Answers to Crosaire No: 14012 - 25 Nov 09

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Yowza! Another tough day on the crossword front, only today I came out ahead. It was one of those puzzles that I just did not want to give up on. It all came down to LIFETIME in the end, which I put in pretty hesitantly, but lo and behold, the clock stopped for me. 34m 40s of Crosaire madness ...

Today's Crosaire Aria
26D: ANIMAL
We already have the Animals in the Aria collection singing The House of the Rising Sun. Here's another of their big hits, this one dating from 1965, We Gotta Get out of This Place. I think this song had tremendous success and impact, less for its melody, and more for the sentiment expressed in the lyrics. The song, part of the British Invasion of America, became an immediate hit with high school students as seniors adopted it as an anthem as they looked forward to "getting out of this place" and out of school. The song had more somber impact at the time with the American soldiers in Vietnam, who also want to "get outta of this place". I don't think you can watch a movie about the Vietnam War without hearing this song in the background.

The Clue of the Day
24A: Sounds cold, sounds hot, is place (5)
Here is a clue that reads so very nicely, and is to the point.
Cold (CHILLY) sounds = CHILE
Hot (CHILI) sounds = CHILE
Is place = CHILE
I think the answer is CHILE ...

The Lookup of the Day
2D: LACKADAY
One expression of regret is "alas!", of which an archaic from is "alack!", as in the expression "alas and alack". One might also have said "alack the day", which was shortened to LACKADAY. From this developed the interjection "lackadaisy" which led to our contemporary usage of the word "lackadaisical". Lovely stuff ...

Here are my answers. As always, I welcome comments and explanations. Thanks!

Across
1: UNLACE
Not knot (the sound of "not") to boot is to UNLACE, I guess!
4: HANDYMAN
Nice clue ...
9: DEC-A-MP
At the beginning of Dec-ember (DEC) a Member (A MP) = DECAMP: may push off.
10: CALLS OUT
This one seems backward to me. I would have thought, "Cries not allowed" would be more appropriate.
Cries (CALLS) not? allowed (OUT) = CALLS OUT.
Could all-owed perhaps mean OUT, as in no money left? Anyone?
UPDATE: Liz, one of our MCC (Midnight Crosaire Club) members, has already sorted me out here. I really missed the point here:
Cries allowed, sounds like, cries aloud = CALLS OUT.
12: REAR-M
At the back (REAR) the thousand (M) = REARM: prepare to fight.
13: LEND AN EAR
Don't give it way (LEND) if it's sound (AN EAR) = LEND AN EAR: l-is-ten.
15: BUT
Still will hold water (TUB) overturned = BUT: although.
16: ERAS-E
The times (ERAS-) will "start" the answer, ERASE: to remove this.
17: AN(GEL)S
To get the short answer (AN-S) about a "leg" up (GEL) = ANGELS: how heavenly.
22: STASIS
Don't leave me (STAY) sister (SIS) = STAY SIS sounds like = STASIS: while I'm still in this state.
24: CHILE
Cold (CHILLY) sounds like = CHILE
Hot (CHILI) sounds like = CHILE
and CHILE: is place.
Lovely clue ...
27: SAT
With thanks (TAS) return = SAT: by the end of the week (Sat-urday).
28: SENT(I)ENCE
One's time in gaol (SENT-ENCE) "one" is half way through (I) = SENTIENCE: this gives one the feeling.
Another lovely clue ...
31: A-BEAM
Being bright (A BEAM) = ABEAM: beside.
ABEAM is a nautical term meaning that something is positioned 90 degrees off the bow.
32: ARMATURE ... anagram of "mar a true".
A 'physiclue' for Tommy and Mark! An ARMATURE is the part of a dynamo that rotates when current is passed through electric coils surrounding it.
33: VISION
See ("C ... in short") with this = VISION.
34: EN(LARGE)D
Let loose, let LARGE, and to a greater extent is ENLARGED.
35: UNREAL ... anagram of "run" with the "ale".

Down
1: UNDERFED
Not given enough courses (at a meal) = UNDERFED.
2: LACK-A-DAY
In short no (LACK) Sun-day, for instance (A DAY) = LACKADAY: oh dear!
LACKADAY used to be an alternative to "alack!".
A quirky little clue and answer ...
3: CAME-M-BERT
Arrived (CAME) M.BERT (M BERT) = CAMEMBERT: arrived in the dining room, being on the (cheese) board.
5: A-GAIN
Profitable (A GAIN) = AGAIN: once more.
6: DELTA
The dealer gave one hand (DEALT A) sound as if = DELTA: at the end of the river.
7: MOO-TED
You should sound beastly (MOO) Edward (TED) = MOOTED: it's proposed.
8: NATUR-E
To take "a turn" (NATUR) to the East (E) = NATURE: "kind" of you.
11: ALTARS
Changes (ALTERS) sound of = ALTARS: to be found in church.
14: DIE
A DIE (pl. dice) is for casting, and to DIE is to be no more.
18: GUS-SET
I think there is a typo here, and "paced" should read "placed". Anyone have a better idea?
How Augustus (GUS) p(l)aced a bit (SET) = GUSSET: let in.
A GUSSET is a triangular insert in the seam of a garment, for added expansion ... I just found out.
19: L(ACT-AT)ION
With a lion around (L-ION) play at (ACT AT) = LACTATION: this in the dairy.
(I'm writing this as I sit here drinking a glass of non-lactated eggnog made with soy milk, and a drop, or two, of brandy ... Happy Thanksgiving, almost!).
20: LIFETIME
A LIFETIME "lasts" a long time, and a LIFE TIME is experienced "before the last".
21: TERM-INAL
Some schooling (TERM) before the nail (INAL) = TERMINAL: at last.
23: ARE
At the end of the queue, after Q (R) by the sound of it = ARE: "is" more than one.
25: ESTATE
Lands left at last (when one dies) = ESTATE.
26: ANIMAL
To get a layer (LAMINA) up = ANIMAL: what a beastly way.
29: INTER
The work done for the late (those who have died) at the last is to INTER them.
30: NERVE ... anagram of "never".



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