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
- 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”).
- 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.
- Weary flyer (4)
Answer: FLAG. Solution satisfies “weary” – Chambers supports its use as a verb – and a “flyer”.
- 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.
- 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).
- Riotous antics from Australian savage (10)
Answer: SATURNALIA (i.e. “riotous antics”). “Savage” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of AUSTRALIAN.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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”).
- 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.
- 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.
- 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).
- 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”).
- 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.
- 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).
- 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”.
- 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.
- Loot left for grinch (10)
Answer: SPOILSPORT (i.e. “grinch”). Solution is SPOILS (i.e. “loot”) followed by PORT (i.e. “left” in shipspeak).
- 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”).
- Order learned with protest (4,3,4)
Answer: DRAW THE LINE (i.e. “protest”). “Order” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of LEARNED WITH.
- 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”).
- 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.
- 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.
- American jerk (4)
Answer: YANK. Solution satisfies “American” and “jerk”.
- 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”).
- 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
- 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”).
- 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”).
- 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”.
- 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”).
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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).
- 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.
- 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”.
- 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.
- 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”.
- Top location of Welsh castle (8)
Answer: CARDIGAN. Solution satisfies a garment or “top” and “location of Welsh castle”.
- 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).
- Attempt joke (5)
Answer: CRACK. Solution satisfies an “attempt” and a “joke”.
- 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.
- 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!
- 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.
- 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”).
- 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.
- 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).
- 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.
- China in place, or plastic (9)
Answer: PORCELAIN (i.e. “china”). “Plastic” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of IN PLACE OR.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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]
- 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.
- 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.
Lucian Poll's Web Ramblings 
Thanks Lucian. A reasonable one this week, mercifully low on deletions (only one that I could see) and marred only by a couple of names (39d) and one or two obscure definitions.
Re 47d, I think you’re right as far as it goes. The final SH is parsed as “wrap up” – in other words, “be quiet”. See my previous comment…
Take care, and stay safe. SB
Thanks for that, Sue. I’ve updated the post accordingly. Keep well! – LP
My clever friend Ali also thought del was led up, but the I and sh was the wrapped up bit. We often say something ish don’t we but I’m not absolutely sure why it works for this clue. What’s your take?
Hi, Jane. Thanks to Sue’s input a little earlier it turned out that “wrap up” is a phrase that can mean to stop talking, often used as an imperative. This explained SH in the solution. With DEL being LED reversed, and the I taken directly from the clue, this made the solution DEL-I-SH. Thanks for popping in! – LP
A middling one, this, but a few too many clues with a ? at the end, which is never a good sign. I think BTFAH is correct about the parsing of DELISH.
We really liked this one, several clever, original and/or amusing clues. None of them were particularly obscure or contrived. Smiles for Y-Fronts and See You.
Many thanks for your parsings Lucian. We got Apricot without spotting the icot piece. So now all is clear.
Thanks, Lucian. I thought that this was one of the best for ages with many pleasing clues. I wasn’t sure that delish was a valid word but there it was in my Shorter Oxford. Cheers
An enjoyable puzzle on the whole, so well played The Setter.
Only quibble is in 43d. Yes, ’embraced by’ is a containment indicator, but it’s not usual (is it?) to have the containing text ( hORATIO Nelson ) outwith the actual text of the clue ie it’s the answer to part of the clue ?
Happy to be corrected though by those with more experience.
Thx Lucian – your explanations are helpful, as ever.
Liked this one, and thought everything fair but for a quibble over 28a: ‘withdrawn’ (though you accepted it, Lucian) is a terrible indicator for reversal because in plain language withdrawn = removed. Never mind; Arms and The Man enhances any Jumbo. I do like witty 2-word clues like 10a, 27d, 54a; also 3d where the clue is no longer than its solution. Also enjoy inherently funny words like Y fronts and mankini (Lucian, is that a Borat swimsuit, hence your Jagshemash reference?)
Enjoyed this one too, except for the prevalence of homophones which I have a lifelong aversion from. As the first was in 1ac, I did notice it more than you while I was doing the puzzle.
Indeed 1ac really got my goat when you explained it – PORE is not a homophone for PAW in my vocabulary – which stems from my being half Scots and educated mostly in North Britain. The insidious addition of an R pronounced at the end of words ending with an AW sound is a particular anathema (was going to say bete noir but don’t have a circumflex available in this program, and won’t spoil a week for you with French by volume otherwise nil! ) Indeed I find that a lot of English speakers even believe DRAWER (furniture, banking etc) is spelt DRAW because they hear the extra R that they expect… Sorry to be so pedantic ….
Many thanks for explanations and comments as always.