Times Jumbo Cryptic Crossword 1429

A decent puzzle this week, which I’d have cracked sooner had I spelt FLUORESCE correctly. Oh well, there are more important things going on in the world at the moment. If you are reading this while in self-imposed exile or, worse still, suffering the effects of coronavirus, hang in there. On the other hand, if you are reading this while sitting on furniture made entirely of bags of rice and pasta because there’s literally nowhere else left in your house to stuff them, consider donating a few bags of your newfound wealth to a local food bank to even up the score a little. Score a few karma points, eh?

Okay, preachy public service announcement over. Now for some me-time. If you’ve got a recent Times Jumbo Cryptic that’s got you jiggered, then my Just For Fun page could be just the thing you need. While you’re here, I’ve got a bunch of book reviews should you suddenly find yourself with a lot of time on your immaculately clean hands. If you’d like to give an old alter-ego a boost, then I’ve also got a story of mine over thisaway.

Alrighty then. To the answers! Keep well, peeps.

LP

P.S. A big thank you to Sue and Steve, both regulars in the comments, for clearing up the mystery behind 1426’s clue for 17a. Turns out the printed clue was incorrect, and the editor was rather perplexed as to how it happened!

Across clues

1. Unreliable old man nicks tune we added (4-7)

Answer: FAIR-WEATHER (i.e. “unreliable”). Solution is FATHER (i.e. “old man”) wrapped around or “nicking” AIR (i.e. “tune”) and WE, like so: F(AIR-WE)ATHER.

7. Holland House fuel extract (6,5)

Answer: ORANGE JUICE (i.e. “extract”). Solution is ORANGE (i.e. “Holland [royal] House”) followed by JUICE (i.e. “fuel”).

13. One daughter inspires tango performed on stage (5)

Answer: ACTED (i.e. “performed on stage”). Solution is ACE (i.e. “one” in playing cards) and D (a recognised abbreviation of “daughter”) wrapped around or “inspiring” T (“tango” in the phonetic alphabet), like so: AC(T)E-D.

14. Risk grabbing Romeo’s ulcer (7)

Answer: CHANCRE (i.e. “ulcer”). Solution is CHANCE (i.e. “risk”) wrapped around or “grabbing” R (“Romeo” in the phonetic alphabet), like so: CHANC(R)E. One gotten from the wordplay and a quick brute force of my Chambers.

15. Dodging a very old paper ball (9)

Answer: AVOIDANCE (i.e. “dodging”). Solution is A followed by V (a recognised abbreviation of “very”), then O (ditto “old”), then I (i.e. “[British news]paper”) and finally DANCE (i.e. “ball”).

16. Scary spinner’s natural bent among reserves (9)

Answer: TARANTULA (i.e. “scary spinner”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “bent”) of NATURAL which is placed “among” TA (i.e. “reserves”, specifically the Territorial Army), like so: T(ARANTUL)A.

17. One large boy struggled to suppress second rash (3-7)

Answer: ILL-ADVISED (i.e. “rash”). Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) followed by L (a recognised abbreviation of “large”), then LAD (i.e. “boy”), then VIED (i.e. “struggled”) once it has been wrapped around or “suppressing” S (a recognised abbreviation of “second”), like so: I-L-LAD-VI(S)ED.

20. Right court for controlling scrap – thanks to this (4,3)

Answer: RIOT ACT (i.e. “controlling scrap – thanks to this”). Solution is R (a recognised abbreviation of “right”) and CT (ditto “court”) wrapped around or “controlling” IOTA (i.e. “scrap”), like so: R-(IOTA)-CT.

22. Leaves after wasted meal (4,3)

Answer: HIGH TEA (i.e. “meal”). Solution is TEA (i.e. “leaves”) placed “after” HIGH (i.e. “wasted”, as in a drug high).

24. European allowed to conceal crew’s hint (7)

Answer: ELEMENT (i.e. “hint”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “European”) and LET (i.e. “allowed”) once it has been wrapped around or “concealed” MEN (i.e. “crew”), like so: E-LE(MEN)T.

25. Weakling must have very little money in principle (8)

Answer: RUDIMENT (i.e. “principle”). Solution is RUNT (i.e. “weakling”) wrapped around or “having” DIME (i.e. “very little money”), like so: RU(DIME)NT.

26. Harry Potter hurt nine, which drivers sometimes can do (5-5,4)

Answer: THREE-POINT TURN (i.e. “which drivers sometimes can do”). “Harry” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of POTTER HURT NINE.

28. What scouts do in playground before church (5)

Answer: RECCE (i.e. “what scouts do”). Solution is REC (i.e. “playground”) followed by CE (i.e. “church”, specifically the Church of England).

29. Trained pupil briefly to stop the old city slicker (6)

Answer: YUPPIE (i.e. “city slicker”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “trained”) of PUPIL once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “briefly”), which is then placed in or “stopping” YE (i.e. “the old”, as in ye olde “the”), like so: Y(UPPI)E.

30. Star Glaswegian recalled fine area around Halifax (4,6)

Answer: NOVA SCOTIA (i.e. “area around Halifax” – Halifax being its capital). Solution is NOVA (i.e. “star”) followed by SCOT (i.e. “Glaswegian”) and AI (i.e. excellent or “fine”, i.e. A1), the latter reversed (indicated by “recalled”), like so: NOVA-SCOT-IA.

33. It helps in speech to emphasise saint (6,4)

Answer: STRESS MARK (i.e. “it helps in speech”). Solution is STRESS (i.e. “to emphasise”) followed by MARK (i.e. “saint”).

35. A sample of polar Canada’s secrets (6)

Answer: ARCANA (i.e. “secrets”). “A sample of” indicates the solution is hidden in the clue, like so: POL(AR CANA)DA’S.

37. Peace advocate captivates Republican horde (5)

Answer: DROVE (i.e. “horde”). Solution is DOVE (i.e. “peace advocate”) wrapped around or “captivating” R (a recognised abbreviation of “Republican”), like so: D(R)OVE.

39. Spreading scandal, excited at telling it three times (6-8)

Answer: TITTLE-TATTLING (i.e. “spreading scandal”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “excited”) of AT TELLING IT and, T, T and T (i.e. “three times” – T being a recognised abbreviation of “time”).

41. Archipelago short of popular pineapples (8)

Answer: GRENADES (i.e. “pineapples”, given their resemblence). Solution is GRENADINES (i.e. “archipelago”) with the IN removed (indicated by “short of popular”).

44. It’s a pride issue, working with copper in library (4,3)

Answer: LION CUB (i.e. “it’s a pride issue” – a pack of lions being a “pride”, and “issue” taken to mean young offspring). Solution is ON (i.e. “working”) and CU (chemical symbol of “copper”) placed “in” LIB (a recognised abbreviation of “library”), like so: LI(ON-CU)B.

45. Intended fund without name ending in failure (7)

Answer: FIANCEE (i.e. one’s “intended” in marriage). Solution is FINANCE (i.e. “fund”) with the first N removed (indicated by “without name”, N being a recognised abbreviation of “name”) and the remainder followed by E (i.e. “ending in failure”, i.e. the last letter of “failure”), like so: FIANCE-E.

46. Cutting tree I found in British Columbia (7)

Answer: ACERBIC (i.e. “cutting”). Solution is ACER (i.e. “tree”) followed by I once it has been placed or “found in” BC (a recognised abbreviation of “British Columbia”), like so: ACER-B(I)C.

47. Like some bread with jam and seeds (10)

Answer: WHOLEGRAIN (i.e. “like some bread”). Solution is W (a recognised abbreviation of “with”) followed by HOLE (i.e. “jam”, both taken to mean bad situations) and GRAIN (i.e. “seeds”).

49. Cleaner not able initially to charge about one pound (9)

Answer: NAILBRUSH (i.e. “cleaner”). Solution is N and A (i.e. “not able to begin with”, i.e. the first letters of “not” and “able”) and RUSH (i.e. “charge”) placed “about” I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) and LB (a recognised abbreviation of a “pound” of weight), like so: N-A-(I-LB)-RUSH.

53. Send out light roasted course: fabulous being back to eat it! (9)

Answer: FLUORESCE (i.e. “send out light”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “roasted”) of COURSE which is placed in or “eaten” by ELF (i.e. “fabulous being”) once it has been reversed (indicated by “back”), like so: FL(UORESC)E.

54. Star gets into bed for a smoke (7)

Answer: CHEROOT (i.e. “a smoke”). Solution is HERO (i.e. “star”) which is placed or “gets into” COT (i.e. “bed”), like so: C(HERO)OT.

55. Swimmer’s about to perish, heading west (5)

Answer: EIDER (i.e. “swimmer” – a little too far down the role profile for my liking, but heigh-ho). Solution is RE (i.e. “about” – think email replies) and DIE (i.e. “to perish”) both reversed (indicated by “heading west” – this being an across clue), like so: EID-ER.

56. Enthuses, perhaps evading gym and old dishes Henry left (11)

Answer: RHAPSODIES (i.e. “enthuses”). Solution is PERHAPS with the PE removed (indicated by “evading gym” – PE being a recognised abbreviation of Physical Education) and the remainder followed by O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”) and DISHES once the H has been removed (indicated by “Henry left” – H being a recognised abbreviation of “Henry”, a measurement that’s currently flavour of the month for setters), like so: RHAPS-O-DISES.

57. Ditch tongue, heading off for Happy Eater? (11)

Answer: TRENCHERMAN (i.e. “happy eater” – a trencher is a plate or platter). Solution is TRENCH (i.e. “ditch”) followed by GERMAN (i.e. language or “tongue”) with the initial letter removed (indicated by “heading off”), like so: TRENCH-ERMAN. Not a word I’m familiar with, despite my Mr Creosote-esque appetite. I like it.

Down clues

1. Note shorter, less singular person using flannel (9)

Answer: FLATTERER (i.e. “person using flannel” – an informal word for flattery). Solution is FLAT (i.e. “note”) followed by TERSER (i.e. “shorter”) once the S has been removed (indicated by “less singular” – S being a recognised abbreviation of “singular”), like so: FLAT-TERER.

2. Job for painter inside 8 (8,10)

Answer: INTERIOR DECORATION (i.e. “job for painter”). The solution to 8d is AWARD. The solution is INTERIOR (i.e. “inside”) followed by DECORATION (i.e. “award”).

3. Extra new stretch (5)

Answer: WIDEN (i.e. “stretch”). Solution is WIDE (i.e. “extra” run in cricket awarded when the bowler buggers up) followed by N (a recognised abbreviation of “new”).

4. Story by some about constant profession (11)

Answer: ACCOUNTANCY (i.e. “profession”). Solution is ACCOUNT (i.e. “story”) followed by ANY (i.e. “some”) once it has been placed “about” C (a recognised abbreviation of “constant”), like so: ACCOUNT-AN(C)Y.

5. Each had awful athlete’s foot and pain at the other end (8)

Answer: HEADACHE (i.e. “pain at the other end” of the body from the feet). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “awful”) of EACH HAD followed by E (i.e. “athlete’s foot”, i.e. the last letter of “athlete”), like so: HEADACH-E.

6. Relax here, startling boss (7,5)

Answer: ROCKING CHAIR (i.e. “relax here”). Solution is ROCKING (i.e. “startling”) followed by CHAIR (i.e. “boss” of a committee).

7. Expose what’s in envelope that’s given to the press (4,6)

Answer: OPEN LETTER. Solution satisfies “expose what’s in envelope” and “that’s given to the press”.

8. Place for nursing trophy (5)

Answer: AWARD (i.e. “trophy”). When written as A WARD the solution also satisfies “place for nursing”.

9. I love angler somehow catching large marine creature (11)

Answer: GLOBIGERINA (i.e. “marine creature”, and a little diddy one too). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “somehow”) of I, O (i.e. “love”, i.e. a zero score in tennis) and ANGLER all wrapped around or “catching” BIG, like so: GLO(BIG)ERINA. The wordplay was reasonably clear, but needed most of the intersecting letters completed and a quick brute force of Chambers to nail it.

10. Reason obscure hero hoards brilliant books? (9)

Answer: JUDGEMENT (i.e. “reason”). Solution is JUDE (“obscure hero”, Saint Jude I guess – one for the theologians) wrapped around or “hoarding” GEM (i.e. “brilliant”) and followed by NT (i.e. “books”, specifically the New Testament of The Bible), like so: JUD(GEM)E-NT.
[EDIT: Thanks to Mick in the comments for clearing up JUDE, being a reference to Thomas Hardy’s novel Jude the Obscure. – LP]

11. Where to find barmen of different types? (4)

Answer: INNS (i.e. “where to find barmen”). A guess, if I’m honest, as I can’t figure “of different types” at the moment. If I or a kind commenter has a brainwave then I’ll update the post.
[EDIT: Thanks to Mrs D and Mick for quickly clarifying this one. “Barmen” refers to barristers who are called to the English bar when they qualify and join one of the four INNS of Court. Thanks both! – LP]

12. River’s banks eroded constantly (4)

Answer: EVER (i.e. “constantly”). Solution is the “River” SEVERN with the first and last letters removed (indicated by “banks eroded”).

18. Quirky odd bureaucrat is almost silent proof of falsehood (8,2,8)

Answer: REDUCTIO AD ABSURDUM (i.e. “proof of falsehood”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “quirky”) of ODD BUREAUCRAT IS followed by DUMB (i.e. “silent”) once its final letter has been removed (indicated by “almost”), like so: REDUCTIOADABSUR-DUM. Not being a Latin scholar, this took a number of intersecting letters solving before I had enough hooks to perform another quick brute force of my Chambers.

19. Very old joke packs theatre (5,3)

Answer: STONE AGE (i.e. “very old”). Solution is ONE (i.e. “joke”, as in “did you hear the one about…”) placed in or “packing” STAGE (i.e. “theatre”), like so: ST(ONE)AGE.

21. Idle, the writer’s tucking into drink with sons (7)

Answer: AIMLESS (i.e. “idle”). Solution is I’M (i.e. “the writer is”, taken from the point of view of the setter) “tucked into” ALE (i.e. “drink”) and followed by S and S (i.e. “two sons”, S being a recognised abbreviation of “son”), like so: A(I’M)LE-S-S.

23. Software run at cricket ground’s OK (8)

Answer: APPROVAL (i.e. “OK”). Solution is APP (i.e. “software”) followed by R (a recognised abbreviation of “run” in a number of ball games) and OVAL (i.e. “cricket ground”).

27. Impressionist, perhaps one able to lift drink (8)

Answer: APERITIF (i.e. “drink”). Solution is APER (i.e. “impressionist, perhaps”, as in one who apes another) followed by I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) and FIT (i.e. “able”) once it has been reversed (indicated by “to lift” – this being a down clue), like so: APER-I-TIF.

28. Engineers resolve to move (8)

Answer: RESETTLE (i.e. “to move”). Solution is RE (i.e. “engineers”, specifically the Royal Engineers of the British Army) followed by SETTLE (i.e. “resolve”).

31. Measure port imbibed by conservative Anglicans (7)

Answer: CADENCE (i.e. “measure”). Solution is ADEN (i.e. “port” – chalk one to my Bradfords here as there are thousands of ports to choose from) which is placed in or “imbibed by” C (a recognised abbreviation of “Conservative”) and CE (i.e. “Anglicans”, specifically the Church of England), like so: C-(ADEN)-CE.

32. Sublime climb across middle of liner in river (12)

Answer: TRANSCENDENT (i.e. “sublime”). Solution is ASCEND (i.e. “climb”) wrapped around or placed “across” N (i.e. “middle [letter] of liner”) and then itself placed “in” TRENT (i.e. “river”), like so: TR(A(N)SCEND)ENT.

34. Broken down? Police stopped, after spending hours (11)

Answer: METABOLISED (i.e. digested or “broken down”). Solution is MET (i.e. “police”, specifically the Metropolitan Police Service of London) followed by ABOLISHED (i.e. “stopped”) once the H has been removed (indicated by “spending hours” – H being a recognised abbreviation of “hours”), like so: MET-ABOLISED.

36. Answer cut from article about avoiding “hippy” type of language (4-7)

Answer: AFRO-ASIATIC (i.e. “type of language”). Solution is A (a recognised abbreviation of “answer”) followed by FROM once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “cut”), then A (i.e. “article”, such as words like ‘a’, ‘an’ and ‘the’), then SCIATIC (i.e. “hippy” type – a sneaky one, this, “hippy” referring to the area of the body – the sciatic nerve stems from the base of the spine. I’m not keen, but my Bradfords wins out on this one) once the first C has been removed (indicated by “about avoiding” – C being a recognised abbreviation of “circa”, or “about”), like so: A-FRO-A-SIATIC. Phew!

38. 150 eastern experts accepting smuggled licences (10)

Answer: CLEARANCES (i.e. “licences”). Solution is CL (i.e. “[Roman numerals] 150”) followed by E (a recognised abbreviation of “eastern”), then ACES (i.e. “experts”) once it has been wrapped around or “accepted” RAN (i.e. “smuggled”, think gun-running), like so: CL-E-A(RAN)CES.

40. Do battle to secure instruments (4,5)

Answer: LOCK HORNS. Solution satisfies “do battle” and “to lock [musical] instruments”.

42. Cash in car interpreted as sweetener (9)

Answer: SACCHARIN (i.e. “sweetener” – can be spelled with or without an ‘e’). “Interpreted” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of CASH IN CAR.

43. Head man from Krakow’s supporter in plot (8)

Answer: BEANPOLE (i.e. “supporter in [garden] plot”). Solution is BEAN (i.e. “head”, an informal name backed up by my Chambers) followed by POLE (i.e. “man from Krakow”). Not an easy one when you’ve got _E_N_O_E to work with.

48. Fancy patrons wasting time! (5)

Answer: GUESS (i.e. “fancy”). Solution is GUESTS (i.e. “patrons”) with the T removed (indicated by “wasting time” – T being a recognised abbreviation of “time”). Another win for my Bradfords as my brain could not equate “fancy” to “guess”. Still doesn’t, if I’m honest. It’s getting late, that’s my excuse.

50. Part of speech backed up English note (5)

Answer: BREVE (i.e. “[musical] note”). Solution is VERB (i.e. “part of speech”) reversed (indicated by “backed up” – this being a down clue) and followed by E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”), like so: BREV-E.

51. Starts to approach from access road a long way off (4)

Answer: AFAR (i.e. “a long way off”). “Starts to” indicates the solution is derived by taking the initial letters of APPROACH FROM ACCESS ROAD.

52. Each year involves leading intermediate stage (4)

Answer: PUPA (i.e. “intermediate stage”). Solution is PA (i.e. “each year”, being a recognised abbreviation of “per annum”) wrapped around or “involving” UP (i.e. “leading”), like so: P(UP)A.