Phil Jordan, Sawbill and I are continuing to produce our series of Weekend Quick Cryptic crosswords. We take turns, publishing one a fortnight, and this week it's my turn.
You can find a link to the crossword here and the answers below.
Feel free to leave any comments or questions here as you would do on
TfTT
.
You can find an index to the complete series of crosswords here.
Before looking at the answers, if you would like some additional help with the clues or finding the Nina, click the label below.
Hints and tips...
Here are a few hints and tips.
- Take a look at the publication date to see the theme
- There are a number of other answers that can have the answer to 1A in front to make another thematic word or phrase.
- In 8A "besieged by" indicates an inclusion of "University" in "many".
- 12A refers to a nickname of New York.
- 17A has a 6 word definition in order to be precise as the answer is a relatively new word.
- In 22A you need to split "service area".
- 1D is a groan-worthy sound-alike clue.
- The footballer in 3D's first name is Lionel.
- 11D requires a less common spelling of the answer. Be sure to check the letters of the anagram all appear in it.
- The first name of the actress in 15D is Keira.
And click on this label to get the solution.
Definitions
underlined in bold italics, (
Abc
)* indicating anagram of Abc,{deletions} and [] other indicators.
Across
1 Might of former prime minister (3)
MAY – Double definition, the second Theresa May.
3 Sputtering pale flame is national emblem (5,4)
MAPLE LEAF – [Sputtering] (pale flame)*. National emblem of Canada.
8 University besieged by many ill-mannered youths (5)
LOUTS – LOTS (many) outside, [besieging], U (university).
9 The truth about early IT (7)
REALITY – [About] (early IT)*.
10 Les devouring bananas eats too many (12)
OVERINDULGES – (Les devouring)* [bananas].
12 Technology company that's big in New York? (5)
APPLE – Double definition, the second a cryptic hint based on the nickname of New York as “The Big Apple”.
14 Rock band's powerful piece (5)
QUEEN – Double definition, the second a chess piece.
17 Condescendingly describing to her the details of fresh planning aims (12)
MANSPLAINING – [Fresh] (planning aims)*.
19 Cutting article was recalled by mediocre journalist (7)
HACKSAW – WAS reversed, [recalled], -> WAS after, [by], HACK (mediocre journalist).
21 Home rental with coastline feature (5)
INLET – IN (at home; home) + LET (rental, the noun).
22 Died after service area destroyed (9)
MASSACRED - MASS (church service) + ACRE (area) + D (died).
23 One appearing regularly in diary (3)
DAY – Semi-&lit. Alternate letters of, [appearing regularly in), DiArY.
Down
1 Thought at length about broadcast to Eastern European country (7)
MOLDOVA – Sounds like, [broadcast], MULLED OVER (thought at length about).
2 In short, who's solving this puzzle? (5)
YOU'RE – Who’s solving the puzzle? YOU ARE, [in short], -> YOU’RE.
3 State of confusion is Argentine footballer's nature, perhaps? (9)
MESSINESS – Nature of {Lionel) MESSI (Argentine footballer) might be MESSINESS.
4 Airborne soldier central to cadets march-past (6)
PARADE - PARA (airborne soldier) + middle letters of, [central to], cadet.
5 Leader of attendants supporting queen for a long time (3)
ERA – First letter, [leader of], Attendants under, [supporting], ER (queen).
6 Some revile yeomen with hostile glance (4,3)
EVIL EYE – Hidden in rEVILE YEomen.
7 Clever sort of fastener (3)
FLY – Double definition
11 Sadly, losing time, I quit field producing kind of petroleum gas (9)
LIQUIFIED – [Sadly] (I qui{t} field)*, without, [losing], the T (time). More usually spelt with an E in the middle, this is a valid alternative spelling.
13 Quietly organised church's dances (7)
PRANCES – P (piano; quietly) + RAN (organised) + CE’S (church’s).
15 Award-winning actress on the radio every evening (7)
NIGHTLY – Sounds like, [on the radio]. (Keira) KNIGHTLY (award-winning actress).
16 Rose maybe beginning to feel let down (6)
FLOWER – First letter of, [beginning to] Feel + LOWER (let down).
18 I was at the front and took it easy (5)
IDLED – I’D LED (I was at the front).
19 What's up over maiden's skirt feature? (3)
HEM – EH (what?) [up] -> HE + M (maiden in cricket score notation).
20 Openings for seasonal personnel at health resort (3)
SPA – Initial letters of, [openings for], Seasonal Personnel At.
1 Might of former prime minister (3)
MAY – Double definition, the second Theresa May.
3 Sputtering pale flame is national emblem (5,4)
MAPLE LEAF – [Sputtering] (pale flame)*. National emblem of Canada.
8 University besieged by many ill-mannered youths (5)
LOUTS – LOTS (many) outside, [besieging], U (university).
9 The truth about early IT (7)
REALITY – [About] (early IT)*.
10 Les devouring bananas eats too many (12)
OVERINDULGES – (Les devouring)* [bananas].
12 Technology company that's big in New York? (5)
APPLE – Double definition, the second a cryptic hint based on the nickname of New York as “The Big Apple”.
14 Rock band's powerful piece (5)
QUEEN – Double definition, the second a chess piece.
17 Condescendingly describing to her the details of fresh planning aims (12)
MANSPLAINING – [Fresh] (planning aims)*.
19 Cutting article was recalled by mediocre journalist (7)
HACKSAW – WAS reversed, [recalled], -> WAS after, [by], HACK (mediocre journalist).
21 Home rental with coastline feature (5)
INLET – IN (at home; home) + LET (rental, the noun).
22 Died after service area destroyed (9)
MASSACRED - MASS (church service) + ACRE (area) + D (died).
23 One appearing regularly in diary (3)
DAY – Semi-&lit. Alternate letters of, [appearing regularly in), DiArY.
1 Thought at length about broadcast to Eastern European country (7)
MOLDOVA – Sounds like, [broadcast], MULLED OVER (thought at length about).
2 In short, who's solving this puzzle? (5)
YOU'RE – Who’s solving the puzzle? YOU ARE, [in short], -> YOU’RE.
3 State of confusion is Argentine footballer's nature, perhaps? (9)
MESSINESS – Nature of {Lionel) MESSI (Argentine footballer) might be MESSINESS.
4 Airborne soldier central to cadets march-past (6)
PARADE - PARA (airborne soldier) + middle letters of, [central to], cadet.
5 Leader of attendants supporting queen for a long time (3)
ERA – First letter, [leader of], Attendants under, [supporting], ER (queen).
6 Some revile yeomen with hostile glance (4,3)
EVIL EYE – Hidden in rEVILE YEomen.
7 Clever sort of fastener (3)
FLY – Double definition
11 Sadly, losing time, I quit field producing kind of petroleum gas (9)
LIQUIFIED – [Sadly] (I qui{t} field)*, without, [losing], the T (time). More usually spelt with an E in the middle, this is a valid alternative spelling.
13 Quietly organised church's dances (7)
PRANCES – P (piano; quietly) + RAN (organised) + CE’S (church’s).
15 Award-winning actress on the radio every evening (7)
NIGHTLY – Sounds like, [on the radio]. (Keira) KNIGHTLY (award-winning actress).
16 Rose maybe beginning to feel let down (6)
FLOWER – First letter of, [beginning to] Feel + LOWER (let down).
18 I was at the front and took it easy (5)
IDLED – I’D LED (I was at the front).
19 What's up over maiden's skirt feature? (3)
HEM – EH (what?) [up] -> HE + M (maiden in cricket score notation).
20 Openings for seasonal personnel at health resort (3)
SPA – Initial letters of, [openings for], Seasonal Personnel At.
The thematic answers are MAY DAY, PARADE, FLY, APPLE (yes there is such a thing as a MAY APPLE), QUEEN, HEM and FLOWER.
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