A Puzzle by someguyinthefridge
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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.
Welcome to someguiyinthefridge who, as well as having the most bizarre pseudonym, has a good eye for setting a crossword. There were a handful or minor points that are mostly polishing. The commentometer reads as 2.5 / 30 or 8.3%.
Across
1a Broke mother living in small outhouse (7)
SMASHED: A two-letter word for mother inside (living in) the abbreviation for small and a four-letter word for an outhouse.
5a Rates cold girls (7)
CLASSES: The abbreviation for cold followed by a six-letter word for girls.
9a Record‘s all about me, oddly (5)
ALBUM: The odd letters in second to fourth words of the clue.
10a Celebrity eats small cake and cycles for wealth (9)
ABUNDANCE: A three-letter word for a celebrity includes (eats) a three-letter word for a small cake and the letters in and cycled around. The cryptic grammar does not really indicate that both the small cake and the cycled letters in and are inserted.
11a Partners help workers (10)
ASSISTANTS: A six-letter word meaning help followed by a four-letter word for worker insects.
12a Best bowl knocked over (3)
TOP: Reverse (knocked over) a three-letter word for a bowl.
14a Excitedly took Chambers for cryptic setting? (3,9)
THE BACKROOMS: An anagram (excitedly) of TOOK CHAMBERS. I think that the definition is somewhat obscure.
18a Juniors arranged boundaries about time and speed (12)
SUBORDINATES: An anagram (arranged) of BOUNDARIES around (about) the abbreviation for time followed by an abbreviation for speed. I cannot find a reference in the main UK dictionaries to S being used as an abbreviation for speed.
21a Allow first half of message (3)
LET: A six-letter word for a written message with half the letters removed.
22a Reducing fat (10)
SHORTENING: Double definition.
25a Bit of the magic vibration (9)
TWITCHING: The first letter (bit) of the followed by an eight-letter word for magic.
26a Clergymen exposed crime (5)
ARSON: Remove the outer letters (exposed) of a seven-letter word for clergymen.
27a Dutch male collects black vacuum cleaner part (4,3)
DUST BAG: A two-letter abbreviation for Dutch and a four-letter word male includes (collects) the abbreviation for black.
28a Friend chasing baby perfectly (7)
TOTALLY: A four-letter word for a friend after (chasing) a three-letter word for a baby.
Down
1d Healer‘s fake article (6)
SHAMAN: A four-letter word meaning fake followed by a two-letter indefinite article.
2d American president’s surprise (6)
AMBUSH: A two-letter abbreviation meaning American followed by the four-letter surname of one of that country’s presidents.
3d Part of Earth‘s border is quietly present (10)
HEMISPHERE: A three-letter word for a border followed by the IS from the clue, the abbreviation for quietly and a four-letter word meaning present.
4d Show doctor with a degree (5)
DRAMA: A two-letter abbreviation for a doctor followed by the A from the clue and a two-letter abbreviation for a post-graduate degree.
5d Animal group is 50% accurate when moving (9)
CRUSTACEA: An anagram (when moving) of S (50% of is) ACCURATE.
6d Relieves disease (4)
AIDS: Double definition.
7d Support ban (8)
SANCTION: Double definition.
8d Sharpest fencing weapon put up between two stones (8)
STEEPEST: A reversal (put up) of a four-letter word for a fencing weapon inside (between) the abbreviation for stone twice.
13d Unimportant train lever moved (10)
IRRELEVANT: An anagram (moved) of TRAIN LEVER. Try to avoid repeating wordplay indicators. Moving was used as an anagram indicator in 5d.
15d Blasting glow filling internet browser (9)
BLIGHTING: A five-letter word for a glow inside (filling) a four-letter word for an internet search engine. I think that the browser would be Edge or its equivalent. The word required in the solution is a search engine rather than the browser itself.
16d One very old Democrat is lonely (8)
ISOLATED: The letter representing one followed by a two-letter word meaning very, a four-letter word meaning old and the abbreviation for Democrat.
17d Sebastian, awkward and lacking energy, avoids voting (8)
ABSTAINS: An anagram (awkward) of SEBASTIAN after removing the letter E (lacking energy).
19d Silent after ruining Christmas decoration (6)
TINSEL: An anagram (after ruining) of SILENT.
20d Business sample of collagen cylinders (6)
AGENCY: The answer is hidden (sample of) in the last two words of the clue.
23d True fear when topless (5)
RIGHT: Remove the first letter (when topless) from a six-letter word meaning fear.
24d Primarily something covering a bleeding (4)
SCAB: The initial letters (primarily) of the last four words of the clue.
It all went together smoothly for us with plenty of smiles along the way. 25a gets our top podium spot.
Thanks someguyinthefridge.
Just as a general comment, can I say how much I value your comments and I read every post. If you enjoy the puzzle, I always seem to; if you struggle, so do I!! I am a full time carer for my wife and I don’t have all the time in the world to do the puzzles so, the lead I can take from you is invaluable. Thanks
Thanks deebee.
Welcome to Rookie Corner someguy. My experience was similar to the 2Kiwis.
Smiles for 12a, 28a, 4d, and 8d.
Thanks again and thanks in advance to Prolixic.
Welcome to Rookie Corner, SGITF. This was a fine debut. It was light and fun to solve with admirably brief clueing and mostly smooth surfaces. I very much doubt that this was your first cryptic crossword.
I am not sure if “primarily” can apply to a single letter as in 24d. I will be interested in Prolixic’s take on this.
Many thanks, SGITF, and very well done. I look forward to your next submission.
Welcome,
A very gentle debut puzzle, but I’d much rather see one like that than one that it is too ambitious or trying too hard to be cryptic. It was a pity that “moving”/”moved” was repeated as an anagram indicator (in the space of five clues), but these things can easily occur and need to be watched. I would have preferred the clue for 26a to read “Crime clergymen exposed” so that there is no doubt as to the definition and the wordplay. Those minor points aside, I thought the puzzle was very sound technically and I look forward to your next one.
Many thanks, SGITF.
That was most enjoyable, SGITF and welcome. Some good, clear cluing and my favourite was 1a, which went straight in.
Thank you, SGITF for a fun addition to the cruciverbal day.
The review will be posted later today as I was out at a jolly at the Royal Albert Hall last night.