A Puzzle by Chalicea
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The puzzle is available by clicking on the above grid.
Chalicea tell us that twelve clues share a hidden theme – as usual with a Chalicea NTSPP, the theme isn't very hidden but there are several opportunities to say 'I didn't know that could also mean that'!!
Across
6a Thump Australian mate holding battle-axe essentially (7)
CLOBBER: An Australian friend 'holding' the 'essential' letter of battLe-axe
7a New unopened volumes in secluded retreats (5)
NOOKS: The abbreviation for New and some volumes without their first letter (unopened)
9a Small amphibian held by gentle veterinary (4)
EVET: The newt more usually known as an eft is hidden between the last two words of the clue
10a Mark of fashionable way of speaking about America (10)
INDICATION: The usual two-letter fashionable and a way of speaking go about the abbreviation for America
11a Appropriates money of ones who wake others after time (8)
TROUSERS: People who wake others going after the abbreviation for Time
13a Vigour and style and extremes of confidence to throw dart, say (6)
ELANCE: Some style and the 'extremes' of ConfidencE
15a Rage about equipment (4)
GEAR: An anagram (about) of RAGE
17a Washes away small cut-off twigs and branches (5)
SLOPS: The abbreviation for Small and twigs and branches of trees cut off
18a Cheekily, at first, imitate head (4)
CAPE: The first letter of Cheekily and a verb meaning to imitate
19a Zoroastrian holy scriptures somewhat grave statements (6)
AVESTA: Hidden between the last two words of the clue
20a Sadly dim scene of diseases confined to an area (8)
ENDEMICS: An anagram (sadly) of DIM SCENE
23a Freedom from restraint in empty pretentious truisms (10)
PLATITUDES: Freedom from restraint inserted into the outside (empty) letters of PretentiouS
26a Can name a simple-minded person (4)
LOON: Another word for a toilet (can) and the abbreviation for name
27a Says something breathlessly, nonsense, we're told (5)
PANTS: Double definition
28a Mixed mostly tropical fruit (7)
APRICOT: An anagram (mixed) of most of TROPICAl
Down
1d Surprising tug of roads for these infantrymen (10)
FOOTGUARDS: An anagram (surprising) of TUG OF ROADS
2d Force old boy to tell story about golf (6)
OBLIGE: The abbreviation for Old Boy and a verb meaning to tell a story, the latter going 'about' the letter represented by Golf in the NATO Phonetic Alphabet
3d Horse race endlessly returning reared animals (4)
BRED: A reversal of almost all (endlessly) of a horse race held in Epsom at the beginning of June
4d People, we're told, who steal clay marbles (8)
KNICKERS: The former name for clay marbles (as used by the Mayflower Pilgrims apparently) is a homophone (we're told) of people who steal
5d Child's bed needing a layer of paint (4)
COAT: A child's bed into which is inserted (needing) A (from the clue)
6d Provide for conservative sequence of cricket balls (5)
COVER: The abbreviation for Conservative and a sequence of cricket balls
8d Succeeded, currently, to halt flow in frozen polar cover (7)
SNOWCAP: The abbreviation for Succeeded, an adverb meaning currently and a verb meaning to halt flow
12d Lifted southern Japanese tin ware (5)
STOLE: The abbreviation for Southern and painted and lacquered Japanese tin ware
14d Collaborator in unusually comic place (10)
ACCOMPLICE: An anagram (unusually) of COMIC PLACE
16d European Parliament securing curiously novel cover (7)
ENVELOP: The abbreviations for European and Parliament 'securing' an anagram (curiously) of NOVEL
17d Most brainy son to spoil exam (8)
SMARTEST: The abbreviation for Son, a verb meaning to spoil and an exam
21d Catch sight of and condemn circling snakes finally (6)
DESCRY: A verb meaning to condemn 'circling' the final letter of snakes
22d Cuff originally crude bumpkin (5)
CLOUT: The original letter of Crude and a bumpkin There were lots of possible illustrations for this 'cloth' but this was one of the more tasteful
24d Metal on end of knife's sharp point (4)
TINE: A type of metal on the end of knifE
25d Daughter to tease person impeding progress (4)
DRAG: The abbreviation for Daughter and a verb meaning to tease
The ‘comment’ above the puzzle was 100% accurate but some pauses for thought were required both for completion and then identification of the solutions contributing to the theme.
I have twelve theme ‘members’ but I have ‘?s’ against two of them.
Smiles for 7a, 26a, 3d, 17d, and 22d.
Thanks Chalicea for the early Saturday morning entertainment with sips of caffeine required and thanks in advance to CS.
This was lovely fun. As usual with this setter, there were several new words for me but they were all clued very fairly, just needing a quick BRB check to confirm they exist (which of course they do!).
My only query relates to 27a. Is “we’re told” anything other than surface padding?
Senf has fared better than me regarding the theme. I found 11 items including one with a question mark.
With lots of ticks to choose from, my podium selection is: 2d, 4d & 17d.
Many thanks to Chalicea and in advance to CS.
RD has almost entirely pre-empted the comments I had thought to make – the differences being that I did find 12 items, including one with a question mark; and I just picked out one favourite, 2d, for it’s amusing, whimsical surface – as if you would need to force any golfer to tell a story!!!
My thanks to Chalicea and CS.
I sometimes wonder whether I’ll retain any of the new words Chalicea introduces us to – probably not, but I live in hope!
Just the twigs and branches that caused a slight delay and I hope Merusa doesn’t catch sight of the 27a slang – one of her pet hates.
Think I’ve got all the theme words, time will tell.
Thanks to Chalicea for the Saturday entertainment.
Thanks to Chalicea. Just like Jane, it took me a moment to twig the twigs and I have twelve but time will indeed tell.
We have just completed the puzzle and now need to look for the theme! We needed Google for 9a – and 1d was a word we weren’t familiar with but it was easily gettable from the clue. Thank you Chalicea and in advance to CS. Now for the theme …… now have 11 …
Think we have all twelve now!
The twigs was my last in. A number of unfamiliar words as per & completely forgot to look for a theme – a quick glance through but can only see 10. An enjoyable solve.
Thanks Chalicea.
Regarding the theme, what about 26a? Loon pants/trousers were a type of flared hipster trousers very popular in the 1970s – I remember them well.
I did wonder whether 26a and 27a were linked in the theme which is why I used the illustration I did for 27a
Maybe the setter did intend 26/27 to be linked together as one item? But to enhance the theme 26 could be loon (pants), a specific type of clothing, and 27 a separate generic one. That would be 13.
Chalicea always sends the highlighted grid to Mr K when she submits the crossword so she’s marked the solutions she considers to be part of the theme
Super puzzle, Chalicea. Most enjoyable indeed! I always look forward to your crosswords.
One new word for me and I didn’t realise that 22d was an item of clothing! I did, however, complete the puzzle with the correct parsing.
Thoroughly enjoyed reading your review Crypticsue. Loved the illustrations!
Big thanks to Chalicea and to Crypticsue.
Many thanks for the review, CS. It would seem that I didn’t choose exactly the same 12 as our setter but I did include ‘part’ words so I had the 19a vest in place of the slops and the 8d cap instead of the 6d cover. Ah well, Chalicea obviously knew what she had intended!
Thanks again to her, ‘see’ you again on Tuesday.
Great minds almost think alike !!! I had vest and cap at the expense of clout and cover.
Thanks to all, especially to crypticsue for those superb illustrations (especially tthe pants and the comical geometric knickers) and all the work that goes into the reviews. Indeed I had missed LOON. I like to use Mrs Bradford’s lists and she doesn’t have it in her garments. I tend to send a new one off when one is published and have just sent Mr K one that will have everyone struggling to find the hidden theme (it won’t appear for a few months – if he approves of it – as there will be aother before it).