Print today's WEB puzzle (spoiler alert ... today's solution and clue explanations are included on a second page!)
Need just one answer? Jump directly to today's Reveal-An-Answer
Jump directly to today’s solution.
Jump directly to the explanations of today’s clues.
To mangle my metaphor, March is coming in like a lamb with a WEB Crossword rated at 1/5 in terms of difficulty. Hopefully, this will be a gentle stroll to the finish, with a couple of interesting stops along the way.
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 The practical part, with magic twists (9)
6 The general manager took in Pooh's friend so now he's working in a stable environment (5)
9 As the Church of England (and the Poles) have one on the island ... (9)
10 Father followed me to Lima to find silver, or was it gold? (5)
11 It's perhaps how old you'll be at the end of your sentence that makes you powerless (6)
12 They're pretty high, and ill, taking pot back in high school (8)
14 Absurdly, apartheid's made the lists of bestsellers (3,7)
16 'Morning, Doc! Is this for the shots? (4)
18 In part, from a new set of locks (4)
19 It's just like Pauline McLynn to come to a resort in need (10)
21 A singer with an arrangement for some older women (8)
22 It's not often you hear "buyed 'em" ... quite the opposite! (6)
26 Ideas about half a single? (1-4)
27 It's about commerce and the varied incomes around the company (9)
28 Dublin registrations are found at the bottom (5)
29 There's no point ... I can't see or hear as much (9)
Down
1 In the post office, Ian is the one with the keys (5)
2 A "North of Englander" might race there (5)
3 Nearly clones the nag he starts with, and will moan about (8)
4 There's cotton on that part of the tree (4)
5 If you ask quickly, can't he leave her at the bridge? (10)
6 A chance to mosey past Galway (6)
7 He works on tasks from nine to five, but won't do nos. 6 and 8? (3-3,3)
8 This troubled me, son ... it'll become quite a burden (9)
13 Instruments used to forecast how many pints you'll have? (10)
14 O, Meg! You must have a hard shell to volunteer while the regulars are away (4,5)
15 Sort of attentive and hesitant at the same time (9)
17 Wearing it back-to-front confuses me, Rose (8)
20 Except when Les is in the sun at sea ... (6)
23 Doctor, I have fire in my belly (5)
24 The old lawman didn't finish Mo's essay (5)
25 It'll be Sligo first, then around the North before long (4)
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 The practical part, with magic twists (9)
PRAGMATIC
"Part" with "magic" twists = PRAGMATIC: the practical.
6 The general manager took in Pooh's friend so now he's working in a stable environment (5)
G(ROO)M
The general manager (G-M) took in Pooh's friend (ROO) so now = GROOM: he's working in a stable environment.
9 As the Church of England (and the Poles) have one on the island ... (9)
AS-CE-NS-I-ON
As (AS) the Church of England (CE) and the Poles (NS) have one on (I ON) = ASCENSION: the island.
10 Father followed me to Lima to find silver, or was it gold? (5)
ME-DA-L
Me (ME) followed by Father (DA) to Lima (L) to find = MEDAL: silver, or was it gold?
11 It's perhaps how old you'll be at the end of your sentence that makes you powerless (6)
OUT-AGE
It's perhaps how old you'll be at the end of your sentence (OUT AGE) = OUTAGE: that make's you powerless.
12 They're pretty high, and ill, taking pot back in high school (8)
H(ILL-TOP)S
In high school (H-S) "ill" taking "pot" back (ILL TOP) and = HILLTOPS: they're pretty high.
14 Absurdly, apartheid's made the lists of bestsellers (3,7)
HIT PARADES
Absurdly "apartheid's" made = HIT PARADES: the lists of bestsellers.
16 'Morning, Doc! Is this for the shots? (4)
AM-MO
'Morning (AM) Doc (MO) = AMMO: is this for the shots?
18 In part, from a new set of locks (4)
MANE
In part "fro-M A NE-w" = MANE: set of locks.
19 It's just like Pauline McLynn to come to a resort in need (10)
COME-DIENNE
To come (COME) to a resort "in need" (DIENNE) = COMEDIENNE: it's just like Pauline McLynn.
21 A singer with an arrangement for some older women (8)
GRANNIES
A "singer" with "an" arrangement for = GRANNIES: some older women.
22 It's not often you hear "buyed 'em" ... quite the opposite! (6)
SELDOM
"Buyed 'em", quite the opposite (SELLED 'EM) you hear as = SELDOM: it's not often.
26 Ideas about half a single? (1-4)
A-SIDE
"Ideas" about = A-SIDE: half a single.
27 It's about commerce and the varied incomes around the company (9)
E(CO)NOMICS
The varied "incomes" (E-NOMICS) around the company (CO) and = ECONOMICS: it's about commerce.
28 Dublin registrations are found at the bottom (5)
D-REGS
Dublin (DUB) registrations (REGS) are = DREGS: found at the bottom.
29 There's no point ... I can't see or hear as much (9)
SENSE-LESS
I can't see or hear as much (SENSE LESS) = SENSELESS: there's no point.
Down
1 In the post office, Ian is the one with the keys (5)
P(IAN)O
In the post office (P-O) Ian (IAN) is = PIANO: the one with the keys.
2 A "North of Englander" might race there (5)
A-SCOT
A (A) North of Englander (SCOT) = ASCOT: might race there.
3 Nearly clones the nag he starts with, and will moan about (8)
MO(NAG-H)AN
Will "moan" about (MO-AN) the "nag" h-e starts with (NAG H) = MONAGHAN: near(ly) Clones.
4 There's cotton on that part of the tree (4)
TWIG
There's "cotton on" = TWIG: that part of the tree.
5 If you ask quickly, can't he leave her at the bridge? (10)
CANTILEVER
If you ask quickly "can't he leave her", you'll hear = CANTILEVER: at the bridge.
6 A chance to mosey past Galway (6)
G-AMBLE
Past Galway (G) to mosey (AMBLE) = GAMBLE: a chance.
7 He works on tasks from nine to five, but won't do nos. 6 and 8? (3-3,3)
ODD-JOB MAN
He works on tasks (JOBS) from 9-5 but won't do 6 & 8 (THE EVEN JOBS) so he's an ODD-JOB MAN!
8 This troubled me, son ... it'll become quite a burden (9)
MILLSTONE
This troubled "me, son ... it'll" become = MILLSTONE: quite a burden.
13 Instruments used to forecast how many pints you'll have? (10)
BAR-OMETERS
Instruments used to forecast how many pints you'll have ... in the bar? (BAR-OMETERS) = BAROMETERS: instruments used to forecast.
14 O, Meg! You must have a hard shell to volunteer while the regulars are away (4,5)
H(O-MEG-U)ARD
Must have a "hard" shell (H-ARD) O, Meg! You (O MEG U) to = HOME GUARD: volunteer while the regular (soldiers) are away.
15 Sort of attentive and hesitant at the same time (9)
TENTATIVE
Sort of "attentive" and at the same time = TENTATIVE: hesitant.
17 Wearing it back-to-front confuses me, Rose (8)
TI-RESOME
"It" back-to-front (TI) confuses "me, Rose" (RESOME) = TIRESOME: wearing.
20 Except when Les is in the sun at sea ... (6)
UN(LES)S
In the "sun" at sea (UN-S) is Les (LES) = UNLESS: except when.
23 Doctor, I have fire in my belly (5)
DR-I'VE
Doctor (DR) I have (I'VE) = DRIVE: fire in my belly.
24 The old lawman didn't finish Mo's essay (5)
MOSES
Didn't finish "MO'S-ES-say" = MOSES: the old law-man.
25 It'll be Sligo first, then around the North before long (4)
SO-O-N
It'll be Sligo first (SO) then a-round (O) the North (N) = SOON: before long.
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 The practical part, with magic twists (9)
PRAGMATIC
6 The general manager took in Pooh's friend so now he's working in a stable environment (5)
G(ROO)M
9 As the Church of England (and the Poles) have one on the island ... (9)
AS-CE-NS-I-ON
10 Father followed me to Lima to find silver, or was it gold? (5)
ME-DA-L
11 It's perhaps how old you'll be at the end of your sentence that makes you powerless (6)
OUT-AGE
12 They're pretty high, and ill, taking pot back in high school (8)
H(ILL-TOP)S
14 Absurdly, apartheid's made the lists of bestsellers (3,7)
HIT PARADES
16 'Morning, Doc! Is this for the shots? (4)
AM-MO
18 In part, from a new set of locks (4)
MANE
19 It's just like Pauline McLynn to come to a resort in need (10)
COME-DIENNE
21 A singer with an arrangement for some older women (8)
GRANNIES
22 It's not often you hear "buyed 'em" ... quite the opposite! (6)
SELDOM
26 Ideas about half a single? (1-4)
A-SIDE
27 It's about commerce and the varied incomes around the company (9)
E(CO)NOMICS
28 Dublin registrations are found at the bottom (5)
D-REGS
29 There's no point ... I can't see or hear as much (9)
SENSE-LESS
Down
1 In the post office, Ian is the one with the keys (5)
P(IAN)O
2 A "North of Englander" might race there (5)
A-SCOT
3 Nearly clones the nag he starts with, and will moan about (8)
MO(NAG-H)AN
4 There's cotton on that part of the tree (4)
TWIG
5 If you ask quickly, can't he leave her at the bridge? (10)
CANTILEVER
6 A chance to mosey past Galway (6)
G-AMBLE
7 He works on tasks from nine to five, but won't do nos. 6 and 8? (3-3,3)
ODD-JOB MAN
8 This troubled me, son ... it'll become quite a burden (9)
MILLSTONE
13 Instruments used to forecast how many pints you'll have? (10)
BAR-OMETERS
14 O, Meg! You must have a hard shell to volunteer while the regulars are away (4,5)
H(O-MEG-U)ARD
15 Sort of attentive and hesitant at the same time (9)
TENTATIVE
17 Wearing it back-to-front confuses me, Rose (8)
TI-RESOME
20 Except when Les is in the sun at sea ... (6)
UN(LES)S
23 Doctor, I have fire in my belly (5)
DR-I'VE
24 The old lawman didn't finish Mo's essay (5)
MOSES
25 It'll be Sligo first, then around the North before long (4)
SO-O-N
6 comments:
Bill,
Just a quick line to crow about getting that 'Sweep-the-week Plus'
Very Lucky timing for me to have this 1/5 WEB after doing the sweep-the-week.
Even so I nearly came a cropper as I had written in 'ECONOMIES' before correcting it to ECONOMICS when I re-read the clue.
Might post again tomorrow as I'm rushing now to go out to dinner.
Mike
Hi Mike,
I reckoned it was odds on that you came though today. That's one more spot for you on the Honour Roll. Next stop has to be Martina's 16-in-a-row!
Thanks for checking out the WEB puzzle. I hope it lived it up to its 1/5 rating, yet wasn't too much of a dawdle.
Congrats, Mike!
Hi Bill and Mike
Congratulations Mike...full steam ahead now to make that Sweep-the-week Plus x 2!!
I did it in the MCC hour...and didn't think it was too much of a dawdle at all! I made it through alright but HIT PARADES and HOME GUARD held me up awhile...along with a few others! I took a notion that APARTHEID'S in 14a clue was an anagram yielding the name of a bestselling author...PAT someone or other! Took awhile to back out of that cul-de-sac! I should have learned by now that my ageing braincells don't cope very well in the MCC hour!
Favourites today were SELDOM, OUTAGE, DREGS and TENTATIVE and MOSES.
Happy Sunday!
Liz
Hi All
Happy to report success for me also but not a doddle by any means. As usual it was a four letter word which had me sweating in the end - took me ages to spot the logic for MANE. Favourites today were BAROMETER, MONAGHAN and CANTILEVER.
re HIT PARADES, I was thinking along the lines of a novel starting with THE before getting HOME GUARD which put me right.
Martina
Hi Liz,
Thanks for stopping back here to give the much appreciated feedback. It looks like I am still finding it hard to set a truly "easy" puzzle. It just seems to go against my nature!
HIT PARADES seems to have been quite the tough anagram to work out. I jumped all over it because I found it to be such an odd linkage" "apartheid's" and HIT PARADE.
"Selled 'em" was a favorite of mine too ... I like the goofy ones, and OUT-AGE and MOSES were quite quirky.
So, looks like I'm aiming at much the same level of difficulty for next weekend ...
Hope it didn't keep you up too late last night, Liz :)
Hi Martina,
A I said to Liz, I do have difficulty cutting back the degree of difficulty to the bare minimum :) It's partly because you guys are so good at solving!
Interesting to see that MANE caused trouble again. As I said last week, hidden words are common enough in the Simplex puzzle, but clearly not expected in the Crosaire (and it's lowly cousin, the WEB). I'm glad you liked BAR-OMETER and CANTILEVER, as they did make me smile a little when they came to mind. And HIT PARADES, seems to have been a lot more obscure than I expected!
Thanks for checking out the puzzle, Martina, and taking time to comment. It's always greatly appreciated.
Post a Comment