Friday, April 16, 2010

Daily Nation Complex Crossword Of Friday, April 16, 2010.Solution 5.By

Edwin Korir. Eldoret, Kenya.

A really cryptic complex crossword! But 21a is the bomb.

Across

4a Vehicle sliding towards marsh has knocked over horse (8 ) TOBOGGAN
A charade of TO(towards), BOG(marsh) and GAN(horse) NAG-reversed(knocked over) defines a sliding Vehicle.

8a Fine list of items except for a final worthless thing (3,3) FAG END
F(ine) and AGENDA (the list of items to be covered at a formal meeting) without the second A (except for a final) to get the worthless remnants of something.

9a Looking very thin, I arrived back and had a meal (8 ) EMACIATE
First reverse (back) I CAME (an alternative way of saying “I arrived” )and ATE (add the past tense of a verb meaning to consume (had a meal) defines looking very thin.

10a Put at risk? Calm down! (8 ) ENDANGER
A cryptic clue meaning put at risk can also be END ANGER(calm down).

11a Served on ship sounding vulgar (6) CREWED
A homophone CRUDE of vulgar sounds like a verb meaning served as a member of a ship’s complement.

12a Infection no longer a secret? Relax! (5,3) CHILL OUT
Put together CHILL a feverish cold and OUT a word meaning in the public domain (no longer a secret) to get an informal phrasal verb meaning to wind down and relax.

13a Most primitive eastern paintings maybe conveying stories (8 ) EARLIEST
Arrived at by E(astern) and ART (a synonym for paintings) around (conveying, i.e. carrying) LIES (stories which are not true) to define most primitive.

16a Manage call from football field? (5,3) BRING OFF
A double definition of a phrasal verb meaning to manage a difficult task successfully is also used in a sporting sense to mean remove (call) a player from the field.

19a Friend’s returning by public transport maybe from course of study (8 ) SYLLABUS
SYLLA (allys-friends revesed(returning)) and BUS a method of public transport defines a course of study.

21a On holiday the Queen’s getting presents (6) OFFERS
OFF an adverb meaning away (on holiday) and ER(elizabeth regina)the Queen’s usual initials (plus the apostrophe S) defines presents.

23a I’m leader desperately trying to bring improvements (8 ) REMEDIAL
An anagram (desperately) of I’M LEADER defines improvements.

24a PM’s line put into diaries inaccurately (8 ) DISRAELI
An anagram (inaccurately) of DIARIES with L(ine) inside gives the name of a fomer pime ninister.

25a Twin’s position, one of twenty-one on the board (6) DOUBLE
A top class double defenition of twins and the double on the darts board. There are 21 doubles on the board!

26a Little guy working for rotten fellow (8 ) UNDERDOG
Little guy is the defenition and is obtained by UNDER(working for) ad DOG(rotten fellow).

Down

1d Fat adult, forceful going round (7) PAUNCHY
A charade of PUNCHY (forcefull e.g writer) around (round) A(dult) to define fat.

2d Daughter tucking into lunch possibly with a bit of pride — chunk of lamb? (9) MEDALLION
A small, flat, circular cut of meat (chunk of lamb, for example) is formed by putting D(aughter) inside (tucking into) MEAL (an opportunity to eat (lunch, possibly)) and adding a member L(ion) (bit) of a pride.

3d Girl and American soldier approaching love slowly (6) ADAGIO
A charade of ADA a girl’s name, GI an American soldier and O (love, as in tennis) to get a musical instruction to play slowly.

4d Preston fighter, I retrained for ballet (3,4,2,6) THE RITE OF SPRING
An anagram (retrained) of PRESTON FIGHTER I produces the name of a ballet and musical composition.

5d Food article bad dog found in cot? (4,4) BEAN CURD
Counstructed from A (indefinite article) and CUR (a badly-behaved dog) inside BED (a synonym for cot) to get a soft paste.

6d Report of fellows making an appearance (5) GUISE
A homophone of GUYS an informal word for fellows.

7d It sounds like Cockney’s cruel, naive (7) ARTLESS
Arrived at by dropping the first two letters(cockney) from HEARTLESS(cruel) to define naive.

14d Here in Paris American receives praise for historical novel (1,8 ) CLAUDIUS
A compplex chaade of “here” in French (in Paris) is ICI, Inside this (receives) put LAUD a verb or noun meaning praise, and finish up with US (American) to get the novel by Robert Graves detailing the intrigues and treacheries at the court of the Roman Empire.

15d Monopolises the principal, providing a lot of booze (8 ) HOGSHEAD
A charade of HOGS (an informal verb meaning takes or uses selfishly (monopolises)) and HEAD (a principal or leader) gives us a large cask for holding alcohol.

17d What looks pretty on choirboy, lad being a lout (7) RUFFIAN
RUFF(what choir boys wear) plus IAN (a lads name) to define a lout.

18d How anyone will get listened to in a university gathering! (7) AURALLY
Counstructed from A, U(niversity) and RALLY a gathering or mass.

20d Brazilian dance ousting a Greek character (6) LAMBDA
The Brazilian dance is the lambada obtained from removing (ousting) the second A to leave a Greek letter.
2
2d High nest — end of the year and that is to come down (5) EYRIE
A charade of (th)E (end of the), YR an abbreviation for year and IE (id. est., that is) to get the high nest of a bird of prey.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Daily Nation Complex Crossword Of Thursday, April 15, 2010.Solution 4.

By Edwin Korir. Eldoret, Kenya.

A fairly straight foward puzzle but one that needs a good bit of general knowlege.

Across

1. Hurt someone’s feelings in cricket side, by boundary (6) OFFEND
Counstructed by OFF(one side of a cricket field) and END(bounday) to define hurt someone’s feelings.

5. Advocate working on treaty (8) ATTORNEY
An anagram (working) of ON TREATY defines a Lawyer.

9. Saw nothing untoward in a Tyne and Wear town (10) WASHINGTON
Another anagram (untoward) this time of SAW NOTHING to define town. Cant really understand the tyne and wear part.

10. Host, extremely foolish to lose face (4) ARMY
Typical English clue from (b)ARMY (a group of cricket fans who follow the English cricket team when they are on tour) minus the first letter (lose face) to describe a synonym for host.

11. Faithful, a Catholic clergyman (8) ACCURATE
A charade of A C (Catholic) followed by a clergyman that usually assists a vicar is a synonym of faithful.

12. Look up to one in weird dream (6) ADMIRE
Counstructed from I (one) inside an anagram (weird) of DREAM to define admire

13. A flighty creature up to some criminal activity (2,2) AT IT
A followed by (TIT) a small songbirds defines activity.

15. Pudding poorly cooked, left by everybody ultimately (4-4) ROLY POLY
An anagram (cooked) of POORLY followed by L (left) and the last letter of (everybod)Y to define a pudding.

18. Difficulty encountered in stern on vessel (8) HARDSHIP
HARD(Stern, as in strict or severe), and SHIP a word for vessel defines difficulty.

19. I’m a male prayer leader (4) IMAM
A cryptic clue from I'M A Male but is also defined by the whole answer.

21. Outbreak of rabies in part of Europe (6) SERBIA
A simple anagram (outbreak) of RABIES is a republic in Europe.

23. A previous calculation in fathoms coaster at sea required (8) FORECAST
F(an abbreviation for fathom) is followed by an anagram of COASTER (at sea) to define another word for a prediction, often associated with the weather.

25. Refuse to have king included in embargo (4) BRAN
Put R (Rex – king) inside (BAN) another word for prohbit to define refuse as in dirt not deny!

26. Showing off gift (10) EXHIBITION
A double definition.

27. Protest about blackleg, a party member (8) DEMOCRAT
A charade of DEMO (protest), C (circa – about) and RAT (blackleg) defines an american party member of wich Obama is a member.

28. Leader of gang entering ship to delay departure (6) LINGER
Put the first (leader) letter of G(ang) inside (LINER)a large passenger carrying ship and you have another word delay depature.

Down

2. Boy — one’s lost a Swiss coin (5) FRANC
The Swiss currency can be found by removing IS (ones) from (FRANCIS)a boys name.

3. Former partner, a stud — he could be worn out! (9) EXHAUSTED
A charade of EX (former partner) followed by an anagram (could be) of A STUD HE defines worn out.

4. Gloomy pub in Scottish town (6) DUNBAR
DUN( a gloomy colour of a horse) followed by(BAR) a word for pub or inn is a town Scotland.

5. Immediately after a hotpot, had crackers (2,3,4,2,1,3) AT THE DROP OF A HAT
An anagram (crackers) of AFTER A HOTPOT HAD for a phrase that can mean immediately.

6. A nettle waving about caught arm (8) TENTACLE
An anagram of A NETTLE (waving) about C (caught as in cricket) is the kind of arm you would find on an octopus.

7. Region supplying genuine drop of malt (5) REALM
Another word for kingdom or region can be created from REAL (genuine) and the first letter (drop of?) M(alt).

8. Dream sale excited Hugo’s girl? (9) ESMERALDA
An anagram (excited) of DREAM SALE is the French girl in Victor Hugo’s novel “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”.

14. Where a course at Oxford may take one, up to a point (2,1,6) TO A DEGREE
A cryptic definition for a phrase that means “up to a point” is also what might happen if you started a course at Oxford university.

16. European nobleman to name an Ivy League university (9) PRINCETON
Counstructed from PRINCE(son of a king or queen) followed by TO and N (name) to define a group of American universities sometimes called Ivy League that also includes Yale and Havard.

17. Bird in hot weather diving into English river (8) WHEATEAR
A charade of HEAT (hot weather) inside (diving into) WEAR (an English river) to define a bird.(Nice surface reading)

20. Ethnic, first in box in court case (6) TRIBAL
Put the first letter of B(ox) inside (TRIAL) another word for an examination by a court and you have a synonym for ethnic.

22. Writer about to leave house (5) BINGO
Reverse the writing point of a fountain pen (about) and then GO (leave) is the game you play when you shout “house!”.

24. Pitch in Oslo, perfect (5) SLOPE
A hidden word in oSLO PErfect to describe a pitch.

Wednesday, April 14,2010

Daily Nation Complex Crossword of Wednesday, April 14, 2010. Solution 3

By Edwin Korir, Eldoret, Kenya.

A really entertaining puzzle but 1d is the best of them all.

Across

1a Transport vehicles for people who teach theatre? (12) STAGE COACHES.

We start off with a cryptic clue of a form of an old transport and can also mean people who teach theatre.

9a Short trousers? Soft soap (7) FLANNELA

double definition

10a Withdraw from competition through injury (7) SCRATCH

Another double definition

11a Allotment next to old address (7) ORATION

An allotment(RATION) is placed after O(ld) to define an address, or speech

12a One does wrong pinching money from bowler (7) SPINNER

A charade of SINNER(one who does wrong) with P(enny) inside(pinching) to define a bowler

13a Admission by one on guard duty losing head (5) ENTRY

One on guard duty is a SENTY without the first letter S(losing head) to define admission.

14a Single bursary (post 2001) for one coming in to settle (9) IMMIGRANT

A slightly complex charade of I(single) MMI(2001 in roman numerals) and GRANT(busary) to give the name of one coming into a country to settle.

16a Drinks finally appear during serving of upmarket meat dish (4,5) RUMP STEAK

An anagram (serving) of UPMARKET plus S(drinkS finally) to get a meat dish.

19a Rumours of depression arrive from such a doctor (5) LOCUM

A combined homophone(rumours) of depression(LO-LOW) and arrive(CUM-COME) to define such a doctor.

21a About to get a bite, fishing (7) CASTING

Another charade of C(about), A and STING(an insect bite) to define fishing.

23a Land by water for treating disease (7) SEASIDE

An anagram (treating) of DISEASE defines land by water

24a Object lesson that was once sufficient (7) EXAMPLE

A charade of EX (was once) and AMPLE(once sufficient) gives object lesson.

25a Mean gas might be on one? — good (7) IGNOBLE

Another charade this time of I(one), G(ood) before(on) NOBLE(gas) to dafine a synonym for mean, as in dishonourable.

26a Hear terror is spreading — could one replace locks? (4,8) HAIR RESTORER

An anagram (spreading) of HEAR TERROR IS gives something that could replace (dread)locks!

Down

1d Perhaps the Med left worker a protective coat (7) SEALANTSE

A(perhaps the meditterenian(med)), L(eft) and ANT(worker) gives a substance used as a coat to prevent the passage of water. The surface meaning may lead one to think it is a medical thing(med,coat).

2d A night in Paris covered by city pension (7) ANNUITY

Arrived at by starting with A then NUIT(night in french) With NY(city-newyork) on either side(covered) to define pension.

3d Wild rose in elegant setting (9) EGLANTINE

An anagram (setting) of IN ELEGANT to define a wild rose.

4d Ring roads surround area for such houses in Kent (5) OASTS

Start with O(ring) then STS(an abbreviation for roads) around A(rea) to give features of the Kent countryside.

5d Complaining of high pitched noise under vehicle (7) CARPING

Counstructed by PING(hight pitched noise) after(under- n/b down clues use this and other similar words to denote after or reversals, read my tutorial to find out more) CAR(vehicle) to define complaining though this should be 3-4 clue.

6d Country dancing is at one (7) ESTONIA

An anagram (dancing) of IS AT ONE to give a country

7d Crazy girl going cool over musician boyfriend? (3,4,6) OFF ONE’S ROCKER

A one in all clue.

8d Whisky perhaps diluted gets you easily riled (5,8) SHORT TEMPERED

A small measure of whisky(SHORT) plus diluted(tempered) means easily riled.

15d Temporary move by brand (9) MAKESHIFT

A cryptic clue

17d A mark covered by mother’s cosmetic (7) MASCARA

A charade of A, SCAR(mark) inside(covered by) MA(mother) to define a cosmetic used for colouring for the eyelashes.

18d The master initially served smoked herring (7) SKIPPER

Counstructed by S (initially Served) and KIPPER(a smoked herring) to define master or captain.

19d Student left job that pays (7) LEARNER

A combination of L(eft) and EARNER(job that pays) gives this student.

20d One might aspire to go after social type of plant (7) CLIMBER

A cryptic clue

22d Diver born into mainly environmentally-friendly surroundings (5) GREBE

A charade of B(orn) inside (into … surroundings) most of (mainly) GREE(N) to give a diving bird

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Daily Nation Complex Crossword of Tuesday, April 13, 2010. Solution 2
By Edwin Korir, Eldoret, Kenya.

An interesting puzzle but with some hard clues to decipher like Scottish for mountain.

Across

1a Examine closely tailoring of nicer suits (10) SCRUTINISE

An anagram indicated by tailoring of NICER SUITS leads to a word meaning examine closely.

6a Depression not ending for poor neighbourhood (4) SLUM

The answer is obtained by removing the last letter(not ending) from another word meaning
depression(SLUMP) giving a defenition for poor neighbourhood.

10a Enthusiastic person close to exhaustion after march (5) DEMON

A charade of the last letter of exhaustio(N)-close of- after march(DEMO) defines a very
enthusiastic person.

11a Challenger, perhaps, following judge a source of new ideas? (5,4) THINK TANK

A nice cyptic clue. Challenger perhaps means challanger is an example and it is indeed an
example of a battle TANK. It follows a word meaning jugde(THINK) giving a group that is a source of new ideas.

12a A runner’s base? (5,3) RIVER BED

A cryptic defenition.

13a Glam headwear? It is pulled back by Middle Easterner mostly (5) TIARA

A complex charade of IT reversed(pulled back) and ARA(b)(middle easterner mostly) gives some form of headwear.

15a Favour eluding rogue (7) INDULGE

An anagram (rogue) of ELUDING.

17a Presumption shown by six-footer, dashing figure (7) GALLANTA

A word meaning presumption(GALL) is followed by an insect with six legs(ANT) to give the
defenition dashing figure.

19a A listener’s complaint? (7) EARACHE

Another cryptic definition.

21a Singer with glasses in front of new instrument (7) BASSOON

Not an easy one to decipher but a singer becomes BASS, Glasses(OO although i dont see how) and finaly N(front of New) defining an istrument.

22a Stout doctor essentially makes you better (5) OUTDO

This is a hidden (essentially) from stoUT DOctor.

24a It provides a false outlook on events? (5,3) GLASS EYE

A cryptic definition of an artificial organ.

27a Drunk around boozy spot beginning to exclaim as it were (2,2,5) SO TO SPEAK

A mixed clue of A SOAK(a drunk) and an anagram of SPOT(boozy) plus E (begining of Exclaim) leads to a phrase meaning as it were.

28a Peer defined by rare qualities (5) EQUAL

This is a hidden clue (defined by) of rarE QUALities meaning a peer.

29a Sluggish learner associated with young devil (4) LIMP

Combine (L)earner and IMP(young devil) defines a word meaning sluggish.

30a Sickly patient is taking in first sign of organic plant (10) POINSETTIA

This an anagram (sickly) of PATIENT IS plus (taking in) the first letter (first sign) of
O(rganic) to make a popular house plant.

Down

1d Players expressed relief, we hear (4) SIDE

A homophone(we hear) of expressed relief(SIGH) in a sports team (players).

2d Nudge about a number of copies unsold (9) REMAINDER

Constructed by puttind a nudge(REMINDER) around A to give copies left unsold.

3d Momentary pain but no sign of worse colouring (5) TINGE

The answer is arived at by starting with TWINGE(momentary pain) minus W(no sign of (W)orse giving the defenition colouring.

4d Famous feature of busy restaurant?(7) NOTABLE

A wittty double definition of famous and NO TABLE! The question mark at the end shows you it is not what you think it is.

5d Language kept within confines of sailing party (7) SHINDIG

Constructed by putting a language HINDI inside(within confines) SG(SailinG) defines a lively
party.

7d A shopping centre held up one loaded with pack? (5) LLAMA

A reversal(up) of A and MALL(shopping centre) to give a pack animal.

8d Form a partnership and fight one’s corner? (4,1,5)MAKE A STAND

A double definition of a cricket patnership and to fight in one's coner.

9d Dramatic entertainment and stories one abandoned for game (8 ) SKITTLES

An interestig charade of SKIT(dramatic entertainment) and T(a)LES(stories with A(one) abadoned) defines a game.

14d Conclusive changes for diplomat (4-6) VICE-CONSUL

An anagram (changes) of CONCLUSIVE.

16d A vote dividing the French in sport (8 ) LACROSSEA charade of A plus CROSS(sign made while voting) inside(dividing) LE(The in french) gives a game.

18d Work among some a nut disrupted – giver of advice needed? (5,4) AGONY AUNT

A charade of ON(work) AGYA and NUT anagramed(disrupted) gives a name of a character in
newspapers and magazines who gives help to readers questions, most of the time being about
relationships.

20d English composer missing a company around English artist of old (2,5) EL GRECOCounstructed by, ELGR(A) english composer missing A plus CO(company) with E(nglish) in between to give an old spanish atist.

21d Feature of heath and mountain crossed by timeless path (7) BRACKEN

Counsructed by putting t(RACK) path without time inside(crossed) BEN(mountain) to give a feature of heath.

23d Carry male symbol (5) TOTEM

A synonym for carry(TOTE) ahead of M(ale) to get this symbol.

25d Part of play noticed in audience (5) SCENEA homophone(in audience) of noticed(SEEN) 26d Request made by quiet star without director (4) PLEAA charade of P(quiet) and LEA(d), star(LEAD) without D(director).

Monday, April 12, 2010

Daily Nation Complex Crossword of Monday, April 12, 2010. Solution 1

By Edwin Korir, Eldoret, Kenya.

Welcome to my first blog in an attempt to solve the Nation complex crossword. I hope to post as often as possible. Feel free to send me your comments and suggestions

Across

1a Consider changing gear on the road (6) REGARD
An anagram of GEAR plus a two-letter abbreviation for road (RD).The definition is consider.

4a A diet put out for fitness (8) APTITUDE
Another anagram of A DIET PUT; ‘out’ is anagram indicator.The definition is fitness.

9a Head dancer? (6) SALOME
A cyptic clue that gives us the name of salome in the bible who was given the head of John the Baptist.

10a Passing place (8) DEATHBED
Another cryptic definition for a place when one “passes” (away).

12a One has a lot of fun with it (4) UNIT
A charade(wordsum) of most of the word FUN + IT, 'most of' FUN yeilds UN but it may also be FU or FN.The definition is one.

13a Has an inclination for debauched men (5) RAKES
A double definition of has an inclination and debauched men

14a Where lies our responsibility (4) ONUS
A cyptic clue on where our responsibility lies on us!

17a Something bound to appeal to the less affluent readers (5,7) CHEAP EDITION
Cryptic definition. Something bound is a book that less affluent readers would buy.

20a Way painter treats sitter in a different pose (6,6) STREET ARTIST
An anagram of TREATS SITTER to give the name of someone who is a roadside painter.

23a Whaler’s cry of surprise touches sailor (4) AHAB
Charade of a two-letter word that is a cry of surprise (AH) plus a two-letter abbreviation for a sailor (AB, giving us the name of the whaler in the novel Moby Dick.

24a A seat to put in the sun (5) STOOL
Put TO inside SOL(a sun god) to give you a sort of a seat.

25a Strip off on the Manx shore (4) PEEL
A double definition of strip off and a town on the Manx coast.

28a Measure appropriate for East Enders (4-4) HALF-INCH
A double definition of a measure and to appropriate or pinch in Cockney rhyming slang.

29a Set of six texts put out around the East (6) SEXTET
An anagram of TEXTS is put around the abbreviation of east(E) giving us an answer meaning set of six.

30a Suspicion of corrosion after condensation (8) MISTRUST
A word that means condensation (MIST) plus a word that means corrosion(RUST) gives a word that means suspicion.

31a I ring boss before arriving at the work-room (6) STUDIO
A word that means boss(STUDI) plus I (I) plus O(ring) gives a word that means work-room.

Down

1d Distribute or secure aid (8) RESOURCE
An anagram of OR SECURE indicated by distribute gives the definition aid.

2d Swift traveller (8) GULLIVER
A cryptic clue in reference to the name of the character in a novel by Jonathan Swift, Gullivers travels.

3d It is a swindle to put a penny on farm butter (4) RAMP
Charade of a word for a farm animal(RAM), one that ‘butts’ plus an abbreviation for penny(P) gives the definition swindle.

5d Nearest point at sea for the launch (12) PRESENTATION
An anagram of NEAREST POINT indicated by‘at sea’ giving thedefinition launch.

6d A preposition — one not out of order (4) INTO
Charade of I (one) plus an anagram of NOT gives an example of a preposition.

7d Straighten things out and become more friendly (6) UNBEND
A double definition of Straighten things out and become more friendly.

8d The son most likely to succeed? (6) ELDEST
A cryptic defenition indicated by(?) gives us the answer of a son most likely to succeed, the throne maybe.

11d Supporters of wicked things (12) CANDLESTICKS
Another cyptic clue. Wicked things here are not evil things but those with a wick and we need a word for holders of these things.

15d Turn taps a quarter and get a flood (5) SPATE
An anagram of TAPS + a compass point(E) gives a flood.

16d Meals provided for the directors (5) BOARD
A double definition of (provision of) meals and (group of) directors

18d Governed, having been shown the way (8) DIRECTED
A double definition of Governed and having been shown the way.

19d Such ladies’ shoes were impressive (8) STILETTO
Impressive’ meaning ‘making an impression on’. The answer word is a kind of shoes whose heels, pointed as they are, could make a dent on loose soil.

21d Disorder for a month on the border (6) MAYHEM
Charade of the name of a month(MAY) plus a word that means border(HEM) gives as a word meaning disorder

22d Change planes in Italy (6) NAPLES
An anagram of PLANES indicated by change to givea place name in Italy

26d A row in the amphitheatre (4) TIER
Found in amphitheatre giving a row in an amphitheatre or gallery not a fight.

27d You wouldn’t credit it! (4) DEBT
A cryptic clue.