Times Jumbo Cryptic Crossword 1431

A slightly easier one this week. Pretty good too, though ATLANTIC STANDARD TIME has left me somewhat nonplussed. [EDIT – thanks to Steve in the comments for clearing this one up in double quick time. – LP] You can find my completed solution below along with explanations of my solutions where I have them. I hope you find them helpful.

Some housekeeping: my Just For Fun page hosts solutions for the last eighty-odd Times Jumbo Cryptic crosswords should that appeal, my Reviews page is there to show this blog is occasionally about things other than crosswords, and there’s a story of mine floating around here too.

Stay safe, folks. Looks like we’re all going to be in this viral lockdown for the long haul.

LP

Across clues

1. Restricts little person that’s a bit of a jumper? (11)

Answer: CHAINSTITCH (i.e. “that’s a bit of a jumper”). When read as CHAINS TITCH, the solution also satisfies “restricts little person”.

7. A learner needing a supporter is hugged by maidens saying the wrong thing (11)

Answer: MALAPROPISM (i.e. “saying the wrong thing”). Solution is A, L (a recognised abbreviation of “learner”), A, PROP (i.e. “supporter”) and IS all placed between or “hugged by” M and M (recognised abbreviations of a “maiden” over in cricket), like so: M-(A-L-A-PROP-IS)-M.

13. Establishing standard old room in local (9)

Answer: NORMATIVE (i.e. “establishing standard”). Solution is O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”) and RM (ditto “room”) both placed “in” NATIVE (i.e. “local”), like so: N(O-RM)ATIVE.

14. No time for speech with men showing fatigue (7)

Answer: LANGUOR (i.e. “fatigue”). Solution is LANGUAGE (i.e. “speech”) with the AGE removed (indicated by “no time”) and the remainder followed by OR (i.e. “men”, specifically the Other Ranks of the British Army), like so: LANGU-OR.

15. Rows of headless corpses (5)

Answer: TIFFS (i.e. “rows”). Solution is STIFFS (i.e. “corpses”) with the initial letter removed (indicated by “headless”). If you were listening carefully around 2pm this afternoon you’d have heard me groan loudly when I finally twigged this one. Like it!

16. Soldier and reformer meeting a king (6)

Answer: HUSSAR (i.e. “solider”). Solution is Jan HUSS (i.e. “reformer” – no, me neither) followed by A and R (a recognised abbreviation of Rex, Latin for “king”).

17. Behavioural science Hoyle got wrong (8)

Answer: ETHOLOGY (i.e. “behavioural science”). “Wrong” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of HOYLE GOT.

18. Rage, having to eat a dry fish (3-4)

Answer: RAT-TAIL (i.e. “fish” – an ugly bugger too). Solution is RAIL (i.e. “[to] rage”) wrapped around or “eating” A and TT (a recognised abbreviation of teetotal, i.e. “dry”), like so: R(A-TT)AIL.

20. In Barbados, say, how you’d get the measure of the enemy? (8,8,4)

Answer: ATLANTIC STANDARD TIME (i.e. “in Barbados, say”). Don’t know what the setter’s playing at here, nor am I in much of a mood to go hunting high and low across the internet for an explanation. Sorry, peeps.
[EDIT: A nod to Steve in the comments, who highlighted that “time is the enemy” – a phrase I’ll admit didn’t spring to mind. Thanks, Steve! – LP]

23. Steps to keep the Queen uncontaminated (7)

Answer: STERILE (i.e. “uncontaminated”). Solution is STILE (i.e. “steps”) wrapped around or “keeping” ER (i.e. “the Queen”, specifically Elizabeth Regina), like so: ST(ER)ILE.

24. Pioneer crossword compiler entertains only third of solvers (7)

Answer: SETTLER (i.e. “pioneer”). Solution is SETTER (i.e. “crossword compiler”) wrapped around or “entertaining” L (i.e. “third [letter] of solvers”), like so: SETT(L)ER.

26. Research specialist only half way through stories (7)

Answer: EXPLORE (i.e. “research”). Solution is EXPERT (i.e. “specialist”) with the last half lopped off (indicated by “only half way through”) and followed by LORE (i.e. “stories”), like so: EXP-LORE.

28. Light colour of old city church to the west (4)

Answer: ECRU (i.e. “light colour”). Solution is UR (i.e. “old city” – a bit of a favourite of setters) and CE (i.e. “church”, specifically the Church of England) both reversed (indicated by “to the west”, this being an across clue), like so: EC-RU. One gotten through the wordplay.

29. Girl’s best friend in a suit? (8)

Answer: DIAMONDS. Solution satisfies “girl’s best friend” – referring to the song Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes – and “in a suit [of playing cards]”.

32. Biblical tribe, possible adherents of a god of wealth, dismissing leader (9)

Answer: AMMONITES (i.e. “Biblical tribe”). Solution is MAMMONITES (i.e. “possible adherents of a god of wealth”) with the initial letter removed (indicated by “dismissing leader”). Score one for the Bradford’s here.

35. Community travel entangled after reversing set of instructions (9)

Answer: DECALOGUE, relating to the Ten Commandments in The Bible (i.e. “set of instructions”). Solution is EU (i.e. “community”, specifically the European Union) followed by GO (i.e. “travel”) and LACED (i.e. “entangled”) all “reversed”, like so: DECAL-OG-UE. Got the DECAL bit but had to brute force Chambers for the rest.

36. Papa dislikes aspects of birthday celebrations (8)

Answer: PRESENTS (i.e. “aspects of birthday celebrations”). Solution is P (i.e. “Papa” in the phonetic alphabet) followed by RESENTS (i.e. “dislikes”).

37. A guerrilla gets hurt (4)

Answer: ACHE (i.e. “hurt”). Solution is A followed by CHE Guevara (i.e. “guerrilla”).

39. Uses swearword when coming across cat (7)

Answer: CUSTOMS (i.e. “uses”). Solution is CUSS (i.e.” swearword”) wrapped around or “coming across” TOM (i.e. “cat”), like so: CUS(TOM)S.

41. Walked, bumping into Peg in the tube (7)

Answer: TETRODE (i.e. a kind of valve or vacuum “tube”). Solution is TROD (i.e. “walked”) placed or “bumped into” TEE (i.e. “peg” – ignore the misleading capitalisation), like so: TE(TROD)E. Another nod to my Bradford’s.

44. Onion in English allotment (7)

Answer: SHALLOT (i.e. “onion”). “In” indicates the solution is hidden in the clue, like so: ENGLI(SH ALLOT)MENT.

45. Like good guys supporting the LA baseball team? (2,3,4,2,3,6)

Answer: ON THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS. Solution satisfies “like good guys” and “supporting the LA baseball team”, referring to the Los Angeles Angels. Use of “the” in the clue might be stretching it a bit for any Dodgers fans out there… (puts away Cody Bellinger Dodgers shirt).

49. Something frightening, British, and not half unattractive to put up with (7)

Answer: BUGBEAR (i.e. “something frightening”). Solution is B (a recognised abbreviation of “British”) followed by UGLY (i.e. “unattractive”) with the last half removed (indicated by “not half”) and then BEAR (i.e. “to put up with”), like so: B-UG-BEAR.

50. Car well able to convey limited number, offering independence (8)

Answer: AUTONOMY (i.e. “independence”). Solution is AUTO (i.e. “car”) and MY (i.e. “well”, both expressions of astonishment) wrapped around or “conveying” ONE (i.e. “number”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “limited”), like so: AUT(ON)O-MY. You could also argue “limited number” means a recognised abbreviation of “number”, which would make the solution AUTO-(NO)-MY. I prefer the former explanation.

51. Fashionable philosopher put to rest? (6)

Answer: INHUME (i.e. “put to rest”). Solution is IN (i.e. “fashionable”) followed by David HUME (i.e. “philosopher”). A nod to Monty Python’s Philosophers Song for that one.

53. Turmoil when duke meets a divine being in India (5)

Answer: DRAMA (i.e. “turmoil”). Solution is D (a recognised abbreviation of “duke”) followed by RAMA (i.e. “divine being in India”).

54. What get hot and black: ships carrying fuel (7)

Answer: BOILERS (i.e. “what get hot”). Solution is B (a recognised abbreviation of “black” used in chess) followed by OILERS (i.e. “ships carrying fuel”).

55. Arguing about a boy, one no good (9)

Answer: REASONING (i.e. “arguing”). Solution is RE (i.e. “about” – think email replies) followed by A, then SON (i.e. “boy”), then I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), then N (a recognised abbreviation of “no”) and G (ditto “good”), like so: RE-A-SON-I-N-G.

56. What is evident in weighty section of song (6,5)

Answer: MIDDLE EIGHT (i.e. “section of song”). “What is evident in weighty” refers to how EIGHT forms the MIDDLE of the word “weighty”.

57. Heeding Lent, possibly, being wise? (11)

Answer: ENLIGHTENED (i.e. “being wise”). “Possibly” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of HEEDING LENT.

Down clues

1. Study church with a shell-like structure (6)

Answer: CONCHA (i.e. “shell-like structure”). Solution is CON (i.e. an archaic word for “study” that setters like to use in their clues) followed by CH (a recognised abbreviation of “church”) and A. One gotten through the wordplay and a quick check in Chambers, if I’m honest.

2. Where naughty children run riskily in slum area (6,3,6)

Answer: ACROSS THE TRACKS. Solution satisfies “where naughty children run riskily” and “in slum area”.

3. A peasant organised home to be very clean and tidy (4,2,1,3)

Answer: NEAT AS A PIN (i.e. “very clean and tidy”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “organised”) of A PEASANT followed by IN (i.e. “[at] home”), like so: NEATASAP-IN.

4. Holiday mishap (4)

Answer: TRIP. Solution satisfies “holiday” and “mishap”.

5. Don’t move into these inadequate rural areas (3,6)

Answer: THE STICKS (i.e. “rural areas”). Solution is STICK (i.e. “don’t move”) placed into THESE once the last letter has been removed (indicated by “inadequate”), like so: THE(STICK)S.

6. Assist goddess with petulant expression (4,3)

Answer: HELP OUT (i.e. “assist”). Solution is HEL (i.e. Norse “goddess” of death) followed by POUT (i.e. “petulant expression”).

7. Rainy season’s coming before long in Mediterranean country? No thanks! (9)

Answer: MONSOONAL (i.e. “rainy season”). Solution is ON SOON (i.e. “coming before long”) placed in MALTA (i.e. “Mediterranean country”) once the TA has been removed (indicated by “No thanks!”), like so: M(ON-SOON)AL.

8. Envy destroying three leading characters? That’s very bad (5)

Answer: LOUSY (i.e. “that’s very bad”). Solution is JEALOUSY (i.e. “envy”) with the first three letters removed (indicated by “destroying three leading characters”).

9. Some game requiring quiet skill, game without leader (9)

Answer: PARTRIDGE (i.e. “some game [bird]”). Solution is P (a recognised abbreviation of piano, i.e. “quiet” in music lingo) followed by ART (i.e. “skill”) and BRIDGE (i.e. “game”) once its initial letter has been removed (indicated by “without leader”), like so: P-ART-RIDGE.

10. Surpassing dodgy dealers, first to last? Excellent! (12)

Answer: OUTSTRIPPING (i.e. “surpassing”). Solution is TOUTS (i.e. “dodgy dealers”) with the first letter placed at the end (indicated by “first to last”). This is then followed by RIPPING (i.e. “excellent”), like so: OUTST-RIPPING.

11. Extend home and start to fall behind schedule (7)

Answer: INFLATE (i.e. “extend”). Solution is IN (i.e. “[at] home”) followed by F (i.e. “start to fall”, i.e. the first letter of “fall”) and LATE (i.e. “behind schedule”).

12. Menu’s beginning with a cold dish, mostly spicy stuff (6)

Answer: MASALA (i.e. “spicy stuff”). Solution is M (i.e. “menu’s beginning”, i.e. the first letter of “menu”) followed by A and SALAD (i.e. “cold dish”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “mostly”), like so: M-A-SALA.

19. Male talking thus may be grumbling (8)

Answer: UTTERING. Solution is M (a recognised abbreviation of “male”) which, when placed before the solution, UTTERING, gets you M-UTTERING (i.e. “grumbling”).

21. Floridly rhetorical poet given honour, not the first (7)

Answer: AUREATE (i.e. “floridly rhetorical”). Solution is LAUREATE (i.e. “poet given honour”) with the initial letter removed (indicated by “not the first”).

22. Man joining the girl in risky enterprise that may help the rest (8)

Answer: BEDSHEET (i.e. “that may help the rest” – “rest” as in sleep). Solution is ED (i.e. “man”, i.e. a shortened form of Edward) and SHE (i.e. “the girl”) placed “in” BET (i.e. “risky venture”), like so: B(ED-SHE)ET.

23. Bird, needing drink, had to go inside (8)

Answer: SHELDUCK (i.e. “bird”). Solution is SUCK (i.e. “drink”) wrapped around or having “inside” HELD (i.e.” had”), like so: S(HELD)UCK.

25. Not, we may deduce, travelling quickly (3-2)

Answer: TON-UP (i.e. “travelling quickly”, i.e. over 100mph). “We may deduce” indicates the solution is itself a cryptic clue, describing “not”, i.e. the word “ton” in reverse (indicated by “up” – this being a down clue).

27. Political lion somehow traps you and me – it’s not what is seems (7,8)

Answer: OPTICAL ILLUSION (i.e. “it’s not what it seems”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “somehow”) of POLITICAL LION wrapped around or “trapping” US (i.e. “you and me”), like so: OPTICALILL(US)ION.

30. Prominent men wanting girl to undress (not showing bottom though) (7)

Answer: MAESTRI (i.e. “prominent men”, plural of maestro). Solution is MAE STRIP (i.e. “girl to undress”) with the last letter of STRIP removed (indicated by “not showing bottom though”), like so: MAE-STRI.

31. Old-fashioned office worker, good person one upset (5)

Answer: STENO (i.e. “old-fashioned office worker”, specifically an abbreviated form of stenographer). Solution is ST (i.e. “good person”, i.e. a recognised abbreviation of “saint”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “upset”) of ONE, like so: ST-ENO.

33. Wasn’t Emu naughty bird? (4,4)

Answer: MUTE SWAN (i.e. “bird”). “Naughty” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of WASN’T EMU. Nicely worked.

34. Secret observer won’t half yell when rumbled (3,2,3,4)

Answer: FLY ON THE WALL (i.e. “secret observer”). “When rumbled” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of WON’T HALF YELL.

38. Displaying message opposing capital punishment? (7,3)

Answer: HANGING OUT. Solution satisfies “displaying” – we’ve all been there, love – and “message opposing capital punishment”.

40. Always kept in outhouse, as car needs to be (9)

Answer: STEERABLE (i.e. “as car needs to be”). Solution is E’ER (poetic form of ever, i.e. “always”) placed or “kept in” STABLE (i.e. “outhouse”), like so: ST(E’ER)ABLE.

42. Discussion of tricky matter with Treebeard? (9)

Answer: TREATMENT (i.e. “discussion”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “tricky”) of MATTER followed by ENT (i.e. “Treebeard” – one for Tolkien fans, Ents were living trees, one of whom was called Treebeard), like so: TREATM-ENT.

43. Terrible male here should keep quiet, being “here today, gone tomorrow” (9)

Answer: EPHEMERAL (i.e. “here today, gone tomorrow”). Solution is an anagram (indicate by “terrible”) of MALE HERE wrapped around or “keeping” P (a recognised abbreviation of piano, i.e. “quiet” in music lingo), like so: E(P)HEMERAL.

45. Vigilant when a ground can get out of control (2,5)

Answer: ON GUARD (i.e. “vigilant”). “Can get out of control” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of A GROUND.

46. Expression of disgust about head’s artifice (7)

Answer: FINESSE (i.e. “artifice”). Solution is FIE (i.e. “expression of disgust”) wrapped “about” NESS (i.e. “head”, as in a geographical feature), like so: FI(NESS)E.

47. This writer’s about to wait in the same location (6)

Answer: IBIDEM (i.e. Latin for “in the same location” – if you ever see “ibid” in a footnote of some text, it’s a way of not having to repeat references to the same source all the time). Solution is I’M (i.e. “this writer’s”, i.e. a contraction of “this writer is”, or “I am” taken from the point of view of the setter) wrapped “about” BIDE (i.e. “to wait”), like so: I(BIDE)’M. Nicely done.

48. “Deeply” powerful male? (3,3)

Answer: SEA GOD (i.e. “powerful male”). The “deeply” bit qualifies this particular god to be one from the seas.

50. Imitating a sort of sound (5)

Answer: APING (i.e. “imitating”). When written as A PING the solution also satisfies “a sort of sound”.

52. Made a call, cutting row short (4)

Answer: RANG (i.e. “made a call”). Solution is RANGE (i.e. “row”) with the last letter removed (indicated by “cutting…short”).