Answers to Crosaire No: 14076 - 11 Feb 10

QuickLinks:
Need just one answer? Jump directly to today's Reveal-An-Answer
Jump directly to today’s Crosaire solution.
Jump directly to the explanations of today’s clues
Print last Sunday's WEB Crossword

Dearie, dearie me. I just could not finish today's puzzle, because I put in DARKNESS instead of BACKWARD. That left me without a shot at STATION and PADDLES. I knew there had to be something wrong, but for the life of me, I could not see it. Back on the r0ow bench, right where I deserve to be ...

Today's Crosaire Aria
28A: REBEL
He's a Rebel is a song with a strange history. The song was written by Gene Pitney and produced By Phil Spector, and was first offered to the Shirelles who passed on it. Phil Spector then wanted it recorded by his "girl band" the Crystals. He found out that Vicki Carr was about to release her version of He's a Rebel, creating time pressure to get the recording made. The Crystals were touring on the East Coast, out of reach, so he had singer Diane Love make a recording, with the Blossoms as back up singers. When the song was released, the Crystals name was written on the cover, with no mention of Diane Love nor the Blossoms. None of the Crystals knew about the recording before it became a hit, and they had no choice but to add the song their repertoire that they performed in concerts. The funny thing is, Diana Love has such a strong voice, that the Crystals version cannot even get close to the original. Here's the better version with Diane Love and the Blossoms ...

The Clue of the Day
11: Try to get Eve around here (9)
Again, accepting that M. Crosaire doesn't follow "the rule" of signalling his anagrams, this is a clever little clue. The best anagrams are ones that use words normally used to indicate something else, making them very hard to spot. Here M. Crosaire includes the word "around" in his anagram. So, while you are trying to decide if "around" means O, or indicates that "EVE" is "around" some other letters, actually you should be rearranging "Eve around" to give you ENDEAVOUR: try.

The Lookup of the Day
27A: TRUNNIONS
TRUNNIONS is a common enough sounding word, but I certainly could not put my finger on the meaning. It turns out that there are TRUNNIONS all over the place. In the context of a cannon, TRUNNIONS are the projections on either side of the barrel, on which the barrel swivels up and down to change the elevation. Sub-machine guns also have TRUNNIONS, the part into which the barrel is inserted. In older cars, TRUNNIONS are part of the suspension system, and apparently prone to failure (which is where I heard the word, I think). The TRUNNION on an airplane is the structure that attaches the landing gear to the aircraft's frame. And the list goes on and on ...

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

Across
1: DOUBLE CHIN
I suppose the inference is that a DOUBLE CHIN is found on a "fat head" (!) and chin-chin is, of course, DOUBLE CHIN.
6: ACRE
A sore tooth (ACHER) by the sound of it = ACRE: you don't need so much room.
10: INDIA
"And" it gets involved with "II" more, an anagram = INDIA: one country.
11: ENDEAVOUR ... anagram of "Eve around".
Nicely hidden anagram ...
12: CRITE-RIA
It takes a trice (CRITE) to get air (RIA) = CRITERIA: up to the standard of them.
13: K(ETC)H
You can get all the rest (-ETC-) "into" the answer = KETCH: the ship.
15: AVOCA-DO
There in Wicklow (AVOCA) do (DO) = AVOCADO: will such pears.
17: STATION
19: S(C)EPTIC
It's so bad (S-EPTIC) about a hundred (C) = SCEPTIC: one can't believe.
21: P(ADDLE)S
In the afterthought (P-S) go bad (ADDLE) = PADDLES: in the water.
22: UTTER
It seems that to UTTER is to publish something, like a book. Who knew?
24: WAR-T HOGS
Might be fighting (WAR) with the Goths (T HOGS) = WART HOGS: those swine.
27: T(RUN-NI)ONS
In tons (T-ONS) manage Ulster (RUN NI) = TRUNNIONS: cannon with them.
You know those two protrusions at the side of a cannon, the ones on which the cannon rests on the carriage, and about which the cannon can pivot up and down, well, I just discovered they're called TRUNNIONS ...
28: REBEL
REBEL-LION, that's the sort of "lion" that's revolting.
29: RIP-E
Rest (RIP-) is the "first" part of the answer, RIPE: ready to reap.
30: A-STRING-ENT
One cord (A STRING) and ten more (ENT) can get = ASTRINGENT: so sharp.

Down
1: D-RIP
Rest in peace "piece" by the sound of it (-RIP) is "after" the start of the answer, DRIP: such a drop.
That's my clumsy explanation anyway ...
2: UNDER-DONE
Not enough (UNDER) to have so performed (DONE) = UNDERDONE: it's rare.
3: LEAST ... anagram of "stale".
4: CHEER-IO
Applause (CHEER) for number ten (IO) = CHEERIO: applause for drink!
Nice one ...
5: INDIANS
The ones opposed to COWBOYS are not from INDIA.
Nicely tied in with the other clues ...
7: CL-OUT
A century and a half (CL) not to be with-in (OUT) = CLOUT: what a blow.
8: EARTH-INESS
9: BACK-WARD
"Draw" is the word WARD turned BACK (BACK WARD) = BACKWARD: not being too bright.
Clever clue ...
14: P(ASS MUST)ER
The fool has to (-ASS MUST-) is "in" the answer, PASS MUSTER: that'll do.
16: ALTE-RING
It gets late (ALTE) to phone (RING) for = ALTERING: a change.
18: ILLEGIBLE
20: COW-BOYS
Bull-ies that need to grow up, young "bulls" (COW BOYS) = COWBOYS: mounted (on horses).
21: PERU-SER
In South America (PERU-) is "starting" the answer, PERUSER: does one overlook this.
23: T-RUMP
Bottom (-RUMP) is the "last" part of the answer, TRUMP: the winner is.
25: HER-ON
On (-ON) is the "end" of the answer, HERON: your bird is long-legged.
26: FLAT
Apartment (sounds as if it's "a part meant") = FLAT: not to be sharp.
Lovely ...

Reveal-An-Answer
Need just one answer to get things moving? Here is my solution to today's puzzle, in a hidden format. To reveal any particular answer, highlight the whole line containing the relevant clue number.

Across
1: DOUBLE CHIN
6: ACRE
10: INDIA
11: ENDEAVOUR
12: CRITE-RIA
13: K(ETC)H
15: AVOCA-DO
17: STATION
19: S(C)EPTIC
21: P(ADDLE)S
22: UTTER
24: WAR-T HOGS
27: T(RUN-NI)ONS
28: REBEL
29: RIP-E
30: A-STRING-ENT

Down
1: D-RIP
2: UNDER-DONE
3: LEAST
4: CHEER-IO
5: INDIANS
7: CL-OUT
8: EARTH-INESS
9: BACK-WARD
14: P(ASS MUST)ER
16: ALTE-RING
18: ILLEGIBLE
20: COW-BOYS
21: PERU-SER
23: T-RUMP
25: HER-ON
26: FLAT