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 Sawbill's 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 click the label below.
Hints and tips...
Here are a few hints and tips.
- In 4A "new" is the anagram indicator.
- The "house" in 11A is an astrological term.
- You need to separate "Marks and Spencer" in 15A to find the definition and wordplay.
- 3D uses the German word for "a".
- The McKellen at 4D is an actor known for his Shakespearean interpretations.
- In 14D "so-called" is a soundalike indicator.
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 Composer taking taxi back to hotel (4)
BACH – CAB (taxi) [back] -> BAC + H (hotel in the phonetic alphabet).
4 Unusual details with nothing new (8)
ISOLATED – Anagram [new] of DETAILS + O (nothing).
8 Fine or feeling fragile? (8)
DELICATE – Double definition.
9 Russian leader in Arts movement (4)
TSAR – (Arts)* [movement].
10 Character in Barnet hospital (5)
ETHOS – Hidden in BarnET HOSpital.
11 Arachnid without tail found in house (7)
SCORPIO – SCORPIO{n} (arachnid) without the last latter [without tail]. House as in sign of the zodiac.
13 A deer's swimming in area of water (3,3)
RED SEA – (A deer’s)* [swimming].
15 Marks and Spencer initially supply satin (6)
STAINS - Spencer [initially] + (satin)* [supply]. Sneaky. You have to separate “Marks and Spencer” to get the definition.
18 Red mark allowed (7)
SCARLET – SCAR (mark) + LET (allowed).
20 Work a long while on Marriage of Figaro, say (5)
OPERA – OP (opus; work) + ERA (a long while).
23 Side starts to try everything at match (4)
TEAM – Initial letters [starts to] of Try Everything At Match.
24 Storyteller on Scottish island going left then to right (8)
NARRATOR – ARRAN (Scottish island) [going left] -> NARRA + TO + R (right).
25 Went with new decor and set (8)
ESCORTED – [New] (décor set)*.
26 Not odd a number failed to start (4)
EVEN – {s}EVEN (a number) [failed to start].
Down
2 Ready for beer, right? (5)
ALERT – ALE (beer) + RT (right).
3 Horrible unfinished building a German inhabits (7)
HEINOUS – EIN (a in German) inside [inhabits] HOUS{e} (building) [unfinished].
4 McKellen getting to grips with Romeo in a state (4)
IRAN – R (Romeo in the phonetic alphabet) in IAN (McKellen).
5 Not bright having too many players? (8)
OVERCAST – Double definition, the second a cryptic hint.
6 Change 2d somehow? (5)
ALTER – (alert)* [somehow]. Using the answer from 2d for the anagram.
7 Joy from aunt, say, after Republican lost (7)
ELATION – {r}ELATION (aunt, say) without the R (Republican).
10 Remove the front of expensive organ (3)
EAR – {d}EAR (expensive) without the first letter [remove the front].
12 Tom going around Swiss city getting wine (8)
CABERNET – CAT (Tom) [going round] BERNE (Swiss city).
14 Outperforms old so-called top-rated players (7)
EXCEEDS – EX (old) + CEEDS sounds like [so-called] SEEDS (top-rated players).
16 Had to keep quiet - one is serene (2,5)
AT PEACE – ATE (had) outside [to keep] P (piano; quiet) + ACE (one in a suit of cards).
17 Brief argument in Bath? (3)
SPA – SPA{t} (argument) without the first letter [brief]. The ? indicates a definition by example.
19 I'm wearing short jumper for lover (5)
ROMEO – ME (I) ‘m inside [wearing] ROO [abbreviation for; short] KANGAROO (jumper).
21 Right on perfect French river (5)
RHONE – R (Right) + HONE (perfect, the verb).
22 Raised issue as part of leader board flipped over (4)
BRED – Reverse hidden [as part of… flipped over] in leaDER Board.
1 Composer taking taxi back to hotel (4)
BACH – CAB (taxi) [back] -> BAC + H (hotel in the phonetic alphabet).
4 Unusual details with nothing new (8)
ISOLATED – Anagram [new] of DETAILS + O (nothing).
8 Fine or feeling fragile? (8)
DELICATE – Double definition.
9 Russian leader in Arts movement (4)
TSAR – (Arts)* [movement].
10 Character in Barnet hospital (5)
ETHOS – Hidden in BarnET HOSpital.
11 Arachnid without tail found in house (7)
SCORPIO – SCORPIO{n} (arachnid) without the last latter [without tail]. House as in sign of the zodiac.
13 A deer's swimming in area of water (3,3)
RED SEA – (A deer’s)* [swimming].
15 Marks and Spencer initially supply satin (6)
STAINS - Spencer [initially] + (satin)* [supply]. Sneaky. You have to separate “Marks and Spencer” to get the definition.
18 Red mark allowed (7)
SCARLET – SCAR (mark) + LET (allowed).
20 Work a long while on Marriage of Figaro, say (5)
OPERA – OP (opus; work) + ERA (a long while).
23 Side starts to try everything at match (4)
TEAM – Initial letters [starts to] of Try Everything At Match.
24 Storyteller on Scottish island going left then to right (8)
NARRATOR – ARRAN (Scottish island) [going left] -> NARRA + TO + R (right).
25 Went with new decor and set (8)
ESCORTED – [New] (décor set)*.
26 Not odd a number failed to start (4)
EVEN – {s}EVEN (a number) [failed to start].
2 Ready for beer, right? (5)
ALERT – ALE (beer) + RT (right).
3 Horrible unfinished building a German inhabits (7)
HEINOUS – EIN (a in German) inside [inhabits] HOUS{e} (building) [unfinished].
4 McKellen getting to grips with Romeo in a state (4)
IRAN – R (Romeo in the phonetic alphabet) in IAN (McKellen).
5 Not bright having too many players? (8)
OVERCAST – Double definition, the second a cryptic hint.
6 Change 2d somehow? (5)
ALTER – (alert)* [somehow]. Using the answer from 2d for the anagram.
7 Joy from aunt, say, after Republican lost (7)
ELATION – {r}ELATION (aunt, say) without the R (Republican).
10 Remove the front of expensive organ (3)
EAR – {d}EAR (expensive) without the first letter [remove the front].
12 Tom going around Swiss city getting wine (8)
CABERNET – CAT (Tom) [going round] BERNE (Swiss city).
14 Outperforms old so-called top-rated players (7)
EXCEEDS – EX (old) + CEEDS sounds like [so-called] SEEDS (top-rated players).
16 Had to keep quiet - one is serene (2,5)
AT PEACE – ATE (had) outside [to keep] P (piano; quiet) + ACE (one in a suit of cards).
17 Brief argument in Bath? (3)
SPA – SPA{t} (argument) without the first letter [brief]. The ? indicates a definition by example.
19 I'm wearing short jumper for lover (5)
ROMEO – ME (I) ‘m inside [wearing] ROO [abbreviation for; short] KANGAROO (jumper).
21 Right on perfect French river (5)
RHONE – R (Right) + HONE (perfect, the verb).
22 Raised issue as part of leader board flipped over (4)
BRED – Reverse hidden [as part of… flipped over] in leaDER Board.
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