Explanations: No. 14782 – Thursday, 17 May 2012
I hope you enjoyed today’s puzzle!
1 Showing indecision he is the one colonist with only half (10)
He is the one (HE’S IT) colonist (ANT) with “on-ly” half (LY) = HESITANTLY: showing indecision.
6 Drill for one who isn’t the life of the party (4)
Drill (BORE) for “one who isn’t the life of the party” (BORE).
10 A second little bit to strike down (5)
A second (S) little bit (MITE) = SMITE: to strike down.
11 Well I never desire one of those (5,4)
Desire (FANCY) one of those (THAT) = FANCY THAT: well I never.
12 One in competition at the end for part of fish given to elite (8)
Part of fish (FIN) given to “elite” (A-LIST) for = FINALIST: one in competition at the end.
13 Less excited about small rug from the East (5)
“About” “small rug” (RE MAT) from the East, read in the other direction = TAMER: less excited.
15 Country road reconstructed with old European money at first (7)
“Old European money” at first (ECU) “road” reconstructed (ADOR) = ECUADOR: country.
17 Snowball fight? (4,3)
Just a cryptic definition, an old chestnut …
19 Correct about the Spanish Kindle, again (7)
Correct (R-IGHT) about “the” Spanish (EL) = RELIGHT: kindle, again.
21 Has an aggressive approach towards current expenditures? (7)
Current (AC) expenditures (COSTS) = ACCOSTS: has an aggressive approach towards?
22 Not very hard for copper reluctant to meet people (5)
Copper (CU) reluctant to meet people (SHY) for = CUSHY: not very hard.
24 Editor flushed with stage presence (8)
Flushed (RED) with “stage presence” (ACTOR) = REDACTOR: editor.
27 I am in a race to produce energy (9)
In “a race” (A N-ATION) I am (I’M) to produce = ANIMATION: energy.
28 Man who goes deep for fish close to Mayo (5)
Fish (BASS) close to “May-o” (O) for = BASSO: man who goes deep.
29 Light gas one mixed with nitrogen (4)
“One” mixed (NEO) with “nitrogen” (N) = NEON: light gas.
30 A lot less than one hole for a drink of course? (10)
A lot less than one (NINETEENTH) hole for a drink of (golf) course (NINETEENTH).
1 One throwing party for legion (4)
One throwing party (HOST) for “legion” (HOST).
2 Religious head of school takes Greek character to church service (9)
Head of “s-chool” (S) takes “Greek character” (PI) to “church service” (RITUAL) = SPIRITUAL: religious.
3 Letters from front he takes first to Thermopylae? (5)
Letters from “fron-T HE TA-kes” = THETA: first to Thermopylae? (theta is the Greek “th” sound).
4 Start to notice if level is cooler (7)
Start to “n-otice” (N) if level (IF TIER) is = NIFTIER: cooler.
5 Eccentric in a cult (7)
Eccentric “in a cult” = LUNATIC: eccentric.
7 Go back with poor actor producing our old writing (5)
“Go” back (OG) with “poor actor” (HAM) producing = OGHAM: our old writing.
8 Venture to type in ‘use a lever’ (10)
To type in (ENTER) use a lever (PRISE) = ENTERPRISE: venture.
9 Higher pressure number is costly to adjust (8)
“Is costly” to adjust = SYSTOLIC: higher (blood) pressure number.
14 The French run with cheap bananas for little one (10)
“The” French (LE) “run” with “cheap” bananas (PRECHAUN) for = LEPRECHAUN: little one.
16 Maybe boxer carries this facility when full? (5,3)
Maybe boxer carries this? (DOGGY BAG) facility when full? (DOGGY BAG).
18 State not completely sage argument against wrong (9)
Sage, ‘wis-e’, not completely (WIS) argument against (CON) wrong (SIN) = WISCONSIN: state (in the US).
20 Ends part of the school year at home, with illness initially (7)
Part of the school year (TERM) at home (IN) with “I-llness” initially (I) = TERMINI: ends.
21 Not so fast with initial stake (7)
With (AND) initial stake (ANTE) = ANDANTE: not so fast.
23 Sly, not quite to the end, I leave town (5)
“Sl-y” not quite to the end (SL) I leave (I GO) = SLIGO: town.
25 Charlie on the radio qualified for television option (5)
“Charlie” on the radio, in the phonetic alphabet (C) qualified (ABLE) for = CABLE: television option.
26 You don’t say and become quiet (4)
Become (GO) quiet (SH) and = GOSH: you don’t say.