Posted by twencelas on August 27th, 2011
A tricky one this week from Nestor, with a good use of different vocabulary to direct or mis-direct the solver.
I found this quite a slog – an enjoyable 27 clues, picked off as a series of singles over an hour or two of partial concentration. I did like 1 down, a little risque but a lovely clue. 3 down too, whilst surprisingly simple, it took a little while for the penny to fully drop. 23 down also deserves a mention.
As to anything hidden in the grid – TAT OR ALE RAGS in the last 2 unchecked columns is my best effort, which the puzzle most certainly was not. Many thanks Nestor. My only quibble is why did 19 across have the plural of daughters when a single daughter is all that is required in the word play?
As I will be in Chamonix, when this appears, I may not get the chance to respond to your comments, as my “smartphone” is not smart enough to display the comments.
Rev: Reverse, * (Anagram)
8 Rev[R (resistance) + OHM (its unit) ] in ALE (drink) = ARMHOLE (opening above flank)
9 (O(opposite) + P(prompt) + rakes) * = PRESOAK (steep up front)
11 Rev (RISk (danger mostly) = SIR (baronet)
12 LITTLE (small) around (indicated by dresses) (PICKS)* = LICKSPITTLE (Flatterer)
13 GAINS (gets) + AID (benefit) = GAINSAID (Denied)
14 AS (since) in (indicated by welcomed) WEE (diminuitive) + L (liberal) = WEASEL (Deceiver)
16 Cryptic definition – POINT OF NO RETURN (As in tennis)
19 REAR (bring up) + D (Daughters – not sure why this is pluralised) around (indicated by embrace) G (good) = REGARD (Respect)
20 PEAL (set of changes as in bell ringing) around R (run) + SON (lad)n = PERSONAL (Of an intimate nature)
22 (CREW TO)* in (indicated by coverage) ON ICE (being suspended) = ONCE OR TWICE (A few times)
25 Reversed hidden in suGGEstions = EGG (Quaint kind of person)
26 Rev(E (European) + FUSSIER (more particular) – F (folio) ) = REISSUE (something published again)
27 EM (measure) + PRESS (news medias) = EMPRESS (Powerful woman)
1 (AS A RULE ORGASM + P(pressure))* = MASSAGE PARLOUR (Here as a rule orgasm may be arranged)
2 EMBRYO (developing form) + LYING (one being deceitful) – Y – Y (twice omitting year) = EMBROILING (getting involved in conflict)
3 (E + S + O + F + L + W)* Initials of1st six words = FOWLES (Author of French Lieutenant’s Woman)
4 KEY (Important) replacing R (Queen) for Y (Yen) + CHIEF (Head) = KERCHIEF (Head covering? For an Englishman at the beach)
5 P (piano) in lOUSy (middle parts of lousy) = OPUS (Composition)
6 BED (Plot) + IVE (I have condensed) + RE (concerning) = BEDIVERE (Knight as in SIR BEDIVERE)
7 WON (Succeeded) + T (Trader’s first) = WONT (Custom)
10 (eg or in Tomsk ill)* = KREMLINOLOGIST (Expert in Moscow)
15 SQUARER (less swinging) around (DEN)* = SQUANDERER (Profligate)
17 TO RISE (To rocket) around TO = TORTOISE (Slow mover)
18 Rev – indicated by Northern (RENO straddling NILE) = ONE-LINER (Crack as in joke)
21 SPY (Observer) around – denoted by keeps LEE (the protected area) = SLEEPY (Like a backwater)
23 CHIN-CHIN(toast) losing half = CHIN (It moves when chewing)
24 Rev (KT (knight) around ER (monarch)) = TREK (Difficult travel)