A Puzzle by Tater
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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 back to Tater with another well-constructed crossword. The commentometer is a commendably low 1.5 / 29 or 5.2%.
Across
6a Frank – about to leave after all (5)
SINCE: A seven-letter word meaning frank without (to leave) a two-letter word meaning about.
7a Stretching apparatus for trainers (4,4)
SHOE TREE: Cryptic definition of an item used to stretch footwear.
10a Unsettled feeling outdoors (4-3)
OPEN-AIR: A four-letter word meaning unsettled or unfinished followed by a three-letter word for a feeling.
11a Investigate Treasury after cut back (7)
EXAMINE: A four-letter word for a treasury or source of wealth after a three-letter word meaning cut that has been reversed (back).
12a Maroon sailor with no returning (7)
ABANDON: The abbreviation for able seaman (sailor) followed by a three-letter word meaning with and a reversal (returning) of the NO from the clue.
13a Plain advertising – broadcast both sides of Ilfracombe (7)
PRAIRIE: A two-letter word for advertising followed by a three-letter word meaning broadcast and the outer letters (both sides) of Ilfracomble.
14a Smiley character possibly performing centre stage (6,5)
SECRET AGENT: An anagram (performing) of CENTRE STAGE.
19a Dare could be given verbally (4,3)
READ OUT: A reverse anagram where the solution is an anagram of DARE and a three-letter anagram indicator.
21a Bath say, private following altercation (3,4)
SPA TOWN: A three-letter word meaning private after (following) a four-letter word for an altercation.
23a Moderate Tories quit leaderless sailing outfit? (3,4)
WET SUIT: A four-letter word for moderate Tories followed by the quit from the clue without the first letter (leaderless).
25a Sky-high cost East End blonde discussed with Spooner (7)
AIRFARE: A Spoonerism of FAIR ‘AIR (how an Cockney might describe blonde).
26a Anaesthetised mature adolescent (8)
UNDERAGE: A five-letter word meaning anaesthetized followed by a three-letter word meaning mature.
27a Object after special pay-out (5)
SPEND: A three-letter word meaning object or aim after the abbreviation for special. Try to avoid repeating wordplay indicators. After was used as a positional indicator in 11a.
Down
1d Keen developing tips for joint protection (8)
KNEECAPS: An anagram (developing) of KEEN followed by a four-letter word for tips.
2d Could be red letter day named in error (6)
DEMAND: The abbreviation for day followed by an anagram (in error) of NAMED.
3d Alum feasibly provided by a good man round hospital department (10)
ASTRINGENT: The A from the clue followed by the abbreviation for saint (good man), a four-letter word meaning round and a three-letter abbreviation for a hospital department.
4d Completely hammered flat? (4)
HOME: Double definition. I think that the first part is a little too indirect to be fair.
5d High-ranking title Picasso may have used crossing Italy (6)
SENIOR: The term for a Spanish man such as Picasso around (crossing) the IVR code for Italy.
6d Trademark found in journal adopted by old hospital (6)
SLOGAN: A three-letter word for a journal inside (adopted) by the abbreviated form of sanatorium (old hospital).
8d Brief lecture with a short opener for afternoon treat maybe (7)
TEACAKE: A five-letter word meaning to lecture with the final letter removed (brief) followed by the A from the clue and a three-letter word for something that is used to open with the final letter removed (short).
9d Safe church foundation (5)
PETER: Double definition.
13d Fruity figure gone wrong (4-6)
PEAR-SHAPED: Double definition.
15d Cork factory shutdown (7)
CLOSURE: Double definition.
16d Penny is seen to be deceitful (3-5)
TWO-FACED: Double definition. Four double definitions in a row, even if some are partly cryptic gives the crossword an unbalanced feel.
17d Piece about right cracker? (5)
PRAWN: A four-letter word for a chess piece around (about) the abbreviation for right.
18d Denied fiddling for sure (6)
INDEED: An anagram (fiddling) of DENIED.
20d Pay for entertaining chapter supplying dramatic opening (3,3)
ACT ONE: A five-letter word meaning pay for around (entertaining) the abbreviation for chapter.
22d This clue isn’t primarily a clue relying on something subtle! (6)
ACROSS: The initial letters (primarily) of the final six words of the clue.
24d Type of green beverage liked at first (4)
TEAL: A three-letter hot beverage followed by the first letter of liked.
Thank you Tater for another entertaining finish to my weekend of cruciverbalism; a couple of parsings that elude me so I will have to wait for the wisdom of Prolixic to explain them.
Plenty of smiles for 7a, 13, 25a, 13d, 22d, and 24d.
Thanks again and thanks in advance to Prolixic.
We had to work rather hard to sort out this competently put together puzzle. Lots of ticks on our pages but we’ll go with 22d as favourite.
Thanks Tater.
One of those crosswords that was a lot friendlier at the bottom than it was at the top. My favourite clue was 9d and I have one clue I can’t parse
Thanks very much to Tater and in advance to Prolixic
I thought this was excellent – a fun challenge to solve and I anticipate a low commentometer score!
With lots of ticks on my page, I will just mention 7a, 11a (my last to parse), 13a, 14a, 26a, 9d & 15d as my top picks.
Very well done and many thanks, Tater.
A very entertaining puzzle – thanks to Tater.
I have lots of ticked clues including 11a, 19a, 23a, 16d and 20d.
Good morning all and thanks for the nice comments.
I think I might be able to eat my brekky now
I’d love to know which parsings were causing bother. I was expecting a cry of “too easy”
Many thanks, Tater. We need Prolixic’s review as there are a few we can’t fully parse. Favourites were 13a, 6d and 16d. More, please and thanks in advance to Prolixic.
Thanks for your thanks and doing the puzzle.
Quite cheered me up today.
Welcome back, Tater.
As others have said, this was good fun to solve. Apart from being not too happy about two short words in the same clue (8d), I didn’t really have any other reservations of note.
Small tip: never be worried that a puzzle you create is too easy, but always be worried that it might be too hard.
Many thanks.
Thanks, I always appreciate your comments.
As a chap of modest solving abilities, I never like the idea of setting a clue I might have difficulty solving myself if the tables were turned.
Thanks Prolixic, much appreciated.
I suppose I should have done something about the DD’s, but the clues jumped at me as I wrote them and seemed too neat to make me think of changing one (or two).
I thought this was a pretty good puzzle, Tater. I enjoyed it very much, and it certainly challenged my little grey cells.
I have many ticks on my printout. My top selection is 6a, 13a, 23a, your 25a Spoonerism, and 26a; 13d, 16d, 17d and 22d. My favourite is 9d.
Many appreciative thanks, Tater and very well done!
Grateful thanks as always to Prolixic for the excellent review.
Cheers Catnap – nice of you to pick out so many faves.