Clues by Paul and Grid by Absolution
Enter the prize draw by 30 June.
I seem to hear two repeated notes on low strings…
The background for this puzzle is a Jean-Pierre Zill photograph of a great egret reflected in water.
…gradually becoming more insistent…
This puzzle by Paul uses a conventional 7x5x5 grid by Absolution, marking fifty years since a famous premiere. The title (4) appears in the yellow cells, while the orange cells give a highly significant name (6,9). Solvers must include both of these with their entries. Clues are numbered in alphabetical order of their solutions.
…with high tuba notes over the top…
Paul and Absolution have given us a splendid, summer blockbuster: full of suspense, surprise and no little danger. Solvers should pay attention to the warning signs, but may rest assured that when a green flag is flying it is safe to go back into the water.
Day 4
Dragon in bikini on vacation meeting yacht at sea (7)
“On vacation” indicates you only need the outer letters of bikini, and “at sea” suggests an anagram to follow. The resulting word is a slang variant of a word for a female animal (like dragon, a derogatory term for a strong woman). [NI]
Day 6
Character that’s near to harbour – one attempting to catch fish? (5)
You’re looking for a character in the theme which is a great help. Think of a short word for “near to” and enclose within that (harbour) one attempting to catch fish. [JP]
Day 12
Mammoth in jar, by the sound of it ? (5)
This clue involves two tricks. Firstly the solution is a synonym of mammoth but this word in turn is a homophone of the verb to jar (indicator “by the sound of it”). This method works equally well for Day 11. [GS]
Day 15
A Diet Coke’s not acceptable, horrid drink (4,3)
Remove from Coke the two letters that indicate acceptable and there are the seven letters for your anagram (indicator “horrid”) solution, a drink. [GS]
Day 16
Foreplay with master of Brummie’s exhibitionists (7)
Not the crossword setter, but the place! Abbreviation for the exhibition centre followed by a Royal master gives you the foreplay. [JP]
Day 17
Unearthly speller certainly needing translation? (5)
Yes (in the sense of certainly) translated into French and then German. [GS]
Day 19
LA’s broken Hollywood actor (5)
Forget the image of a ‘has been’ – you need to break up the clue! Think of a short word that L might signify and insert an A (A’s broken) to give you a Hollywood actor in a later version. [JP]
Day 22
Character known for giving a picture with our theme? (5)
The definition here is “character known for giving”. If you follow this word with the thematic title you get the title of 2018 film of which I was not aware. [NI]
Day 23
Case of tragedy is unfolding with bachelor taking a dip – choose not to help? (3,2)
A lovely appropriate surface: case of tragedy gives two letters, two more come from is and unfolding indicates an anagram. Finally a letter representing bachelor is inserted (taking a dip) to give two words meaning “choose not to help”. [NI]
Day 27
Fester say, when filthy, article scrubbed at the rear (5)
As in the TV series: The Addams Family [GS]
I am grateful to the other members of the Hints & Tips team: Garry Stripling (Gin) and Jim Pennington (Philostrate).
Happy solving!
Nick Inglis (etc)