OPERA GLASSES A charade clue starting with the shape of a “band” (or ring) and the first letter of “parade” plus a reversal of “are”, followed by an abbreviation for “1000” and a synonym for “girls”.Ī few points here. SLEEP A homophone of a plural noun that’s a synonym for “chimes”, * all reversed.Ģ7a Band and parade leader are backing 1000 girls in theatre spectacles (5,7) “But” jars for me somewhat as a linking word between wordplay and definition.Ģ4a * Scorned when embarrassed to admit depravity (7)ĭELIVER A synonym for the colour one goes when “embarrassed” outside a synonym for “depravity”, * all reversed.Ģ5a Rich from dubious gain, pocketing margin (9)ĪBOUNDING An anagram (“dubious”) of GAIN outside a synonym for “margin”. I’m not convinced that “fringe” is sufficient to tell the solver whether it is the first or last letter that needs removing. I would suggest “to” rather than “in” would improve the surface.Ģ2a * Highlighted with no fringe but with braids (7)ĭESSERT A synonym for “highlighted” minus its initial letter (“with no fringe”), * all reversed. “Well run” ought to be hyphenated in a conventional sentence. RAPS A synonym for a “well” (or mineral spring) and the abbreviation for “run”, *all reversed. Perhaps having a reversal of a reversal isn’t ideal! HOOP A reversal of the abbreviation for “operation” plus O + H, *all reversed. I liked the construction here but felt that the definition could have been less wordy.ġ5a * Back operation approaches zero hour – ugh! (4) The definition is cryptically referring to the fact that examples of the solution will read the same in either direction. PALINDROME A synonym for “china” plus IND (“half of India’s”) plus a European capital city. SHELLEY A synonym for “coy” outside the French feminine pronoun.ġ3a China’s taking half of India’s capital – in this, Western and Eastern views agree (10) LEVER *The single letter abbreviation for “very” inside a lively type of dance, *all reversed.ġ0a Unopened package is stuffed with damn port (9)ĪRCHANGEL A euphemism for “damn” inside PARCEL without its first letter (“package unopened”)ġ2a Romantic is coy about French woman (9) Some puzzle editors (including the Telegraph’s) will not allow nouns as anagram indicators if they follow the words to be rearranged.
I didn’t warm to the concept of having to reverse elements of wordplay that had already been reversed.ġa Cher released re-mix making enthusiastic supporters… (12)ĬHEERLEADERS An anagram (“re-mix”) of the first two words in the clue.
The puzzle was tricky in places but very enjoyable to solve, with not too much to fault technically. This puzzle required the solver to reverse thirteen of the solutions, although I suspect I was not alone in missing the asterisk once or twice and having to change round certain answers! Welcome back to Madcap, who usually can be relied upon to produce something a little different to the average setter, so one never quite knows what theme or quirk to expect. Prolixic is away this week and I am honoured to deputise for him for the second time, the previous occasion being in 2019. I do ask that you remember that for most setters this is a new experience, so please only offer constructive criticism. The puzzle is available by clicking on the above grid.Īs usual, the setter will be delighted to receive feedback from you, the solvers.
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