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I think we agreed that last week's WEB Crossword, labelled with a difficulty rating of 1/5, was probably tougher than expected. So, today's 2/5 offering is about the same level of difficulty, I think, or maybe even a little easier. Given that it's Valentine's Day, I decided to be more friendly!
You might want to give today's puzzle to that special person in your life ...
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.
From an Admirer ...
Across
8 Abe takes Alan on to see Pearl's mother (7)
9 This girl has contrived to make something sizeable (7)
10 Request information about a gasket ... get away! (3)
11 I'm no chicken, get me into an unconventional trade (3,4)
12 With father back, it's more apt to make something that will connect (7)
13 Join the Spanish somewhere between Waterford and Dublin (4)
14 After five, the ferocious sort gets really loud (10)
16 Diana's company made such a song and dance back then (5)
17 Move quickly ... a friend from France left family for this (3)
19 Unstable nouns used with "billiard" or "kitchen" perhaps (5)
21 Before the CD, the French seem to listen to an individual called Jack on their decks (4,6)
24 Before Old King Cole gets the bug, sounds like (4)
27 The best wife for Dad ... an eye doctor??!! (7)
28 Hagman gets hats to the cockney, I hear, and with them he looks like a cowboy (7)
29 Add nothing in the end for Dee, and there'll be a fuss made (3)
30 Funny morning taking drugs (7)
31 A candidate for "eNOME"? (7)
Down
1 Lauded as a novel way for someone who flew not too high, nor too low (8)
2 I'm not happy or bashful, Doc, but I am silly (5)
3 Of course it's me at fifty ... an oaf! (4,4)
4 Something basic, like a tall tale at the boozer perhaps? (6)
5 Put nothing on top of that jumble of remnants ... they're for a special tree (9)
6 Your little brother takes first place for eating and drinking! (6)
7 An unconventional rep ... is he a Jew? (8)
8 It shows the way to Row R? (5)
15 Help for mother in these outrageous, hideous surroundings (9)
16 There's a message in one \ (8)
18 Nearly go crazy for 12 months (8)
20 Listen to the Eurovision winner before she gets banned for that scarf (8)
22 This left one trademark to us, and that's the acid test (6)
23 Found north of the border with silver hearts underarm (6)
25 The London gallery takes a second sample (5)
26 It's nearly true ... a British member gets the best-looking suit (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!
I hope you spotted the secret message in the NW-SE DIAGONAL! BE MY VALENTINE!
Across
8 Abe takes Alan on to see Pearl's mother (7)
AB(AL-ON)E
Abe (AB-E) takes Alan on (AL-ON) to see = ABALONE: mother-of-pearl.
9 This girl has contrived to make something sizeable (7)
LARGISH
This "girl has" contrived to make = LARGISH: something sizeable.
10 Request information about a gasket ... get away! (3)
ASK
About a G-ask-ET ... GET away = ASK: request information.
11 I'm no chicken, get me into an unconventional trade (3,4)
RED (ME)AT
Into an unconventional "trade" (RED-AT) get me (ME) = RED MEAT: I'm no chicken.
12 With father back, it's more apt to make something that will connect (7)
AD-APTER
With father, 'Da', back (AD) it's more apt (APTER) to make = ADAPTER: something that will connect.
13 Join the Spanish somewhere between Waterford and Dublin (4)
W(EL)D
Somewhere between Waterford and Dublin (W-D) the Spanish (EL) = WELD: join.
14 After five, the ferocious sort gets really loud (10)
V-OCIFEROUS
After five (V) the "ferocious" sort (OCIFEROUS) gets = VOCIFEROUS: really loud.
16 Diana's company made such a song and dance back then (5)
DI'S-CO
Diana's (DI'S) company (CO) made = DISCO: such a song and dance back then.
17 Move quickly ... a friend from France left family for this (3)
FLY
A friend from France (AMI) left f-AMI-ly for this = FLY: move quickly.
19 Unstable nouns used with "billiard" or "kitchen" perhaps (5)
TABLE
UNS-table (with) no-UNS used = TABLE: as in "billiard TABLE" or "kitchen TABLE".
21 Before the CD, the French seem to listen to an individual called Jack on their decks (4,6)
AB-LE SEAM-AN
Before the CD (AB) the French (LE) "seem" to listen to (SEAM) an (AN) = ABLE SEAMAN: an individual called Jack on their decks.
24 Before Old King Cole gets the bug, sounds like (4)
GNAT
Before old King Cole (NAT) sounds like, gets = GNAT: the bug.
27 The best wife for Dad ... an eye doctor??!! (7)
OPTI-MUM
Wife for Dad (MUM) ... Mum, the eye doctor = OPTIMUM??!! ... the best.
28 Hagman gets hats to the cockney, I hear, and with them he looks like a cowboy (7)
LARIATS
Hagman (LARRY) gets hats to the cockney ('ATS) = LARRY 'ATS, I hear = LARIATS: with them he looks like a cowboy.
29 Add nothing in the end for Dee, and there'll be a fuss made (3)
AD-O
Ad-d nothing in the end for Dee (swap O for D) and there'll be made = ADO: a fuss.
30 Funny morning taking drugs (7)
AM-USING
Morning (AM) taking drugs (USING) = AMUSING: funny.
31 A candidate for "eNOME"? (7)
NOM-IN-EE
"e(NOM)E" is NON placed IN E-E (NOM IN EE) = NOMINEE: a candidate.
Down
1 Lauded as a novel way for someone who flew not too high, nor too low (8)
DAEDALUS
"Lauded as" a novel way, for = DAEDALUS: someone who flew not too high, nor too low, unlike Icarus, who flew too high.
2 I'm not happy or bashful, Doc, but I am silly (5)
DOPEY
I'm not Happy, Bashful nor Doc, but I am another one of the Seven Dwarfs = DOPEY: silly.
3 Of course it's me at fifty ... an oaf! (4,4)
ME-AT L-OAF
Me at fifty (ME AT L) an oaf (OAF) it's = MEAT LOAF: of course (at dinner).
4 Something basic, like a tall tale at the boozer perhaps? (6)
ALKALI
Like a tall tale at the boozer perhaps, an "alcoholic lie" = ALKALI! ... something basic.
5 Put nothing on top of that jumble of remnants ... they're for a special tree (9)
O-RNAMENTS
Put nothing (O) on top of that jumble of "remnants" (RNAMENTS) = ORNAMENTS: they're for a special (Xmas) tree.
6 Your little brother takes first place for eating and drinking! (6)
B(I-ST)RO
Your little brother (B-RO) takes first (I-ST) = BISTRO: place for eating and drinking.
7 An unconventional rep ... is he a Jew? (8)
PHARISEE
An unconventional "rep ... is he a" = PHARISEE: Jew.
8 It shows the way to Row R? (5)
AR-ROW
The R-Row (AR ROW) = ARROW: it shows the way.
15 Help for mother in these outrageous, hideous surroundings (9)
HOUSE(MA)ID
In these outrageous "hideous" surroundings (HOUSE-ID) mother (MA) for = HOUSEMAID: help.
16 There's a message in one \ (8)
DIAGONAL
There's a message in one DIAGONAL (\) of the puzzle = BE MY VALENTINE.
18 Nearly go crazy for 12 months (8)
YEARLONG
"Nearly go" crazy = YEARLONG: for 12 months
20 Listen to the Eurovision winner before she gets banned for that scarf (8)
BANDANNA
Before she gets banned (BANNED) the Eurovision winner (DANA) = BANNED DANA, listen to, for = BANDANNA: that scarf.
22 This left one trademark to us, and that's the acid test (6)
L-I-TM-US
This left (L) one (I) trademark (TM) to us (US) and = LITMUS: that's the acid test.
23 Found north of the border with silver hearts underarm (6)
ARM-AG-H
Under-arm (ARM) silver (AG) hearts (H) = ARMAGH: found north of the border.
25 The London gallery takes a second sample (5)
TA(S)TE
The London gallery (TA-TE) takes a second (S) = TASTE: sample.
26 It's nearly true ... a British member gets the best-looking suit (5)
TRU-MP
It's nearly tru-e (TRU) a British member (MP) gets = TRUMP: the best(-looking) suit.
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
8 Abe takes Alan on to see Pearl's mother (7)
AB(AL-ON)E
9 This girl has contrived to make something sizeable (7)
LARGISH
10 Request information about a gasket ... get away! (3)
ASK
11 I'm no chicken, get me into an unconventional trade (3,4)
RED (ME)AT
12 With father back, it's more apt to make something that will connect (7)
AD-APTER
13 Join the Spanish somewhere between Waterford and Dublin (4)
W(EL)D
14 After five, the ferocious sort gets really loud (10)
V-OCIFEROUS
16 Diana's company made such a song and dance back then (5)
DI'S-CO
17 Move quickly ... a friend from France left family for this (3)
FLY
19 Unstable nouns used with "billiard" or "kitchen" perhaps (5)
TABLE
21 Before the CD, the French seem to listen to an individual called Jack on their decks (4,6)
AB-LE SEAM-AN
24 Before Old King Cole gets the bug, sounds like (4)
GNAT
27 The best wife for Dad ... an eye doctor??!! (7)
OPTI-MUM
28 Hagman gets hats to the cockney, I hear, and with them he looks like a cowboy (7)
LARIATS
29 Add nothing in the end for Dee, and there'll be a fuss made (3)
AD-O
30 Funny morning taking drugs (7)
AM-USING
31 A candidate for "eNOME"? (7)
NOM-IN-EE
Down
1 Lauded as a novel way for someone who flew not too high, nor too low (8)
DAEDALUS
2 I'm not happy or bashful, Doc, but I am silly (5)
DOPEY
3 Of course it's me at fifty ... an oaf! (4,4)
ME-AT L-OAF
4 Something basic, like a tall tale at the boozer perhaps? (6)
ALKALI
5 Put nothing on top of that jumble of remnants ... they're for a special tree (9)
O-RNAMENTS
6 Your little brother takes first place for eating and drinking! (6)
B(I-ST)RO
7 An unconventional rep ... is he a Jew? (8)
PHARISEE
8 It shows the way to Row R? (5)
AR-ROW
15 Help for mother in these outrageous, hideous surroundings (9)
HOUSE(MA)ID
16 There's a message in one \ (8)
DIAGONAL
18 Nearly go crazy for 12 months (8)
YEARLONG
20 Listen to the Eurovision winner before she gets banned for that scarf (8)
BANDANNA
22 This left one trademark to us, and that's the acid test (6)
L-I-TM-US
23 Found north of the border with silver hearts underarm (6)
ARM-AG-H
25 The London gallery takes a second sample (5)
TA(S)TE
26 It's nearly true ... a British member gets the best-looking suit (5)
TRU-MP
4 comments:
Hi Bill.
I was absolutely flying through your crossword until I mispelt 28 Across and wrote in LARRIAT instead of LARIATS so couldnt get 20 or 25 Down.
This error also meant I couldnt see your very clever "diagonal" message. Mind you I dont think I'd have spotted it even with LARIATS as I never made the connection but at least I'd have finsihed the puzzle.
Very good indeed. 2nd week you've caught me out. I need to practice these more if I'm to crack your 3/5 next week.
Mike
Hi Mike,
I really appreciate you finding time to give this puzzle a go, especially as you had a full weekend.
I think I hit the 2/5 difficulty rating, a lot more accurate than last week's offering. I'm always happy to hear that you are solving the clues, but I like to slow you down as the difficulty rating climbs. I was a tad worried when I saw your LARRIAT slip, but in my defense, I did put "hats" in the clue!
Don't take the secret message too personally, Mike! I haven't heard from anyone who spotted it yet, so maybe it a little too obscure.
I appreciate you working on the WEB puzzles. You've become a very loyal solver. Thank you!
Hi Bill
Glad to report a tantara....thought it was a lovely puzzle...although you nearly tripped me up a couple of times along the way!
Your collection of anagram indicators is multiplying by the week...seems like you rarely recycle them! Great how they blend so seamlessly into the clues....
LARGISH...'this GIRL HAS contrived...'
DAEDALUS...'LAUDED AS a novel way...'
YEARLONG...'NEARLY GO' crazy for 12 months...lovely!
Got a great laugh from 11a...an 'unconventional' clue from a vegetarian!
...and MEAT LOAF...I'll be expecting NUT ROAST on the menu soon Bill to balance out all that RED MEAT!
Deletions are another speciality today....liked ASK, TABLE and FLY all worked very well.
Favourites were WELD, OPTIMUM (particularly after Crosaire MUM-themed puzzle!), LARRY'S 'ATS!, the really loud VOCIFEROUS sort, the outrageous HOUSEMAID, ALKALI and LITMUS.
BANDANNA puzzled me a little as I'm more used to BANDANA spelling (I think, or else I just misspell it!). Also a little iffy about the abbreviations H (heart) and S (second)...but they couldn't have been anything else!
Oh and I nearly forgot to mention the PHARISEE...another lovely anagram.
Like Mike, the diagonal BE MY VALENTINE evaded my detection....an unromantic bunch eh?!!
Thanks Bill
Liz
Hi Liz,
Thanks for stopping by to leave such an encouraging comment. I always love to hear the sound of that tantara!
I am afraid I have boxed myself in when it comes to anagrams. I stick to the rule of signalling them, and so have to come up with alternatives that blend into the background. Glad you appreciate them, because they cause me great angst!
You're right, the MEAT LOAF and RED MEAT really got to me with my vegan ways. I am going to have come up with a veggie puzzle to set things right :)
BANDANNA is one of those words that I really try not to use. The different ways of spelling just add too much ambiguity when I am trying to be as precise (yet cryptic) as possible. Your point is well taken!
The "H" for hearts is an abbreviation used in card playing. Also S for spades, C for clubs and D for diamonds. The "S" stands for second and seconds, as in a time of 19m 12s. So "H" can stand for hour too.
I think I was way too obtuse with my secret message, Liz. I don't think there is romance at play at all!
Thanks, again. I always look forward to your feedback!
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