A Puzzle by duncanjwitham
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The puzzle is available by clicking on the above grid.
Duncan returns to grace the NTSPP spot with a very fine puzzle. I thought the standard of clueing and surface reads excellent throughout. Thanks to him.
Across
1a Big jump from sheep dog (4,2)
RAMP UP: Male sheep plus (young) dog
5a Acting one's age, have reduced bad binge drinking (8)
BEHAVING: Have from the clue without its last letter inside BINGE* (bad). Very smart
9a Soon squirms following light taunts (8)
LAMPOONS: SOON* (squirms) after a type of light
10a Wager between two Poles in French city (6)
NANTES: Wager/stakes between opposing poles
11a Awfully, fellow listeners, melody playing out of key (10)
FEARSOMELY: Abbreviation for Fellow, the usual “listeners” plus MELOdY* (playing, out of key)
12a Bitter cold, offering blankets (4)
ACID: The abbreviation for Cold with offering/help around it (blankets)
13a Racecourse ignoring outsiders, encourages whips (8)
SCOURGES: Crosswordland’s favourite racecourse without its outside letters plus encourages/implores
16a Rubbish left on roadway (6)
DRIVEL: The abbreviation for Left on/after roadway/approach
17a Devastating smoke trails to begin receding (6)
TRAGIC: Smoke here is a noun. Follow it with the initial letter of Trails and reverse what you have (receding)
19a Significant film about a bloke with two mates? (8)
BIGAMIST: Significant/huge plus film/coat around A from the clue. Very nice
21a Maintain grip (4)
HOLD: Nice subtle double definition
22a Party with university friend at last (10)
EVENTUALLY: Party/do plus the abbreviation for University and friend/accomplice
25a Gotcha! Inspector grabs handcuffs (6)
CHAINS: Hidden (grabs)
26a Relish getting ready (8)
DRESSING: Double definition
27a Bug Americans might find after software program's arrival (8)
APPROACH: An American word for a bug often found in dodgy cooking establishments follows an abbreviated software programme
28a Rest and a lot of deep sleep for one having funny episodes (6)
SITCOM: Rest/lie plus a (very!) deep sleep without its last letter
Down
2d Saying "a deal?" occasionally gets 50% off (5)
ADAGE: A from the clue occasional letters of DeAl plus GEts (50% off)
3d Musician's agent brought up constant covers (5)
PIPER: Reverse the usual agent and place below a mathematical constant
4d One getting paid with considerable delay (7)
PROLONG: An abbreviated word for someone who is paid plus considerable/extensive
5d Players wanting change? Coach tinkers, dropping 3 up front (7)
BUSKERS: These players are musicians. A type of coach on wheels plus tinKERS. Excellent
6d Sweet husband spotted working earlier (7)
HONEYED: The abbreviation for Husband plus spotted/saw following the usual preposition for working
7d Graffiti in London Museum is getting extremely lukewarm coverage (9)
VANDALISM: London museum (not Tate!) plus is from the clue covered by LukewarM
8d Want lunch? Son noticed sandwiches on the counter (9)
NEEDINESS: The abbreviation for son and noticed/spotted reversed “sandwiches” lunch/have a meal
14d Wheels move slowly at first in goods vehicle (5,4)
CARGO SHIP: Wheels here is the informal name for a vehicle. Follow it with move/turn plus S(lowly) plus in/fashionable
15d More evil duo linger in disguise (9)
UNGODLIER: DUO LINGER* (in disguise)
18d These pensioners otherwise engaged in endless conversation (7)
CHELSEA: Otherwise/or inside conversation/natter without its last letter
19d Cut the loaf before getting spread (7)
BREADTH: THe following a bakery staple
20d Trenches made with good sound spades (7)
GUTTERS: The abbreviation for Good plus sound/say and the abbreviation for Spades
23d Hardy girl a rising talent (5)
ASSET: The usual (Thomas) Hardy girl plus A reversed
24d Drummer switches hands for technical phrases? (5)
LINGO: Beatles drummer swapping hands. Very nice indeed.
A lovely puzzle with smooth surfaces throughout – many thanks to Duncan.
It’s difficult to select a podium from such a fine selection but I’ll go with 7d, 8d and 14d.
This was absolutely terrific and a joy to solve from start to finish with superb surface readings all the way. There was even an American indicator to keep me happy. This puzzle would not have been out of place as a Thursday or Friday Telegraph back-pager.
Many thanks, Duncan. More like this soon please!
I took a while to get going but then found this an enjoyable post lunch solve
Thanks to Duncan and in advance to Stephen
Found it chewy in places but a top notch puzzle with great surfaces & ticks all over the shop. Tough to pick out a fav but 19a just edges 7d as my pick of a fine selection of clues.
Many thanks Duncan
Took me quite a while to justify some of my answers but this was an excellent challenge. From the mass of ticks on my sheet I eventually decided to give the top spot to 28a.
Many thanks to Duncan for a job well done.
A most enjoyable, competently put together puzzle with an excellent level of difficulty. Lots of ticks but we’ll award top spot to 19a.
Many thanks Duncan.
This took me a while to get going but eventually all clicked into place.
A few chuckles along the way too.
Favourites 19d, 23d & 24d — with 24d top as it made me chuckle too.
Thanks to Duncan
Pretty much what portcoquitlambc said.
Thanks, Duncan and Stephen.
Thanks for the comments everyone – glad you all seemed to enjoy it. And thanks for the review Stephen.
A Saturday evening diversion for me, which made a pleasant end to an already pleasant day of winter sunshine, and an all too rare outing on my bike. I possibly tick clues differently depending on the time of day I solve, and how alert I am, but at that late hour I selected 12, 17 & 22 across and 2, 5 & 19 down. I clearly wasn’t alert enough to parse 5a correctly, as I had latched on to ‘having’ as a synonym for ‘drinking’ (e.g. “What are you having?”), so my thanks to StephenL for putting me straight. I did enjoy the use of ‘in disguise’ as an indicator in 15d, but wasn’t so sure about the use of ‘technical’ in 24d as that suggests ‘jargon’ to me rather than the intended answer.
My thanks to duncanjwitham for a fine puzzle and to StephenL for the review.
Many thanks for the review, Stephen. Such a good puzzle but I still can’t completely accept 1a – probably ‘just me’ but it does niggle.