Explanations: No. 14653 – Saturday, 17 December 2011
Please feel free to leave a comment below. If you have a question about today’s puzzle I am sure that I, or a fellow solver, can answer it for you.
How did you fare with this crossword?
1 Two-cents novel, not the outer one with the gold (7,6)
“Two-cents” novel (CONTEST W) not the outer (INNER) = CONTEST WINNER: one with the gold.
10 Favourite that turns up in a kind of bear (7)
In “a kind of bear” (POLAR) turns “up” (PU) = POPULAR: favourite that.
11 More alarming mark on the skin, that is red initially (7)
Mark on the skin (SCAR) that is (IE) “R-ed” initially (R) = SCARIER: more alarming.
12 11 ring, backing the senator (4)
Ring (O) the senator, ‘sen’, backing (NES) = ONES: 11.
13 It’s often a smaller map in the collection (5)
In (IN) the collection (SET) = INSET: it’s often a smaller map.
15 Crazy old Penny, back there at sea (4)
Old penny (D) back there at sea (AFT) = DAFT: crazy.
17 It might be air or glass alternately (3)
G-l-A-s-S alternately (i.e. every second letter) or = GAS: it might be air.
19 Make certain the Poles heard you interrupting before (6)
Before (E-RE) interrupted by “the poles” “heard ‘you’” (NS-U) = ENSURE: make certain.
21 Boats stay back, outside the church (6)
“Stay” back (YA-TS) outside “the church” (CH) = YACHTS: boats.
22 Someone who doesn’t believe in a ploughed field (7)
In (IN) a ploughed “field” (FIDEL) = INFIDEL: someone who doesn’t believe.
23 Noble little bird was out in front (6)
Little bird (TIT) was out in front (LED) = TITLED: noble.
25 A range in Spain? Yes, in Spain and unusually rare (6)
“Yes” in Spain (SI) and unusually “rare” (ERRA) = SIERRA: a (mountain) range in Spain.
27 Transportation bonus on leaving (3)
Bonus (B-on-US) “on” leaving (-ON) = BUS: transportation.
29 Sounds like one who aches for a fair amount of land (4)
One who aches (ACHER) sounds like, for = ACRE: a fair amount of land.
30 It’s crazy except for my ending (5)
Except for (BAR) “my” ending (MY) it’s = BARMY: crazy.
31 At the minute, we hear tea makes a lot of money here (4)
At “the minute” (MIN) we hear “tea” (T) = MINT: makes a lot of money here.
34 The atmosphere at 1:51, pal! (7)
At 151 (CLI) pal (MATE) = CLIMATE: the atmosphere.
35 The shape we see the doctor in, switching hours? (7)
In “switching ‘hours’” (RHO-US) we see the doctor (MB) = RHOMBUS: the shape.
36 Just heard this athlete, strangely went back in the ship (3,6,4)
THE LATE-S(T NEW)S
“Athlete” strangely (THE LATE) went back, ‘tnew’, in the ship, ‘SS’ [S(TNEW)S] = THE LATEST NEWS: just heard this.
2 Subdue nothing with quiet media (7)
Nothing (O) with “quiet” (P) media (PRESS) = OPRESS: subdue.
3 The pioneer rings the Italian for the joust (4)
The pioneer (T-T) rings “the” Italian (IL) for = TILT: the joust.
4 Resolute saint, wrong being beheaded (6)
Saint (ST) “w-RONG” being beheaded, i.e. chop off the first letter, the ‘w’ (RONG) = STRONG: resolute.
5 Destroys the west, and the east’s beaten (6)
The west (W) and the “east’s” beaten (ASTES) = WASTES: destroys.
6 A snooze outside ‘e gets between each spring? (4)
A snooze (N-AP) outside “‘e” (E) gets = NEAP: between each spring (tide)?
7 Some final words, seeing a pit with a piano inside, eh? (7)
Inside “eh” (E-H) a “pit” with “a piano” (PIT-A-P) seeing = EPITAPH: some final words.
8 There’s a demonstration for new potters in the morning, at the arch (1,7,5)
A (PROTEST) M-ARCH
In “the morning, ‘AM’” “new ‘potters’” [A(PROTEST)M] at the arch (ARCH) for = A PROTEST MARCH.
9 Belief in favour of a trial with those against the motorway (13)
In favour of (PRO) a trial (TEST) with “those against” (ANTIS) the motorway (M) = PROTESTANTISM: belief.
14 Visa misplaced by our deliverer (7)
“Visa” misplaced (SAVI) by “our” (OUR) = SAVIOUR: deliverer.
16 Friday, we hear Edie cooked (5)
Friday (FRI) we hear “Edie” (ED) = FIRED: cooked.
18 A five, a fifty and one five-hundred, all genuine? (5)
A five (V) a fifty (A L) and “one” “five-hundred” (I D) = VALID: genuine.
20 Finish and send the first off (3)
Send (s-END) the first off (drop the first letter, the S) = END: finish.
21 You all, a shilling is agreed (3)
You all (YE) a shilling (S) is = YES: agreed.
24 Grow dull and pitch Ulster’s and Holland’s capital (7)
Pitch (TAR) Ulster’s (NI’S) and “H-olland’s” capital (H) and = TARNISH: grow dull.
26 Lots of colours in a row … first class take note! (7)
In “a row” (R-OW) “first class” “take note” (AI-NB) = RAINBOW: lots of colours.
27 To a degree, what’s left is mostly uncovered (6)
To “a degree” (BA) what’s left (REST) is = BAREST: mostly uncovered.
28 The good sense to find the market in the ship (6)
In “the ship” (S-S) the market (MART) to find = SMARTS: the good sense.
32 Sale announced that’s essential to 21-across (4)
“Sale” announced = SAIL: that’s essential to YACHTS.
33 A little money for one in a scam (4)
In “a scam” (C-ON) one (I) for = COIN: a little money.