Times Jumbo Cryptic Crossword 1454

Slightly tougher this week, but another good one on the whole, with plenty of satisfying clues (albeit some iffy ones too). But wait… is that a Bank Holiday I see on the horizon? Stinker ahoy, anyone?

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 previous Times Jumbo Cryptic has done for you in recent weeks, then you might find succour in my Just For Fun page, where I have links to solutions for the last hundred or so of these things. I also have some book reviews and a story of mine I did a while ago.

As ever, till next time, keep safe, mask up and continue to give thanks to NHS and key workers everywhere as we inch further out of lockdown.

LP

Across clues

1. French scientist rotating resin and juice (6)

Answer: Blaise PASCAL (i.e. “French scientist”). Solution is LAC (i.e. a dark-red “resin”) and SAP (i.e. “juice”) both reversed (indicated by “rotating”), like so: PAS-CAL.

5. Diver daily getting among group of whales? (7)

Answer: POCHARD (i.e. “diver” – specifically a red-headed diving duck). Solution is CHAR (i.e. “daily” – both taken to mean a cleaner) placed “among” POD (i.e. “group of whales”), like so: PO(CHAR)D. Chalk one to my Bradfords here, as I couldn’t look past daily newspapers.

9. Discard black metal boxes thus (8)

Answer: JETTISON (i.e. “discard”). Solution is JET (i.e. “black”) followed by TIN (i.e. “metal”) once it has been wrapped around or “boxing” SO (i.e. “thus”), like so: JET-TI(SO)N.

13. Where vote-counting snore is so trashy? (10,4,7)

Answer: EUROVISION SONG CONTEST. Solution is an anagram (indicated by “trashy”) of VOTE-COUNTING SNORE IS SO. Clue riffs on how countries vote for other nations’ songs in the Eurovision Song Contest. Judging from the rest of the clue I guess the setter isn’t a fan!

14. One welcomed by everyone in staff – masses (8)

Answer: CANAILLE (i.e. the “masses”, not entirely kindly). Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) placed in or “welcomed by” ALL (i.e. “everyone”), which is itself placed “in” CANE (i.e. “staff”), like so: CAN(A(I)LL)E. Tough bugger, this one.

15. Part of arms firm seen from behind by drone (7)

Answer: HUMERUS (i.e. “parts of arms”, specifically a long bone of the upper arm). Solution is SURE (i.e. confident or “firm”) reversed (indicated by “seen from behind”) and then placed after or “by” HUM (i.e. “drone”), like so: HUM-ERUS.

16. Doctors attending function – all-star affair? (6)

Answer: COSMOS (i.e. “all-star affair”). Solution is MOS (i.e. “doctors”, specifically Medical Officers) placed after or “attending” COS (i.e. “function”, specifically one of the six trigonometric functions – cosine), like so: COS-MOS.

17. Crawling along, boundaries only required by cricket side (2,3,5)

Answer: ON ALL FOURS. Solution satisfies “crawling along” and “boundaries only required by cricket side” – a struck ball reaching the boundary scores four runs.

20. Record given free airtime when entertaining new single out (12)

Answer: DISCRIMINATE (i.e. “single out”). Solution is DISC (i.e. “record” – ask your parents, streamers) followed by an anagram (indicated by “free”) of AIRTIME once it has been wrapped around or “entertaining” N (a recognised abbreviation of “new”), like so: DISC-RIMI(N)ATE. Nicely done.

23. Bird caught in bigger net (4)

Answer: ERNE (i.e. “bird”, specifically a sea eagle). “Caught in” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: BIGG(ER NE)T.

24. In odd parts of the prairie, cattle finding Japanese food (8)

Answer: TERIYAKI (i.e. “Japanese food”). Solution is YAK (i.e. “cattle”) placed “in” TERII (i.e. “odd parts of the prairie”, i.e. every other letter of THE PRAIRIE.

26. Some glass bottles narrowly beat another instrument one blows across? (8)

Answer: PANPIPES (i.e. “instrument one blows across”). Solution is PANES (i.e. “some glass”) wrapped around or “bottling” PIP (i.e. “narrowly beat”), like so: PAN(PIP)ES.

29. Socialist possibly resigned, somehow not free to embrace Conservative (4-2-6)

Answer: LEFT-OF-CENTRE (i.e. “socialist possibly”). Solution is LEFT (i.e. “resigned”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “somehow”) of NOT FREE once it has been wrapped around or “embracing” C (a recognised abbreviation of “Conservative”), like so: LEFT-OF(C)ENTRE.

30. Reportedly escape arrest, ring harbouring a killer? (4,6)

Answer: FLEA COLLAR (i.e. “ring harbouring a killer” – yes, that includes Tiddles. Especially Tiddles. Jesus, the stuff Tiddles does… I mean, ‘sadistic’ doesn’t even cover half of it. Even the Cenobites are wary of Tiddles. The bottom of your garden is like a scene from Ed Gein’s shed and you don’t even realise it. Instead you just let Tiddles back into the house. You let Tiddles curl up on your chest as you lie on the sofa. Tiddles watches you watching TV, riding the gentle rise and fall of your chest. Tiddles purrs as you slowly fall asleep, wondering whether tonight should be the night.) Solution is a homophone (indicated by “reportedly”) of FLEE (i.e. “escape”) followed by COLLAR (i.e. to “arrest” someone).

Tiddles rocks, by the way.

32. Blast misses lifting equipment (10)

Answer: WINDLASSES (i.e. “lifting equipment”). Solution is WIND (i.e. “blast”) followed by LASSES (i.e. “misses”, taken as a plural of miss).

34. Single state prison hosted dances (12)

Answer: SPINSTERHOOD (i.e. “single state”). “Dances” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of PRISON HOSTED.

36. Popular Democrat in lead, dissent initially contained (8)

Answer: INCLUDED (i.e. “contained”). Solution is IN (i.e. “popular”) followed by D (a recognised abbreviation of “Democrat”) once it has been placed “in” CLUE (i.e. “lead”), then followed by D (i.e. “dissent initially”, i.e. the first letter of “dissent”), like so: IN-CLU(D)E-D.

38. A river running through foreign capital or British city (8)

Answer: ABERDEEN (i.e. “British city”). Solution is A followed by DEE (i.e. a “river” in Scotland, at the mouth of which Aberdeen is situated) once it has been placed in or “through” BERN (i.e. “foreign capital”, specifically the capital city of Switzerland), like so: A-BER(DEE)N.

39. Picture that’s a match! (4)

Answer: SNAP. Solution satisfies “picture” and “that’s a match”, referring to the card game, Snap.

41. Something on daddy’s face perhaps keeping Charlie and Romeo in stitches (7,5)

Answer: SHAVING CREAM (i.e. “something on daddy’s face perhaps”). Solution is HAVING (i.e. “keeping”), R and C (i.e. “Charlie and Romeo”, their respective letters in the phonetic alphabet) all placed “in” SEAM (i.e. “stitches”), like so: S(HAVING-C-R)EAM.

43. Observe God whose creation proves timely? (10)

Answer: WATCHMAKER (i.e. “whose creation proves timely”). Solution is WATCH (i.e. “observe”) followed by MAKER (i.e. “God”).

44. Red powder recalled around red cut (6)

Answer: CLARET (i.e. “red”). Solution is TALC (i.e. “powder”) reversed (indicated by “recalled”) and wrapped “around” RE (i.e. “red cut”, i.e. the word “red” with its last letter removed), like so: CLA(RE)T.

46. Last time some returning to tour Newfoundland on vacation (7)

Answer: ENDMOST (i.e. “last”). Solution is T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”) and SOME reversed (indicated by “returning”) and then wrapped around or “touring” ND (i.e. “Newfoundland on vacation”, i.e. the word “Newfoundland” with all its middle letters removed), like so: E(ND)MOS-T.

48. Reversible bar set off at the back (8)

Answer: DORSALLY (i.e. “at the back”, as in the dorsal fins of a fish). Solution is ROD (i.e. “bar”) “reversed” and followed by SALLY (i.e. “set off”, as in to sally forth), like so: DOR-SALLY.

50. Good Lord’s miracles are eternal! (7,4,5,5)

Answer: WONDERS WILL NEVER CEASE. Solution satisfies “Good Lord”, both taken as exclamations, and “miracles are eternal”. Nicely worked.

51. Cool head in distress claiming lost here without a compass? (4-4)

Answer: FREE-HAND (i.e. “without a compass” or any other kind of drawing aid – a bit hmm for me, but there it is). Solution is FAN (i.e. to “cool” oneself) and D (i.e. “head in distress”, i.e. the first letter of “distress”) all wrapped around or “claiming” an anagram (indicated by “lost”) of HERE, like so: F(REEH)AN-D.

52. Gem maiden pockets while taking ring (7)

Answer: GIRASOL (i.e. “gem”, specifically a type of opal). Solution is GIRL (i.e. “maiden”) wrapped around or “pocketing” AS (i.e. “while”) “while [also] taking” O (i.e. “ring”), like so: GIR(AS-O)L. A sneaky bit of recycling there. Can’t say I was too keen. Chalk one to my Bradfords for getting me over the line.

53. North Africans are in small boat (6)

Answer: TUAREG (i.e. “North Africans” who mostly inhabit the Sahara). Solution is ARE placed “in” TUG (i.e. “small boat”), like so: TU(ARE)G. One I knew, weirdly.

Down clues

2. Piece of cake labelled a Kipling creation (5)

Answer: AKELA (i.e. “[Rudyard] Kipling creation”, specifically one from The Jungle Book). “Piece of” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: C(AKE LA)BELLED.

3. Docking liner’s stern blocking canal, complaint follows (11)

Answer: CURTAILMENT (i.e. “docking”). Solution is R (i.e. “liner’s stern”, i.e. the last letter of “liner”) placed in or “blocking” CUT (i.e. “canal”) and then followed by AILMENT (i.e. “complaint”), like so: CU(R)T-AILMENT.

4. Record book upset on European relations? (4,4)

Answer: LOVE LIFE (i.e. “relations”). Solution is FILE (i.e. “record”) and VOL (i.e. “book”, short for volume) both reversed (indicated by “upset” – this being a down clue) and followed by E (a recognised abbreviation of “European”), like so: (LOV-ELIF)-E.

5. Stick English after History (5)

Answer: PASTE (i.e. “stick”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”) placed “after” PAST (i.e. “history”), like so: PAST-E.

6. He wears clown’s outfit (7)

Answer: CLOTHES (i.e. “outfit”). Solution is HE placed in or “wearing” CLOT’S (i.e. “clown’s”), like so: CLOT(HE)’S.

7. Have both Latin-American and Vietnamese – this alias? (7,4)

Answer: ASSUMED NAME (i.e. “alias”). Clue plays on how NAME appears in or has been ASSUMED by LatiN-AMErica and VietNAMEse. Like it.

8. Foot of salesman where it might be seen? Generous chap! (5)

Answer: DONOR (i.e. “generous chap”). Solution is N (i.e. “foot of salesman”, i.e. the last letter of “salesman”) placed in DOOR (i.e. “where [salesman’s foot] might be seen” – pushy sod), like so: DO(N)OR.

9. Cricket supporter Down Under? (9)

Answer: JOCKSTRAP, being a bit of kit that protects or “supports” a sportsman’s meat and two veg, which can be said to be “down under”. I’m not an ardent cricket fan, but I thought such things were called “boxes”. (Shrugs.)

10. Note a reviver? (5)

Answer: TONIC. Solution satisfies a musical “note” and “reviver”.

11. In tale that’s tragic, I head over the top – that’s unnecessary (11)

Answer: INESSENTIAL (i.e. “unnecessary”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “that’s tragic”) of IN TALE with I and NESS (i.e. “head”, as in the geographical feature) placed first or “over the top” – this being a down clue – like so: (I-NESS)-ENTIAL.

12. Settlement some way off in blooming job (7)

Answer: OUTPOST (i.e. “settlement some way off”). Solution is OUT (i.e. “blooming”) followed by POST (i.e. “job”).

18. What Amundsen was wearing on travels (9)

Answer: NORWEGIAN (i.e. “what Amundsen was”). “Travels” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of WEARING ON. Nicely done.

19. By implication, retain more pants (7)

Answer: USELESS (i.e. “pants” or rubbish). When written as USE LESS the solution also satisfies “by implication, retain more”.

21. First wild cherry, one put in to be cooked (4-5)

Answer: STIR-FRIED (i.e. “cooked”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “wild”) of FIRST followed by RED (i.e. “cherry”) once it has been wrapped around I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), like so: STIRF-R(I)ED.

22. Second burglar 7 down (8)

Answer: MONICKER (i.e. “7 down” – the answer for which being ASSUMED NAME). Solution is MO (i.e. “second”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “moment”) followed by NICKER (i.e. “burglar”).

25. Lacking the will, or much money, not starting car (9)

Answer: INTESTATE (i.e. “lacking the will”, as in dying without a will being put in place). Solution is MINT (i.e. “much money”) with the first letter removed (indicated by “not starting”) and followed by ESTATE (i.e. “car”), like so: INT-ESTATE.

27. Far from simple to explain (9)

Answer: ELABORATE. Solution satisfies “far from simple” and “to explain”. Simple, but nicely done.

28. Occasionally switch options? (3,3,2)

Answer: OFF AND ON. Solution satisfies “occasionally” and “switch options”. Again, simple but nicely worked.

31. Point about rising energy is most straightforward (7)

Answer: EASIEST (i.e. “most straightforward”). Solution is EAST (i.e. “point” on a compass) wrapped “about” E (a recognised abbreviation of “energy”) and IS both reversed (indicated by “rising” – this being a down clue), like so: EA(SI-E)ST.

33. Relief finding something vital under bottom of aggregate in skip (11)

Answer: DELIVERANCE (i.e. “relief”). Solution is LIVER (i.e. “something vital”, as in a vital organ) placed after or “under” – this being a down clue – E (i.e. “bottom of aggregate”, i.e. the last letter of “aggregate”) and the whole then placed “in” DANCE (i.e. “skip”), like so: D(E-LIVER)ANCE.

34. Itinerant squeezing me the wrong way, admitting a crush (11)

Answer: STEAMROLLER (i.e. “club”). Solution is STROLLER (i.e. “itinerant”) wrapped around or “squeezing” ME once it has been reversed (indicated by “the wrong way”) and itself wrapped around or “admitting” A, like so: ST(E(A)M)ROLLER.

35. Beginning in Hanoi, a chap in old Asian capital for so long (5,6)

Answer: HASTA MANANA (i.e. “so long” – literally “until tomorrow” in Spanish). Solution is H (i.e. “beginning in Hanoi”, i.e. the first letter of “Hanoi”) followed by A MAN (i.e. “a chap”) once it has been placed in ASTANA, the former name of Kazakhstan’s capital city (i.e. “old Asian capital”), like so: H-AST(A-MAN)ANA.

37. Dropped, having gone to hook bouncer finally (9)

Answer: DECREASED (i.e. “dropped”). Solution is DECEASED (i.e. “having gone”) wrapped around or “hooking” R (i.e. “bouncer finally”, i.e. the last letter of “bouncer”), like so: DEC(R)EASED.

40. Bob’s one for more efficient method (5,3)

Answer: SHORT CUT. Solution satisfies “bob’s one”, as in the hairstyle, and “more efficient method”.

42. Something cold about likely extremists, with Jihad (4,3)

Answer: HOLY WAR (i.e. “Jihad”). Solution is HOAR (i.e. “something cold”, i.e. a coating of frost) wrapped “about” LY (i.e. “likely extremists”, i.e. the first and last letters of “extremists”) and W (a recognised abbreviation of “with”), like so: HO(LY-W)AR. Nicely worked.

43. See end of advert plugging alcoholic drink on ship (7)

Answer: WITNESS (i.e. “see”). Solution is T (i.e. “end of advert”) placed in or “plugging” WINE (i.e. “alcoholic drink”) and followed by SS (i.e. “ship”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of a steamship), like so: WI(T)NE-SS.

45. Times covering that man, a Greek character (5)

Answer: THETA (i.e. “Greek character”, specifically the eighth letter of the Greek alphabet). Solution is T and T (i.e. “times”, i.e. recognised abbreviations of “time”) wrapped around or “covering” HE (i.e. “that man”) and followed by A, like so: T(HE)T-A.

47. Villain to throttle in execution (5)

Answer: DOING (i.e. “execution”). Solution is DOG (i.e. “villain”) wrapped around or “throttling” IN, like so: DO(IN)G.

48. Hang out first of washing in valley (5)

Answer: DWELL (i.e. to occupy or “hang out” somewhere). Solution is W (i.e. “first of washing”) placed “in” DELL (i.e. “valley”), like so: D(W)ELL.

49. Faithful story, genuine case (5)

Answer: LIEGE (i.e. “faithful”). Solution is LIE (i.e. “story”) followed by GE (i.e. “genuine case”, i.e. the first and last letters of “genuine”).