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Last week's WEB puzzle was given a very kind reception by solvers. I hope that one bright spot doesn't set expectations too high for the future! Undaunted, I am presenting here my latest composition.
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 Mensa mensa mensam mensae mensae mensa ... (3,5,5)
8 Move little Bartholomew around here for the lift (1-3)
9 Menaced her date ten different ways (10)
10 He persuades the officer in charge that a No. 10 goes to the emergency room (6)
11 H/G K/G (4,4)
12 This formula uses a logarithm (9)
14 ... as the adverbial fox? (5)
16 This raft at sea becomes a boat (5)
18 Being inflexible, sent around the ring after tea (9)
21 For the highway run ... I kept moving (8)
22 The money is expected to arrive after the gym classes (6)
24 The money man is to see a private investigator back at the 51st (10)
25 Initially it came before making the missile (1.1.1.1)
26 It all started with the boy barging around (3,4,6)
Down
1 Dirt used to keep the u-boat's engines running smoothly (7)
2 A company to copy (5)
3 Put in the ground in 1009, so they're together now (8)
4 Heart-breaking on a global scale (5-10)
5 Gets fit for a beach in the South (6)
6 Good luck to the acting Gael? (5,1,3)
7 End with less (7)
13 Ice of Public Works (9)
15 Send out Diana's cure for smoking (8)
17 I hear that Barbara is in a jam with that kangaroo (7)
19 Not with competence, but with distinction (7)
20 Nip back with a thank you for the birthday entertainment (6)
23 The south gets fifty, before I go out west (5)
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 Mensa mensa mensam mensae mensae mensa ... (3,5,5)
SIX TIMES TABLE
This is lesson one when learning Latin, declining "mensa", the word for table (also used by MENSA: the 'high IQ club')
8 Move little Bartholomew around here for the lift (1-3)
T-BAR
Move little Bartholomew (BART) around here = T-BAR: for the lift.
9 Menaced her date ten different ways (10)
THREATENED
"Her date ten" different ways, an anagram = THREATENED: menaced.
10 He persuades the officer in charge that a No. 10 goes to the emergency room (6)
CO-A-X-ER
The officer in charge (CO) that a (A) No. 10 (X) goes to the emergency room (ER) = COAXER: he persuades.
11 H/G K/G (4,4)
HONG KONG
H/G (H ON G) K/G (K ON G) = HONG KONG.
12 This formula uses a logarithm (9)
ALGORITHM
Uses "a logarithm" to make ALGORITHM: this formula.
14 ... as the adverbial fox? (5)
SLYLY
The 'proverbial' fox is SLY, in the form of an "adverb" = SLYLY
16 This raft at sea becomes a boat (5)
C-RAFT
At sea (C) this raft (RAFT) = CRAFT: becomes a boat.
18 Being inflexible, sent around the ring after tea (9)
S(T-RING)ENT
Sent (S-ENT) around the ring after tea (T-RING) = STRINGENT: being inflexible.
21 For the highway run ... I kept moving (8)
TURNPIKE
"Run ... I kept" moving, an anagram = TURNPIKE: for the highway.
22 The money is expected to arrive after the gym classes (6)
PES-ETA
After the gym classes (PES) is expected to arrive (ETA) = PESETA: the money.
24 The money man is to see a private investigator back at the 51st (10)
C-A-PI-TA-LI-ST
Is to see (C) a private investigator (A PI) back at (TA) the 51st (LI-ST) = CAPITALIST: the money man.
25 Initially it came before making the missile (1.1.1.1)
ICBM
Initially, the first letters of "It Came Before Making" = ICBM: the (Inter-Continental Ballistic) Missile
26 It all started with the boy barging around (3,4,6)
BIG BANG THEORY
"The boy barging" around, an anagram = BIG BANG THEORY: it all started with.
Down
1 Dirt used to keep the u-boat's engines running smoothly (7)
SUB'S-OIL
The u-boat's (SUB'S) used to keep the engines running smoothly (OIL) = SUBSOIL: dirt.
2 A company to copy (5)
XEROX
To XEROX is to copy, taken from the copier company XEROX.
3 Put in the ground in 1009, so they're together now (8)
INTER-MIX
Put in the ground (INTER) in 1009 (MIX) = INTERMIX: so they're together now.
4 Heart-breaking on a global scale (5-10)
EARTH-SHATTERING
"Heart" is an anagram of EARTH, and both "breaking" and SHATTERING indicate anagrams. Heart-breaking = EARTH-SHATTERING: on a global scale.
5 Gets fit for a beach in the South (6)
TRA-IN-S
A beach (TRA) in the South (IN S) = TRAINS: gets fit for.
For our non-Irish speakers, TRA is the Irish word for beach.
6 Good luck to the acting Gael? (5,1,3)
BREAK A LEG
Good luck to the acting = BREAK A LEG, and an anagram of (i.e. break) A LEG is "Gael".
7 End with less (7)
ETERNAL
"End" with "less" = endless = ETERNAL
13 Ice of Public Works (9)
OFF-ENDING
In the OFF-ice of Public Works, the OFF-ENDING is -ice of Public Works.
15 Send out Diana's cure for smoking (8)
DI'S-PATCH
Diana's (DI'S) cure for smoking (PATCH) = DISPATCH: send out.
17 I hear that Barbara is in a jam with that kangaroo (7)
RHUBARB
With that kangaroo (ROO) Barbara (BARB) = ROO-BARB, I hear as RHUBARB: is in a jam.
19 Not with competence, but with distinction (7)
NOT-ABLY
Not (NOT) with competence (ABLY) = NOTABLY: but with distinction.
20 Nip back with a thank you for the birthday entertainment (6)
PIN-A-TA
Nip back (PIN) with a thank you (A TA) = PINATA: for the birthday entertainment.
23 The south gets fifty, before I go out west (5)
S-L-I-GO
The south (S) gets fifty (L) before I go (I GO) = SLIGO: out west.
25 Initially it came before making the missile (1.1.1.1)
26 It all started with the boy barging around (3,4,6)
Down
1 Dirt used to keep the u-boat's engines running smoothly (7)
2 A company to copy (5)
3 Put in the ground in 1009, so they're together now (8)
4 Heart-breaking on a global scale (5-10)
5 Gets fit for a beach in the South (6)
6 Good luck to the acting Gael? (5,1,3)
7 End with less (7)
13 Ice of Public Works (9)
15 Send out Diana's cure for smoking (8)
17 I hear that Barbara is in a jam with that kangaroo (7)
19 Not with competence, but with distinction (7)
20 Nip back with a thank you for the birthday entertainment (6)
23 The south gets fifty, before I go out west (5)
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 Mensa mensa mensam mensae mensae mensa ... (3,5,5)
SIX TIMES TABLE
This is lesson one when learning Latin, declining "mensa", the word for table (also used by MENSA: the 'high IQ club')
8 Move little Bartholomew around here for the lift (1-3)
T-BAR
Move little Bartholomew (BART) around here = T-BAR: for the lift.
9 Menaced her date ten different ways (10)
THREATENED
"Her date ten" different ways, an anagram = THREATENED: menaced.
10 He persuades the officer in charge that a No. 10 goes to the emergency room (6)
CO-A-X-ER
The officer in charge (CO) that a (A) No. 10 (X) goes to the emergency room (ER) = COAXER: he persuades.
11 H/G K/G (4,4)
HONG KONG
H/G (H ON G) K/G (K ON G) = HONG KONG.
12 This formula uses a logarithm (9)
ALGORITHM
Uses "a logarithm" to make ALGORITHM: this formula.
14 ... as the adverbial fox? (5)
SLYLY
The 'proverbial' fox is SLY, in the form of an "adverb" = SLYLY
16 This raft at sea becomes a boat (5)
C-RAFT
At sea (C) this raft (RAFT) = CRAFT: becomes a boat.
18 Being inflexible, sent around the ring after tea (9)
S(T-RING)ENT
Sent (S-ENT) around the ring after tea (T-RING) = STRINGENT: being inflexible.
21 For the highway run ... I kept moving (8)
TURNPIKE
"Run ... I kept" moving, an anagram = TURNPIKE: for the highway.
22 The money is expected to arrive after the gym classes (6)
PES-ETA
After the gym classes (PES) is expected to arrive (ETA) = PESETA: the money.
24 The money man is to see a private investigator back at the 51st (10)
C-A-PI-TA-LI-ST
Is to see (C) a private investigator (A PI) back at (TA) the 51st (LI-ST) = CAPITALIST: the money man.
25 Initially it came before making the missile (1.1.1.1)
ICBM
Initially, the first letters of "It Came Before Making" = ICBM: the (Inter-Continental Ballistic) Missile
26 It all started with the boy barging around (3,4,6)
BIG BANG THEORY
"The boy barging" around, an anagram = BIG BANG THEORY: it all started with.
Down
1 Dirt used to keep the u-boat's engines running smoothly (7)
SUB'S-OIL
The u-boat's (SUB'S) used to keep the engines running smoothly (OIL) = SUBSOIL: dirt.
2 A company to copy (5)
XEROX
To XEROX is to copy, taken from the copier company XEROX.
3 Put in the ground in 1009, so they're together now (8)
INTER-MIX
Put in the ground (INTER) in 1009 (MIX) = INTERMIX: so they're together now.
4 Heart-breaking on a global scale (5-10)
EARTH-SHATTERING
"Heart" is an anagram of EARTH, and both "breaking" and SHATTERING indicate anagrams. Heart-breaking = EARTH-SHATTERING: on a global scale.
5 Gets fit for a beach in the South (6)
TRA-IN-S
A beach (TRA) in the South (IN S) = TRAINS: gets fit for.
For our non-Irish speakers, TRA is the Irish word for beach.
6 Good luck to the acting Gael? (5,1,3)
BREAK A LEG
Good luck to the acting = BREAK A LEG, and an anagram of (i.e. break) A LEG is "Gael".
7 End with less (7)
ETERNAL
"End" with "less" = endless = ETERNAL
13 Ice of Public Works (9)
OFF-ENDING
In the OFF-ice of Public Works, the OFF-ENDING is -ice of Public Works.
15 Send out Diana's cure for smoking (8)
DI'S-PATCH
Diana's (DI'S) cure for smoking (PATCH) = DISPATCH: send out.
17 I hear that Barbara is in a jam with that kangaroo (7)
RHUBARB
With that kangaroo (ROO) Barbara (BARB) = ROO-BARB, I hear as RHUBARB: is in a jam.
19 Not with competence, but with distinction (7)
NOT-ABLY
Not (NOT) with competence (ABLY) = NOTABLY: but with distinction.
20 Nip back with a thank you for the birthday entertainment (6)
PIN-A-TA
Nip back (PIN) with a thank you (A TA) = PINATA: for the birthday entertainment.
23 The south gets fifty, before I go out west (5)
S-L-I-GO
The south (S) gets fifty (L) before I go (I GO) = SLIGO: out west.
10 comments:
Hi Bill....Finished it as soon as you vamoosed!!!It looked difficult to begin with but between my classical and aeronautical education as well as Grandfather Bart(Old T-Bar!), My penpal from Hong Kong, my stringent algorithmic logarithmic Mathematics teacher,my notably threatened earthshattering subsoil dispatching my rhubarb intermixed with the eternally slyly crafty coaxer of a pesata pinata eating capitalist...it was no bother to me!! Of course that ICBM was a bit tricky!!!
Entertaining and enlightening to boot!!!
Cheers Moley
Hi Moley,
Thx for checking out the puzzle, and after midnight too!
It looks like most of the answers played right to your strengths ... which are many and varied :o)
I am glad you enjoyed it!
Hey Bill,
You will be delighted to know that I finished the whole puzzle. One sitting but just under an hour. Unfortunately
I had ran out of ink in my printer so I had to copy the grid into my crossword compiler and fill them in that way. Wasn't too bad.
At first I thought I would have no chance of finishing but alas I did. The Mensa clue really threw me but having had XEROX in only six would seem to fit across and then it clicked. My knowledge of Latin is extremely limited but there you go. For COAXER I had HOAXER but COAXER made more sense. The only way I got ICBM was through the "Initially" part but had never heard of it so was not sure if it was correct. The answer of the day had to be BIG BANG THEORY, for obvious reasons. By far the clue of the day was HONG KONG. Genius!! Also I never knew ROO was used for kangaroo but RHU fit well before BARB, never tried rhubarb jam though. Sounds nice! Oh and DISPATCH was very clever. Would of been very appropriate for a new years puzzle too!
Very enjoyable over all and delighted to have finished.
All the best,
Mark
Mark,
That's great news, that you finished the puzzle. I am delighted indeed, that you stuck at it and didn't give up. I realize that "my age shows" in some of my clues and answers (like the Latin in SIX TIMES TABLE, and ICBM) which makes it more difficult for someone like yourself. so you deserve more credit than most!
I'm glad you like BIG BANG THEORY. I included that answer and ALGORITHM as "physiclues" for you and Tommy :o)
HONG KONG's clue was a happy accident. The letters in HONG KONG made it hard for me to come up with a regular cryptic clue, so I was stuck and had to come up with some other clue structure, and finally came upon the H/G K/G idea. I am glad it worked out.
Thanks for sticking at it, Mark, and taking the extra time to comment.
Hi Bill,
I am afraid I didn't quite complete the Sweep the Week Plus. Really enjoyed your puzzle though. Some great clues in there (SUBSOIL, ZEROX, DISPATCH to name but a few).
I got a bit stuck on the lower right corner with ICBM, PESETA and NOTABLY.
Anyway, will try to keep my Crosaire run going tomorrow although I am going to time limit myself a bit. (spent far too long last week).
Hi Mick,
Thanks for checking out the WEB puzzle. I'm sorry you couldn't get through it, but you did really well for a "first timer". I think it's hard to jump into someone's style. I know I've found that working on Mark and Tommy's crosswords, but they can't fool me now!
I am glad you enjoyed the puzzle though, despite not finishing. I think the southeast corner, around ICBM caused most of the trouble today for everyone.
Good luck tomorrow with Crosaire. You are on a great run. Keep it up!
Hi Bill,
another enjoyable puzzle. I failed by one TURNPIKE, I didn't even spot the anagram.
Favourites were SIX TIMES TABLE, ALGORITM, OFFENDING, EARTH SHATTERING and BIG BANG THEORY, strangely all the longer ones. Keep 'em coming Bill.
Tommy
p.s MOLEY what a comment, I like that.
Hi Tommy,
Well, missing by one isn't too bad. I do try to signal those anagrams though, Tommy, so really, I am a nice guy! :o)
Thanks for checking it out, as always. I appreciate the feedback.
Hi Bill and all!
Great puzzle Bill and although I didn't watch the clock I reckon it was my fastest completion time for a WEB puzzle...with ETERNAL and ICBM my last two...no idea why ETERNAL gave me so much trouble...it definitely wasn't the most difficult...doh!
Loved EARTH-SHATTERING, BIG BANG THEORY, SUBSOIL, SLYLY, HONG KONG....and RHUBARB!
And I'd love some of Moley's potion!
Thanks for the fun!
Liz
Liz,
I knew you wouldn't desert me! Thanks for checking out the puzzle, and reporting in with a tantara. That's music to my ears (pun intended!). Everyone does seem to have had most difficulty with the ICBM part of the puzzle, which was a surprise to me!
I wish I could have come up with something more imaginative for ETERNAL, but I "settled" for "end with less".
I'm glad you enjoyed it, Liz, and thanks again for taking time to comment.
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