Times Jumbo Cryptic Crossword 1635

Stinker time! This was mercifully a much better Jumbo than the godawful trash of grid 1630. I did find it a touch uneven, however, with the bottom-right-hand quarter noticeably tougher than the rest of the grid. With stinkers I suppose that’s more likely to happen. Two or three tough buggers can be all it takes to cut off a decent chunk of the grid.

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

Thanks again for the kind words while I catch up. Till next time, later, y’all.

LP

RBV (Repeats-By-Volume): 13.3%

Across clues

1. In retrospect, reveals cuts a long way down (9)

Answer: MISERABLE (i.e. “down”). Solution is BARES (i.e. “reveals”) reversed (indicated by “in retrospect”) and placed in or “cutting” MILE (i.e. “a long way”), like so: MI(SERAB)LE.

6. Parking in a side street, nearly managed to get free of traffic (13)

Answer: PEDESTRIANISE (i.e. “get free of traffic”). Solution is P (a recognised abbreviation of “parking” used on maps and signage) followed by an anagram (indicated by “managed”) of IN A SIDE and STREET once the last letter has been removed (indicated by “nearly”), like so: P-EDESTRIANISE.

13. Country regularly dismissed Freud, really (5)

Answer: RURAL (i.e. of the “country”). “Regularly dismissed” indicates the solution is derived from every other letter of FREUD REALLY.

14. Proposes changing king and tyrant (9)

Answer: OPPRESSOR (i.e. “tyrant”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “changing”) of PROPOSES followed by R (i.e. “king”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of the Latin Rex), like so: OPPRESSO-R.

15. Bank even holding concession back (7)

Answer: DEPOSIT (i.e. to “bank” money). Solution is TIED (i.e. “even”) wrapped around or “holding” SOP (i.e. “concession”) and the whole then reversed (indicated by “back”), like so: DE(POS)IT. Appeared in grid 1608 back in April, and again in grid 1614 the next month, both on odd intersecting letters, so have a double meme…

16. Instructional film for union of gold-diggers? (3,2,5,1,11)

Answer: HOW TO MARRY A MILLIONAIRE (i.e. 1953 “film” starring Marilyn Monroe, Lauren Bacall and Betty Grable). Solution also playfully satisfies the clue as a whole, taking HOW TO for “instructional”, MARRY for “union” and so on. You get the idea.

18. Where plane flies and displays speed (8)

Answer: AIRSPACE (i.e. “where plane flies”). Solution is AIRS (i.e. “displays”) followed by PACE (i.e. “speed”).

20. Lady is twice affected by this kidney treatment (8)

Answer: DIALYSIS (i.e. “kidney treatment”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “affected”) of LADY and IS IS (indicated by “is twice”).

21. Drive to install green furnishings (5)

Answer: DÉCOR (i.e. “furnishings”). Solution is DR (a recognised abbreviation of “drive” used on addresses) wrapped around or “installing” ECO (i.e. “green”), like so: D(ÉCO)R.

23. Strip art going down quickly? (6)

Answer: DIVEST (i.e. to “strip” of). Solution is DIVING (i.e. “going down quickly”) playfully expressed in ye olde language (indicated by “art”, taken to mean ye olde “are”). 285 Jumbo Cryptic solutions later, I’m still not keen on “art” clues.

24. Losing out, wants to see every other pair going native in US? (6)

Answer: SIOUAN (i.e. “native in US”, a member of the Sioux tribe). “To see every other pair” indicates the solution can be found taking… well, every other pair of LOSING OUT WANTS.

25. Goodness or, conversely, bad behaviour includes one’s initial deterioration (9)

Answer: CORROSION (i.e. “deterioration”). Solution is COR (i.e. “goodness”, both exclamations) followed by OR reversed (indicated by “conversely”), then SIN (i.e. “bad behaviour”) once wrapped around or “including” O (i.e. “one’s initial” letter), like so: COR-RO-SI(O)N.

28. Cocktail – or bigger animal’s other end? (6,4)

Answer: HORSE’S NECK (i.e. “cocktail”, apparently of brandy, ginger ale and a twist of lemon peel. Sounds rather nice). Clue plays on a HORSE being a “bigger animal” than a cock, and it’s NECK being the opposite end to it’s “tail”. You get the idea.

29. Liberate at no cost (4)

Answer: FREE. Solution satisfies “liberate” and “at no cost”.

30. Golf in November, chosen for lack of action (7)

Answer: NEGLECT (i.e. “lack of action”). Solution is G (“Golf” in the phonetic alphabet) placed “in” N (ditto “November”) and ELECT (i.e. “chosen”), like so: N-E(G)LECT.

32. Uncooked food is sent back, when the fellow tucks in (7)

Answer: SASHIMI (i.e. “uncooked food” of raw fish). Solution is IS reversed (indicated by “sent back”) and wrapped around or “tucking in” AS (i.e. “when”) and HIM (i.e. “the fellow”), like so: S(AS-HIM)I.

34. You’ve always selectively looked through coloured section (4)

Answer: UVEA (i.e. “looked through coloured section”, or a part of the iris of the eye – a bit naughty of the setter here, as “looked through” ought really to have been hyphenated, but then I suppose the clue wouldn’t scan very well). “Selectively” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: YO(U’VE A)LWAYS. Chalk one to my Bradford’s. It was this clue that made me realise we were dealing with a stinker this week, especially considering the more mundane words that could have fit the letters U_E_.

35. Turned to assist staff with spike of ice (10)

Answer: DIAMANTINE (i.e. “of ice”, taking ice to be slang for diamonds). Solution is AID (i.e. “to assist”) reversed (indicated by “turned”) and followed by MAN (i.e. to “staff” an organisation), then TINE (i.e. “spike” on a fork), like so: DIA-MAN-TINE.

38. Basis for web pages, hardly contentless, with forward extension (9)

Answer: HYPERTEXT (i.e. “basis for web pages”. The “https” you see prefixing web addresses, for example, stands for “hypertext transfer protocol secure”). Solution is HY (i.e. “hardly contentless”, i.e. the word “hardly” with its middle letters removed) followed by PERT (i.e. “forward” or impudent) and EXT (a recognised abbreviation of, say, a phone “extension”).

39. Flirted almost randomly, which isn’t important (6)

Answer: TRIFLE (i.e. that “which isn’t important”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “randomly”) of FLIRTED once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “almost”). TRIFLED appeared in grid 1605 back in March, also on odd intersecting letters. I’m claiming it, so…

40. Reinforcement for low-level digital protection (6)

Answer: TOECAP. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, taking TOECAPs to be “reinforcements” added to shoes to help “protect” the toes, or “low-level digits”.

43. Recall most of way out stuff (5)

Answer: SERGE (i.e. “stuff” – I believe both refer to a kind of woollen fabric. Chambers has this for SERGE: “a strong-twilled fabric, now usually of worsted” – worsted being a fine wool fabric, and this for “stuff”: “cloth, especially woollen”). Solution is EGRESS (i.e. an exit or “way out”) with the last letter removed (indicated by “most of…”) and the remainder reversed (indicated by “recall”).

45. Order half of card-carrying actors to enter staged scene (8)

Answer: SEQUENCE (i.e. “order”). Solution is EQU, or “half of” EQUITY (i.e. “card-carrying actors”), placed in or “entering” an anagram (indicated by “staged”) of SCENE, like so: S(EQU)ENCE.

47. Fraternity man welcomes retired personnel (8)

Answer: BRETHREN (i.e. “fraternity”). Solution is BEN (i.e. “man’s” name) wrapped around or “welcoming” RET (a recognised abbreviation of “retired”) and HR (i.e. “personnel”, or Human Resources), like so: B(RET-HR)EN.

49. Antagonism to PC joining the wrong party? (9,13)

Answer: POLITICAL INCORRECTNESS. Solution satisfies “antagonism to PC”, taking PC to be Political Correctness, and, playfully, “joining the wrong [political] party”.

52. Who found a way to treasure a liberal and an arts graduate? (3,4)

Answer: ALI BABA (i.e. “who found a way to treasure” from a tale collected in the One Thousand And One Nights). Solution is A followed by LIB (a recognised abbreviation of “Liberal”) and A BA (i.e. “an arts graduate”, or a Bachelor of Arts).

53. “Putting on airs!”, I pompously interjected, making comeback with a nasal tone (9)

Answer: ADENOIDAL (i.e. “with a nasal tone”). Solution is LA-DI-DA (i.e. “putting on airs”) wrapped around or “interjected” by ONE (i.e. “I pompously”) and the whole then reversed (indicated by “making comeback”), like so: AD-(ENO)-ID-AL.

54. Style of page with answer in final letter, in triplicate (5)

Answer: PZAZZ (i.e. with “style”). Solution is P (a recognised abbreviation of “page”) followed by A (ditto “answer”) once placed “in” Z (i.e. “final letter” of the alphabet) repeated three times or “in triplicate”, like so: P-Z(A)ZZ.

55. Changing one’s mind for the better? (13)

Answer: PSYCHOTHERAPY. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole. Not a huge amount more to say about it, really.

56. Lead in edible parts of asparagus and cabbage (9)

Answer: SPEARHEAD (i.e. “lead”). Solution is SPEAR and HEAD (i.e. “edible parts of asparagus and cabbage”, respectively).

Down clues

1. Arrange to move up lake above northern delta that’s often flooded (9)

Answer: MARSHLAND (i.e. “that’s often flooded”). Solution is MARSHAL (i.e. to “arrange”) with the L (a recognised abbreviation of “lake”) “moved up” or back a notch – this being a down clue. This is then followed by N (a recognised abbreviation of “northern”) and D (“delta” in the phonetic alphabet), like so: MARSHA(L)-N-D => MARSH(L)A-N-D.

2. Keen on running water, if about substitutes for hard drink (11)

Answer: SCREWDRIVER (i.e. “drink”, specifically vodka and orange). Solution is SHREWD (i.e. “keen”) and RIVER (i.e. “running water”) with the H (a recognised abbreviation of “hard” used in grading pencils) of SHREWD swapped “for” C (i.e. “about”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “circa”), like so: S(H)REWD-RIVER => S(C)REWD-RIVER. With this, HORSE’S HEAD, SASHIMI, TRIFLE and other EATS, it sounds like the setter is throwing a party.

3. Turn over Norse hero (5)

Answer: ROLLO (i.e. “Norse hero” and, apparently, the great-great-great-grandfather of William the Conqueror). Solution is ROLL (i.e. “turn”) followed by O (a recognised abbreviation of “over” used in cricket). Man, this reminded me of the old King Rollo cartoon series that was on TV when I was a nipper. If next week’s grid features CHORLTON AND THE WHEELIES, ROOBARB or JAMIE AND THE MAGIC TORCH then that’ll be my small controlling forces at work.

4. Involvement of Marco and Ben? (8)

Answer: BROMANCE. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, being a close friendship between two blokes, but is also formed of an anagram (indicated by “involvement of”) of MARCO and BEN. Nicely worked.

5. Tear up yen after former loss of currency (6)

Answer: EXPIRY (i.e. “loss of currency”, taking currency to mean up-to-date-ness). Solution is RIP (i.e. “tear”) reversed (indicated by “up”, this being a down clue) and, with Y (a recognised abbreviation of “yen”), all placed “after” EX (i.e. “former”), like so: EX-(PIR-Y). Another good un.

6. Exposed to risk, facing future tooth decay? (10)

Answer: PRECARIOUS (i.e. “exposed to risk”). The solution also playfully satisfies “facing future tooth decay”, CARIOUS being a decayed state, derived from CARIES or tooth decay.

7. Record one Roman statesman’s written about Arabian concerned with punishment (12)

Answer: DISCIPLINARY (i.e. “concerned with punishment”). Solution is DISC (i.e. “record”) followed by I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), then PLINY the Younger (i.e. “Roman statesman”, and also writer of one of the earliest haunted house stories) once wrapped “about” AR (a recognised abbreviation of “Arabian”), like so: DISC-I-PLIN(AR)Y. DISCIPLINED appeared in grid 1610 back in April, also on odd intersecting letters. I’ll let it slide.

8. Never completed, certainly luxurious, more than needed (7)

Answer: SURPLUS (i.e. “more than needed”). Solution is SURE (i.e. “certainly”) and PLUSH (i.e. “luxurious”) once the last letter of both words has been removed (indicated by “never completed”), like so: SUR-PLUS. Appeared in grid 1603 back in March, also on odd intersecting letters, so…

9. Inspection of space in microwaves? (5,9)

Answer: RADIO ASTRONOMY. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, taking “space” to be the big beyond up there and “microwaves” to be the kind of thing you find in physics, as opposed to those things in the kitchen that re-heat cold cups of tea.

10. Commend article on reverse of double pages (7)

Answer: APPLAUD (i.e. “commend”). Solution is A (i.e. “article”, a word like a, an or the) followed by DUAL (i.e. “double”) and PP (a recognised abbreviation of “pages”) once the latter pair have been “reversed”, like so: A-(PP-LAUD).

11. Supplying information during struggle to limit disastrous cut (11)

Answer: INSTRUCTIVE (i.e. “supplying information”). Solution is IN (i.e. “during”) followed by STRIVE (i.e. “struggle”) once wrapped around or “limiting” an anagram (indicated by “disastrous”) of CUT, like so: IN-STR(UCT)IVE.

12. Selection of fare at steakhouse? (4)

Answer: EATS (i.e. meals or “fare”). “Selection of” indicates the clue has been hidden in the clue, like so: FAR(E AT S)TEAKHOUSE. A little bit of recycling there. Appeared in grid 1591 in December, also on odd intersecting letters, so…

17. Coarse man about to snare dark lady (8)

Answer: BRUNETTE (i.e. “dark lady”). Solution is BRUTE (i.e. “coarse man”) wrapped “about” NET (i.e. “to snare”), like so: BRU(NET)TE.

19. Tries desperately to get into deprived seat (9)

Answer: POSTERIOR (i.e. “seat”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “desperately”) of TRIES placed “into” POOR (i.e. “deprived”), like so: PO(STERI)OR.

22. Title’s six seconds matter (8)

Answer: VISCOUNT (i.e. a “title”. You’re still a biscuit to me, son). Solution is VI (i.e. “six” expressed in Roman numerals) followed by S (a recognised abbreviation of “seconds”) and COUNT (i.e. to “matter”).

25. Nothing left in neck after cutting fabric (8)

Answer: CHENILLE (i.e. “fabric”). Solution is NIL (i.e. “nothing”) and L (a recognised abbreviation of “left”) all placed “in” CHEEK (i.e. “neck” or impudence) once the last letter has been removed (indicated by “after cutting”), like so: CHE(NIL-L)E. Appeared in grid 1623 only a couple of months ago, also on odd intersecting letters, so…

26. Played along for start of toccata – sitting here? (5,4)

Answer: ORGAN LOFT (i.e. “here” within the context of the clue, an organ loft is a gallery for an organ found in a concert hall or church). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “played”) of ALONG FOR followed by T (i.e. “start [letter] for toccata”), like so: ORGANLOF-T.

27. Way to get rid of bead collection? (14)

Answer: ANTIPERSPIRANT. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, taking “bead” to be a bead of sweat. Another I rather liked.

28. What keeps son repeating secret? (4-4)

Answer: HUSH-HUSH (i.e. “secret”). Solution is HUH (i.e. “what”, eh?, pardon?) wrapped around or “keeping” S (a recognised abbreviation of “son”). This is then all “repeated”, like so: HU(S)H-HU(S)H.

31. Victim of Achilles’ heel is wretched one in confined area (12)

Answer: PENTHESILEIA (i.e. “victim of Achilles”, an Amazonian queen killed during the Trojan War). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “wretched”) of HEEL IS and I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) both being placed “in” between PENT (i.e. “confined”) and A (a recognised abbreviation of “area”), like so: PENT-(HESILE-I)A. Not being one for the classics, this was one that took me most of the grid to solve. I was only able to see where the obvious anagram fitted once I had most of the intersecting letters. I figured the solution would start with PEN, so it didn’t take much Googling after that to locate the solution. I’d have been goosed under exam conditions, mind.

33. Prosecute urgent matter with exchange at meeting being better (11)

Answer: SUPERIORITY (i.e. “being better”). Solution is SUE (i.e. “prosecute”) and PRIORITY (i.e. “urgent matter”) with the last letter of SUE and the first letter of PRIORITY “exchanged” where they meet, like so: SU(E)-(P)RIORITY => SU(P)-(E)RIORITY.

36. Bang up smart vehicle, dilapidated one absorbing energy (11)

Answer: INCARCERATE (i.e. “bang up” or imprison). Solution is IN (i.e. “smart” or fashionable) followed by CAR (i.e. “vehicle”), then CRATE (i.e. “dilapidated [car]”) once wrapped around or “absorbing” E (a recognised abbreviation of “energy”), like so: IN-CAR-C(E)RATE.

37. Subtraction operation applied to column (10)

Answer: DISCECTOMY. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, taking “column” to mean one’s spinal column. The “operation” involved the removal or “subtraction” of part of a vertebral disc.

41. Small beer made water-resistant? (4-5)

Answer: PINT-SIZED (i.e. “small”). Solution is PINT (i.e. “beer”) followed by SIZED (i.e. “made water-resistant”, a variant meaning of SIZE).

42. Unwaveringly faithful rabbi – not his impostor! (4-4)

Answer: TRUE-BLUE (i.e. “unwaveringly faithful”). The remainder of the clue plays on “Rabbi” Lionel BLUE – no, me neither – and how “not his impostor” would infer he is the TRUE BLUE.

44. Words to live by? Hardly! (7)

Answer: EPITAPH, an inscription on a tombstone, which can “hardly” be described as “words to live by”. Appeared in grid 1585 back in November, also on odd intersecting letters, so…

46. As Iago, exposed in the earlier cost to Moor (7)

Answer: QUAYAGE (i.e. “cost to moor”, ignoring the misleading capitalisation). Solution is QUA (i.e. “as”, or the Latin for “in the capacity of”) followed by AG (i.e. “Iago, exposed”, i.e. “Iago” with its first and last letters removed) once placed “in” YE (i.e. “the earlier”, i.e. ye-olde form of “the”), like so: QUA-Y(AG)E. I doubt any of you started the Jumbo with this tough bugger.

48. Party during peak – for the most part people believe them (6)

Answer: CREDOS (i.e. “people believe them”). Solution is DO (i.e. “party”) placed “during” CREST (i.e. “peak”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “for the most part”), like so: CRE(DO)S. CREDO appeared in grid 1605 back in March, but on odd intersecting letters on that occasion.

50. Animal Crackers, part one (5)

Answer: TAPIR (i.e. an “animal”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “crackers”) of PART and I (i.e. “one”). Appeared in grid 1588 in December, also on odd intersecting letters, so…

51. Basically accompany America’s top couple, hosted by their second-in-command (4)

Answer: VAMP (i.e. “basically accompany” – a variant meaning of VAMP is “to improvise crude [musical] accompaniments” (Chambers)). Solution is AM (i.e. “America’s top couple” of letters) placed in or “hosted by” VP (i.e. “[America’s] second-in-command”, short for Vice President), like so: V(AM)P.