Times Jumbo Cryptic Crossword 1535

A busy time for Jumbos comes to a close with another relatively simple puzzle. Some nicely worked clues to enjoy, though, and a few new words and definitions to keep in mind for future.

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 used up the last of your toilet roll then you might find solace in my Just For Fun page, where you’ll find links to solutions to hundreds of them. Elsewhere there are the usual ancient book reviews and a story of mine.

Thanks again for the kind words and good wishes. All being well I’ll be lurgy-free by the next Jumbo. Till then, mask up, get jabbed and keep safe out there, kids.

LP

Across clues

1. Small home in the middle of Glamorgan (5)

Answer: MINOR (i.e. “small”). Solution is IN (i.e. at “home”) placed “in” MOR (i.e. “the middle [letters] of GlaMORgan”), like so: M(IN)OR.

4. I am leading queen into tea – an impossible dream (7)

Answer: CHIMERA (i.e. “an impossible dream”). Solution is I’M (a contraction of “I am”) and ER (i.e. “queen”, specifically Elizabeth Regina) both placed “into” CHA (i.e. “tea”), like so: CH(I’M-ER)A.

8. Cruel oppressor of soldiers trapped between hills (9)

Answer: TORMENTOR (i.e. “cruel oppressor”). Solution is MEN (i.e. “soldiers”) placed in or “trapped between” TOR and TOR (i.e. “hills”), like so: TOR-(MEN)-TOR.

13. Aware of arguments against Conservative debt records (9)

Answer: CONSCIOUS (i.e. “aware”). Solution is CONS (i.e. “arguments against”) followed by C (a recognised abbreviation of “Conservative”) and IOUS (i.e. “debt records”).

14. Go-cart happily crashed? Concerning how this looks (13)

Answer: TYPOGRAPHICAL (i.e. “concerning how this looks”, given the clue is made up of lettering). “Crashed” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of GO CART HAPPILY.

15. Ham left unused by function (7)

Answer: OVERACT (i.e. “ham” it up). Solution is OVER (i.e. “left unused”) followed by ACT (i.e. “function”).

16. What measures flow encountered in a lake mostly (7)

Answer: AMMETER (i.e. “what measures flow” of electricity). Solution is MET (i.e. “encountered”) placed “in” A and MERE (i.e. “lake”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “mostly”), like so: A-M(MET)ER.

17. Worked in steel able to be drawn into wire (7)

Answer: TENSILE (i.e. “able to be drawn into wire”). “Worked” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of IN STEEL.

18. Fruitful interaction smashing socialist frontiers (5-13)

Answer: CROSS-FERTILISATION (i.e. “fruitful interaction” – a play on this being sexy times for differing varieties of fruit). “Smashing” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of SOCIALIST FRONTIERS.

21. Accommodation in archaeological sites (4)

Answer: DIGS. Solution satisfies “accommodation” and “archaeological sites”.

23. Mine utterly, I admitted, is in a poor way (9)

Answer: PITIFULLY (i.e. “in a poor way”). Solution is PIT (i.e. “mine”) and FULLY (i.e. “utterly”) both wrapped around or “admitting” I, like so: PIT-(I)-FULLY.

25. The setter after knowledge – nothing for recipe for life, perhaps (6)

Answer: GENOME (i.e. “recipe for life, perhaps”). Solution is ME (i.e. “the setter”, from the point of view of the setter) placed “after” GEN (i.e. “knowledge”) and O (i.e. “nothing”), like so: (GEN-O)-ME.

26. Chaperone expected girl back (6)

Answer: DUENNA (i.e. Spanish “chaperone”). Solution is DUE (i.e. “expected”) followed by ANN (i.e. a “girl’s” name) once reversed (indicated by “back”), like so: DUE-NNA. One remembered from a previous puzzle. This one in fact, in which a near carbon-copy appears.

28. One whose pics are grotesque and scare rich naturists when stripped (12)

Answer: CARICATURISTS (i.e. “one whose pics are grotesque”). “When stripped” indicates the solution is derived by removing the first and last letters of SCARE RICH NATURISTS.

30. Hurry pudding perhaps where plates can be taken by fast finishers? (10)

Answer: RACECOURSE (i.e. “where plates can be taken by fast finishers” – I guess this refers to trophies, but I could be missing something clever). Solution is RACE (i.e. “hurry”) followed by COURSE (i.e. “pudding perhaps”, other courses are available (though not as nom-nom)).

33. London, say, is Marx’s first subject of his book (10)

Answer: CAPITALISM (i.e. “subject of [Marx’s] book”). Solution is CAPITAL (i.e. “London, say” – other capital cities are available) followed by IS and M (i.e. “Marx’s first”, i.e. the first letter of “Marx”).

34. Again give out warning sign one second before salute (12)

Answer: REDISTRIBUTE (i.e. “again give out”). Solution is RED (i.e. “warning sign”) followed by I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), then S (a recognised abbreviation of “second”) and TRIBUTE (i.e. “salute”).

37. Optical lab equipment – number dead to be returned (6)

Answer: ETALON (i.e. “optical lab equipment” – over to Chambers: “an interferometer used to measure wavelengths, consisting of an air film enclosed between half-silvered plane-parallel glass or quartz plates”. Phew, I’m glad the setter didn’t just reach for any old shit in the dictionary there to make it fit the grid…) Solution is NO (a recognised abbreviation of “number”) and LATE (i.e. “dead”) all reversed (indicated by “to be returned”), like so: ETAL-ON.

39. Attitude of man heading up church (6)

Answer: STANCE (i.e. “attitude”). Solution is STAN (i.e. a “man’s” name) followed by CE (i.e. “church”, specifically the Church of England).

40. Formatted text in page before a newspaper strike had advert removed (9)

Answer: PARAGRAPH (i.e. “formatted text”). Solution is P (a recognised abbreviation of “page”) followed by A, then RAG (slang for a “newspaper”), then RAP (i.e. “strike”) and H (i.e. “had advert removed”, i.e. the word “had” with “ad” removed – “ad” being a recognised abbreviation of an advertisement), like so: P-A-RAG-RAP-H.

42. Scruff needing new mirror (4)

Answer: NAPE (i.e. “scruff” of the neck). Solution is N (a recognised abbreviation of “new”) followed by APE (i.e. to copy or “mirror”).

43. Banned chemical initially shared with Chelsea Football Club? (18)

Answer: CHLOROFLUOROCARBON (i.e. “banned chemical”). The remainder of the clue plays on its more well-known abbreviation, CFC, which shares the same “initials” as “Chelsea Football Club”.

46. Try catching the ling (7 – not 4 as printed in the paper)

Answer: HEATHER (i.e. “ling”). Solution is HEAR (i.e. to “try” in court) wrapped around or “catching” THE, like so: HEA(THE)R.

47. Obsessive, yes, suffering break down (7)

Answer: ANALYSE (i.e. “break down”). Solution is ANAL (i.e. “obsessive”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “suffering”) of YES, like so: ANAL-YSE.

48. Agency transport (7)

Answer: VEHICLE. Solution satisfies “agency” and “transport”.

50. See company returning a small sofa, in short a thing to watch (5,8)

Answer: VIDEO CASSETTE (i.e. “a thing to watch”). Solution is VIDE (i.e. Latin for “see”) followed by CO (a recognised abbreviation of “company”) reversed (indicated by “returning”), then A, then S (a recognised abbreviation of “small”) and SETTEE (i.e. “sofa”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “in short”), like so: VIDE-OC-A-S-SETTE.

51. Very urgent, I have to accept court order (9)

Answer: DIRECTIVE (i.e. “order”). Solution is DIRE (i.e. “very urgent”) and I’VE (a contraction of “I have”) wrapped around or “accepting” CT (a recognised abbreviation of “court”), like so: DIRE-(CT)-I’VE.

52. Say, Oregon and Washington’s net worth’s staggering! (9)

Answer: NORTHWEST (i.e. “Oregon and Washington”, the two most north-westerly states of the US). “Staggering” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of NET WORTH’S.

53. Perhaps club losing three seconds cost series (7)

Answer: COTERIE (i.e. clique or “club”). “Losing three seconds” indicates the solution can be derived by removing the three Ss – S being a recognised abbreviation of “second” – from COST SERIES.

54. Smallest son seen in millstream (5)

Answer: LEAST (i.e. “smallest”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “son”) placed or “seen in” LEAT (i.e. “millstream” – a new one on me), like so: LEA(S)T.

Down clues

1. Routines on computer busy with integrated circuit, as may easily be seen (11)

Answer: MACROSCOPIC (i.e. “as may easily be seen”). Solution is MACROS (i.e. “routines on computer”) followed by COP (i.e. “busy”, a slang word) and IC (a recognised abbreviation of an “integrated circuit”). This nerd approves.

2. No new cents and euros initially coined for a specific occasion (5)

Answer: NONCE (i.e. “a specific occasion”). Solution is NO followed by N (a recognised abbreviation of “new”), C (ditto “cents”) and E (i.e. “euros initially”, i.e. the first letter of “euros”).

3. Putting in a new order clarifies actions unusually (16)

Answer: RECLASSIFICATION (i.e. “putting in a new order”). “Unusually” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of CLARIFIES ACTIONS.

4. Laugh as little time left in tedious job (7)

Answer: CHORTLE (i.e. “laugh”, possibly “laugh as little”). Solution is T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”) and L (ditto “left”) both placed “in” CHORE (i.e. “tedious job”), like so: CHOR(T-L)E.

5. Where many Falklanders are missing English, tons invading at once (9)

Answer: INSTANTLY (i.e. “at once”). Solution is IN STANLEY (i.e. “where many Falklanders are”) with the E removed (indicated by “missing English” – E being a recognised abbreviation of “English”) and the remainder wrapped around or being “invaded” by T (a recognised abbreviation of “tons”), like so: IN-STAN(T)LY.

6. Who might study moths flying on gloomiest night, ultimately (12)

Answer: ENTOMOLOGIST (i.e. “who might study moths”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “flying”) of ON GLOOMIEST and T (i.e. “night, ultimately”, i.e. the last letter of “night”).

7. Yum-Yum, a favourite I perform in operetta after pressure (10)

Answer: APPETISING (i.e. “yum-yum”). Solution is A followed by PET (i.e. “favourite”) and I SING (i.e. “I perform in operetta”) once these last few have been placed “after” P (a recognised abbreviation of “pressure”), like so: A-P-(PET-I-SING).

8. Dynamic individual initially got involved in row (5)

Answer: TIGER (i.e. “dynamic individual”). Solution is G (i.e. “initially got”, i.e. the first letter of “got”) placed or “involved in” TIER (i.e. “row”), like so: TI(G)ER.

9. Feedback concerning first part of play being performed (8)

Answer: REACTION (i.e. “feedback”). Solution is RE (i.e. “concerning” – think email replies) followed by ACT I (i.e. “first part of play” – I being a Roman numeral one) and ON (i.e. “being performed”).

10. Gas more than ever needs to be produced (6)

Answer: ETHANE (i.e. “gas”). “Needs to be produced” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, though you’d be forgiven for wondering why. Anyway, here it is: MOR(E THAN E)VER. I’m beginning to think this clue should have ended “needs to be reduced“…

11. Careful planner’s account on getting into wreck of Titanic (9)

Answer: TACTICIAN (i.e. “careful planner”). Solution is AC (a recognised abbreviation of “account”) placed “into” an anagram (indicated by “wreck of”) of TITANIC, like so: T(AC)TICIAN.

12. Wheeling smoothly, this bird gets fish (6,5)

Answer: ROLLER SKATE (i.e. to be “wheeling smoothly”). Solution is ROLLER (i.e. “bird” – apparently a canary-like songbird) followed by SKATE (i.e. “fish”).

19. What sticks up on land? Blooming oil-seed rape, perhaps (7)

Answer: OUTCROP (i.e. “what sticks up on land”). Solution is OUT (i.e. of flowers “blooming”) followed by CROP (i.e. “oil-seed rape, perhaps” – other crops are available). A recent repeat, which made this an easier get.

20. Instrument I’m cutting in a part that’s turned up (7)

Answer: TIMPANI (i.e. “instrument”). Solution is I’M placed in or “cutting” IN A PT (a recognised abbreviation of “part”) once reversed (indicated by “turned up” – this being a down clue), like so: T(I’M)P-A-NI.

22. Like books originally set out by subject? (16)

Answer: AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL. Clue plays on how such books are usually “set out” in bookshops in order of the people they are about. I might be splitting hairs here, but wouldn’t the clue have been more fitting for biographies than autobiographies?

24. Small fib about not drinking before start of lunch (6)

Answer: LITTLE (i.e. “small”). Solution is LIE (i.e. “fib”) wrapped “about” TT (i.e. “not drinking”, i.e. a recognised abbreviation of teetotal) and L (i.e. “start of lunch”, i.e. the first letter of “lunch”), like so: LI(TT-L)E.

27. Delicious drink at hand keeping cold temperature (6)

Answer: NECTAR (i.e. “delicious drink”). Solution is NEAR (i.e. “at hand”) wrapped around C (a recognised abbreviation of “cold”) and T (ditto “temperature”), like so: NE(C-T)AR.

29. Italian dish with crisp bottom but not the sides (7)

Answer: RISOTTO (i.e. “Italian dish”). “But not the sides” indicates the solution is derived by removing the first and last letters of CRISP BOTTOM.

31. One of the docks runs pub in central region (7)

Answer: RHUBARB (i.e. “one of the docks”, as in the plant variety). Solution is R (a recognised abbreviation of “runs”) followed by BAR (i.e. “pub”) once placed “in” HUB (i.e. “central region”), like so: R-HU(BAR)B.

32. Poem tenderly composed – a moving undertaking? (12)

Answer: REDEPLOYMENT (i.e. “a moving undertaking”). “Composed” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of POEM TENDERLY. Nicely worked.

33. Vulgar lad seen regularly outside inclines to be barefaced (5-6)

Answer: CLEAN-SHAVEN (i.e. “to be barefaced”). Solution is CHAV (i.e. “vulgar lad”) and EN (i.e. “regularly seen”, i.e. every other letter of SEEN) all placed “outside” LEANS (i.e. “inclines”), like so: C(LEANS)HAV-EN. Very good clue.

35. Eastern and northern Chinese people unite for beneficial change (11)

Answer: ENHANCEMENT (i.e. “beneficial change”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “eastern”) followed by N (ditto “northern”), then HAN (i.e. “Chinese people”) and CEMENT (i.e. to “unite”).

36. Not loving one Italian grabbing queen wildly excited about tango (10)

Answer: UNROMANTIC (i.e. “not loving”). Solution is UNO (i.e. “one Italian”, i.e. the Italian for “one”) wrapped around or “grabbing” R (i.e. “queen”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of the Latin Regina) and followed by MANIC (i.e. “wildly excited”) once this has been wrapped “about” T (“tango” in the phonetic alphabet), like so: UN(R)O-MAN(T)IC.

38. One showing appreciation of a very quiet music hall comedian (9)

Answer: APPLAUDER (i.e. “one showing appreciation”). Solution is A followed by PP (a recognised abbreviation of “pianissimo”, or “very quiet” in musical lingo) and Harry LAUDER (i.e. Scottish “music hall comedian” of yesteryesteryear).

40. Food aerated by yeast perhaps rose up (9)

Answer: PROVENDER (i.e. animal “food”). Solution is PROVEN (i.e. “aerated by yeast perhaps” – over to Chambers for this definition for PROVE: “(of dough) to rise” – another new one on me) followed by RED (i.e. “rose”) reversed (indicated by “up” – this being a down clue) like so: PROVEN-DER.

41. Want game for children in beach area (8)

Answer: SHORTAGE (i.e. “want”). Solution is TAG (i.e. “game for children”) placed “in” SHORE (i.e. “beach area”), like so: SHOR(TAG)E.

44. Heads of old British poetry (7)

Answer: OBVERSE (i.e. “heads” on a coin). Solution is O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”) followed by B (ditto “British”) and VERSE (i.e. “poetry”).

45. Noisy movement beginning with horns over oboes sounding harshly (6)

Answer: WHOOSH (i.e. “noisy movement”). “Beginning” indicates the solution is derived from the initial letters of With Horns Over Oboes Sounding Harshly.

47. Something valuable in a small collection (5)

Answer: ASSET (i.e. “something valuable”). Solution is A followed by S (a recognised abbreviation of “small”) and SET (i.e. “collection”).

49. Country in feature article (5)

Answer: CHINA (i.e. “country”). Solution is CHIN (i.e. facial “feature”) followed by A (i.e. “article”, i.e. a word like a, an or the).