A medium strength Jumbo this week, and a nice one to dip into during the day. There were some very good clues to decipher, too; it was just a shame there were a couple of double-repeats. Time to take EARNEST and RESIN out of the GridFill™ 4000’s word pool, setters!
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 given you nightmares 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 help. 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
RBV (Repeats-By-Volume): 10.3%
Across clues
- Engineers haul back shell (6)
Answer: TRACER (i.e. a bullet or “shell” that leaves a detectable trail). Solution is RE (i.e. “engineers”, specifically the Royal Engineers of the British Army) and CART (i.e. to “haul”) all reversed (indicated by “back”), like so: TRAC-ER.
- Small amount of liquid food put before prisoner (7)
Answer: SOUPCON (i.e. a “small amount”). Solution is SOUP (i.e. “liquid food”) followed by CON (i.e. “prisoner”).
- A racket precedes wild riot in slaughterhouse (8)
Answer: ABATTOIR (i.e. “slaughterhouse”). Solution is A, then BAT (i.e. a “racket” in some sports) and an anagram (indicated by “wild”) of RIOT, like so: A-BAT-TOIR.
- The very antithesis of Lethe as a literary device (6,2,13)
Answer: STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS (i.e. “literary device”, also known as bad writing). Clue plays on the River Lethe in Greek mythology, one of the five rivers of Hades, where those who drank from it suffered complete forgetfulness. Nicely worked.
- A lot of covet and run to get hitched? That gives cover (8)
Answer: ENVELOPE (i.e. “cover”). Solution is ENVY (i.e. “covet”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “a lot of…”) and the remainder followed by ELOPE (i.e. “run to get hitched” or married), like so: ENV-ELOPE.
- Very serious musical ability where birds live (7)
Answer: EARNEST (i.e. “very serious”). Solution is EAR (i.e. “musical ability”) followed by NEST (i.e. “where birds live”). A popular solution this, having previously appeared in grid 1589 back in December and again in 1612 a couple of months ago in May, all on odd intersecting letters. Have a double meme…
- European authorised to bring out (6)
Answer: ELICIT (i.e. “to bring out”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “European”) followed by LICIT (i.e. “authorised”).
- Who might find ore of sort with copper for smelting? (10)
Answer: PROSPECTOR (i.e. “who might find ore” – prospecting is often associated with panning for gold). “Smelting” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of SORT and COPPER. Another nicely worked clue. We’ve had a couple of PROSEPECTUSes this last year, but this is different enough to let slide.
- Indecisive and daft girl twice accepting hearts (12)
Answer: SHILLYSHALLY (i.e. “indecisive” – not sure I agree here. Chambers supports the solution as a noun, but not the word “indecisive”. “Be indecisive”, yes, but not the word merely on its own). Solution is SILLY (i.e. “daft”) and SALLY (i.e. “girl’s” name) both or “twice” wrapped around or “accepting” H (a recognised abbreviation of “hearts” used in card games), like so: S(H)ILLY-S(H)ALLY.
- Bullets retained by retiring commandos (4)
Answer: AMMO (i.e. “bullets”). “Retained by” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, while “retiring” indicates the solution has been reversed, like so: C(OMMA)NDOS.
- Repudiate record sounding weak (8)
Answer: DISCLAIM (i.e. “repudiate”). Solution is DISC (i.e. “record”) followed by a homophone (indicated by “sounding”) of LAME (i.e. “weak”), like so: DISC-LAIM.
- Problem breaks revolutionary northern English yarn (8)
Answer: CHENILLE (i.e. “yarn” – over to Chambers: “a thick, velvety cord or yarn of silk or wool resembling a woolly caterpillar”). Solution is ILL (i.e. “problem”) placed in or “breaking” CHE Guevara (i.e. “revolutionary” popular with cryptic crossword setters), N (a recognised abbreviation of “northern”) and E (ditto “English”), like so: CHE-N-(ILL)-E. One nailed from the wordplay alone.
- Constantly changing sequence of cabbage I cook with range (12)
Answer: KALEIDOSCOPE (i.e. “constantly changing sequence” of colour). Solution is KALE (a variety of “cabbage”) followed by I, then DO (i.e. “cook”) and SCOPE (i.e. “range”).
- Perhaps unsettle disturbed oldies once (10)
Answer: DECOLONISE (i.e. “perhaps unsettle”, a play on settlements). “Disturbed” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of OLDIES ONCE.
- Character actor’s words have singular sympathy (10)
Answer: KINDLINESS (i.e. “sympathy”). Solution is KIND (i.e. “character”) followed by LINES (i.e. “actor’s words”) and S (a recognised abbreviation of “singular”).
- Study backed name and identity of birds from the north (12)
Answer: SCANDINAVIAN (i.e. “from the north”). Solution is SCAN (i.e. to “study”) followed by N (a recognised abbreviation of “name”) and ID (short for “identity”) once these latter two have been reversed (indicated by “backed”). This is all then followed by AVIAN (i.e. “of birds”), like so: SCAN-(DI-N)-AVIAN.
- Utensil for lifting nits and parasites (3,5)
Answer: EGG SLICE (i.e. “utensil”). Solution is EGGS (i.e. “nits”, the eggs of headlice) followed by LICE (i.e. “parasites”).
- Failing to start barrier around pit in area of raised land (8)
Answer: EMINENCE (i.e. an “area of raised land”). Solution is FENCE (i.e. “barrier”) once its first letter has been removed (indicated by “failing to start”) and the remainder wrapped “around” MINE (i.e. “pit”), like so: E(MINE)NCE.
- Priest’s relation of thing hard to pass through needle in sermon? (4)
Answer: LAMA (i.e. a Buddhist “priest” in Tibet). The rest of the clue plays on a Bible quote “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God”, taking LLAMA to be a relative of the camel. “In sermon” indicates we’re looking at a homophone of LLAMA, given sermons are usually delivered verbally.
- Novel garment tailored as befitting minister’s function (12)
Answer: GOVERNMENTAL (i.e. “as befitting minister’s function”). “Tailored” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of NOVEL GARMENT.
- With less hair, pelt is rubbish (10)
Answer: BALDERDASH (i.e. “rubbish”). Solution is BALDER (i.e. “with less hair”) followed by DASH (i.e. to “pelt”). Another well-worked clue.
- Language of British English – right English used in Britain? (6)
Answer: BERBER (i.e. “language” of “the Muslim peoples of N Africa” (Chambers)). Solution is B (a recognised abbreviation of “British”), E (ditto “English”), R (ditto, ditto “right”), E (“English” again) all placed “in” BR (a different recognised abbreviation of “British”), like so: B(E-R-B-E)R.
- Laundering capital is out of fashion (7)
Answer: WASHING (i.e. “laundering”). Solution is WASHINGTON (i.e. “capital” of the United States, commonly) with the TON removed (indicated by “out of fashion” – a variant meaning of TON being fashion. I keep seeing it in Jumbos but never in real life).
- Projection starting price has to shoot up (8)
Answer: SPROCKET (i.e. “projection”, or “a tooth on the rim of a wheel or capstan for engaging the chain” (Chambers)). Solution is SP (a recognised abbreviation of “starting price”, the odds on a horse when a race begins) followed by ROCKET (i.e. “to shoot up”).
- Possibly lip-read chronic emotion? An aid to eavesdropping (11,10)
Answer: DIRECTIONAL MICROPHONE (i.e. “an aid to eavesdropping” – the image of paranoic 70s spy movies was strong here). “Possibly” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of LIP-READ CHRONIC EMOTION.
- Steamship has loaded bananas first in a profitless venture (4,4)
Answer: DEAD LOSS (i.e. “profitless venture”). Solution is SS (a recognised abbreviation of “steamship”) placed after or having “first” an anagram (indicated by “bananas”) of LOADED, like so: DEADLO-SS.
- Film I and others back (7)
Answer: WESTERN (i.e. variety of “film”). Solution is WE (i.e. “I and others”) followed by STERN (i.e. “back” of a boat).
- Lines in recipe tending not to give milk (6)
Answer: DRYISH (i.e. “tending not to give milk”). Solution is RY (i.e. “lines”, in this case a recognised abbreviation of a “railway”) placed “in” DISH (i.e. “recipe”), like so: D(RY)ISH.
Down clues
- Manufacture singles – that uses vinyl, perhaps (5)
Answer: RESIN (i.e. “vinyl, perhaps”). “That uses” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: MANUFACTU(RE SIN)GLES. Another doubler, this time from October in grid 1580 and grid 1618 at the end of May, all on odd intersecting letters, so have another couple of memes…
- Turns on cast foundation (11)
Answer: CORNERSTONE (i.e. “foundation”). Solution is CORNERS (i.e. “turns”) followed by TONE (i.e. “cast”, or “an overall shade or tinge of colour” (Chambers)).
- Considered a red nose funny (8)
Answer: REASONED (i.e. “considered”). “Funny” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of A RED NOSE. We did have REASON in grid 1570 back in August, but on even intersecting letters.
- Pinched part of foot around top of toe (5)
Answer: STOLE (i.e. “pinched”). Solution is SOLE (i.e. “part of foot”) wrapped “around” T (i.e. “top of toe”, i.e. the first letter of “toe”), like so: S(T)OLE.
- Vague relative needs care at heart (7)
Answer: UNCLEAR (i.e. “vague”). Solution is UNCLE (i.e. “relative”) followed by AR (i.e. “care at heart”, i.e. the middle letters of “care”). Appeared in grid 1605 back in March, also on odd intersecting letters, so…
- Secret agent upset to become the focus of attention (6,5)
Answer: CENTRE STAGE (i.e. “focus of attention”). “Upset” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of SECRET AGENT. Excellent clue, best of the lot.
- Suitable position in life is fine without husband (5)
Answer: NICHE (i.e. “suitable position in life”). Solution is NICE (i.e. “fine”) wrapped around or placed “without” H (a recognised abbreviation of “husband”), like so: NIC(H)E.
- A Pole, regularly godly, in charge of the papacy (9)
Answer: APOSTOLIC (i.e. “of the papacy”). Solution is A followed by POST (i.e. “pole” – ignore the misleading capitalisation), then OL (i.e. “regularly godly”, i.e. every other letter of GODLY) and IC (a recognised abbreviation of “in charge”).
- Division in church exists in the middle of Wales (5)
Answer: AISLE (i.e. “division in church” – nicely disguised). Solution is IS (i.e. “exists”) placed “in” ALE (i.e. “middle [letters] of Wales”), like so: A(IS)LE.
- Fearful agitation of idiot parent being given the runaround? (11)
Answer: TREPIDATION (i.e. “fearful agitation”). “Given the runaround” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of IDIOT PARENT.
- Drop in at home as in the past (7)
Answer: INSTILL (i.e. to “drop in”). Solution is IN (i.e. “at home”) followed by STILL (i.e. “as in the past”).
- Calling after sheep running wild (9)
Answer: RAMPAGING (i.e. “running wild”). Solution is PAGING (i.e. “calling” – ask your doctor, kids) placed “after” RAM (a “sheep”), like so: RAM-PAGING. Appeared in grid 1601 back in February, also on odd intersecting letters, so…
- Attempts something before do in Italian city (7)
Answer: TRIESTE (i.e. “Italian city”). Solution is TRIES (i.e. “attempts”) followed by TE (i.e. “something before do” in the sol-fa notation: do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, ti, do. Te is a variant spelling thereof).
- Most urgent – one minute to intervene in a dispute (9)
Answer: IMMEDIATE (i.e. “most urgent”). Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) followed by M (a recognised abbreviation of “minute”) and MEDIATE (i.e. “intervene in a dispute”).
- Suggesting what shops do about parking (8)
Answer: SPELLING (i.e. “suggesting”). Solution is SELLING (i.e. “what shops do”) wrapped “about” P (a recognised abbreviation of “parking” used on signage), like so: S(P)ELLING.
- Place to brood after constant tiffs – see enemies all round here (5,4)
Answer: CROW’S NEST (i.e. “see enemies all round here”, a position high up on a sailing ship). Solution is NEST (i.e. “place to brood”) placed “after” C (a recognised abbreviation of “constant”) and ROWS (i.e. “tiffs”), like so: (C-ROWS)-NEST.
- Girl seen around Mallorcan city or Canaries one (3,6)
Answer: LAS PALMAS (i.e. “Canaries [city]”, capital of Gran Canaria). Solution is LASS (i.e. “girl”) wrapped “around” PALMA (i.e. “Mallorcan city”), like so: LAS(PALMA)S.
- Try-out taking days for the second new member of group (8)
Answer: ADDITION (i.e. “new member of group”). Solution is AUDITION (i.e. “try-out”) with the “second” letter swapped “for” D (a recognised abbreviation of “days”), like so: A(U)DITION => A(D)DITION.
- Most of legal party caught overturning supplement to will (7)
Answer: CODICIL (i.e. “supplement to will”). Solution is LICIT (i.e. “legal”) with the last letter removed (indicated by “most of…”) and the remainder followed by DO (slang for a “party”) and C (a recognised abbreviation of “caught” used in a number of ball games) all reversed (indicated by “overturning”), like so: C-OD-ICIL.
- Duke is parliamentarian editor tore to pieces? (11)
Answer: DISMEMBERED (i.e. “tore to pieces”). Solution is D (a recognised abbreviation of “duke”) followed by IS, then MEMBER (i.e. “parliamentarian”) and ED (short for “editor”).
- Unwise passages in sound in area of Cornwall (6,5)
Answer: SCILLY ISLES (i.e. “area of Cornwall”). “In sound” indicates homophone. Solution comprises homophones of SILLY (i.e. “unwise”) and AISLES (i.e. “passages”). An easier get in light of 20a and 10d.
- Valley police department set up conservative saying goodbye (11)
Answer: VALEDICTORY (i.e. “saying goodbye”). Solution is VALE (i.e. “valley”) followed by CID (i.e. “police department”, the Criminal Investigation Department) once the latter has been reversed (indicated by “set up” – this being a down clue). This is all then followed by TORY (i.e. “Conservative”), like so: VALE-DIC-TORY.
- European rambling sees wild plant in the Alps (9)
Answer: EDELWEISS (i.e. “plant in the Alps”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “European”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “rambling”) of SEES WILD, like so: E-DELWEISS.
- Having several feet oddly part-toed (8)
Answer: TETRAPOD (i.e. “having several feet”). “Oddly” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of PART-TOED. Appeared in grid 1566 back in July, but on odd intersecting letters.
- At least three in Italy could be late (7)
Answer: OVERDUE (i.e. “late”). When written as OVER DUE the clue also playfully satisfies “at least three in Italy”.
- Attract worker holding a lot of responsibility (7)
Answer: BEGUILE (i.e. “attract”). Solution is BEE (i.e. “worker”) wrapped around or “holding” GUILT (i.e. “responsibility”) once the last letter has been removed (indicated by “a lot of…”), like so: BE(GUIL)E.
- Page taken from directory (5)
Answer: RECTO (i.e. the right-hand “page” of an open book in printing lingo). “Taken from” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: DI(RECTO)RY. This was rather etched into my mind when it kept appearing in previous Jumbos. Not seen it for a while, though.
- Tendon with supporting function (5)
Answer: SINEW (i.e. “tendon”). Solution is W (a recognised abbreviation of “with”) placed after or “supporting” – this being a down clue – SINE (i.e. a trigonometric “function”), like so: SINE-W.
- Father has new and attractive woman (5)
Answer: SIREN (i.e. “attractive woman”). Solution is SIRE (i.e. to “father”) followed by N (a recognised abbreviation of “new”).
- Odds of rugby game not starting (5)
Answer: EVENS (i.e. betting “odds”). Solution is SEVENS (i.e. “rugby game”) with the first letter removed (indicated by “not starting”).
Lucian Poll's Web Ramblings 
We liked this one. Not too taxing but still needed some thought.
Nice to have a film reference that wasn’t ET and a priest who wasn’t Eli!
Lama was the last for me. Bit hard work for setter and solver, but after last week it would be churlish to be picky.
A decentish puzzle – my first one for a few weeks after some holiday time. The last one I got was 36a Egg Slice. Had me scratching my head for a while (I’m not making that up, but apologies for the awful pun).
As ever, thanks Lucian
Thanks, Lucian. Pretty straightforward this week I thought, although I couldn’t see why antelope was the solution to 14a for a while lol. Cheers
Beaten by reference to Lethe which meant nothing to me so stabbed at serial of …..
And I made a silly spelling error elsewhere. So 2 errors this week. Since all your other commentators always seem to have no problems completing the puzzles I will stand alone as frequently unable to finish these jumbos.
Thanks for your efforts as ever.
Not bad. Not sure about the use of ‘licit’ in both 16A and 31D, or ‘aisle’ in both 10D and 34D. Also didn’t see the relevance of ‘for lifting’ in 36A (egg slice) Pretty good nonetheless. My favourites were ‘Lama’ and ‘Aisle’
Well, this is now clearly my favourite ever puzzle after a lovely package of books arrived unexpectedly on my doorstep today. I was the lucky winner of this one. My thanks to you Lucian for your insight and friendly support to us in the crossword family – I could not have done it without you.
Congratulations! I was lucky enough to receive one of those packages a few years ago. A complete surprise (despite sending in answers every week!) so I thought it was something my wife had ordered and it sat untouched in the corner for several days.
Congrats back. My wife was definitely wondering what I had been up to, and my ignorance seemed to not help….