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Across
1 To which I reply, “Indeed you are, Mr. President, and there's the catch!" (6)
4 Smells and sounds like an automated crossbow! (8)
10 There's something the matter with the horn here (3,4)
11 Mathematically one N or Z around or not around (3-4)
12 It's red and grubby without the British (4)
13 Past this verbally perhaps (10)
15 Rush to chop up the log with one of 10-across (6)
16 Replace our ones with something heavy (7)
20 I'm telling you, I saw a real mess (7)
21 Was in the habit of having us and Edward around after tea (4,2)
24 When it looks like arid hay? (3,4,3)
26 Let there be light in Wicklow (4)
28 The predictions are clear, and so wrong (7)
29 Take us back ... we are genuine, just a bit dreamy (7)
30 How far I'd go to see the the French river in the mist (8)
31 A groovy type of coat for Donnybrook? (6)
Down
1 G.E.O. (5,3)
2 Sounds like the bigot found his spare tyre (4,5)
3 Material used in an S-Type? (4)
5 Nitrogen is mobile, I hear (8)
6 It's crazy that you are the first digital expert (10)
7 Put it back, of course, and make preparations (3,2)
8 Chews 13-across, I hear (6)
9 It is this, according to Mr. Jones (5)
14 A rubbish fishing smack? (10)
17 We'd a rerun in motion long before John's (9)
18 It's a smarter move for the South, and for the chair (8)
19 The major set back the corpse below (4,4)
22 A sailor weaves with this to show Rose at her best (6)
23 A small plane tree (5)
25 Pull out a fifty to drag out the speech (5)
27 Mr. S. in Germany, France and Australia (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!
Across
1 To which I reply, “Indeed you are, Mr. President, and there's the catch!" (6)
AM-BUSH
George W. might introduce himself with ‘AM BUSH’, to which I reply, “Indeed you are, Mr. President”, and AMBUSH: there’s the catch.
4 Smells and sounds like an automated crossbow! (8)
AROMATIC
An automated crossbow, an ‘arrow-matic’, sounds like AROMATIC: smells.
10 There's something the matter with the horn here (3,4)
THE ALPS
The “matter” with the “horn”, the Matterhorn, here in THE ALPS.
11 Mathematically one N or Z around or not around (3-4)
“One N or Z” around, an anagram = NON-ZERO: not a-round, not a zero, and a mathematical term (mainly).
12 It's red and grubby without the British (4)
RUBY
G-ru-B-by without the British (GB) = RUBY: it’s red.
13 Past this verbally perhaps (10)
PARTICIPLE
A “past” PARTICIPLE is derived from a “verb”.
15 Rush to chop up the log with one of 10-across (6)
GALLOP
To chop up, an anagram of, the “log” with an “ALP” = GALLOP: rush.
16 Replace our ones with something heavy (7)
ONEROUS
Replace with, an anagram of, “our ones” = ONEROUS: something heavy.
20 I'm telling you, I saw a real mess (7)
EYESORE
I’m telling you “I saw”, sounds like EYESORE: a real mess.
21 Was in the habit of having us and Edward around after tea (4,2)
US-ED T-O
Us (US) and Edward (ED) after tea (T) a-round (O) = USED TO: was in the habit of.
24 When it looks like arid hay? (3,4,3)
BAD HAIR DAY
“Arid hay” is an anagram of (BAD) HAIR DAY: which is when it might look like arid hay!
26 Let there be light in Wicklow (4)
B-RAY
Let there be (B) light (RAY) = BRAY: in Co. Wicklow.
28 The predictions are clear, and so wrong (7)
ORACLES
“Clear” and “so” wrong, an anagram = ORACLES: the predictions.
29 Take us back ... we are genuine, just a bit dreamy (7)
SU-R-REAL
Take “us” back (SU) we are (R) genuine (REAL) = SURREAL: just a bit dreamy.
30 How far I'd go to see the French river in the mist (8)
MI(LE-PO)ST
In the mist (MI-ST) the French (LE) river (PO) = MILEPOST: how far I’d go.
31 A groovy type of coat for Donnybrook? (6)
FUR-ROW
Type of coat (FUR) for Donnybrook (ROW) = FURROW: “groovy”.
Down
1 G.E.O. (5,3)
ALTER EGO
G.E.O. is an anagram of (ALTER) EGO.
2 Sounds like the bigot found his spare tyre (4,5)
BEER BELLY
Sounds like the bigot, ‘big gut’ = BEER BELLY: found his spare tyre.
3 Material used in an S-Type? (4)
S-ILK
Used in an S-type (S-ILK) = SILK: material.
5 Nitrogen is mobile, I hear (8)
RINGTONE
Nitrogen is mobile, an anagram = RINGTONE: how I hear my mobile.
6 It's crazy that you are the first digital expert (10)
MANIC-U-R-IST
It’s crazy (MANIC) that you are (U R) the first (IST) = MANICURIST: “digital” expert.
7 Put it back, of course, and make preparations (3,2)
TEE UP
Pu-t, it back, t-up = TEE UP: make preparations, and something you do on a golf “course”.
8 Chews 13-across, I hear (6)
CHOSEN
Chews, I hear, sounds like ‘choose’, and a PARTICIPLE of choose is CHOSEN.
9 It is this, according to Mr. Jones (5)
USUAL
According to Mr. (Tom) Jones It’s Not Unusual, so it is USUAL.
14 A rubbish fishing smack? (10)
CODS-WALLOP
A fishing (CODS) smack (WALLOP) = CODSWALLOP: rubbish.
17 We'd a rerun in motion long before John's (9)
UNDERWEAR
“We’d a rerun” in motion, an anagram = UNDERWEAR: long johns (“long before John’s”).
18 It's a smarter move for the South, and for the chair (8)
ARMREST-S
It’s a “smarter” move, an anagram (ARMREST) for the South (S) = ARMRESTS: and for the chair.
19 The major set back the corpse below (4,4)
BODY B-LOW
The corpse (BODY) be-low (B-LOW) = BODY BLOW: the major set-back.
22 A sailor weaves with this to show Rose at her best (6)
AB-LOOM
A sailor (AB) weaves with this (LOOM) = ABLOOM: to show rose at (it's) best.
23 A small plane tree (5)
BALSA
The wood from the BALSA tree is very light and strong, and used to make “a small plane” (model planes).
25 Pull out a fifty to drag out the speech (5)
DRAW-L
Pull out (DRAW) a fifty (L) = DRAWL: to drag out the speech.
27 Mr. S. in Germany, France and Australia (4)
FR-AU
France (FR) and Australia (AU) = FRAU: Mrs. (Mr. S.) in Germany.
1 To which I reply, “Indeed you are, Mr. President, and there's the catch!" (6)
4 Smells and sounds like an automated crossbow! (8)
10 There's something the matter with the horn here (3,4)
11 Mathematically one N or Z around or not around (3-4)
12 It's red and grubby without the British (4)
13 Past this verbally perhaps (10)
15 Rush to chop up the log with one of 10-across (6)
16 Replace our ones with something heavy (7)
20 I'm telling you, I saw a real mess (7)
21 Was in the habit of having us and Edward around after tea (4,2)
24 When it looks like arid hay? (3,4,3)
26 Let there be light in Wicklow (4)
28 The predictions are clear, and so wrong (7)
29 Take us back ... we are genuine, just a bit dreamy (7)
30 How far I'd go to see the the French river in the mist (8)
31 A groovy type of coat for Donnybrook? (6)
Down
1 G.E.O. (5,3)
2 Sounds like the bigot found his spare tyre (4,5)
3 Material used in an S-Type? (4)
5 Nitrogen is mobile, I hear (8)
6 It's crazy that you are the first digital expert (10)
7 Put it back, of course, and make preparations (3,2)
8 Chews 13-across, I hear (6)
9 It is this, according to Mr. Jones (5)
14 A rubbish fishing smack? (10)
17 We'd a rerun in motion long before John's (9)
18 It's a smarter move for the South, and for the chair (8)
19 The major set back the corpse below (4,4)
22 A sailor weaves with this to show Rose at her best (6)
23 A small plane tree (5)
25 Pull out a fifty to drag out the speech (5)
27 Mr. S. in Germany, France and Australia (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!
Across
1 To which I reply, “Indeed you are, Mr. President, and there's the catch!" (6)
AM-BUSH
George W. might introduce himself with ‘AM BUSH’, to which I reply, “Indeed you are, Mr. President”, and AMBUSH: there’s the catch.
4 Smells and sounds like an automated crossbow! (8)
AROMATIC
An automated crossbow, an ‘arrow-matic’, sounds like AROMATIC: smells.
10 There's something the matter with the horn here (3,4)
THE ALPS
The “matter” with the “horn”, the Matterhorn, here in THE ALPS.
11 Mathematically one N or Z around or not around (3-4)
“One N or Z” around, an anagram = NON-ZERO: not a-round, not a zero, and a mathematical term (mainly).
12 It's red and grubby without the British (4)
RUBY
G-ru-B-by without the British (GB) = RUBY: it’s red.
13 Past this verbally perhaps (10)
PARTICIPLE
A “past” PARTICIPLE is derived from a “verb”.
15 Rush to chop up the log with one of 10-across (6)
GALLOP
To chop up, an anagram of, the “log” with an “ALP” = GALLOP: rush.
16 Replace our ones with something heavy (7)
ONEROUS
Replace with, an anagram of, “our ones” = ONEROUS: something heavy.
20 I'm telling you, I saw a real mess (7)
EYESORE
I’m telling you “I saw”, sounds like EYESORE: a real mess.
21 Was in the habit of having us and Edward around after tea (4,2)
US-ED T-O
Us (US) and Edward (ED) after tea (T) a-round (O) = USED TO: was in the habit of.
24 When it looks like arid hay? (3,4,3)
BAD HAIR DAY
“Arid hay” is an anagram of (BAD) HAIR DAY: which is when it might look like arid hay!
26 Let there be light in Wicklow (4)
B-RAY
Let there be (B) light (RAY) = BRAY: in Co. Wicklow.
28 The predictions are clear, and so wrong (7)
ORACLES
“Clear” and “so” wrong, an anagram = ORACLES: the predictions.
29 Take us back ... we are genuine, just a bit dreamy (7)
SU-R-REAL
Take “us” back (SU) we are (R) genuine (REAL) = SURREAL: just a bit dreamy.
30 How far I'd go to see the French river in the mist (8)
MI(LE-PO)ST
In the mist (MI-ST) the French (LE) river (PO) = MILEPOST: how far I’d go.
31 A groovy type of coat for Donnybrook? (6)
FUR-ROW
Type of coat (FUR) for Donnybrook (ROW) = FURROW: “groovy”.
Down
1 G.E.O. (5,3)
ALTER EGO
G.E.O. is an anagram of (ALTER) EGO.
2 Sounds like the bigot found his spare tyre (4,5)
BEER BELLY
Sounds like the bigot, ‘big gut’ = BEER BELLY: found his spare tyre.
3 Material used in an S-Type? (4)
S-ILK
Used in an S-type (S-ILK) = SILK: material.
5 Nitrogen is mobile, I hear (8)
RINGTONE
Nitrogen is mobile, an anagram = RINGTONE: how I hear my mobile.
6 It's crazy that you are the first digital expert (10)
MANIC-U-R-IST
It’s crazy (MANIC) that you are (U R) the first (IST) = MANICURIST: “digital” expert.
7 Put it back, of course, and make preparations (3,2)
TEE UP
Pu-t, it back, t-up = TEE UP: make preparations, and something you do on a golf “course”.
8 Chews 13-across, I hear (6)
CHOSEN
Chews, I hear, sounds like ‘choose’, and a PARTICIPLE of choose is CHOSEN.
9 It is this, according to Mr. Jones (5)
USUAL
According to Mr. (Tom) Jones It’s Not Unusual, so it is USUAL.
14 A rubbish fishing smack? (10)
CODS-WALLOP
A fishing (CODS) smack (WALLOP) = CODSWALLOP: rubbish.
17 We'd a rerun in motion long before John's (9)
UNDERWEAR
“We’d a rerun” in motion, an anagram = UNDERWEAR: long johns (“long before John’s”).
18 It's a smarter move for the South, and for the chair (8)
ARMREST-S
It’s a “smarter” move, an anagram (ARMREST) for the South (S) = ARMRESTS: and for the chair.
19 The major set back the corpse below (4,4)
BODY B-LOW
The corpse (BODY) be-low (B-LOW) = BODY BLOW: the major set-back.
22 A sailor weaves with this to show Rose at her best (6)
AB-LOOM
A sailor (AB) weaves with this (LOOM) = ABLOOM: to show rose at (it's) best.
23 A small plane tree (5)
BALSA
The wood from the BALSA tree is very light and strong, and used to make “a small plane” (model planes).
25 Pull out a fifty to drag out the speech (5)
DRAW-L
Pull out (DRAW) a fifty (L) = DRAWL: to drag out the speech.
27 Mr. S. in Germany, France and Australia (4)
FR-AU
France (FR) and Australia (AU) = FRAU: Mrs. (Mr. S.) in Germany.
14 comments:
Hi Bill,
Your 'new to Crossaire?' paragraph perfectly describes my 'new to Bill's Crossword' state, only I don't have to buy lots of papers, or wait a day for the answers!
Some really nice clues in there (some of which I even solved!)
Loved and solved (among others)
the PARTICIPLE /CHOSEN combo, BAD HAIR DAY (got it just from the description!!!), BODY BLOW, SURREAL
Loved when I saw the answer (among others)
FURROW, RUBY, MANICURE,USUAL,BALSA
Got bogged down with the mathematics of N and Z as natural numbers and integers, didn't spot the anagram, and guessed ONE ZERO.
Overall, got almost half, but I enjoyed the experience and appreciated the clever clues even when I failed to solve them.
If at first I don't succeed..... there's always next Sunday...
Thanks for a lovely puzzle
Eleanor
Hi Eleanor,
Many thanks for having a go at the crossword, and many more thanks for taking the time to give me feedback.
Although I think you make a valid point, about having to "get to know" the constructor of a crossword, I also think I need to "tone it down" a bit, and make the puzzles a tad easier to solve. I had them dialled down a couple of months ago, and then folks whipped through them too quickly. It's tough getting it just right!
But, the main thing is that you enjoyed the experience. I'm glad you liked some of the clues that were my favorites (like BAD HAIR DAY!).
NON-ZERO was my least favorite clue in the puzzle. Unfortunately I ended up with it to get the gird ot work. I tried getting around it, but alas, that was the best I could come up with.
I plan on making next week's puzzle a little easier ... but not too easy!
Thanks again for your support, Eleanor.
Hi Bill and Eleanor
I've been bothered and bewildered for ages...going between today's THREE puzzles!
Have decided it's time to concede defeat re WEB 14...falling well short of a completed grid...
Got my teeth into it down in the south east, completing that section except for BALSA...easy when I saw the answer, but completely evaded me!! I was trying to think of the names of small planes that shared a name with a tree species...besides a plane tree that is!! A futile task in any case.....my aircraft knowledge is on a par with my vast military expertise! And all the time you were in the model-making dept...drat!
My absolute favourite clue today was CODSWALLOP...what can I say?...just loved it!
I met my Waterloo in the North West, missing AMBUSH, BEER BELLY, THE ALPS and EYESORE...was most annoyed with myself over missing THE ALPS because I'd got GALLOP, realising it was an anag. of 'log' and...'alp' but the penny still didn't drop! I was too busy tootling around Cape Horn...on the back of a bull...what's the MATTER with me!
Had a bit of trouble at first in the North East, when I put in SET UP instead of TEE UP...eventually untangled it when I got AROMATIC...which eventually gave me TEE UP and MANICURIST...another lovely clue but I'd been in another world on that one as well til I got the M-N to start it...had the CURIST sussed so it was a lovely revelation that you were talking HANDY PAWS and not technobabble!
Other clues I really liked
ALTER EGO...delighted I got this one!...excellent clue!
the inclusion of the old stomping ground in FURROW!
ARID HAY/BAD HAIR DAY was very clever and good fun
USUAL...this took me FOREVER! but I was determined...and thanks for italicising 'is'...definitely helped
DRAWL...read very nicely, I thought
PARTICIPLE/CHOSEN pairing was very good...would have been iffy about putting in PARTICIPLE without confirmation from CHOSEN
MILEPOST...now Bill, this was very devious... exhausted my vast knowledge of French rivers...praise be for CODSWALLOP!...that 'p' made me go all Italian!
BEER BELLY...this was a nice 'sounds like' clue, sorry I missed it!
My last to fill and biggest blunder today came in 5d RINGTONE...saw that it was an anagram and made the fatal error of assuming that it ended in...'ING'....so came up with the very peculiar 'RENOTING'...for no reason other than...it fit nicely!
Ah well!
You beat me fair and square today but I enjoyed it a lot...and that's what it's all about, isn't it...yeah right!
Must go and see can I make any headway with Rishi and Tommy's...finding Rishi's particularly challenging...but I'll soldier on awhile!
Many thanks Bill and enjoy your day of rest
Liz
Liz,
As always, thanks for checking out the puzzle. I'm afraid I didn't realise this one was quite as hard as it turned out to be. As I said to Eleanor, I will tone it down for next week. I appreciate you saying you enjoyed the experience, but I recognise it's not nearly as much fun when you don't actually solve the puzzle.
I avoided all references of guns and ammunition for you (and put in a crossbow instead), Liz, and now I have to avoid aircraft, eh? lol
Glad you liked CODSWALLOP. The puzzle was built around CODSWALLOP, BAD HAIR DAY, ALTER EGO and AROMATIC, all clues that I thought were a bit of fun, and a bit different.
I wish I could have avoided PARTICIPLE, but was happy to have linked CHOSEN to it. Hated NON-ZERO, as I said to Eleanor. The "French" river PO was a very deliberate misdirection that gave great pleasure and joy to my dark side!
You'll be able to solve next week's ... I promise!!
Hi Bill
When I solved CODSWALLOP I was well aware that you were grinning from ear to ear when composing it!
AROMATIC also gave me a good laugh...not something I do too often in the weapons dept.!
And as for needing to complete to get pleasure...not so today...delighted to have fallen on 1a...le Monsieur President in question is but a distant memory!
Cheers
Liz
Liz,
I loved the image of our ex-President trying to get out the words "AM BUSH".
Over here each president has a place for a permanant exhibition. For the presidents long gone, it's usually based in their homes, and for more recent presidents is a purpose-built Presidential Library. I'm going to revisit the Ronald Reagan Library on Friday, as part of an upcoming road trip. I've been to many of the homes and libraries, and they are magnificant places. George W is building his library on a university campus in Dallas. I have in-laws in Dallas that we visit regularly ... and that's the one library I have no interest in visiting!
Hi Bill, Liz,
Just a quick word on difficulty level. Out of curiosity I downloaded last weeks puzzle, and lo and behold, I got a tantara! I may have given up on some of this weeks too easily, as I expected to have difficulty with a new puzzle.
Wont go into details on last weeks, but some really brilliant clues! If Crossaire ever retires.....
Liz, I salute you for attempting the 3 puzzles. Best of luck!
Eleanor
Eleanor,
Well, I can't thank you enough! I'm delighted you got your tantara with last week's puzzle. The feedback on the various puzzles really helps me when I am constructing. I am finding it easier to guage the reaction in terms of "frustration' level (I knew NON-ZERO would be a problem, for example ... and you should have seen the old clue I had there for it!), but I'm also honing my "skills".
Glad you enjoyed last week's offering, Eleanor, and hopefully I can tempt you to come back for more!
Hi Bill,
Just realised i was looking at the list of crosswords in the wrong order. Second on your list (the one I did) was actually your first (April 12), not last week's. That one does look a lot more difficult.
Eleanor
Hi again Bill & Eleanor
In my last comment I said: 'When I solved CODSWALLOP I was well aware that you were grinning from ear to ear when composing it!' I actually meant that with reference to MILEPOST (not CODSWALLOP)...while I loved CODSWALLOP, MILEPOST was just plain devious!!
And well done Eleanor on completing the earlier puzzle...he doesn't make 'em easy!
Real life took over here for the evening so haven't had a chance to give Rishi's another look...I'm going to try again now...not exactly brimming with confidence for a completed puzzle...I'll be more than pleased to settle for a respectable first effort...but it's not looking too respectable yet!
Enjoy the Ronald Reagan Library visit Bill, it's an interesting concept that each past president has a permanent exhibition space; glad to hear you're in no hurry to visit George W's....that'd be Dallas-t straw!
Cheers
Liz
Eleanor,
Thx for the info ... it helps when I know which crossword you're talking about! :o)
I really do promise to make next week's more user-friendly!
Liz,
If it helps, I solved the whole of Rishi's puzzle, although there were a couple of answers that he had to explain to me so I could fully understand the clues. But, I know that three crosswords is a lot to handle!
Hi Bill,
unfortunately I just could not get into your head on this one, I think I only managed about a half-a-dozen, and that, after af ew revisits.
Upon revealing them to myself I found quite a few that I liked your quirky approach to.
CODSWALLOP, MILEPOST and BAD HAIR DAY were my favourites.
I will keep plugging away, even though there is great pleasure in success, the struggle is also very satisfying too, so I will struggle on.
Thank you for the chance to stretch the brain a bit more.
Tommy
p.s. I got the NON ZERO, ta.
Tommy,
Thanks for trying anyway. I promise, absolutely promise, that the puzzles will be more approachable from here on out. I learned a big lesson this week. I've already started on the next puzzle, and I am controlling myself!
I'm glad I didn't scare you away. But, I knew I could rely on you to get NON-ZERO, Tommy :o)
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