A medium strength offering this week. A decent enough Jumbo, though one that perhaps leaned a little too heavily into anagrams and homophones. To be fair, this was more apparent when writing up this post than it was during the puzzle itself.

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 given you the slip then you might find my Just For Fun page of use, where you’ll find links to solutions to hundreds of the things.

Thanks again for the kind words and input. It’s always interesting to hear the hot takes of other solvers when they set down their pens. Till next time, stay safe out there kids.

LP

Across clues

1. Front part of animal in square hole, did you say? (7)

Answer: FOREPAW (i.e. “front part of animal”). “Did you say” indicates the solution comprises homophones of FOUR (i.e. a “square” number) and PORE (i.e. “hole”).

5. Poisonous plant is on description of computer (9)

Answer: DIGITALIS (i.e. “poisonous plant”). Solution is IS placed “on” or after DIGITAL (i.e. “description of computer”), like so: DIGITAL-IS.

10. Weary flyer (4)

Answer: FLAG. Solution satisfies “weary” – Chambers supports its use as a verb – and a “flyer”.

14. Laborious, as is sentiment, for example? (4-9)

Answer: TIME-CONSUMING (i.e. “laborious”). The remainder of the clue plays on how the solution cryptically satisfies “sentiment”, given that the word contains or has CONSUMED the word TIME, i.e. SEN(TIME)NT.

15. Dance a good way with expression of support (9)

Answer: FARANDOLE (i.e. “dance” – a new one on me). Solution is FAR (i.e. “a good way” away or into) followed by AND (i.e. “with”) and OLÉ (i.e. “expression of support” over in Spain).

16. Riotous antics from Australian savage (10)

Answer: SATURNALIA (i.e. “riotous antics”). “Savage” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of AUSTRALIAN.

17. Crawling bug silences cat that’s skittish (5,6)

Answer: SCALE INSECT (i.e. “crawling bug” – over to Chambers: “any insect of the homopterous family Coccidae, in which the sedentary female fixes on a plant and secretes a waxy shield”). “That’s skittish” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of SILENCES CAT.

18. Possibly West banks in US state (5)

Answer: MAINE (i.e. “US state”). Solution is MAE (i.e. “possibly West”, after the actress) wrapped around or “banking” “IN”, like so: MA(IN)E.

19. Island’s a bit windy, dock accessed via gates (5,5)

Answer: TIDAL BASIN (i.e. “dock accessed via gates”). “Windy” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of ISLAND’S A BIT.

21. Good day with copper in conversation? (3,3)

Answer: SEE YOU (i.e. “good day”, both valedictions). “In conversation” indicates homophone. Solution is a homophone of the chemical symbol of “copper”, Cu.

23. Setter for example is encapsulated by “drab, opinionated type” (9)

Answer: DOGMATIST (i.e. “opinionated type”). Solution is DOG (i.e. “setter for example”) followed by IS once placed in or “encapsulated by” MATT (i.e. “drab”), like so: DOG-MAT(IS)T.

25. Looking at money in gold boxes (5)

Answer: EYING (i.e. “looking at”). “Boxes” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: MON(EY IN G)OLD.

26. Interest rate initially intolerable coming off tracker – might one be in a jam? (7)

Answer: APRICOT (i.e. “might one be in a jam”). Solution is APR (i.e. “interest rate”, short for Annual Percentage Rate) followed by ICOT (i.e. “initially intolerable coming off tracker”, i.e. the first letters of “intolerable”, “coming”, “off” and “tracker”).

28. Play damn trash unfortunately, title withdrawn (4,3,3,3)

Answer: ARMS AND THE MAN (i.e. “play” by George Bernard Shaw). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “unfortunately”) of DAMN TRASH followed by NAME (i.e. “title”) once reversed (indicated by “withdrawn”), like so: ARMSANDTH-EMAN.

31. Dull in colour, worker surplus to requirements (9)

Answer: REDUNDANT (i.e. “surplus to requirements”). Solution is DUN (i.e. “dull”) placed “in” RED (i.e. “colour”) and followed by ANT (i.e. “worker”), like so: RE(DUN)D-ANT.

33. Two types of note heard where country music popular? (9)

Answer: TENNESSEE (i.e. “where country music [is] popular”). “Heard” indicates homophone. Solution comprises homophones of TENNER and C (i.e. “two types of note”, the former a banknote, the latter a musical note).

35. One of those working on oilfield, sycophantic fool? (7,6)

Answer: NODDING DONKEY, a type of oil pump or “one of those working on oilfield”. Solution is NODDING (i.e. “sycophantic”) and DONKEY (i.e. “fool”).

37. Native after small shroud? (7)

Answer: SMOTHER (i.e. “shroud”). Solution is MOTHER (i.e. “native” or originating) placed “after” S (a recognised abbreviation of “small”), like so: S-MOTHER.

38. Mount in foreign region, did you say? (5)

Answer: CLIMB (i.e. “mount”). “Did you say” indicates homophone. Solution is a homophone of CLIME (i.e. “foreign region”, poetically).

40. Become rotten, as chopped vegetables etc may have? (4,2,3)

Answer: GONE TO POT. Solution satisfies “become rotten” and “as chopped vegetables etc may have”.

42. Simple life president recalled after a second (6)

Answer: AMOEBA (i.e. “simple life”). Solution is ABE (i.e. “president”, Abraham Lincoln) reversed (indicated by “recalled”) and placed “after” A and MO (i.e. “second”, short for a moment), like so: (A-MO)-EBA.

44. Loot left for grinch (10)

Answer: SPOILSPORT (i.e. “grinch”). Solution is SPOILS (i.e. “loot”) followed by PORT (i.e. “left” in shipspeak).

46. Lion heading for nervous bird (5)

Answer: HERON (i.e. “bird”). Solution is HERO (i.e. “lion”) followed by N (i.e. “heading for nervous”, i.e. the first letter of “nervous”).

48. Order learned with protest (4,3,4)

Answer: DRAW THE LINE (i.e. “protest”). “Order” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of LEARNED WITH.

50. As are some soccer players, dropped, then paid (4-6)

Answer: LEFT-FOOTED (i.e. “as are some soccer players”). Solution is LEFT (i.e. “dropped”) followed by FOOTED (i.e. “paid”).

52. Iranian lost on tour of Australia, returned in some state (9)

Answer: ARIZONIAN (i.e. “in some state”, specifically Arizona). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “lost”) of IRANIAN wrapped around or “touring” OZ (i.e. “Australia”) once reversed (indicated by “returned”), like so: ARI(ZO)NIAN.

53. A posh creation rewritten as an original expression (2,4,1,6)

Answer: TO COIN A PHRASE (i.e. “as an original expression”). “Rewritten” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of A POSH CREATION.

54. American jerk (4)

Answer: YANK. Solution satisfies “American” and “jerk”.

55. Cutting item first removed from entire satirical magazine (4,5)

Answer: HOLE PUNCH (i.e. “cutting item”). Solution is WHOLE (i.e. “entire”) with the first letter removed (indicated by “first removed”) and the remainder followed by PUNCH (i.e. famed “satirical magazine”).

56. Spouse and little kids reportedly in underwear (1-6)

Answer: Y-FRONTS (i.e. “underwear”). “Reportedly” indicates homophone. Solution comprises homophones of WIFE (i.e. “spouse”) and RUNTS (i.e. “little kids”, as in the runts of the litter).

Down clues

1. Cheese in hamper, we hear? (4)

Answer: FETA (i.e. “cheese”). “We hear” indicates homophone. Solution is a homophone of FETTER (i.e. to “hamper”).

2. Violent con mellowing (9)

Answer: RAMPAGING (i.e. “violent”). Solution is RAMP (i.e. to “con” someone, albeit deep into the definitions) followed by AGING (i.e. “mellowing”).

3. Russian work of art on show? (8,2,2,10)

Answer: PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION (i.e. “Russian work” by Modest Mussorgsky). Solution also satisfies “art on show”.

4. One political side has head that’s screwed on (7)

Answer: WINGNUT (i.e. “that’s screwed on”). Solution is WING (i.e. “one political side”) followed by NUT (slang for a “head”).

5. Evidence of bigamy mumbo jumbo? (6,5)

Answer: DOUBLE DUTCH (i.e. “mumbo jumbo”). Solution also playfully satisfies “evidence of bigamy”, DUTCH being Cockney rhyming slang for a wife, possibly after the Duchess of Fife, according to Chambers.

6. Monochrome artwork is article obscured by screen (9)

Answer: GRISAILLE (i.e. “monochrome artwork” – another new one on me). Solution is IS and A (i.e. “article”, being a word like a, an or the) both placed in or “obscured by” GRILLE (i.e. “screen”), like so: GR(IS-A)ILLE.

7. Leader in Augustus wearing clothes – these? (5)

Answer: TOGAS (i.e. “these”, within the context of the clue, i.e. the kind of “clothes” “Augustus” would wear). Solution is TOGS (i.e. “clothes”) wrapped around or “wearing” A (i.e. “leader in Augustus”, i.e. the first letter of “Augustus”), like so: TOG(A)S.

8. Make an effort, as umpire will on dismissal? (4,1,6)

Answer: LIFT A FINGER. Solution satisfies “make an effort” and “as umpire will on dismissal” in cricket.

9. Ice hardened, sphere enclosed (6)

Answer: SORBET (i.e. “ice”). Solution is SET (i.e. “hardened”) wrapped around or “enclosing” ORB (i.e. “sphere”), like so: S(ORB)ET.

11. Places to go, see, more or less (7)

Answer: LOOSELY (i.e. “more or less”). Solution is LOOS (i.e. “places to go”, “go” being slang for visiting the toilet) followed by ELY (i.e. diocese or “see” in East Anglia).

12. Winner in the end, champ hugged by haggard relative (5-4)

Answer: GREAT-AUNT (i.e. “relative”). Solution is R (i.e. “winner in the end”, i.e. the last letter of “winner”) and EAT (i.e. to “champ”) both placed in or “hugged by” GAUNT (i.e. “haggard”), like so: G(R-EAT)AUNT.

13. Promptly ignored, as bullet passing through brain? (2,3,3,3,3,3,5)

Answer: IN ONE EAR AND OUT THE OTHER. Solution satisfies “promptly ignored” and, er – playfully, “as bullet passing through brain”.

18. Third note planned includes first two in diagram (7)

Answer: MEDIANT (i.e. “third note” of a scale). Solution is MEANT (i.e. “planned”) wrapped around or “including” DI (i.e. “first two [letters] in diagram”), like so: ME(DI)ANT.

20. All going one way, leading another way (7)

Answer: ALIGNED (i.e. “all going one way”). “Another way” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of “leading”.

22. Top location of Welsh castle (8)

Answer: CARDIGAN. Solution satisfies a garment or “top” and “location of Welsh castle”.

24. Business in ashes, refinery vacated (8)

Answer: INDUSTRY (i.e. “business”). Solution is IN followed by DUST (i.e. “ashes”) and RY (i.e. “refinery vacated”, i.e. the word “refinery” with all its middle letters removed).

27. Attempt joke (5)

Answer: CRACK. Solution satisfies an “attempt” and a “joke”.

29. Appearing in gloom, unromantic peak in Scotland (5)

Answer: MUNRO (i.e. “peak in Scotland”). “Appearing in” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: GLOO(M UNRO)MANTIC.

30. Outfit exposing much flesh, knight say with blood on one (7)

Answer: MANKINI (i.e. “outfit exposing much flesh”). Solution is MAN (i.e. “knight say”, chess pieces are sometimes referred to as “men”) followed by KIN (i.e. family or “blood”) and I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”). Jagshemash, friends!

32. Unknown number defended by God test one’s patience (3,2,2)

Answer: TRY IT ON (i.e. “test one’s patience”). Solution is Y (i.e. “unknown number” – setters love referring to X, Y or Z in solutions as unknowns) placed in or “defended by” TRITON (i.e. Greek “God” of the sea), like so: TR(Y)ITON.

34. Outstanding save with one leg on a line (11)

Answer: EXCEPTIONAL (i.e. “outstanding”). Solution is EXCEPT (i.e. “save” for) followed by I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), then ON (i.e. “leg” side in cricket), then A and L (a recognised abbreviation of “line”).

36. Genuinely irritated if I had to go without nicotine, initially (2,4,5)

Answer: IN GOOD FAITH (i.e. “genuinely”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “irritated”) of IF I HAD TO GO wrapped around or placed “without” N (i.e. “nicotine, initially”, i.e. the first letter of “nicotine”), like so: I(N)GOODFAITH.

37. Relax with bear on a picnic! (5,4)

Answer: STAND EASY (i.e. “relax”). Solution is STAND (i.e. to “bear”) followed by EASY (i.e. a “picnic”, slang thereof).

39. First of Catholics welcomed by two boys from St Peter’s Church say (9)

Answer: BASILICAN (i.e. of a basilica, or “from St Peter’s Church say”, referring to St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican). Solution is C (i.e. “first of Catholics”, i.e. the first letter of “Catholics”) placed in or “welcomed by” BASIL and IAN (i.e. “two boys’” names), like so: BASIL-I(C)AN.

41. China in place, or plastic (9)

Answer: PORCELAIN (i.e. “china”). “Plastic” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of IN PLACE OR.

43. Speech embraced by a British naval commander? (7)

Answer: ORATION (i.e. “speech”). The rest of the clue plays on how the solution is also found in famed “British naval commander” H(ORATIO N)ELSON.

45. Industrialist ultimately uncertain about an American jeweller (7)

Answer: Charles Lewis TIFFANY (i.e. “American jeweller”). Solution is T (i.e. “industrialist ultimately”, i.e. the last letter of “industrialist”) followed by IFFY (i.e. “uncertain”) once wrapped “about” AN, like so: T-IFF(AN)Y.

47. Tasty light rolls I wrap up later (6)

Answer: DELISH (i.e. “tasty”, slang for delicious). 100% guess here, so watch out. Chambers supports DELISH, and I can get DEL (i.e. “light rolls”, i.e. an LED or Light Emitting Diode reversed) followed by I, but after that I’ve got nothing. If anyone swings by with the solution/explanation to this one then I’ll update the post.

[EDIT: Thanks to Sue in the comments for adding more to this one. One definition of “wrap up” is “to stop talking (often as imperative)” (Chambers), so you could set SH from that to complete the solution. “Later” seems a redundant word, but perhaps this is no biggie. Cheers, Sue! – LP]

49. Passage from gates to public bar (5)

Answer: ESTOP (i.e. to “bar”, an archaic word). “Passage from” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: GAT(ES TO P)UBLIC.

51. Information in every direction (4)

Answer: NEWS (i.e. “information”). The rest of the clue plays on how the word comprises all the points of the compass, North, East, West and South.

A relatively straightforward one this week. Suits me fine, though it did feel a little one-track at times with lots of single letters being added or removed from stuff.

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 given you the slip then you might find my Just For Fun page of use, where you’ll find solutions to hundreds of the things. (250 of them if I’m not mistaken. Good grief, that’s a lot of Saturdays…)

Thanks again for the kind words and input. It’s always interesting to hear the thoughts of other solvers once they’ve set down their pens. Till next time, stay safe out there kids.

LP

FBV (French-By-Volume): 3.3%

Across clues

1. Hunt finally to wander, heading off for big cat (7)

Answer: TIGRESS (i.e. “big cat”). Solution is T (i.e. “hunt finally”, i.e. the last letter of “hunt”) followed by DIGRESS (i.e. “to wander”) once its first letter has been removed (indicated by “heading off”), like so: T-IGRESS.

5. Children, note, cornered by a sudden attack – scorpion? (8)

Answer: ARACHNID (i.e. “scorpion”). Solution is CH (a recognised abbreviation of “children”) and N (ditto “note”) both placed in or “cornered by” A and RAID (i.e. “sudden attack”), like so: A-RA(CH-N)ID.

9. Bringer of news almost entirely surrounded by crowd (6)

Answer: HERALD (i.e. “bringer of news”). Solution is ALL (i.e. “entirely”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “almost”) and the remainder placed in or “surrounded by” HERD (i.e. “crowd”), like so: HER(AL)D.

13. Inflation measure covered (in another case) in afterpiece (6,5,5)

Answer: RETAIL PRICE INDEX (i.e. “inflation measure”). The remainder of the clue plays on how the initials of the solution, RPI, can be found “in AFTE(RPI)ECE”.

14. Preparing to drive, say, carrying large old politician (6)

Answer: Clement ATTLEE (i.e. “old politician”). Solution is AT TEE (i.e. “preparing to drive” in golf) wrapped around or “carrying” L (a recognised abbreviation of “large”), like so: AT-T(L)EE.

16. Pay for poet to give up first popular piece (8)

Answer: STANDARD (i.e. “popular piece”). Solution is STAND (i.e. “pay for”) followed by BARD (i.e. “poet”) once its initial letter has been removed (indicated by “to give up first”), like so: STAND-ARD.

17. New Zealander winning originally cracking K2 (4)

Answer: KIWI (i.e. “New Zealander”, informally). Solution is W (i.e. “winning originally”, i.e. the first letter of “winning”) placed in or “cracking” K and II (i.e. “2” expressed as Roman numerals), like so: K-I(W)I.

18. Men keeping fine automobile back to get vehicle accessories (4,5)

Answer: ROOF RACKS (i.e. “vehicle accessories”). Solution is ROOKS (i.e. chess pieces, sometimes referred to as “men”) wrapped around or “keeping” F (a recognised abbreviation of “fine” used in pencil grades) and CAR (i.e. “automobile”) once this latter has been reversed (indicated by “back”), like so: ROO(F-RAC)KS.

20. Body of water – repeatedly it swirls around, repeatedly (8)

Answer: Lake TITICACA (i.e. “body of water”). Solution is IT and IT (i.e. “repeatedly it”) reversed (indicated by “swirls”) and followed by CA and CA (i.e. “around, repeatedly” – CA being a recognised abbreviation of “circa”), like so: (TI-TI)-CA-CA.

21. Young woman in European country, subordinate worker on schooners etc (11)

Answer: GLASSBLOWER (i.e. “worker on schooners etc” – a schooner can be a large beer glass or a large sherry glass). Solution is LASS (i.e. “young woman”) placed “in” GB (i.e. “European country”, specifically Great Britain) and followed by LOWER (i.e. “subordinate”), like so: G(LASS)B-LOWER.

24. Converted girl has to accept a new life eternal here? Not quite (7-2)

Answer: SHANGRI-LA, “any remote or imaginary paradise” (Chambers). In James Hilton’s novel Lost Horizon, which coined the place, inhabitants enjoyed increased longevity, but “not quite” “life eternal”. Solution is an anagram (indicated by “converted”) of GIRL HAS wrapped around or “accepting” A and N (a recognised abbreviation of “new”), like so: SH(A-N)GRILA.

25. Old man leading revolution, briefly, catching a city dweller (8)

Answer: PARISIAN (i.e. “city dweller”). Solution is PA (i.e. “old man” or father) followed by RISING (i.e. “revolution”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “briefly”) and the remainder wrapped around or “catching” A, like so: PA-RISI(A)N.

26. Reiki initially involved in life energy (4)

Answer: BRIO (i.e. “energy”). Solution is R (i.e. “reiki initially”, i.e. the first letter of “reiki” – a form of Japanese massage, if you were wondering) placed “in” BIO (i.e. a prefix denoting “life”), like so: B(R)IO.

29. Honest admen corrupted at the very least (3,4,4)

Answer: AND THEN SOME (i.e. “at the very least”). “Corrupted” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of HONEST ADMEN.

31. Indicating rationale for joint deficiencies? (8,3)

Answer: POINTING OUT (i.e. “indicating”). When written as POINT IN GOUT the solution satisfies the rather bizarre “rationale for joint deficiencies”.

33. Earlier, rebuke elf, one with a compulsion to stay home? (11)

Answer: AGORAPHOBIA (i.e. “compulsion to stay home”). Solution is AGO (i.e. “earlier”) followed by RAP (i.e. “rebuke”), then HOB (i.e. “elf” – a variant meaning of HOB is “a supernatural creature or fairy, such as Robin Goodfellow (folklore)” (Chambers)), then I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) and A.

36. One foresees careering into cavalry (11)

Answer: CLAIRVOYANT (i.e. “one foresees”). “Careering” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of INTO CAVALRY.

38. Watches emergency exits, always on the edge (4)

Answer: EYES (i.e. “watches”). “Always on the edge” indicates the solution is formed from the first and last letters of EMERGENCY EXITS.

39. Large animal knocked over tree, stifling agonised groan (8)

Answer: KANGAROO (i.e. “large animal”). Solution is OAK (i.e. “tree”) reversed (indicated by “knocked over”) and wrapped around or “stifling” an anagram (indicated by “agonised”) of GROAN, like so: KA(NGARO)O.

41. Show host adopting nothing regal, in a ridiculing style (9)

Answer: MOCKINGLY (i.e. “in a ridiculing style”). Solution is MC (i.e. “show host”, or Master of Ceremonies) wrapped around or “adopting” O (i.e. “nothing”) and followed by KINGLY (i.e. “regal”), like so: M(O)C-KINGLY.

44. Creative function wrong from the outset? (8,3)

Answer: ORIGINAL SIN (i.e. “wrong from the outset”, or “innate depravity and corruption believed to be transmitted to Adam’s descendants because of his sin” (Chambers). The concept apparently came about in the 3rd century and is ascribed to Saint Augustine. So a man-made construct, then. What’s that? “Like all religion”? You might say that. I couldn’t possibly comment). Solution is ORIGINAL (i.e. “creative”) followed by SIN (i.e. “function”, being a shortened form of the trigonometrical function, sine).

45. Unhappy about US shop-owner turning over tree (8)

Answer: SYCAMORE (i.e. “tree”). Solution is SORE (i.e. “unhappy”) wrapped “about” Rowland Hussey MACY (i.e. “US shop-owner”) once reversed (indicated by “turning over”), like so: S(YCAM)ORE.

48. Ballet favourite heading for Rome and America, going round Hong Kong (9)

Answer: PETRUSHKA (i.e. “ballet” by Igor Stravinsky). Solution is PET (i.e. “favourite”) followed by R (i.e. “heading for Rome”, i.e. the first letter of “home”), then USA (i.e. “America”) once wrapped “round” HK (short for “Hong Kong”), like so: PET-R-US(HK)A. By some sizeable coincidence I was scribbling away in The Times Cryptic Crossword Book 22, which I bought last night while waiting for a friend, where the same solution cropped up in grid #3. The clue on that occasion was: “Princess’s annoyance – about time to hasten King’s ballet”.

49. Declined to dismiss match official no longer in top condition? (4)

Answer: USED (i.e. “no longer in top condition”). Solution is REFUSED (i.e. “declined”) with the REF removed (indicated by “to dismiss match official” or referee).

50. Start of summer – immediately autumn and sign of winter? (8)

Answer: SNOWFALL (i.e. “sign of winter”). Solution is S (i.e. “start [letter] of summer”) followed by NOW (i.e. “immediately”) and FALL (i.e. “autumn”).

52. Copper kitchen utensil (6)

Answer: PEELER. Solution satisfies an old slang name for “copper” or policeman, and “kitchen utensil”.

53. Explorer going to platform with unknown flower (11,5)

Answer: LIVINGSTONE DAISY (i.e. rather colourful “flowers”). Solution is David LIVINGSTONE (i.e. “explorer”) followed by DAIS (i.e. “platform”) and Y (i.e. “unknown” – setters love referring to X, Y or Z in their solutions as unknowns).

54. One’s opening call is coming up (6)

Answer: RISING (i.e. “coming up”). Solution is I’S (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one” made possessive) placed in or “opening” RING (i.e. to “call”), like so: R(I’S)ING.

55. Biased individuals helped to lose source of aggression (3-5)

Answer: ONE-SIDED (i.e. “biased”). Solution is ONES (i.e. “individuals”) followed by AIDED (i.e. “helped”) once the first letter has been removed (indicated by “to lose source”), like so: ONES-IDED.

56. Space probe, very old, having a long time in planetary tour finally (7)

Answer: VOYAGER (i.e. “space probe”, launched by NASA in 1977). Solution is V (a recognised abbreviation of “very”), followed by O (ditto “old”), then AGE (i.e. “long time”) once placed “in” between Y and R (i.e. “planetary tour finally”, i.e. the last letters of “planetary” and “tour”), like so: V-O-(Y-(AGE)-R).

Down clues

1. Bird in this way mobbing rook, gaining height (6)

Answer: THRUSH (i.e. “bird”). Solution is THUS (i.e. “in this way”) wrapped around or “mobbing” R (a recognised abbreviation of “rook” used in chess) and followed by H (a recognised abbreviation of “height”), like so: TH(R)US-H.

2. Meal in France no longer excluding last cake (6)

Answer: GATEAU (i.e. “cake”). Solution is TEA (i.e. “meal”) placed “in” GAUL (i.e. “France no longer”, i.e. a former name for France) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “excluding last”), like so: GA(TEA)U.

3. Divine goal to eliminate a burst – of this? (4-5)

Answer: EVIL-DOING. The solution satisfies the clue as a whole, but is also an anagram (indicated by “burst”) of DIVINE GOAL once the A has been removed or “eliminated”.

4. Oversight, Shostakovich’s first in previous works (11)

Answer: SUPERVISION (i.e. “oversight”). Solution is S (i.e. “Shostakovich’s first” letter) followed by an anagram (indicated by “works”) of IN PREVIOUS, like so: S-UPERVISION.

5. Keen to dodge losing love (4)

Answer: AVID (i.e. “keen”). Solution is AVOID (i.e. “dodge”) once the O has been removed (indicated by “losing love” – “love” being a zero score in tennis).

6. Song title that could generate recipe mania? (8,3)

Answer: AMERICAN PIE (i.e. “song title”). “That could generate” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of RECIPE MANIA.

7. After oats? It’s encouraging for horse (7-4)

Answer: HUNTING-CROP (i.e. “it’s encouraging for horse” – I bet the horse begs to differ). Solution is HUNTING (i.e. seeking or “after”) followed by CROP (i.e. “oats”).

8. Cricket body with lots of pages about English courses for summer? (3,6)

Answer: ICE CREAMS (i.e. “courses for summer”). Solution is ICC (i.e. “cricket body”, specifically the International Cricket Council) and REAMS (i.e. “lots of pages”) all wrapped “about” E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”), like so: IC(E)C-REAMS.

10. Quietly heading away, stifling anger completely (8)

Answer: ENTIRELY (i.e. “completely”). Solution is GENTLY (i.e. “quietly”) once the first letter has been removed (indicated by “heading away”) and the remainder wrapped around or “stifling” IRE (i.e. “anger”), like so: ENT(IRE)LY.

11. Novel repairs etc on historic house placed under a notice (1,9,6)

Answer: A CLOCKWORK ORANGE (i.e. “novel” by Anthony Burgess). Solution is WORK (i.e. “repairs etc”) and ORANGE (i.e. Dutch “historic house”, royally speaking) both placed after or “under” – this being a down clue – A and CLOCK (i.e. to “notice”), like so: (A-CLOCK)-WORK-ORANGE.

12. Doctor, not so important, ignoring student, one treating wounds (7)

Answer: DRESSER (i.e. “one treating wounds”). Solution is DR (a recognised abbreviation of “doctor”) followed by LESSER (i.e. “not so important”) once the L has been removed (indicated by “ignoring student” – L being a recognised abbreviation of learner), like so: DR-ESSER.

15. Permanent way guarded by prisoner and soldier (8)

Answer: CONSTANT (i.e. “permanent”). Solution is ST (i.e. “way”, or a recognised abbreviation of a street) placed in or “guarded by” CON (i.e. “prisoner”) and ANT (i.e. “soldier”), like so: CON-(ST)-ANT.

19. Chap leading a search in cave (8)

Answer: CATACOMB (i.e. “cave”). Solution is CAT (slang for a “chap”) followed by A, then COMB (i.e. to “search”).

22. Exploit key item of dressing used in A&E (8)

Answer: ESCAPADE (i.e. “exploit”). Solution is ESC (i.e. “key” on a computer keyboard) followed by PAD (i.e. “item of dressing”) once placed “in” “A&E”, like so: ESC-A(PAD)E.

23. Youngster in care to steal from record company: anxiety for costume designer (8,8)

Answer: WARDROBE MISTRESS (i.e. “costume designer”). Solution is WARD (i.e. “youngster in care”) followed by ROB (i.e. “to steal”), then EMI (i.e. “record company”, Electric & Musical Industries) and STRESS (i.e. “anxiety”).

27. Is harder to get rid of than unfashionable corset (8)

Answer: OUTSTAYS (i.e. “is harder to get rid of”). Solution is OUT (i.e. “unfashionable”) followed by STAYS (i.e. “corset”).

28. Cancel Unionist veto about Democrat (4)

Answer: UNDO (i.e. “cancel”). Solution is U (a recognised abbreviation of “Unionist”) and NO (i.e. “veto”) once wrapped “about” D (a recognised abbreviation of “Democrat”), like so: U-N(D)O.

30. Husband getting over a Times spoof (4)

Answer: HOAX (i.e. “spoof”). Solution is H (a recognised abbreviation of “husband”) followed by O (ditto “over”, used in cricket), then A and X (i.e. “times” – ignore the misleading capitalisation, we’re after the multiplication symbol here).

32. Seeing one, Schuman’s gone to pieces (8)

Answer: INASMUCH (i.e. considering or “seeing”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “gone to pieces”) of I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) and SCHUMAN.

34. That chap – cold and hot within a period of 24 hours, suffering localised pain (8)

Answer: HEADACHY (i.e. “suffering localised pain”). Solution is HE (i.e. “that chap”) followed by C and H (i.e. recognised abbreviations of “cold and hot” respectively, as sometimes seen on water taps) once placed “within” A and DAY (i.e. “period of 24 hours”), like so: HE-(A-DA(C-H)Y).

35. Elevated activity using gold in extravagant creations (11)

Answer: AERONAUTICS (i.e. “elevated activity”). Solution is AU (chemical symbol of “gold”) once placed “in” an anagram (indicated by “extravagant”) of CREATIONS, like so: AERON(AU)TICS.

36. Tetchy Liberal offered encouragement in a seated position (11)

Answer: CROSSLEGGED (i.e. “in a seated position”). Solution is CROSS (i.e. “tetchy”) followed by L (a recognised abbreviation of “Liberal”) and EGGED (i.e. “offered encouragement”).

37. Composer very supportive of harmonica playing, putting in extra note (11)

Answer: Sergei RACHMANINOV (i.e. “composer”). Solution is V (a recognised abbreviation of “very”) placed after or beneath (indicated by “supportive of” – this being a down clue) an anagram (indicated by “playing”) of HARMONICA once wrapped around N (a recognised abbreviation of “note”), like so: RACHMA(N)INO-V.

40. Development promoted for one terminus? (9)

Answer: GESTATION (i.e. “development”). Solution is EG (i.e. “for one”, or for example) reversed (indicated by “promoted” or raised – this being a down clue) and followed by STATION (i.e. “terminus”), like so: GE-STATION.

42. Indian river: I twice run off around delta – twice (9)

Answer: IRRAWADDY (i.e. “Indian river”). Solution is I followed by R and R (i.e. “twice run” – R being a recognised abbreviation of “run” used in a number of ball games), then AWAY (i.e. “off”) once wrapped “around” D and D (i.e. “delta – twice” – “delta” being D in the phonetic alphabet), like so: I-RR-AWA(DD)Y.

43. Expect first diagram to be curtailed (6,2)

Answer: FIGURE ON (i.e. “expect”). Solution is FIGURE ONE (i.e. “first diagram”) with the last letter removed (indicated by “to be curtailed”).

44. Apparently practicable to take The Times? (2,5)

Answer: ON PAPER (i.e. “apparently”). Solution is ON (i.e. “practicable”) followed by PAPER (a newspaper, “The Times”).

46. Painful sensation when carrying six flags (6)

Answer: PAVING (i.e. “flags”). Solution is PANG (i.e. “painful sensation”) wrapped around or “carrying” VI (i.e. “six” in Roman numerals), like so: PA(VI)NG.

47. One trifling in soft bed (6)

Answer: PLAYER (i.e. “one trifling” – to trifle is “to play, toy, amuse oneself” (Chambers)). Solution is P (i.e. “soft”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “piano” used in musical lingo) followed by LAYER (i.e. “bed”).

51. Boss curtailed analysis (4)

Answer: STUD (i.e. “boss”). Solution is STUDY (i.e. “analysis”) once the last letter has been removed (indicated by “curtailed”).

A medium strength offering this week, which is probably just as well after last week’s stinker. 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 foxed you then you might find my Just For Fun page of use, were you’ll find links to hundreds of the things.

Thanks again for the kind words and input. It’s always interesting to hear the thoughts of other solvers once the dust settles. Till next time, stay safe out there kids.

LP

FBV (French-By-Volume): 5%

Across clues

1. Great country ready at last stages event (8,5)

Answer: HIGHLAND GAMES (i.e. “event”). Solution is HIGH (i.e. “great”, e.g. high office) followed by LAND (i.e. “country”), then GAME (i.e. “ready”, as in I’m game) and S (i.e. “at last stages”, i.e. the last letter of “stages”).

8. Just one Roman poet absorbing pressure (9)

Answer: IMPARTIAL (i.e. “just”). Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) and MARTIAL (i.e. “Roman poet”) once wrapped around or “absorbing” P (a recognised abbreviation of “pressure”), like so: I-M(P)ARTIAL.

13. Introduction to Aida expanded in accompaniment (5)

Answer: ALONG (i.e. “in accompaniment”). Solution is A (i.e. “introduction to Aida“, i.e. the first letter of “Aida”) followed by LONG (i.e. “expanded” or far-extended).

14. Heroic drunkard not so wild about love and blunt refusal? (3,1,7)

Answer: TAM O’ SHANTER (i.e. Robert Burns’ “heroic drunkard”). Solution is TAMER (i.e. “not so wild”) wrapped “about” O (i.e. “love”, a zero score in tennis) and SHAN’T (i.e. “blunt refusal”, a contraction of shall not), like so: TAM(O-SHAN’T)ER. In the previous two occasions this solution has appeared in Jumbos it has been listed as (3,8) and (3-1-7). Is it any wonder solvers get frustrated with O’ solutions?

15. Make fuss when avoiding a Greek island (5)

Answer: CRETE (i.e. “Greek island”). Solution is CREATE (i.e. slang for “make fuss”) with the A removed (indicated by “avoiding a”).

16. Woolly bear changing to me: right! (5,4)

Answer: TIGER MOTH (i.e. “woolly bear”, it’s hairy caterpillar form). “Changing” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of TO ME RIGHT.

17. Kiln tested in pair’s absence (4)

Answer: OVEN (i.e. “kiln”). Solution is PROVEN (i.e. “tested”) with the PR removed (indicated by “in pair’s absence” – PR being a recognised abbreviation of “pair”).

18. Send some French dressing (8)

Answer: DESPATCH (i.e. “send”). Solution is DES (i.e. “some French”, i.e. the French for “some”) followed by PATCH (i.e. “dressing”).

20. Varnish from sweetheart: old sweetheart in retirement (6)

Answer: ENAMEL (i.e. “varnish”). Solution is E (i.e. “sweetheart”, i.e. the middle letter of “sweet”) followed by LEMAN (i.e. “old sweetheart”, an archaic term for a lover) once reversed (indicated by “in retirement”), like so: E-NAMEL.

21. Saddle high and yet slipping for potential killer (6,10)

Answer: DEADLY NIGHTSHADE (i.e. “potential killer”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “slipping”) of SADDLE HIGH AND YET.

24. At first those recruits helped and worked hard (9)

Answer: TRAVAILED (i.e. “worked hard”). Solution is T and R (i.e. “at first those recruits”, i.e. the first letters of “those” and “recruits”) followed by AVAILED (i.e. “helped”).

26. Similar drinks put together with classy French wine (7)

Answer: CHATEAU (i.e. “French wine”). Solution is CHA and TEA (i.e. “similar drinks”, the former being slang for the latter) followed by U (i.e. “classy”, supposedly a recognised abbreviation of the upper classes).

27. Like this young woman from East African port (5)

Answer: LAGOS (i.e. “African port”). Solution is SO (i.e. “like this”) and GAL (i.e. “young girl”) all reversed (indicated by “from east”, ignoring the misleading capitalisation and this being an across clue), like so: LAG-OS.

29. Taking cautious approach, apply constant force to bull neutered in Crosby? (6,6)

Answer: BOXING CLEVER (i.e. “taking cautious approach”). Solution is C (a recognised abbreviation of “constant”) and LEVER (i.e. to “force”) “applied…to” or placed after OX (i.e. “bull neutered”) once this has been placed “in” BING “Crosby”, like so: B(OX)ING-(C-LEVER).

31. Up close and personal truth about drug of winner (4,2,4)

Answer: FACE TO FACE (i.e. “up close and personal”). Solution is FACT (i.e. “truth”) wrapped “about” E (i.e. “drug”, slang for ecstasy) and followed by OF, then ACE (i.e. “winner”), like so: FAC(E)T-OF-ACE.

33. Ford’s meeting with British colonialist said to be turning point (10)

Answer: CROSSROADS (i.e. “turning point”). Solution is CROSS (i.e. to “ford”) followed by a homophone (indicated by “said”) of Cecil RHODES (i.e. “British colonialist”), like so: CROSS-ROADS.

35. Charming women’s group granted cracking location in London (6,6)

Answer: COVENT GARDEN (i.e. “location in London”). Solution is COVEN (i.e. “charming women’s group”, referring to a gathering of witches) followed by an anagram (indicated by “cracking”) of GRANTED, like so: COVEN-TGARDEN.

38. In sober company Thomas Stearns Eliot initially confused (2,3)

Answer: AT SEA (i.e. “confused”). Solution is TSE (i.e. “Thomas Stearns Eliot initially”, i.e. the first letters of “Thomas”, “Stearns” and “Eliot”) placed “in” AA (i.e. “sober company”, being Alcoholics Anonymous), like so: A(TSE)A.

39. A staff with stone inlaid for Bartholomew? (7)

Answer: APOSTLE (i.e. Saint “Bartholomew”). Solution is A followed by POLE (i.e. “staff”) once “inlaid” with ST (a recognised abbreviation of “stone”), like so: A-PO(ST)LE.

40. Caution cleaner in vessel carrying ecstasy (9)

Answer: CHARINESS (i.e. “caution”). Solution is CHAR (i.e. a “cleaner”) followed by IN and SS (i.e. “vessel”, being a recognised abbreviation of a steamship) once they are wrapped around or “carrying” E (slang for “ecstasy”, covered earlier), like so: CHAR-IN-(E)-SS.

42. Writer, barbarian coming in to duel crazily with Harry (6,5,5)

Answer: ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE (i.e. “writer”). Solution is CONAN (i.e. Robert E Howard’s “barbarian”) placed or “coming in” an anagram (indicated by “crazily”) of TO DUEL and HARRY.

44. Zoom lens? (6)

Answer: WEBCAM. Clue plays on “Zoom” being a video conferencing platform. You get the idea.

47. Climate measure: one representing sun in autumn? (8)

Answer: RAINFALL (i.e. “climate measure”). Solution is RA (i.e. “one representing sun” in Ancient Egypt) followed by IN and FALL (i.e. “autumn”).

49. Close to piano bar in whisky town (4)

Answer: OBAN (i.e. Scottish “whisky town”). Solution is O (i.e. “close to piano”, i.e. the last letter of “piano”) followed by BAN (i.e. to “bar”).

50. Communist power avoided by extremely smart mountaineer (9)

Answer: STALINIST (i.e. “communist”). Solution is ST (i.e. “extremely smart”, i.e. the first and last letters of “smart”) and ALPINIST (i.e. “mountaineer”) once the P has been removed (indicated by “power avoided by…” – P being a recognised abbreviation of “power”), like so: ST-ALINIST.

52. Soak leaving biscuits for Cremonese craftsman (5)

Answer: AMATI (i.e. “Cremonese craftsman” – (cough) – made to fit – (cough)). Solution is AMARETTI (i.e. almond “biscuits”) with the RET (i.e. to “soak”) removed or “leaving”.

53. Cutting down on waste, mince is no-go for cooking (11)

Answer: ECONOMISING (i.e. “cutting down on waste”). “For cooking” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of MINCE IS NO-GO.

54. Henry with a dark film genre shortly generates capital (5)

Answer: HANOI (i.e. “capital” of Vietnam). Solution is H (a recognised abbreviation of “Henry”, a unit of electrical inductivity) followed by A and NOIR (i.e. “dark film genre”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “shortly”), like so: H-A-NOI.

55. Joining programme in French, large team coming into decline (9)

Answer: ENROLMENT (i.e. “joining programme”). Solution is EN (i.e. “in French”, i.e. the French for “in”) followed by L (a recognised abbreviation of “large”) and MEN (i.e. “team” – you know, I could have sworn we had women’s sports these days. Shows what I know) once both placed “into” ROT (i.e. “decline”), like so: EN-RO(L-MEN)T.

56. Not demanding numbers for an audience? (4,9)

Answer: EASY LISTENING. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, being musical “numbers” of a more gentle persuasion. It also comprises EASY (i.e. “not demanding”) and LISTENING (i.e. “for an audience”, in a hand-wavy don’t-look-too-closely kind of way).

Down clues

1. Sincerely believed explosive material about creative works (9)

Answer: HEARTFELT (i.e. “sincerely believed”). Solution is HE (i.e. “explosive”, specifically High Explosive) and FELT (i.e. “material”) wrapped “about” ART (i.e. “creative works”), like so: HE-(ART)-FELT.

2. Country girl in state (7)

Answer: GEORGIA. A triple-header this one, satisfying “country”, a “girl’s” name and a US “state”.

3. Enigma resolved with elder’s magical skill (11)

Answer: LEGERDEMAIN (i.e. “magical skill” or sleight of hand). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “resolved”) of ENIGMA and ELDER. Disappointing to see the same solution repeated a week later, and the third time in under a year. Come on, setters, step away from your GridFill 4000™s once in a while. Algorithmic word selection serves to narrow choice. Do you think an algorithm is going to select a word like XYLEM in the early stages of a grid fill? Of course not. You’re more likely to see XYLEM on the edges of a grid as the algorithm gets further away from its start point (or from whichever seed words and phrases the setter places in the grid at the beginning). An algorithm is always going to favour words with high proportions of popular letters to help increase its potential pool of intersecting words, which is why we keep seeing the same solutions crop up again and again (see ERNST, ELFIN and RAITA, previous bugbears of mine).

4. People’s knight fighting to oust Camelot’s leader (6)

Answer: NATION (i.e. “people”). Solution is N (a recognised abbreviation of “knight” used in chess) followed by ACTION (i.e. “fighting”) once the C has been removed (indicated by “to oust Camelot’s leader”, i.e. the first letter of “Camelot”), like so: N-ATION.

5. Glue’s thought to secure one that protects pugilist (9)

Answer: GUMSHIELD (i.e. “one that protects pugilist”). Solution is GUM’S (i.e. “glue’s”) followed by HELD (i.e. “thought”) once wrapped around or “securing” I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), like so: GUM’S-H(I)ELD.

6. Professional negligence news boss managed badly (12)

Answer: MISCONDUCTED (i.e. “managed badly”). Solution is MISCONDUCT (i.e. “professional negligence”) followed by ED (i.e. “news boss”, short for editor).

7. Get out fast packaging cold ready-cooked chicken? (7-3)

Answer: SCAREDY-CAT (i.e. “chicken” or coward). Solution is SCAT (i.e. “get out fast”) wrapped around or “packaging” C (a recognised abbreviation of “cold” sometimes used on taps) and an anagram (indicated by “cooked”) of READY, like so: S(C-AREDY)CAT.

8. First nine letters here sent north and one abroad? (4)

Answer: IOTA (i.e. “one [letter] abroad”, specifically the ninth letter of the Greek alphabet). Solution is A TO I (i.e. “first nine letters”) reversed (indicated by “sent north” – this being a down clue), like so: I-OT-A.

9. Choice cut doorman criminally takes outside hostelry (11,5)

Answer: PORTERHOUSE STEAK (i.e. “choice cut” of meat). Solution is PORTER (i.e. “doorman”) and an anagram (indicated by “criminally”) of TAKES wrapped around or placed “outside” of HOUSE (i.e. “hostelry”), like so: PORTER-(HOUSE)-STEAK.

10. Duke leaves MP to state main points again (5)

Answer: RECAP (i.e. “state main points again”). Solution is RED CAP (i.e. “MP”, in this case a Military Policeman) with the D (a recognised abbreviation of “duke”) removed or “leaving”.

11. Laziness in monarch Spanish aunt supports (7)

Answer: INERTIA (i.e. “laziness”). Solution is IN followed by ER (i.e. “monarch”, specifically Elizabeth Regina) and TIA (i.e. “Spanish aunt”, i.e. the Spanish for “aunt”).

12. Right to hold authentic beer mug in small 4 (13)

Answer: LIECHTENSTEIN (i.e. a “small 4” – the answer to 4d being NATION). Solution is LIEN (i.e. a legal “right”) wrapped around or “holding” ECHT (i.e. “authentic”, from the German) and followed by STEIN (i.e. “beer mug”), like so: LI(ECHT)EN-STEIN.

19. Deliver large carpet around one (8)

Answer: LIBERATE (i.e. “deliver”). Solution is L (a recognised abbreviation of “large”) and BERATE (i.e. to “carpet” someone) wrapped “around” I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), like so: L-(I)-BERATE.

22. Portuguese saint swallowing fifty-five shots (5)

Answer: SALVO (i.e. “shots”). Solution is SÃO (i.e. “Portuguese saint”, i.e. the Portuguese for “saint”) wrapped around or “swallowing” LV (i.e. “fifty-five” expressed in Roman numerals), like so: SÃ(LV)O.

23. Voters’ group not yet in, real cool, relaxed, on making entry (9,7)

Answer: ELECTORAL COLLEGE (i.e. “voters’ group”). Solution is ELECT (i.e. “not yet in” office) followed by an anagram (indicated by “relaxed”) of REAL COOL once wrapped around or being “entered” by LEG (i.e. “on” side in cricket), like so: ELECT-ORALCOL(LEG)E.

25. In a practical sense, team hardly careless (7)

Answer: ANXIOUS (i.e. “hardly careless”). Solution is A and NOUS (i.e. “practical sense”) wrapped around or having “in” XI (i.e. “team”, or eleven in Roman numerals), like so: A-N(XI)OUS.

28. Matriarch perhaps on river, well-respected person (7)

Answer: GRANDEE (i.e. “well-respected person”). Solution is GRAN (i.e. “matriarch”) followed by DEE (i.e. Scottish “river”).

29. Writer crowned after graduate, with two Cs, getting a degree (13)

Answer: BACCALAUREATE (i.e. “degree”). Solution is LAUREATE (i.e. “writer crowned”, the latter playing on being crowned with a laurel) placed “after” BA (i.e. “graduate”, specifically a Bachelor of Arts), CC (i.e. “two Cs”) and A, like so: (BA-CC-A)-LAUREATE.

30. In Row D? (3-2-3)

Answer: END-TO-END. Solution satisfies “in row” and, cryptically, “D”, being the last letter or the END TO the word “END”. Nicely done.

32. In company with relatives leaving a prosperous region (4,8)

Answer: HOME COUNTIES (i.e. “prosperous region” of England). Solution is HOME (i.e. “in”, or at home) followed by CO (short for “company”) and AUNTIES (i.e. “relatives”) once the A has been removed (indicated by “leaving a”), like so: HOME-CO-UNTIES.

34. Mayhem: United supporters up for it? (5)

Answer: SNAFU (i.e. “mayhem”). Solution is U (a recognised abbreviation of “United”) and FANS (i.e. “supporters”) all reversed (indicated by “up” – this being a down clue), like so: SNAF-U.

36. Traditional hymn not Garbo’s likely choice? (5,4,2)

Answer: ABIDE WITH ME (i.e. “traditional hymn”). The remainder of the clue plays on the opposite of a famous line ascribed to Greta “Garbo”, being “I want to be alone”.

37. Way old New York dealer briefly becomes hard up (5-5)

Answer: STONY-BROKE (i.e. “hard up”). Solution is ST (i.e. “way”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “street”) followed by O (ditto “old”) and NY (ditto ditto “New York”), then BROKER (i.e. “dealer”) once the last letter has been removed (indicated by “briefly”), like so: ST-O-NY-BROKE.

40. Heavenly Satie composition? Little room to accommodate it (9)

Answer: CELESTIAL (i.e. “heavenly”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “composition”) of SATIE placed in or “accommodated” by CELL (i.e. “little room”), like so: CEL(LESTIA)L.

41. Song George Harrison wrote, part obsession (9)

Answer: SOMETHING (i.e. Beatles “song George Harrison wrote”, appearing on the Abbey Road album). Solution is SOME (i.e. “part”) and THING (i.e. “obsession”, as in having a thing for something).

43. Into which one may disappear – on high Himalayan slopes? (4,3)

Answer: THIN AIR. Solution satisfies “into which one may disappear” and something found “on high Himalayan slopes”.

45. Red from Italy greeting worker in Channel Islands (7)

Answer: CHIANTI (i.e. “red from Italy”). Solution is HI (i.e. “greeting”) and ANT (i.e. “worker”) both placed “in” CI (short for the “Channel Islands”), like so: C(HI-ANT)I.

46. Criminal bands imprisoning English banker (6)

Answer: GANGES (i.e. “banker” or river, as in how they have riverbanks). Solution is GANGS (i.e. “criminal bands”) wrapped around or “imprisoning” E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”), like so: GANG(E)S.

48. Force over channel is gathering (5)

Answer: FRILL (i.e. a “gathering” or ruffle). Solution is F (a recognised abbreviation of “force”) followed by RILL (i.e. “channel” or stream).

51. Vampire maybe seizing type of blood vessel (4)

Answer: BOAT (i.e. “vessel”). Solution is BAT (i.e. “vampire maybe”) wrapped around or “seizing” O (i.e. “type of blood”), like so: B(O)AT.

Run to the hills, people! The French Elder Gods will be most displeased this week, the setter having the temerity to entirely neglect their duties in shoehorning at least one French reference into this week’s Jumbo. Mon dieu!

Mock Francophobic silliness aside, as if you need telling, this week’s Jumbo was a stinker. I suspect this setter’s previous Jumbo was one I accused of being artificially difficult through being overly filled with lazy made-to-fit trash, so it’s good to see a marked reduction this time around. The quality of construction in the clues was also mostly excellent, though there were a few areas where setter and solver weren’t on the same page. It’s just a shame it was such a 52d to complete. It’s weird as I do love misdirection, the more convoluted clues, and clues that have me camped out in my dictionaries, but this started to outstay its welcome by the end. Be careful of what you wish for, I guess.

Anyway, you can find my completed grid below along with explanations of my solutions where I have them. I hope you find them helpful, though it might be worth checking back in case more info comes to light in the comments. Meanwhile, if a recent Jumbo has you pulling your hair out then you might find my Just For Fun page of use, 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 solvers once the dust has settled. Till next time, stay safe out there kids.

LP

[With thanks to Sue and Chris in the comments for fixing 48d.]

Across clues

1. Very young private in film hugging married soldier (11)

Answer: INFANTRYMAN (i.e. “soldier”). Solution is INFANT (i.e. “very young”) followed by RYAN (i.e. “private in film”, referring to the 1998 movie Saving Private Ryan) once wrapped around or “hugging” M (a recognised abbreviation of “married”), like so: INFANT-RY(M)AN.

7. A number to be received by Granma? (2,4,5)

Answer: GO DOWN MOSES (i.e. “a number” or song). Solution is GO DOWN (i.e. “be received”, say, by an audience) followed by “Granma” MOSES, an American folk artist. Although pretty much every reference I’ve seen describes her as “Grandma”, not “Granma”. Could be a typo; could be the setter dicking around.

13. Old bits of logbook laid out oddly (5)

Answer: OBOLI (i.e. “old bits” – over to Chambers: “in ancient Greece, the sixth part of a drachma in weight or in money”). “Oddly” indicates the solution is found in every other letter of LOGBOOK LAID. I guess “out” is there just to make the clue scan. The wordplay was mercifully obvious but, let’s be honest, this was a made-to-fit solution any day of the week.

14. One guilty of slowing down after initially leading in competition (7)

Answer: CULPRIT (i.e. “one guilty”). Solution is RIT (i.e. “slowing down”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of ritardando in musical lingo) placed “after” L (i.e. “initially leading”, i.e. the first letter of “leading”) once this has been placed “in” CUP (i.e. “competition”), like so: (CU(L)P)-RIT.

15. One is going to a kid experiencing discomfort (3,2,4)

Answer: ILL AT EASE (i.e. “experiencing discomfort”). Solution is I’LL (i.e. “one is going to”, specifically a contraction of I WILL) followed by A, then TEASE (i.e. to “kid”).

16. Accompanying racing driver, holding maximum speed in relentless pursuit (5,4)

Answer: WITCH HUNT (i.e. “relentless pursuit”). Solution is WITH (i.e. “accompanying”) and James HUNT (i.e. “racing driver” and 1976 F1 champion) all wrapped around or “holding” C (i.e. “maximum speed”, specifically a constant in physics representing the speed of light, the C in Einstein’s famous equation E=mc²), like so: WIT(C)H-HUNT.

17. Pacifying English gangster’s girl, one so uninitiated (10)

Answer: EMOLLIENCE (i.e. “pacifying”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”) followed by MOLL (i.e. “gangster’s girl”), then I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) and HENCE (i.e. “so”) once its first letter has been removed (indicated by “uninitiated”), like so: E-MOLL-I-ENCE.

20. Wound, not quite septic, that finally is to return again (2-5)

Answer: RE-ELECT (i.e. “to return again” – think returning officers in elections). Solution is REELED (i.e. to have spun or “wound”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “not quite”) and the remainder followed by C and T (i.e. “septic, that finally”, i.e. the last letters of “septic” and “that”), like so: REELE-CT.

22. Set of possible caravanserai pictures brought back (7)

Answer: TRANNIE (i.e. “set”, or transistor radio). I’m not 100% sure on this one, but I’ve got INN (i.e. “caravanserai”, an old inn in some Eastern countries) and ART (i.e. “pictures”) all reversed (indicated by “brought back”). That gives me TRA-NNI. I guess the E comes from “possible” somehow. Maybe a “finally” indicator was lost in the edit?

[EDIT: Thanks to Sue in the comments for suggesting INN is more likely to have been E INN in the solution, given caravanserai were inns in some Eastern countries. That should then give you the missing E. Cheers, Sue! – LP]

24. Resort after a time has spread to west and east (7)

Answer: MARGATE (i.e. “resort” or coastal town in Kent). Solution is A and T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”) placed in or having “to west and east” of it MARGE (i.e. “spread” or margarine), like so: MARG(A-T)E.

25. On a motorway it can be hard to bear (8)

Answer: SHOULDER. Solution satisfies “on a motorway it can be hard” and “to bear”.

26. Maybe be prone to risk neck, somehow, with hesitation (5,2,4,3)

Answer: SKATE ON THIN ICE (i.e. “maybe be prone to risk”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “somehow”) of NECK and HESITATION.

28. Ancient writer’s revolutionary main work (5)

Answer: AESOP (i.e. “ancient writer”). Solution is SEA (i.e. “main” – one definition is the high sea) and OP (i.e. “work”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “opus”) each reversed (indicated by “revolutionary”), like so: AES-OP.

29. Not needing to diet, presumably, one consumes a sort of dip? (6)

Answer: TAHINI (i.e. “sort of dip”, specifically “an oily paste made of crushed sesame seeds” (Chambers)). Solution is THIN (i.e. “not needing to diet, presumably”) and I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) all wrapped around or “consuming” A, like so: T(A)HIN-I. Did you pencil in SKINNY to begin with? Me too.

30. A U category changed to appeal to immature adult? (3,4,3)

Answer: ACT YOUR AGE (i.e. “appeal to immature adult”). “Changed” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of A U CATEGORY.

33. Note left in hotel on an American battlefield (10)

Answer: AUSTERLITZ (i.e. a “battlefield” of the Napoleonic wars). Solution is TE (i.e. musical “note” of the sol-fa scale) followed by L (a recognised abbreviation of “left”) once placed “in” RITZ (a “hotel” chain). This is all then placed “on” or after A US (i.e. “an American”), like so: (A-US)-(TE-R(L)ITZ). Chalk one to my Bradford’s here. I’d reached the “I really can’t be arsed” point.

35. Soap possibly put outside because full of cracks? (6)

Answer: JOCOSE (i.e. “full or cracks” or jokes). Solution is JOE (i.e. “Soap possibly”, referring to Joe Soap, rhyming slang for a dope) placed “outside” of COS (an informal shortened form of “because”), like so: JO(COS)E.

37. One running paper chases hit and disabled (5)

Answer: LAMED (i.e. “disabled”). Solution is ED (i.e. “one running paper”, short for editor) placed after or “chasing” LAM (i.e. to “hit”), like so: LAM-ED.

39. Offence at Rugby which Dr Arnold was there to stop (5,2,3,4)

Answer: KNOCK ON THE HEAD (i.e. “stop”). Solution is KNOCK ON (i.e. “offence at rugby”, ignoring the misleading capitalisation) followed by THE HEAD (i.e. “Dr [Thomas] Arnold”, who was a reforming headmaster of Rugby School in the 1800s). Nicely worked.

41. Buy drinks all round for Americans? Suffers in the morning! (5,3)

Answer: STAND SAM (i.e. “buy drinks all round for Americans” – none of my formal dictionaries back this up, which is disappointing, but it does get a mention in my Cassell’s Dictionary of Slang). Solution is STANDS (i.e. ensures or “suffers”) followed by AM (i.e. “in the morning”).

44. One adding to musical score maybe, unlike one appearing at Glastonbury? (7)

Answer: NOTATOR (i.e. “one adding to musical score maybe”). When written as NOT A TOR the solution also playfully satisfies “unlike one appearing at Glastonbury” – St Michael’s Tower that sits atop Glastonbury Tor often gets photographed against blood moons, super moons etc.

45. Eliminate any reason to make a face when speaking (4,3)

Answer: WIPE OUT (i.e. “eliminate”). Solution comprises homophones (indicated by “when speaking”) of WHY (i.e. “any reason” when asked as a question) and POUT (i.e. “make a face”).

46. Matter that’s collected from a female science graduate, as it were (7)

Answer: ABSCESS (i.e. pus or “matter that’s collected”). The remainder of the clue plays on a jokey “female” form of a BSc or Bachelor of Science (i.e. “science graduate”) by sticking an -ESS on the end, like so: A-BSCESS.

47. Grand entertainer to direct on-line thriller? (5,5)

Answer: GHOST TRAIN (i.e. “on-line thriller”, referring to the track said attraction runs along). Solution is G (a recognised abbreviation of “grand”) followed by HOST (i.e. “entertainer”) and TRAIN (i.e. “to direct”).

49. Female longing to return in vain in suit to EastEnders? (9)

Answer: COCKNEYFY (i.e. to “suit to EastEnders” – stick a gold chain and sheepskin coat on it, that kind of thing). Solution is F (a recognised abbreviation of “female”) and YEN (i.e. “longing”) all reversed (indicated by “to return”) and placed “in” COCKY (i.e. “vain”), like so: COCK(NEY-F)Y. I’ll admit to a feeling of mild horror when I found this was an actual word. It’s as if at some point in time cockneyfying was all the rage, sufficient to see it recognised in dictionaries. Gorblimey, that’s chilling.

53. Article given in love that behold’s removed from wraps? (9)

Answer: VALENTINE. The solution satisfies the waffly clue as a whole, given one would “unwrap” a valentines present or card or some such. Or so I’m told, anyway. I’ve never really understood the point of it all. Meanwhile, it also comprises A (i.e. “article”, being a word like a, an or the), LENT (i.e. “given”) and IN all placed in or “wrapped” by LOVE once the LO (i.e. “behold”) has been “removed”, like so: V(A-LENT-IN)E. Nicely done. Took a while to twig.

54. Shed on field is to go first (4,3)

Answer: LEAD OFF (i.e. “go first”). Solution is DOFF (i.e. to “shed”) placed “on” or after LEA (a meadow or “field”), like so: LEA-DOFF.

55. Pirate copy ultimately you can’t play at school! (8)

Answer: HOOKY (i.e. truancy or something “you can’t play at school”). Solution is HOOK (i.e. “pirate” captain, Peter Pan’s adversary) followed by Y (i.e. “copy ultimately”, i.e. the last letter of “copy”).

56. Deception in the book-keeping department maybe picked up by auditors (11)

Answer: LEGERDEMAIN (i.e. “deception”). Solution comprises homophones (indicated by “picked up by auditors”) of LEDGER DOMAIN (i.e. “book-keeping department”).

57. After winding up down there, rueful in the extreme? (6,5)

Answer: NETHER WORLD. The solution satisfies the clue as a whole, being another way to describe hell, but is also formed through an anagram (indicated by “winding up”) of DOWN THERE and RL (i.e. “rueful in the extreme”, i.e. the first and last letters of “rueful”).

Down clues

1. Implication one can go ahead and press for casting location? (9)

Answer: IRONWORKS (i.e. “casting location”). When written as IRON WORKS the solution also satisfies “implication one can go ahead and press” clothes.

2. Thus draw a bit perhaps on good authority… (4,3,6,5)

Answer: FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTH. Solution satisfies “thus draw a bit perhaps” – a bit being an item of riding gear – and “on good authority”.

3. …as this comes reportedly indeed (5)

Answer: NEIGH (i.e. “as this comes”, following on from the previous solution, being the noise a horse makes). “Reportedly” indicates homophone. Solution is a homophone of NAY (i.e. “indeed”).

4. Park game, one people entering races find engaging (11)

Answer: RECRUITMENT (i.e. the act of “engaging” personnel). Solution is REC (i.e. “park” or recreation area) followed by RU (i.e. “game”, specifically Rugby Union), then I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), then MEN (i.e. “people” – well, 48% of them anyway) once placed in or “entering” TT (i.e. motorbike “races” held on the Isle of Man), like so: REC-RU-I-T(MEN)T.

5. A title one translated at the end of William Tell? (8)

Answer: MILITATE (i.e. to “tell” against – ignore the misleading capitalisation). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “translated”) of A TITLE and I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”, again again again) all placed after or “at the end of” M (i.e. “end [letter] of William” – a bit of recycling there), like so: M-ILITATE.

6. Trying bottle on shelf with iodine: no good (5-7)

Answer: NERVE-RACKING (i.e. an ordeal or “trying”). Solution is NERVE (i.e. “bottle”) followed by RACK (i.e. “shelf”), then I (chemical symbol of “iodine”), then N (a recognised abbreviation of “no”) and G (ditto “good”).

7. Persuade couple over the phone to make do, finally (3,5,2)

Answer: GET ROUND TO (i.e. “do, finally”). Solution is GET ROUND (i.e. “persuade”) followed by a homophone (indicated by “over the phone”) of TWO (i.e. “couple”).

8. “Physician heal thyself!” we might thus infer is the instruction (5)

Answer: DRILL (i.e. “instruction”, as in a military drill). When written as DR ILL the solution playfully satisfies “’Physician heal thyself!’ we might thus infer”, DR being a recognised abbreviation of a doctor or “physician”.

9. Comic about to change male fantasy character (6,5)

Answer: WALTER MITTY (i.e. “fantasy character” from James Thurber’s short story The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty, in which the titular character imagines himself in a variety of heroic scenarios). Solution is WITTY (i.e. “comic”) wrapped “about” ALTER (i.e. “to change”) and M (a recognised abbreviation of “male”), like so: W(ALTER-M)ITTY.

10. Faced fine for burying fish bones (9)

Answer: METACARPI (i.e. “bones” found between the wrist and fingers). Solution is MET (i.e. “faced”) and AI (i.e. “fine”, excellent or A1 written with the 1 replaced by its Roman numeral equivalent) once wrapped around or “burying” CARP (i.e. “fish”), like so: MET-A(CARP)I.

11. Special effects seen after consuming a port! (4)

Answer: SFAX (i.e. “port” of Tunisia). Solution is SFX (short for “special effects”) wrapped around or “consuming” A, like so: SF(A)X. The wordplay was mercifully obvious but consider for a moment how many words also fit the letters “S-A-“. You know, actual real everyday words. Ugh. Come off it, setter.

12. Horse-drawn vehicle, often small and light (4)

Answer: SLED (i.e. “horse-drawn vehicle, often”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “small”) followed by LED (i.e. “light”, specifically a Light Emitting Diode).

18. Battered car (Golf) multistorey may track and film (7,7,4)

Answer: MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR (i.e. “track and film” by The Beatles). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “battered”) of CAR, G (“Golf” in the phonetic alphabet) and MULITSTOREY MAY. Nicely worked.

19. Vicar – the first lady – meeting resistance: split follows (8)

Answer: REVEREND (i.e. “vicar”). Solution is EVE (i.e. “the first lady” in The Bible) placed after or “meeting” R (a recognised abbreviation of electrical “resistance”) and “followed” by REND (i.e. “split”), like so: (R-EVE)-REND.

21. Edge, if not round … is this maybe? (7)

Answer: ELLIPSE. The solution fits the clue as a whole, but also comprises LIP (i.e. “edge”) with ELSE (i.e. “if not”) wrapped “round” it, like so: EL(LIP)SE. Another nicely worked clue that took a while to twig.

23. Schoolboy class of 2021 for example? A cut above? (4,4)

Answer: ETON CROP (i.e. “a cut above”, referring to a haircut). The clue also satisfies “schoolboy class of 2021 for example”, though I can’t see why the setter picked out a specific year. Seems an unnecessary attempt to throw the solver.

27. Doctor Who after hour interrupts musical programme (4,4)

Answer: CHAT SHOW (i.e. “programme”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “doctor”) of WHO – ignoring the misleading formatting – placed “after” H (a recognised abbreviation of “hour”) once placed in or “interrupting” CATS (i.e. Andrew Lloyd Webber “musical”), like so: C(H)ATS-HOW.

28. Those from one state sorry to say when leaving another (8)

Answer: ALASKANS (i.e. “those from one [US] state”). Solution is ALAS (i.e. “sorry to say”) followed by KANSAS (i.e. “another” US state) once the AS has been removed (indicated by “when leaving”, AS being another word for “when”), like so: ALAS-KANS.

31. Completed course in satellite communications (7)

Answer: UPLINKS (i.e. “satellite communications”). Solution is UP (i.e. “completed” or over) followed by LINKS (i.e. golf “course”).

32. Drinks dispenser is found at an oasis as one’s leaving, sadly (4,8)

Answer: SODA FOUNTAIN (i.e. “drinks dispenser”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “sadly”) of IS FOUND AT AN OASIS once the AS I’S has been removed (indicated by “as [Roman numeral] one’s leaving”).

34. Note the employing of an informer somewhere south of Glasgow (11)

Answer: LANARKSHIRE (i.e. “somewhere south of Glasgow”, along with most places if we’re splitting hairs). Solution is LA (i.e. musical “note” in the sol-fa scale) followed by NARK’S HIRE (i.e. “the employing of an informer”).

36. One on settlement admits transport bases cut (8,3)

Answer: ENTRANCE FEE (i.e. “one on settlement admits”). Solution is ENTRANCE (i.e. to elate or “transport”) followed by FEES (i.e. “bases” – Chambers has this for a base fee: “qualified fee, a freehold estate of inheritance to which a qualification is annexed”, or, in English, an interest in property that is recognised so long as a condition continues to be met) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “cut”).

[EDIT: Chris in the comments has a better take on “bases cut”, being the word FEET with the last letter removed. Cheers, Chris! – LP]

38. Blue bloke like a scarlet woman? (10)

Answer: CHAPFALLEN (i.e. “blue”. Can also be spelled CHOPFALLEN, meaning to leave one open-mouthed or dejected). Solution is CHAP (i.e. “bloke”) followed by FALLEN (i.e. “like a scarlet woman” or descriptive of a prostitute).

40. Nick three fragments to make famous figure in 4 (9)

Answer: Herbert KITCHENER, he of the “Your Country Needs You” posters of the First World War (referenced in “famous figure in 4”, the solution to 4 down being RECRUITMENT). “Fragments” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of NICK THREE.

42. One’s recalled painful swelling you had, on the verge of tears? (5-4)

Answer: MISTY-EYED (i.e. “on the verge of tears”). Solution is I’M (i.e. “one’s” – a contraction of “one is” or I AM) reversed (indicated by “recalled”) followed by STYE (a “painful swelling” of the eye) and YE’D (i.e. a contraction of “you had” – a ye olde indicator like “once” would have been nice here), like so: M’I-STYE-YE’D.

43. Project frustrated carrot producer may finally get? (5,3)

Answer: STICK OUT (i.e. to “project”). The remainder of the clue plays on the phrase “carrot and stick” being forms of encouragement and punishment. The inference here is that the carrot has had no effect, so it’s time to get the STICK OUT.

48. Mark of separation, after shrinking, that remains (5)

Answer: THETA. 100% guess here, so watch out. I’m going for this being a symbol or “mark” that is used for a wide variety of purposes. Chambers offers this is a “mark of condemnation” or death, which I suppose you could equate to “mark of separation” if you really squint your eyes. You could also weakly argue that the letters of THETA, after the E has been removed, the word having been “shrunk”, gets you the letters of “that”. I’m not really buying it, though, as such indicators are used to trim end letters from a word, not those in the middle. If someone swings by with a better solution then I’ll update the post.

[EDIT: Scratch that, the solution is TREMA, “a diaresis, two dots placed as a mark of separate pronunciation over a vowel letter” (Chambers). My Oxford comes up dry on this one, which is a rarity. “After shrinking” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: THA(T REMA)INS. Thanks to Chris and Sue in the comments for coming to the rescue! – LP]

50. Be capable of being heard in any conditions (5)

Answer: NOHOW (i.e. “in any conditions” – my Chambers and Oxford would disagree, stating the exact opposite of this, being “a negative” or “under no circumstances”. Hard to see what the setter had in mind here. Maybe everything good in their world is “bad”, “sick” or (especially up north) “hellish”). “Being heard” indicates the solution is a homophone of KNOW HOW (i.e. “be capable of”).

51. No good being upset (4)

Answer: EVIL (i.e. “no good”). Solution is LIVE (i.e. “being”) reversed (indicated by “upset” – this being a down clue).

52. Singular record becoming big hit (4)

Answer: SLOG (i.e. “big hit”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “singular”) followed by LOG (i.e. “record”).