A Puzzle by Maitresse
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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 Maitresse with her third crossword. It is good to note that a lot of the repetition of wordplay indicators in previous crosswords has been largely eliminated. The wordplay was generally accurate and the clues well-constructed but there were still quite a number of rough edges contributing to the commentometer of 4/28 or 14.3%
Across
1a Ms Moore halfway through mimosa – and not sober to begin with, learned People (12)
ACADEMICIANS: The first name of the actor Ms Moore half-way through a six-letter word for mimosa followed by the initial letters (to begin with) of not sober.
10a Rock music? (7)
LULLABY: Cryptic definition of the type of music sung when rocking a cradle.
11a Provost Richelieu shielding one incapable of flight (7)
OSTRICH: The answer is hidden (shielding) in the first two words of the clue.
12a Start to panic? One in debt might (5)
POWER: The initial letter (start) to panic followed by a four-letter word for someone in debt. Sadly, the word required for one in debt is not in the main UK dictionaries – it is only given as a Scottish word meaning over.
13a Approaching stern care for foster child (8)
REARWARD: Split 4,4, the solution might mean care for a foster child.
15a Fear of elevation as Lascar coup shook Beihai periodically (10)
ACROPHOBIA: The even letters (periodically) in fifth to eighth words of the clue.
16a Moon’s band not the focus of Voyager’s stop (4)
WHOA: The musical group that featured Keith Moon in their line up without (not) the the followed by the middle letter (focus) of Voyager.
18a One of the brass caught Murphy (4)
TUBA: A homophone (caught) of tuber (Murphy). I think that this is a little too indirect. You have to get from Murphy as slang for Potato and then Potato as an exemplar of a Tuber.
20a Selfish teacher taking day off for golf in Clapton, say (10)
EGOCENTRIC: A six-letter American word for a teacher with the D replaced by a G (taking day off for golf) all inside the first name of the first name of the guitarist whose surname Clapton. If you are using a specific American term, this should be indicated in the clue.
22a Inn in antique setting – Queen’s Head? Not here (8)
REPUBLIC: A three-letter word for an inn inside (in … setting) a five-letter word for an antique. Try to avoid repeating wordplay indicators – in was used as an insertion indicator in the previous clue.
24a Unopened shed and empty garage feature in garden (5)
HEDGE: The shed from the clue without the first letter (unopened) followed by the outer letters (empty) of garage.
26a Hopper perhaps, back to gather last of chinook, fleeced (7)
SKINNED: The first name of American actor Hopper reversed (back) includes the final letter (last) of chinook. Unless referring to the wind, Chinook should be capitalised.
27a Interminable with no mates when Friday’s passed (7)
ENDLESS: A ten-letter word meaning having no mates without (when…passed) the three-letter abbreviation for Friday.
28a Tinder: Suave male gone to seed – bad luck! (12)
MISADVENTURE: An anagram (gone to seed) of TINDER SUAVE M (male).
Down
2d Left boring Call of Duty with sore back, creating conflict (4,3)
COLD WAR: The abbreviation for left inside (boring) an abbreviation for Call of Duty followed by a reversal (back) of a three-letter word meaning sore. The abbreviation is using in computer gaming but is not in the main dictionaries so should not be used in the clue.
3d Indian city gripped by diphtheria: 40% drawing aid (8)
DIAGRAPH: The Indian city that is the site of the Taj Mahal inside (gripped by) the first four letters (40%) of diphtheria.
4d Broadcaster assembled first and third pairs of Russian dolls (4)
MAYO: The first pair of letters and the third pair of letters in matryoshki (Russian dolls).
5d Poles etc bound up with this spice problem? (5,5)
CLOVE HITCH: A five-letter name for a type of spice followed by a five-letter word for a problem.
6d Two sailors beheaded in place of sacrifice (5)
ALTAR: A four-letter word for a sailor and the three-letter word for a sailor each with the first letter removed (beheaded). As a matter of taste, it is probably better to avoid using beheaded in this way.
7d Pa’s chin to wobble and sag (7)
SPINACH: An anagram (to wobble) of PAS CHIN.
8d Stalks large shapes shifting around Northern Territory (8,5)
ELEPHANT GRASS: An anagram (shifting) of LARGE SHAPES around the abbreviation for Northern Territory.
9d Somerset’s good councillor, bagging lead role in Ibsen play, said to raise a smile? (7,6)
CHEDDAR CHEESE: The abbreviation for councillor includes a five-letter name of a titular role in one of Ibsen’s plays followed by the six-letter word said to raise a smile when taking a picture.
14d Shaving alone – wedding preparation is tedious (4-6)
LONG-WINDED: The inner letters (shaving) of alone followed by an anagram (preparation) of WEDDING. Some editors will not allow a noun such as preparation to be used as an anagram indicator.
17d Month we’d got no tips? Precisely (2,3,3)
ON THE DOT: Remove the first letters (no tips) from the first three words of the clue.
19d Pool cue for sinking cross-side on this occasion? (7)
BAPTISM: Cryptic definition of a Christian initiation ceremony
21d More embarrassed about end of Jane Doe, for one (3,4)
RED DEER: A six-letter word meaning more embarrassed around (about) the last letter (end) of Jane.
23d Deck boss after switching directions – it’s gratuitous? (5)
BONUS: The five-letter name of the person on a ship who is in charge of deck hands with the compass points exchanged (switching directions).
25d Nice summer supporting forecast: initially fair (4)
FETE: The French word for summer under (supporting) the initial letter of forecast.
A most enjoyable puzzle for us to solve although we did struggle (and a lot of Googling) to get 4d.
1a set the standard at the outset so we’ll give it top podium place despite there being plenty of other contenders.
Thanks Maitresse.
Thanks Maitresse for an enjoyable end to my week of cruciverbalism. A little head scratching needed for the ‘notable people.’
Smiles for 11a, 16a, 27a, 9d, and 14d.
Thanks again and thanks in advance to Prolixic.
Very enjoyable and not too tricky. My main problem came from trying to remember how to spell the Russian dolls so that I could find the correct pairs
Thanks very much Maitresse- more like this please – and in advance to Prolixic
Very enjoyable – many thanks to Maitresse.
I thought that 4d was slightly unfair with the two-stage process required.
I have many clues ticked including 12a, 16a, 20a, 27a and 25d.
I look forward to your next puzzle.
Very well done, Maitresse. In my opinion this is your best puzzle to date by far. Although I found the SW corner markedly tougher than the rest, the whole thing was a pleasure to solve.
I have only a few very minor comments:
20a – I’ve never heard of “docent” but according to the BRB it’s an American word.
26a – I think Chinook should be capitalised.
2d – I can’t find any reference to COD being an abbreviation for Call of Duty.
19d – Although the answer is obvious, I can’t parse this at all.
I have ticks all over my page with 12a, 22a & 27a climbing onto my podium.
Many thanks, Maitresse, and thanks too in advance to Prolixic.
After seeing Prolixic’s analysis of 19d, Maitresse is perhaps considering that the ‘occasion’ is the ‘total immersion’ version.
Welcome back, Maitresse.
This was in most respects an excellent puzzle, but I did feel on a couple of occasions (1a and 8d especially) that the clues possibly were a little too ambitious/wordy. Never be afraid to “murder one’s darlings”, if necessary! Prolixic will, I’m sure, rightly suggest that you avoid words like “beheaded” as first letter deletion indicators and I don’t like nouns used as anagram indicators plonked after the fodder, such as “preparation” in 14d. You will never see that in a Telegraph puzzle. Technically, there was little to fault so you should get a more than reasonable Commentometer score. My favourite clue was 23d.
Many thanks and congratulations, Maitresse.
Many thanks Maitresse for a most enjoyable puzzle. A decent level of challenge, some very good surfaces (although work needed on a good few) and plenty of fine technique on display.
Like RD I took issue with COD in 2d, and for me there were a few loose or slightly unfair definitions (eg 8d, 4d) and clues for which the parsing will be an education in the morning (eg 19d).
But otherwise a really good effort, thank you – and also of course in advance to Prolixic.
Many thanks for the review, Prolixic. I’m really enjoying following the progress of our new lady setter and reckon she’s certainly got what it takes.
Apologies for the late comment ….we really enjoyed the crossword, one or two problems but thanks to Prolixic we now understand some of the parsing that passed us by earlier. We look forward to your next one, Maitresse. Favourites were 15a, 27a, 6d and 25d.
Thank you as always for the review and the comments – greatly appreciated!
My 5th puzzle is already in the RC queue, and I’m looking forward to seeing how that one goes down.