Lucian Poll's Blog, page 23

Times Jumbo Cryptic Crossword 1490

Another medium strength offering this week, relatively speaking, with the more exotic solutions gettable after a bit of dictionary wrangling. One of the better ones, all told.

As ever you can find my completed grid below along with explanations of my solutions where I have them. I hope you find them helpful. If a recent Jumbo has foxed you then my Just For Fun page might be just the ticket, listing solutions to the last 100+ of these things. Also, there’s the usual ancient book reviews and a story of mine.

Thanks again for the kind words and comments, folks. It’s always interesting to hear how other solvers fared. Till the next one, stay safe, mask up, get vaccinated and keep the flag flying for the NHS and key workers everywhere.

LP

Across clues

Indecent girl’s legwear (4,5)

Answer: BLUE JEANS (i.e. “legwear”). Solution is BLUE (i.e. “indecent”) followed by JEAN’S (i.e. “girl’s” – basically a girl’s name made possessive).

Racing once condemned harmful substance (10)

Answer: CARCINOGEN (i.e. “harmful substance”). “Condemned” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of RACING ONCE.

Everyone, say, runs over briskly (7)

Answer: ALLEGRO (i.e. “briskly” in musical lingo). Solution is ALL (i.e. “everyone”) followed by EG (i.e. “say”, i.e. for example), then R (a recognised abbreviation of “runs” used in a number of ball games) and O (a recognised abbreviation of “over” used in cricket).

Lively old punk tours Virginia (9)

Answer: VIVACIOUS (i.e. “lively”). Solution is Sid VICIOUS (i.e. “old punk”) wrapped around or “touring” VA (US state abbreviation of “Virginia”), like so: VI(VA)CIOUS.

Officer in charge evincing problem with wind (5)

Answer: COLIC (i.e. “problem with wind”). Solution is COL (i.e. “officer”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “colonel”) followed by IC (a recognised abbreviation of “in charge”).

Midshipman Easy’s job? (5,7)

Answer: PLAIN SAILING (i.e. “easy”). Clue plays on the solution’s nautical theme in referencing Frederick Marryat’s 1836 novel Mr Midshipman Easy. You get the idea. As an aside, it’s worth noting some setters will reference EASY in their solutions as “midshipman”, because we’ve obviously all read the novel.

Court order one in residence to be moved (6,4)

Answer: DECREE NISI (i.e. “court order”). Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) placed “in” an anagram (indicated by “to be moved”) of RESIDENCE, like so: DECREEN(I)SI.

State vehicle that ruins crops (8,6)

Answer: COLORADO BEETLE (a pest “that ruins crops” of potatoes). Solution is COLORADO (i.e. US “state”) followed by BEETLE (i.e. “vehicle”, specifically one of the Volkswagen variety).

New troops joining the navy in higher latitudes (8)

Answer: NORTHERN (i.e. “in higher latitudes”). Solution is N (a recognised abbreviation of “new”) followed by OR (i.e. “troops”, specifically the Other Ranks of the British Army), then THE and RN (i.e. “navy”, specifically the Royal Navy).

Metal, iodine and copper blocking miners (6)

Answer: INDIUM (i.e. “metal”). Solution is I (chemical symbol of “iodine”) and DI (i.e. “copper”, specifically a Detective Inspector) once placed in or “blocking” NUM (i.e. “miners”, specifically the National Union of Miners), like so: I-N(DI)UM.

Starts with each child’s unrestricted period for game (4,6)

Answer: OPEN SEASON (i.e. “unrestricted period for [shooting] game”). Solution is OPENS (i.e. “starts”) followed by EA (a recognised abbreviation of “each”) and SON (i.e. “child”).

Walk – with or without runs? (5)

Answer: AMBLE. Clue plays on how RAMBLE and AMBLE can mean “walk” and how you can get from one word to the other by removing the R (a recognised abbreviation of “runs” used in ball games).

Ladies missing whiskey could be a bad sign (4)

Answer: OMEN (i.e. “could be a bad sign”). Solution is WOMEN (i.e. “ladies”) with the W removed (indicated by “missing whiskey” – “whiskey” is W in the phonetic alphabet).

Fortunate having sanction limiting old bomb (8)

Answer: ENVIABLE (i.e. “fortunate”). Solution is ENABLE (i.e. “sanction”) wrapped around or “limiting” VI (i.e. “old bomb”, specifically a V1 with the 1 replaced by its Roman numeral equivalent), like so: EN(VI)ABLE.

Ruler quit, ignoring British excise (9)

Answer: ERADICATE (i.e. “excise”). Solution is ER (i.e. “ruler”, specifically Elizabeth Regina) followed by ABDICATE (i.e. “quit”) once the B has been removed (indicated by “ignoring British” – B being a recognised abbreviation of “British”), like so: ER-ADICATE.

Dopey old men disheartened in IoW waters (9)

Answer: SOMNOLENT (i.e. “dopey”). Solution is O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”) and MN (i.e. “men disheartened”, i.e. the word “men” with its middle letter removed) both placed “in” SOLENT (i.e. “IoW waters”, i.e. the strait between the Isle of Wight and mainland Britain), like so: S(O-MN)OLENT.

Regularly call on pretty woman to restrain quiet fool (8)

Answer: CLODPOLL (i.e. “fool”). Solution is CLO (i.e. “regularly call on”, i.e. every other letter of CALL ON) followed by DOLL (i.e. “pretty woman”) once wrapped around or “restraining” P (a recognised abbreviation of “piano” or “quiet” in musical lingo), like so: CLO-D(P)OLL. A new one on me. This particular Poll likes it.

Like hoarding papers that are helpful (4)

Answer: AIDS (i.e. things “that are helpful”). Solution is AS (i.e. “like”) wrapped around or “hoarding” ID (i.e. “papers”), like so: A(ID)S.

US cheat returns iron and silver engraved with name (5)

Answer: GANEF (i.e. “US cheat” – my Chambers didn’t want to know, but my Oxford bears this one out). Solution is FE and AG (chemical symbols of “iron” and “silver” respectively) reversed (indicated by “returns”) and wrapped around or “engraved with” N (a recognised abbreviation of “name”), like so: GA-(N)-EF. One gotten from the wordplay, to be honest.

Free love in Little Rock (10)

Answer: PERIDOTITE (i.e. “rock”). Solution is RID (i.e. “free”) and O (i.e. “love”, i.e. a zero score in tennis) both placed “in” PETITE (i.e. “little), like so: PE(RID-O)TITE.

Dance when tiddly, leaving tango to the end (6)

Answer: MINUET (i.e. “dance”). Solution is MINUTE (i.e. “tiddly” or small) with the T (“tango” in the phonetic alphabet) moved “to the end”, like so: MINU(T)E => MINUE(T).

Make ugly girl initially hug primate (8)

Answer: MISSHAPE (i.e. “make ugly”). Solution is MISS (i.e. “girl”) followed by H (i.e. “initially hug”, i.e. the first letter of “hug”) and APE (i.e. “primate”).

Fiddling finance firm pocketing a grand (6,8)

Answer: MONKEY BUSINESS (i.e. “fiddling”). Solution is MONEY (i.e. “finance”) and BUSINESS (i.e. “firm”) placed around or “pocketing” K (i.e. “grand”, both referencing 1,000), like so: MON(K)EY-BUSINESS.

Boulders and tree reduced seafood (4,6)

Answer: ROCK SALMON (i.e. “seafood”). Solution is ROCKS (i.e. “boulders”) followed by ALMOND (i.e. “tree”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “reduced”), like so: ROCKS-ALMON.

Letters, awfully cagey and tense about reserves (6,6)

Answer: ESTATE AGENCY (i.e. “letters” of property). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “awfully”) of CAGEY and TENSE wrapped “about” TA (i.e. “reserves”, specifically the Territorial Army), like so: ES(TA)TEAGENCY.

Ruin ground packed with phosphorous (5)

Answer: SPOIL (i.e. “ruin”). Solution is SOIL (i.e. “ground”) wrapped around or “packed with” P (chemical symbol of “phosphorous”), like so: S(P)OIL.

Trombonist’s eatery in the Open (3,6)

Answer: TEA GARDEN (i.e. “eatery in the open” – ignore the misleading capitalisation). When written as Jack TEAGARDEN the solution also satisfies US jazz “trombonist”. Not one I was familiar with.

Berliner’s one to consume ultimate protein (7)

Answer: ELASTIN (i.e. “protein”). Solution is EIN (i.e. “Berliner’s one”, i.e. the German for “one”) wrapped around or “consuming”) LAST (i.e. “ultimate”), like so: E(LAST)IN. One gotten solely from the wordplay.

Angry force stripped of uniform put on “different” clothes? (5-5)

Answer: CROSS-DRESS (i.e. “put on ‘different’ clothes”). Solution is CROSS (i.e. “angry”) followed by DURESS (i.e. “force”) once the U has been removed (indicated by “stripped of uniform” – “uniform” is U in the phonetic alphabet).

Sell coal off Republican imported, using this instead? (5,4)

Answer: SOLAR CELL. Solution is an anagram (indicated by “off”) of SELL COAL wrapped around or “importing” R (a recognised abbreviation of “Republican”), like so: SOLA(R)CELL. Clue plays on the solution and “coal” both being energy sources and how one could be used instead of the other. You get the idea.

Down clues

Light timber a hunk hauled up (5)

Answer: BALSA (i.e. “light timber”). Solution is A and SLAB (i.e. “hunk”) both reversed (indicated by “hauled up” – this being a down clue), like so: BALS-A.

Injured unsung heroes, wings clipped, giving little away (10)

Answer: UNGENEROUS (i.e. “giving little away”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “injured”) of UNSUNG and EROE (i.e. “heroes, wings clipped”, i.e. the word “heroes” with its first and last letters removed).

Risk heading off big cat in jungly banks (8)

Answer: JEOPARDY (i.e. “risk”). Solution is LEOPARD (i.e. “big cat” – also by some distance the best below-average streamer on Twitch, a service you should definitely not watch, especially if you are a gamer, as it’s crack cocaine for the eyeballs. Oh wait, Covid-19 has rendered all of time meaningless, hasn’t it? Silly me. Go crazy y’all, knock yourselves out…) with its initial letter removed (indicated by “heading off”) and the remainder placed “in” J and Y (i.e. “jungly banks”, i.e. the first and last letters of “jungly”), like so: J(EOPARD)Y.

Lep’s reaction to dying for the 43rd time (go to 9:47) is how I sound all throughout gaming. I’m terrible.Number 5 in trouble? Smith beats it (5)

Answer: ANVIL (i.e. “smith beats it”). Solution is N (a recognised abbreviation of “number”) and V (i.e. “[Roman numeral] five”) both placed “in” AIL (i.e. “trouble”), like so: A(N-V)IL.

A number observed fencing incident (9)

Answer: SEVENTEEN (i.e. “a number”). Solution is SEEN (i.e. “observed”) wrapped around or “fencing” EVENT (i.e. “incident”).

Get ready to fire farmyard boss? (4)

Answer: COCK. (Fnar!) Solution satisfies “get ready to fire” and “farmyard boss”, at least in the henhouse.

Make a fresh start, dealing with old writer (6)

Answer: REOPEN (i.e. “make a fresh start”). Solution is RE (i.e. regarding or “dealing with” – think email replies) followed by O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”) and PEN (i.e. “writer”).

Mare perhaps that can be covered outside? Impossible (14)

Answer: INSURMOUNTABLE (i.e. “impossible”). Solution is MOUNT (i.e. “mare perhaps” – other flavours of horse are available) placed in or having “outside” INSURABLE (i.e. “can be covered”), like so: INSUR(MOUNT)ABLE.

Part of theatre box found in odd Scottish mine (9,3)

Answer: ORCHESTRA PIT (i.e. “part of theatre”). Solution is CHEST (i.e. “box”) placed “in” ORRA (“Scottish” word for “odd”, as in spare, unmatched or left over – a new one on me) and followed by PIT (i.e. “mine”), like so: OR(CHEST)RA-PIT.

Fancy avoiding start that’s slippery (3-4)

Answer: EEL-LIKE (i.e. “slippery”). Solution is FEEL LIKE (i.e. “fancy”) with its initial letter removed (indicated by “avoiding start”).

Mafia boss welcomes composer briefly for a drink (10)

Answer: CAPPUCCINO (i.e. “drink”). Solution is CAPO (i.e. “Mafia boss”) wrapped around or “welcoming” Giacomo PUCCINI (i.e. “composer”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “briefly”), like so: CAP(PUCCIN)O.

Tell niece about regular customers (9)

Answer: CLIENTELE (i.e. “regular customers”). “About” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of TELL NIECE.

Hyde for one has to change, say, before first of outings (5,3)

Answer: ALTER EGO (i.e. “Hyde for one” – a reference to Edward Hyde, alter-ego of Dr Henry Jekyll in Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde). Solution is ALTER (i.e. “to change”) followed by EG (i.e. “say”, i.e. for example) and O (i.e. “first [letter] of outings”).

Romeo expires visiting city worker (6,3)

Answer: LADIES MAN (i.e. “Romeo”). Solution is DIES (i.e. “expires”) placed in or “visiting” LA (i.e. “city”, specifically Los Angeles) and MAN (i.e. “worker”), like so: LA-(DIES)-MAN.

Section of Church Times about a mad priest, close to arrest (10)

Answer: BAPTISTERY (i.e. “section of church” in which baptisms are performed). Solution is BY (i.e. “times” as in multiplication – ignore the misleading capitalisations) wrapped “about” an anagram (indicated by “mad”) of A PRIEST and T (i.e. “close to arrest”, i.e. the last letter of “arrest”), like so: B(APTISTER)Y.

Note old way into very big Yankee’s joint exercises? (10)

Answer: OSTEOPATHY (i.e. “joint exercises”). Solution is TE (i.e. “note” in the doh-ray-me scale, can also be spelled TI), O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”) and PATH (i.e. “way”) all placed “in” OS (i.e. “very big”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “out-sized”) and Y (“Yankee” in the phonetic alphabet), like so: OS-(TE-O-PATH)-Y.

Ecstasy? Consume it in Cornish resort (9)

Answer: BEATITUDE (i.e. “ecstasy”). Solution is EAT (i.e. “consume”) and IT both placed “in” BUDE (i.e. “Cornish resort”), like so: B(EAT-IT)UDE.

With few folk around, waved to welcome HM with dad (14)

Answer: UNDERPOPULATED (i.e. “with few folk around”). Solution is UNDULATED (i.e. “waved”) wrapped around or “welcoming” ER (i.e. “HM”, both references to the Queen, the first Elizabeth Regina, the second Her Majesty) and POP (i.e. “dad”, both words for father), like so: UND(ER-POP)ULATED.

Sneaky cryptic clue for cross? (8)

Answer: BACKDOOR (i.e. “sneaky”). When written as BACK DOOR the solution also satisfies a “cryptic clue for cross”: a word for Christ’s cross is ROOD, the reverse or BACK of which is DOOR.

Run up with less crude appreciative noises (4-8)

Answer: WOLF-WHISTLES (i.e. “appreciative noises”, though not necessarily ones appreciated). Solution is FLOW (i.e. “run”) reversed (indicated by “up” – this being a down clue) and followed by an anagram (indicated by “crude”) of WITH LESS.

Epic tales about additional US chiefs (9)

Answer: SAGAMORES (i.e. “US [Native American] chiefs”). Solution is SAGAS (i.e. “epic tales”) placed “about” MORE (i.e. “additional”), like so: SAGA(MORE)S. Another gotten from the wordplay.

Rewarding school test is quick (there’s no Latin at first) (10)

Answer: SATISFYING (i.e. “rewarding”). Solution is SAT (i.e. “school test”) followed by IS and FLYING (i.e. “quick”) once the L has been removed (indicated by “there’s no Latin at first”, referring to the first letter of “Latin”), like so: SAT-IS-FYING.

Fifty-four at home pledge to protect with adequate pay (6,4)

Answer: LIVING WAGE (i.e. “adequate pay”). Solution is LIV (i.e. “fifty-four” in Roman numerals) followed by IN (i.e. “at home”) and GAGE (i.e. an archaic word for “pledge” – another new one on me) once placed around or “protecting” W (a recognised abbreviation of “with”), like so: LIV-IN-G(W)AGE.

Study teams – and support one of them? (4,5)

Answer: TAKE SIDES (i.e. “support one of them [teams]”). Solution is TAKE (i.e. “study”, e.g. taking geography) followed by SIDES (i.e. “teams”).

Train driver, old character, given licence at any time (8)

Answer: MULETEER (i.e. “train driver” – a train in this case being a bunch of mules). Solution is MU (i.e. “old character”, specifically the twelfth letter of the Greek alphabet) followed by LET (i.e. “given licence”) and E’ER (poetic form of “ever”, i.e. “at any time”). I, on the other hand, with my luscious lockdown locks, am chief mulleteer.

Help one who’s easily taken in by the sound of it (7)

Answer: SUCCOUR (i.e. “help”). “By the sound of it” indicates homophone. Solution is a homophone of SUCKER (i.e. “one who’s easily taken in”).

Very old yacht’s first mature trip (6)

Answer: VOYAGE (i.e. “trip”). Solution is V (a recognised abbreviation of “very”) followed by O (ditto “old”), then Y (i.e. “yacht’s first [letter]”) and AGE (i.e. to “mature”).

Cancel plant overlooking area (5)

Answer: ANNUL (i.e. “cancel”). Solution is ANNUAL (i.e. “plant”) with its second A removed or “overlooked” – A being a recognised abbreviation of “area”.

Old province where charlatan, wanting tea, turns up (5)

Answer: NATAL (i.e. “old province”). Solution is CHARLATAN with the CHAR removed (indicated by “wanting tea”) and the remainder reversed (indicated by “turning up” – this being a down clue).

Main resident’s instrument (4)

Answer: BASS. Solution satisfies “main resident” – the sea is sometimes referred to as the main, especially in cryptic crosswords – and a musical “instrument”.

Another dive into synthwave was had this week, this time focusing on a few albums:
Magic Sword – Endless – there’s a slight whiff of prog rock to Magic Sword’s sound, but don’t let that put you off. Their latest album is a solid listen throughout, but the highlight for me is the first track Depths of Power.
Zombie Hyperdrive – Imperium – silly name, yes, but this is an album I often come back to. Same goes for their previous album Hyperion, but Imperium has stronger hooks. Awakening is a goosebump-raiser.
Le Matos – Join Us – a belter of an album that hardly puts a foot wrong, and one with a brilliantly chilling cover image. They’ve since moved onto horror movie soundtracks, but I hope they’ll return to this kind of stuff in future. Montrose is perhaps the stand-out track.
Laters, taters! – LP

Times Jumbo Cryptic Crossword 1489

After last week’s puzzle went mad for people’s names, it seems this week’s effort went for a mini-theme of animals and, er, bits of animals, what with JACKDAWs, SKYLARKs and BIG CATs with their TALONs, OXTAILs and TENDERLOINs. Overall this was on the easier end of the Jumbo scale – I don’t mind that! – but at least there were a number of well-crafted clues for solvers to enjoy.

As ever you can find my completed grid below along with explanations of my solutions where I have them. I hope you find them useful. If a recent Jumbo has given you night sweats then you might find salvation in my Just For Fun page, where you’ll find links to solutions to the last 100+ of these things. Meanwhile, there’s the usual ancient book reviews and a story of mine.

Thanks once more for the kind words and well wishes. They are always appreciated. Thanks are restored to WordPress for switching back once again to a more readable editing font. I get the feeling they’re making changes off the cuff, which isn’t exactly a good sign. That’s what test servers are for, peeps. You shouldn’t be dicking around with your production environment. (Wags finger authoratively authoritatly authoritatively…)

Anyway, till next time, stay safe, mask up, get vaccinated and keep supporting the NHS and key workers everywhere. Meanwhile, I’ll be counting down the days till the pubs open again. One year on, I’m a bit parched.

LP

Across clues

Sizable hat, roomy but not special (9)

Answer: CAPACIOUS (i.e. “sizable”). Solution is CAP (i.e. “hat”) followed by SPACIOUS (i.e. “roomy”) once the SP has been removed (indicated by “but not special” – SP being a recognised abbreviation of “special”), like so: CAP-ACIOUS.

Bird’s bill knocked empty, grabbed by rabbit (7)

Answer: JACKDAW (i.e. “bird”). Solution is AC (i.e. “bill”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “account”) and KD (i.e. “knocked empty”, i.e. the word “knocked” with all its middle letters removed) both placed in or “grabbed by” JAW (i.e. to “rabbit” or talk a lot), like so: J(AC-KD)AW.

Car crash driver’s ending in sudden pain (5)

Answer: PRANG (i.e. “car crash”). Solution is R (i.e. “driver’s ending”, i.e. the last letter of “driver”) placed “in” PANG (i.e. “sudden pain”), like so: P(R)ANG.

Top partnership’s victory in cricket match over (7)

Answer: TWINSET (i.e. “top partnership”, being “a cardigan and jumper made more or less to match” (Chambers)). Solution is WIN (i.e. “victory”) placed “in” TEST (i.e. “cricket match”) once reversed (indicated by “over”), like so: T(WIN)SET.

Deadly killer of toxin in jam (5)

Answer: NINJA (i.e. “deadly killer”). “Of” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: TOXI(N IN JA)M.

How baleen may be put another way (9)

Answer: WHALEBONE. “Put another way” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of HOW BALEEN. Baleen, according to Chambers, is “whalebone, horny plates growing from the palate of certain whales”. Very nicely worked.

Steal from faculty division after head of profession’s function (11,12)

Answer: PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION (i.e. a statistical “function”). Solution is ROB (i.e. “steal from”), ABILITY (i.e. “faculty”) and DISTRIBUTION (i.e. “division”) all placed “after” P (i.e. “head of professor”, i.e. the first letter of “professor”), like so: P-(ROB-ABILITY-DISTRIBUTION).

Bird settled on quiet lake (6)

Answer: PLOVER (i.e. “bird”). Solution is OVER (i.e. “settled” or finished) placed “on” or after P (i.e. “quiet”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “piano” in musical lingo) and L (a recognised abbreviation of “lake”), like so: P-L-(OVER).

Belt trio out in vital part of opera (8)

Answer: LIBRETTO (i.e. “vital part of opera”, technically a book of the text or words of a musical production). “Out” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of BELT TRIO.

Managed a wicket after at least twelve balls (7)

Answer: OVERSAW (i.e. “managed”). Solution is A and W (a recognised abbreviation of “wicket” used in cricket) both placed “after” OVERS (i.e. “at least twelve balls” – an over in cricket comprising six regulation deliveries), like so: OVERS-A-W. Nicely done.

Symbolic when he turns to his dissenting (10)

Answer: SCHISMATIC (i.e. “dissenting”). Solution is SCHEMATIC (i.e. “symbolic”) with the HE “turned into” HIS, like so: SC(HE)MATIC => SC(HIS)MATIC. Twigging this one led me to solve 8d.

Tool with sharpness Henry concealed in prison (12)

Answer: SLEDGEHAMMER (i.e. “tool”). Solution is EDGE (i.e. “sharpness”) and H (a recognised abbreviation of “Henry”, a unit of measurement setters have been crutching on this last year) both “concealed in” SLAMMER (i.e. slang for “prison”), like so: SL(EDGE-H)AMMER.

Set fire to church on hill (5)

Answer: TORCH (i.e. “set fire to”). Solution is CH (a recognised abbreviation of “church”) placed “on” or after TOR (i.e. “hill”), like so: TOR-CH.

Air play about high-flying singer (7)

Answer: SKYLARK (i.e. “high-flying singer” or bird). Solution is SKY (i.e. “air”) followed by LARK (i.e. “play about”).

Capital is destroyed when idle (3,5)

Answer: NEW DELHI (i.e. “capital” of India). “Is destroyed” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of WHEN IDLE.

Man’s man, perhaps, is left to drift without wife (8)

Answer: ISLANDER (i.e. “Man’s man, perhaps” – taken to mean a male inhabitant of the Isle of Man). Solution is IS followed by L (a recognised abbreviation of “left”) and WANDER (i.e. “to drift”) once the W has been removed (indicated by “without wife” – W being a recognised abbreviation of “wife), like so: IS-L-ANDER.

Woman wrapped up with a cause of death? (7)

Answer: BANSHEE, a “woman” or female spirit whose shrieks are said to presage a death in the household. The clue generally riffs on this, but is also formed by SHE (i.e. that “woman”) being placed or “wrapped up” in BANE (i.e. “a cause of death”), like so: BAN(SHE)E.

Belief Spanish wine is cut with ecstasy (5)

Answer: TENET (i.e. “belief”). Solution is TENT (i.e. “Spanish wine”) wrapped around or “cut with” E (street name of the drug “ecstasy”), like so: TEN(E)T.

Weapon photographing by press (8,4)

Answer: SHOOTING IRON (i.e. “weapon”). Solution is SHOOTING (i.e. “photographing”) followed by IRON (i.e. to “press” clothes).

Offer line round at home in dodgy district in America (10)

Answer: TENDERLOIN (i.e. “dodgy district in America”, specifically one where police corruption is rife. A new one on me, but interesting. I like it). Solution is TENDER (i.e. “offer”) followed by L (a recognised abbreviation of “line”), O (i.e. “round”) and IN (i.e. “at home”).

Canter wildly round course finally to go through again (2-5)

Answer: RE-ENACT (i.e. “to go through again”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “wildly”) of CANTER placed “round” E (i.e. “course finally”, i.e. the last letter of “course”), like so: RE(E)NACT.

Working bakery introduces rounds for regular output (8)

Answer: YEARBOOK (i.e. “regular output”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “working”) of BAKERY wrapped around or “introducing” O and O (both “rounds”), like so: YEARB(OO)K.

Orders half of paramedics to embrace training at the start (6)

Answer: EDICTS (i.e. “orders”). Solution is EDICS (i.e. latter “half of paramEDICS”) wrapped around or “embracing” T (i.e. “training at the start”, i.e. the first letter of “training”), like so: EDIC(T)S.

Daily puff in secret? (10,13)

Answer: CLASSIFIED ADVERTISMENT, the kind one often finds in “daily” newspapers. Clue plays on “puff” being self-promotion or ADVERTISMENT, and CLASSIFIED being “in secret”. You get the idea.

Cut? Refrain from using bars (5,4)

Answer: SPARE RIBS (i.e. “cut” of meat. Well, bone, mainly, but you know what I mean). Solution is SPARE (i.e. “refrain from using”) followed by RIBS (i.e. “bars” used to strengthen structures).

Ring mother about a hotel in US city (5)

Answer: OMAHA (i.e. “US city”). Solution is O (i.e. “ring”) and MA (i.e. “mother”) wrapped “about” A and H (“hotel” in the phonetic alphabet), like so: O-M(A-H)A.

Wealth from a mine in California (7)

Answer: CAPITAL (i.e. “wealth”). Solution is A and PIT (i.e. “mine”) both placed “in” CAL (a recognised abbreviation of “California”), like so: C(A-PIT)AL. Nicely done.

Poet’s love interest without name (5)

Answer: DANTE Alighieri (i.e. “poet”). Solution is DATE (i.e. “love interest”) placed around or “without” N (a recognised abbreviation of “name”), like so: DA(N)TE.

Polite Liberal is after general support (7)

Answer: GENTEEL (i.e. “polite”). Solution is L (a recognised abbreviation of “Liberal”) placed “after” GEN (a recognised abbreviation of “general”) and TEE (i.e. a “support” used in golf), like so: (GEN-TEE)-L.

Think about record beat surrounding one (9)

Answer: ENTERTAIN (i.e. “think about”). Solution is ENTER (i.e. to “record” information) followed by TAN (i.e. to “beat”) once wrapped around or “surrounding” I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), like so: ENTER-TA(I)N.

Down clues

Upset dice (3,2)

Answer: CUT UP. Solution satisfies “upset” and to “dice”.

Mill’s thing for grinding? It’s what many have sought (12,5)

Answer: PHILOSOPHER’S STONE (i.e. “it’s what many have sought”, being a stone or compound said to transform other metals into gold). Solution is PHILOSOPHER’S (i.e. John Stuart “Mill’s”) followed by STONE (i.e. “thing for grinding”).

Go fishing with sons in Spanish sound? (9)

Answer: CASTANETS (i.e. clickety-clackety “Spanish sound”). Solution is CAST A NET (i.e. “go fishing”) followed by S (a recognised abbreviation of “sons”).

Type of soup unknown in Old Testament, innards in yak milk (6)

Answer: OXTAIL (i.e. “type of soup”). Solution is X (i.e. “unknown” – setters love referring to X, Y or Z as unknowns) placed “in” OT (a recognised abbreviation of “Old Testament”) and followed by A and IL (i.e. “innards in yak milk”, i.e. the middle letters of “yak” and “milk”), like so: O(X)T-A-IL.

Reforming Sybil ties in as a subject of English novel (11)

Answer: SENSIBILITY (i.e. “subject of English novel”, specifically Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility). “Reforming” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of SYBIL TIES IN.

Drug addict on a road where there’s little of value (8)

Answer: JUNKYARD (i.e. “where there’s little of value”). Solution is JUNKY (i.e. “drug addict” – can be spelled junkie or junky) followed by A and RD (a recognised abbreviation of “road”).

Carriage central heating behaving uncontrollably (7)

Answer: CHARIOT (i.e. “carriage”). Solution is CH (a recognised abbreviation of “central heating”) followed by ARIOT (i.e. “behaving uncontrollably”).

Oppressed staff study for working in unreal stately home (11)

Answer: DOWNTRODDEN (i.e. “oppressed”). Solution is DOWNTON (i.e. “unreal stately home”, a reference to TV drama Downton Abbey) with the ON (i.e. “working”) swapped “for” ROD (i.e. “staff”) and DEN (i.e. “study”), like so: DOWNT(ON) => DOWNT(ROD-DEN).

Trying, we come to light embracing sacred mantra (9)

Answer: WEARISOME (i.e. “trying”). Solution is WE followed by ARISE (i.e. “come to light”) once wrapped around or “embracing” OM (i.e. “sacred mantra” of Buddhists), like so: WE-ARIS(OM)E.

Right to avoid following piano piece by Chopin, perhaps (7)

Answer: PRELUDE (i.e. “piece by Chopin, perhaps” – other composers are available). Solution is R (a recognised abbreviation of “right”) and ELUDE (i.e. “to avoid”) both placed after or “following” P (a recognised abbreviation of “piano”), like so: P-(R-ELUDE).

Some filo I asked to be rolled in seasoned sauce (5)

Answer: AIOLI (i.e. “seasoned sauce” – essentially garlicky mayo). “Some” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, while “to be rolled” indicates the solution has been reversed, like so: F(ILO I A)SKED.

Verdant area with gardeners working (10)

Answer: GREENSWARD (i.e. “verdant area”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “working”) of GARDENERS and W (a recognised abbreviation of “with”). One I got largely thanks to being subscriber to PS Publishing’s weekly newsletter, in which owner Pete Crowther often signs off with well wishes from the greensward. Rather spooky considering I’ve just today taken receipt of my signed copy of Best New Horror 30 from the same publisher! (Cue Twilight Zone music.)

It is work put up in advance (5)

Answer: POSIT (i.e. to put forward or “advance” an argument). Solution is TIS (i.e. “it is”) and OP (i.e. “work”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “opus”) all reversed (indicated by “put up” – this being a down clue), like so: PO-SIT.

Performers of dreadful pathos and corny rhymes (8,9)

Answer: SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (i.e. “performers”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “dreadful”) of PATHOS and CORNY RHYMES. Nicely done.

Congratulated when having lack of parking brought up (6)

Answer: RAISED (i.e. “brought up”). Solution is PRAISED (i.e. “congratulated”) once the P has been removed (indicated by “lack of parking” – P being a recognised abbreviation of “parking” used on maps and signage).

Weakness left current head of state (6)

Answer: LIKING (i.e. having a fondness or “weakness” for something). Solution is L (a recognised abbreviation of “left”) followed by I (a recognised abbreviation of an electrical “current” used in physics) and KING (i.e. “head of state”).

Advise caution right after beer (5)

Answer: ALERT (i.e. “advise caution”). Solution is RT (a recognised abbreviation of “right”, often used in titles like Rt Hon) placed “after” ALE (i.e. “beer”), like so: ALE-RT.

Grass skirts from Burma, low around back initially (6)

Answer: BAMBOO (i.e. “grass”). Solution is BA (i.e. “skirts from Burma”, i.e. the first and last letters of “Burma”) followed by MOO (i.e. “low” – one of the word’s meanings is a cow’s mooing sound) once wrapped “around” B (i.e. “back initially”, i.e. the first letter of “back”), like so: BA-M(B)OO.

Detect beat finally in this? (5)

Answer: HEART, upon which the clue largely riffs. The solution is HEAR (i.e. to “detect”) followed by T (i.e. “beat finally”, i.e. the last letter of “beat”).

Uses little energy in remote area (6)

Answer: WIELDS (i.e. “uses”). Solution is E (a “little” (i.e. recognised abbreviation of) “energy”) placed “in” WILDS (i.e. “remote area”), like so: WI(E)LDS.

Monsoon ruined anyone’s sari (5,6)

Answer: RAINY SEASON (i.e. “monsoon”). “Ruined” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of ANYONE’S SARI.

Steady loss putting one into red? (11)

Answer: HAEMORRHAGE. Clue plays on the solution being a sustained or “steady loss” of blood (i.e. “red”). You get the idea, but this was a sod to get.

City has close to eight educational establishments (5)

Answer: TUNIS (i.e. “city” of Tunisia). Solution is T (i.e. “close to eight”, i.e. the last letter of “eight”) followed by UNIS (i.e. “educational establishments”, short for universities).

Banished old vehicles coming up on off side? (10)

Answer: OSTRACISED (i.e. “banished”). Solution is O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”) followed by CARTS (i.e. “vehicles”) once reversed (indicated by “coming up” – this being a down clue) and an anagram (indicated by “off”) of SIDE, like so: O-STRAC-ISED.

Telling number forming a knot around one female (9)

Answer: NOTIFYING (i.e. “telling”). Solution is NO (a recognised abbreviation of “number”) followed by TYING (i.e. “forming a knot”) once placed “around” I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) and F (a recognised abbreviation of “female”), like so: NO-T(I-F)YING.

Soundly studied book on pig in something like a scotch bonnet? (3,6)

Answer: RED PEPPER (i.e. “something like a scotch bonnet”). “Soundly” indicates the solution is formed of homophones of READ (i.e. “studied book”) and PEPPA (i.e. “pig”, as in kids TV show Peppa the Pig).

Sailor almost in charge of everyone, primarily (5,3)

Answer: ABOVE ALL (i.e. “primarily”). Solution is AB (i.e. “sailor”, specifically one of Able-Bodied rank) followed by OVER ALL (i.e. “in charge of everyone”) once the last letter of OVER has been removed (indicated by “almost” – can’t say I was too keen on this usage, if I’ve got it right), like so: AB-(OVE-ALL).

All Ulster, note, contains not a single lough grave (7)

Answer: AUSTERE (i.e. “grave”). Solution is ALL ULSTER and E (i.e. musical “note”) once all the Ls have been removed (indicated by “contains not a single lough” – lough is an Irish word for “lake”, a recognised abbreviation of which is L), like so: A(LL)-U(L)STER-E => AUSTER-E.

Seafood, dab and sole – though last of cod is gone (7)

Answer: ABALONE (i.e. “seafood”). Solution is DAB and ALONE (i.e. “sole”) once the D has been removed (indicated by “though last [letter] of cod is gone”).

Piece about George Cross being taken by a top killer (3,3)

Answer: BIG CAT (i.e. “top killer”). Solution is BIT (i.e. “piece”) placed “about” GC (a recognised abbreviation of “George Cross”) and A (the “being taken by” bit I’m taking to mean “place alongside”), like so: BI(GC-A)T.

Locally not in favour of protecting area once more (5)

Answer: AGAIN (i.e. “once more”). Solution is AGIN (i.e. “locally not in favour”, in this case a Scots form of the word “against”) wrapped around or “protecting” A (a recognised abbreviation of “area”), like so: AG(A)IN.

Volunteers half of the City’s stock (5)

Answer: TALON (i.e. “stock” – both taken to mean the remaining undealt cards in a card game. Another new one on me). Solution is TA (i.e. “volunteers”, specifically the Territorial Army) followed by LON (i.e. “half of the City”, i.e. the first half of LONdon).

UNKLE is back with a new album, and rather good it is too – If We Don’t Make It is an instant toe-tapper – but this week’s post was mostly soundtracked courtesy of Cheerzo’s enormous and really rather good Retrowave/Synthwave playlist. Lacquer your lockdown mullet, pop on your all-round shades and roll up your jacket sleeves. It’s party time. Laters! – LP

Times Jumbo Cryptic Crossword 1488

Anyone looking for baby names at the moment could have saved themselves a tenner on a book and done this week’s Jumbo instead. Holy crap, there were a lot of them. Setting those aside, this week’s puzzle wasn’t too bad, leavened with a sprinkling of exotic solutions and a couple of spicy clues.

You can find my completed solution below along with explanations of my solutions where I have them. I hope you find them helpful. If a recent Jumbo is looking a little gappy for you then you might find my Just For Fun page a useful resource, containing links to solutions for the last 100+ of these things. Also ancient book reviews and a story of mine.

Thanks once again for the kind comments. They are much appreciated. A big raspberry, however, to whichever poison dwarf at WordPress decided to not only revert back to a tiny serif font when editing posts (and so soon after switching to one that was so much easier to read), but to then also tighten the spaces between the lines. You utter, utter sadist. It’d be nice if software designers – oh, I don’t know – perhaps used their own products every once in a while?

Anyway, enough of my bellyaching. Till next time, stay safe, mask up, get vaccinated and keep supporting the NHS and key workers everywhere.

LP

Across clues

Vague private record company reportedly put an end to (13)

Answer: INDETERMINATE (i.e. “vague”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “reportedly”) of INDIE (i.e. “private record company”) followed by TERMINATE (i.e. “put an end to”), like so: INDE-TERMINATE.

See man on board, mostly very funny (9)

Answer: BISHOPRIC (i.e. “see” or diocese). Solution is BISHOP (i.e. “man on [chess] board”) followed by RICH (i.e. “very funny” – Chambers offers “full of comic potential” as a definition) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “mostly”), like so: BISHOP-RIC.

Old Ottoman governor’s remains buried in Pennsylvania (5)

Answer: PASHA (i.e. “old Ottoman governor”). Solution is ASH (i.e. “remains”) placed or “buried in” PA (US state abbreviation of “Pennsylvania”), like so: P(ASH)A.

Like a flat some fellows used in a short story (11)

Answer: APARTMENTAL (i.e. “like a flat”). Solution is PART (i.e. “some”) and MEN (i.e. “fellows”) both placed “in” A and TALE (i.e. “story”) once it’s last letter has been removed (indicated by “short”), like so: A-(PART-MEN)-TAL.

Capital invested in Durham mansions (5)

Answer: AMMAN (i.e. “capital” city of Jordan). “Invested in” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: DURH(AM MAN)SIONS.

Bubbly lass finally leaving car round back of hotel (9)

Answer: SPARKLING (i.e. “bubbly”). Solution is S (i.e. “lass finally”, i.e. the last letter of “lass”) followed by PARKING (i.e. “leaving car”) once placed “round” L (i.e. “back of hotel”, i.e. the last letter of “hotel”), like so: S-PARK(L)ING.

Tiny child – a pest! (4)

Answer: MITE. Solution satisfies “tiny child” and “a pest” or parasite.

Detectives can, at court – that’s clear (8)

Answer: DISTINCT (i.e. “clear”). Solution is DIS (i.e. “detectives”, specifically Detective Inspectors) followed by TIN (i.e. “can”) and CT (a recognised abbreviation of “court”).

Fury when king escapes power breakdown (6)

Answer: OUTAGE (i.e. “power breakdown”). Solution is OUTRAGE (i.e. “fury”) once the R has “escaped” or been removed – R being a recognised abbreviation of Rex, Latin for “king”.

Expert custodians, about fifty, engaging female Scottish lawyer (10,6)

Answer: PROCURATOR FISCAL (i.e. “Scottish lawyer” – in Scotland a fiscal is “an officer who prosecutes in criminal cases in local and inferior courts” (Chambers)). Solution is PRO (i.e. “expert”) followed by CURATORS (i.e. “custodians”), then CA (i.e. “about”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “circa”) and L (i.e. “[Roman numeral] fifty”). The whole is then placed around or “engaging” FI (i.e. “female” – basically a woman’s name, short for Fiona), like so: PRO-CURATOR(FI)S-CA-L.

Repudiation of girl’s article I, for one, read out (9)

Answer: DISAVOWAL (i.e. “repudiation”). Solution is DI’S (i.e. “girl’s” – again a girl’s name, this time short for Diana) followed by A (i.e. “article”, i.e. a word like a, an or the) and a homophone (indicated by “read out”) of VOWEL (i.e. “I, for one” – other vowels are available), like so: DI’S-A-VOWAL.

Embarks on journey: TV’s not on (4,3)

Answer: SETS OFF (i.e. “embarks on”). When written as SET’S OFF the solution also satisfies “TV’s not on”.

Nutty substance primarily produced in my area (5)

Answer: COPRA (i.e. “nutty substance”). Solution is P (i.e. “primarily produced”, i.e. the first letter of “produced”) placed “in” COR (i.e. “my” – both taken as expressions of surprise) and A (a recognised abbreviation of “area”), like so: CO(P)R-A. A short brute force of my Chambers was needed here.

Over vivid in exam about mapping of mountains (12)

Answer: OROGRAPHICAL (i.e. “about mapping of mountains”). Solution is O (a recognised abbreviation of “over” used in cricket) and GRAPHIC (i.e. “vivid”) both placed “in” ORAL (i.e. “exam”), like so: OR(O-GRAPHIC)AL.

Recurring passages and runs spoilt trio Melba cut short (10)

Answer: RITORNELLI (i.e. musical lingo describing short “recurring passages” in a vocal work). Solution is R (a recognised abbreviation of “runs” used in a number of ball games) followed by an anagram (indicated by “spoilt”) of TRIO, then Dame NELLIE “Melba”, famed soprano of the late Victorian era – yeah, me neither – once the last letter has been trimmed (indicated by “cut short”), like so: R-ITOR-NELLI.

First of two mistakes about small dwelling’s earthenware (10)

Answer: TERRACOTTA (i.e. “earthenware”). Solution is T (i.e. “first [letter] of two”) and ERRATA (i.e. “mistakes”) once placed “about” COT (i.e. an archaic and poetic word for a “small dwelling” or cottage), like so: T-ERRA(COT)TA.

Intrepid Reds unexpectedly dominated by clergy (6-6)

Answer: PRIEST-RIDDEN (i.e. “dominated by clergy” – perhaps less so once the results of today’s census is published). “Unexpectedly” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of INTREPID REDS.

Old man going around with bearlike mammal (5)

Answer: PANDA (i.e. “bearlike mammal”). Solution is PA (i.e. “old man” or father) wrapped “around” AND (i.e. “with”), like so: P(AND)A.

Go back in panic, carrying Mike’s powerful light (3,4)

Answer: FOG LAMP (i.e. “powerful light”). Solution is GO reversed (indicated by “back”) and placed “in” FLAP (i.e. “panic”) once wrapped around or “carrying” M (“Mike” in the phonetic alphabet), like so: F(OG)LA(M)P.

Clubs formerly accommodating Laurel’s girl (9)

Answer: CONSTANCE (i.e. “girl” – more girl’s names. Are you spotting a theme?) Solution is C (a recognised abbreviation of “clubs” used in some card games) followed by ONCE (i.e. “formerly”) once wrapped around or “accommodating” STAN (i.e. “Laurel” – Stan Laurel was one half of famed comedy duo Laurel & Hardy), like so: C-ON(STAN)CE.

Man harbouring yen to have wee drink before a play (7,4,5)

Answer: KITCHEN SINK DRAMA (i.e. “play”). Solution is KEN (i.e. “man” – a man’s name this time) wrapped around or “harbouring” ITCH (i.e. “yen” or yearning), then followed by SINK DRAM (i.e. “to have wee drink”) and A, like so: K(ITCH)EN-SINK-DRAM-A.

Sort of meal friends recalled at university? (4-2)

Answer: SLAP-UP (i.e. “sort of meal”). Solution is PALS (i.e. “friends”) reversed (indicated by “recalled”) and followed by UP (i.e. “at university” – usage you see far more commonly in cryptic crosswords than you do in real life).

Writer’s catalogue appearing after fifteen days? (8)

Answer: NOVELIST (i.e. “writer”). Solution is LIST (i.e. “catalogue”) placed “after” the first half of NOVEMBER – being thirty days in length, hence the “fifteen days” bit – like so: NOVE-LIST.

Asian’s formal wear mentioned in speech (4)

Answer: THAI (i.e. “Asian”). “Mentioned in speech” indicates homophone. Solution is a homophone of TIE (i.e. “formal wear”).

Difference in short seen … differently (9)

Answer: OTHERNESS (i.e. “difference”). “Differently” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of SHORT SEEN.

Wading bird biting head off rue (5)

Answer: EGRET (i.e. “wading bird”). Solution is REGRET (i.e. “rue”) with it’s “head” or first letter removed or “bitten off”.

Senators met at sea, closest to where the sun rises (11)

Answer: EASTERNMOST (i.e. “closest to where the sun rises”). “At sea” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of SENATORS MET.

She’s back, wearing man’s close-fitting cap (5)

Answer: BERET (i.e. “close-fitting cap”). Solution is E (i.e. “she’s back”, i.e. the last letter of “she”) placed in or “wearing” BERT (i.e. “man” – yet more names), like so: BER(E)T.

Fit for the main Home Counties area, value unknown (9)

Answer: SEAWORTHY (i.e. “fit for the main” – the main being another word for the sea). Solution is SE (i.e. “Home Counties”, referring to the South East of England) followed by A (a recognised abbreviation of “area”), then WORTH (i.e. “value”) and Y (i.e. “unknown” – setters love referring to X, Y and Z as unknowns).

Trek there and sell reconditioned fairground ride (6-7)

Answer: HELTER-SKELTER (i.e. “fairground ride”). “Reconditioned” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of TREK THERE and SELL.

Down clues

In the compiler’s ancient dictionary it’s “with paint thickly applied” (9)

Answer: IMPASTOED (i.e. “with paint thickly applied”). Solution is I’M (i.e. “compiler’s” taken from the point of view of the setter, and taken as a contraction of “compiler is” or I AM, rather than its possessive form) followed by PAST (i.e. “ancient”) and OED (i.e. “dictionary” – specifically the Oxford English Dictionary). Nicely worked.

Musical line a chap is unable to compose (7)

Answer: DESCANT (i.e. “musical line”). Solution is DES (i.e. “chap” – yet, yet more names) and CAN’T (i.e. “is unable”) put together or “composed”.

Appreciative type, Kev, travelling with his grant (11)

Answer: THANKSGIVER (i.e. “appreciative type”). “Travelling” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of KEV and HIS GRANT.

Something fishy about a girl band’s travel organiser (6)

Answer: ROADIE (i.e. “band’s travel organiser” – a very loose definition, but if you really contort the words then the setter just about gets away with it. Only just, mind…). Solution is ROE (i.e. “something fishy” – roe being fish eggs) wrapped “about” A and DI (i.e. “girl”, short for Diana – yet, yet, yet more names), like so: RO(A-DI)E.

Speech delivered during summer month on Russian river (9)

Answer: INAUGURAL (i.e. “speech”). Solution is IN (i.e. “during”) followed by AUG (i.e. “summer month”, specifically a shortened form of August) and URAL (i.e. “Russian river”).

Chair-covering a northern man, Charlie, carried in a vehicle (12)

Answer: ANTIMACASSAR (i.e. “chair-covering” used to protect upholstery from macassar and pomade and other such manly hair gunk). Solution is A followed by N (a recognised abbreviation of “northern”), then TIM (i.e. “man” – yet, yet, yet, yet more names) and ASS (i.e. “Charlie” or fool) once placed in or “carried” in A CAR (i.e. “a vehicle”), like so: A-N-TIM-A-C(ASS)AR.

Reader dined with English voters (10)

Answer: ELECTORATE (i.e. “voters”). Solution is LECTOR (i.e. “reader”) and ATE (i.e. “dined”) both placed after or “with” E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”), like so: E-(LECTOR-ATE).

Time to probe extra unit of data (4)

Answer: BYTE (i.e. “unit of data”). Solution is T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”) placed in or “probing” BYE (an “extra” run in cricket, being those not directly scored), like so: BY(T)E.

Mercenary desperate for oldies with big money (7,2,7)

Answer: SOLDIER OF FORTUNE (i.e. “mercenary”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “desperate”) of FOR OLDIES followed by FORTUNE (i.e. “big money”).

Choose to frame rising academician’s abstract work (2,3)

Answer: OP ART (i.e. “abstract work”). Solution is OPT (i.e. “choose”) wrapped around or “framing” RA (i.e. “academician”, specifically a Royal Academician) once reversed (indicated by “rising” – this being a down clue), like so: OP(AR)T.

Like some languages partly for Omani citizens? (7)

Answer: ROMANIC (i.e. “like some languages”). “Partly” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: FO(R OMANI C)ITZENS.

Tory woman surprisingly into stars (13)

Answer: CONSTELLATION (i.e. “stars”). Solution is CON (i.e. “Tory”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “Conservative”) followed by STELLA (i.e. “woman” – yet, yet, yet, yet, yet more names) and an anagram (indicated by “surprisingly”) of INTO, like so: CON-STELLA-TION.

Poisonous alkaloid from a harbour over in East (8)

Answer: ATROPINE (i.e. “poisonous alkaloid” found in deadly nightshade). Solution is A followed by PORT (i.e. “harbour”) reversed (indicated by “over” – this being a down clue), then IN and E (a recognised abbreviation of “East”), like so: A-TROP-IN-E. One gotten solely from the wordplay.

Like some old Peruvians serving prison sentences? (5)

Answer: INCAN (i.e. “like some old Peruvians”). When written as IN CAN the solution also satisfies “serving prison sentences” – CAN being slang for a prison.

Filled with enthusiasm, but brought down to earth, perhaps? (5,3,4,4)

Answer: SWEPT OFF ONES FEET. Solution satisfies “filled with enthusiasm” and “brought down to earth, perhaps” describing the scene if one took the phrase literally.

Endlessly regretful about quietly getting a new pouch (7)

Answer: SPORRAN (i.e. “pouch”). Solution is SORRY (i.e. “regretful”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “endlessly”) and the remainder wrapped “about” P (i.e. “quietly”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of the musical lingo “piano”), followed by A and N (a recognised abbreviation of “new”), like so: S(P)ORR-A-N.

Knight errant’s son in physical discomfort (7)

Answer: PALADIN (i.e. “knight errant”). Solution is LAD (i.e. “son”) placed “in” PAIN (i.e. “physical discomfort”), like so: PA(LAD)IN.

Those not elected dig new head’s frank manner (13)

Answer: OUTSPOKENNESS (i.e. “frank manner”). Solution is OUTS (i.e. “those not elected”) followed by POKE (i.e. “dig”), then N (a recognised abbreviation of “new”) and NESS (i.e. “head”, as in the geographical feature).

Trendy label, behold, around one engraved figure (8)

Answer: INTAGLIO (i.e. “engraved figure”). Solution is IN (i.e. “trendy”) followed by TAG (i.e. “label”), then LO (i.e. “behold”, as in lo and…) once wrapped “around” I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), like so: IN-TAG-L(I)O. Another gotten mostly from the wordplay.

Accomplished gangster accepting fate? It’s comparable (12)

Answer: PROPORTIONAL (i.e. “comparable”). Solution is PRO (i.e. “accomplished”) and AL (i.e. “gangster”, specifically Al Capone, a favourite of several setters) wrapped around or “accepting” PORTION (i.e. “fate” – Chambers backs this up, though I can’t bring to mind an example of its use in this way), like so: PRO-(PORTION)-AL.

An attempt to embarrass? (5)

Answer: ABASH (i.e. “to embarrass”). When written as A BASH the solution also satisfies “an attempt”.

Unbearable to the French mob, a bishop having gone in first (11)

Answer: INTOLERABLE (i.e. “unbearable”). Solution is TO followed by LE (i.e. “the French”, i.e. the masculine form of “the” in French) and RABBLE (i.e. “mob”) once one of the Bs has been removed (indicated by “a bishop having gone” – B being a recognised abbreviation of “bishop” used in chess). The whole is then preceded (indicated by “first”) by IN, like so: IN-(TO-LE-RABLE).

Support novel French art, ultimately with a little cash out East (10)

Answer: BACKSHEESH (i.e. “a little cash out East”, specifically a gift or gratuity or tip, also spelled backshish, bakhshish or baksheesh). Solution is BACK (i.e. “support”) followed by SHE (i.e. “novel” by H. Rider Haggard – another favourite of some setters), then ES (i.e. “French art” – another favourite of setters, “art” is taken to be a ye olde form of “are”, the French of which is ES) and H (i.e. “ultimately with”, i.e. the last letter of “with”).

Naval officer’s chest of drawers containing gold (9)

Answer: COMMODORE (i.e. “naval officer”). Solution is COMMODE (i.e. “chest of drawers”) wrapped around or “containing” OR (i.e. “gold” in heraldry), like so: COMMOD(OR)E.

One who explains riots stirred up after trade fair (9)

Answer: EXPOSITOR (i.e. “one who explains”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “stirred up”) of RIOTS placed “after” EXPO (i.e. “trade fair”), like so: EXPO-SITOR.

A French writer briefly visiting army eating-place (7)

Answer: TAVERNA (i.e. “eating-place”). Solution is A and Jules VERNE (i.e. “French writer”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “briefly”). These are then placed in or “visit” TA (i.e. “army”, specifically the Territorial Army), like so: T(A-VERN)A.

Seaside entertainer perhaps – and what might cause his downfall? (7)

Answer: PIERROT (i.e. a clown or “seaside entertainer perhaps”). When written as PIER ROT the solution cryptically satisfies “what might cause his downfall”.

Naval NCOs collecting raunchy snaps (6)

Answer: PHOTOS (i.e. “snaps”). Solution is POS (i.e. “naval NCOs”, specifically Petty Officers) wrapped around or “collecting” HOT (i.e. “raunchy”), like so: P(HOT)OS.

Bachelor leaves in drunken state for game (5)

Answer: LOTTO (i.e. “game”). Solution is BLOTTO (i.e. “drunken state”) with the B (a recognised abbreviation of “bachelor”) removed (indicated by “leaves”).

Greyish, like Henry on the outside (4)

Answer: ASHY (i.e. “greyish”). Solution is AS (i.e. “like”) followed by HY (i.e. “Henry on the outside”, i.e. the first and last letters of “Henry”).

Fleet Foxes are back! Yay! Their new album Shore made for a very pleasant first listen, so it wasn’t much of a stretch for me to return to the band’s back catalogue. King of the crop is still their eponymous debut album, the best known song from which you can find below. If lush, folksy Beach Boys-style close harmony is your thing then you’ll lap this up. Enjoy! – LP

Times Jumbo Cryptic Crossword 1487

An easier time of it this week, thankfully! Another decent puzzle too, perhaps save for one clue that irked me. You might spot which one further on. (Looks away, whistling.)

You can find my completed grid below along with explanations of my solutions where I have them. I hope you find them helpful. If a recent Jumbo has you jiggered, then head on over to my Just For Fun page where you’ll find links to solutions for the last 100+ of these things. Meanwhile there’s the usual ancient book reviews and a story of mine.

Thanks once more for the kind comments. They are much appreciated. Thanks also to whoever at WordPress decided to change the editing font from some tiny serif creation to something much easier to read. Now if only someone can help me consistently strike the right keys on this laptop. This 2,500 word post has felt more like 10,000!

Till next time, stay safe, mask up, get vaccinated and let’s look forward to all this Covid rubbish getting knocked on the head. In the meantime, keep supporting the NHS and key workers everywhere.

LP

Across clues

Store form of isotope in desert (10)

Answer: DEPOSITORY (i.e. “store”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “form of”) of ISOTOPE placed “in” DRY (i.e. “desert”, both descriptive of a lack of moisture), like so: D(EPOSITO)RY.

Some knitting order a pain (6,6)

Answer: GARTER STITCH (i.e. “some knitting”). Solution is GARTER (the highest “order” of knighthood) followed by STITCH (i.e. “a pain” sometimes felt during exercise).

As one man is on, two union leaders off (9)

Answer: UNANIMOUS (i.e. “as one”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “is off”) of MAN IS ON, U and U (i.e. “two union leaders”, U being the first letter of “union”).

Pull away from wife and sleep (5)

Answer: WREST (i.e. “pull away”). Solution is W (a recognised abbreviation of “wife”) followed by REST (i.e. “sleep”).

Country cutting an American test (7)

Answer: AUSTRIA (i.e. “country”). Solution is A US TRIAL (i.e. “an American test”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “cutting”).

Corrupt lot parliament, pure down-and-outs (6,11)

Answer: LUMPEN PROLETARIAT (i.e. “down-and-outs”). “Corrupt” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of LOT PARLIAMENT PURE. Nicely worked.

Cause of ferment, Irish poet turning tail (5)

Answer: YEAST (i.e. “cause of ferment”). Solution is William Butler YEATS (i.e. “Irish poet”) with its last two letters swapped (indicated by “turning tail”), like so: YEA(TS) => YEA(ST).

Does loveless couple give up hope? (7)

Answer: DESPAIR (i.e. “give up hope”). Solution is DOES with the O removed (indicated by “loveless” – “love” being a zero score in tennis) and the remainder followed by PAIR (i.e. “couple”), like so: DES-PAIR.

Inside scrapheap hid some bugs (6)

Answer: APHIDS (i.e. “bugs”). “Inside” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: SCRAPHE(AP HID S)OME.

Taking hour to go in, hospital department has one seat (8)

Answer: ENTHRONE (i.e. to “seat” someone). Solution is HR (a recognised abbreviation of “hour”) “going in” between ENT (i.e. “hospital department”, specifically Ear Nose and Throat) and ONE, like so: ENT-(HR)-ONE.

In brief, run is for trainer (7)

Answer: TRELLIS (i.e. “trainer” for plants). Solution is TELL (i.e. to “brief” someone) with R (a recognised abbreviation of “run” used in a number of ball games) placed “in” it, and then followed by IS, like so: T(R)ELL-IS.

Sign drenched clothes most worn out (8)

Answer: WEARIEST (i.e. “most worn out”). Solution is ARIES (i.e. “sign” of the zodiac) placed in or “clothed” by WET (i.e. “drenched”), like so: WE(ARIES)T.

Son isn’t wearing any trousers (6)

Answer: SLACKS (i.e. “trousers”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “son”) followed by LACKS (i.e. “isn’t wearing any”).

What a stone being catapulted is, for sure (4,3,4)

Answer: HARD AND FAST. Solution satisfies “what a stone being catapulted is” and “sure”.

Not in Italy, a flying race (11)

Answer: NATIONALITY (i.e. “race”). “Flying” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of NOT IN ITALY A.

A row I stomach, concealing bit of a pout for one always (2,9)

Answer: AD INFINITUM (i.e. “always”). Solution is A, DIN (i.e. “row”), I and TUM (i.e. “stomach”) all wrapped around or “concealing” FIN (i.e. “bit of a pout” – a pout is a fish of the cod family), like so: A-DIN-(FIN)-I-TUM.

Sporting event turning live, though somewhat on the periphery (3,4,4)

Answer: THE BOAT RACE (i.e. “sporting event”). Solution is BE (i.e. to “live”) reversed (indicated by “turning”) and placed in or having “on the periphery” THO (a poetic contraction of “though”) and A TRACE (i.e. “somewhat”), like so: TH(EB)O-A-TRACE.

Improvement finished, go (6)

Answer: UPTURN (i.e. “improvement”). Solution is UP (i.e. “finished”) followed by TURN (i.e. a “go”).

In middle of bodega, is kitchen fixture perhaps cut off? (8)

Answer: DISUNITE (i.e. to “cut off”). Solution is DE (i.e. “middle [letters] of bodega”) wrapped around or having “in” IS and UNIT (i.e. “kitchen fixture”), like so: D(IS-UNIT)E.

Pertinent European programme’s back (7)

Answer: GERMANE (i.e. “pertinent”). Solution is GERMAN (i.e. “European”) followed by E (i.e. “programme’s back”, i.e. the last letter of “programme”).

Charm shown by boxer’s attendant after end of bout (8)

Answer: TALISMAN (i.e. “charm”). Solution is ALI’S MAN (i.e. “boxer’s attendant” – the boxer in question being Muhammad ALI) placed “after” T (i.e. “end [letter] of bout”), like so: T-(ALI’S-MAN).

Swindle involving right number of racehorses, for example? (6)

Answer: STRING (i.e. a drove or “number of racehorses, for example”). Solution is STING (i.e. “swindle”) wrapped around or “involving” R (a recognised abbreviation of “right”), like so: ST(R)ING.

A boy embracing me in front of a Spanish promenade (7)

Answer: ALAMEDA (i.e. “Spanish promenade”). Solution is A and LAD (i.e. “boy”) wrapped around or “embracing” ME, and then the whole then placed “in front of” A, like so: A-LA(ME)D-A.

Gripping last of rocks, anchor found resting place (5)

Answer: ROOST (i.e. “resting place”). Solution is ROOT (i.e. “anchor”) wrapped around or “gripping” S (i.e. “last [letter] of rocks”), like so: ROO(S)T.

Proving inconsistent, like sirocco and mistral? (7,3,3,4)

Answer: BLOWING HOT AND COLD (i.e. “proving inconsistent”). Clue plays on siroccos and mistrals being hot and cold winds respectively.

Clump of vegetation seen, jumbo part circling island to the west (7)

Answer: TUSSOCK (i.e. “clump of vegetation”). Solution is TUSK (i.e. “jumbo part”, i.e. body part of an elephant) wrapped around or “circling” COS (i.e. a Greek “island”) once reversed (indicated by “to the west” – this being an across clue), like so: TUS(SOC)K.

Papers etc dismissing knight from holy city (5)

Answer: MEDIA (i.e. “papers etc”). Solution is MEDINA (i.e. “holy city” in Saudi Arabia) with the N removed (indicated by “dismissing knight” – N being a recognised abbreviation of “knight” used in chess).

Honest work out to protect ailing housing estate, initially (9)

Answer: GUILELESS (i.e. “honest”). Solution is GUESS (i.e. “work out” – no, in a word. I sincerely hope the setter doesn’t work in a profession upon which lives depend if they honestly believe guesswork equates to working something out. Scary if they do…) wrapped around or “protecting” ILL (i.e. “ailing”) once it has itself been wrapped around or “housing” E (i.e. “estate, initially”, i.e. the first letter of “estate”), like so: GU(IL(E)L)ESS.

Pad, something soft for carpeting (8,4)

Answer: DRESSING DOWN (i.e. “carpeting” or what-I-just-did-above-in-53a). Solution is DRESSING (i.e. medical “pad”) followed by DOWN (i.e. “something soft”).

Alleges car has crashed into comprehensive (5-5)

Answer: LARGE-SCALE (i.e. “comprehensive”). “Has crashed” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of ALLEGES CAR.

Down clues

Nonsense – boast of bigamist? (6,5)

Answer: DOUBLE DUTCH (i.e. “nonsense”). Clue plays on “dutch” being cockney rhyming slang for “wife”, supposedly after the Duchess of Fife – we had this last week’s puzzle too, and how bigamists get hitched to more than one person.

Hand in part penning second song (5)

Answer: PSALM (i.e. “song”). Solution is PALM (i.e. “hand in part”, or part of the hand) wrapped around or “penning” S (a recognised abbreviation of “second”), like so: P(S)ALM.

Over everyone, small earwigs and beetles primarily creep (9)

Answer: SLIMEBALL (i.e. “creep”). Solution is SLIM (i.e. “small”) and E and B (i.e. “earwigs and beetles primarily”, i.e. the first letters of “earwigs” and “beetles”) placed “over” – this being a down clue – ALL (i.e. “everyone”), like so: (SLIM-EB)-ALL.

Soldier drunk, other ranks caught up (7)

Answer: TROOPER (i.e. “soldier”). Solution is OR (a recognised abbreviation of “other ranks” of the British Army) reversed (indicated by “up” – this being a down clue) and placed in or “caught by” TOPER (i.e. a “drunk”), like so: T(RO)OPER.

Rash having two drinks, don’t start the second (7)

Answer: ROSEOLA (i.e. “rash”). Solution is ROSE and COLA (i.e. “two drinks”) with the first letter of COLA removed (indicated by “don’t start the second”). Chalk one to my Bradford’s here.

A law on mummification finally accepted by Roman ruler, not head of ancient Egypt (11)

Answer: ALEXANDRIAN (i.e. “of ancient Egypt”). Solution is A followed by LEX (i.e. “law” in Latin) and N (i.e. “mummification finally”, i.e. the last letter of “mummification”) once placed in or “accepted by” HADRIAN (i.e. “Roman ruler”) once the first letter has been removed (indicated by “not head”), like so: A-LEX-A(N)DRIAN.

Rubbish match for a Scottish vegetable (6)

Answer: TATTIE (i.e. “Scottish vegetable”, i.e. Scots word for a potato). Solution is TAT (i.e. “rubbish”) followed by TIE (i.e. “match”).

Call to keep oven hot (8)

Answer: ROASTING (i.e. “hot”). Solution is RING (i.e. to “call”) wrapped around or “keeping” OAST (i.e. a kiln or “oven” used to dry hops), like so: R(OAST)ING.

Putting it mildly, a Trappist’s remit? (2,3,3,5)

Answer: TO SAY THE LEAST. Solution satisfies “putting it mildly” and “a Trappist’s remit” – Trappist monks being known for keeping vows of silence.

Devastating thing having ruined a trick (7)

Answer: TORNADO (i.e. “devastating thing”). Solution is TORN (i.e. “ruined”) followed by A and DO (i.e. “trick”, as in to con someone).

Sumo like this is so without mercy (11)

Answer: HEARTLESSLY (i.e. “without mercy”). The first half of the clue cryptically plays on how one takes the middle letters or HEART of “sumo” to get “so”.

Honey in soft centre? (10)

Answer: SWEETHEART (i.e. “honey”, both terms of endearment). Solution is SWEET (i.e. “soft”, as in fancying someone) followed by HEART (i.e. “centre”).

Strong flavour merits pan being given a stir (9)

Answer: SPEARMINT (i.e. “strong flavour”). “Given a stir” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of MERITS PAN. Nicely worked.

Soft of a perch right to feed baby (2,2,4)

Answer: AS IT WERE (i.e. “sort of”). Solution is A followed by SIT (i.e. to “perch”) and WEE (i.e. “baby”) once wrapped around or “fed” by R (a recognised abbreviation of “right”), like so: A-SIT-WE(R)E.

Track I’d sing out of tune (6)

Answer: SIDING (i.e. “track”). “Out of tune” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of I’D SING.

Success securing wire to become less convincing (4,4)

Answer: WEAR THIN (i.e. “become less convincing”). Solution is WIN (i.e. “success”) wrapped around or “securing” EARTH (i.e. “wire” in an electrical flex), like so: W(EARTH)IN.

Face piece, knowing pottery (9)

Answer: CHINAWARE (i.e. “pottery”). Solution is CHIN (i.e. “face piece”) followed by AWARE (i.e. “knowing”).

With unlimited food comes yen for tea (6)

Answer: OOLONG (i.e. “tea”). Solution is OO (i.e. “unlimited food”, i.e. the word “food” with its first and last letters removed) followed by LONG (i.e. “yen” or yearning). One I recalled from a previous puzzle, if I’m honest.

Acknowledging limitations, this train’s last stop? (2,3,2,2,4)

Answer: AS FAR AS IT GOES. Solution satisfies “acknowledging limitations” and “this train’s last stop”.

Post-watershed screening time ultimately spoiled (11)

Answer: ADULTERATED (i.e. “spoiled”). Solution is ADULT-RATED (i.e. “post-watershed” telly) wrapped around or “screening” E (i.e. “time ultimately”, i.e. the last letter of “time”), like so: ADULT-(E)-RATED.

Netting second of goals, Man United playing with spirit (8,3)

Answer: MOUNTAIN DEW (i.e. “spirit”, specifically an informal name given to illicitly distilled whisky (thanks, Chambers)). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “playing”) of MAN UNITED wrapped around or “netting” O (i.e. “second [letter] of goals”) and the whole then followed by W (a recognised abbreviation of “with”), like so: M(O)UNTAINDE-W. Nicely worked.

Train a girl until fluent in three languages (10)

Answer: TRILINGUAL (i.e. “fluent in three languages”). “Train” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of A GIRL UNTIL.

Drennan’s country remedies all rubbished (7,4)

Answer: EMERALD ISLE (i.e. poet William “Drennan’s country”). “Rubbished” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of REMEDIES ALL.

Again look at article penned by communist outfit (9)

Answer: READDRESS (i.e. “again look at”). Solution is A (i.e. “article”, i.e. a word like a, an or the) placed in or “penned by” RED (i.e. “communist”) and followed by DRESS (i.e. “outfit”), like so: RE(A)D-DRESS.

Family of essayist warmer? (8)

Answer: LAMBSKIN (i.e. “warmer”). When written as Charles LAMB’S KIN the solution also satisfies “family of essayist”. Yeah, me neither (pat’s Bradford’s).

Forget to secure permit before European check (4-3)

Answer: LOOK-SEE (i.e. “check”). Solution is LOSE (i.e. “forget”) wrapped around or “securing” OK (i.e. to “permit”) and then followed by E (a recognised abbreviation of “European”), like so: LO(OK)SE-E.

Country girl on my mind in old song (7)

Answer: GEORGIA. Solution satisfies “country” and “girl on my mind in old song”, a reference to Georgia On My Mind, most famously recorded by Ray Charles.

A life protecting mother, sublime (7)

Answer: AMAZING (i.e. “sublime”). Solution is A and ZING (i.e. “life”, as in pzazz, zip, that kind of thing) wrapped around or “protecting” MA (i.e. “mother”), like so: A-(MA)-ZING.

Overlooking sea, private room appeared (6)

Answer: LOOMED (i.e. “appeared”). Solution is LOO (i.e. “private room”) placed before or “overlooking” – this being a down clue – MED (i.e. “sea”, specifically the Mediterranean).

Last of twenty-four, nothing major (5)

Answer: OMEGA (i.e. “last of twenty-four”, a reference to the number of letters in the Greek alphabet). Solution is O (i.e. “nothing”) followed by MEGA (i.e. “major”).

With Everything Everything dropping new music this week I thought I’d try once more to get into their last album, RE-ANIMATOR. It’s still a not-quite from me, but it gave me a good reason to revisit their back catalogue. Pick any of their first four albums and you’ll be in for a treat. Here’s the track that got me into them. And, yes, it’s well weird! – LP

Times Jumbo Cryptic Crossword 1486

Stinker alert! This week’s offering leaned a little too heavy into general knowledge for my tastes – too many people and places, and as for 13d… sheesh! – but setting those aside there was some rather clever clueing to enjoy. One of the better stinkers on reflection. (Note how I am writing this the day after solving it. I didn’t exactly feel this way at the time!)

You can find my completed grid below along with explanations of my solutions where I have them. I hope you find them useful. If a recent Jumbo has done for you then you might find succour in my Just For Fun page, where I list links to solutions for the last 100+ of these things. Elsewhere there’s the usual ancient book reviews and a story of mine.

Thanks once more for the kind comments. They are much appreciated and do help to ease the cabin fever. I and my fourteen other selves thank you. Till next time, stay safe, mask up, get vaccinated and keep flying the flag for the NHS and key workers everywhere.

LP

Across clues

Relish large thing sold dishonestly? (3,2)

Answer: LAP UP (i.e. “relish”). Solution is L (a recognised abbreviation of “large”) followed by A PUP (i.e. “thing sold dishonestly”).

Male boss with this foolish ritual (5,5)

Answer: MUMBO JUMBO (i.e. “foolish ritual”). Solution is M (a recognised abbreviation of “male”) followed by UMBO (i.e. the central knob or “boss” of a shield – no, me neither), then JUMBO (i.e. “this”, i.e. the Times Jumbo crossword).

Girl visited by doctor – one stiff walking? (6)

Answer: ZOMBIE (i.e. “stiff walking” – stiff as in a dead body). Solution is ZOE (i.e. basically a “girl’s” name) wrapped around or being “visited by” MB (i.e. “doctor”, specifically a Medicinae Baccalaureus or Bachelor of Medicine) and I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), like so: ZO(MB-I)E.

Note rubbish bags keep Cockney’s hat (3,3,3)

Answer: TIT FOR TAT (i.e. “Cockney [rhyming slang for] hat”, often shortened to titfer – insert my characteristically lame dig at Cockerneys here). Solution is TI (i.e. “note” in the sol-fa or doh-ray-me notation) and TAT (i.e. “rubbish”) wrapped around or “bagging” FORT (i.e. “keep”), like so: TI-T(FORT)AT.

Eccentric solver cut long hair, displaying an old head (10,3)

Answer: NUTCRACKER MAN (i.e. “old head” – referring to “a hominid whose bones were found in Tanzania in 1959” (Chambers). Again, me neither…) Solution is NUT (i.e. “eccentric”) followed by CRACKER (i.e. “solver”) and MANE (i.e. “long hair”) once it’s last letter has been removed (indicated by “cut”), like so: NUT-CRACKER-MAN.

Cocktail of note, two rupees a shot (7)

Answer: FARRAGO (i.e. a mishmash or “cocktail”). Solution is FA (i.e. “note”, again in the sol-fa notation) followed by R and R (i.e. “two rupees” – R being a recognised abbreviation of “rupee”), then A and GO (i.e. “shot”, as in having a shot at something).

De La Mare’s wild gypsy heroine (9)

Answer: ESMERALDA (i.e. “gypsy heroine” of Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame). “Wild” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of DE LA MARE’S. Nicely worked.

Gongs eclipsing old woodwind instruments (5)

Answer: OBOES (i.e. “woodwind instruments”). Solution is OBES (i.e. “gongs”, specifically Orders of the British Empire) wrapped around or “eclipsing” O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”), like so: OB(O)ES.

Where something sweet’s to be had between flights, or less pleasant after one? (7,7)

Answer: PANCAKE LANDING. Clue plays on how one might add “sweet” toppings to PANCAKEs, how one finds LANDINGs “between flights” of stairs, and how a PANCAKE LANDING is where an aeroplane is forced to land belly first due to landing gear malfunction, which would indeed be not “pleasant”. You get the idea.

In texts, you and I would add one last letter, enlarged (7)

Answer: UPSIZED (i.e. “enlarged”). Solution is U (i.e. “in texts, you”, as in how “you” gets contracted to U in some text messages) followed by PS (i.e. “I would add”, i.e. a postscript), then I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) and ZED (i.e. “last letter” of the alphabet). Spend most of this clue trying to shoehorn WE or US into this one? Me too.

Man United playing without a single female (6,4)

Answer: MAIDEN AUNT (i.e. “single female”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “playing”) of MAN UNITED wrapped around or placed “without” A, like so: M(A)IDENAUNT. Nicely done.

Fancy piece of filming remains – I land Oscar (4,1,5,2)

Answer: TAKE A SHINE TO (i.e. “fancy”). Solution is TAKE (i.e. “piece of filming”) followed by ASH (i.e. “remains”), then I, then NET (i.e. to obtain or “land”) and O (“Oscar” in the phonetic alphabet).

Joints: cats need one to move back (5)

Answer: LOINS (i.e. “joints”). Solution is LIONS (i.e. “cats”) with the I or Roman numeral “one” “moved back”, like so: L(I)ONS => LO(I)NS.

Join trail east to find body of fighter? (8)

Answer: FUSELAGE (i.e. “body of fighter [plane]”). Solution is FUSE (i.e. “join”) followed by LAG (i.e. “trail”) and E (a recognised abbreviation of “east”).

German and Irish article, deep, in the main? (8)

Answer: UNDERSEA (i.e. “in the main” – the main being a reference to the sea). Solution is UND (i.e. “German and”, i.e. the German for “and”) followed by ERSE (i.e. a variant of ‘Irish’ “sometimes used for Irish Gaelic, as opposed to Scottish Gaelic” (Chambers)) and A (i.e. “article”, as in a word like a, an or the).

Container, not exactly small, I made smaller (8)

Answer: CASSETTE (i.e. “container”). Solution is CA (i.e. “not exactly”, i.e. a recognised abbreviation of “circa”) followed by S (i.e. a recognised abbreviation of “small”) and SETTER (i.e. “I” from the point of view of the setter) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “made smaller”), like so: CA-S-SETTE.

Capital that’s not for investing in cereal product (8)

Answer: SANTIAGO (i.e. “capital” city of Chile). Solution is ANTI (i.e. “that’s not for”) placed or “invested” in SAGO (i.e. “cereal product”), like so: S(ANTI)AGO. Nicely done.

Shower that’s needed after washing? (5)

Answer: AIRER. Solution satisfies “shower” – as in one who shows or airs something as opposed to a fall of water – and “that’s needed after washing”, as in a clothes airer.

Steam bath, say, being prepared? Perhaps (5,2,3,2)

Answer: THAT’S AS MAY BE (i.e. “perhaps”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “being prepared”) of STEAM BATH SAY.

This corn one twice cooked with ham? (10)

Answer: HISTRIONIC (i.e. “with ham”, i.e. overacting or excessive staginess). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “cooked”) of THIS CORN, I and I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one twice”).

Turning off at sideroad, avoiding some stick (7)

Answer: DISTAFF (i.e. “stick” used in spinning wool etc). “Avoiding some” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, thus requiring the solver to remove part of it, while “turning” indicates the solution has been reversed, like so: O(FF AT SID)EROAD.

Fish, spare, kept in reserve outside, to be in a pickle? (5,2,4,3)

Answer: SKATE ON THIN ICE (i.e. “to be in a pickle”). Solution is SKATE (i.e. “fish”) followed by THIN (i.e. “spare”) once placed in or having “outside” ON ICE (i.e. “kept in reserve”), like so: SKATE-(ON-(THIN)-ICE).

Cancel a year’s events, for a university (5)

Answer: ANNUL (i.e. “cancel”). Solution is ANNAL (i.e. “a year’s events”) with the second A swapped “for” U (a recognised abbreviation of “university”), like so: ANN(A)L => ANN(U)L.

Plaything that’s half dots, and lines on other half? (5,4)

Answer: DUTCH DOLL (i.e. “plaything”). Solution is DO (i.e. “half dots”, i.e. the first half of “dots”) and LL (i.e. “lines” – L being a recognised abbreviation of “line”) both placed “on” or after DUTCH (i.e. “other half” – more bleedin’ Cockerney, innit, this time rhyming slang for “wife”: “perhaps short for Duchess of Fife” (Chambers). Okay, if you say so…), like so: DUTCH-(DO-LL).

Carp egg with cream (3-4)

Answer: NIT-PICK (i.e. “carp”). Solution is NIT (i.e. the “egg” of a louse) followed by PICK (i.e. “cream”, as in the pick of the bunch).

Writer got out of bed – time to nurse very sick sheep (9-4)

Answer: Vita SACKVILLE-WEST (“writer”). Solution is SACK (i.e. “bed”) and T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”) wrapped around or “nursing” V (a recognised abbreviation of “very”), ILL (i.e. “sick”) and EWES (i.e. “sheep”), like so: SACK-(V-ILL-EWES)-T. One of those where I dropped “Sackville” into Google on a hunch.

Not appreciated in UK, and then abroad (9)

Answer: UNTHANKED (i.e. “not appreciated”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “abroad”) of UK AND THEN.

Mate appearing before judge is sorry (6)

Answer: PALTRY (i.e. meagre or “sorry”). Solution is PAL (i.e. “mate”) followed by TRY (i.e. to “judge”, as in being tried in court).

Writer dear to the French when French is in fashion (10)

Answer: G. K. CHESTERTON (i.e. “writer”). Solution is CHER (i.e. “dear to the French” i.e. the French for “dear”) wrapped around or having “in” EST (i.e. “French is”, i.e. the French for “is”), then followed by TON (i.e. “fashion”, one of the word’s variant meanings and a common play used by setters. I’ve still yet to see this used in the wild, mind), like so: CH(EST)ER-TON.

Dance that one watches as one pales? (5)

Answer: TANGO (i.e. “dance”). When written as TAN GO the solution also satisfies “that one watches as one pales”.

Down clues

After check, turned to make excuse (3,3)

Answer: LET OFF (i.e. “excuse”). Solution is LET (i.e. “check” – a variant meaning of LET is to obstruct or hinder) followed by OFF (i.e. “turned”, as in food going bad).

Safe to differ with impartial head of household (13)

Answer: PATERFAMILIAS (i.e. “head of household”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “to differ”) of SAFE and IMPARTIAL.

A brief mea culpa after upsetting Indian community (5)

Answer: POONA (i.e. “Indian community”, seemingly a city known for the last forty-odd years as Pune). Solution is AN OOPS (i.e. “a … mea culpa”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “brief”). The remainder is then reversed (indicated by “upsetting” – this being a down clue), like so: POO-NA. One gotten solely from the wordplay, if I’m honest.

English town, one often conveying a welcome security (7)

Answer: MATLOCK (i.e. “English town” in Derbyshire). Solution is MAT (i.e. “one often conveying a welcome”) followed by LOCK (i.e. “security”). Another gotten from the wordplay.

Taking good care to accept different punishment in writing (12)

Answer: MOTHERLINESS (i.e. “taking good care”). Solution is OTHER (i.e. “different”) and LINES (i.e. “punishment” given to naughty schoolkids) both placed in or “accepted by” MS (i.e. “writing”, i.e. a recognised abbreviation of “manuscript”), like so: M(OTHER-LINES)S.

Rub out start of interview not intended for broadcast (8)

Answer: OINTMENT (i.e. “rub”). Solution is O (a recognised abbreviation of “out” used in several ball games) followed by I (i.e. “start of interview”, i.e. the first letter of “interview”), then N’T (a contraction of “not”) and a homophone (indicated by “for broadcast”) of MEANT, like so: O-I-N’T-MENT.
[EDIT: Chris in the comments offers an alternative route for this one, using “out” as an anagram indicator for I and NOT to get OINT. Sounds good to me. Cheers, Chris! – LP]

Express being closer, no longer quiet (5)

Answer: UTTER (i.e. “express”). Solution is PUTTER (i.e. “closer” in a hole of golf) with the P removed (indicated by “no longer quiet” – P being a recognised abbreviation of “piano” or quietly in musical lingo).
[EDIT: Thanks to Mike in the comments for another route to this, taking SH from SHUTTER to get the solution. I’ve a feeling this was more what the setter had in mind. Cheers, Mike! – LP]

Wearing shorts, perhaps, in Tube half-heartedly encouraged (10)

Answer: BARELEGGED (i.e. “wearing shorts, perhaps”). Solution is BARREL (i.e. “tube” of, say, a gun) with one of the two middle Rs removed (indicated by “half-heartedly”) and the remainder followed by EGGED (i.e. “encouraged”), like so: BAREL-EGGED.

Cats you can see round church often (7)

Answer: OCELOTS (i.e. “cats”). Solution is O (i.e. “round”) followed by CE (i.e. “church”, specifically the Church of England) and LOTS (i.e. “often”).

Young deer mostly left going through mud floor (9)

Answer: BAMBOOZLE (i.e. to “floor” someone). Solution is BAMBI (i.e. “young deer” of a certain Walt Disney movie, the name of which escapes me at the moment…) with its last letter removed (indicated by “mostly”) and the remainder followed by L (a recognised abbreviation of “left”) once placed in or “through” OOZE (i.e. “mud”), like so: BAMB-OOZ(L)E.

Strayed, without ending up in Irish town (5)

Answer: ENNIS (i.e. “Irish town”). Solution is SINNED (i.e. “strayed”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “without ending”) and the remainder reversed (indicated by “up” – this being a down clue).

Shun coca served with nougat – the response? (1,6,3,4)

Answer: A CHACUN SON GOUT, which translates as “each person to his own taste” (Chambers), supposedly “the response” one may hear if shunning coca served etc etc. Solution is an anagram (indicated by “served”) of SHUN COCA and NOUGAT. It’s in the dictionary I guess, but FFS this was a bastard to get. That said, it’s another of those handy phrases that help detect pretentious arseholes, so I’ve at least learned something this week.

Lots of pieces first of all removed from revolutionary’s property (5,4)

Answer: CHESS SETS (i.e. “lots of pieces” – lots probably meaning “collections” in this sense). Solution is CHE’S ASSETS (i.e. “revolutionary’s property”, specifically CHE Guevara) with the A removed (indicated by “first of all removed from…” – A being the first letter of “all”).

I called, worried, making a scandal (8)

Answer: IRANGATE (i.e. “a scandal” of the 1980s when the US government was rumbled selling arms to Iran to help fund anti-Communist forces in Nicaragua, despite Congress saying no. Let’s face it, all they really needed was Chuck Norris). Solution is I followed by RANG (i.e. “called”) and ATE (i.e. “worried”, as in what’s eating you?) Another gotten from the wordplay, though took my Oxford to confirm it. Interestingly, Wikipedia’s page on the whole sorry affair doesn’t use this particular epithet, so maybe this was something coined by the UK press.

Speak out of turn, letting a dependable person down? (4,1,5)

Answer: DROP A BRICK (i.e. “speak out of turn”). Clue plays on how dependable people are sometimes referred to as BRICKs. You get the idea.

A party to act, having suggested involving whip (10)

Answer: IMPLICATED (i.e. “a party to act”, as in one involved or implicated in a particular action). Solution is IMPLIED (i.e. “suggested”) wrapped around or “involving” CAT (i.e. “whip”, specifically a cat-o-nine-tails), like so: IMPLI(CAT)ED.

Like a blooming con? (2,3,2,1,6)

Answer: AS FIT AS A FIDDLE. From what I can see the clue plays on “blooming” being in good health, and a “con” being a FIDDLE, otherwise this seems another of those nothing clues you sometimes get in these things. If I’ve missed something devilishly clever, let me know and I’ll update the post.

Antiriot force finally deployed, getting done over (9)

Answer: ITERATION (i.e. an action “done over”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “deployed”) of ANTIRIOT and E (i.e. “force finally”, i.e. the last letter of “force”).

Palace supporter, not born in Balham to start with! (8)

Answer: ALHAMBRA (i.e. a “palace” complex in Spain whose name has seemingly spread to venues and hotels far and wide). Solution is BRA (i.e. “supporter”) with BALHAM placed “to start with” once the B has been removed (indicated by “not born in…” – B being a recognised abbreviation of “born”), like so: ALHAM-BRA. Clever given the proximity of Balham to Crystal Palace, but it took my Bradford’s to nail this one.

Young one from betting syndicate in Bluegrass State (6,7)

Answer: SPRING CHICKEN (i.e. “young one”). Solution is SP (i.e. “betting” – specifically the Starting Price) followed by RING (i.e. “syndicate”), then CHIC (i.e. “in” or stylish) and KEN (a recognised abbreviation of Kentucky, sometimes referred to as the “Bluegrass State”).

Not the flat we’ve been searching the country for? (8,4)

Answer: NATIONAL HUNT also known as jump racing, as opposed to “flat” racing. Clue plays on the solution being a “search” across “the country”. Clever.

Mock set repetition of echo in high voice, endless hours (5,5)

Answer: FALSE TEETH (i.e. “mock set”). Solution is E and E (i.e. “repetition of echo”, “echo” being E in the phonetic alphabet) both placed “in” FALSETTO (i.e. “high voice”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “endless”). This is all then followed by H (a recognised abbreviation of “hours”), like so: FALSET(EE)T-H.

As related, in charge of getting in weapons (9)

Answer: ARSENICAL (i.e. “As related” – As being the chemical symbol of arsenic). Solution is IC (a recognised abbreviation of “in charge”) placed “in” ARSENAL (i.e. “weapons”), like so: ARSEN(IC)AL. Probably my favourite clue this week.

Exile with feet tied up, but force not used (8)

Answer: DEPORTEE (i.e. “exile”). Solution is FEET and ROPED (i.e. “tied”) reversed (indicated by “up” – this being a down clue) once the F has been removed (indicated by “force not used” – F being a recognised abbreviation of “force”), like so: DEPOR-TEE.

Quite the gangster’s moll? (3,4)

Answer: ALL OVER (i.e. “quite”). When written as AL LOVER the solution also satisfies “gangster’s moll”, the gangster in question taken to be Al Capone.

Stumble upon trapping leg in lace (7)

Answer: HONITON (i.e. “lace”). Solution is HIT ON (i.e. “stumble upon”) wrapped around or “trapping” ON (i.e. “leg” side in cricket), like so: H(ON)IT-ON. Chalk another to my Bradford’s.

Winter vehicle taking second child round and round (6)

Answer: SKIDOO (i.e. “winter vehicle”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “second”) followed by KID (i.e. “child”), then O and O (i.e. “round and round”).

Proust, eg, an oddly uplifting story teller (5)

Answer: AESOP (i.e. “story teller”). “Oddly” indicates the solution can be found in every other letter of PROUST EG AN once reversed (indicated by “uplifting” – this being a down clue).

For audition, gets better tips (5)

Answer: HEELS (i.e. “tips”, probably taken to mean tilting or listing or tipping over). “For audition” indicates homophone. Solution is a homophone of HEALS (i.e. “gets better”).

Drink to spot on round dresser, in centre (5)

Answer: TOAST (i.e. “drink to”). Solution is TO A T (i.e. “spot on”) wrapped “round” S (i.e. “dresser, in centre”, i.e. the middle letter of “dresser”), like so: TO-A-(S)-T.

With Peturbator dropping his first new music for ages this weekend (potted review: it might take a few more listens), this prompted a whole lotta synthwave to accompany this week’s post. Retrofuture-tastic! Give these beauties a try the next time you’re streaming (links are to Spotify):
=> Peturbator: Dangerous Days – basically the album that got me into synthwave. ‘Future Club’ remains a foot-stomping cyberpunk highlight no matter how many times I hear it, but there are a good half dozen go-to tracks here;
=> Makeup and Vanity Set: Chrome EP – the guy’s prolific so his output varies, but this EP is mighty fine from beginning to end;
=> Makeup and Vanity Set: Breaking News – plays like a modern day classic 70s zombie movie soundtrack, if any of that makes sense. Great cover image too!
=> Carpenter Brut: Blood Machines soundtrack – well, the first two tracks anyway. It gets very… um… soundtracky after that;
=> Carpenter Brut: Leather Teeth – sets itself up as a soundtrack to a non-existent 80s slasher film and pulls it off with aplomb. The title track kicks all kinds of ass. Some of the videos are… ah… unreconstructed to put it mildly, but I guess that’s the point;
=> Carpenter Brut: Trilogy – yeah, you might have guessed I’m a bit of a fan. I was once told by Spotify I was in the top 1% of his listeners, which wasn’t something I particularly wanted to know. Anyway, this is a (mostly) awesome collection of his earlier stuff. ‘Turbo Killer’, ‘Paradise Warfare’ and ‘Looking For Tracy Tzu’ are each superb;
=> Danger: July 2013 EP – if you like all those BBBWWWAAAHHHMMM!!!!! moments you get in Hans Zimmer soundtracks then you’ll love this. Pro tip: play it loud. I swear the big key change during ‘1:09’ still puts goosebumps on my goosebumps. Danger broadened his output soon after this EP, but if he ever returns to this kind of stuff again I’ll be all over it like a rash.

Enjoy! – LP

Times Jumbo Cryptic Crossword 1485

A medium strength puzzle this week, and another offering steady progression throughout. One of the better ones, for my money.

As ever you can find my completed grid below along with explanations of my solutions where I have them. I hope you find them helpful. If you’re scratching your head over a recent Jumbo, then my Just For Fun page has links to solutions to the past 100+ of these things. If you’re still scratching your head then I’d recommend changing shampoos or a nit comb. Meanwhile there are also some ancient book reviews and a story of mine knocking about the place.

Thanks again for the kind and constructive comments. They are appreciated and do help when it comes to composing these posts. It’s always interesting to hear the hot takes from seasoned solvers, returnees and newbies once they’ve put their pens down, because that’s exactly what you are getting from me each week. My aim with these posts has always been to make the Jumbos less daunting for fellow solvers, not only by pointing out the cryptic indicators, abbreviations and other sneaky tricks setters use, but also to be honest and fess up when I reach for a reference book, Wikipedia etc, or if I’ve lost my rag with a particular clue. Secondary aim: occasional silliness. So if you are new to these things, welcome aboard. We’re always learning here.

Till next time, stay safe, mask up and keep flying the flag for the NHS and key workers everywhere.

LP

Across clues

Marshal nabs macho vehicle (6,3)

Answer: HANSOM CAB (i.e. “vehicle”). “Marshal” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of NABS MACHO.

Swamp dweller with reason to drop round after a time (5,8)

Answer: WATER MOCCASIN (i.e. “swamp dweller”, specifically a poisonous aquatic snake found in the US). Solution is W (a recognised abbreviation of “with”) and OCCASION (i.e. “reason”) once the second O has been removed (indicated by “to drop round”), the latter placed “after” A and TERM (i.e. “time”), like so: W-(A-TERM)-OCCASIN.

Go wrong again perhaps making organic polymer (5)

Answer: RESIN. Solution satisfies “organic polymer” and, when written as RE-SIN, “go wrong again perhaps”.

In attendance, ready for what the patient may play (7,4)

Answer: WAITING GAME (i.e. “what the patient may play”). Solution is WAITING (i.e. “in attendance”, as in ready and waiting) followed by GAME (i.e. “ready”).

Reference book a seaman recalled? (5)

Answer: ATLAS (i.e. “reference book”). Solution is A followed by SALT (i.e. “seaman”) once reversed (indicated by “recalled”).

Sauce ingredient, bay perhaps, I’d switched during outbreak (11)

Answer: HORSERADISH (i.e. “sauce ingredient”). Solution is HORSE (i.e. “bay perhaps” – other flavours of horse are available) followed by I’D once reversed (indicated by “switched”) and placed “during” RASH (i.e. “outbreak”), like so: HORSE-RA(D’I)SH.

Run across again, never returning in opposite direction (2-9)

Answer: RE-ENCOUNTER (i.e. “run across again”). Solution is NE’ER (poetic form of “never”) reversed (indicated by “returning”) and followed by COUNTER (i.e. “in opposite direction”, e.g. counter-clockwise), like so: RE’EN-COUNTER.

Pets, 1000 or so bitten by mites (7)

Answer: TOMCATS (i.e. “pets”). Solution is M (i.e. “1000” as a Roman numeral) and CA (i.e. “or so”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “circa”) both placed in or “bitten by” TOTS (i.e. “mites” or young children), like so: TO(M-CA)TS.

Happen to disagree (4,3)

Answer: FALL OUT. Solution satisfies “happen” and “to disagree”. Simple, but nicely done.

Almost everyone prepared for contest provided with bell or buzzer (7)

Answer: ALARMED (i.e. “provided with bell or buzzer”). Solution is ALL (i.e. “everyone”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “almost”) and the remainder followed by ARMED (i.e. “prepared for contest”), like so: AL-ARMED.

Director’s work throughout evening race not final (2,3,4,2,3,5)

Answer: IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT (i.e. “director’s work”, in this case a 1967 film starring Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger). Clue plays on “heats” being athletic rounds held before a “final”. “Throughout evening” gets you IN…THE NIGHT. You get the idea.

Border to clip: there’s no time (3)

Answer: RIM (i.e. “border”). Solution is TRIM (i.e. “to clip”) once the T has been removed (indicated by “there’s no time” – T being a recognised abbreviation of “time”).

Accepting ridiculous wage, Grace returns to make trifle (6)

Answer: GEWGAW (i.e. a “trifle” – not the dessert but a toy or trifling object of little value). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “ridiculous”) of WAGE placed in or “accepted” by GW (i.e. “Grace”, specifically ye olde cricketer GW Grace, the original beard to be feared), like so: G(EWGA)W.

A hidden danger in Wisconsin for native deer (6)

Answer: WAPITI (i.e. “native deer” – well, native to the US anyway). Solution is A and PIT (i.e. “hidden danger”) both placed “in” WI (US state abbreviation of “Wisconsin”), like so: W(A-PIT)I. I couldn’t open Bradford’s quick enough when I saw “native deer”. Life’s too short.

It should put the squeeze on secure online publishers? (9)

Answer: WINEPRESS (i.e. “it should put the squeeze on”). Solution is WIN (i.e. “secure”) followed by E-PRESS (i.e. “online publishers”, playing on how “e” used to be prefixed to stuff to denote they related to online – the riddly question mark acknowledges this isn’t really a recognised word).

From rocks below cliff, endless game bird’s cries? (9)

Answer: SCREECHES (i.e. “bird’s cries”). Solution is SCREE (i.e. “rocks below cliff”) followed by CHESS (i.e. “game”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “endless”), like so: SCREE-CHES.

Sponsored child playing by gallery (6)

Answer: GODSON (i.e. “sponsored child”). Solution is ON (i.e. “playing”) placed after or “by” GODS (i.e. “gallery” in a theatre, as in being up in the gods), like so: GODS-ON.

Troops contemplate official inspection (6)

Answer: REVIEW (i.e. “official inspection”). Solution is RE (i.e. “troops”, specifically the Royal Engineers of the British Army) followed by VIEW (i.e. “contemplate”).

Nice street plant with medicinal properties (3)

Answer: RUE. Solution satisfies “Nice street” – Nice being a French city and the French for “street” being RUE – and “plant with medicinal properties”.

Labour unaided as punishment? (8,11)

Answer: SOLITARY CONFINEMENT (i.e. “punishment”). The first half of the clue plays on the following meaning of CONFINEMENT: “the time during which a woman is confined to bed during labour and immediately after giving birth” (thank you, Chambers). So, to do this alone or “unaided” gets you the solution.

Teams, ignoring the odds, breaching more limits (7)

Answer: EXTREMA (i.e. mathematical “limits” – I had to check my Oxford here as Chambers didn’t want to know). Solution is EM (i.e. “teams, ignoring the odds”, i.e. every other letter of TEAMS) placed in or “breaching” EXTRA (i.e. “more”), like so: EXTR(EM)A.

Trip carrying spades, toppling (7)

Answer: OUSTING (i.e. “toppling”). Solution is OUTING (i.e. “trip”) wrapped around or “carrying” S (a recognised abbreviation of “spades” used in card games), like so: OU(S)TING.

Impulsive Shakespearean spiced up secondary line (7)

Answer: HOTSPUR (i.e. “impulsive Shakespearean” – specifically the nickname of Henry Percy, who was characterised in Shakespeare’s play Henry V). Solution is HOT (i.e. “spiced up”) followed by SPUR (i.e. an offshoot or branch or “secondary line”).

What monitors rate of receding waters over distance in US (11)

Answer: SPEEDOMETER (i.e. “what monitors rate”). Solution is DEEPS (i.e. “waters”) reversed (indicated by “receding”) and followed by O (a recognised abbreviation of “over” used in cricket) and METER (i.e. “distance in US”, referring to the US’s variant spelling of “metre”), like so: SPEED-O-METER.

Underground resistance in Tyneside, where we live (11)

Answer: NETHERWORLD (i.e. “underground”). Solution is R (a recognised abbreviation of “resistance” used in physics) placed “in” NE (i.e. “Tyneside”, situated in NE England) and THE WORLD (i.e. “where we live”), like so: NE-THE-(R)-WORLD.

Roadway cutting through landscape (5)

Answer: VISTA (i.e. “landscape”). Solution is ST (i.e. “roadway”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “street”) placed in or “cutting” VIA (i.e. “through”), like so: VI(ST)A.

Pernicious agents altered Nixon’s route (11)

Answer: NEUROTOXINS (i.e. “pernicious [chemical] agents”). “Altered” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of NIXON’S ROUTE.

Gregarious beast now in river? (5)

Answer: HIPPO (i.e. social or “gregarious beast”). Solution is HIP (i.e. “now in” as in hip and happening, daddios) followed by PO (i.e. a “river” in Italy – a favourite of some setters).

Distant management unlikely to check supplies (6,7)

Answer: REMOTE CONTROL (i.e. “distant management”). Solution is REMOTE (i.e. “unlikely”) followed by CONTROL (i.e. “to check [supplies]”).

Explosive piece by right-winger with exaggerated content (9)

Answer: GUNCOTTON (i.e. “explosive” – specifically one “prepared by saturating cotton with nitric and sulphuric acids” (Chambers)). Solution is GUN (i.e. “piece” – a slang word) followed by CON (i.e. “right-winger”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of Conservative) wrapped around or “containing” OTT (i.e. “exaggerated” or Over The Top), like so: GUN-C(OTT)ON. A new one on me, I admit. I now want to read a murder mystery where the victim wore explosive underwear.

Down clues

A third night in action’s critical (4-7)

Answer: HARD-HITTING (i.e. “critical”). “In action” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of A THIRD NIGHT.

Remedy lack of alcohol, importing case of Sekt (7)

Answer: NOSTRUM (i.e. “remedy”). Solution is NO RUM (i.e. “lack of alcohol”) wrapped around or “importing” ST (i.e. “case of Sekt”, i.e. the first and last letters of “Sekt”), like so: NO-(ST)-RUM.

Cat previously possessing heart of mouse (5)

Answer: OUNCE (i.e. “cat”, specifically the magnificent snow leopard). Solution is ONCE (i.e. “previously”) wrapped around or “possessing” U (i.e. “heart of mouse”, i.e. the middle letter of MOUSE), like so: O(U)NCE.

Frighten with talk about origin of sinister plant (3,7)

Answer: COW PARSLEY (i.e. “plant”). Solution is COW (i.e. to “frighten” or bully) followed by PARLEY (i.e. “talk”) once wrapped “about” S (i.e. “origin of sinister”, i.e. the first letter of “sinister”), like so: COW-PAR(S)LEY.

Public official’s pledge whenever female’s arrested (7)

Answer: BAILIFF (i.e. “public official”). Solution is BAIL (i.e. “pledge”) followed by IF (i.e. provided or “whenever”) once wrapped around or “arresting” F (a recognised abbreviation of “female”), like so: BAIL-I(F)F.

Women’s boat crew promoting Olympic event (13)

Answer: WEIGHTLIFTING (i.e. “Olympic event”). Solution is W (a recognised abbreviation of “women”) followed by EIGHT (i.e. rowing or “boat crew”) then LIFTING (i.e. “promoting”).

Insect little one on horse carrying current source of infection (5,4)

Answer: TIGER MOTH (i.e. “insect”). Solution is TOT (i.e. “little one” or small child) followed by or “on” – this being a down clue – H (slang for heroin; another being “horse”). The whole is then wrapped around or “carrying” I (a recognised abbreviation of an electric “current” used in physics) and GERM (i.e. “source of infection”), like so: T(I-GERM)OT-H.

Time to block payment for chemical (7)

Answer: REAGENT (i.e. “chemical”). Solution is AGE (i.e. “time”) placed in or “blocking” RENT (i.e. “payment”), like so: RE(AGE)NT.

Demanding too much rushing after balls (12)

Answer: OVERCHARGING (i.e. “demanding too much”). Solution is CHARGING (i.e. “rushing”) placed “after” OVER (i.e. a series of deliveries or “balls” in cricket).

Fuel worker nursing cut arm gets treatment for bleeding, maybe (9)

Answer: COAGULANT (i.e. “treatment for bleeding, maybe”). Solution is COAL (i.e. “fuel”) and ANT (i.e. “worker”) wrapped around or “nursing” GUN (i.e. “arm”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “cut”), like so: COA(GU)L-ANT.

Fork left raised in shed accidentally (5)

Answer: SPLIT (i.e. “fork”). Solution is SPILT (i.e. “shed accidentally”) once the L (a recognised abbreviation of “left”) has been knocked back a notch or “raised” – this being a down clue – like so: SPI(L)T => SP(L)IT.

Visionary shows wit, keeping up outrageous skills (11)

Answer: NOSTRADAMUS (i.e. “visionary”). Solution is NOUS (i.e. “wit”) wrapped around or “keeping” MAD (i.e. “outrageous”) and ARTS (i.e. “skills”) once they’ve been reversed (indicated by “up” – this being a down clue), like so: NO(STRA-DAM)US.

Expert manufacturer of sugar and salt (7)

Answer: ACETATE (i.e. “salt”). Solution is ACE (i.e. “expert”) followed by Henry TATE (i.e. “manufacturer of sugar”).

Apply strengthening treatment to car before one’s garaged (9)

Answer: MERCERISE (i.e. “apply strengthening” to cotton, presumably the non-explosive variety, using caustic soda). Solution is MERC (i.e. “car”, short for Mercedes) and ERE (poetic form of “before”) once wrapped around or “garaging” I’S (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one’s”), like so: MERC-ER(I’S)E. Another new one on me, but not exactly something that’ll stick around.

Most raffish doctor was tired by end of shift (9)

Answer: TAWDRIEST (i.e. “most raffish”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “doctor”) of WAS TRIED followed by T (i.e. “end of shift”, i.e. the last letter of “shift”), like so: TAWDRIES-T.

Conversion of two cardinals, habit-clad (7)

Answer: TRANSIT (i.e. “conversion”). Solution is N and S (i.e. “two cardinals”, referring to the cardinal points North and South on a compass) placed in or “clad” by TRAIT (i.e. “habit”), like so: TRA(NS)IT.

Crazed women about when nights are darkest? (3,4)

Answer: NEW MOON (i.e. “when nights are darkest”, i.e. when the moon lies directly between the earth and the sun and therefore doesn’t appear in the night sky). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “crazed”) of WOMEN followed by ON (i.e. “about”), like so: NEWMO-ON.

Part of circuit needing installation in office before spring (9,4)

Answer: INDUCTION COIL (i.e. “part of [electrical] circuit”). Solution is INDUCTION (i.e. “installation [of new staff] in office”) followed by COIL (i.e. “spring”).

Set out here (7)

Answer: PRESENT. Solution satisfies “set out” and “here”. Again, simple but nicely done.

Choral society’s vocal line distressed choirman (12)

Answer: PHILHARMONIC. Not 100% on this one, as the definition I have in Chambers is merely “fond of music”. Might refer to a specific organisation, but there seem to be a few to choose from. Whatever. My solution, for what it’s worth, is PHIL-HARMONIC, the latter chunk being an anagram (indicated by “distressed”) of CHOIRMAN. As for PHIL, “vocal” could indicate a homophone, but I’m not twigging much of a link between “line” and “fill”, or whatever the homophone is supposed to be. If a kind soul sheds light on this one, I’ll update the post. Moving on…

Evaluate bank customer’s application to protect PC (11)

Answer: SCREENSAVER (i.e. “application to protect PC” – specifically a program that helps to prevent screen burn by blanking the screen or displaying an animation. I’m guessing the setter wrote this one on a laptop…) Solution is SCREEN (i.e. “evaluate”) followed by SAVER (i.e. “bank customer”).

Qualified journalist following one sort of drink with another (7,4)

Answer: WATERED DOWN (i.e. “qualified” – a meaning of the word is to moderate or mitigate). Solution is ED (i.e. “journalist”, specifically a shortened form of “editor”) placed after or “following” WATER (i.e. “one sort of drink”) and followed by DOWN (i.e. “another [sort of drink]”, this time its verb form, i.e. downing a drink), like so: WATER-(ED)-DOWN.

Pongy child under the briny when most tourists come (4,6)

Answer: HIGH SEASON (i.e. “when most tourists come”). Solution is HIGH (i.e. “pongy”) and SON (i.e. “child”) once this latter has been placed after or “under” – this being a down clue – SEA (i.e. “the briny”), like so: HIGH-(SEA)-SON.

Firm dates to be arranged without delay (9)

Answer: STEADFAST (i.e. “firm”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “to be arranged”) of DATES followed by FAST (i.e. “without delay”), like so: STEAD-FAST.

Bank errors I’ve sorted out (9)

Answer: RESERVOIR (i.e. “bank”). “Sorted out” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of ERRORS I’VE.

Old-fashioned cycle is all that’s produced (3-4)

Answer: OUT-TURN (i.e. “all that’s produced”). Solution is OUT (i.e. “old-fashioned”) followed by TURN (i.e. “cycle”).

Scanty garment’s a bit of a fiddle (1-6)

Answer: G-STRING. Solution satisfies “scanty garment” and “bit of a fiddle”, as in the stringed instrument. Would you think any less of me if I said this was the first clue I got?

Defence of area: exercises in sector (7)

Answer: PARAPET (i.e. “defence”). Solution is A (a recognised abbreviation of “area”) and PE (i.e. “exercises”, specifically Physical Education), both placed “in” PART (i.e. “sector”), like so: PAR(A-PE)T.

Course records on order (5)

Answer: EPSOM (i.e. “[race]course”). Solution is EPS (i.e. “records”, as in extended-play records) followed by OM (i.e. “order”, specifically the Order of Merit).

Elm tree with a ring cut (5)

Answer: WAHOO (i.e. “elm tree”). Solution is W (a recognised abbreviation of “with”) followed by A and HOOP (i.e. “ring”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “cut”), like so: W-A-HOO. Chalk one to my Bradford’s here, though I perhaps ought to have remembered this one from a previous puzzle.

Times Jumbo Cryptic Crossword 1484

A fairly straightforward puzzle this week with a smattering of exotic (but deducible) solutions and a few decent clues. I don’t mind the easier ones! Gives me more time to ponder this week’s mathematical Listener Crossword…

Anyway, you can find my completed grid below along with explanations of my solutions where I have them. I hope you find them helpful. If a recent Jumbo is looking a bit gappy then you might find my Just For Fun page of use, in which you will find links to the last 100+ of these things. Also there’s the usual ancient book reviews and a story of mine.

Thanks once again for the kind comments. They are much appreciated. Till next time, stay safe, mask up and keep supporting the NHS and key workers everywhere. It’s great that Covid infection levels are markedly dropping, but this rubbish has got some months to run yet.

LP

Across clues

Exhausted, American journalist on horseback (4,2)

Answer: USED UP (i.e. “exhausted”). Solution is US (i.e. “American”) followed by ED (i.e. “journalist”, specifically a shortened form of “editor”) and UP (i.e. “on horseback”).

Opening large part of church (7)

Answer: CHANCEL (i.e. “part of church”). Solution is CHANCE (i.e. “opening” or opportunity) followed by L (a recognised abbreviation of “large”).

Fly in food sent back? Do nothing (8)

Answer: STAGNATE (i.e. “do nothing”). Solution is GNAT (i.e. “fly”) placed “in” EATS (i.e. “food”) once reversed (indicated by “sent back”), like so: STA(GNAT)E.

Song always associated with religious magazine (3,5,3,10)

Answer: ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER (i.e. Jimi Hendrix “song”). Solution is ALL ALONG (i.e. “always”) followed by THE WATCHTOWER (i.e. “religious magazine” of the Jehovah’s Witnesses).

To co-operate, take part in a game prior to social function (4,4)

Answer: PLAY BALL (i.e. “to co-operate”). Solution is PLAY (i.e. “take part in a game”) followed by or placed “prior to” BALL (i.e. “social function”).

Given the wrong role in film netting endless money (7)

Answer: MISCAST (i.e. “given the wrong role in film”). Solution is MIST (i.e. “film” – think condensation) wrapped around or “netting” CASH (i.e. “money”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “endless”), like so: MIS(CAS)T. Nice bit of recycling.

Bad storm skirting North Carolina (6)

Answer: RANCID (i.e. “bad”). Solution is RAID (i.e. “storm”) wrapped around or “skirting” NC (US state abbreviation of “North Carolina”), like so: RA(NC)ID.

British chieftain’s time in capital, mostly, note with us (10)

Answer: CARACTACUS (i.e. “British chieftain” who resisted the Roman conquest of Britain a few years back). Solution is T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”) placed in CARACAS (i.e. “capital” of Venezuela) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “mostly”). This is then followed by C (i.e. musical “note”) and US, like so: CARAC(T)A-C-US. One you’re going to know or not know. Chalk one to my Bradford’s.

Ostensibly promote excitement by winning flight (4,8)

Answer: KICK UPSTAIRS (i.e. “ostensibly promote”). Solution is KICK (i.e. “excitement”, as in getting one’s kicks) followed by UP (i.e. “winning”) and STAIRS (i.e. “flight”).

Briefly examine item of jewellery (4)

Answer: STUD (i.e. “item of jewellery”). Solution is STUDY (i.e. “examine”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “briefly”).

Measure of paper covering AGM’s awkward situation (8)

Answer: QUAGMIRE (i.e. “awkward situation”). Solution is QUIRE (i.e. “measure of paper”) wrapped around or “covering” AGM, like so: QU(AGM)IRE. Giggedy.

Fresh buns – adjust heat to brown? (8)

Answer: SUNBATHE (i.e. “to brown”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “fresh”) of BUNS followed by another anagram (this time indicated by “adjust”) of HEAT, like so: SUNB-ATHE. Nicely worked.

Lends farmer a clapped out old warhorse (8,4)

Answer: FLANDERS MARE (i.e. “old warhorse”). “Clapped out” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of LENDS FARMER A.

A head entertaining lecturer in Rhode Island, a Scot (10)

Answer: ABERDONIAN (i.e. “a Scot”). Solution is A followed by BEAN (informal word for a “head”) once wrapped around or “entertaining” DON (i.e. “lecturer”), but not before this has been placed “in” RI (US state abbreviation of “Rhode Island”), like so: A-BE(R(DON)I)AN.

Few ordered in England originally, being ostentatiously modern! (10)

Answer: NEWFANGLED (i.e. “modern”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “ordered”) of FEW placed inside another anagram (indicated by “originally”) of ENGLAND, like so: N(EWF)ANGLED.

Inhalant supplied to order? (6,6)

Answer: FRIAR’S BALSAM (“inhalant” of benzoin, storax, tolu and aloes, according to Chambers, whatever the hell they are. Sounds like supernal crack to me). Clue plays on how godly types organise themselves into “orders”. You get the idea. One of those “look up ‘friar’ in Chambers and see what happens” moments.

Faculty I refer to in speech (8)

Answer: EYESIGHT (i.e. “faculty”). “In speech” indicates solution is a homophone of I CITE (i.e. “I refer to”).

Learned line to utter repeatedly (8)

Answer: LITERATE (i.e. “learned”). Solution is L (a recognised abbreviation of “line”) followed by ITERATE (i.e. “to utter repeatedly”).

Ballerina finally retiring, becoming pale (4)

Answer: ASHY (i.e. “pale”). Solution is A (i.e. “ballerina, finally”, i.e. the last letter of “ballerina”) followed by SHY (i.e. “retiring”).

Here, rest assured (4,2,4,2)

Answer: TAKE IT FROM ME. Solution satisfies “here” (as in ‘have this’) and “rest assured”.

Bother involving religious instruction given by cunning old bishop’s assistant (10)

Answer: ARCHPRIEST (i.e. “old bishop’s assistant”). Solution is PEST (i.e. “bother”) wrapped around or “involving” RI (a recognised abbreviation of “religious instruction”). This is then fronted “by” ARCH (i.e. “cunning”), like so: ARCH-P(RI)EST.

Fool can in turn with comedian (6)

Answer: NITWIT (i.e. “fool”). Solution is TIN (i.e. “can”) reversed (indicated by “in turn”) and followed by WIT (i.e. “comedian”), like so: NIT-WIT.

Show former partner and husband small piece about island (7)

Answer: EXHIBIT (i.e. “show”). Solution is EX (i.e. “former partner”) followed by H (a recognised abbreviation of “husband”) and BIT (i.e. “small piece”) once wrapped “about” I (a recognised abbreviation of “island”), like so: EX-H-(I)-BIT.

Study including data about European rat (8)

Answer: RENEGADE (i.e. “rat”). Solution is READ (i.e. “study”) wrapped around or “including” GEN (i.e. “data”) once reversed (indicated by “about”), and followed by E (a recognised abbreviation of “European”), like so: RE(NEG)AD-E.

Poet’s literary colleagues do, upset about poem’s ending (6,6,9)

Answer: SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE (i.e. “poet”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “upset”) of LITERARY COLLEAGUES DO wrapped “about” M (i.e. “poem’s ending”, i.e. the last letter of “poem”). Nicely done.

Fifteen from Ireland – some settle in sterling (8)

Answer: LEINSTER (i.e. “fifteen from Ireland” – a reference to the rugby team). “Some” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: SETT(LE IN STER)LING.

Seeing that on, this must be genuine (7)

Answer: SINCERE (i.e. “genuine”). Solution is SINCE (i.e. “seeing that”) followed by RE (i.e. “on” or regarding – think email replies).

Fast, agent crossing river to the west (6)

Answer: SPEEDY (i.e. “fast”). Solution is SPY (i.e. “agent”) wrapped around DEE (i.e. Scottish “river”) once reversed (indicated by “to the west” – this being an across clue), like so: SP(EED)Y.

Down clues

Delay beginning to seem unlikely (5)

Answer: STALL (i.e. “delay”). Solution is S (i.e. “beginning to seem”, i.e. the first letter of “seem”) followed by TALL (i.e. “unlikely”, as in a tall order or a tall tale).

Child’s toy with red and navy floppy hat (5,6)

Answer: DOLLY VARDEN (i.e. “hat”). Solution is DOLL (i.e. “child’s toy”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “floppy”) of RED and NAVY, like so: DOLL-YVARDEN.

Friend, old singer, in a place in California (4,4)

Answer: PALO ALTO (i.e. “place in California”, though not one that sprang to mind). Solution is PAL (i.e. “friend”) followed by O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”) and ALTO (i.e. “singer”).

Waterway with biblical town on left (5) Paolo Veronese – The Wedding Feast at Cana (not to scale)

Answer: CANAL (i.e. “waterway”). Solution is CANA (i.e. “biblical town” in which Jesus did his water-into-wine trick. Fun fact: Paolo Veronese’s painting The Wedding Feast at Cana is not just immensely impressive, it’s also impressively immense, coming in just shy of 7m x 10m) followed by L (a recognised abbreviation of “left”).

Employed by us, now and again? (2,5)

Answer: AT TIMES. Solution satisfies “employed by us” – “us” being a reference to the Times newspaper – and “now and again”.

What may be brought with a Stilton? Check – see if keen, being curious (6,5)

Answer: CHEESE KNIFE (i.e. “what may be brought with a Stilton”). Solution is CH (a recognised abbreviation of “check” used in chess) followed by an anagram (indicated by “being curious”) of SEE IF KEEN, like so: CH-EESEKNIFE.

Pounds carried by monk’s beast of burden (5)

Answer: LLAMA (i.e. “beast of burden”). Solution is L (a recognised abbreviation of “pounds” of weight, after the Latin libra) followed by LAMA (i.e. Buddhist “monk”).

Weird curses involving wrecked tea clippers (9)

Answer: SECATEURS (i.e. “clippers”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “weird”) of CURSES wrapped around or “involving” another anagram (indicated by “wrecked”) of TEA, like so: SEC(ATE)URS. Nicely worked.

Change flag when heading off (5)

Answer: ALTER (i.e. “change”). Solution is FALTER (i.e. to tire or “flag”) once the first letter has been removed (indicated by “when heading off”).

From time to time was successful, turned up with a profit (3,3,5)

Answer: NOW AND AGAIN (i.e. “from time to time”). Solution is WON (i.e. “was successful”) reversed (indicated by “turned up” – this being a down clue) and followed by AND (i.e. “with”), A and GAIN (i.e. “profit”), like so: NOW-AND-A-GAIN. A weird one given the solution was used in the clue for 6d.

Row involving stray dog (7)

Answer: TERRIER (i.e. “dog”). Solution is TIER (i.e. “row”) wrapped around or “involving” ERR (i.e. to “stray”), like so: T(ERR)IER.

Big guns, hostile placed in middle of major road (9)

Answer: ARTILLERY (i.e. “big guns”). Solution is ILL (i.e. “hostile”) once “placed in” ARTERY (i.e. “main road”), like so: ART(ILL)ERY.

Brief local authority by telephone (7)

Answer: COUNSEL (i.e. to advise or “brief”). “By telephone” indicates homophone. Solution is a homophone of COUNCIL (i.e. “local authority”).

Gallant French actor and singer (9)

Answer: CHEVALIER. Solution satisfies “gallant” and “French actor and singer”, i.e. Maurice Chevalier.

Swimmers also not good climbing on board ship (4,4)

Answer: SAND DABS (i.e. “swimmers”). Solution is AND (i.e. “also”) and BAD (i.e. “not good”), the latter reversed (indicated by “climbing” – this being a down clue) and both placed in or “on board” SS (i.e. “ship”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of a steamship), like so: S(AND-DAB)S. One gotten purely through the wordplay, to be honest.

After fine, slate major championship (5,4)

Answer: GRAND SLAM (i.e. “major championship”). Solution is GRAND (i.e. “fine”) with SLAM (i.e. to “slate”) placed “after” it.

Senior teacher having pains causes problems (9)

Answer: HEADACHES (i.e. “problems” – rather prescient considering I’ve been battling one all day). Solution is HEAD (i.e. “senior teacher”) followed by ACHES (i.e. “pains”).

Names within top party (3,5)

Answer: HEN NIGHT (i.e. “party”). Solution is N and N (recognised abbreviations of “name”) placed “within” HEIGHT (i.e. “top”), like so: HE(NN)IGHT.

Unreliable quote about a bishop coming over (7)

Answer: ERRATIC (i.e. “unreliable”). Solution is CITE (i.e. “quote”) placed “about” A and RR (i.e. “bishop”, specifically a Right Reverend). The whole is then reversed (indicated by “coming over” – this being a down clue), like so: E(RR-A)TIC.

Angler: he was in form spinning (11)

Answer: FISHERWOMAN (i.e. “angler”). “Spinning” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of HE WAS IN FORM.

Plump, her tanned literary sleuth (6,5)

Answer: FATHER BROWN (G. K. Chesterton’s “literary sleuth”). Solution is FAT (i.e. “plump”) followed by HER and BROWN (i.e. “tanned”).

Advanced up cliff (7-4)

Answer: LEADING-EDGE (i.e. “advanced”). Solution is LEADING (i.e. “up”) followed by EDGE (i.e. “cliff”).

Fairly good hotel in a street in resort, close to pier (5-4)

Answer: THREE-STAR (i.e. “fairly good hotel”). Solution is H (“hotel” in the phonetic alphabet) placed “in” an anagram (indicated by “resort”) of A STREET and followed by R (i.e. “close to pier”, i.e. the last letter of “pier”), like so: T(H)REESTA-R. Another nice bit of recycling.

Outraged at university, current members (2,2,4)

Answer: UP IN ARMS (i.e. “outraged”). Solution is UP (i.e. “at university” – something I’ve seen used far more in cryptic crosswords than anywhere else) followed by IN (i.e. “current”, as in hip and happening, my dudes) and ARMS (i.e. “members” – limbs are sometimes referred to “members”).

Leader in another paper under discussion (2,5)

Answer: AT ISSUE (i.e. “under discussion”). Solution is A (i.e. “leader in another”, i.e. the first letter of “another”) followed by TISSUE (i.e. “paper”). Bless you.

Item the Parisian found under lorry (7)

Answer: ARTICLE (i.e. “item”). Solution is LE (i.e. “the Parisian”, i.e. the French for “the”) placed after or “under” ARTIC (i.e. “lorry”) – this being a down clue – like so: ARTIC-LE.

Pay for another nurse (5)

Answer: TREAT. Solution satisfies to sub or “pay for another” and “nurse”.

Former US president in state of confusion, they say (5)

Answer: Rutherford B. HAYES (i.e. “former US president”). “They say” indicates homophone. Solution is a homophone of HAZE (i.e. “state of confusion”).

Bohemian poet’s anger about Keats, primarily (5)

Answer: Rainer Maria RILKE (i.e. “Bohemian poet”). Solution is RILE (i.e. “anger”) wrapped “about” K (i.e. “Keats, primarily”, i.e. the first letter of “Keats”), like so: RIL(K)E.

Fear about being caught by the old man (5)

Answer: DREAD (i.e. “fear”). Solution is RE (i.e. “about” – think email replies) placed in or “being caught by” DAD (i.e. “the old man”), like so: D(RE)AD.

Times Jumbo Cryptic Crossword 1483

Another medium strength offering this week, though thankfully one with tidier clueing. Another decent one, all told, despite a few niggly repeats. You can find my competed grid below along with explanations of my solutions where I have them. I hope you find them helpful. If a recent Jumbo has done for you, then you might find succour in my Just For Fun page, where I’ve links to solutions for the last 100+ of these things. Meanwhile there are the usual dusty old book reviews and a story of mine.

Thanks again for the kind comments, folks. They are much appreciated, and it’s always interesting to hear other solvers’ experiences or takes on these things. Till next time, keep safe, wrap up well and keep the flag flying for the NHS and key workers everywhere.

LP

Across clues

To reduce pollution try to avoid misunderstandings (5,3,3)

Answer: CLEAR THE AIR. Solution satisfies “to reduce pollution” and “try to avoid misunderstandings”. A bit clunky, IMLTHO. Chambers offers this: “to simplify the situation and relieve tension”.

Court formality concluded with warning signal (4,7)

Answer: STAR CHAMBER (i.e. English “court” sitting between 1487 and 1641). Solution is STARCH (i.e. stiffness or “formality”) followed by AMBER (i.e. “warning signal”).

Response to enquiry about what can improve tonic water? Don’t be unreasonable! (3,6,2,1,5)

Answer: THE ANSWER IS A LEMON. Solution satisfies “response to enquiry about what can improve tonic water” and, supposedly, “don’t be unreasonable”. Chambers offers this definition: “(inf) one is given an unsatisfactory answer or no answer at all”. Not quite making the connection there, if I’m honest. Maybe that’s the point.

Instrument in Purcell overture (5)

Answer: CELLO (i.e. musical “instrument”). “In” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: PUR(CELL O)VERTURE.

Pay for place in comfortable position (6)

Answer: SETTLE. Solution satisfies “pay” and “place in comfortable position”.

Man dying in bath with hot on somewhere in Greece (8)

Answer: MARATHON. Solution is Jean-Paul MARAT, a key player of the French Revolution who was assassinated and left “dying in bath”, followed by H (a recognised abbreviation of “hot”) and ON. The frequent use of repeated solutions in these things doesn’t half get on my wick. This solution appeared only a few weeks ago in 1477. It also appeared a little further back in 1450 with a very similar clue. The irony of me repeating a recent moan about recent repeats is not lost on me.

Comic brother or sister consumed by anger (7)

Answer: RISIBLE (i.e. “comic”). Solution is SIB (a recognised abbreviation of “sibling”, i.e. “brother or sister”) placed in or “consumed by” RILE (i.e. to “anger”), like so: RI(SIB)LE.

Gradually easing glove in to soak (9)

Answer: REMITTENT (i.e. “gradually easing”). Solution is MITTEN (i.e. “glove”) placed “in” RET (i.e. “to soak”), like so: RE(MITTEN)T.

Skill of a king – is taking time in effort (8)

Answer: ARTISTRY (i.e. “skill”). Solution is A followed by R (a recognised abbreviation of the Latin Rex, meaning “king”) followed by IS and T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”) once both placed “in” TRY (i.e. “effort”), like so: A-R-T(IS-T)RY.

Leader to cry when overthrown by rebels ultimately (4)

Answer: BOSS (i.e. “leader”). Solution is SOB (i.e. “to cry”) reversed (indicated by “overthrown” – works better in down clues, but okay) and followed “by” S (i.e. “rebels ultimately”, i.e. the last letter of “rebels”), like so: BOS-S.

One acting insincerely is a problem (5)

Answer: POSER. Solution satisfies “one acting insincerely” and “problem”.

Cheated excessively by relations (4,2)

Answer: TOOK IN (i.e. “cheated”). Solution is TOO (i.e. “excessively”) followed by KIN (i.e. “relations”).

Drink from cask, bidding woman to follow (4,6)

Answer: PINA COLADA (i.e. “drink”). Solution is PIN (i.e. “cask”) followed by ACOL (a system or “bidding” in a game of bridge (thank you, Chambers)) and ADA (i.e. “woman”, basically a woman’s name).

Recluses as before having small amounts of money (8)

Answer: EREMITES (i.e. “recluses”). Solution is ERE (poetic form of “before”) followed by MITES (i.e. “small amounts of money” – one definition of the word is “an old Flemish coin of very little value” (Chambers again)).

A foreign school to which the girl returned and finished being “not understood” (14)

Answer: UNCOMPREHENDED (i.e. “not understood”). Solution is UN (i.e. “a foreign”, i.e. the word “a” in French) followed by COMP (i.e. “school”, specifically a shortened form of “comprehensive”), then HER (i.e. “the girl”) once reversed (indicated by “returned”), and finally ENDED (i.e. “finished”), like so: UN-COMP-REH-ENDED.

A wise confessor sorted out conflict in America (3,2,9)

Answer: WAR OF CESESSION (i.e. “conflict in America”, another name for the American Civil War of the 1860s). “Sorted out” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of A WISE CONFESSOR.

Spread out sample on tissue (8)

Answer: NEOPLASM (i.e. a morbid new growth of “tissue” (Chambers)). “Spread out” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of SAMPLE ON.

Determination in respect of letters being filled in grid? (10)

Answer: RESOLUTION (i.e. “determination”). Solution is RE (i.e. “in respect of” – think email replies) followed by SOLUTION (i.e. “letters being filled in [crossword] grid”).

Catch superior – the foreign female for Bond? (6)

Answer: COPULA (i.e. to join or “bond” – ignore the misleading capitalisation. It’s from this word we get “copulate”, fnar, fnar). Solution is COP (i.e. “catch”, as in “cop a load of this”) followed by U (i.e. “superior” – U is a somewhat overworked abbreviation used to denote the upper class) and LA (i.e. “the foreign female”, i.e. the feminine form of “the” in French, the masculine form being “le”).

Significant points made by eg Canterbury fellow on return journey (5)

Answer: NODES (i.e. “significant points”). Solution is SE DON (i.e. “eg Canterbury fellow”, SE being a recognised abbreviation of “south-east”, the area of England in which you’d find Canterbury) reversed (indicated by “on return journey”), like so: NOD-ES.

Something dirty and greyish-brown, little good (4)

Answer: DUNG (i.e. “something dirty”). Solution is DUN (i.e. “greyish-grown”) followed by G (a recognised abbreviation or “little” form of “good”).

Pill mum gets swallowed – something seen at meal time (5,3)

Answer: TABLE MAT (i.e. “something seen at meal time”) Solution is TABLET (i.e. “pill”) wrapped around or “swallowing” MA (i.e. “mum”), like so: TABLE(MA)T.

Cosmetic making girl yell audibly (4,5)

Answer: FACE CREAM (i.e. “cosmetic”). “Audibly” indicates homophone. Solution comprises homophones of FAY (i.e. “girl”, basically a girl’s name) and SCREAM (i.e. “yell”).

Model no longer, having got “wide” (7)

Answer: EXAMPLE (i.e. “model”). Solution is EX (i.e. “no longer”) followed by AMPLE (i.e. “having got ‘wide’” – are you calling me fat, setter?!). More repeats (chunter, mumble, grumble…)

One in a hurry requiring second attachment to computer (8)

Answer: SPRINTER (i.e. “one in a hurry”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “second”) followed by PRINTER (i.e. “attachment to computer”).

Relation mostly bagging ducks with it? Hardly (6)

Answer: UNCOOL (i.e. “…with it? Hardly”) Solution is UNCLE (i.e. “relation”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “mostly”) and the remainder wrapped around or “bagging” OO (i.e. “ducks” – a duck is a zero batting score in cricket), like so: UNC(OO)L.

Judge maybe in German city (5)

Answer: TRIER. Solution is “judge maybe”, as in how criminals are tried in court, and “German city”.

It’s shocking – can make your hair stand on end! (6,11)

Answer: STATIC ELECTRICITY. Solution satisfies “it’s shocking” and “can make your hair stand on end”.

Ordinary members in rows not facing each other (4,3,4)

Answer: RANK AND FILE. Solution satisfies “ordinary members” and “rows not facing each other”.

Attempted to get adored venue redeveloped (11)

Answer: ENDEAVOURED (i.e. “attempted”). “Redeveloped” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of ADORED VENUE.

Down clues

Disaster when going after pet? What drink’s got knocked over? (11)

Answer: CATASTROPHE (i.e. “disaster”). Solution is AS (i.e. “when”) placed “after” CAT (i.e. “pet”). This is then followed by EH (i.e. “what”, as in eh? what? pardon?) and PORT (i.e. “drink”) once reversed (indicated by “knocked over” – this being a down clue), like so: CAT-AS-(TROP-HE).

Put up in the rectory (5)

Answer: ERECT (i.e. “put up”). “In” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: TH(E RECT)ORY.

Phone one way and phone another way – it can be hairy (7)

Answer: RINGLET (i.e. “it can be hairy”). Solution is RING (i.e. “phone”) and TEL (a recognised abbreviation of “telephone”, i.e. “phone”). The “one way”/”another way” bits comment on how TEL is reversed while RING is not, making RING-LET.

Act as a seller making one cough up (4)

Answer: HAWK. Solution satisfies “act as a seller” and “cough up”.

A loveless pain in the neck fighting a release of emotional tension (10)

Answer: ABREACTION (i.e. “a release of emotional tension”, specifically “the resolution of a neurosis by reviving forgotten or repressed ideas of the event first causing it” (Chambers)). Solution is A followed by BORE (i.e. “pain in the neck”) once the O has been removed (indicated by “loveless” – “love” being a zero score in tennis), then ACTION (i.e. “fighting”), like so: A-BRE-ACTION. Chalk one to my Bradford’s here.

Practice of one type of religious person? Samaritan is far different (14)

Answer: RASTAFARIANISM (i.e. “practice of one type of religious person”). “Different” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of SAMARITAN IS FAR.

Chemical having advantage? The reverse, leading to resentment (8)

Answer: SULPHATE (i.e. “chemical”). Solution is PLUS (i.e. “advantage”) “reversed” and followed by HATE (i.e. “resentment”), like so: SULP-HATE.

Notice minutes for business proceedings (5)

Answer: ADMIN (i.e. “business proceedings”). Solution is AD (i.e. “notice”, shortened form of “advertisement”) followed by MIN (a recognised abbreviation of “minutes”).

Plant urns may be stored in such places (9)

Answer: CINERARIA. Solution satisfies “plant” and cremation “urns may be stored in such places”. Nice work, but it took my Bradford’s to help nail this one.

Bill with amount to be paid for buttonhole (6)

Answer: ACCOST (i.e. to “buttonhole”, as in detaining someone with talk). Solution is AC (i.e. “bill”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “account”) followed by COST (i.e. “amount to be paid”).

One blackballed don sacked, displaying signs of excommunication (4,4,3,6)

Answer: BELL BOOK AND CANDLE. Over to Chambers yet again: “a phrase popularly used in reference to a form of excommunication ending, ‘Do to (i.e. shut) the book, quench the candle, ring the bell’.” “Sacked” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of ONE BLACKBALLED DON.

State that would briefly provide religious instruction (5,6)

Answer: RHODE ISLAND (i.e. US “state”). Clue plays on how its state abbreviation, RI, is itself a recognised abbreviation of “religious instruction”.

Woman almost taken in by mischief-maker is an arty type (8)

Answer: AESTHETE (i.e. “arty type”). Solution is ESTHER (i.e. “woman”, basically a woman’s name) with its last letter removed (indicated by “almost”) and the remainder placed or “taken in” to ATE (Greek goddess of mischief, i.e. “mischief-maker”), like so: A(ESTHE)TE.

I am not involved with enterprises creating false account? (17)

Answer: MISREPRESENTATION (i.e. “false account”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “involved”) of I AM NOT and ENTERPRISES.

Elusive little son getting cheeky (6)

Answer: SLIPPY (i.e. “elusive”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation or “little” form of “son”) followed by LIPPY (i.e. “cheeky”).

Folksy detective dismissing learner with a joke (8)

Answer: HOMESPUN (i.e. “folksy”). Solution is Sherlock HOLMES (i.e. “detective”) with the L removed (indicated by “dismissing learner” – L being a recognised abbreviation of “learner” used on driver L-plates) and the remainder followed by PUN (i.e. “joke”), like so: HOMES-PUN.

Number of cats and dogs? (8)

Answer: RAINFALL (i.e. raining “cats and dogs”). No idea on “number”, though. Could be a musical “number”, but I often file “musicals” under “Things I’d Rather Not Experience, Thanks” along with “sandpapering my eyeballs”. If anyone sheds light on this one then I’ll update the post.

Number behold prisoner having entered tremulously to make legal plea (4,10)

Answer: NOLO CONTENDERE (i.e. “legal plea” where someone agrees to do the time but not admit to the crime). Solution is NO (a recognised abbreviation of “number”) followed by LO (i.e. “behold”, as in “lo and behold”), then CON (i.e. “prisoner”) and an anagram (indicated by “tremulously”) of ENTERED, like so: NO-LO-CON-TENDERE.

Stylishness of English member, one belonging to a previous generation, not half (8)

Answer: ELEGANCE (i.e. “stylishness”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”) followed by LEG (i.e. “member”) and the first “half” of ANCESTOR (i.e. “one belonging to a previous generation”), like so: E-LEG-ANCE.

Start back in ground that has buried “liquid gold” (6)

Answer: RECOIL (i.e. “start back”). Solution is REC (shortened form of a recreational “ground”) with OIL (i.e. “liquid gold”) following or “buried” beneath it – this being a down clue.

Bowler rated “fantastic”, the best there is (5-6)

Answer: WORLD-BEATER (i.e. “the best there is”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “fantastic”) of BOWLER RATED.

What could make me spoiled, my being in the wrong job? (11)

Answer: MISEMPLOYED (i.e. “being in the wrong job”). “What could make” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of ME SPOILED MY.

Duck out of putting Polish high explosive in casing of metal (10)

Answer: BUFFLEHEAD (i.e. a “duck” found over in North America. Also a stupid fellow, apparently. I’ll have to remember that one). Solution is BUFF (i.e. “polish” – ignore the misleading capitalisation) followed by HE (a recognised abbreviation of “high explosive”) once placed “in” LEAD (i.e. “metal”), like so: BUFF-LE(HE)AD.

Old rocker entertaining party-goers went over the top maybe? (9)

Answer: TRAVERSED (i.e. “went over the top [of something] maybe”). Solution is TED (i.e. “old rocker”, aka a Teddy boy) wrapped around or “entertaining” RAVERS (i.e. “party-goers”), like so: T(RAVERS)ED.

Gradually pay off in a short time, extra income restricting debt finally (8)

Answer: AMORTISE (i.e. “gradually pay off”). Solution is A followed by MO (i.e. “short time”), then RISE (i.e. “extra income”) once wrapped around or “restricting” T (i.e. “debt finally”, i.e. the last letter of “debt”), like so: A-MO-R(T)ISE.

I am supporting part of hospital restricted by firm making a bit of money (7)

Answer: CENTIMO (i.e. “a bit of money” – a bit can refer to a coin). Solution is I’M (a contraction of “I am”) placed after or “supporting” – this being a down clue – ENT (i.e. “part of hospital”, specifically Ear Nose and Throat). These are then placed in or “restricted by” CO (a recognised abbreviation of “company”, i.e. “firm”), like so: C(ENT-I’M)O.

Old city region entertained by religious group (6)

Answer: SPARTA (i.e. “old city”). Solution is PART (i.e. “region”) placed in or “entertained by” SA (i.e. “religious group”, specifically the Salvation Army), like so: S(PART)A.

Teacher went through water to land on island (5)

Answer: SWAMI (i.e. a Hindu “teacher”). Solution is SWAM (i.e. “went through water”) followed by I (a recognised abbreviation of “island”).

East End dealer providing something for basket-weaver? (5)

Answer: OSIER (i.e. a willow whose twigs are used to make baskets, so “something for basket-weaver”). Solution is HOSIER (i.e. “dealer” of knitted goods and grundies) with the H removed (indicated by “East End” – as in ‘ow all ‘em Cockneys are always droppin’ their bleedin’ aitches, innit, QueenMumGawwwBlessah).

Covered colonnade in street area with zero occupation (4)

Answer: STOA (i.e. “covered colonnade”). Solution is ST (a recognised abbreviation of “street”) and A (ditto “area”) wrapped around or “occupied” by O (i.e. “zero”), like so: ST-(O)-A. One I remembered from a previous puzzle, if I’m honest.

Times Jumbo Cryptic Crossword 1482

A very similar puzzle to last week, being of medium strength and offering decent progression, but also being let down by some untidy clueing. Looks like we’ve hit one of those patches.

You can find my completed grid below along with explanations of my solutions where I have them. I hope you find them useful. If a recent Jumbo has done for you, then you might find my Just For Fun page useful, where you’ll find links to the last 100+ of these things. Meanwhile there’s the usual old book reviews and a story of mine.

Thanks again for the kind comments and messages. They are much appreciated. Till next time, stay safe, mask up – in fact, wrap up well in general, it’s bitter out there – and keep flying the flag for the NHS and key workers everywhere.

LP

Across clues

Dancing legend in bank that was for well-to-do people (6,7)

Answer: MIDDLE ENGLAND (i.e. “well-to-do people”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “dancing”) of LEGEND placed “in” MIDLAND (i.e. “bank that was”, referring to the Midland Bank, which was taken over by HSBC in the 1990s), like so: MID(DLEENG)LAND.

Asian to show fear endlessly outside a burial chamber (9)

Answer: PAKISTANI (i.e. “Asian”). Solution is PANIC (i.e. “to show fear”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “endlessly”) and the remainder wrapped around or placed “outside” of A and KIST (i.e. a word for chest or coffin or “burial chamber” used up in Scotland or Northern England, though not one I can ever attest to hearing), like so: P(A-KIST)ANI.

Two-wheeler parked in Clifton Gardens (5)

Answer: TONGA (i.e. a “two-wheeler” in India). “In” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: CLIF(TON GA)RDENS.

When reversing around headland, move steadily, arriving at anchorage (5,4)

Answer: SCAPA FLOW (i.e. “anchorage” in the Orkney Islands). Hmm. Another week, another untidy clue. I guess the solution was supposed to be AS (i.e. “when”) “reversed” and wrapped “around” CAP, then followed by FLOW (i.e. “move steadily”), like so: S(CAP)A-FLOW. Trouble is CAP is not a headland. CAPE, yes; CAP, no. None of my go-to reference books support this one (Chambers; Oxford; Collins Concise; Bradford’s). Looks like an “endlessly” indicator has been missed, but I’m happy to be corrected. On a different tack, I learned something new from this one: that the word “scarper” was in part derived from the solution, being the Cockney rhyming slang for “go”.

Nick sees parrot initially quiet in cage (3,4)

Answer: COP SHOP (i.e. “nick”, both slang for police stations). Solution is P (i.e. “parrot initially”, i.e. the first letter of “parrot”) and SH (i.e. “quiet”) all placed “in” COOP (i.e. “cage”), like so: CO(P-SH)OP.

Erica, keeping well, finally to rearrange spa (6,6)

Answer: HEALTH RESORT (i.e. “spa”). Solution is HEATH (i.e. “erica”) wrapped around or “keeping” L (i.e. “well, finally”, i.e. the last letter of “well”) and then followed by RESORT (i.e. “rearrange”), like so: HEA(L)TH-RESORT.

Note refusal to talk about current ability to recover (10)

Answer: RESILIENCE (i.e. “ability to recover”). Solution is RE (i.e. “note” in the doh-ray-me style; can be spelled re or ray) followed by SILENCE (i.e. “refusal to talk”) once wrapped “about” I (a recognised abbreviation of an electrical “current” used in physics), like so: RE-SIL(I)ENCE.

Hunter to be storing silver in box for return (6)

Answer: EAGLET (i.e. a young eagle or “hunter”). Solution is AG (chemical symbol for “silver”) placed or “stored” in TELE (i.e. “box”, i.e. a shortened form of the word “television”) once reversed (indicated by “for return”), like so: E(AG)LET.
[EDIT: Chris makes a good point in the comments, that EAGLET is a “hunter to be”, i.e. a young eagle, rather than just a “hunter”. Cheers, Chris! – LP]

Lug instrument and books round room (8)

Answer: OTOSCOPE (i.e. “lug instrument” – lug being a slang word for an ear). Solution is OT (i.e. “books”, specifically the Old Testament of The Bible) followed by O (i.e. “round”) and SCOPE (i.e. “room”).

Small arachnids in the country (6)

Answer: STICKS (i.e. “the country”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “small”) followed by TICKS (i.e. “arachnids”).

Sailor man brawling with bruiser (10)

Answer: SUBMARINER (i.e. “sailor”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “brawling”) of MAN and BRUISER.

Gated community in California? (3,9)

Answer: SAN FRANCISCO, a city in “California”. “Gated” plays on the Golden Gate Bridge, arguably the city’s most famous landmark.

East onto A40 for one taking wheel (4)

Answer: AXLE (i.e. “one taking wheel”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “east”) placed “onto” the end of A and XL (i.e. “40” in Roman numerals), like so: (A-XL)-E.

Partner previously generous succeeded in cases (8)

Answer: EXAMPLES (i.e. “cases”). Solution is EX (i.e. “partner previously”) followed by AMPLE (i.e. “generous”) and S (a recognised abbreviation of “succeeded”).

Old singers and actors abandon one (8)

Answer: CASTRATI (i.e. “old singers”). Solution is CAST (i.e. “actors”) followed by RAT (i.e. to desert or “abandon”) and I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”). A recent repeat, appearing also in 1477. Repeats often make my teeth itch, especially when they happen in close succession, and oh boy do they happen a lot. Solvers may recall a time when the artist Max Ernst appeared so often in these things he practically had a residency. They do little to dispel a nagging suspicion I have that some setters are merely seeding grids with a few solutions and clicking a button somewhere to autocomplete the rest. (I know The Times exclusively use(d?) software to produce the Codeword puzzles, for example. They fessed up to it when solvers noted how often MOIST was appearing in the top left of the grid.) I really hope I’m wrong, but, if not, let’s shake up the word pool a little, eh, setters? Or at least use a different app once in a while.

See it in Country Life (8)

Answer: VITALITY (i.e. “life”). Solution is V (i.e. “see”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of vide, Latin for “see”) followed by IT once placed “in” ITALY (i.e. “country”), like so: V-ITAL(IT)Y.

Check when boarding earlier vessel (8)

Answer: SCHOONER (i.e. “vessel”). Solution is CH (a recognised abbreviation of “check” used in chess) placed in or “boarding” SOONER (i.e. “earlier”), like so: S(CH)OONER.

First man, first male to forsake brothel-keeper (4)

Answer: ADAM (i.e. “first man” in The Bible). Solution is MADAM (i.e. “brothel-keeper”) with the “first” M removed or “forsaken” – M being a recognised abbreviation of “male”.

State London borough has empty properties to rent (3,9)

Answer: NEW HAMPSHIRE (i.e. US “state”). Solution is NEWHAM (i.e. “London borough”) followed by PS (i.e. “empty properties”, i.e. the word “properties” with all its middle letters removed) and HIRE (i.e. “to rent”).

Chemist needing a drug – he runs out of stock (10)

Answer: APOTHECARY (i.e. “chemist”). Solution is A followed by POT (i.e. “drug”, i.e. marijuana), then HE, then CARRY (i.e. “stock”) once one of the Rs has been removed (indicated by “runs out of…” – R being a recognised abbreviation of “runs” used in several ball games), like so: A-POT-HE-CARY.

Rebellion when peacekeepers take break? (6)

Answer: UNREST (i.e. “rebellion”). Solution is UN (i.e. “peacekeepers”, specifically the United Nations) followed by REST (i.e. “take break”).

Firms paid in charge for appearances only (8)

Answer: COSMETIC (i.e. “for appearances only”). Solution is COS (i.e. “firms”, being a recognised abbreviation of “company” made plural) followed by MET (i.e. “paid”) and IC (a recognised abbreviation of “in charge”).

Meat for each basket holding food (6)

Answer: HAMPER (i.e. “basket holding food”). Solution is HAM (i.e. “meat”) followed by PER (i.e. “for each”).

Spinning line, TV sage is one preaching (10)

Answer: EVANGELIST (i.e. “one preaching”). “Spinning” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of LINE TV SAGE.

Plymouth has a busted temperature controller (12)

Answer: HYPOTHALAMUS (i.e. “temperature controller” in the brain). “Busted” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of PLYMOUTH HAS A. Very nicely done.

Midshipman, after discarding two hearts, holds the king (7)

Answer: OLDSTER (i.e. “midshipman” – chalk one to my Bradford’s here). Solution is HOLDS THE once the two Hs have been removed (indicated by “discarding two hearts” – H being a recognised abbreviation of “hearts” used in card games) and the remainder followed by R (a recognised abbreviation of Rex, Latin for “king”), like so: (H)OLDS-T(H)E-R => OLDS-TE-R.

Range shown by decidedly English singer (9)

Answer: FIELDFARE (i.e. “singer” – a bird, specifically a member of the thrush family. Fun fact: the Latin for “thrush” is Turdus, in case you were wondering which family of birds was responsible for redecorating your car). Solution is FIELD (i.e. “range”) followed by FAR (i.e. “decidedly”) and E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”). Chalk another to my Bradford’s.

Sweetheart in wood one obtaining tree resin (5)

Answer: ELEMI (i.e. “tree resin”). Solution is E (i.e. “sweetheart”, i.e. the middle letter of “sweet”) placed “in” ELM (i.e. “wood”) and followed by I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), like so: EL(E)M-I. Weirdly, one I knew.

Practical once confined to breathe one’s last inside (9)

Answer: EXPEDIENT (i.e. “practical”). Solution is EX (i.e. former or “once”) and PENT (i.e. “confined”) wrapped around or having “inside” DIE (i.e. “to breathe one’s last”), like so: EX-PE(DIE)NT.

Set gathered together for an evening meal? (6,7)

Answer: DINNER SERVICE (i.e. “set”). Clue plays on DINNER being “an evening meal” and how people can “gather together” for a church SERVICE. You get the idea.

Down clues

Beyond compare in Lima, introduced to dull game (9)

Answer: MATCHLESS (i.e. “beyond compare”). Solution is L (“Lima” in the phonetic alphabet) placed in or “introduced to” MAT (i.e. “dull”) and CHESS (i.e. “game”), like so: MAT-CH(L)ESS.

Half-hidden area witch guards in old city for locals (3,4)

Answer: DEN HAAG (i.e. “city” in the Netherlands, better known here as The Hague. Quite what makes it the “old city for locals” is beyond the rudimentary search I’m prepared to give it. Probably something to do with its history. Whatever. If a kind soul swings by with the info, then I’ll update the post). Solution is DEN (i.e. “half-hidden”, specifically the latter half) followed by HAG (i.e. “witch”) once wrapped around or “guarding” A (a recognised abbreviation of “area”), like so: DEN-H(A)AG.
[EDIT: Thanks to Graham in the comments for a speedy resolution to this one. Looks like I was overthinking it. “For locals” merely suggests DEN HAAG is the Dutch or local name of the city. Cheers, Graham! – LP]

Dishevelled lady we hate to precede (4,3,3)

Answer: LEAD THE WAY (i.e. “to precede”). “Dishevelled” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of LADY WE HATE.

Guarantee rebuke when scratching head (6)

Answer: ENSURE (i.e. “guarantee”). Solution is CENSURE (i.e. “rebuke”) once its initial letter has been removed (indicated by “scratching head”).

Willing to talk over carrying weight in hand luggage (9,3)

Answer: GLADSTONE BAG (i.e. “hand luggage”). Solution is GLAD (i.e. “willing”) and GAB (i.e. “to talk”), the latter reversed (indicated by “over” – this being a down clue), both wrapped around or “carrying” STONE (i.e. “weight”), like so: GLAD-(STONE)-BAG.

Work to support corruption in Africa deserved arrest (1,4,3)

Answer: A FAIR COP (i.e. “deserved arrest”). Solution is OP (i.e. “work”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “opus”) placed under or “supporting” – this being a down clue – an anagram (indicated by “corruption in”) of AFRICA, like so: AFAIRC-OP.

Valley at last supplied with beer (4)

Answer: DALE (i.e. “valley”). Solution is D (i.e. “at last supplied”) followed by ALE (i.e. “beer”).

What’s ultimately convoluted in government publicity? Patter has it? (6-4)

Answer: POWDER-PUFF (i.e. “patter has it” – referring to the action of applying makeup). Solution is D (i.e. “what’s ultimately convoluted”, i.e. the last letter of “convoluted”) placed “in” POWER (i.e. “government”) and followed by PUFF (i.e. “publicity”), like so: POW(D)ER-PUFF.

Start to work, breaking habit of finishing early (4,2)

Answer: KICK IN (i.e. “start to work”). Solution is KICKING (i.e. “breaking habit”) once the last letter has been removed (indicated by “finishing early”).

Devious pundit that is taking in guy – one in fashionable set (12)

Answer: SOPHISTICATE (i.e. “one in fashionable set”). Solution is SOPHIST, “a captious or intentionally fallacious reasoner” (Chambers), i.e. “devious pundit”, followed by IE (i.e. “that is”, i.e… er… “i.e.”!) wrapped around CAT (i.e. “guy”, or hep cat for all you Jazz Club enthusiasts out there. Niiiiice…) like so: SOPHIST-I(CAT)E.

Starters of aubergine served with chicken pasty (5)

Answer: ASHEN (i.e. “pasty”). Solution is A and S (i.e. “starters of aubergine served”, i.e. the first letters of “aubergine” and “served”) followed by HEN (i.e. “chicken”).

Art school illusion is magical at first (13)

Answer: IMPRESSIONISM (i.e. “art school”). Solution is IMPRESSION (i.e. “illusion”) followed by IS and M (i.e. “magical at first”, i.e. the first letter of “magical”).

Greek ferryman outside gym finds young female companion (8)

Answer: CHAPERON (i.e. “young female companion”, as in one accompanying the young female rather than the young female herself – can be spelled with or without an ‘e’ at the end). Solution is CHARON (i.e. “Greek ferryman”, i.e. the ferryman of Greek myth who carried the spirits of the dead across the river Styx) wrapped “outside” of PE (i.e. “gym”, specifically Physical Education), like so: CHA(PE)RON.

Charlie, fool with artillery, one anticipating disaster (9)

Answer: CASSANDRA (i.e. “one anticipating disaster”, another from Greek myth, this time one who was doomed to prophesy terrible events and never be believed). Solution is C (i.e. “Charlie” in the phonetic alphabet) followed by ASS (i.e. “fool”), then AND (i.e. “with”) and RA (i.e. “artillery”, specifically the Royal Artillery of the British Army).

Team with pace to avoid tackles (8)

Answer: SIDESTEP (i.e. “avoid tackles”). Solution is SIDE (i.e. “team”) followed by STEP (i.e. “pace”).

One shouting loudly when taking in Turin’s original campanile (4-5)

Answer: BELL-TOWER (i.e. “campanile”). Solution is BELLOWER (i.e. “one shouting loudly”) wrapped around or “taking” T (i.e. “Turin’s original”, i.e. the first letter of “Turin”), like so: BELL(T)OWER.

Expedition to the French metropolis must cross river (8)

Answer: ALACRITY (i.e. “expedition”, taken to mean “with speed” rather than a trip out somewhere). Solution is A LA (i.e. “to the French”, i.e. the French for “to the”) followed by CITY (i.e. “metropolis”) once wrapped around or “crossing” R (a recognised abbreviation of “river”), like so: A-LA-C(R)ITY.

Mushrooms springing up with cap incomplete in colourful range (8)

Answer: SPECTRUM (i.e. “colourful range”). Solution is CEPS (i.e. “mushrooms”) reversed (indicated by “springing up” – this being a down clue) and followed by TRUMP (i.e. “cap”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “incomplete”), like so: SPEC-TRUM.

Arrival with banker – certain people taking risks (13)

Answer: ADVENTURESOME (i.e. “taking risks”). Solution is ADVENT (i.e. “arrival”) followed by URE (i.e. “banker” – in this case referring to a river) and SOME (i.e. “certain people”).

Perceptive about poet quoted on the radio (5-7)

Answer: CLEAR-SIGHTED (i.e. “perceptive”). Solution is C (i.e. “about”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “circa”) followed by Edward LEAR (i.e. “poet”), then a homophone (indicated by “on the radio”) of CITED (i.e. “quoted”).

Bug quietly installed, make speech for examiners (12)

Answer: INSPECTORATE (i.e. “examiners”). Solution is INSECT (i.e. “bug”) wrapped around or having “installed” P (a recognised abbreviation of “piano” or “quietly” in musical lingo), then followed by ORATE (i.e. “make speech”), like so: INS(P)ECT-ORATE.

Who at first becomes unsettled loses plot (6,1,3)

Answer: THROWS A FIT (i.e. “loses plot” – both phrases expressing rage). “Becomes unsettled” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of WHO AT FIRST.

Leave track having broken rule that’s applied to bikes (10)

Answer: DERAILLEUR (i.e. “that’s applied to bikes”, specifically the little doodad that moves the chain up and down the gears). Solution is DERAIL (i.e. “leave track”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “broken”) of RULE, like so: DERAIL-LEUR.

Hosiery designed when king’s visiting county (9)

Answer: YORKSHIRE (i.e. “county”). Another untidy clue for me. The solution was probably supposed to be an anagram (indicated by “designed”) of HOSIERY wrapped around or having “visiting” R and K, both recognised abbreviations of “king”, the former being the Latin “Rex”, the latter an abbreviation used in chess or cards, like so: YO(R-K)SHIRE. Trouble is, “king’s” is singular, being a contraction of “king is”. Had the clue finished “…kings visit county” then all would be good. Either that or the setter forgot there are two Rs in YORKSHIRE. Again, I’m happy to be furnished with a better solution, but as it stands this feels like another balls-up.

The old duke in disgrace remained at home (6,2)

Answer: STAYED IN (i.e. “remained at home”). Solution is YE (i.e. “the old”, i.e. ye olde “the”) and D (a recognised abbreviation of “duke”) both placed “in” STAIN (i.e. “disgrace”), like so: STA(YE-D)IN.

Pipe assembly round mass blocks, one in ancient city (7)

Answer: POMPEII (i.e. “ancient city”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “assembly”) of PIPE wrapped around or “blocked” by O (i.e. “round”) and M (a recognised abbreviation of “mass”) and followed by I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), like so: P(O-M)PEI-I.

Sci-fi author having a bit of fun in church (6)

Answer: Arthur C CLARKE (i.e. “sci-fi author”). Solution is LARK (i.e. “a bit of fun”) placed “in” CE (i.e. “church”, specifically the Church of England), like so: C(LARK)E. This nerd approves.

Motor turns (6)

Answer: WHEELS. Solution satisfies a slang word for “motor” car, and “turns”. If you heard a faint “gaahhh!” on the wind on Saturday afternoon and wondered where it came from, that was me finally nailing this one.

Tot to sound reasonable (3,2)

Answer: ADD UP. Solution satisfies “tot” and “to sound reasonable”.

Crook from north found in sack (4)

Answer: BEND (i.e. “crook”). Solution is N (a recognised abbreviation of “north”) placed “in” BED (i.e. “sack”, a slang word for bed), like so: BE(N)D.

More musical accompaniment was had this week, inspired largely by the earworm that is the Deep Stone Lullaby theme recently added to the videogame Destiny 2 (my current timesink). The theme appears in a rare moment of peace between frenetic firefights in the Deep Stone Crypt raid and is, to this ageing gamer’s ears, the best piece of original music to grace a videogame for a long, long time.

How long a time? Probably since 2011’s Skyrim, thoughts of which drew me to its sublime (and comprehensive) soundtrack on Spotify. If you’re after some background music to work to, or are looking for something to help fill that Game Of Thrones hole in your life, then you could do a lot worse than this. Standing Stones is a spine-tingling highlight. Enjoy! – LP

Times Jumbo Cryptic Crossword 1481

Another medium strength puzzle this week, but one that felt a bit untidy in places. There were some good clues and steady progression to enjoy, but the vibes were let down by a couple of things that didn’t quite work, at least for this pseudonymous nobody.

As ever you can find my completed grid below along with explanations of my solutions where I have them. I hope you find them useful. If a recent Jumbo has you stumped then you might find my Just For Fun page helpful, listing solutions to the last 100+ of these things. Meanwhile there are the usual dusty old book reviews and a story of mine.

Thank you for all the kind and appreciative comments in recent weeks. They’ve meant a lot as lockdown continues to bite. Let’s hope these blasted Covid rates keep dropping to reflect the vaccination rollout. Until next time, stay safe, mask up and keep supporting the NHS and key workers everywhere.

Toodles,

LP

Across clues

What happens in autumn with departure of the first bug (9)

Answer: EAVESDROP (i.e. to listen in on or “bug”). Solution is LEAVES DROP (i.e. “what happens in autumn”) once the initial letter has been removed (indicated by “with departure of the first”).

Cut usual storm when going round cloud (13)

Answer: STRATOCUMULUS (i.e. “cloud”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “when going round”) of CUT USUAL STORM. Hands up who originally wrote CUMULOSTRATUS in the grid. Yeah, me too.

Annoyance with firework not starting (5)

Answer: ANGER (i.e. “annoyance”). Solution is BANGER (i.e. “firework”) with its initial letter removed (indicated by “not starting”).

When there’s no drink to be had in bar (11)

Answer: PROHIBITION. Solution satisfies “when there’s no drink to be had” and to ban or “bar” something. Nicely worked.

Foreign food delivered by ship, mostly around America (5)

Answer: SUSHI (i.e. “foreign food”). Solution is SHIP with its last letter removed (indicated by “mostly”) and the remainder wrapped “around” US (i.e. “America”), like so: S(US)HI.

One who manages to dispatch branch email (11)

Answer: CHAMBERLAIN (i.e. “one who manages”). “To dispatch” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of BRANCH EMAIL.

School has short novel about a Royal Navy battleship sunk in 1943 (11)

Answer: SCHARNHORST (i.e. German “battleship sunk in 1943”). Solution is SCH (a recognised abbreviation of “school”) followed by A and RN (ditto “Royal Navy”), then an anagram (indicated by “novel”) of SHORT, like so: SCH-A-RN-HORST. One gotten solely from the wordplay.

Turmoil at head of British mint? (7)

Answer: POTHERB (i.e. “mint”). Solution is POTHER (i.e. commotion or “turmoil”) followed by B (i.e. “head of British”, i.e. the first letter of “British”).

Shut. Shot (5-2)

Answer: CLOSE-UP (i.e. “shot”). When written as CLOSE UP the solution also satisfies to “shut”.

Current spinner is cheered at Lords at first appearance (7) – not (4), as printed

Answer: TOPICAL (i.e. “current”). Solution is TOP (i.e. “spinner”) followed by ICAL (i.e. “is cheered at Lords at first”, i.e. the first letters of “Is Cheered At Lords”).

Painting those people on bridge, often man has left in informative details (3,7,2,3,4)

Answer: THE MONARCH OF THE GLEN (i.e. “painting” by Sir Edwin Landseer, and an absolute beauty it is too). Solution is THEM (i.e. “those people”) followed by ON, then ARCH (i.e. “bridge”), then OFT (i.e. shortened form of “often”), then HE (i.e. “man”) and L (a recognised abbreviation of “left”) once placed “in” GEN (i.e. “informative details”), like so: THEM-ON-ARCH-OFT-HE-G(L)EN.

A church service (3)

Answer: ACE (i.e. “service” in tennis). Solution is A followed by CE (i.e. “church”, specifically the Church of England). Simple, but nicely worked.

Get back control, eclipsing General Assembly (6)

Answer: REGAIN (i.e. “get back”). Solution is REIN (i.e. “control”) wrapped around or “eclipsing” GA (a recognised abbreviation of “General Assembly”), like so: RE(GA)IN.

About twelve, going round? (6)

Answer: ZODIAC. A bit of a guess, but I’m pretty confident it’s correct given there are “twelve” signs of the zodiac (don’t at me, Ophiuchuses), each supposedly representing a 30-degree section of an imaginary belt in the heavens, i.e. the “round” bit of the clue.

Perhaps Morse not working has time for female (9)

Answer: DETECTIVE (i.e. “perhaps Morse” – other detectives are available. So many detectives. Many, many detectives. So many, in fact, it’s a wonder anyone actually bothers with crime. Bump someone off with a candlestick or a spot of digitalis these days and there’ll be at least a dozen TV detectives on the scene within the space of an ad break, all with trusty sidekicks, all detecting in ways indistinguishable from one other save for their character flaws and dysfunctional personal lives, and all getting it neatly wrapped up within the space of two hours. Take that, crime! Oh look, I’ve wandered off track again…) Solution is DEFECTIVE (i.e. “not working”) with the F (a recognised abbreviation of “female”) replaced by T (ditto “time”), like so: DE(F)ECTIVE => DE(T)ECTIVE.

What attracts magazine into London borough (3,6)

Answer: BAR MAGNET (i.e. “what attracts”). Solution is MAG (shortened form of “magazine”) placed “into” BARNET (i.e. “London borough”), like so: BAR(MAG)NET.

Emotional shock when former president nearly accepts answer (6)

Answer: TRAUMA (i.e. “emotional shock”). Solution is Harry S. TRUMAN (i.e. “former president” of the United States) with it’s last letter removed (indicated by “nearly”) and the remainder wrapped around or “accepting” A (a recognised abbreviation of “answer”, as in Q&A), like so: TR(A)UMA.

Silence about clip being wide open (6)

Answer: GAPING (i.e. “being wide open”). Solution is GAG (i.e. to “silence”) placed “about” PIN (i.e. to affix or “clip”), like so: GA(PIN)G.

Maturity regularly displayed by hangmen (3)

Answer: AGE (i.e. “maturity”). “Regularly displayed by” indicates the solution is derived from every other letter of HANGMEN.

Badly clueing “thin” as “elvery” for quiz (10,9)

Answer: UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE (i.e. TV “quiz” in which I get the presenter’s name right and that’s about it for half an hour). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “badly”) of CLUEING THIN AS ELVERY.

Piece of text fool inserted into episode (7)

Answer: PASSAGE (i.e. “piece of text”). Solution is ASS (i.e. “fool”) “inserted into” PAGE (i.e. “episode” – Chambers offers this for a definition of PAGE: “an incident, episode or whatever may be imagined as matter to fill a page”), like so: P(ASS)AGE.

Noisily get round girl with sex appeal (7)

Answer: GALUMPH (i.e. “noisily get round”). Solution is GAL (i.e. “girl”) followed by UMPH (i.e. “sex appeal” – Chambers doesn’t want to know, but my Oxford supports this as a variant spelling of OOMPH).

Replayed point before sad disappointment (7)

Answer: LETDOWN (i.e. “disappointment”). Solution is LET (a “replayed point” in tennis) followed by DOWN (i.e. feeling “sad”).

Organised site in mine to store uranium, a radioactive element (11)

Answer: EINSTEINIUM (i.e. “radioactive element”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “organised”) of SITE IN MINE wrapped around or “storing” U (chemical symbol of “uranium”), like so: EINSTEINI(U)M. Nicely worked.

One trying to impress modern paper with editing (4-7)

Answer: NAME-DROPPER (i.e. “one trying to impress”). “With editing” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of MODERN PAPER.

Happen to rain heavily around cricket club, cutting off parking (5)

Answer: OCCUR (i.e. “happen”). Solution is POUR (i.e. “to rain heavily”) wrapped “around” CC (a recognised abbreviation of “cricket club”) and the P of POUR “cut off” – P being a recognised abbreviation of “parking” used on signage and maps – like so: O(CC)UR.

Bury coins in crossroads (11)

Answer: INTERCHANGE (i.e. “crossroads”). Solution is INTER (i.e. to “bury”) followed by CHANGE (i.e. “coins”).

Earliest of dialects of rough intonation, classically (5)

Answer: DORIC, an “early” or ancient Greek “dialect”. Solution is derived from the initial letters (indicated by “earliest of”) of Dialects Of Rough Intonation Classically.

Spar shows, mind, terribly good use of steel (13)

Answer: SWORDSMANSHIP (i.e. “good use of steel”). “Terribly” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of SPAR SHOWS MIND.

Naval ship Thalaba, for instance (9)

Answer: DESTROYER. Solution satisfies “naval ship” and “Thalaba, for instance”, referring to an epic poem, Thalaba the Destroyer by Robert Southey. Yeah, me neither. Given the three editions I’ve found on Goodreads have attracted a positively Brobdingnagian fifteen ratings between them, I wouldn’t feel too guilty about it.

Down clues

Freer duty list with picture and title put up (11)

Answer: EMANCIPATOR (i.e. “freer”). Solution is ROTA (i.e. “duty list”) followed by PIC (shortened form of “picture”) and NAME (i.e. “title”). The whole is reversed (indicated by “put up” – this being a down clue), like so: EMAN-CIP-ATOR.

Old lady found in vessel, wandering (7)

Answer: VAGRANT (i.e. “wandering”). Solution is GRAN (i.e. “old lady”) placed “in” VAT (i.e. “vessel”), like so: VA(GRAN)T.

Get rid of Bush (5)

Answer: SCRUB. Solution satisfies “get rid of” and “bush” – ignore the misleading capitalisation.

Game to tolerate including impudent children’s hero (6,4)

Answer: RUPERT BEAR (i.e. “children’s hero” created by Mary Tourtel). Solution is RU (i.e. “game”, specifically Rugby Union) and BEAR (i.e. “to tolerate”) wrapped around or “including” PERT (i.e. “impudent”), like so: RU-(PERT)-BEAR.

Ordinarily professionals are initially in charge (7)

Answer: PROSAIC (i.e. “ordinarily”). Solution is PROS (shortened form of “professionals”) followed by A (i.e. “are initially”, i.e. the first letter of “are”) and IC (a recognised abbreviation of “in charge”).

Solstice got in eccentric spiritual believer (13)

Answer: SCIENTOLOGIST (i.e. “spiritual believer”). “Eccentric” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of SOLSTICE GOT IN. Nice choice of anagram indicator.

Cried following rail services starting late, beset by bad weather (9)

Answer: RAINSWEPT (i.e. “beset by bad weather”). Solution is WEPT (i.e. “cried”) placed after or “following” TRAINS (i.e. “rail services”) once the initial letter has been removed (indicated by “starting late”), like so: RAINS-WEPT.

Tons cut hard work for music (4,3)

Answer: TRIP HOP (i.e. “music”). Solution is T (a recognised abbreviation of “tons”) followed by RIP (i.e. “cut”), then H (a recognised abbreviation of “hard” used in grading pencils) and OP (i.e. “work”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “opus”).

Trick rodent trapped by gluttony, note praise (12)

Answer: CONGRATULATE (i.e. “praise”). Not one I’m 100% about, but I can’t see anything else fitting the letters. Solution is CON (i.e. “trick”) followed by RAT (i.e. “rodent”) once placed in or “trapped by” GULA (supposedly “gluttony”, though none of my reference books back this up. Chambers offers gula as a zoological term concerned with the gullets of animals, which isn’t really the same) and TE (i.e. “note” in the do-ray-me style), like so: CON-G(RAT)ULA-TE. Open to alternatives for this one.

Girl has cut quill crooked (9)

Answer: MISSHAPEN (i.e. “crooked”). Solution is MISS (i.e. “girl”) followed by HAS once the last letter has been removed (indicated by “cut”), then PEN (i.e. “quill”), like so: MISS-HA-PEN.

Strong light beer – good to be small (5)

Answer: LASER (i.e. “strong light”). Solution is LAGER (i.e. “beer”) with the G (a recognised abbreviation of “good”) replaced by (indicated by “to be”) S (a recognised abbreviation of “small”), like so: LA(G)ER => LA(S)ER.

Their vessel transported army material? (11)

Answer: SHIRTSLEEVE (i.e. “army material”, with “army” playfully taken to mean “of the arms”). “Transported” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of THEIR VESSEL.

Titillating material ripped up by art institute (7)

Answer: EROTICA (i.e. “titillating material”). Solution is TORE (i.e. “ripped”) reversed (indicated by “up” – this being a down clue) and followed by ICA (i.e. “art institute”, specifically the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London, like so: EROT-ICA.

Fusion fuel has appeal over charged particle (9)

Answer: COALITION (i.e. “fusion”). Solution is COAL (i.e. “fuel”) followed by IT (i.e. “appeal”, as in having got “it”) and ION (i.e. “charged particle”).

Keen nature of silver eagles in European sierra (9)

Answer: EAGERNESS (i.e. “keen nature”). Solution is AG (chemical symbol of “silver”) and ERNES (i.e. “eagles”) both placed “in” between E (a recognised abbreviation of “European”) and S (i.e. “sierra” in the phonetic alphabet), like so: E-(AG-ERNES)-S.

Laugh with little time left in tedious job (7)

Answer: CHORTLE (i.e. “laugh”). Solution is T (a recognised abbreviation of “time” – “little” could be an indicator of this) and L (a recognised abbreviation of “left”) both placed “in” CHORE (i.e. “tedious job”), like so: CHOR(T-L)E.

Put a stop to rodents turning up in a particular area (7)

Answer: ENDEMIC (i.e. “in a particular area”). Another I’m not 100% on, but, again, not much else fits the letters. I get the feeling this is a half-finished clue that has slipped into publication. For what it’s worth, my solution comprises END (i.e. “put a stop to”) and MICE (i.e. “rodents”). The problem is “turning up” is a reversal indicator for down clues. Applied to MICE, you’d get END-ECIM, which obviously isn’t right. I suspect the phrasing was once “ending up” rather than “turning up”, as this could then describe the E – the “end” letter of MICE – moving “up” to the start like so: MIC(E) => (E)MIC, but this was then perhaps found to be unworkable as the setter had already used END in the solution. Again, I’m happy to consider alternative solutions, but this one feels like a balls-up.

Quality of work key with crew in at least three boats (13)

Answer: CRAFTSMANSHIP (i.e. “quality of work”). Solution is C (i.e. “[musical] note”) followed by MAN (i.e. to “crew”, rather than a number of crewmen) once placed “in” RAFTS and SHIP (i.e. “at least three boats”, given RAFTS is plural), like so: C-RAFTS-(MAN)-SHIP.

Man allowed string of beads (7)

Answer: CHAPLET (i.e. “string of beads”). Solution is CHAP (i.e. “man”) followed by LET (i.e. “allowed”).

Discrimination in working isn’t Times’ aim (4-8)

Answer: ANTI-SEMITISM (i.e. “discrimination”). “Working” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of ISN’T TIMES AIM.

Godless queen’s killer, on edge in short loose jacket (11)

Answer: BLASPHEMOUS (i.e. “godless” – as in immoral, rather than in not believing in a god. Weak, IMLTHO). Solution is ASP (i.e. “queen’s killer”, referring to the snake that did for Cleopatra) and HEM (i.e. “edge”) both placed “in” BLOUSE (i.e. “loose jacket”) once the last letter has been removed (indicated by “short”), like so: BL(ASP-HEM)OUS.

Supplier of gram accepted by naïve leather-clad youth wanting kilos (11)

Answer: GREENGROCER (i.e. “supplier”). Solution is G (a recognised abbreviation of “gram”) placed between or “accepted by” GREEN (i.e. “naïve”) and ROCKER (i.e. “leather-clad youth”) once the K has been removed (indicated by “wanting kilos” – K being a recognised abbreviation of “kilogram”), like so: GREEN-(G)-ROCER.

Look of snowfield’s extremity, poorly reflected in mountain route (10)

Answer: PALLIDNESS (i.e. “look of snowfield” – what an odd description). Solution is END (i.e. “extremity”) and ILL (i.e. “poorly”) both reversed (indicated by “reflected”) and placed “in” PASS (i.e. “mountain route”), like so: PA(LLI-DNE)SS.

Lacking change, central fund haggled without pence (9)

Answer: UNALTERED (i.e. “lacking change”). Solution is UN (i.e. “central [letters of] fUNd”) followed by PALTERED (i.e. “haggled”) once the P has been removed (indicated by “without pence” – P being a recognised abbreviation of “pence”), like so: UN-ALTERED.

Coastal area sailor damages with wash that hasn’t existed? (4,5)

Answer: SALT MARSH (i.e. “coastal area”). Solution is SALT (i.e. “sailor”) followed by MARS (i.e. “damages”) and H, i.e. WASH once WAS is removed (indicated by “wash that hasn’t existed” – WAS being another word for “existed”), like so: SALT-MARS-H.

Menu, perhaps, has information about something sparkling (7)

Answer: GLISTEN (i.e. “something sparkling” – can be used as a noun, apparently). Solution is LIST (i.e. “menu, perhaps”) placed in or “has…about” GEN (i.e. “information”), like so: G(LIST)EN.

Man that’s lost house key outside car (7)

Answer: HOMINID (i.e. “man that’s lost” – technically a group that covers humans and our close extinct or “lost” ancestors, and the great apes too while we’re at it. A bit narrow, then, but “that’s lost” does make for a clue that scans rather well). Solution is HO (a recognised abbreviation of “house”) and D (i.e. “[musical] key”) both placed “outside” of MINI (i.e. “car”), like so: HO-(MINI)-D.

Rich border hotel invested in gold quarry (7)

Answer: ORPHREY (i.e. “rich border”, usually on an ecclesiastical vestment). Solution is H (“hotel” in the phonetic alphabet) placed or “invested in” OR (i.e. “gold” in heraldry) and PREY (i.e. “quarry”), like so: OR-P(H)REY.

Snack served in Vienna chophouse (5)

Answer: NACHO (i.e. “snack”). “Served in” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: VIEN(NA CHO)PHOUSE.

Architectural style of edging with no breadth (5)

Answer: ORDER (i.e. “architectural style”). Solution is BORDER (i.e. “edging”) with the B removed (indicated by “with no breadth” – B being a recognised abbreviation of “breadth”).

I’ve pretty much given up on the footie, so some electrochoonage was had this week courtesy of:

— Justice (their last album, Woman, offers some brilliant retro-modern disco action. Safe and Sound, Alakazam! and Randy are {-chef’s kiss emoji-})
— Leuer Verte (more retro-modern stuff, this time with a big 80s influence. Not much to listen to, but it’s all good)
— Volkor X (I often return to his stuff. Shoot Them Up from his album This Is Our Planet Now remains a cheesy favourite.)
— Juno Reactor (I rather liked his remix of Gravity Kills’s Guilty back in the mid-90s and recently checked out his later releases. There’s some good stuff to be had, particularly in the later albums. Imagine if Enigma went harder for techno and you’re about halfway there.)

…and right now Spotify’s Walk Like a Badass playlist, which is very much doing the trick.

Meanwhile live sports has been replaced by Twitch, where I can witness gamers much better than me play the games I play only much (much, much) better than I can, and, if that wasn’t enough, be entertaining, host competitions, trigger humorous on-screen content and hold a half-dozen conversations with their audience all the while. I mean, I’m doing well if I remember to occasionally close my mouth during a game.
Pro tip: if you value your spare time then for goodness sake, DO NOT WATCH TWITCH. I ought to have published this post about five hours ago…

Laters, – LP