good shot behind farm building bags large kind of goose |
BARNACLE - BARN, AC(L)E. | |
21 | Rehoboam carries good book |
SONG OF SOLOMON - before he was a large bottle of wine, Reheboam was the SON OF SOLOMON. Insert G. | |
24 | Finally ruins ragout with an awfully bitter substance |
ANGOSTURA - ( |
|
25 | Scoop on a boat contains small plant |
BASIL - BA(S)IL. | |
26 | Unlit rescue vessel behind dam |
DARK - D, ARK. I don’t remember seeing D for ‘dam’ before. It’s in Collins, and it’s used in pedigrees: D for dam, S for sire. | |
27 | When beastly Del might be rotten |
SELL-BY DATE - (BEASTLY DEL)*. Not sure how this is supposed to work as a definition, other than very loosely. Del isn’t a food, and SELL-BY DATEs don’t really apply to Peckham wide-boys. Oh well, it's clear what is intended and the surface works. |
Down | |
1 | Shorten intro to Catch 22 |
CLIP - C |
|
2 | 1D only contains rear view of actor |
EXCERPT - EXCE( |
|
3 | After surgery lips are initially luminous — becoming yellow |
PUSILLANIMOUS - (LIPS A |
|
4 | Almost swim under anchor to get fishy meal |
KEDGEREE - KEDGE, REE |
|
5 | Clobber group of workers going to French city endlessly |
TUNIC - TU, NIC |
|
7 | Place with vermin about is a new business |
START-UP - reversal of PUT, RATS. | |
8 | What one on bender at one could be later? |
INEBRIATED - I, (BENDER AT I)*. Very nearly &Lit, or &Lit if you think ‘later’ can form part of the anagrind. | |
11 | A gunboat may be travelling around an American naval base |
GUANTANAMO BAY - (A GUNBOAT MAY BE)*. As pointed out by anon below, this is rubbish. There is clearly no E in GUANTANAMO BAY. Actually it's (A GUNBOAT MAY)* containing AN. This makes the word 'be' a bit awkward: to make the clue work I have to read it in a pirate voice. All those of you who failed to spot this - ahem - deliberate error see me after class. | |
13 | Cheeses cut by daughter — and nuts cracked by one for wedding guest |
BRIDESMAID - BRI(D)ES, MA(I)D | |
16 | Game some shops kept under cover |
PALL-MALL - PALL (cover), MALL. A game I had only vaguely heard of, but PALL seemed the obvious thing to put before MALL. | |
18 | Mark’s fury about a boss |
MANAGER -M, AN(A)GER. | |
20 | On top of chimney Santa broke a game |
CANASTA - C |
|
22 | Condiment well spoken of |
SAUCE - sounds like ‘source’. | |
23 | Left snooker club without tip |
CLUE - C(L)UE. |