Times Jumbo Cryptic Crossword 1618

Ah, a Bank Holiday stinker. It’s been a while. Today’s puzzle also represents a Greatest Hits celebration of Jumbos gone by, with a whopping 25% of the solutions recycled from the past year. Given this setter strives to use every letter of the alphabet in their grids, it’s surprising to discover they are by some distance the biggest offender when it comes to abusing the office GridFill 4000^TM. If it wasn’t for their varied and inventive clueing then I’d have felt sorely cheated, having done a decent chunk of the Jumbo already.

Aaanyway, as ever 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 defeated you 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 solvers once they’ve set down their pens. Till next time, stay safe out there kids.

LP

RBV (Repeats-By-Volume): 25%
Wow. Just wow.

Across clues

1. Extraordinary achiever, ultimately faithful and gallant (9)

Answer: CHEVALIER (i.e. a knight or “gallant”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “extraordinary”) of ACHIEVER and L (i.e. “ultimately faithful”, i.e. the last letter of “faithful”). Straight out the traps with a repeat, this one from only last month in grid 1606. This also appeared on odd intersecting letters, so:

6. Plant put down by small pasture on level (3-7)

Answer: COW-PARSLEY (i.e. “plant”). Solution is COW (i.e. to subdue the spirit of, or “put down”) followed by S (a recognised abbreviation of “small”) and LEY (i.e. “pasture”, a variant spelling of lea) once these latter two have been placed “on” or after PAR (i.e. “level”), like so: COW-(PAR)-S-LEY. PARSELY appeared a couple of weeks ago, but I guess this is sufficiently different to warrant a meme.

12. Like a belief that has died, first one held (7)

Answer: DEISTIC (i.e. “like a belief”). Solution is DEC (i.e. “died”, short for deceased) wrapped around or “holding” IST (i.e. “first”, taking 1 to be its Roman numeral equivalent) and I (i.e. Roman numeral “one” again), like so: DE(IST-I)C.

13. Exercises serve my needs most of the time: measure of my progress? (9)

Answer: PEDOMETER (i.e. “measure of my progress” within the context of the clue). Solution is PE (i.e. “exercises”, specifically Physical Education) followed by DO ME (i.e. “serve my needs”) and TERM (i.e. a period of “time”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “most of”), like so: PE-DO-ME-TER.

14. Appropriate uniform on French page (5)

Answer: USURP (i.e. to forcefully take possession of, or to “appropriate”). Solution is U (“uniform” in the phonetic alphabet) followed by SUR (i.e. “on French”, i.e. the French for “on”) and P (a recognised abbreviation of “page”).

16. Four lovable OAPS primarily out for pleasure, purely? (6,2,4)

Answer: LABOUR OF LOVE (i.e. “for pleasure, purely”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “out”) of FOUR LOVABLE and O (i.e. “OAPS primarily”, i.e. the first letter of “OAPS”).

17. Brochure for goggles to be worn by group of workers (10)

Answer: PROSPECTUS (i.e. “brochure”). Solution is PRO (i.e. “for”) followed by SPECS (i.e. “goggles”) once wrapped around TU (i.e. “workers”, specifically a Trade Union), like so: PRO-SPEC(TU)S. Appeared in grid 1582 back in October, also on even intersecting letters, so…

19. Emotional person full of joy – and one using head: it’s different (14)

Answer: SENTIMENTALIST (i.e. “emotional person”). Solution is SENT (i.e. in an ecstatic state or “full of joy”) followed by I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one” again), then MENTAL (i.e. “using head”) and an anagram (indicated by “different”) of IT’S, like so: SENT-I-MENTAL-IST. SENTIMENTAL also appeared in grid 1590 on New Year’s Eve on odd intersecting letters, so…

22. King once originally legally installed in eastern bankrupt state? (8)

Answer: ETHELRED (i.e. “king once” around the turn of the (first) millennium). Solution is L (i.e. “originally legally”) placed “in” E (a recognised abbreviation of “eastern”) and THE RED (i.e. “bankrupt state”), like so: E-THE-(L)-RED. ETHELRED THE UNREADY appeared only a few weeks ago, but on odd intersecting letters. A similar clue too, at least for the ETHELRED bit. Made this an easier get, at least once I’d had a few letters filled in.

24. Cut out for duty? (6)

Answer: EXCISE. Solution satisfies “cut”, and a “duty” or tax.

25. Band of rock found in sea? Elaborate! (4,6)

Answer: DEEP PURPLE (i.e. “band of rock” – I heartily approve! (Insert devil horns emoji here)). Solution is DEEP (i.e. the “sea”) followed by PURPLE (i.e. “elaborate” or overly-ornate writing).

26. Rumour of some preconditions (2,3)

Answer: ON DIT (i.e. “rumour”). “Of some” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: PREC(ON-DIT)IONS. Another repeat, and another from only last month, this time from grid 1607. It was on odd intersecting letters too, so:

29. Shut pipe down, finding rot (4)

Answer: TOSH (i.e. “rot” or rubbish). Solution is TO (i.e. “shut”, as in a door closed to) followed by SH (i.e. “pipe down” or shush).

30. Poet’s singular book on drink, so short (8)

Answer: Allen GINSBERG (i.e. “poet”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “singular”), B (ditto “book”) both placed “on” or after GIN (i.e. “drink”) and followed by ERGO (i.e. therefore or “so”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “short”), like so: GIN-(S-B)-ERG. You’ll probably know him well as he was only here two days ago in the last Jumbo, also on even intersecting letters. Wow, these memes are really starting to mount up, aren’t they?

32. As a man, like ties often? (3-6)

Answer: TWO-LEGGED. Solution satisfies “as a man” usually, and “like ties often”, referring to matches played over home and away legs.

34. Split kebab containing first class spread (2,1,6)

Answer: DO A RUNNER (i.e. “split”). Solution is DONER (i.e. “kebab”) wrapped around or “containing” A (i.e. “first class”) and RUN (i.e. “spread”), like so: DO(A-RUN)NER. Appeared back in June in grid 1562, also on odd intersecting letters, so…

35. Go after eg turning on my devices (8)

Answer: GADGETRY (i.e. “devices”). Solution is TRY (i.e. a “go”) placed “after” EG reversed (indicated by “turning”) once this has itself been placed “on” or after GAD (i.e. “my”, both exclamations), like so: GAD-GE-TRY.

36. Pupils no longer putting heads together making error (4)

Answer: BOOB (i.e. “error”). Solution is OB (i.e. a “pupil no longer”, specifically an Old Boy), two OBs placed “heads together” getting you BO-OB.

39. Staunch flow to bypass patient’s glands: every second counts! (5)

Answer: LOYAL (i.e. “staunch”). “Every second counts” indicates the solution is derived from the second letters of FLOW TO BYPASS PATIENT’S GLANDS. Appeared back in August in grid 1570, also on odd intersecting letters, so…

40. Powerful salesperson, flash, not stopped by Glasgow cops (10)

Answer: MONOPOLIST (i.e. “powerful salesperson”). Solution is MO (i.e. “flash” or short period of time) followed by NOT once wrapped around or “stopped by” POLIS (i.e. “Glasgow police”, or a Scots form of “police”. Also Irish, apparently), like so: MO-NO(POLIS)T.

42. Reportedly, need to pay does maybe shame (2,4)

Answer: OH DEAR (i.e. “shame”). “Reportedly” indicates homophone. Solution comprises homophones of OWE DEER (i.e. “need to pay does maybe” – a “doe” being a female deer). Also appeared only last month in grid 1609, also on even intersecting letters, so…

44. Japanese writing welcome newspaper anecdotes (8)

Answer: HIRAGANA (i.e. “Japanese writing” – over to Chambers: “the more widely used of the two Japanese systems of syllabic writing (the other being katakana)”). Solution is HI (i.e. “welcome”) followed by RAG (i.e. slang for a “newspaper”) and ANA (i.e. “anecdotes”, being “a collection of someone’s table talk or of gossip, literary anecdotes or possessions” (Chambers) – we’ve seen this a few times in Jumbos now. One worth keeping in mind). One nailed solely from the wordplay.

46. Novel mug excited connoisseur (8,6)

Answer: ROBINSON CRUSOE (i.e. “novel” by Daniel Defoe). Solution is ROB (i.e. to “mug”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “excited”) of CONNOISSEUR. Nicely done.

48. Number of hooters perhaps around one as traffic is queuing? (4,2,4)

Answer: NOSE TO TAIL (i.e. “as traffic is queuing”). Solution is NOSE TOTAL (i.e. “number of hooters perhaps”) wrapped “around” I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one” again), like so: NOSE-TOTA(I)L.

49. What’s done to cow’s carcass, etc: it’s awful (5,7)

Answer: SCARE TACTICS (i.e. “what’s done to cow” – recall COW from 6a). “Awful” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of CARCASS ETC IT.

53. Spitfire having right to open vintage display (5)

Answer: SHREW (i.e. “spitfire” or hot-tempered woman). Solution is R (a recognised abbreviation of “right”) placed in or “opening” SHEW (i.e. “vintage display”, or an archaic form of “show”), like so: SH(R)EW.

54. Loving to add to volume, becoming noisy (9)

Answer: CLAMOROUS (i.e. “noisy”). Solution is AMOROUS (i.e. “loving”) “added” to the end of CL (i.e. “volume”, in this case a centilitre), like so: CL-AMOROUS.

55. Expert on old card game subject to sanction (2,5)

Answer: ON APPRO (i.e. “subject to sanction”). Solution is PRO (i.e. “expert”) placed “on” or after O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”) and NAP (i.e. “old card game”, short for Napoleon apparently), like so: (O-NAP)-PRO.

56. Site of monastery one’s visiting announced quite secure (4,6)

Answer: HOLY ISLAND (i.e. “site of monastery”, Lindisfarne). Solution is I’S (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one’s”) placed in or “visiting” a homophone (indicated by “announced”) of WHOLLY (i.e. “quite”) and LAND (i.e. to “secure”), like so: HOLY-(I’S)-LAND.

57. Wind up in hospital with child and dependants (7-2)

Answer: HANGERS-ON (i.e. “dependants”). Solution is ANGER (i.e. “wind up”) placed “in” H (a recognised abbreviation of “hospital” used on maps) and SON (i.e. “child”), like so: H-(ANGER)-SON. Already appeared this month in grid 1613, also on odd intersecting letters, so…

Down clues

1. Traces of clay left in model built to scale (5)

Answer: CLIMB (i.e. “scale”). “Traces of” indicates the solution is derived from the initial letters of CLAY LEFT IN MODEL BUILT. Also appeared in February in grid 1601, also on odd intersecting letters, so…

2. Gent, unclothed: so I like time in the buff! (10)

Answer: ENTHUSIAST (i.e. “buff”). Solution is EN (i.e. “gent, unclothed”, i.e. the word “gent” with its first and last letters removed) followed by THUS (i.e. “so”), then I, then AS (i.e. “like”) and T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”).

3. Once hard, melting fast (8)

Answer: ANCHORED (i.e. held “fast”). “Melting” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of ONCE HARD.

4. Big map we all used off and on for drive (5)

Answer: IMPEL (i.e. “drive”). “Off and on” indicates the solution is derived from every other letter of BIG MAP WE ALL.

5. Republican first lady turned politician is convert (9)

Answer: REDEVELOP (i.e. “convert”). Solution is RED (i.e. “republican” colour, e.g. in the US) followed by EVE (i.e. “first lady”, if The Bible is to be believed) and POL (short for “politician”) once this latter has been reversed (indicated by “turned”), like so: RED-EVE-LOP.

6. Tease band releasing second disc (4)

Answer: COMB (i.e. to “tease” fibres or hair into place). Solution is COMBO (i.e. “band”) once the “second” O or “disc”, referring to its shape, is removed or “released”.

7. Alert when keeping note of liquid? (6)

Answer: WATERY (i.e. “of liquid”). Solution WARY (i.e. “alert”) once wrapped around or “keeping” TE (a “note” of the sol-fa scale, i.e. your doh-ray-me etc), like so: WA(TE)RY.

8. Comprehensive answer put out by directors (6-3-5)

Answer: ACROSS-THE-BOARD (i.e. “comprehensive”). Solution is A (a recognised abbreviation of “answer”, as in Q&A) followed by CROSS (i.e. “put out”) and THE BOARD (i.e. “directors” of an organisation).

9. Music-makers got in fights with girlfriend? (7-5)

Answer: SQUEEZE-BOXES (i.e. “music-makers”, accordions). Clue playfully satisfies “fights with girlfriend”, SQUEEZE being slang for a girlfriend.

10. Circle line is failing even at peak (7)

Answer: EQUATOR (i.e. imaginary “circle” around the earth). Solution is EQUAL (i.e. “even”) with the L removed (indicated by “line is failing…” – L being a recognised abbreviation of “line”) and the remainder followed by TOR (i.e. “peak”), like so: EQUA-TOR.

11. Youth with a mean statement from NY benefit office? (10)

Answer: ADOLESCENT (i.e. “youth”). When written as A DOLE’S CENT the solution also playfully satisfies “a mean statement from NY benefit office” – cents being US currency.

15. Seen to go with the job, as cheque might be? (9)

Answer: POSTDATED (i.e. “as cheque might be”). Solution is DATED (i.e. “seen”, amorously) placed after or “with” POST (i.e. “job”), like so: POST-DATED.

18. Relieved seeing that wise daughter protects you (8)

Answer: ASSUAGED (i.e. “relieved”). Solution is AS (i.e. “seeing that”), SAGE (i.e. “wise”) and D (a recognised abbreviation of “daughter”) all wrapped around or “protecting” U (“you” – not something I can immediately see supported in my Chambers, but you do see it often enough in brand names, e.g. Phones 4u, Spudulike etc), like so: AS-S(U)AGE-D.

20. Moving scenery as required (9)

Answer: NECESSARY (i.e. “required”). “Moving” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of SCENERY AS. Appeared in grid 1587 back in December, also on odd intersecting letters, and using most of the same clue too, so…

21. Ultimately not inspiring confidence when Society’s lost saving! (10)

Answer: TREASURING (i.e. “saving”). Solution is T (i.e. “ultimately not”, i.e. the last letter of “not”) followed by REASSURING (i.e. “inspiring confidence”) once one of the Ss is removed (indicated by “when Society’s lost” – S being a recognised abbreviation of “society”), like so: T-REASURING. Like GINSBERG, TREASURE appeared only two bloody days ago, also on odd intersecting letters, so have another meme…

23. Highpoint in resort is teashop opening on the front (10)

Answer: APOTHEOSIS (i.e. “highpoint”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “resort”) of IS TEASHOP and O (i.e. “opening on the front”, i.e. the first letter of “opening”). One I knew mostly from the second sentence of Stephen King’s The Gunslinger (the first book of his Dark Tower series), mostly because I had to get off my fat arse to get a dictionary to find out what an apotheosis was.

27. Well they mean to follow instructions – with one difference (2-7)

Answer: DO-GOODERS (i.e. “well they mean”. Indeed, wise Yoda). Solution is DOG (i.e. “to follow”) followed by ORDERS (i.e. “instructions”) once subjected to “one difference”, like so: DOG-O(R)DERS => DOG-O(O)DERS. This kind of vague, hand-wavy wordplay is rarely satisfying. Meanwhile, DO-GOODER appeared in 1605 (like CHEVALIER) but on even intersecting letters.

28. Flavoursome stuff from old poet at battle scene, seconds later (8,6)

Answer: CINNAMON STICKS (i.e. “flavoursome stuff”). Solution is Helvius CINNA (i.e. “old poet” of the late Roman Republic) followed by MONS (i.e. “battle scene” of the First World War) and TICKS (i.e. “seconds”).

31. What’s laid on the table? That’s also what it’s for (3,5)

Answer: EGG SPOON. One of those “& lit” things where the solution satisfies the clue as a whole. The solution could also comprise EGG (i.e. “what’s laid” by a hen) and SPOON, however the latter is derived. I thought a dictionary might list “table” as a shortened form of “tablespoon”, but nothing immediately jumped out at me. Bradford’s likes the usage, but I’d like to know why. As ever, if anyone offers up a satisfactory solution then I’ll update the post, otherwise I’m getting on with what remains of the day.

33. Make hot and spicy one, starter for guests, a brown colour? (12)

Answer: MULLIGATAWNY. Another unsatisfactory clue. I guess the solution is referring to a “hot and spicy” soup, recycling part of the clue to get MULL (i.e. “make hot and spicy”), then I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”, yet again), then G (i.e. “starter [letter] for guests”), then A and finally TAWNY (i.e. “brown colour”). Alternatively, the setter might be trying to pass off MULLIGATAWNY as a “colour”, but none of my dictionaries support it.

34. Stars using key to open public house across the pond (9)

Answer: DELPHINUS (i.e. “stars” – a win for my Bradford’s. As regular readers know, I can’t be hacked with made-to-fit trash, so this got short thrift the moment I had enough letters). Solution is DEL (i.e. “key”) followed by PH (i.e. a recognised abbreviation of “public house” – I guess “to open” is referring to initial letters thereof and is there only to help make the clue scan) and IN US (i.e. “across the pond”, referring to the United States).

37. As unaccompanied group, one might keep Pole outside? (10)

Answer: BARBERSHOP (i.e. “an unaccompanied group”, referring to a barbershop quartet). The remainder of the clue plays on how many barbers will have a stripy “pole” outside their place of business. Ignore the misleading capitalisation.

38. Evidently inferior charts slid off the wall (5-5)

Answer: THIRD-CLASS (i.e. “evidently inferior”). “Off the wall” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of CHARTS SLID. Nicely worked.

41. Male garment and watch included with eighth sale item? (9)

Answer: LOINCLOTH (i.e. “male garment”). Solution is LO (i.e. “watch” or see, as in lo and behold) followed by INC (short for “included”) and LOT H (which playfully satisfies “eighth sale item”, H being the eighth letter of the alphabet). Appeared in grid 1605 back in March, also on odd intersecting letters, so…

43. Personal chaperone, too near hosts (3-2-3)

Answer: ONE-TO-ONE (i.e. “personal”). “Hosts” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: CHAPER(ONE-TOO-NE)AR.

45. Before ten, mostly unusual to consume very large port (7)

Answer: ROSARIO (i.e. “port” in Argentina – for made-to-fit constellations see also made-to-fit ports. Treat all such solutions with the contempt they deserve). Solution is IO (i.e. “ten” – I’m sure you can see why). “Before” this is placed RARE (i.e. “unusual”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “mostly”) and the remainder wrapped around or “consuming” OS (i.e. “very large”, a recognised abbreviation of “outsize”), like so: (R(OS)AR)-IO.

47. Rogue agents have pinched bug with drone (6)

Answer: CICADA (i.e. “bug with drone”). Solution is CAD (i.e. “rogue”) placed in or “pinched” by CIA (i.e. “agents”, specifically the Central Intelligence Agency of the US), like so: CI(CAD)A. Also appeared in grid 1595 back in January, also on even intersecting letters, so…

50. Touching what’s potentially deadly sticky stuff (5)

Answer: RESIN (i.e. “sticky stuff”). Solution is RE (i.e. “touching” on or regarding – think email replies) followed by SIN (i.e. “what’s potentially deadly”, referring to the seven deadly sins). Also appeared in grid 1580 back in October, also on odd intersecting letters, so…

51. One very quietly performing winning move (5)

Answer: IPPON (i.e. a “winning move” in judo or karate). Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one” again, again, again, again, again, again, again) followed by PP (i.e. “very quietly”, i.e. a recognised abbreviation of “pianissimo” used in musical lingo) and ON (i.e. “performing”). Another nailed solely from the wordplay.

52. Not exactly getting on, being unfriendly (4)

Answer: COLD (i.e. “unfriendly”). Solution is C (i.e. “not exactly”, i.e. a recognised abbreviation of “circa”) followed by OLD (i.e. “getting on”).