A Puzzle by Maitresse
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
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.
Welcome to Maitresse with her third Rookie crossword. This was an accomplished and well constructed crossword with only a few comments where the clues did not quite work. The commentometer reads as 2.5/28 or 8.9%.
Across
1a Trunk-based development? (3,5)
LOG CABIN: Cryptic definition of a home made from tree trunks.
5a Mathematician‘s folio: over half of material recycled (6)
FERMAT: The abbreviation for folio followed by the first five letters (over half) of material cycled around.
10a Perhaps loon burst airbeds (7)
SEABIRD: An anagram (burst) of AIRBEDS.
11a Madman in unpalatable part of Brazil maybe? (7)
NUTCASE: Double definition, the second part being the shell of something like a Brazil.
12a Throw out ex’s vast illicit collection – tapes, primarily (5)
EVICT: The initial letter (primarily) of the third to seventh words of the clue.
13a Columnist: No openings for hag – bony and gaunt (5,4)
AGONY AUNT: Remove the initial letters (no openings for) from the fifth, sixth and last word of the clue.
14a Good man with morals finds a way and means to listen to heart (12)
STETHOSCOPES: The abbreviation for saint followed by a five-letter word for morals and a five-letter word meaning finds a way.
18a Re statue: knob to be moved – funny old artist! (6,6)
BUSTER KEATON: An anagram (to be moved) of RE STATUE KNOB.
21a Travel as minister with cross, punctuated by time in east (9)
ITINERATE: A five-letter word meaning cross includes (punctuated by) the abbreviation for time, the IN from the clue and the abbreviation for east.
23a Stoop, like Viking released from trap (5)
DEIGN: A homophone (release from trap / mouth) of Dane (like Viking).
24a Lovelace’s skill, turning towards Leo, say (2,5)
AD ASTRA: The name of the computing pioneer Lovelace followed by a reversal (turning) of a three-letter word meaning skill.
25a Increasingly idiotic husband breaking watch (7)
THICKER: The abbreviation for husband inside (breaking) a six-letter word for a watch.
26a I’m Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman – sentimental number, Britney’s finale… (6)
TWEENY: A four-letter word meaning sentimental followed by the abbreviation for number and the final letter of Britney.
27a … while most naked, clutching top, for Toxic stuff? (8)
ASBESTOS: A two-letter word meaning while and the inner letters (naked) of most include a four-letter word meaning top.
Down
1d Change X to P in difficult crossword for one struggling with words (6)
LISPER: The ten-letter name of a difficult crossword with the TEN (x) changed to a P.
2d Contribution to solving rat issue without charge (6)
GRATIS: The answer is hidden (contribution to) in the third to fifth words of the clue.
3d Philosopher‘s Stone? Over in retail complex (9)
ARISTOTLE: The abbreviations for stone and over in an anagram (complex) of RETAIL.
4d What makes Midwest state a place to pick up nans? (6,8)
INDIAN TAKEAWAY: If you have the state of Indiana (Midwest state) and take the abbreviation for away. I don’t think that this quite works as A is not an abbreviation for away and you would otherwise need take a away.
6d Admission overheard: M’s successor could be Holly? (5)
ENTRY: A homophone (overheard) of N (M’s successor) tree (could be Holly).
7d My bad clue a map, somehow (3,5)
MEA CULPA: An anagram (somehow) of CLUE A MAP.
8d Study exposed burn, sit back with last of gauze (8)
TREATISE: The inner letters (exposed) of a six-letter word for a burn (small river) followed by a reversal (back) of SIT and the final letter (last) of gauze.
9d Relations coping – almost – acting as children’s guardians (2,4,8)
IN LOCO PARENTIS: An anagram (acting) of RELATIONS COPIN (coping almost). There is an issue with this clue as “acting” seems to be doing double duty as the anagram indicator and part of the definition.
15d Urinating essentially becoming forte in dogs’ happy place (5,4)
CLOUD NINE: A six-letter word for dogs’ with the A (urinating essentially – middle letter) becoming a four letter word meaning forte.
16d With respect, medal is a hollow non-achievement (8)
OBEISANT: A three-letter abbreviation for a medal followed by the IS and A from the clue and the outer letters (hollow) of non-achievement.
17d Judge‘s friend supporting loosening of ties (8)
ESTIMATE: A four-letter word for a friend underneath (supporting) an anagram (loosening) of TIES.
19d Striker selection overlooking Elliott – gutted (6)
PICKET: A four-letter word meaning selection followed by (overlooking) the outer letters (gutted) of Elliott.
20d Artist – David’s pupil – is nearly 6
INGRES: Another word for the answer to 6d with the final letter removed (nearly). I think that the definition is unnecessarily oblique with the reference to “David’s pupil”.
22d Shelling peas can take place in restaurant (3,2)
EAT IN: The inner letters (shelling) of peas followed by a three-letter word for a can. I think that the solution means to dine at home rather than to go out to a restaurant.
Apologies for the late arrival of the review. Caring duties as my wife recovers from knee replacement surgery has been taking priority.
A very clever and rather difficult puzzle that we had to use considerable electronic assistance to get sorted. However we did, without resorting to revealing letters, and enjoyed the challenge.
Thanks Maitresse.
A difficult in places but enjoyable accompaniment to my breakfast. Lots of clever stuff and only one clue I can’t parse
Thanks Maitresse and, in advance, to Prolixic
Really enjoyable with some innovative ideas – thanks to Maitresse.
4d is very clever but I don’t think it quite works.
I have lots of ticks on my printout including 11a, 23a, 25a and 22d. My favourite is 26a.
More like this please.
I found this very challenging particularly in the SE corner, but I really enjoyed the battle, Maitresse, and thought that this was your best submission yet.
– In 27a, why is Toxic capitalised and in italics?
– Presumably your intention with 4d is Indiana with an A taken away, but I can’t quite make this wordplay work.
– I think “David’s pupil” in 20a is both unnecessary and confusing. I would have solved “Artist is nearly 6” much quicker (and it would have been a far more concise clue!)
– I’m not convinced that the definition in 22d (“take place in restaurant”) actually defines the answer.
I had a lot of ticks with 23a my favourite closely followed by 1d.
Many thanks and well done on your continuing improvement, Maitresse. Thanks too in advance to Prolixic.
Rabbit Dave, the italics in 27 Across (reached Number 1) are there for the same reason as the italics in 26 Across (reached Number 2). Perhaps you’re more of a Kylie fan!
Ha! My music tastes are eclectic although for popular music I am more of a 60s/70s/80s man. I do however know I’m Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman by Britney but not the seemingly more successful Toxic!
Now the ellipses make sense!
Are you Maitresse? If so, welcome to the blog and congratulations on an excellent puzzle!
And it’s nice to have two linked clues that actually have some relevance to each other!
Welcome back, Maitresse.
I was very impressed with many of the clues and the cleverness of some constructions, I just felt that you occasionally tried to be a little too ambitious and I think 4d and 15d were examples of this. I’m all for inventiveness but, as I’ve said before, never be afraid to “murder your darlings” rather than stubbornly stick with a clue that may not quite work (4d) or have an unconvincing surface (15d). I did wonder if a Latin theme was developing with the solutions to 24a, 7d and 9d, but perhaps it’s just a coincidence.
Technically, I thought the puzzle to be very good indeed, I’m sure you’ll get a fairly low Commentometer score later. My favourite clue was 3d.
Many thanks, Maitresse.
Hello again, Maitresse, nice to see another puzzle from you. Have to say that I thought you’d dialled back on the difficulty this time, for which I was rather grateful, although you did include a couple of my pet hates – ‘my bad’ and the answer to 26a. I know that language keeps evolving but I’m too old to accept some of the new-fangled additions!
Favoured clues in this compilation were 23a plus 16,19&22d with a mention for the exposed burn in 8d.
Well done indeed, looks as though the commentometer will be kind to you this time.
Many thanks, Maitresse. We started off very well then slowly ground to a halt, mainly in the south. We shall look forward to Prolixic’s comments to understand one or two of your definitions. We look forward to your next one. Thanks also to Prolixic.
Many thanks for the review, Prolixic, and well done Maitresse – GO GIRL!
Thanks as always for the comments and encouragement, everyone! And many thanks to Prolixic for the review – I do hope your wife is recovering well.
I completely agree with the comments on 9D and 20D.
I hadn’t thought of the alternative meaning for 22D – it’s not a usage I’m familiar with, whereas I’m very used to being asked “Eat in or take away?” when I place a meal order in certain restaurants.
And talking of takeaway… In 4D the “a” was intended as part of the wordplay rather than part of the definition – i.e. Q: What makes Indiana a? A: Indian takeaway.
Thanks again for all the support. My fourth puzzle is already in the RC queue…
I did think about 4d. It’s a toughie kind of clue, which, I think, often if not normally helps indicate what is going on with some equivocation, such as ‘what might make Indiana a’. I’m no expert, but grammatically the solution seems to be in the wrong order and I didn’t think of a word that could be elided that would sort that out. Perhaps others might. Also some might take issue with the need to split the take from the away. It’s a nice idea but I would heed what Silvanus says about it.