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Across
1 I am very happy on this secular high point (3,2,3,5)
9 Label "North by Northwest" this in the index? (7)
10 Make the bums around the Cork school surrender (7)
12 Return for a little work with me before you beat it (5)
13 A collie dog slipped into the Catholic church, back when it was more elegant. (8)
15 The final count was wrong, but it will work (10)
16 Street-street (4)
18 Listen, I've done more before this in Waterford (4)
20 A dafter Latin expression (4,6)
22 N/LIAT (4,4)
24 Cook makes an approach, now that April is gone (5)
26 Stir up, then stir, then use ... (7)
27 ... or shake this (7)
28 This sign here, is what it's all about (3,6,4)
Down
2 State that the turkey is to go back to the guy (7)
3 Repositioned us to stop the outlying troops (8)
4 I was in Athens at that time (4)
5 All sad over travelling in Central America (2,8)
6 There is nothing here about cars for killers (5)
7 Ours lie around and are more worthless (7)
8 A liberal position will often reflect badly (4-2-6)
11 Can Al transport just one initially, not to intrude? (5,5,2)
14 When Penny joined the detectives there were about ten occupying the same space (10)
17 Get physical when you are in a car pool mix-up? (8)
19 Even a saint would get sick being inside this long (7)
21 Even though he's from the Middle East, I raced John in Scotland (7)
23 Belittle Tom with this hitch (5)
25 A grand-grand round-round (4)
Here is each clue alongside its answer, with an explanation of the link between clue and answer. I hope it all makes sense! As always, I welcome feedback via comment and/or email. I’m particularly interested in hearing about clues that were too obvious or easy, and clues that were annoying or perhaps caused frustration. But, I’ll listen to all suggestions on how to make my puzzles more challenging and more fun!
No doubt you spotted that the peripheral clues contain the words TOP, BOTTOM, LEFT and RIGHT appropriately placed. It helps in trying to solve the puzzle …
Across
1 I am very happy on this secular high point (3,2,3,5)
TOP OF THE WORLD
High point (TOP) secular (OF THE WORLD) = TOP OF THE WORLD: I am very happy (when I am) on TOP OF THE WORLD.
9 Label "North by Northwest" this in the index? (7)
EN-TITLE
In the index, “North by Northwest” is an “N”, EN, TITLE = ENTITLE: label.
10 Make the bums around the Cork school surrender (7)
S(UCC)UMB
Make the bums around (S-UMB) the Cork school (UCC) = SUCCUMB: surrender.
12 Return for a little work with me before you beat it (5)
T-EM-PO
A little work (OP) with me (ME) before you, in the alphabet (T) = OPMET, return = TEMPO: beat.
13 A collie dog slipped into the Catholic church, back when it was more elegant. (8)
C(LASSIE)R
A collie dog (LASSIE) slipped into the Catholic church, RC, back (C-R) = CLASSIER: more elegant.
15 The final count was wrong, but it will work (10)
FUNCTIONAL
The “final count” was wrong, an anagram = FUNCTIONAL: will work.
16 Street-street (4)
TREE
S-TREE-T minus street (ST) = TREE
18 Listen, I've done more before this in Waterford (4)
EAST
“Done more”, sounds like Dunmore, as in Dunmore EAST in Waterford.
20 A dafter Latin expression (4,6)
ANNO DOMINI
A d-after (A.D.) is the abbreviation for the Latin expression ANNO DOMINI.
22 N/LIAT (4,4)
TURN TAIL
The TAIL of the word TURN is “N”, or if you want, you can TURN the word TAIL to get LIAT. Both give the same answer.
24 Cook makes an approach, now that April is gone (5)
POACH
AP-p-R-oach, now that April (APR) is gone = POACH: cook.
26 Stir up, then stir, then use ... (7)
ENTH-USE
“Then” stir, an anagram (ENTH) then use (USE) = ENTHUSE: stir up.
27 ... or shake this (7)
MARTINI
You can “stir” or “shake” a MARTINI. James Bond likes his “shaken, not stirred”.
28 This sign here, is what it's all about (3,6,4)
THE BOTTOM LINE
Sign here --> THE BOTTOM LINE: what it's all about.
Down
2 State that the turkey is to go back to the guy (7)
OT-TO-MAN
To, go back (OT) to (TO) the guy (MAN) = OTTOMAN, as in the OTTOMAN “State” or Empire, the precursor to modern Turkey.
3 Repositioned us to stop the outlying troops (8)
OUTPOSTS
Repositioned, an anagram of, “us to stop” = OUTPOSTS: the outlying troops.
4 I was in Athens at that time (4)
THEN
I, the answer, was in A(THEN)S = THEN: at that time.
5 All sad over travelling in Central America (2,8)
EL SALVADOR
“All sad over” travelling, an anagram = EL SALVADOR: in Central America.
6 There is nothing here about cars for killers (5)
O-RCAS
There is nothing here (O) about cars (RCAS) = ORCAS: killer whales.
7 Ours lie around and are more worthless (7)
LOUSIER
“Ours lie” around, an anagram = LOUSIER: more worthless.
8 A liberal position will often reflect badly (4-2-6)
LEFT OF CENTRE
“Often reflect” badly, an anagram = LEFT OF CENTRE: a liberal position, relatively speaking!
11 Can Al transport just one initially, not to intrude? (5,5,2)
BARGE RIGHT I-N
Can-al transport (BARGE) just (RIGHT) one (I) initially n-ot (N) = BARGE RIGHT IN: to intrude.
14 When Penny joined the detectives there were about ten occupying the same space (10)
COIN-CID-ENT
When Penny (COIN) joined the detectives (CID) there were about ten (ENT) = COINCIDENT: occupying the same space.
17 Get physical when you are in a car pool mix-up? (8)
CO(R)PORAL
Are (R) in a “car pool” mix-up, an anagram (CO-PORAL) = CORPORAL: physical.
19 Even a saint would get sick being inside this long (7)
ST-RETCH
Even a saint (ST) would get sick (RETCH) = STRETCH: being inside (prison) this long.
21 Even though he's from the Middle East, I raced John in Scotland (7)
I-RAN-IAN
I raced (I RAN) John in Scotland (IAN) = IRANIAN: he’s from the Middle East.
23 Belittle Tom with this hitch (5)
THUMB
Tom THUMB would be-little, and to THUMB is to “hitch” a ride, or a lift.
25 A grand-grand round-round (4)
A-M-M-O
A (A) grand grand (M M) round (O) = AMMO: a round, or rounds, of ammunition.
This is an image of the puzzle, for printing:
5 comments:
Hi Bill
Well, that kept me quiet for a while....and no harm either! (Didn't time myself, but between comings and goings, reckon it took me in around an hour!)
Got off to an okay start in the NW with OTTOMAN, EL SALVADOR, TOP OF THE WORLD and THEN.....came to a full stop!
I went all over the place, getting one here and one there before picking up any speed....
Once again the old munitions caught me out...AMMO was the only clue I didn't get....easy when I saw the answer and hopefully this is the last time I'll miss the 'ROUND' ref.....but knowing me.....I never fail to MISS clues referencing munitions/weapons of war....
I found it much more difficult than last week but there were some great clues....
Loved the STIRRED connection between 26a and 27a - maybe I should have taken a cue from it and had myself a wee drink...might have speeded me up.....
16a was very clever but I didn't cop that the 'hyphen' was a 'minus' symbol for ages so it had me puzzled;
I had 1a and 8d completed and was looking at 28a before I twigged the connection.....a VERY NICE variation on M. Crosaire's repetition of the same word....clever.....
One or two little quibbles! The N/ in 22a confused me, ....I thought LIAT alone would have sufficed...or maybe that would have been too easy!
While the individual parts of the clue for COINCIDENT were excellent and walked me there, I thought maybe there should have been some reference to 'surprise/surprisingly' to indicate 'coincident' rather than just 'sharing'? God, I'm getting very picky now, Bill!
Favourites for me today were CLASSIER, ANNO DOMINI, TREE, MARTINI, ENTHUSE, SUCCUMB and..... THE BOTTOM LINE Bill, I really enjoyed the challenge.....you're quite devious in that you employ a huge variety of techniques to reveal/disguise the clues/solutions........
Many thanks Bill......I'm off now to have a go at Tommy's.....fingers crossed....
Enjoy your day of rest!
Liz
Hi Liz,
An hour ... methinks I need to dial it back a bit. I had a feeling there weren't enough approaches into the puzzle, which is why you had a slow start. You were right about TURN TAIL, in that I thought "LIAT" was too easy a clue, but perhaps I could have left it at that, as another way into the puzzle.
I'm going to have to make a pacifist's puzzle, especially for you, Liz. You do indeed have trouble with guns and such :o) Hate the things myself, so I don't know why I keep putting in clues about them!
Maybe TREE would have been easier if I had written the clue as "Street - street", with a space either side of the minus sign. Another approach into the puzzle. Hindsight ... 20-20.
I have noticed that I tend to focus on the technical defintions of clues (my techy background) and I think that is why I opted to give the more mathematical definition of COINCIDENT. Here was another opportunity to make the puzzle more approachable, by somehow tying in with COINCIDENCE.
Glad you liked the top, bottom, left, right theme, and I hoped it helped a tad.
As always, thx for the feedback, Liz. It's good guidance for my next puzzle. No more full stops ... I promise! :o)
Hi Bill
And firstly...of course you were absolutely correct with the clue for COINCIDENT...having always been mathematically challenged, 'coincident' is a word that rarely crosses my mind! I was effectively trying to (mis)lead you into describing 'COINCIDENCE'/'COINCIDENTAL'
....mea culpa, mea culpa!!
Yes, "street - street" reads much better, visually registers as a 'minus' sign....though maybe you think it's too obvious!
re N/LIAT...I agree that LIAT would be a dead giveaway....but something about the N/ makes my head spin...I understand it but it's too convoluted for my ageing brain!
Bill, with regard to time taken to complete....DON'T adjust on my account because I NEVER achieve the speeds (under 20 mins. lots of days) that you do in Crosaire......I rarely complete Crosaire in less than 20 mins. and I consider it a very good day when I complete it in 20-25 minutes....I find it hard to time myself because I often do my crosswords in the middle of other things so it's not usually a concentrated period....today's WEB was no exception....but I KNOW.....I'm slow! So hold off and see how some of the 'Speedy Gonzales' crew got on!
Once more, humble apologies for my misinterpretation of your excellent 'COINCIDENT' clue....I'm off to study my Oxford now....as ever, I'll give the maths book a miss!
Sláinte
Liz
Liz,
Re COINCIDENT, COINCIDENCE, I think the two words have the same basic root, so I think it's actually a valid point, to try to bring in the more common meaning. I do try to avoid obscure words and obscure definitions in my puzzles, but sometimes my particular background overwhelms my judgment :o)
N/LIAT was my clumsy way of trying to disguise the more obvious clue LIAT. In hindsight, should have gone with something less obscure, because the puzzle needed some more entry points.
I'm not too concerned about how long a puzzle takes, as I do know it varies from person-to-person, however, when you said that you got three answers and then hit a brick wall, that rang true with me. As a final check of a puzzle, I sit down with it (and my magic cuppa) and try to put myself in the position of the solver. I encountered the same thing (only worse) with this puzzle, a slow start. As a result I changed a couple of clues to make them more obvious (including EL SALVADOR, by the way), but to be honest, I would have been happier with smoother progress through to the end, and I'd made up the clues!! :o)
Anyway, I really appreciate your input, Liz. It's all valid, trust me!
Hi Bill and Liz..I'm only a week late doing this puzzle and even though I found it difficult to get into I finished in about half an hour...it didn't have the same feel to it as previous WEBs and I found some of the clues a bit tedious but challenging nonetheless..I think that you are still in the experimenting stage Bill..looking for your niche/style and I don't mind a few mathematically oriented clues and thought of 'coresident' 'cohabiting' before hitting on 'coincident' and of course hindsight is 20/20 vision! I didn't like 'ammo' as it's an abbreviation but that's just a minor detail..starting to sound like 'Fiendy'..Anyway on the off-chance that you might read this I just want to say well done..after all that!
Cheers, Moley
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