Quite a nice puzzle from Vulcan. Surfaces tell plausible stories. Too many good clues to list, but especially liked PROVIDENCE and OBNOXIOUS for their neat wordplay.
ACROSS
1 Area surrounding Delaware’s state capital (10) PROVIDENCE (PROVINCE outside DE)
6 Appeal to press (4) URGE (DD)
10 Opposed for an extended period of time, disappointed (4-5) LONG-FACED (FACED for LONG)
11 Dissatisfaction of European Union over lost ground (5) ENNUI (E + UNIoN*)
12 Right-handed reserve makes it into grand final in the end (7) DEXTRAL (EXTRA inside D, L)
13 Complaint from Polish appellants mainly (7) RUBELLA (RUB + ELLA)
14 New word in some lingo — weird (9) NEOLOGISM (SOME LINGO)*
16 I am 22 and need it to survive (5) DOUGH (DD)
18 A delicacy from his U.S. cook (5) SUSHI (HIS US)*
20 Bridge team’s idea essentially working (9) GANGPLANK (GANG + PLAN + K)
23 I passed through Rhone! A tourist attraction in the Mediterranean (7) RIVIERA (I inside RIVER + A)
26 Metal ring — the protection for broken limb (7) THIMBLE (THE outsie LIMB*)
27 Desire to run (5) DRIVE (DD)
28 Floored by England’s Last Queen — nearly rapt with wonder (9) PARQUETED (D + QUEEn + RAPT)*
29 Primary // metal (4) LEAD (DD)
30 All affected ones fighting for a place — unfortunate (3-7) ILL-STARRED Anno pending
DOWN
1 Boy in trouble — a hero (7) PALADIN (LAD inside PAIN)
2 Noticeable misprint: No.10 for 5 — lousy (9) OBNOXIOUS (OBVIOUS with NO.X for V)
3 Hell no, come to a conclusion before anything else (7) INFERNO (NO after INFER)
4 Former husband’s in jail, incarcerated, gets good beating (9) EXCELLING (EX + IN outside CELL, G)
5 Drink’s pesticide residue content (5) CIDER (T)
7 Of the eye? Not it — about /of the kidney (5) RENAL (REtiNAL)
8 Grave statement (7) EPITAPH (CD)
9 Where crashes happen in the ocean! (6) SEABED (CD) Crash as in sleep I suppose
15 Of 2 mean and smart fighters (3-2-4) MEN-AT-ARMS (MEAN SMART)*
17 Attack on a brutal city (4,5) ULAN, BATOR (ON A BRUTAL)*
18 Rustled up a pastry (7) STRUDEL (RUSTLED)*
19 Police menace keeping killers hidden (6) ICEMEN (T)
21 Precise — arranged evenly in nuclear plant (7) PRIMULA (PRIM +nUcLeAr)
22 Required, say, to be squeezed (7) KNEADED (~NEEDED)
24 There it is, Virginia’s fuel stock (5) VOILÀ (OIL inside VA)
25 Scare a friend over phone (5) APPAL (~ A PAL) Strictly speaking they are not homophones
ACROSS
1 Area surrounding Delaware’s state capital (10) PROVIDENCE (PROVINCE outside DE)
6 Appeal to press (4) URGE (DD)
10 Opposed for an extended period of time, disappointed (4-5) LONG-FACED (FACED for LONG)
11 Dissatisfaction of European Union over lost ground (5) ENNUI (E + UNI
12 Right-handed reserve makes it into grand final in the end (7) DEXTRAL (EXTRA inside D, L)
13 Complaint from Polish appellants mainly (7) RUBELLA (RUB + ELLA)
14 New word in some lingo — weird (9) NEOLOGISM (SOME LINGO)*
16 I am 22 and need it to survive (5) DOUGH (DD)
18 A delicacy from his U.S. cook (5) SUSHI (HIS US)*
23 I passed through Rhone! A tourist attraction in the Mediterranean (7) RIVIERA (I inside RIVER + A)
26 Metal ring — the protection for broken limb (7) THIMBLE (THE outsie LIMB*)
28 Floored by England’s Last Queen — nearly rapt with wonder (9) PARQUETED (D + QUEE
29 Primary // metal (4) LEAD (DD)
30 All affected ones fighting for a place — unfortunate (3-7) ILL-STARRED Anno pending
DOWN
1 Boy in trouble — a hero (7) PALADIN (LAD inside PAIN)
2 Noticeable misprint: No.10 for 5 — lousy (9) OBNOXIOUS (OBVIOUS with NO.X for V)
3 Hell no, come to a conclusion before anything else (7) INFERNO (NO after INFER)
4 Former husband’s in jail, incarcerated, gets good beating (9) EXCELLING (EX + IN outside CELL, G)
5 Drink’s pesticide residue content (5) CIDER (T)
7 Of the eye? Not it — about /of the kidney (5) RENAL (REtiNAL)
8 Grave statement (7) EPITAPH (CD)
9 Where crashes happen in the ocean! (6) SEABED (CD) Crash as in sleep I suppose
15 Of 2 mean and smart fighters (3-2-4) MEN-AT-ARMS (MEAN SMART)*
17 Attack on a brutal city (4,5) ULAN, BATOR (ON A BRUTAL)*
18 Rustled up a pastry (7) STRUDEL (RUSTLED)*
21 Precise — arranged evenly in nuclear plant (7) PRIMULA (PRIM +
24 There it is, Virginia’s fuel stock (5) VOILÀ (OIL inside VA)
25 Scare a friend over phone (5) APPAL (~ A PAL) Strictly speaking they are not homophones
30 All affected ones fighting for a place — unfortunate (3-7) ILL-STARRED Anno pending
ReplyDeleteI took it be an anagram of ALL + STIRRED
It might be ALL + STIRRED with I and A switching places?
DeleteThat may be a typo for 'one's fighting for a'
DeleteI had the same view as Bhavan and Sandhya. I do not think it is a typo, which is why 'ones' is in plural.
DeleteWhy should one be in plural if we are just to switch 'I' and 'A'
Deleteones = A and 1 (i.e., I)
DeleteThese get switched.
When ones A and I are fighting for a place, they try to switch, with I going where A is and A going where I is.
Delete25 Scare a friend over phone (5) APPAL (~ A PAL) Strictly speaking they are not homophones
ReplyDeleteIt definitely isn't as APPAL is pronounced 'A PAUL'
I took it as A P(Phone)Pal(friend)- Def.scar
ReplyDelete'over' is appropriate in a Dn. clue
If we go by your argument we will get the answer ALAPP
DeleteScare - def
a - A
friend - PAL
over - rev ind
phone - P
Besides, P is not a recognised abbr. for 'phone'.
Have a nice time in the US.
Sorry. It could be A P(P)AL (as some have suggested) with 'over' as inserticator - except that P is not used for phone.
DeleteI will miss participating (though I will follow late)in the comments section from tomorrow since I am off to U.S. for a few months.
ReplyDelete@Padmanabhan: Bon Voyage!
DeleteHappy Holidays
DeleteBon Voyage Padmanabhan
DeleteThank you everybody. I do hope to spend a few interesting months with my grandson who is just completeing his 6th Std.
DeleteGreat Paddy, enjoy. Am in the US myself, have come for son's graduation, then will be holidaying for a bit
DeleteCrossword Clue Challenge
ReplyDeleteWrite a clue for KNEADED without bringing in the homophone 'needed'.
Sore dad keen to get massaged (7)
DeleteShaped extremely divine naked forms (7)
DeleteGood clues!
DeleteManipulated and massaged when struck with the knee without notice
DeleteSqueezed and eked out (7)
DeleteFilled joint with plug and finally moulded
DeleteRe CCC: KNEADED
DeleteComments and my pick of the lot under tomorrow's blog.
Short knee mixed up with the dead.Massaged?
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteKing Knight headed beheaded and formed
DeleteBlended darkened liquid without a trace of reason (7)
DeleteAppal: A PAL outside P (phone)?
ReplyDeleteI was tempted to read it that way, but can't find any reference to P meaning Phone
DeleteSorry. Duplicated Padmanaban's anno.
ReplyDeleteCricinfo crossword link
ReplyDeletehttp://www.espncricinfo.com/thestands/content/story/635646.html
Re 30 ac. Back to the issue of a: 1. Secondly does fighting for a place convey swapping?
ReplyDeleteWhy not?
DeleteBoth A and I have place in ALL STIRRED.
Now there is a fight between A and I as to where each should be.
A says it has to be where I is. I says it should be where A is.
If this is conceded, the answer emerges, doesn't it?
Really like Vulcan's clueing style - consistently produces very crisp and good surfaces. Great job.
ReplyDeleteCouple of doubts that I had (30A,25D) already raised and answered here.
@Padmanabhan: Enjoy your trip to the US.
Thank you VP.
DeleteRe: homophone clues. Some on line dics. like thefreedictionary.com have the facility to listen to the Eng & Am way of pronouncing. Setters can use this.
ReplyDeleteRe: 4d. In jail & incarcerated mean the same?
ReplyDeleteWell, one could be in jail but still be out in the open, taking food in the mess, exercising or, at worst, attacking another inmate.
DeleteHere one is in jail and incarcerated - that is, confined.
CV
(in an ever-defensive mood)
Clue Editing Exercise
ReplyDelete22 To succeed put female in it (7) IN(HER)IT
This was a clue in the last Sunday Special.
I don't know if this clue invited any Comment but in my opinion this needs some editing.
Anyone try?
22 To succeed put in female in it (7) IN(HER)IT
ReplyDeleteI am afraid this revision does not fix what I see is a problem in the original clue.
DeleteTo get the answer we need to put (or put in) female in a word.
What is that word (or phrase)? It is INIT not IT as the original version suggests.
In the original version (as well the suggested fresh version) the instruction is to insert HER in IT, not INIT.
I believe there is no easy fix; the clue needs to be totally recast.
I think you need a totally diff set of words.
DeleteTo succeed up to date female has appeal? This 'succeed' conveys a different meaning. Is this sort of clue acceptable?
DeleteHi All,
ReplyDeleteThought I'd clarify a few queries.
25D: Having just figured out how wrong I was, I'm completely APPALLED. I was so confident that I've gotten it right, I didn't even bother to check. My only defence at this moment is that I got a friend called Paul and I'm pretty sure of most of you people also so. Now, that's not going to save me, is it? :(
And no comments on the spelling??? APPAL is an American spelling I thought. Thanks to the bad homophone, this one's completely forgotten.
30A: I'm not surprised that you guys had so much trouble finding the anno for this one. Out of curiosity I was going through the clues of this particular puzzle yesterday and even I had no explanation for ILL-STARRED. I thought I'd messed it up pretty badly and was cursing myself. But thanks to you solvers for piecing it together for me. I think CV has explained it pretty nicely in his comment posted at 12:39. Now I come to think of it, this was what even I had in mind.
Sorry for the goofs and thanks for solving.
And 28A: I don't know why I've capitalised the L in `last'. Another error there I guess.
DeleteHi Vulcan,
ReplyDeleteIMO fighting in 30 A does not convey to swap. Still unsure of the incarceration and in jail in 4 d. Apart from this and the appal clue very nice CW.
Hi Raghu,
DeleteI got to admit that 30A could've been clearer. In the first reading even I wasn't sure what it was supposed to be. Well, though fighting doesn't strongly convey swapping, it, to some extent, signifies likely change in position - where one gets overthrown eventually.
Incarcerated is used to indicate that CELL (from jail) goes inside EX and IN. With reference to surface, it gives a sense of meaning like, `He's locked up in jail'. or `He's in jail, locked up' or something like that.
I agree you had to use inca... to give meaning to the sentence, but I felt you could have used some other word.
ReplyDeleteTBH, I had the same doubt you had. So before going with this particular clue, I googled `incarcerated in jail' and found decent number of entries. So I was satisfied.
DeleteBTW, I like your attention to details. Keep up the good work, pal.
Thanks, Vulcan,
DeleteHope you heed my advice at 12.26 for homophone clues. I'd do it if I am setting such a clue.
In fact I use thefreedictionary.com extensively. It's my only source for definitions and pronunciations. This time I did not bother to check and got trapped
Delete+1 for thefreedictionary.com. I always refer to it when solving.
DeleteIn response to edit the clue "To succeed put female in it (7)" two submissions are entered above.
ReplyDeleteTo succeed put in female in it (7) IN(HER)IT
***An off-the-cuff, simple edit to fix the perceived problem. But "put in female in it" sounds unnatural.
To succeed up to date female has appeal (7) IN HER IT
***I have no problem with the def "succeed". It means one thing in the surface reading and another as def for word reqd.
I might expect hyphenated up-to-date as it is an adj qualifying female.
The surface reading isn't quite meanigful or attractive.
Qn: Should we use "that woman" to get HER? Can just "female" get HER?
'To succeed favored hermit should kiss the maiden goodbye'
Delete'To take over, I raise money with her inside help'
DeleteTo succeed favored hermit should kiss the maiden goodbye'
DeleteFirst I will correct the US spelling.
Then I will either remove the end quote for goodbye or add the beginning quote.
I might also add a comma after 'succeed'
As no crossword clue is complete without the enu (even when we start with the solution word), I will add that.
So the edited ver. is:
To succeed, favoured hermit should kiss the maiden 'goodbye' (7)
Good, plausible surface reading.
Excellent del ind to remove the letter M.
I have already said 'succeed' is a good def.
A good attempt at clueing INHERIT.
Qn: Can we give the def of word reqd in this grammatical form with 'to' before the word? (Sorry I don't know the W&M term). Will others address this?
Thanks CV Sir
DeleteTo take over, I raise money with her inside help (7) I N(HER)IT<
DeleteApparently a Dn clue.
Good def, good wordplay.
raise money - apt rev ind of rev fodder as the phrase in itself is meaningful
The c/c device too works well
The word inserted is given gratis as it sits well in the surface reading.
The word 'help' doesn't play a part in the wordplay and is put down merely to enhance the surface reading.
Thanks again :)
DeleteCV,
ReplyDeleteI have no problem with the def "succeed". It means one thing in the surface reading and another as def for word reqd.
I had that doubt and hence did not elaborate further on the clue.
Up-to-date female has appeal to succeed?
Up-to-date or whatever word for a modern female. Re: Her for woman, I have seen it used and justified here in THC though I don't like it's use in that manner.