Times Jumbo Cryptic Crossword 1573

Still catching up! Bank Holiday Monday’s Jumbo was a toughie, but again a good one with some cunning misdirection and steady albeit slower progression.

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 recent Jumbo has given you nightmares then you might find succour in my Just For Fun page, where you’ll find links to solutions for hundreds of the things.

Thanks again for the kind words and input. It’s always interesting to hear the thoughts of other solvers once they’ve put down their pens. All being well, I’ll see you in a matter of minutes with the next one!

LP

Across clues

1. Solicitor’s oil painting satisfies the sitter at last (9)

Answer: CANVASSER (i.e. “solicitor”). Solution is CANVAS (i.e. “oil painting”) followed by SER (i.e. “satisfies the sitter at last”, i.e. the last letters of “satisfies”, “the” and “sitter”).

6. Dimwit in clutches of drink, a kneeler in church? (7)

Answer: HASSOCK (i.e. “a kneeler in church”, referring to the cushions that are knelt on). Solution is ASS (i.e. “dimwit”) placed “in clutches of” HOCK (i.e. “drink”), like so: H(ASS)OCK.

10. Stared, adding a final letter to end of heading (5)

Answer: GAZED (i.e. “stared”). Solution is A and ZED (i.e. “final letter” of the alphabet) both placed “to the end” of G (i.e. “end of heading”, i.e. the last letter of “heading”), like so: G-(A-ZED).

13. Officer caught in passage with body (5,8)

Answer: LANCE CORPORAL (i.e. “officer”). Solution is C (a recognised abbreviation of “caught” used in a number of ball games) placed “in” LANE (i.e. “passage”) and followed by CORPORAL (i.e. relating to the “body”), like so: LAN(C)E-CORPORAL.

14. Mutt, for one is unhappy with basic food, we’re told (9)

Answer: CROSSBRED (i.e. descriptive of “mutt, for one”). Solution is CROSS (i.e. “unhappy”) followed by a homophone (indicated by “we’re told”) of BREAD, like so: CROSS-BRED.

15. Decorator gets fluid for marking sports surface (3,4)

Answer: ICE RINK (i.e. “sports surface”). Solution is ICER (i.e. cake “decorator”) followed by INK (i.e. “fluid for marking”).

16. Cover on press department’s IT equipment (7)

Answer: DESKTOP (i.e. “IT equipment”). Solution is TOP (i.e. “cover”) placed “on” or after DESK (i.e. “press department”), like so: DESK-TOP.

17. Charge for retaining ship’s seniority on list (7)

Answer: KEELAGE (i.e. “charge for retaining ship”). Solution is AGE (i.e. “seniority”) placed “on” or after KEEL (i.e. to lean or “list”), like so: KEEL-AGE.

18. Muse here, slipping my line back into stage work (5,7)

Answer: MOUNT OLYMPUS (i.e. “muse here”, classically speaking). Solution is MY and L (a recognised abbreviation of “line”) all reversed (indicated by “back”) and placed “into” MOUNT (i.e. to “stage”) and OPUS (i.e. “work”), like so: MOUNT-O(L-YM)PUS.

20. Insists on one turning up with learner in USA (10)

Answer: STIPULATES (i.e. “insists on”). Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), UP reversed (indicated by “turning”) and L (a recognised abbreviation of “learner”) all placed “in” STATES (i.e. “USA”), like so: ST(I-PU-L)ATES.

23. Compound in cowboy film eschewed by banks (5)

Answer: ESTER (i.e. “compound”). Solution is WESTERN (i.e. “cowboy film”) with its first and last letters removed (indicated by “eschewed by banks”).

24. All investments the responsibility of minister (9)

Answer: PORTFOLIO. Solution satisfies “all investments” and “the responsibility of [government] minister”.

25. Sly deserter originally rooting for GI (7)

Answer: FURTIVE (i.e. “sly”). Solution is FUGITIVE (i.e. “deserter”) with the “GI” swapped “for” R (i.e. “originally rooting”, i.e. the first letter of “rooting”), like so: FU(GI)TIVE => FU(R)TIVE.

26. Somewhat bent vicar on rule breaking (11)

Answer: CURVILINEAR (i.e. “somewhat bent”). “Breaking” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of VICAR ON RULE.

28. Ignoring cheers, entertain cast hugging elderly actress (11)

Answer: TRAGEDIENNE (i.e. “actress”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “cast”) of ENTERTAIN once the TA has been removed (indicated by “ignoring cheers”) wrapped around or “hugging” AGED (i.e. “elderly”), like so: TR(AGED)IENNE.

30. Footer about right, with live commercials you can count on? (6,5)

Answer: PRAYER BEADS (i.e. “you can count on” these). Solution is PAYER (i.e. “footer”, or one who foots the bill) wrapped “about” R (a recognised abbreviation of “right”) and followed by BE (i.e. to “live”) and ADS (i.e. “commercials”, short for advertisements), like so: P(R)AYER-BE-ADS.

32. Revised version of internet ode undertaken (7,4)

Answer: ENTERED INTO (i.e. “undertaken”). “Revised version of” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of INTERNET ODE.

34. What might afflict company during flood? (7)

Answer: SCOURGE (i.e. “what might afflict”). Solution is CO (a recognised abbreviation of “company”) placed “during” SURGE (i.e. “flood”), like so: S(CO)URGE.

36. Blue fashion in decline (9)

Answer: DOWNTREND (i.e. “decline”). Solution is DOWN (i.e. “blue”) followed by TREND (i.e. “fashion”).

38. One doesn’t recall drinking here? (5)

Answer: LETHE. One for the classicists, this: “a river of the underworld causing forgetfulness in all who drank from it” (Chambers). It’s a neat clue, but if you have no interest in Greek mythology then you’re buggered. Needless to say, I had to look this one up.

39. Forces chap to maintain island (10)

Answer: SERVICEMAN (i.e. “forces chap”). Solution is SERVICE (i.e. “to maintain”) followed by MAN (i.e. “island”, specifically the Isle of Man).

41. Contraceptive taken after love to mitigate harsh treatment (5,3,4)

Answer: SUGAR THE PILL (i.e. “mitigate harsh treatment”). Solution is THE PILL (i.e. “contraceptive”) placed “after” SUGAR (i.e. “love”, both terms of endearment).

45. Nearly all petrol with free charging is legal (7)

Answer: JURIDIC (i.e. relating to the administration of justice, or, more broadly, “legal”). Solution is JUICE (i.e. “petrol”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “nearly all”) and the remainder placed around or having RID (i.e. “free”) “charging” through it, like so: JU(RID)IC. Can’t say I was a fan of this one.

46. Retired Tyneside councillor stopping people’s crime (7)

Answer: LARCENY (i.e. “crime”). Solution is NE (i.e. “Tyneside”, i.e. a recognised abbreviation of North-East) and CR (ditto “councillor”) all reversed (indicated by “retired”) and placed in or “stopping” LAY (i.e. “people”), like so: LA(RC-EN)Y.

47. Mix of seaweed within a couple of miles (7)

Answer: AMALGAM (i.e. “mix”). Solution is ALGA (i.e. “seaweed”) placed “within” A and MM (i.e. “a couple of miles”, M being a recognised abbreviation of “mile”), like so: A-M(ALGA)M.

49. Was recoiling after holding one’s own blade (6,3)

Answer: COPING SAW (i.e. “blade”). Solution is WAS reversed (indicated by “recoiling”) and placed “after” COPING (i.e. “holding one’s own”).

50. Take off support for arm I waved (5,4,4)

Answer: SLING ONE’S HOOK (i.e. “take off”). Solution is SLING (i.e. “support for arm”) followed by ONE (i.e. “I”) and SHOOK (i.e. “waved”).

52. Byes at any time reflected part of score (5)

Answer: BREVE (i.e. “part of [musical] score”). Solution is B (a recognised abbreviation of “byes” used in cricket – Chambers doesn’t explicitly back this up, but my Oxford and Collins Concise list it) followed by EVER (i.e. “at any time”) once reversed (indicated by “reflected”), like so: B-REVE.

53. Indeed yearn to follow Democrat for twenty-four hours (7)

Answer: DAYLONG (i.e. “for twenty-four hours”). Solution is AY (i.e. “indeed”, short for always) and LONG (i.e. to “yearn”) all placed after or “following” D (a recognised abbreviation of “Democrat”), like so: D-(AY-LONG).

54. Mounted contests here – and others in court (9)

Answer: BADMINTON. Solution satisfies “mounted contests here”, referring to Badminton Horse Trials – no, me neither – and “others in court”, referring to the sport of badminton.

Down clues

1. Metal with almost all carbon I stored (7)

Answer: CALCIUM (i.e. “metal”). Solution is AL (i.e. “almost all”, i.e. the word “all” with its last letter removed), C (chemical symbol of “carbon”) and I all placed or “stored” in CUM (i.e. combined “with”), like so: C(AL-C-I)UM.

2. Question jockeys in race upset, reaching illogical conclusion (3,8)

Answer: NON SEQUITUR (i.e. “illogical conclusion”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “jockeys”) of QUESTION placed “in” RUN (i.e. “race”) when reversed (indicated by “upset” – this being a down clue), like so: N(ONSEQUIT)UR.

3. Asian taking part in kamikaze ritual (5)

Answer: AZERI (i.e. “Asian”, specifically one from Azerbaijan). “Taking part in” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: KAMIK(AZE RI)TUAL.

4. Part of sub in Albanian currency returned and not included (7)

Answer: SNORKEL (i.e. “part of sub”). Solution is LEKS (i.e. “Albanian currency”) reversed (indicated by “returned”) and wrapped around or “including” NOR (i.e. “and not”), like so: S(NOR)KEL.

5. Popular music standard going up (3)

Answer: RAP (i.e. “popular music”). Solution is PAR (i.e. “standard”) reversed (indicated by “going up” – this being a down clue).

6. Set jam that’s available in bars (4,5)

Answer: HARD STUFF (i.e. liquor “that’s available in bars”). Solution is HARD (i.e. “set”) followed by STUFF (i.e. to “jam”).

7. Determined to forget about what may be in the water? (6)

Answer: SOLUTE (i.e. “what may be in the water”). Solution is RESOLUTE (i.e. “determined”) with the RE removed (indicated by “to forget about” – RE being “about” or regarding, think email replies).

8. Restorative policy of work mate, only one left accepting blame (12,7)

Answer: OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY (i.e. “restorative policy”). Solution is OCCUPATION (i.e. “of work”) followed by ALLY (i.e. “mate”) with one of the Ls removed (indicated by “only one left” – L being a recognised abbreviation of “left”) and the remainder wrapped around or “accepting” THE RAP (i.e. “blame”), like so: OCCUPATION-AL(THE-RAP)Y.

9. Get in the club and prepare for game (5,2)

Answer: KNOCK UP. Solution informally satisfies “get in the club”, or to get pregnant, and “prepare for game” of tennis, apparently.

10. Oriental game wizard, one spreading the word (9)

Answer: GOSPELLER (i.e. “one spreading the word”). Solution is GO (i.e. “oriental game”) followed by SPELLER (i.e. “wizard”).

11. Duff razor is not a Parsee’s (11)

Answer: ZOROASTRIAN (i.e. “Parsee’s” – over to Chambers: “a descendant of the Zoroastrians who emigrated from Persia to India in the 8c”). “Duff” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of RAZOR IS NOT A.

12. Duck’s subterfuge (5)

Answer: DODGE. Solution satisfies to “duck” and “subterfuge”.

16. Maud’s friend arranged permit in colourful border region (8,3,8)

Answer: DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY (i.e. “border region”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “arranged”) of MAUD’S FRIEND followed by ALLOW (i.e. “permit”) once placed “in” GAY (i.e. “colourful”), like so: DUMFRIESAND-G(ALLOW)AY.

19. Rotary motor showing strain, with inner rib broken (7)

Answer: TURBINE (i.e. “rotary motor”). Solution is TUNE (i.e. “strain” or piece of music) placed around or having “inner” an anagram (indicated by “broken”) of RIB, like so: TU(RBI)NE.

21. Port worker’s first wife died in supermarket (9)

Answer: STEVEDORE (i.e. “port worker”). Solution is EVE (i.e. “first wife”, biblically speaking) and D (a recognised abbreviation of “died”) both placed “in” STORE (i.e. “supermarket”), like so: ST(EVE-D)ORE.

22. Bishop flexible, like Sunday’s children? (6)

Answer: BLITHE (i.e. “like Sunday’s children”, the old nursery rhyme Monday’s Child closes with: “…and the child born on the sabbath day; is bonny and blithe, good and gay”. Not sure what happened with me, then!) Solution is B (a recognised abbreviation of “bishop” used in chess) followed by LITHE (i.e. “flexible”).

23. Those who’d get away from opponents at table drink up in Queens, perhaps (9)

Answer: ESCAPISTS (i.e. “those who’d get away”). Solution is ES (i.e. “opponents at table”, specifically East and South, positions in a game of bridge) followed by SIP (i.e. “drink”) once reversed (indicated by “up” – this being a down clue) and placed “in” CATS (i.e. “queens, perhaps” – ignore the misleading capitalisation, we’re talking female cats here), like so ES-CA(PIS)TS.

24. Elastic producer initially under obligation (7)

Answer: PLIABLE (i.e. “elastic”). Solution is P (i.e. “producer initially”, i.e. the first letter of “producer”) followed by or placed “under” – this being a down clue – LIABLE (i.e. “obligation”).

25. Nuclear component it’s said not many will measure, historically (4,3)

Answer: FUEL ROD (i.e. “nuclear component”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “it’s said”) of FEW’LL (i.e. “not many will”) followed by ROD (i.e. “measure, historically” – take your pick, Chambers offers: “a pole or perch (5½ yards or 16½ feet); a square pole (272¼ sq ft); (of brickwork) 272 sq ft of standard thickness of 1½ bricks or 306 cu ft”. None have a “historic” or archaic label, mind, not that I would have known either way).

27. Engineers meeting second individual dispersed again (6)

Answer: RESOWN (i.e. “dispersed again”). Solution is RE (i.e. “engineers”, specifically the Royal Engineers of the British Army) followed by S (a recognised abbreviation of “second”) and OWN (i.e. “individual”).

29. Spoil trendy borders of lining during fitting (7)

Answer: INDULGE (i.e. “spoil” or mollycoddle). Solution is IN (i.e. “trendy”) followed by LG (i.e. “borders of lining”, i.e. the first and last letters of “lining”) once placed in or “during” DUE (i.e. appropriate or “fitting”), like so: IN-DU(LG)E.

31. Ego, what sustains us in morning routine when exhausted (5,6)

Answer: AMOUR PROPRE (i.e. “ego” or self-esteem). Solution is OUR PROP (i.e. “what sustains us”) placed “in” between AM (i.e. “morning”, short for the Latin ante meridiem) and RE (i.e. “routine when exhausted”, i.e. the word “routine” with all its middle letters removed), like so: AM-(OUR-PROP)-RE. One nailed from the wordplay, unsurprisingly. It’s French, too, so you know what that means…

33. Love bird gets round duck, no problem (7,2,2)

Answer: NOTHING TO IT (i.e. “no problem”). Solution is NOTHING (i.e. “love”, a zero score in tennis) and TIT (i.e. “bird”) once wrapped “round” O (i.e. “duck”, in this case a zero score in cricket), like so: NOTHING-T(O)IT.

35. Steps with purpose in and out, blocking people (4,5)

Answer: RAIN DANCE (i.e. “steps with purpose”). Solution is IN and an anagram (indicated by “out”) of AND all placed in or “blocking” RACE (i.e. “people”), like so: RA(IN-DAN)CE.

37. Model eating nut increasingly tense (9)

Answer: TAUTENING (i.e. “increasingly tense”). “Model” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of EATING NUT.

40. Relieved partner once damned runs away (7)

Answer: EXCUSED (i.e. “relieved”). Solution is EX (i.e. “partner once”) followed by CURSED (i.e. “damned”) once the R has been removed (indicated by “runs away” – R being a recognised abbreviation of “runs” used in a number of ball games), like so: EX-CUSED.

42. Focussed, like those under instruction (7)

Answer: TRAINED. Solution satisfies “focussed”, as in eyes trained on a target, and “like those under instruction”.

43. Mistakenly ban milk for young 45 down? (7)

Answer: LAMBKIN (i.e. “young 45 down” – the solution to 45d is JACOB, which can be a breed of sheep). “Mistakenly” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of BAN MILK.

44. Rising man with master takes care of painting (6)

Answer: FRESCO (i.e. “painting”). Solution is SERF (i.e. “man with master”) reversed (indicated by “rising” – this being a down clue) and followed by C/O (short for “care of”), like so: FRES-C/O.

45. Patriarch shot protecting firm (5)

Answer: JACOB (i.e. biblical “patriarch”). Solution is JAB (i.e. “shot” or injection) wrapped around or “protecting” CO (i.e. “firm”, short for company), like so: JA(CO)B.

48. Very like sailor – not half (5)

Answer: ASSAI (i.e. “very” in musical lingo). Solution is AS (i.e. “like”) followed by SAI (i.e. “sailor – not half”, specifically the latter half).

51. Trap in swamp after capsizing (3)

Answer: GOB (i.e. “trap”, both informal terms for the mouth). Solution is BOG (i.e. “swamp”) reversed (indicated by “after capsizing” – this being a down clue).