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We are getting towards the end of the month, so hear is a tougher puzzle, rated 4/5 in terms of difficulty. Don't worry, it isn't as tough as next Sunday's 5/5!
And a reminder ... the Sunday slot is still 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 Puts up the tent for the N. California politicians (7)
5 Arrive before they hear what's overdue (7)
9 An American car has four exhausts (5)
10 Still, I am to give the ball before I've finished (9)
11 It's efficient for Eve to take the really loud Europeans at half-time (9)
12 With nothing to do, you are getting up my nose! (5)
13 It moves quickly for only 22 dine with the Queen (3-6)
17 Not Mister Fagin! (5)
19 Anger 21-across (3)
20 Bush confused himself about your last letter (5)
21 Unfinished Greek, Dutch and Danish island (9)
23 Better garden party maybe? (5)
25 Send a message to get her pal sorted (9)
28 Confuse our dog, and ram where the soldier's positioned (9)
29 There will be one after Mohammed gives his excuse (5)
30 Can Germany's poor ever be worthy? (7)
31 Sat back and held the new gear used to keep the peace (4,3)
Down
1 Really? Ask after the first centre, at the end (7)
2 Thickener used when styling for no curl (9)
3 The score is 1,000 for America, only 1 for Cork! (5)
4 If I see a second coming back like "E.T."... (3-2)
5 Said to have been a paltry inspiration for Newton (5,4)
6 Out west a barrister goes into the room by Monday (9)
7 Am I to go after my pal? (5)
8 We are in, sister, just like Father Jack (7)
14 Use a needle to get the bromide mixture into Her Majesty (9)
15 This is before Walker used to tie up drunks perhaps? (9)
16 Right about going the wrong way to do wrong! (3)
18 Sing about the East, so far away on a boat (9)
20 Really absorbed, Desmond returns clutching the old video game (7)
22 Had to turn around and sail back for the flowers (7)
24 They stop the game and Arthur reverses the last words (5)
26 Bound to get the slimiest noses (5)
27 Republic held by Afghan agitators (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 Puts up the tent for the N. California politicians (7)
EN-CA-MPS
The N. (EN) California (CA) politicians (MPS) for = ENCAMPS: puts up the tent.
5 Arrive before they hear what's overdue (7)
ARR-EARS
Arrive (ARR) before they hear (EARS) = ARREARS: what's overdue.
9 An American car has four exhausts (5)
TIRES
A car has four (TYRES) in America = TIRES: exhausts.
10 Still, I am to give the ball before I've finished (9)
I'M-PASS-I'VE
I am (I'M) to give the ball (PASS) before I've finished (I'VE) = IMPASSIVE: still.
11 It's efficient for Eve to take the really loud Europeans at half-time (9)
E(FF-EC-TI)VE
Eve to take (E-VE) [the really loud (FF) Europeans (EC) at half ti-me (TI)] for = EFFECTIVE: it's efficient.
12 With nothing to do, you are getting up my nose! (5)
O-DO-UR
With nothing (O) to do (DO) you are (UR) = ODOUR: getting up my nose.
13 It moves quickly for only 22 dine with the Queen (3-6)
TWO-S-EAT-ER
Only 22 (TWO-S) dine (EAT) with the Queen (ER) for = TWO-SEATER: it moves quickly.
17 Not Mister Fagin! (5)
MISER
No-t (in) MIS-t-ER = MISER: Fagin (from "Oliver Twist").
19 Anger 21-across (3)
IRE
GREEN-LAND (IRELAND) = IRE: anger.
20 Bush confused himself about your last letter (5)
SH(R)UB
"Bush" confused himself (SH-UB) about you-r last letter (R) = SHRUB: bush.
21 Unfinished Greek, Dutch and Danish island (9)
GREE-NL-AND
Unfinished Gree-k (GREE) Dutch (NL) and (AND) = GREENLAND: Danish island.
23 Better garden party maybe? (5)
OUT-DO
Garden party maybe, a "do" outside (OUT DO) = OUTDO: better.
25 Send a message to get her pal sorted (9)
TELEGRAPH
"Get her pal" sorted = TELEGRAPH: send a message to.
28 Confuse our dog, and ram where the soldier's positioned (9)
GUARDROOM
Confuse "our dog" and "ram" = GUARDROOM: where the soldier's positioned.
29 There will be one after Mohammed gives his excuse (5)
ALI-BI
After Mohammed (ALI) there will be one (BI) gives = ALIBI: his excuse.
30 Can Germany's poor ever be worthy? (7)
DE'S-ERVE
Can Germany's (DE'S) poor "ever (ERVE) = DESERVE: be worthy.
31 Sat back and held the new gear used to keep the peace (4,3)
T(EAR-G)AS
Sat back (T-AS) and held the new "gear" (EARG) = TEAR GAS: used to keep the peace.
Down
1 Really? Ask after the first centre, at the end (7)
ENTRE-AT
After the first c-entre (ENTRE) at the end (AT) = ENTREAT: really ask.
2 Thickener used when styling for no curl (9)
CORNFLOUR
Used when styling "for no curl" = CORNFLOUR: thickener.
3 The score is 1,000 for America, only 1 for Cork! (5)
M-US-I-C
1,000 (M) for America (US) only 1 (I) for Cork (C) is = MUSIC: the score.
4 If I see a second coming back like "E.T."... (3-2)
SCI-FI
If (IF) I see (IC) a second (S) = IFICS, coming back = SCI-FI: like "E.T." (the film).
5 Said to have been a paltry inspiration for Newton (5,4)
APPLE TREE
Said to have been "a paltry", so I hear = APPLE TREE: inspiration for Newton.
6 Out west a barrister goes into the room by Monday (9)
RO(SC)OM-MON
[Into the room (RO-OM) goes a barrister (SC) = ROSCOM] by Monday (MON) = ROSCOMMON: out west.
7 Am I to go after my pal? (5)
AM-I-GO
Am I (AM I) to go after (GO) = AMIGO: my pal.
8 We are in, sister, just like Father Jack (7)
S(WE-ARE)R
In sister (S-R) we are (WE ARE) = SWEARER: just like Father Jack (from "Father Ted").
14 Use a needle to get the bromide mixture into Her Majesty (9)
E(MBROIDE)R
Into Her Majesty (E-R) to get the "bromide" mixture (MBROIDE) = EMBROIDER: use a needle.
15 This is before Walker used to tie up drunks perhaps? (9)
TIGHT-ROPE
Used to tie up drinks perhaps (TIGHT-ROPE) = TIGHTROPE: this is before "walker".
16 Right about going the wrong way to do wrong! (3)
ER-R
Right (R) about (RE) = RRE, the wrong way = ERR: to do wrong.
18 Sing about the East, so far away on a boat (9)
S(E-AFAR)ING
Sing about (S-ING) the East, so far away (E AFAR) = SEAFARING: on a boat.
20 Really absorbed, Desmond returns clutching the old video game (7)
S(PONG)ED
Desmond, 'Des', returns (S-ED) clutching the old video game (PONG) = SPONGED: really absorbed.
22 Had to turn around and sail back for the flowers (7)
DAH-LIAS
"Had" to turn around (DAH) and "sail" back (LIAS) for = DAHLIAS: the flowers.
24 They stop the game and Arthur reverses the last words (5)
TRA-PS
Arthur, 'Art', reverses (TRA) the last words (PS) and = TRAPS: they stop the game.
26 Bound to get the slimiest noses (5)
LIMIT
s-LIMI-es-T no-ses (delete the "ses" in slimies) to get the = LIMIT: bound.
27 Republic held by Afghan agitators (5)
GHANA
Held by af-GHAN A-gitators = GHANA: republic.
Reveal-An-Answer
Need just one answer to get things moving? Here is the solution to today's puzzle, in a hidden format. To reveal any particular answer, highlight the whole line under the relevant clue.
Across
1 Puts up the tent for the N. California politicians (7)
EN-CA-MPS
5 Arrive before they hear what's overdue (7)
ARR-EARS
9 An American car has four exhausts (5)
TIRES
10 Still, I am to give the ball before I've finished (9)
I'M-PASS-I'VE
11 It's efficient for Eve to take the really loud Europeans at half-time (9)
E(FF-EC-TI)VE
12 With nothing to do, you are getting up my nose! (5)
O-DO-UR
13 It moves quickly for only 22 dine with the Queen (3-6)
TWO-S-EAT-ER
17 Not Mister Fagin! (5)
MISER
19 Anger 21-across (3)
IRE
20 Bush confused himself about your last letter (5)
SH(R)UB
21 Unfinished Greek, Dutch and Danish island (9)
GREE-NL-AND
23 Better garden party maybe? (5)
OUT-DO
25 Send a message to get her pal sorted (9)
TELEGRAPH
28 Confuse our dog, and ram where the soldier's positioned (9)
GUARDROOM
29 There will be one after Mohammed gives his excuse (5)
ALI-BI
30 Can Germany's poor ever be worthy? (7)
DE'S-ERVE
31 Sat back and held the new gear used to keep the peace (4,3)
T(EAR-G)AS
Down
1 Really? Ask after the first centre, at the end (7)
ENTRE-AT
2 Thickener used when styling for no curl (9)
CORNFLOUR
3 The score is 1,000 for America, only 1 for Cork! (5)
M-US-I-C
4 If I see a second coming back like "E.T."... (3-2)
SCI-FI
5 Said to have been a paltry inspiration for Newton (5,4)
APPLE TREE
6 Out west a barrister goes into the room by Monday (9)
RO(SC)OM-MON
7 Am I to go after my pal? (5)
AM-I-GO
8 We are in, sister, just like Father Jack (7)
S(WE-ARE)R
14 Use a needle to get the bromide mixture into Her Majesty (9)
E(MBROIDE)R
15 This is before Walker used to tie up drunks perhaps? (9)
TIGHT-ROPE
16 Right about going the wrong way to do wrong! (3)
ER-R
18 Sing about the East, so far away on a boat (9)
S(E-AFAR)ING
20 Really absorbed, Desmond returns clutching the old video game (7)
S(PONG)ED
22 Had to turn around and sail back for the flowers (7)
DAH-LIAS
24 They stop the game and Arthur reverses the last words (5)
TRA-PS
26 Bound to get the slimiest noses (5)
LIMIT
27 Republic held by Afghan agitators (5)
GHANA
8 comments:
Hey Bill
Gotcha!
Last bastion was down in the south west...and still can't figure where the PONG came from! Spotted the potential of SPONGED fairly early on (from 'absorbed') but the PONG was very off-putting!! You'll have to explain that to me...
Other than that, today's spinach diet seems to have done the trick...no major problems along the way...
Nice SHRUB there! Loved MISER, TWO-SEATER, EMBROIDER (glad to see you're honing your textile skills!), ROSCOMMON and errrrr.....ERR! Nice take on an oft used word!
Time for shut-eye...I'll get back with more blather tomorrow!
Thanks Bill
Liz
Hi Liz,
Looks like my 4/5 was a tad lacking in difficulty. I will take out the big guns for next Sunday's 5/5 ... and that's a promise :)
You are just a young thing and probably cannot remember Pong. It was just about the first arcade-style video game. It was effectively tennis played with two paddles hitting a ball over a net. Very, very basic, and a big craze back in the seventies. Here's a Wiki article about Pong, with images of the screen that I hope will jog your memory.
You spotted some of my favorites too. I was happy to come with the "22" in TWO-SEATER, and the clumsy wording in the clue for ERR.
Hope you didn't stay up too long, Liz. Thanks for checking it out!
Bill
Just managed to finish inside the midnight deadline.
Tires & Two Seater held me up for ages.
Very enjoyable all the same.
Mike
Hi Bill
Mmmmm...looked at the link...VERY HAZY recollections of that PONG now that I've seen it!! The kind of thing that might have been thrown in a corner of Belfield Bar or the likes way back then?! Would never have been my cup o' tea though! In my Luddite world, PONG just means a really bad smell!
The level of difficulty is a funny thing, eh? Have to say I did find this one a little on the easy side (for a 4/5!)...actually think I had more problems with last weeks 3/5...but then I always think it's got as much to do with frame of mind as anything else...what I can do easily one day could prove very difficult at another time.
Lots of today's clues were very clever but I just seemed to be able to get into your mindset easier than is often the case! First off ENCAMPS...it was so precise...and in correct order!! EFFECTIVE and GREENLAND (lovely clue) had the same feel.
MISER, LIMIT, BRUSH....I consider these deletion/addition clues classic WEB...not used much by M. Crosaire but I really like them...today though having several of them helped me along a lot because once I got one, I spotted the others quickly...very helpful... but maybe reduced the level of difficulty a bit!
Forgot to mention SWEARER and SEAFARING when I commented earlier...lovely clues!
Thanks Bill
Liz
Hi Mike,
Welcome to the wicked world of the WEB crossword! I appreciate you checking it out, and taking the time to leave a comment for me.
That's what I like to hear though, clues that take a little time to work out. Based on comments from Liz, this puzzle was a little easier to solve than I had hoped. But, we live and learn!
Glad you enjoyed it, Mike, and I hope you get the chance to check out some more WEB puzzles in the future.
Hi Liz,
Well, I guess I will have to concede that PONG wasn't as well-known as I thought. At least you got to the answer some other way, and I suppose that is the beauty of the cryptic clue format.
Yes, I am struggling with setting the level of difficulty, but as you say, it's a "funny thing". I am trying to stick to some rules to differentiate between an easier puzzle than one that is harder, but I am refining them as I go. Today's was a good lesson for me. Clearly, I will have to pull out all the stops next week!
I agree about ENCAMPS being relatively easy, and I think somewhat pedestrian. I originally was trying to work in something like "Looks back at the spots the politicians pitched tent", but I couldn't get the "tenses" to agree with the answer [looks back at spots, 'acne' (ENCA)the politicians (MPS) etc].
My deletion clues are getting a little obvious, I think, as you are such a loyal solver (thank you!), so I am going to have to disguise them better (note to self).
You've thrown down the gauntlet for next week, Liz ...
As always, a big "thank you!"
Hi Bill,
Once again I really enjoyed your crossword. Unlike Liz, I didn't tune in to your deletion clues immediately but loved them once I did. Think TIRES was my favourite today.Also liked ARREARS,GREENLAND,APPLETREE,ROSCOMMON and TIGHTROPE. Actually could keep going. You always seem to manage tightly worded clues. I've been a bit lax at the crosswords of late so trying to get focussed for the 5/5 on Sunday. Bring it on....:)
Martina
Martina,
It's good to see you back, and great to see you having a go at a WEB crossword. I always value your opinion.
Glad you enjoyed it, and glad you were able to clear it. As I have said above, I think it turned out to be less tricky than I intended.
I was quite proud of TIRES as I was able to hide the "exhausts" in the automotive motif, so I am very pleased you picked that one out.
I am determined to make next weeks's puzzle worthy of a 5/5 rating, as folks do seem to be laying down the gauntlet. But, I promise to keep it fair ...
Thanks again for the feedback, Martina.
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