A Puzzle by Buddy
+ - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - +
The puzzle is available by clicking on the above grid.
Buddy returns with, in my opinion, his best puzzle to date. Thanks to him
Across
7a Recount confirmed heads of Labour elected (9)
CHRONICLE: Confirmed in the sense of long lasting plus the heads/first letters of the following two words
8a Pass in a card game (5)
POKER: A synonym of pass/approve inside A in the sense of two a year maybe
9a Democratic testimonial ignoring Republican submission (9)
DEFERENCE: A single-letter abbreviation for Democratic? followed by a testimonial or citation without R
10a Trapped in limbo as I seek refuge (5)
OASIS: Hidden (trapped in)
12a Sound candid in conversation (6)
STRAIT: Homophone (sound) of candid or true
13a I have returned to sanctuary on church grounds (8)
EVIDENCE: Contracted form of I have rev. plus sanctuary/lair plus one of the abbreviations for church. The “to” here is superfluous
14a Follow Greek character getting into lift (7)
EMULATE: An insertion of a Greek letter into lift or cheer
17a Shooting pains set back fencing arm (7)
TWINGES: Set from the clue rev. fencing or containing arm/branch
20a Individual record added to network (8)
DISCRETE: Record musically plus a Latin term for network.
22a Withdraw from decathlon, left leg failing badly (6)
DETACH: Anagram (badly) of decathlon after the removal of L and a cricket synonym of leg
24a Composition from South America briefly heard on the radio (5)
ESSAY: A homophone of how you would abbreviate South America. Very nice
25a Tearful Farah restricted by cracked toenail (9)
EMOTIONAL: The given name of the athlete around which is an anagram (cracked) of TOENAIL
26a How a germaphobe limits risk (5)
WAGER: Nicely hidden (limits)
27a Plan for grand strike on Middle East (9)
PROGRAMME: For/in favour of plus G plus strike/hit plus abbreviated Middle East. Very good
Down
1d Indulgence carries hint of hidden danger (6)
THREAT: Indulgence or delight around the first letter of hidden
2d Foolishly, while receiving oxygen Dave lit match (8)
DOVETAIL: DAVE LIT around O*
3d Ponder the implications of synopsis (6)
DIGEST: Double definition
4d Stock closed, dropping one point (7)
CLICHED: Closed or completed dropping one (compass) point. Nice surface read and misdirection
5d Find mounting depression over spoiled tea (6)
LOCATE: Geographic depression rev. plus TEA*
6d Pedestrian faltering? Come ride! (8)
MEDIOCRE: COME RIDE* (faltering). I'm not sure if the question mark breaks the parsing here.
11d Struggle with appearance (4)
VIEW: Struggle/contend plus abbreviation for With
15d Key player to pause Under the Sea
MAINSTAY: Pause (as in an execution) below a synonym of the sea
16d Corner targeted regularly (4)
TREE: TaRgEtEd. The solution, along with the definition, is a verb
18d Sensible king turning to new general (8)
NATIONAL: Sensible/logical with an abbreviation for king becoming that of New
19d Lost men surrounded by bleak country (7)
DENMARK: MEN* inserted into bleak/worrying. I think two three-letter anagrams in the Down clues isn’t ideal
21d Persuaded company to sack director (6)
COAXED: Abbreviated COmpany plus (to) sack/cut plus abbreviation for Director
22d Second childhood party leads to tantrums and grouchy elders (6)
DOTAGE: The usual party plus the initial letters of final four words in the clue. We already have leads to/starts to in 7a so personally I would avoid repeating it
23d Sweaty, like an introvert? (6)
CLAMMY: Double definition, one whimsical
Very enjoyable with lots of penny drop moments – many thanks to Buddy.
Ticks from me for 8a, 12a, 4d, 22d and 23d.
An enjoyable challenge but caffeine required on my Saturday morning!
Smiles for 12a, 17a, 11d, and 22d.
Thanks Buddy and thanks in advance to Stephen L.
This was excellent thank you, Buddy. It was certainly challenging, particularly in the NW corner, but I really enjoyed it. I am however utterly mystified by the defintion “corner” for 16d.
The network in 20a was new to me, so I needed to confirm it in my BRB.
With ticks aplenty on my page, 8a was my favourite.
RD – did you also check the 20d answer in your BRB? And, according to an e-search the two words ‘can be synonyms, but only in one very specific verb sense: when meaning to force a hunted animal or person into a place with no escape.’
20d?
I checked 16d but thought it must be some sort of joke. Who on earth uses the word to “tree” meaning to drive into a tree? (An American perhaps?!) In any case, what has that got to do with “corner”? I can’t see anything under “corner” either which offers any explanation.
Enjoyably challenging
Thanks to Buddy and, in advance to Stephen
Very enjoyable, 4d took me an age to see. 8a was my favourite. I await further insight on 16d. Thanks to Buddy.
Some lovely surfaces from Buddy in a tricky puzzle with as many pennies dropping as a jackpot from a slot machine! I’m with RD in that the NW corner provided my biggest challenge, and with Jonners on 4d taking an age and being my LOI. I was happy to have my entries for ‘network’ and ‘corner’ confirmed by the dictionary as I was familiar with neither. My Across and Down podium places are largely determined by the surface readings I enjoyed most: 14, 22 & 25 and 2, 18 & 21 respectively.
My thanks to Buddy for providing a fun challenge and, in advance, to StephenL.
We were defeated by 4d so a DNF for us. However we did enjoy the puzzle and have lots of ticks on our sheets.
Thanks Buddy.
By pure coincidence, in the book I was reading last night a bloodhound tree’d the person it was searching for, meaning that he’d found the lost old lady he’d been asked to find, so it wasn’t really a case of ‘cornering’ prey
We found the NW corner the most difficult and we were defeated on 4d. Google helped with 16d and 20a. Favourites are 13a and 5d. Many thanks to Buddy and StephenL
A tough challenge but very enjoyable. Needed the hints for 4d & 7a so no unaided finish.
Thanks both.