I find that the crossword today is not only a little difficult but
also quite entertaining, with many clues evoking nice images and
employing good anagram signals, homophone indicators and so on. I am
devoting some time to write notes on across clues. Hope this is found
useful.
Across
1 One who might be expected to go through volumes (8) BOOKWORM
Cryptic definition
5 The boy is coming on a vessel — a Chinese one (6) SAMPAN Sam-pan
Vessel is first used in the sense of kitchen utensil. In the
definition "a Chinese one", vessel refers to boat
9 Poison — new variety — one pours out in a measure (7) ENVENOM
Poison is noun in the surface sense (that is, what the clue sentence
means when you just read it and before you proceed to work out the
answer) but it is also a verb and the answer envenom is a verb. Anag
of n v one in en (which means measure, more strictly a printing
measure)
10 Distraught blonde catches a man (3,4) OLD BEAN (man, fellow). a
inserted in anag of blonde Evokes the picture of boy-catches-girl, or
rather the other way about
11 Its whistle promises a cosy afternoon (3,6) TEA KETTLE Cryptic def
12 Article exposed by Tau is asafoetida (5) THING T-hing
13 Said to employ sheepish flock (4) EWES (sheep in plural) homophone
of use (employ)
14 Filled with wonder over a dud note's circulation (9) ASTOUNDED
anag of a dud note's Again, the clue evokes a plausible situation.
17 Kill white ant invading North Arcot (9) TERMINATE NA in termite
Invading is a good container signal
19 Almost out of bed? Here's Italian wine! (4) ASTI r cut off from
astir(out of bed) Evokes the picture of a drink being offered to
someone who starts the day with a drink
23 Wallace the novelist, for one (5) EDGAR (not Irving)
24 You may chill out with this (4,5) ICED DRINK (one may consider
iced water, but never fill in the answers until you're sure!)
25 Singing vaguely and absent-mindedly (7) LILTING
26 Old boy's remedy is unknown (7) OBSCURE OB's-cure
27 The most judicious is dumped in a nasty stew (6) WISEST is in anag
of stew. Is dumped in is a good container signal.
28 Doctor said, "Done." The throat complaint is still there! (8)
ADENOIDS. Anag of said done. Doctor is a noun in the surface sense.
But it is also a verb, meaning to chop and change and it is in this
sense that it is an anag signal.
C. Vasi
-Raapi
Posted by rajesh | 
« Home | Car Search » //-->
Add a comment: