Jump directly to today’s Crosaire solution.
Jump directly to the explanations of today’s clues
Need just one answer? Jump directly to today's Reveal-An-Answer
Wasn’t that a lovely puzzle? I thought it was a great way to close out another century of crosswords from Mr. Crozier, No. 14,600. Having said that, I cannot report a clean start to the week as I fluffed one letter, putting in CUTTER instead of CUTLER. A shame really because, when I was living in Sheffield, I’d sometimes take the Master Cutler, the famous express train that runs between London and Steel City. Not a good one to miss. All hope of a Sweep this week dashed, right at the outset.
Here are my answers. As always, I welcome comments and explanations. Thanks!
Across
8: GRUESOME
One raised a few (GREW SOME) by the sound of it = GRUESOME: so ghastly.
Clue of the Day!
9: IRON-IC
Steel (IRON) I see (IC) = IRONIC: meaning the opposite.
10: RAN-CID
Managed the detectives (RAN CID) = RANCID: but gone to the bad.
An oldie but goody …
11: SING-LET’S
Make a song, shall we? (SING, LET’S) = SINGLETS: about underwear?
Excellent!
12: A-SPIRE
Over the church (A SPIRE) to be = ASPIRE: be ambitious.
13: TICK-TOCK
Very nice too …
15: REED
The beastly thing (DEER) back, for = REED: rush.
17: DIS-EASE
Is comfortable (-EASE) is the “last” part of the answer = DISEASE: well, it’s not.
19: LEGLESS
Is this why the (LEGLESS) serpent gets footless (LEGLESS)?
22: LEES
“EELS”, an anagram = LEES: all that’s left of the drink.
The “lees” are the sediment in wine, the dregs …
24: OP(TIM)IST
“I stop” (OP-IST) around “Timothy” (TIM) = OPTIMIST: hoping for the best.
27: PE(GG)ED
In the “deep”, back there (PE-ED) the horse (GG) = PEGGED: staked.
29: PRO-POSER
The professional artist’s model (PRO POSER) = PROPOSER: is looking like this for a second.
30: CUTLER
A “cutler” is one who works at making knives, or perhaps sharpening and repairing them …
31: SEE-THE
Just take a look (SEE) at “the” (THE) = SEETHE: boil.
Another oldie but goody …
32: ANACONDA
Though LEGLESS, it’s not one of the EELS.
Down
1: BREAKS
They stop one (BRAKES) sounds as if = BREAKS: in pieces.
2: DE-SCRIBE
The editor, ‘ed’ (DE) got “the writer” (SCRIBE) = DESCRIBE: to tell him all about it.
3: SOLDIERS
Disposed of ears (SOLD EARS) by the sound of it, for = SOLDIERS: the forces.
Tricky enough …
4: WEB-SITE
A place for the spider’s trap (WEB SITE) = WEBSITE: found using a computer.
Nice contemporary clue from Mr. C …
5: PICNIC
Select Nicholas (PICK NICK) sounds like = PICNIC: to eat out (with).
6: TO(I)LET
To rent (TO LET) “one” got in there (I) = TOILET: a wash.
7: TIN T-ACKS
The colour of (TINT) the “sack” (ACKS) = TIN TACKS: the point of them.
Tintack, drawing pin, thumbtack; apparently they’re all the same thing …
14: IDLE
One for the heathen (IDOL) sounds as if = IDLE: won’t work well.
16: EELS
Long to be the making of “LEES” (an anagram).
18: I’M-PORTER
Mine's a Guinness (I’M PORTER) and = IMPORTER: I’ll get it in.
Yet another oldie but goody …
20: ESPECIAL
“E places I” (one), an anagram = ESPECIAL: in a particular way.
21: LEG-ATION
How to find your feet (LEG) in another country, perhaps.
A very punny clue!
23: E(TERN)AL
In the beer, ‘ale’ (E-AL) that bird (TERN) is = ETERNAL: forever.
25: I’M-PUT-E
I am to the East (I’M PUT E) = IMPUTE: to attribute this.
Something like that, I think …
26: IS-SUED
Action has been sent out (IS SUED) = ISSUED: “sent out” and “come out”.
28: EM-ENDS
It’s up to “me” (EM) it comes at “last” (ENDS) = EMENDS: as one changes.
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
8: GRUESOME
9: IRON-IC
10: RAN-CID
11: SING-LET’S
12: A-SPIRE
13: TICK-TOCK
15: REED
17: DIS-EASE
19: LEGLESS
22: LEES
24: OP(TIM)IST
27: PE(GG)ED
29: PRO-POSER
30: CUTLER
31: SEE-THE
32: ANACONDA
Down
1: BREAKS
2: DE-SCRIBE
3: SOLDIERS
4: WEB-SITE
5: PICNIC
6: TO(I)LET
7: TIN T-ACKS
14: IDLE
16: EELS
18: I’M-PORTER
20: ESPECIAL
21: LEG-ATION
23: E(TERN)AL
25: I’M-PUT-E
26: IS-SUED
28: EM-ENDS
10 comments:
Hi Bill
Well, all good things must come to an end but at least Saturday's success has moved me up your chart by one place. Again we did the same puzzle and I fell where you did with CUTTER instead of CUTLER. What a good test overall though with TIN TACKS, LEGATION and ANACONDA the last in. GRUESOME a great choice for COD with PROPOSER and TOILET also up there. SOLDIERS was very clever and WEBSITE an unexpected touch of the modern from Mr C.
Back to the bottom of the hill and the climb begins again.
All the best to everyone for the week.
JD
Hi JD,
Chin up. That was a great run you put together, and you got yourself one rung further up the board. Running into that CUTTER/CUTLER ambiguity (I'll call it) without having broken you record, that would have been frustrating.
A nice puzzle today though, eh? I never mind a miss after having wandered through some clever clues.
Congrats again. 11-in-a-row! Impressive!
Hi Bill & JD and commiserations to you both.
I, on the other hand, am still on course for an STW ;-)
CUTLER was my last in and although CUTTER crossed my mind, I opted for CUTLER - phew!
I agree, Bill, it was a nice crossword, lots of clues to think about. I wasn't sure about LEGLESS and LEGATION, but when I saw that 32a looked like ANACONDA, I thought what the heck and went with it.
Bon chance to everybody
Martine
Good for you, Martine!
That was a nice choice, CUTLER over CUTTER. I wish there was something in the clue to take away the ambiguity, though. But great instincts!
The LEG clues were a little quirky, for sure, but a bit of light relief, I'd say :)
Sweep away, Martine!
Afternoon folks!!
Bah, made the same CUTTER/CUTLER error myself so no completion today. Still, if I'm putting in the same performance as Bill, I'm obviously not going too far wrong!!
I need a bit clarification on a technicality....a busy weekend meant I didn't get a chance to pick up the Times on Saturday so I didn't get a look a the the weekend's crossword. So, have I just missed a r3ow by one letter, or would it not have counted as I didn't do puzzle 14,599?
Jeez Bill, look what you've started!! Am I a tad obsessive or what?!
Commiserations JD on the end of your impressive run. Like the Irish RWC campaign, all good things must come to an end.
John McC
Good afternoon, John!
Somehow I thought I wouldn't be the only one falling for the CUTTER over the CUTLER. Not a great clue, it has to be said.
Re "the rules"
The rules are that there are no rules! It honors your performance to your own standards, so we don't compete against each other as such. If I were in your shoes, I'd say a puzzle missed because I didn't get the paper, doesn't count, and I'd still be on a run. But that's just me. As I say, we are competing against ourselves, so no one will object here :)
A bit of an obsession, yes lol
Do I get a 1row for cutter! Please?? Was gutted when I saw the answer! Gruesome.. What a clue! Fought hard but got there (bar cutter!) Paul r.
Hi Paul,
You asked so nicely! :)
Of course you can count the clearance if you want. We play against ourselves here, and not against each other. So you go with your own rules.
There's a very good argument to be made that both CUTTER and CUTLER are valid answers to that clue (in my humble opinion!).
And I agree, that GRUESOME was a lovely clue!
Bah. Another one to fall for CUTTER. I only wrote it in small letters, too :)
I agree, Bill, a nice puzzle today (well, yesterday), and at least I was only going for r3ow!
Hi there, McDavey.
Another one cut down by the CUTLER, eh? Sorry to hear that.
Glad the to hear the frustrating finish didn't ruin the puzzling experience :)
Post a Comment