Explanations: No. 14612 – Monday, 31 October 2011
17A: Meath admits Ann is suggesting a male (7)
The government did something wonderful (!) for crossword setters in 1987 when it introduced a new system for registering cars. Number plates now include a clearly identifiable county identifier, a one- or two-letter abbreviation. In this clue, the Royal County of “Meath” admits “Ann is”. We can take the words “Ann is” and place them inside the county identifier for “Meath” (M-H) giving us M(ANN-IS)H. Something that is “mannish” is suggesting a male. Watch out for those county identifiers, especially Clare (she shows up in 31-across today). And a little man in Donegal gets a mention in 14-down.
Please feel free to leave a comment below, and tell us how you fared with today’s crossword. If you have a question about today’s puzzle I am sure that I, or a fellow solver, can answer it for you.
Happy puzzling!
Across
8 Show concern about hems altered for wool (8)
CA(SHME)RE
Show concern (CA-RE) about “hems” altered (SHME) for = CASHMERE: wool.
9 Bouquets, as seen all around Rome, for Carla (6)
A(ROMA)S
As (A-S) seen all around “Rome”, for Carla (ROMA) = AROMAS: bouquets.
10 Informed between stanzas C & E (6)
VERSE-D
Between stanzas, ‘verses’, C & E (VERSE D) = VERSED: informed.
11 Sounds like a useful hat, one for the races (8)
HANDICAP
A useful hat (HANDY CAP) sounds like = HANDICAP: one for the races.
12 Specify a second notice (6)
A-S-SIGN
A (A) second (S) notice (SIGN) = ASSIGN: specify.
13 Sticking to changes had made the noise return (8)
ADH-ESION
Changes “had” (ADH) made the “noise” return (ESION) = ADHESION: sticking to.
15 Hairstyle event that’s dead now (4)
DO-DO
Hairstyle (DO) event (DO) = DODO: that’s dead now.
17 Meath admits Ann is suggesting a male (7)
M(ANN-IS)H
Meath (M-H) admits “Ann is” (ANN IS) = MANNISH: suggesting a male.
19 Case for clothing worn by Jude in Hollywood? (7)
LAW-SUIT
Clothing worn by Jude in Hollywood, Jude Law, (LAW SUIT) = LAWSUIT: case.
22 This is the French for Capri, perhaps (4)
IS-LE
This “is” (IS) “the” French (LE) for = ISLE: Capri, perhaps.
24 A fondness for a squishy dog? (4,4)
SOFT SPOT
A fondness (SOFT SPOT) for a squishy dog? (SOFT SPOT).
27 About father’s tea … I hear it’s a full meal! (6)
RE-PA’S-T
About (RE) father’s (PA’S) “tea”, I hear (T) it’s = REPAST: a full meal.
29 Retro lighting for the loo, in the style of a British politician (4,4)
LAV-A LA-MP
The loo (LAV) in the style of (A LA) a British politician (MP) = LAVA LAMP: retro lighting.
30 Drink dispenser for many other than humans (6)
BAR-MAN
Other than (BAR) humans (MAN) = BARMAN: drink dispenser for many.
31 Feel badly before Clare makes something like 8-across (6)
FLEE-CE
“Feel” badly (FLEE) before “Clare” (CE) makes = FLEECE: something like cashmere.
32 Sounds OK! Shun the event (8)
OCCASION
Sounds “OK! Shun” = OCCASION: the event.
Down
1 Stares rudely at real stunners? (6)
TASERS
“Stares” rudely at? = TASERS: real stunners.
2 He acts for the constituents of Spain (8)
THE-SPIAN
The (THE) constituents of “Spain” (SPIAN) for = THESPIAN: he acts.
3 Dees! They go nowhere! (4,4)
DEAD ENDS
“Dees” are the ENDS of the word “D(EA)D” = DEAD ENDS: they go nowhere.
4 A stereotypical Irishman for Lenin, perhaps (7)
RED-HEAD
Lenin, perhaps (RED HEAD) for = REDHEAD: a stereotypical Irishman.
5 A spare tyre for Father by a French church (6)
PA-UN-CH
Father (PA) by “a” French (UN) church (CH) for = PAUNCH: a spare tyre.
6 Major party stories need no introduction (6)
TORIES
“s-TORIES” need no introduction = TORIES: (John) Major party.
7 Mother, it’s C&A or back to Ulster for something Italian! (8)
MA-CA-RO-NI
Mother (MA) it’s “C&A” (CA) “or” back (RO) to “Ulster” (NI) for = MACARONI: something Italian.
14 A little man, perhaps around fifty, in Donegal (4)
D(O-L)L
In “Donegal” (D-L) “a-round” “fifty” (O-L) = DOLL: a little man, perhaps.
16 One in fifty rings around to say hello (4)
O(HI)O
Rings (O-O) around “to say hello” (HI) = OHIO: one in fifty (US states).
18 Is Charming a bad role to play? (8)
ADORABLE
“A bad role” to play, is = ADORABLE: charming.
20 Exercises pens at altitude? (8)
AERO-BICS
At altitude? (AERO) pens (BICS) = AEROBICS: exercises.
21 Stop Press: Eat Dinner First! (8)
SUP-PRESS
“Eat dinner” first (SUP) press (PRESS) = SUPPRESS: stop.
23 Tramples over a mate’s prior issue (7)
STEPS-ON
Tramples over (STEPS ON) = STEPSON: a mate’s prior issue.
25 Both ends of their avenue left to take a trip (6)
TR-AVE-L
Both ends of T-hei-R (TR) avenue (AVE) left (L) = TRAVEL: to take a trip.
26 One who pays about a pound to be part of the team (6)
P(L)AYER
One who pays (P-AYER) about “a pound” (L) to be = PLAYER: part of the team.
28 Trailer for a show about a year of Our Lord (6)
SH(AD)OW
A show (SH-OW) about “a year of Our Lord” (AD) for = SHADOW: trailer