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Here is WEB Crossword No: 018. This should be a tad less challenging than last week’s puzzle, but I’ll need your feedback to be certain. To all who print out the puzzle and work on it, I thank 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 To win, for example, the girl used to drink a claret (9)
6 The coffee served on Air France around Xmas? (5)
9 Listen, it's me or Samuel for the pro fighting (7)
10 Praise be! This has an on-switch! (7)
11 The Spanish follow the red devils along with Basil and Sybil (6)
12 The people work with you in this place (8)
14 Pray that Andy and Amos, perhaps, get the last word (4)
15 Heard before Madonna became a diva (5,5)
18 Move home with a photo he treats in an alternative way (10)
20 A knock here may lead to nothing (4)
23 The plan to act arty gets completely banjaxed! (8)
24 Add an "i" into the French for "a lassie" (6)
26 Future 10k perhaps? (4,3)
27 It's remarkable that the restaurant is full (7)
28 Suck on this and you'll make the warts come back (5)
29 It's taking in water astern, Bob, so move it (9)
Down
1 It's about what meets around Mullingar (9)
2 The candidate arranged one with mine (7)
3 In general, a road goes behind the house (6)
4 Bitter this was dropped in the sixties (4)
5 One of two teachers that married? (10)
6 Advise against the words I'd used, as they were disruptive (8)
7 Mix can into can perhaps? (7)
8 Alfred turned and stood above me as I lit the fire (5)
13 I heard you took a good look at the rumours that were spread (10)
16 I'll make up for it, but break a ten? Not me! (9)
17 I say this is what the careless baggage handler does at LHR! (8)
19 ABC man, it sounds like (7)
21 With you, Diana, I am able to get around and be heard (7)
22 A mad threat? (6)
23 The Scandinavian airline absorbed the French giving lower prices (5)
25 They have bed & board in the North and the South (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 win, for example, the girl used to drink a claret (9)
WIN-EG-LASS
To win (WIN) for example (EG) the girl (LASS) = WINEGLASS: used to drink a claret.
6 The coffee served on Air France around Xmas? (5)
DEC-AF
Around Xmas (DEC) on Air France (AF) = DECAF: the coffee served.
9 Listen, it's me or Samuel for the pro fighting (7)
SAMURAI
It’s me or Samuel, “Sam or I”, listen, it sounds like SAMURAI: for the pro fighting, SAMURAI being professional fighters from Japanese history.
10 Praise be! This has an on-switch! (7)
HOSANNA
“Has an on” switch, an anagram = HOSANNA: praise be!
11 The Spanish follow the red devils along with Basil and Sybil (6)
MAN-U-EL
The red devils (MAN U) the Spanish follow (EL) = MANUEL: along with Basil and Sybil in Fawlty Towers.
12 The people work with you in this place (8)
P(OP-U)LACE
In this place (P-LACE) work (OP) with you (U) = POPULACE: the people.
14 Pray that Andy and Amos, perhaps, get the last word (4)
A-MEN
Any and Amos are “A” men = AMEN: get the last word, perhaps, as you pray.
15 Heard before Madonna became a diva (5,5)
PRIMA DONNA
Before Madonna, ‘pre-Madonna’, is heard as PRIMA DONNA: became a diva.
18 Move home with a photo he treats in an alternative way (10)
HOMOEOPATH
Move, an anagram of, “home” with “a photo” = HOMOEOPATH: he treats in an alternative way.
20 A knock here may lead to nothing (4)
MAY-O
May (MAY) lead to nothing (O) = MAYO: a Knock here, in Co. Mayo.
23 The plan to act arty gets completely banjaxed! (8)
STRATEGY
“Arty gets” completely banjaxed, an anagram = STRATEGY: the plan to act.
24 Add an "i" into the French for “a lassie" (6)
L(ADD-I)E
In to the French (L-E) add an “i” (ADD I) = LADDIE: for a lassie.
26 Future 10k perhaps? (4,3)
LONG RUN
A 10k is a LONG RUN, and in the LONG RUN, is in the “future”.
27 It's remarkable that the restaurant is full (7)
NO-TABLE
The restaurant is full, there is NO TABLE = NOTABLE: it’s remarkable.
28 Suck on this and you’ll make the warts come back (5)
STRAW
You’ll make the “warts” come back = STRAW: suck on this.
29 It’s taking in water astern, Bob, so move it (9)
ABSORBENT
“Astern, Bob” so move it, an anagram = ABSORBENT: it’s taking in water
Down
1 It's about what meets around Mullingar (9)
WESTMEATH
It’s about, an anagram of, “what meets” = WESTMEATH: around Mullingar.
2 The candidate arranged one with mine (7)
NOMINEE
Arranged, an anagram of “one” with “mine” = NOMINEE: the candidate.
3 In general, a road goes behind the house (6)
G(A-RD)EN
In general (G-EN) a road (A RD) = GARDEN: goes behind the house.
4 Bitter this was dropped in the sixties (4)
ACID
ACID (LSD) was dropped in the sixties, and ACID is bitter.
5 One of two teachers that married? (10)
SCHOOLMATE
6 Advise against the words I'd used, as they were disruptive (8)
DISSUADE
The words “I’d use, as” they were disruptive, an anagram = DISSUADE: advise against.
7 Mix can into can perhaps? (7)
CONTAIN
Mix, an anagram of “can into” = CONTAIN: can perhaps.
8 Alfred turned and stood above me as I lit the fire (5)
FLA-ME
Alfred, Alf, turned (FLA) and stood above me (ME) = FLAME: as I lit the fire
13 I heard you took a good look at the rumours that were spread (10)
PROPAGANDA
You took a good look at, ‘a proper gander’, is heard as PROPAGANDA: the rumours that were spread.
16 I'll make up for it, but break a ten? Not me! (9)
ATONEMENT
Break, an anagram of, “a ten, not me” = ATONEMENT: I’ll make up for it.
17 I say this is what the careless baggage handler does at LHR! (8)
HEATHROW
What the careless baggage handler does, ‘he throw’, which as I say it sounds like HEATHROW: LHR (the airport code for London HeathRow).
19 ABC man, it sounds like (7)
MARINER
C man, it sounds like ‘seaman’ = MARINER: AB (able-bodied seaman)
21 With you, Diana, I am able to get around and be heard (7)
A(U-DI)BLE
I am able to get around (A-BLE) with you, Diana (U DI) = AUDIBLE: and be heard.
22 A mad threat? (6)
HATTER
A mad, an anagram of “threat” = HATTER, as in the Mad HATTER, or as mad as a HATTER.
23 The Scandinavian airline absorbed the French giving lower prices (5)
SA(LE)S
The Scandinavian airline (SA-S) absorbed the French (LE) = SALES: giving lower prices.
25 They have bed & board in the North and the South (4)
IN-N-S
In (IN) the North (N) and the South (S) = INNS: they have bed & board.
8 comments:
Hi Bill,
A brilliant puzzle if I say so myself. Due to my recent insomnia, I had the crossword printed at just past midnight and was ready to go. An hour later and I had only got 50% done. The whole left hand side was a treat but I may have been not concentrating enough on the rest of it.
HEATHROW was the clue of the day as it was just such a clever mix.
PROPAGANDA was anoher contender for clue of the day. A bit cheeky which is always great.
MANUEL was a great clue. I may only be 21 but Fawlty Towers is a firm favourite of mine and MAN UTD are firm rivals of my team Chelsea. :)
The correct spelling of HOMOEOPATH caused a bit of questioning on my behalf as I was sure it was HOMEOPATH na dit just would not fit. Thats just inexperience I guess with that treatment.
Anyway well done and as you say to me, keep them coming.
All the best,
Mark
I forgot to comment about MARINER. I was thinking A BC man , as in before christ. So what came to mind was something along the lines of ABRAHAM I over thought it I think.
Hi Bill and Mark
This was a fantastic puzzle Bill...even though I didn't finish!
I agree with Mark...the left hand side filled up nice and easy but the right hand side was another kettle of fish! Let's say I had to pause and reflect quite a bit...couldn't come up with any solutions for LADDIE or DISSUADE...despite your nice 'they were disruptive' anag. indicator for the latter! In fact you're very creative with the anagram indicators...today I particularly liked 10a 'has an on-switch' for HOSANNA, lol!
I really enjoyed the airline/airport clues particularly HEATHROW and DECAF...
Today's favourite for me was SAMURAI...read oh so smoothly! PROPAGANDA was also nice and tongue in cheek!
Other favourites were MANUEL, AMEN, NOTABLE and HATTER.
PRIMA DONNA was an excellent clue...but I have to admit that, having missed DISSUADE altogether and therefore having no 'd' in for DONNA, I only 'got' it when I had the 'a' in from ATONEMENT...similarly, MAYO evaded me for ages but again was a lovely 'gotcha' moment...eventually!
I got MARINER from letters filled from across clues combined with the logic that the clue described
'a BC man'...thus he was ANCIENT...as in the ANCIENT MARINER! Thought it a bit obscure for a 'Bill Butler clue' so had a good laugh when I saw your commentary and the 'real' logic!
The only clue/solution I didn't like was SCHOOLMATE...
There were lots of smiles while doing this puzzle...and perplexed moments too...I'll be curious to see how others fared...
Have a great Sunday Bill...and no moaning about it being too hot or too dry...we're averaging temperatures of 16-19 degrees...WITH CONSTANT RAIN...and this is SUMMER?!!
Adios
Liz
Hi Mark
Just spotted your second comment re MARINER after posting mine...great minds think alike and.....!
Liz
Hi Mark,
Thanks for checking out the puzzle, and at midnight no less!
I am still finding it hard to ratchet down the degree of difficulty it seems. When I first started the WEB crosswords, I remember some comments about the puzzle being "too easy", and I guess I am afraid to get back to that level!
Seems that you and Liz had the same problem, the right side of the puzzle. I'm going to have to make sure that I distribute the "gimme" clues more evenly, so that there are entries in all four quadrants.
HEATHROW, and PROPAGANDA were two of the "anchor" clues that I built the puzzle around, so I am glad that you liked them.
I have to be careful about spelling in the puzzle, because I had to opt for the practical approach of spelling like an American when I moved here many moons ago. I very nearly used the US HOMEOPATH spelling, and had to change it.
I appreciate the feedback, Mark ... and will try to tone it down a tad more next week ... only for real this time!
Hi Liz,
Thanks for trying the puzzle, and as always, thanks for the great feedback. It really does help a lot.
Regarding anagrams, unlike the revered M. Crosaire, I like to include an anagram indicator in a clue. It's tough coming up with one that isn't blatantly obvious though. I'm glad you appreciated "on-switch" ... I was very proud of that one!
I always build a puzzle around anchor clue/answer combos that I particularly like. Lately I've been choosing "toungue-in-cheek" clues. Today's anchor clues were HEATHROW, PROPAGANDA, SAMURAI, PRIMA DONNA and NOTABLE. So, I'm glad (relieved!) that you liked them.
I was worried about MARINER, but couldn't seem to come up with a more approachable clue, even though I tried. And I agree, SCHOOLMATE's clue was a bit blah! Hindsight ... 20-20.
And I'll say nothing about the weather ...
Hi Bill and all,
over the week I have gone to and fro to your puzzle, and yes, I too have the left hand side complete and only a scattering on the right.
I got MARINER from Able Bodied C{sea}man!
I didn't get it but I love PROPAGANDA's clue, and the wordplay of PRIMA DONNA.
I hadn't been picking up your (now) obvious anagram indicators and had AMENDMENT for ATONEMENT which probably reduced my effectiveness on the right side.
It was enjoying and frustrating, the latter my fault, the former all yours.
Well done.
Hi Tommy,
Thanks for checking out the puzzle, and sticking at it. I an taking note of the fact that eveyone had the same problem with the puzzle, namely getting into the righthand-side of the grid.
It's only in very short clues that I might find an excuse not indicate an anagram, but even then there has to be a special reason. I'm a bit obsessed about it, so now you know :o) But it's really hard to come up with some new way to disguise the anagram signal. As I said to Liz above, I was particularly proud of "on-switch" today, but usually they're much more obvious.
I'll have to try toning the degree of difficulty down again for next weekend!!
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