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Here is WEB Crossword No: 017. All of the WEB Crosswords are now listed in an index, so if you looking for something to do at the beach (!) print out a couple of puzzles and bring them with you!
As a reminder, the Sunday slot is open for anyone who wants to post his or her own, original crossword. Just contact me and I will help you with the mechanics of compiling and posting.
Across
1 I hear that to ease into a short one of these would fill 25-down (4)
3 Ushered her out exhausted (4)
6 Tom is little inclined to get a lift (5)
10 Listen to the tardy Australian go back and forth (9)
11 Marilyn was neither, Da, before this perhaps (5)
12 Assumed this might be cross (3,4)
13 I'd heard about him being so stubborn (3-4)
14 Makes us state, "Oh, I have nothing!" (4)
16 Go with the first two of the 99 that are middle-aged (6)
18 Hail the new position taken by the Irish bus company (3)
21 Flipper appears at the end of the French film (3)
22 You are innate, a character (6)
23 No. 151 left the cyclist in the middle, the lump! (4)
25 Heard mocking the Russian Imperial gorge? (7)
27 I see Edward with the cup, Pa ... a refreshing change perhaps (4,3)
29 I was able to see you in something cool (5)
30 The counsel is to back Mr. Guevara and his horse, then get something to eat (6,3)
31 This riddle is about Adam's wife (5)
32 This does not sound about an F (4)
33 Produces moving music? (4)
Down
1 A new version of pool for the perfect (9)
2 Now for, perhaps, being no longer inside (2-3)
4 This got a space around Patsy (9)
5 This lock of hair is frightful (5)
6 Heard after tendon B is bent (8)
7 I imagine it'll be a year until it's replaced (9)
8 There's nothing in Shakespeare that can be called "wooden" (5)
9 After a cape, cork, calendar and disappearance (5)
15 The digestive tract perhaps? (5,4)
17 More than Herbie 1, 2 & 3, I love a cereal! (9)
19 Even when transformed, a nerd gets alienated (9)
20 ... and led us around to a knock-off of a horse (8)
24 The Frenchman had something to cry about after gym class (5)
25 These are not stocks for 1-across (5)
26 Is 'e in, Mister Scrooge? (5)
28 'E 'it the traffic jam (3-2)
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 I hear that to ease into a short one of these would fill 25-down (4)
F(EE)T
Into a short one of these, a ‘foot’ abbreviated (F-T) I hear that "to ease", sounds like ‘two Es' (EE) = FEET: would fill SOCKS
3 Ushered her out exhausted (4)
US-ED
US-her-ED ‘her’ out = USED: exhausted.
6 Tom is little inclined to get a lift (5)
THUMB
Tom THUMB is little, and a THUMB is inclined to get a lift (when thumbing for a ride).
10 Listen to the tardy Australian go back and forth (9)
OSCILLATE
The Australian (Aussie) is tardy (late). Listen to ‘Aussy-late’ and it sounds like OSCILLATE: go back and forth.
11 Marilyn was neither, Da, before this perhaps (5)
NOR-MA
“Neither Da” perhaps comes before “NOR MA” = NORMA: Marilyn (Monroe) was born NORMA Jeane.
12 Assumed this might be cross (3,4)
PEN NAME
The brand NAME of a PEN might by Cross, and a PEN NAME is assumed.
13 I'd heard about him being so stubborn (3-4)
DIE-HARD
“I’d heard” about, an anagram = DIE-HARD: him being so stubborn.
14 Makes us state, "Oh, I have nothing!" (4)
OH-I-O
Oh (OH) I (I) have nothing (O) = OHIO: makes US state.
16 Go with the first two of the 99 that are middle-aged (6)
GO-TH-IC
Go (GO) with “th-e” first two (letters) (TH) of the 99 (IC) = GOTHIC: from the Middle Ages ("that are middle-aged").
18 Hail the new position taken by the Irish bus company (3)
The Irish bus company (CIE) the new position taken, an anagram = ICE: hail.
21 Flipper appears at the end of the French film (3)
FIN
Appears at the end of the French Film, the French word for “end” = FIN: flipper.
22 You are innate, a character (6)
NAT(UR)E
In-nate (NAT-E) you are (UR) = NATURE: a character.
23 No. 151 left the cyclist in the middle, the lump! (4)
CY-ST
No. 151 (CLI) in the middle, left the cy-CLI-st = CYST: the lump.
25 Heard mocking the Russian Imperial gorge? (7)
SARCASM
The Russian Imperial (tsar) gorge (chasm) = tsar-chasm, when heard sounds like SARCASM: mocking.
27 I see Edward with the cup, Pa ... a refreshing change perhaps (4,3)
IC-ED TEA
I see (IC) Edward (ED) with the cup-pa (TEA) = ICED TEA: a refreshing change perhaps.
29 I was able to see you in something cool (5)
CO(U)LD
In something cool (CO-LD) to see you (U) = COULD: I was able.
30 The counsel is to back Mr. Guevara and his horse, then get something to eat (6,3)
SC-OT-CH E-GG
The counsel (SC) is “to” back (OT) Mr. Guevara (CHE) and his horse (GG) = SCOTCH EGG: then get something to eat.
31 This riddle is about Adam's wife (5)
SI-EVE
Is about (SI) Adam’s wife (EVE) = SIEVE: this riddle.
32 This does not sound about an F (4)
RE-EF
About (RE) an F (EF) = REEF: knot (“not” sound).
33 Produces moving music? (4)
IPOD
If you have an IPOD your music can be moving around with you.
Down
1 A new version of pool for the perfect (9)
FOOLPROOF
A new version, an anagram, “of pool for” = FOOLPROOF: for the perfect.
2 Now for, perhaps, being no longer inside (2-3)
EX-CON
Now for, was against, perhaps could be called EX-CON, and an EX-CON is a being no longer inside (jail).
4 This got a space around Patsy (9)
SCAPEGOAT
This “got a space” around, an anagram = SCAPEGOAT: patsy.
5 This lock of hair is frightful (5)
DREAD
This (DREAD) lock (LOCK) = DREADLOCK: of hair. And something that is DREAD is “frightful”.
6 Heard after tendon B is bent (8)
TENDENCY
After tendon B, comes tendon C, heard as TENDENCY: is bent.
7 I imagine it'll be a year until it's replaced (9)
UNREALITY
Will be a “year until” it’s replaced, an anagram = UNREALITY: I imagine it.
8 There's nothing in Shakespeare that can be called "wooden" (5)
B(O)ARD
In Shakespeare (B-ARD) there’s nothing (O) = BOARD: that can be called wooden.
9 After a cape, cork, calendar and disappearance (5)
CLEAR
C-a-LE-nd-AR “and” disappearance = CLEAR: as in Cape Clear ("after a cape") in Co. Cork.
15 The digestive tract perhaps? (5,4)
INNER TUBE
It’s just a tube within us!
17 More than Herbie 1, 2 & 3, I love a cereal! (9)
HERBIVORE
More than Herbie 1, 2, & 3 is Herbie 4, sounds like HERBIVORE: I love a cereal!
19 Even when transformed, a nerd gets alienated (9)
ESTRANGED
Even when transformed, an anagram of, “a nerd gets” = ESTRANGED: alienated.
20 ... and led us around to a knock-off of a horse (8)
UNSADDLE
“and led us” around, an anagram = UNSADDLE: (to a) knock off of a horse.
24 The Frenchman had something to cry about after gym class (5)
PE-RCY
After a gym class (PE) had something to “cry” about, an anagram (RCY) = PERCY: as in PERCY French (the French-man).
25 These are not stocks for 1-across (5)
SOCKS
These are no-t S-t-OCKS = SOCKS: for FEET.
26 Is 'e in, Mister Scrooge? (5)
M(IS-‘E)R
In Mister (M-R) is ‘e (IS ‘E) = MISER: Scrooge.
28 'E 'it the traffic jam (3-2)
TIE UP
TIE is “’e it” UP = TIE UP: the traffic jam.
SARCASM
The Russian Imperial (tsar) gorge (chasm) = tsar-chasm, when heard sounds like SARCASM: mocking.
27 I see Edward with the cup, Pa ... a refreshing change perhaps (4,3)
IC-ED TEA
I see (IC) Edward (ED) with the cup-pa (TEA) = ICED TEA: a refreshing change perhaps.
29 I was able to see you in something cool (5)
CO(U)LD
In something cool (CO-LD) to see you (U) = COULD: I was able.
30 The counsel is to back Mr. Guevara and his horse, then get something to eat (6,3)
SC-OT-CH E-GG
The counsel (SC) is “to” back (OT) Mr. Guevara (CHE) and his horse (GG) = SCOTCH EGG: then get something to eat.
31 This riddle is about Adam's wife (5)
SI-EVE
Is about (SI) Adam’s wife (EVE) = SIEVE: this riddle.
32 This does not sound about an F (4)
RE-EF
About (RE) an F (EF) = REEF: knot (“not” sound).
33 Produces moving music? (4)
IPOD
If you have an IPOD your music can be moving around with you.
Down
1 A new version of pool for the perfect (9)
FOOLPROOF
A new version, an anagram, “of pool for” = FOOLPROOF: for the perfect.
2 Now for, perhaps, being no longer inside (2-3)
EX-CON
Now for, was against, perhaps could be called EX-CON, and an EX-CON is a being no longer inside (jail).
4 This got a space around Patsy (9)
SCAPEGOAT
This “got a space” around, an anagram = SCAPEGOAT: patsy.
5 This lock of hair is frightful (5)
DREAD
This (DREAD) lock (LOCK) = DREADLOCK: of hair. And something that is DREAD is “frightful”.
6 Heard after tendon B is bent (8)
TENDENCY
After tendon B, comes tendon C, heard as TENDENCY: is bent.
7 I imagine it'll be a year until it's replaced (9)
UNREALITY
Will be a “year until” it’s replaced, an anagram = UNREALITY: I imagine it.
8 There's nothing in Shakespeare that can be called "wooden" (5)
B(O)ARD
In Shakespeare (B-ARD) there’s nothing (O) = BOARD: that can be called wooden.
9 After a cape, cork, calendar and disappearance (5)
CLEAR
C-a-LE-nd-AR “and” disappearance = CLEAR: as in Cape Clear ("after a cape") in Co. Cork.
15 The digestive tract perhaps? (5,4)
INNER TUBE
It’s just a tube within us!
17 More than Herbie 1, 2 & 3, I love a cereal! (9)
HERBIVORE
More than Herbie 1, 2, & 3 is Herbie 4, sounds like HERBIVORE: I love a cereal!
19 Even when transformed, a nerd gets alienated (9)
ESTRANGED
Even when transformed, an anagram of, “a nerd gets” = ESTRANGED: alienated.
20 ... and led us around to a knock-off of a horse (8)
UNSADDLE
“and led us” around, an anagram = UNSADDLE: (to a) knock off of a horse.
24 The Frenchman had something to cry about after gym class (5)
PE-RCY
After a gym class (PE) had something to “cry” about, an anagram (RCY) = PERCY: as in PERCY French (the French-man).
25 These are not stocks for 1-across (5)
SOCKS
These are no-t S-t-OCKS = SOCKS: for FEET.
26 Is 'e in, Mister Scrooge? (5)
M(IS-‘E)R
In Mister (M-R) is ‘e (IS ‘E) = MISER: Scrooge.
28 'E 'it the traffic jam (3-2)
TIE UP
TIE is “’e it” UP = TIE UP: the traffic jam.
6 comments:
Hi Bill,
Tantara, but at an early stage I was even less confident than last week. Quite a challenging puzzle.
Loved the FEET SOCKS combination. Other favourites include
OSCILLATE PEN NAME SARCASM COULD REEF SCAPEGOAT TENDENCY CLEAR INNER TUBE HERBIVORE
Apart from the clues, I love my IPOD, PERCY French, and a certain travel writer from OHIO!
PEN NAME was my last (a lovely clue, should have got it sooner).
You mentioned that you were particularly interested in knowing about clues that were too easy. There were a few easy ones, but I think we need some easy ones as crossing letters to reassure us about the difficult ones. It’s a matter of light and shade, and although there were some that I got easily (e.g. FIN, NORMA, ICED TEA), I enjoyed all of them.
Thanks again, Bill, for all the hard work. Have a good Sunday.
Eleanor
Hi Bill,
A truly excellent and very enjoyable puzzle. Clue of the day had to be oscillate. To be honest it had me confused for a bit because phonetically i say Aussie as Ozzy therefore i was thinking ozzy late until it clicked. I didn't finish it but it was far from an amateur crossword in my opinion. Great work.
Mark
Hi Eleanor,
I hope it wasn't too challenging for you, and that you still got some fun out if it. I'll try to dial it back a tad next weekend :o)
I like it when an answer sparks a personal memory too. Tommy's latest puzzle has an answer that reminded me of my Dad and his football playing as a young lad.
I think you're right about needing the sprinkling of easier clues. I call them "gimmes". I found that without them, puzzles were hard to get into. There's nothing more frustrating than going right through a list of clues and not getting one answer to start the ball rolling. Thanks for pointing out the need for the gimmes, as it underscores a lesson I needed to learn.
Of course, they're only gimmes to someone as expert as you, Eleanor :o)
Hi Mark,
Thanks for checking out my puzzle. I really appreciate it, and am especially grateful for you taking the time to give some feedback.
I'm glad you liked OSCILLATE. It was one of my four "starter" answers, around which I built the puzzle (along with TENDENCY, HERBIVORE & SARCASM). I had some quirky clues for those words all ready to go.
I'm sorry you didn't get to finish. As Eleanor said, it might have been a tad hard, so I'm going to try to pull back a little next weekend.
And I don't feel so bad now ... I couldn't finish your last puzzle either, Mark!! :o)
Hi Bill,
my house guests have gone back to Ireland and I stay here until Saturday. I enjoyed this puzzle although did not get five clues.
I am kicking myself for not getting MISER, SOCKS and REEF.
Although I did not solve it, I really liked the SARCASM clue. My other miss was PEN NAME, good clue but it eluded me.
Of the ones I solved there were many nice clues including BOARD, HERBIVORE and the dletion in CYST.
My favourite was OSCILLATE.
Well done on a challenging puzzle.
Hi Tommy,
I think I pitched this puzzle just a little too much on the challenging side, although I must give Eleanor her due because she did bring everything home all present and correct. Still, I need to take a bit easier next week.
I am glad you liked CYST ... you're the king of deletions, Tommy!
Thanks for checking out the puzzle, Tommy, and enjoy these few days of solitude.
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