Times Jumbo Cryptic Crossword 1432

A pretty good puzzle this week, I thought, despite a red-card offence committed by the setter. 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 before we begin, as ever. My Just For Fun page has links to solutions for the last eighty-odd Times Jumbo Cryptic puzzles, which you might find useful. I’ve also got some other stuff knocking about the place in the shape of a bunch of book reviews and the odd story. Once I’ve properly broken this shit run of 16-hour workdays, I hope to get back to some reading again!

Anyway, that’s enough of my problems. I hope you are all trucking on as well as you can out there. Till next time, stay safe. I’m off to scoff a stinking-hot Bolognese for supper.

LP

Across clues

1. Opportunity to alter putting clubs for golf (6)

Answer: CHANCE (i.e. “opportunity”). Solution is CHANGE (i.e. “to alter”) with the G (“golf” in the phonetic alphabet) replaced with C (a recognised abbreviation of “clubs” in card games), like so: CHAN(G)E => CHAN(C)E.

4. Shorten and reduce, holding one part of speech back (10)

Answer: ABBREVIATE (i.e. “shorten”). Solution is ABATE (i.e. “reduce”) wrapped around or “holding” I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) and VERB (i.e. “part of speech”) once they have both been reversed (indicated by “back”), like so: AB(BREV-I)ATE.

10. Pressure to mount gay festival? (5)

Answer: PRIDE (i.e. “gay festival”). Solution is P (a recognised abbreviation of “pressure”) followed by RIDE (i.e. “to mount”).

14. Unfashionable clothing worn by queen – coat, perhaps (9)

Answer: OUTERWEAR (i.e. “coat, perhaps”). Solution is OUT (i.e. “unfashionable”) and WEAR (i.e. “clothing”) wrapped around or “worn by” ER (i.e. “queen”, specifically Elizabeth Regina), like so: OUT-(ER)-WEAR.

15. What could make teen go wild with Gran, pa and I? (10,3)

Answer: GENERATION GAP. Solution is an anagram (indicated by “wild”) of TEEN GO, GRAN, PA and I. The clue riffs on the differences of opinion and ideals between each generation, the so-called generation gap. Nicely played.

16. Division of FBI agents in position (7)

Answer: SEGMENT (i.e. “division”). Solution is G-MEN (i.e. “FBI agents”) placed “in” SET (i.e. “position”), like so: SE(G-MEN)T.

17. Dithering about nothing, is turning and twisting (7)

Answer: TORSION (i.e. “twisting”). Solution is TORN (i.e. “dithering”) placed around O (i.e. “nothing”) and IS once they’ve both been reversed (indicated by “turning”), like so: TOR(SI-O)N.

18. Oil many misused in maintenance (7)

Answer: ALIMONY (i.e. “maintenance”). “Misused” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of OIL MANY.

19. Note father drive round isle in Lesbos to shock society? (6,3,9)

Answer: EPATER LES BOURGEOIS – over to my Oxford for this one: “…shock people who have attitudes or views perceived and conventional or complacent”, i.e. “to shock society”. Solution is E (i.e. “[musical] note”) followed by PATER (i.e. “father”) – URGE (i.e. “drive”), O (i.e. “round”) and I (a recognised abbreviation of “isle”) are then placed in LESBOS, like so: E-PATER-LESBO(URGE-O-I)S. Flippin’ eck!

21. Metal necklace, not entirely light (4)

Answer: TORC (i.e. “metal necklace”). Solution is TORCH (i.e. “light”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “not entirely”).

24. Chord one’s found in jazz? (5)

Answer: THIRD (i.e. “chord”). The “one’s found in jazz” seems to relate to jazz chords, but I’m far from the expert on music needed to expand further on this one. Seriously, I took a look and I may as well have been reading a different language.
[EDIT: I’m changing the answer for this to TRIAD following Andrew’s kind input in the comments. A TRIAD is a “chord” of three notes; TRAD is a form of “jazz”, put “[Roman numeral] one” into TRAD, like so: TR(I)AD. See, I told you I was no expert! Thanks, Andrew! – LP]

26. Bother to supply water – that takes time where there’s gallons (8)

Answer: IRRITATE (i.e. “bother”). Solution is IRRIGATE (i.e. “to supply water”) with the T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”) being replaced by G (a recognised abbreviation of “gallons”), like so: IRRI(G)ATE => IRRI(T)ATE.

27. Dangerous fairy, mostly very bad (8)

Answer: PERILOUS (i.e. “dangerous”). Solution is PERI (i.e. “fairy” from Persian mythology) followed by LOUSY (i.e. “very bad”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “mostly”), like so: PERI-LOUS.

29. Press Association’s to act as informant about some current growth in South America (6,5)

Answer: PAMPAS GRASS (i.e. “growth in South America”). Solution is PA’S (a recognised abbreviation of “Press Association”, along with ‘s – a contraction of “is”) and GRASS (i.e. “to act as informant”) wrapped “about” AMP (i.e. “some current”, i.e. a recognised abbreviation of ampere) like so: P(AMP)A’S-GRASS.

30. Like financial modelling worked out core income with time (11)

Answer: ECONOMETRIC (i.e. “like financial modelling”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “worked out”) of CORE INCOME and T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”).

32. All too graphic, young mink caught what’s in chicken’s pen? (7,4)

Answer: KITCHEN SINK (i.e. “all too graphic” – referring to films etc that focus on banal or sordid real-life situations). Solution is KIT (i.e. “young mink”) and C (a recognised abbreviation of “caught” used in a number of ball games) followed by HEN’S INK (i.e. “what’s in chicken’s pen”).

35. See badly disliked people returning after revolutionary party fare (6,5)

Answer: CHEESE STRAW (i.e. “party fare”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “badly”) of SEE, then WARTS (i.e. slang for “disliked people”) reversed (indicated by “returning”). These are then both placed “after” CHE Guevara (i.e. “revolutionary”), like so: CHE-ESE-STRAW.

37. How to keep wild goose in pen? (8)

Answer: HOOSEGOW (i.e. “pen”, i.e. a US slang term for a prison). Solution is HOW wrapped around or “keeping” an anagram (indicated by “wild”) of GOOSE, like so: H(OOSEG)OW.

39. English National Opera gets by over interval (8)

Answer: SEMITONE (i.e. a kind of “interval” in musical lingo). Solution is ENO (i.e. “English National Opera”) and TIMES (i.e. “[multiply] by”) both reversed (indicated by “over”), like so: SEMIT-ONE.

40. Monster public protest before noon (5)

Answer: DEMON (i.e. “monster”). Solution is DEMO (i.e. “public protest”) followed by N (a recognised abbreviation of “noon”).

43. Seaweed backed as vital component of diet (4)

Answer: IRON (i.e. “vital component of diet”). Solution is RONI (i.e. “seaweed” – a new one on me, but it’s there in the dictionary) reversed (indicated by “backed”).

44. Dull prior to time guarding top commander in restricted zone (10,8)

Answer: PEDESTRIAN PRECINCT (i.e. “restricted zone” – basically a pedestrianised street). Solution is PEDESTRIAN (i.e. “dull”) followed by PRE (i.e. “prior to”) and T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”) wrapped around or “guarding”) C-IN-C (i.e. “top commander”, i.e. a recognised abbreviation of “commander-in-chief”), like so: PEDESTRIAN-PRE-(C-IN-C)-T.

47. Tall sedge of Pennsylvania pear genus (7)

Answer: PAPYRUS (i.e. “tall sedge”). Solution is PA (a recognised abbreviation of the US state “Pennsylvania”) followed by PYRUS (i.e. “pear genus” – another new one on me – quite the botanical adventure we’re on this week!).

48. Order of butterfly, new discovery initially (7)

Answer: COMMAND (i.e. “order”). Solution is COMMA (i.e. a kind of “butterfly”) followed by N and D (i.e. “new discovery initially”, i.e. the first letters of “new” and “discovery”).

50. Hardy councillor eclipses minor (7)

Answer: COLLIER (i.e. “minor” – no, setter, you’re not getting away with this one. “Minor” is not the same as a “miner”, not without some kind of homophone indicator at least. And don’t try to blame this on a typo either, as the E key is a fair old distance away from the O. To the setter sinbin with you…) Solution is OLLIE (i.e. “Hardy”, specifically Oliver Hardy, one half of Laurel & Hardy) placed in or “eclipsed by” CR (a recognised abbreviation of “councillor”), like so: C(OLLIE)R.

51. Too passionate in general, mostly about European proposal (13)

Answer: OVEREMOTIONAL (i.e. “too passionate”). Solution is OVERALL (i.e. “in general”) with the last letter removed (indicated by “mostly”) and the remainder wrapped “about” E (a recognised abbreviation of “European”) and MOTION (i.e. “proposal”), like so: OVER(E-MOTION)AL.

52. Small step initially taken in moon EVA which holds us all (5-4)

Answer: SPACE-TIME (i.e. “which holds us all”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “small”) followed by PACE (i.e. “step”), then T, I, M and E (i.e. “initially taken in moon EVA”, i.e. the initial letters of Taken In Moon EVA).

53. Found in tel, Egyptian poem (5)

Answer: ELEGY (i.e. “poem”). “Found in” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: T(EL EGY)PTIAN. What a weird clue!

54. Treeware material perhaps re-distributed as download (10)

Answer: SANDALWOOD (i.e. “treeware material perhaps” – a riddly reference to how sandals are “worn”). “Re-distributed” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of AS DOWNLOAD.

55. Saint accommodated in particular part of church (6)

Answer: VESTRY (i.e. “part of church”). Solution is ST (a recognised abbreviation of “saint”) placed or “accommodated in” VERY (i.e. “particular”), like so: VE(ST)RY.

Down clues

1. Carbon oars fit within another part of ship (5,4)

Answer: CROWS NEST (i.e. “part of ship”). Solution is C (chemical symbol of “carbon”) followed by ROWS (i.e. “oars”) and NEST (i.e. “fit within another”).

2. Vision problem: a mist developed after sparkling wine, GM (11)

Answer: ASTIGMATISM (i.e. “vision problem”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “developed”) of A MIST which is placed “after” ASTI (i.e. “sparkling wine”) and GM, like so: ASTI-GM-ATISM.

3. Sheep carried in basic train (7)

Answer: CORTEGE (i.e. “train”). Solution is TEG (i.e. “sheep” – one I remembered from a previous puzzle) placed or “carried in” CORE (i.e. “basic”), like so: COR(TEG)E.

5. Chap holding eastern headgear (5)

Answer: BERET (i.e. “headgear”). Solution is BERT or BRET (i.e. “chap”, whichever takes your fancy) wrapped around or “holding” E (a recognised abbreviation of “eastern”), like so: B(E)RET; BER(E)T.

6. I got mirrors out, but there’s no signs of breathing here (5,6)

Answer: RIGOR MORTIS (i.e. “there’s no signs of breathing here”). “Out” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of I GOT MIRRORS.

7. Dressing in very fashionable plumed headdress (11)

Answer: VINAIGRETTE (i.e. “dressing”). Solution is V (a recognised abbreviation of “very”) followed by IN (i.e. “fashionable”) and AIGRETTE (i.e. “plumed headdress” – not something in my wardrobe that I can lay my hands on at the moment, I must confess).

8. Fixer’s rage after arrival (8)

Answer: ARRANGER (i.e. “fixer”). Solution is ANGER (i.e. “rage”) placed “after” ARR (a recognised abbreviation of “arrival”), like so: ARR-ANGER.

9. Another go locking up tons to send home (9)

Answer: EXTRADITE (i.e. “to send home”). Solution is EXTRA (i.e. “another”) and DIE (i.e. “go”) wrapped around or “locking up” T (a recognised abbreviation of “tons”), like so: EXTRA-DI(T)E.

10. Perceived horror occasioned by irrational aversion, primarily? (6)

Answer: PHOBIA, which satisfies pretty much the whole clue. “Primarily” indicates the solution is derived by the initial letters of Perceived Horror Occasioned By Irrational Aversion. Brilliant clue! Okay, setter, you can come out of the sinbin now.

11. Surrounded by sentiment: dead bird, cut short, our much loved (2,4,5)

Answer: IN GOOD ODOUR (i.e. “much loved” – a new phrase on me. I love it! Though, I must confess, after two weeks of being locked down, I’m not bodily in good odour…) Solution is IN (i.e. “surrounded by”) followed by GOO (i.e. “sentiment”), then DODO (i.e. “dead bird”) once the last letter has been removed (indicated by “cut short”), and finally followed by OUR, like so: IN-GOO-DOD-OUR.

12. English politician, vacant Tory with nothing inside (5)

Answer: EMPTY (i.e. “with nothing inside”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”) followed by MP (i.e. “politician”, specifically a Member of Parliament) and TY (i.e. “vacant Tory”, i.e. the word “Tory” with all the middle letters removed).

13. Fire tender serving vital fluid (6,6)

Answer: VESTAL VIRGIN (i.e. “fire tender” – I guess we’re equating “fire” to lust here, but all my interpretations of “fire tender” lead me to someone who takes care of one’s lust, not a woman of spotless chastity! But then my grotty mind does often languish in the gutter…) “Fluid” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of SERVING VITAL.
[EDIT: Andrew also helpfully fleshes this one out: “[the] vestal virgins’ job was to maintain the sacred fire in the temples so they were fire tenders”. Thanks again, Andrew! – LP]

20. Composer and writer mostly keeping a home (8)

Answer: Alexander SCRIABIN (i.e. “composer”). Solution is SCRIBE (i.e. “writer”) with the last letter removed (indicated by “mostly”) and the remainder wrapped around or “keeping” A. This is then followed by IN (i.e. “[at] home”), like so: SCRI(A)B-IN. Chalk one to my Bradford’s here as I was in no mood to spend any time farting about deciphering yet another sodding composer.

22. Good earner’s to brag after market slump – that’s never right (4,3)

Answer: CASH COW (i.e. “good earner”). Solution is CROW (i.e. “to brag”) placed “after” CRASH (i.e. “market slump”), and then both Rs removed (indicated by “that’s never right” – R being a recognised abbreviation of “right”), like so: C(R)ASH C(R)OW => CASH COW.

23. Australian crook perished crossing oceans (8)

Answer: DISEASED (i.e. “Australian crook”, as in “G’day, Bruce. I’m feeling proper crook with this drongo plague. Throw another shrimp on the barbie, will you, sport…” Something like that, anyway. I can’t do the accent.) Solution is DIED (i.e. “deceased”) wrapped around or “crossing” SEAS (i.e. “oceans”), like so: DI(SEAS)ED.

25. Curtains on floor – it’s impossible to get one up from here (8)

Answer: DEATHBED (i.e. “it’s impossible to get one up from here” – not the cheeriest of solutions, given present circumstances). Solution is DEATH (i.e. “curtains”, as in “Haha! It’s curtains for you, Hippopotaman!” – a quote, I believe, from the last Marvel Avengers movie) followed by BED (i.e. “floor”).

28. Blackhead – with new sense of disappointment (8)

Answer: COMEDOWN (i.e. “sense of disappointment”). Solution is COMEDO (i.e. “blackhead” – chalk another one to my Bradford’s here) followed by W and N (recognised abbreviations of “with” and “new” respectively).

29. Father has carp stuffed with cold and hot cabbage (3,4)

Answer: PAK CHOI (i.e. “cabbage”). Solution is PA (i.e. “father”) followed by KOI (i.e. “carp”) wrapped around or “stuffed” with C and H (recognised abbreviations of “cold” and “hot” respectively), like so: PA-K(C-H)OI.

31. Midwife, 42, confused with bits? (12)

Answer: OBSTETRICIAN (i.e. “midwife”). The solution to 42d is REACTION. The solution is an anagram (indicated by “confused”) of REACTION and BITS.

33. Low air of old harbour set up on field (11)

Answer: TROPOSPHERE (i.e. “low air”). Solution is O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”) and PORT (i.e. “harbour”) both reversed (indicated by “set up” – this being a down clue) and followed by SPHERE (i.e. “field”, both terms for an area of something), like so: TROP-O-SPHERE.

34. Detained Arab outside Lima with a thievish nature (11)

Answer: KLEPTOMANIA (i.e. “with a thievish nature”). Solution is KEPT (i.e. “detained”) and OMANI (i.e. “Arab”, specifically one from Oman) wrapped around or placed “outside” of L (“Lima” in the phonetic alphabet), and then followed by A, like so: K(L)EPT-OMANI-A.

35. Awl, perhaps, that’s used in constructing case? (8,3)

Answer: CRIMINAL LAW (i.e. “that’s used in constructing case”). “Awl, perhaps” indicates the solution is itself a cryptic clue, specifically that “awl” is an anagram (indicated by “CRIMINAL”) of “LAW”.

36. Human habitual response is to interrupt rubbish Chopin? (11)

Answer: ROMANTICIST (i.e. “Chopin” – crikey, not much to go on here, was there?!) Solution is MAN (i.e. “human”), TIC (i.e. “habitual response”) and IS all placed in or “interrupting” ROT (i.e. “rubbish”), like so: RO(MAN-TIC-IS)T.

38. What can conceal feet Horace and Ovid initially used in old poetry (9)

Answer: OVERSHOES (i.e. “what can conceal feet”). Solution is H and O (i.e. “Horace and Ovid initially”, i.e. the first letters of “Horace” and “Ovid”) placed “in” O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”) and VERSES (i.e. “poetry”), like so: O-VERS(H-O)ES.

41. Bad reputation’s not unknown round most of Conservatives (9)

Answer: NOTORIETY (i.e. “bad reputation”). Solution is NOT and Y (i.e. “unknown” – setters love referring to X, Y or Z in their solutions as “unknowns”) wrapped “around” TORIES (i.e. “Conservatives”) once the last letter has been removed (indicated by “most of”), like so: NO(TORIE)T-Y.

42. Response of engineers leading to conflict (8)

Answer: REACTION (i.e. “response”). Solution is RE (i.e. “engineers”, specifically the Royal Engineers of the British Army) followed by ACTION (i.e. “conflict”).

45. Sheepdog, for example for one private school? (7)

Answer: COLLEGE (i.e. “private school”). Solution is COLLIE (i.e. “sheepdog”) with the I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) replaced by EG (i.e. “for example”), like so: COLL(I)E => COLL(EG)E.

46. Wanting a lot of good grass before day’s ending (6)

Answer: GREEDY (i.e. “wanting a lot”). Solution is G (a recognised abbreviation of “good”) followed by REED (i.e. “grass”) and Y (i.e. “day’s ending”, i.e. the last letter of “day”). A clue that scans rather well. Keep rolling, stoners.

47. Some writing quietly got more intense? (5)

Answer: PROSE (i.e. “some writing”). Solution is P (a recognised abbreviation of “piano”, or “quietly” in musical lingo) followed by ROSE (i.e. “got more intense”).

49. Club is beginning to close, disrupting party (5)

Answer: DISCO (i.e. “club”). Solution is IS and C (i.e. “beginning to close”, i.e. the first letter of “close”) place in or “disrupting” DO (i.e. “party”), like so: D(IS-C)O.