SAVE THE DATE. We are planning another get together of Weekend QC compilers, TfTT bloggers and commenters on Saturday 24th June at from 1200 at The George, Borough High Street, Southwark, Greater London, SE1 1NH. All are welcome. We are also expecting Mick Hodgkin, the Times Puzzles Editor and Pete Biddlecombe, Sundays Times Crossword Editor and founder of Times for The Times to drop in. If you intend coming along, please drop me a line to Johninterred's Email, or send me a message via the "Contact Me" box in the sidebar, so we can have some idea of numbers and reserve sufficient table space.
Before looking at the answers, if you would like some additional help, click the label below.
Hints...
- Your Weekend QC Crossword editor gets a mention in one long answer.
- A popular British singer from the 1960's also makes an appearance.
- 10A uses a definition by example, but the ellipsis prevents the addition of a ? to indicate it.
- The fictional TV detective was based in Oxford.
And click on this label to get the solution.
Solution and explanation of the answers...
1 Dried bits of grass frequently found in Saturday wash (6)
STRAWS – Alternate letters [frequently found] in SaTuRdAy WaSh.
4 Panorama from one street in Virginia (5)
VISTA – I (one) ST (street) in VA (Virginia).
7 Well known short, fat mouse loses tail (6)
FAMOUS – FA{t} [short], MOUS{e} loses tail.
8 Polish off cod, perhaps, eating in (6)
FINISH – FISH (cod, perhaps) [eating] IN.
9 Try to get bats to return (4)
STAB – BATS [to return] -> STAB.
10 Cursed using torch in bunk ... (8)
BLIGHTED – LIGHT (torch) in BED (bunk).
12 ... and got up again? (11)
DISINTERRED – Cryptic definition.
17 Policeman moving States in disgust (8)
DISTASTE – DI (policeman) [moving] (states)*.
19 Very loud after Manchester United mess up (4)
MUFF – MU (Manchester United) FF (fortissimo, very loud).
20 Initially after rehearsing in band is very keen (6)
RARING – [Initially] After Rehearsing in RING (band).
21 An American woman overseas? (6)
ABROAD – A BROAD (an American woman).
22 Obligation to include Simpsons at the start coming from Springfield? (5)
DUSTY – DUTY (obligation) including S{impsons} [at the start]. The popular singer, and icon of the 1960s.
23 Way to negotiate, we hear, after the end of recess (6)
STREET – [End of] {reces}S, TREET, sounds like TREAT (negotiate).
1 Set off and jumped (7)
STARTED – Double definition.
2 Shape could be broken brush old man at first put inside (7)
RHOMBUS – [broken] (brush)* outside O{old} M{an} [at first].
3 Bits of pulled chicken, perhaps? (9)
WISHBONES – Cryptic definition.
4 Fighting amongst navy in Gibraltar (5)
VYING – Hidden in, [amongst], naVY IN Gibralater.
5 One may be knocked down in the alley (7)
SKITTLE – Cryptic definition.
6 Bugs concealed in sap somehow (6)
APHIDS – HID (concealed) [in] (sap)* [somehow].
11 Len eating messily is uncouth (9)
INELEGANT – (Len eating)* [messily].
13 Tries travelling around Poles and places in between (7)
INSERTS – (Tries)* [travelling] [around] N,S (North, South; poles).
14 Guilt about TV detective (7)
REMORSE – RE (about) MORSE (TV detective).
15 Challenging worker after I provided food on the way back (7)
DEFIANT – I FED (provided food) reversed, [on the way back] -> DEFI, ANT (worker).
16 Loved a party? Communist (6)
ADORED – A DO (party) RED (Communist).
18 Put out any number inside (5)
ANNOY – ANY with NO (number) [inside].
Tougher than Felix’s today, I thought! Took me longer anyway. Very enjoyable, COD to LOI WISHBONES. I liked the nod to John. Thank you. Templar
ReplyDeleteThanks Templar. How could I resist DISINTERRED?
ReplyDelete17 clues completed. Thank you. Ian
ReplyDeleteThanks Ian and I hope you enjoyed the ones that you solved.
ReplyDeleteBusy tomorrow so slipped this in on Friday night. Fabulous puzzle - clever clues, no obscure words, nice variety, something for everyone and even a nod to the Saturday Special maestro himself. All done in 8 minutes, a rare sub-10 for the Saturday puzzles, and very much enjoyed. Many thanks Sawbill, and John, I look forward to seeing you and others on 24 June.
ReplyDeleteCedric
I am so pleased that I managed to pitch it about right in terms of difficulty (more luck than judgement, I suspect).
DeleteDear Sawbill - and John and Phil too
Delete"Pitching it about right" is the very hallmark of the Saturday crosswords. Their consistency is quite amazing - to put numbers to this, my times for the ordinary QC vary between 5 minutes and 25 minutes (or DNFs), and for the Saturday Specials between about 8 minutes and almost never more than 13. That really is a testament to the skill and care the three of you show to give us something to enjoy with no nasty surprises, and in 70+ crosswords I cannot remember ever feeling "that was a dud".
I remain impressed and grateful in equal measures
Cedric
Cedric, thank you. That really is reassuring for all three of us (and the others who road test our offerings).
DeleteLiked it muchly particularly FINISH but as Cedric said nice consistent smooth puzzle. Didn’t time it but around the 7 minute mark probably. Took a bit of getting used to the different format (kept looking down for the clues). I’m not averse to a bit a clue setting so appreciate the time that goes into these
ReplyDeleteThat was me, Dvynys
ReplyDeleteThankyou very much for the entertainment, Sawbill (and John).
ReplyDeleteI managed to get going relatively easily and made good-ish progress until my last few. These included ANNOY, RARING and ABROAD (my LOI). 22a (DUSTY) was cleverly worded and it was nice to see the reference to Mr Interred at 12a. Total time = 29 minutes, so I'm quite happy with that.
Introducing the Simpsons and Springfield seemed like a gift to me.
DeleteRARING, FAMOUS, and brilliant WISHBONES were standouts for me. Didn't see parsing for STRAWS but entered it knowing I was missing something-thanks for fun puzzle!
ReplyDeleteThanks, it’s lovely to see the ones that people enjoyed or struggled with so that I can bear it in mind next time.
DeleteThank you and, yes, FINISH was probably one of my three favourite clues.
ReplyDeleteSorry, that was a reply to dvynys
DeleteThank you vm, Sawbill. Managed to finish on line in 20mins. Enjoyed DUSTY esp. Are we still allowed to refer to Broads (Broad where a broad should be br-aw-ad)?
ReplyDeleteJust the right level.
Many thanks from Countrywoman.
You are probably right!
DeleteThanks Sawbill for a very enjoyable puzzle. Some nice cryptic clues for a relative beginner like me and then some lovely misdirections.
ReplyDeleteParticularly enjoyed 13d for the noun/verb switch and 23d for the complexity.
Your efforts and those of John and Phil are appreciated.
Thanks Ian. My first clue for STREET was a bit easy so I changed it.
DeleteDespite muddling up the wishbones/blighted crossover, we enjoyed this very much.
ReplyDeleteGlad you both enjoyed it.
DeleteEnjoyed this but struggled with 7ac “Famous”. It should have been easy, but I stupidly put Wingbones for 3dn, missing the cryptic element entirely.
ReplyDeleteI always thought 1ac was just “Straw” - so I was struggling a little with the plural element. Totally understand “straws” in relation to what you use for a drink - but maybe they’re just interchangeable.
Anyway, great fun as usual!
JamesEd46
Thanks, you are probably right about STRAW(S). I had 'Well know short, fat mouse' originally. Not sure if that makes it harder or easier. As to WISHBONES, pulled pork etc seems to be on every menu at the moment so I couldn't resist.
DeleteEnjoyed this ++
ReplyDeleteEnded largely in the SW but also skittles left dangling as misdirected to think of a word for alley.
PS enjoyed article from puzzle editor talking to US audience in recent Times (or following link from a letter I think ) where sawbill got an honourable mention.
Love the personal interactions on the tftt blog
Paul
Thanks, Paul. Glad you enjoyed it. I'm not sure Sawbill's mention was that honourable. Lol.
ReplyDelete