Times Jumbo Cryptic Crossword 1519

A breezy run-through this week, which I don’t mind. A combination of being in tune with the setter and remembering solutions from previous puzzles made for an easier time, particularly with the more exotic solutions. Toughie next week, then?

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 picked your pockets, then you might find my Just For Fun page of use. There you’ll find links to solutions for the last 160+ of these things. Elsewhere, there are the usual ancient book reviews and a story of mine.

Thanks once more for the kind words and help. It’s much appreciated, and it’s always interesting to hear how other solvers fared. Till next time, stay safe out there, kids.

LP

Across clues

1. Teacher caught in riot turns nasty (10)

Answer: INSTRUCTOR (i.e. “teacher”). Solution is C (a recognised abbreviation of “caught” used in some ball games) placed “in” an anagram (indicated by “nasty”) of RIOT TURNS, like so: INSTRU(C)TOR.

6. Amicable police officers sat by spring (4-8)

Answer: WELL-DISPOSED (i.e. “amicable”). Solution is DIS (i.e. “police officers”, specifically Detective Inspectors) and POSED (i.e. “sat” or modelled for an artist) both placed “by” or after WELL (i.e. “spring”), like so: WELL-(DIS-POSED).

14. Accumulate too much weaponry, finding way to make deliveries (7)

Answer: OVERARM. Solution satisfies “accumulate too much weaponry” and “way to make [cricket] deliveries”.

15. About to mature, having lost weight, line up differently (7)

Answer: REGROUP (i.e. “line up differently”). Solution is RE (i.e. “about” – think email replies) followed by GROW UP (i.e. “to mature”) once the W has been removed (indicated by “having lost weight” – W being a recognised abbreviation of “weight”), like so: RE-GRO-UP.

16. Agonise about Romanian currency used for floral ornament (7)

Answer: FLEURET (i.e. “floral ornament”). Solution is FRET (i.e. “agonise”) wrapped “about” LEU (i.e. “Romanian currency”), like so: F(LEU)RET.

17. Tailless red fish (4)

Answer: RUDD (i.e. “fish”). Solution is RUDDY (i.e. “red”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “tailless”). Chalk one to my Bradford’s here.

18. Man on board starts to browse in store (6)

Answer: BISHOP (i.e. “man on [chess] board” – chess pieces are sometimes referred to as men). Solution is B and I (i.e. “starts to browse in”, i.e. the first letter of “browse” and “in”) followed by SHOP (i.e. “store”).

20. An indicator of what the office boss might do? (8)

Answer: SIGNPOST (i.e. “indicator”). When written as SIGN POST the solution also satisfies “what the office boss might do”.

24. Rehearse one’s sermon – and take heed of it! (8,4,3,8)

Answer: PRACTISE WHAT ONE PREACHES. Solution satisfies “rehearse one’s sermon” and “take heed of [one’s sermon]”. Did you spell this “PRACTICE” to begin with? Yup. Me too.

25. Bovine cross in short story seized by the Censor (7)

Answer: CATTALO (i.e. “bovine cross”, specifically that of a bison and a cow). Solution is TALE (i.e. “story”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “short”) and the remainder placed in or “seized by” CATO (i.e. “the Censor” – Cato the Censor was a Roman bigwig back in the day), like so: CAT(TAL)O. One gotten from the wordplay and a shufti in my Chambers.

26. Ravel’s slant on otolaryngology? (8)

Answer: ENTANGLE (i.e. “ravel”). When written as ENT ANGLE the solution also satisfies “slant on otolaryngology” – ENT being a recognised abbreviation of the Ear Nose and Throat wing of a hospital.

27. Leading church’s pompous formality (6)

Answer: STARCH (i.e. “pompous formality”). Solution is STAR (i.e. “leading”) followed by CH (a recognised abbreviation of “church”). One I remembered from a recent puzzle, which made this an easier get.

29. Swimmer, impudent and loud, rather, outside class (10,4)

Answer: FRESHWATER FISH (i.e. “swimmer”). Solution is FRESH (i.e. “impudent”), F (a recognised abbreviation of “loud”, specifically fortissimo in musical lingo) and ISH (i.e. “rather”) all placed “outside” of WATER (i.e. “class” – over to Chambers: “class, quality, excellence, esp. in the phrase of the first or purest water“. No, me neither), like so: FRESH-(WATER)-F-ISH.

31. Like some leaves aimed across pitch (8)

Answer: TRILOBED (i.e. “like some leaves” – a lobe can be a section of a leaf). Solution is TRIED (i.e. “aimed” for) wrapped around or placed “across” LOB (i.e. throw or “pitch”), like so: TRI(LOB)ED. Another one gotten from the wordplay.

34. Soft wool primarily crowning tree by lake (8)

Answer: CASHMERE (i.e. “soft wool”). Solution is C (i.e. “primarily crowning”, i.e. the first letter of “crowning”) followed by ASH (i.e. “tree”) and MERE (i.e. a “lake”).

36. Definitive quests originally explained in Latin translation (14)

Answer: QUINTESSENTIAL (i.e. “definitive”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “translation”) of QUESTS, E (i.e. “originally explained”, i.e. the first letter of “explained”) and IN LATIN.

39. One harbouring strong desire, do we hear, for reflected light? (6)

Answer: LUSTRE (i.e. “reflected light”). “Do we hear” indicates homophone. Solution is a homophone of LUSTER (i.e. “one harbouring strong desire”).

41. Old politician turning our trite operatic texts (8)

Answer: LIBRETTI (i.e. “operatic texts”). Solution is LIB (i.e. “old politician”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “Liberal” – the Liberal Party split in 1988) followed by an anagram (indicated by “turning”) of TRITE, like so: LIB-RETTI.

43. Attempt one’s made at first to embrace old political doctrine (7)

Answer: TORYISM (i.e. “political doctrine”). Solution is TRY (i.e. “attempt”), I’S (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one’s”) and M (i.e. “made at first”, i.e. the first letter of “made”) all wrapped around or “embracing” O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”), like so: T(O)RY-I’S-M.

46. Stories involving MI in the dark periods? (3,8,3,3,6)

Answer: THE THOUSAND AND ONE NIGHTS (i.e. “stories” by Scheherazade). Clue plays on MI being Roman numerals for a THOUSAND AND ONE, and “dark periods” being NIGHTS. You get the idea.

47. Characteristic of one’s belongings (8)

Answer: PROPERTY. Solution satisfies “characteristic” and “one’s belongings”.

48. Poetic work principally sought electronically? (6)

Answer: SONNET (i.e. “poetic work”). Solution is S (i.e. “principally sought”, i.e. the first letter of “sought”) followed by ON NET (i.e. “electronically” – net being taken as an informal abbreviation of the internet).

49. Objection by English in part of Scotland (4)

Answer: BUTE (i.e. an island or “part of Scotland”). Solution is BUT (i.e. “objection”) followed by E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”).

53. Parts of intestines a couple study first of all (7)

Answer: DUODENA (i.e. “parts of intestines”). Solution is DUO (i.e. “a couple”) followed by DEN (i.e. “study” room) and A (i.e. “first [letter] of all”).

54. High-flyer from Kentucky by lake in Channel Island (7)

Answer: SKYLARK (i.e. “high-flyer”). Solution is KY (US state abbreviation of “Kentucky”) and L (a recognised abbreviation of “lake”) both placed “in” SARK (i.e. a “Channel Island”), like so: S(KY-L)ARK.

56. Sound attempt by military engineers to create ancient warship (7)

Answer: TRIREME (i.e. “ancient warship”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “sound”) of TRY (i.e. “attempt”) followed by REME (i.e. “military engineers”, specifically the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers), like so: TRI-REME. Another remembered from a previous puzzle.

57. Trader in Caerphilly whose wares may be displayed on board (12)

Answer: CHEESEMONGER (i.e. “trader in Caerphilly”, a variety of cheese). Clue plays on how a cheesemonger’s goods can be served on a cheeseboard.

58. Person serving drinks in south-west Asian country (10)

Answer: SALESWOMAN (i.e. “person serving”). Solution is ALES (i.e. “drinks”) placed “in” SW (a recognised abbreviation of “south-west”) and OMAN (i.e. “Asian country”), like so: S(ALES)W-OMAN.

Down clues

1. One thus merged with Capricorn, perhaps, having the same properties (9)

Answer: ISOTROPIC (i.e. “having the same properties”). Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) followed by SO (i.e. “thus”) and TROPIC (i.e. “Capricorn, perhaps” – other Tropics are available).

2. Way top journalist goes around a fortress, displaying constancy (13)

Answer: STEADFASTNESS (i.e. “constancy”). Solution is ST (i.e. “way”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of a “street”) followed by ED (i.e. “top journalist”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of an “editor”) once wrapped or “going around” A. These are then followed by FASTNESS (i.e. a stronghold or “fortress”), like so: ST-E(A)D-FASTNESS.

3. Bring up? It may be brought up by stragglers (4)

Answer: REAR. Solution satisfies “bring up” and “it may be brought up by stragglers”, i.e. the phrase “bringing up the rear”.

4. Doorman’s company getting Hebridean beauty in trouble (14)

Answer: COMMISSIONAIRE (i.e. “doorman”). Solution is CO (a recognised abbreviation of “company”) followed by MISS IONA (i.e. “Hebridean beauty” – a play on how Miss (insert place name here) is a beauty contest) once placed “in” MIRE (i.e. “trouble”), like so: CO-M(MISS-IONA)IRE.

5. Blade decapitating male porker, perhaps (3)

Answer: OAR (i.e. “blade”). Solution is BOAR (i.e. “male porker”) once its first letter has been removed (indicated by “decapitating”).

7. Finally stage play about small island (4)

Answer: EYOT (i.e. “small island”). Solution is E (i.e. “finally stage”, i.e. the last letter of “stage”) followed by TOY (i.e. “play”) once reversed (indicated by “about”), like so: E-YOT.

8. Idly sloped off with a crooked gait? (10)

Answer: LOPSIDEDLY (i.e. “with a crooked gait”). “Off” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of IDLY SLOPED.

9. Foot soldiers’ attempt to support trendy supporter (8)

Answer: INFANTRY (i.e. “foot soldiers”). Solution is TRY (i.e. “attempt”) placed after or “supporting” (this being a down clue) IN (i.e. “trendy”) and FAN (i.e. “supporter”), like so: (IN-FAN)-TRY.

10. Ancient flying reptile portly cadet re-created (11)

Answer: PTERODACTYL (i.e. “ancient flying reptile”). “Re-created” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of PORTLY CADET.

11. The wounded can be carried on one? That’s a lie (9)

Answer: STRETCHER. Solution satisfies “the wounded can be carried on one”, and “that’s a lie”, informally at least.

12. Fruit taken in field at Edinburgh (4)

Answer: DATE (i.e. “fruit”). “Taken in” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: FIEL(D AT E)DINBURGH.

13. Aubergine, say, at entrance to glue factory (8)

Answer: EGGPLANT (i.e. “aubergine”). Solution is EG (i.e. “say” i.e. for example) followed by G (i.e. “entrance to glue”, i.e. the first letter of “glue”) and PLANT (i.e. “factory”).

19. Peddle fish, so to speak, being keen-sighted (4-4)

Answer: HAWK-EYED (i.e. “keen-sighted”). Solution is HAWK (i.e. “peddle”) followed by a homophone (indicated by “so to speak”) of IDE (i.e. a variety of “fish”).

21. Hot pies served up in Scottish mountain valley (6)

Answer: STRATH (i.e. “Scottish mountain valley”). Solution is H (a recognised abbreviation of “hot”) followed by TARTS (i.e. “pies”) all reversed (indicated by “served up” – this being a down clue), like so: STRAT-H. Another I got from the wordplay.

22. Departing lad’s suspect behaviour (6-2)

Answer: GOINGS-ON (i.e. “suspect behaviour”). Solution is GOING (i.e. “departing”) followed by SON (i.e. “lad”).

23. Lilaceous plant Derek located south of snake house (8)

Answer: ASPHODEL (i.e. “lilaceous plant”). Solution is DEL (shortened form of “Derek”) placed after or “south of” – this being a down clue – ASP (i.e. “snake”) and HO (a recognised abbreviation of “house”), like so: (ASP-HO)-DEL. Yet another I got from the wordplay.

28. Tackle problem boldly – and get stung? (5,3,6)

Answer: GRASP THE NETTLE (i.e. “tackle problem boldly”). The remainder of the clue plays on how nettles sting.

29. Amenity sport administrators regularly claim in metropolis (8)

Answer: FACILITY (i.e. “amenity”). Solution is FA (i.e. “sport administrators”, specifically the Football Association) followed by LI (i.e. “regularly claim”, i.e. every other letter of CLAIM) once placed “in” CITY (i.e. “metropolis”), like so: FA-CI(LI)TY.

30. Salt only initially delivered in tube (8)

Answer: FLUORIDE (i.e. “salt”). Solution is O (i.e. “only initially”, i.e. the first letter of “only”) and RID (i.e. “delivered”) both placed “in” FLUE (i.e. “tube”), like so: FLU(O-RID)E.

32. Umber suits him, surprisingly, in this exhibition building (7,6)

Answer: BRITISH MUSEUM (i.e. “exhibition building”). “Surprisingly” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of UMBER SUITS HIM.

33. Small bloke – large bottle! (8)

Answer: DEMIJOHN (i.e. “large bottle”). Solution is DEMI (i.e. “small” – the prefix demi- means “half-sized”) followed by JOHN (i.e. a “bloke’s” name).

35. Noblewoman’s first day of month on eastern ship (11)

Answer: MARCHIONESS (i.e. “noblewoman”). Solution is MARCH I (i.e. “first day of month” – I being the Roman numeral for 1) followed by ON, then E (a recognised abbreviation of “eastern”) and SS (i.e. “ship”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of a steamship).

37. Scandinavian police department chap set up (6)

Answer: NORDIC (i.e. “Scandinavian”). Solution is CID (i.e. “police department”, specifically the Criminal Investigation Department) followed by RON (i.e. “chap”, basically another bloke’s name). The whole is then reversed (indicated by “set up” – this being a down clue), like so: NOR-DIC.

38. Born craftsman receives trivial sum, supporting two sides (10)

Answer: BIPARTISAN (i.e. “supporting two sides”). Solution is B (a recognised abbreviation of “born”) and ARTISAN (i.e. “craftsman”) wrapped around or “receiving” IP (i.e. “trivial sum”, i.e. 1 pence – P being a recognised abbreviation of “pence”), like so: B-(IP)-ARTISAN.

40. Eg Lincoln’s place, where top cheese is distributed (9)

Answer: SHEEPCOTE (i.e. “eg Lincoln’s place” – Lincoln being a variety of sheep). “Is distributed” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of TOP CHEESE. The wordplay was fairly obvious, but took some brute forcing of my Chambers to get me over the line.

42. African’s sleeveless garment shortened by Welsh girl (8)

Answer: TUNISIAN (i.e. “African”). Solution is TUNIC (i.e. “sleeveless garment”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “shortened”) and the remainder followed by SIAN (i.e. a “Welsh girl’s” name), like so: TUNI-SIAN.

44. Minute new maid seen to behave badly (9)

Answer: MISDEMEAN (i.e. “to behave badly”). Solution is M (a recognised abbreviation of a “minute”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “new”) of MAID SEEN, like so: M-ISDEMEAN.

45. Half-hearted biblical physician married after conflict (8)

Answer: LUKEWARM (i.e. “half-hearted”). Solution is LUKE (i.e. “biblical physician”) followed by M (a recognised abbreviation of “married”) once placed “after” WAR (i.e. “conflict”), like so: LUKE-(WAR)-M.

50. Like some poems one delivered, inspiring Chinese leaders (4)

Answer: ODIC (i.e. “like some poems”). “Leaders” indicates the solution is derived from the first letters of One Delivered Inspiring Chinese.

51. Farmer finally invested in extra accommodation for cattle (4)

Answer: BYRE (i.e. “accommodation for cattle”). Solution is R (i.e. “farmer finally”, i.e. the last letter of “farmer”) placed or “invested in” BYE (i.e. an “extra” run in cricket), like so: BY(R)E.

52. Struggle with general survey (4)

Answer: VIEW (i.e. “general survey”). Solution is VIE (i.e. “struggle”) followed by W (a recognised abbreviation of “with”).

55. Parrot identified by poet, not Eliot initially (3)

Answer: KEA (i.e. a kind of “parrot”). Solution is KEATS (i.e. “poet”) with the TS removed (indicated by “not Eliot initially”, specifically the poet TS Eliot). Made. To. Fit.