A Puzzle by ALP
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The puzzle is available by clicking on the above grid.
As usual, the setter will be delighted to receive feedback from you, the solvers. We do ask that you remember that for most setters this is a new experience, so please only offer constructive criticism.
Sadly, this will be my last blog of an ALP rookie crossword. After a couple of truly excellent crosswords, the pages of the NTSPP beckon. The commentometer reads as 1/30 or 3.3%.
Across
1a Curate‘s egg spoiled a zinger (8)
ORGANIZE: The letter that looks like an egg followed by an anagram (spoiled) of A ZINGER.
6a Tips from Twmbarlwm required to tackle “smooth” puzzle (6)
TEASER: The outer letters (tips from) of Twmbarlwm around (to tackle) a four-letter word meaning smooth.
9a Björk’s dotty accent (6)
UMLAUT: The name of the diacritical sign above the o in Björk’s name.
10a Night-time power cut leaves a period of little illumination (4,4)
DARK AGES: A four-letter word meaning night-time followed by a five-letter word for the leaves of a book from which the P has been removed (power cut).
11a Do all the talking to control date (4,5)
HOLD COURT: A four-letter word meaning to control followed by a five-letter word meaning to date someone.
13a Cheap underwear doesn’t breathe very well (5)
PANTS: Triple definition.
15a Filter waste water into tin, collecting litre (6)
SPLEEN: A three-letter word for urine inside (into) the chemical symbol for tin into which you insert (collecting) the abbreviation for litre.
17a Some of Parma’s carabinieri use this to enhance appearance (7)
MASCARA: The answer is hidden (some of) in the third and fourth words of the clue.
18a Intimate grunt (7)
PRIVATE: Double definition, the second being a soldier.
19a Wynne’s final foxtrot: fair or feeble? (6)
EFFETE: The final letter of Wynne followed by the letter represented by foxtrot in the NATO phonetic alphabet and a four-letter word for a fair.
21a Thrash vulgar scamp’s backside for a bit of tomfoolery (5)
PARTY: A five-letter word meaning vulgar has a P (scamp’s backside) replacing the initial T (a bit of tomfoolery).
22a Pub boozer downs last of ale in all but frenzied state (9)
MINNESOTA: A three-letter word for a pub and a three-letter word for a boozer go around (downs) the last letter of ale with all the letters then put inside (in) a three-letter word meaning frenzied with the final letter removed (all but). As a counsel of perfection, perhaps having A into B (15a) and A in B here is using two very similar insertion indicators.
25a Energetic hooker exhausted frail celebrity (4,4)
FOLK HERO: An anagram (energetic) of HOOKER FL (the outer letters (exhausted) of frail).
26a Count on space explorer to swamp Twitter now with muscle (6)
EXPECT: The abbreviation for extraterrestrial (space explorer) around (to swamp) the name by which Twitter is now known and a three-letter word for a muscle.
28a Picked up ring for young swimmer (6)
CYGNET: A homophone (picked up) of signet (ring).
29a Break ground in outskirts of Gloucester, possibly to lay new fibre (8)
RESTRING: A four-letter word for a break followed by an anagram (ground) of IN GR (the outer letters (outskirts) of Gloucester).
Down
2d Beat butter (3)
RAM: Double definition.
3d Trophy wife inspired by self-help group heads for remunerative divorce (5)
AWARD: The abbreviation for wife inside (inspired by) the abbreviation for alcoholics anonymous (self-help group) followed by the initial letters (heads for) of the last two words of the clue.
4d During Trump’s primary, Republican voters turned into lone wolves? (10)
INTROVERTS: A two-letter word meaning during followed by the first letter (primary) of Trump, the abbreviation for republican and an anagram (turned) of VOTERS.
5d Last stop on half-done tour ending in failure (6)
ENDURE: A three-letter word meaning stop followed by the final two letters (half-done) of tour and the final letter (ending in) of failure. As noted, having the first three letters of the solution forming part of the wordplay indicator is not ideal.
6d Loon knocked up duck? (4)
TARP: A reversal (knocked up) of a four-letter word for a loon or silly person.
7d Landslide victory secured by a gangster over an old rebel (9)
AVALANCHE: The abbreviation for victory inside (secured by) the A from the clue and the two-letter name of an American gangster followed by the AN from the clue and the three-letter name of an rebel guerilla leader.
8d Stricken high flyer’s moving furniture? (7,4)
EJECTOR SEAT: Cryptic definition of a means of escape for a pilot.
12d Left-wing paper reported on Conservative’s “starry” viewpoint (11)
OBSERVATORY: A homophone (reported) of Observer (left-wing paper) followed by a four-letter word for a Conservative.
14d What could have caused thsi restaffing supply? (3,7)
FAT FINGERS: An anagram (suppy) of RESTAFFING.
16d Fond message from Barbie, perhaps in a Valentine’s card? (4-5)
LOVE-TOKEN: Split 4,3,2 this would be Barbie’s message to her boyfriend.
20d Doctor Zhivago ultimately laid bare Yuri’s hardship (6)
RIGOUR: A three-letter word meaning to doctor followed by the final letter (ultimately) of Zhivago and the inner letters (laid bare) of Yuri.
23d Dandy‘s drink with old queen (5)
SUPER: A three-letter word meaning drink followed by the regnal cipher of the previous queen.
24d Touched cloth (4)
FELT: Double definition.
27d Nick Clegg’s No.1 groupie blows top on Facebook (3)
CAN: The first letter (No 1) of Clegg followed a three-letter word for a groupie with the initial F (top on Facebook) removed (blows).
A clever puzzle that gave us lots of chuckles and penny-drop moments as the answers slowly emerged. However we were finally defeated by 6d and even after revealing the answer, still cannot understand the definition.
Many ticks on our pages but we’ll have to give the gold medal to 14d.
Thanks ALP.
A crossword full of clever sneakiness, from the definition of 1a onwards. Like the 2Ks, I had to reveal letters in 6d but did know that meaning of ‘duck’ . I too would award the gold medal to 14d
Thanks ALP and, in advance, to Prolixic
A really enjoyable puzzle with many 23d clues – thanks to ALP.
I found the right-hand side trickier than the left and, like 2Ks, I didn’t know the 6d ‘duck’ (although I think I’ve found it using Google).
I particularly liked 10a, 21a, 22a, 14d and 16d but my favourite (for the d’oh moment when I twigged the answer) was 8d.
That was fun, with some great clues. I particularly liked 9a, 27d, 1a, 3, 4d, 8d and 14d.
There were a couple that were fine but felt like ‘old friends’: 7d and 24d.
In 5d it wasn’t ideal to use ‘ending’ in a clue where END was part of the answer.
I wasn’t so sure about the cryptic reading of ‘power cut leaves’ in 10a, though it’s clear what you are wanting us to do.
In 25a would ‘Energetically’ be better?
I too wasn’t sure of the meaning at 6d.
Overall this is an excellent puzzle: the few points above are minor suggestions only!
Many thanks. I can’t – and don’t – quibble with much, if any, of that. I could kick myself over “ending”. That clue changed so many times and I clearly developed word blindness at the death. Now, of course, it’s the only word I can see on the page! Ta lots.
Welcome back, ALP.
I said the last time you appeared here that it was your best puzzle so far; well, in my opinion this one is even better!
I have ticks all over my printed page, but I give my “douze points” to 22a for having both a clever construction as well as an excellent surface. I liked the topicality of certain clues, especially 19a, and I’m sure that my fellow back-page setter will enjoy his mention in 6a.
All in all, a fantastic puzzle. Congratulations.
Blimey. That is extraordinarily kind, Silvanus. And a massive relief to boot. Thank you. May i just say on behalf of all fellow Rookies (and without wanting to sound too toady-ish) just how much we appreciate your continued overview of RC. Ta lots and, of course, non-grudging respect!
Enjoyed that very much indeed, ALP, though defeated by 6d, which was new to me. A few parsings I shall be interested to read and understand tomorrow. Good surfaces, rather challenging, plenty of wit, nice variety of clue types. Sniggered at 25a, joined on the honours board by 8d & 16d, with runners-up 14d & 20d. I never really think of 7d as being a landslide, am still uncertain about “to tackle” meaning “bung ’em on the outside”.
But very well done and thank you, with muchos gratitude also to Prolixic.
Thanks for the puzzle ALP, very entertaining.
Favourites were 22a, 25a, and 16d.
Thanks again, and in advance to Prolixic.
Welcome back to Rookie Corner, ALP. As others have said, this is your best offering to date. Some of it was quite challenging but not impenetrable like your previous puzzles. Most importantly, it was great fun to solve.
I don’t understand the definition for 5d nor what role “possibly” is playing in 29a.
I had ticks all over my page with too many to list them all.
Very well done, ALP, and thank you for the splendid entertainment.
Welcome back, RD – hope you’ve had a good holiday. A number of Americanisms have slipped by silently under the radar during your absence! 5d – the definition is “last” in verb form, such as in to persist, continue, or remain. I thought it was very well hidden.
Sorry, Mustafa. I got that one. It was a typo. I meant 6d!
PS. I’m glad I missed the Americanisms, and I also understand I missed the heinous castle!
Ha, I did suspect you meant 6d. And I did fully expect to raise some eyebrows with “duck”. But it is in Chambers, right at the bottom. I only kept it in because it so irritated my very smart, ornithological father who remains outraged by the biologically impossible suggestion that a loon could impregnate a duck! If you have 10 seconds to waste (10s of your life you will never get back) this link might help. https://tarpaulinsshop.co.uk/product-category/canvas-tarpaulins/
Welcome back indeed RD. And there was me girding my loins to defend 1d’s ‘Z’! That’s all incredibly kind of you, thank you. Re 29a’s “possibly”, I just felt the “to lay” needed some indication/justification. But I’m delighted to hear this was less impenetrable than before. I do listen – promise!
A superb puzzle, as many above have already commented. I shall read the hint for 21a with interest. I have an answer, but I’m not convinced it is right.
Ticks all over the page with a double tick for 14d.
Congratulations, ALP. I would be astonished if this is not your last puzzle in RC. Promotion surely beckons.
Wow, Shabbo. What a lovely comment. I only wish I shared your optimism! Huge thanks.
Crikey. Remind me never to doubt Shabbo ever again. Not that I ever did, of course, bar this one time. HUGE thanks to Prolixic, whose words of wisdom have dragged me, kicking and screaming, towards the light. Your guidance has been invaluable after my shonky beginning and dodgy middle. Sincere and humble thanks. To Mr K, too, who has the patience of ten saints. I still have much to learn, of course, as my “ending” clearly showed. 5d will haunt me for some time to come. And thank you to everyone who has indulged me throughout my many missteps. Your feedback has been enormously helpful, and beyond generous. I can but hope you’ve all, by now, forgotten my utterly miserable debut. I only wish I could! Wow. What a lovely surprise. Thank you.
I am not surprised to see promotion, ALP, given what you have been producing regularly in another place. Many congratulations. It is well-deserved.
PM
Ha! That’s amazingly kind of you PM, thank you.
(But you HATED my last one – quite rightly!!)
I’m no pedant, ALP, but I didn’t actually say I hated it; just that I was utterly beaten by it! You appear to be somewhat kinder to the folks over here.
I was only teasing! You are, in no way, a pedant. Oh, I used to be unkind here too. You can imagine how that went!
Congratulations, ALP, well deserved and I really look forward to seeing your contribution some future Saturday, or even elsewhere. Just don’t forget your old muckers back here in the BD comment pages when you’ve achieved fame and fortune with your name up “in lights”.
Thanks MG, what a lovely thing to say. Up in lights? Well, possibly above an asylum!
ALP. Congratulations on your “promotion”. I never got round to tackling this (your last I presume) RC puzzle but I have just had a quick run through the clues, H&Ts and comments and have a query about 6a. I must be missing something either very obvious or obscure because you’ve written it, P has OK’d it and nobody else has mentioned it! I was wondering how the outer letters (tips from) Twmbarlwm (a Welsh hill/crossword setter) trigger TR in the answer? Be “kind” with your reply. Thank you.
It’s the tips from Twmbarlwm Required that are needed.
Ah, yes. I should have been able to suss that out myself really. I got a brain freeze (again) because of the slight omission in the hint. Maybe I’m getting too old for this game? Thank you.
Many congrats – as Shabbo predicted. Hadn’t read the review so had no idea.