Times Jumbo Cryptic Crossword 1642

A toughie this week, but, like last week’s Jumbo, a goodie. And like, last week’s Jumbo, this too was also riddled with recent repeats. Can’t have it all, I guess. Still, the variety of wordplay and the quality of the clues made this another winner.

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 trampled your daisies (in November? whatever) 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 other solvers once they’ve set down their pens. Till next time, stay dry out there kids.

LP

RBV (Repeats-By-Volume): 15%.
Oof! That’s some super-strength stuff right there. Careful now.

Across clues

1. What’s becoming green in tap regularly (7)

Answer: DECORUM (i.e. “what’s becoming”). Solution is ECO (i.e. “green” or ecological) placed “in” DRUM (i.e. “tap regularly”), like so: D(ECO)RUM. A recent repeat straight off the bat, appearing in grid 1624 back in July, also on odd intersecting letters, so…

5. An officer grabbing weapon is causing panic (8)

Answer: ALARMIST (i.e. “causing panic”). Solution is A LT (i.e. “an officer”, in this case an abbreviation of lieutenant) once wrapped around or “grabbing” ARM (i.e. “weapon”) and IS, like so: A-L(ARM-IS)T.

9. Honour brief desire to produce dagger (6)

Answer: OBELUS (i.e. a typographical “dagger” symbol). Solution is OBE (i.e. “honour”, specifically the Order of the British Empire) followed by LUST (i.e. “desire”) once the last letter has been removed (indicated by “brief”), like so: OBE-LUS.

13. An obsession one has to ensure a word is initially spelled correctly? (1,3,2,4,6)

Answer: A BEE IN ONE’S BONNET (i.e. “an obsession”). Remainder of the clue plays on B (“BEE”) being the “initial” letter of BONNET. You get the idea.

14. Inquisitive on vacation after seeing that small swimsuit! (6)

Answer: COSSIE (i.e. “swimwear”, slang for a swimming costume). Solution is IE (i.e. “inquisitive on vacation”, i.e. the first and last letters of “inquisitive”) placed “after” COS (i.e. “seeing that”, or an informal form of “because”) and S (a recognised abbreviation of “small”), like so: (COS-S)-IE.

16. Kindly be inclined in good time to give out answer (8)

Answer: TENDERLY (i.e. “kindly”). Solution is TEND (i.e. “be inclined”) followed by EARLY (i.e. “in good time”) once the A has been removed (indicated by “to give out answer” – A being a recognised abbreviation of “answer”, as in Q&A), like so: TEND-ERLY. Appeared in grid 1628 in August, also on odd intersecting letters, so…

17. God, seeing Eden’s downfall, reflecting (4)

Answer: ZEUS (i.e. Greek “god”). Solution is SUEZ (i.e. Anthony “Eden’s downfall” – a reference to the Suez Crisis of 1956 – Eden was Prime Minister at the time) reversed (indicated by “reflecting”). Nicely worked.

18. Joker’s beaten partner’s king (9)

Answer: PRANKSTER (i.e. “joker”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “beaten”) of PARTNER’S and K (a recognised abbreviation of “king” used in chess).

20. German engineer, one outside Grand Hotel with a port (8)

Answer: BENGHAZI (i.e. “port” city of Libya). Solution is Carl BENZ (i.e. “German engineer”) and I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) all wrapped “outside” of G (a recognised abbreviation of “grand”), H (“Hotel” in the phonetic alphabet) and A, like so: BEN(G-H-A)Z-I. Unsurprisingly I was straight to Bradford’s the moment I saw “port” in the clue. I have no time for filler.

21. Occasionally sitting in the veranda? No, nightly (4,3,4)

Answer: EVER AND ANON (i.e. “occasionally”). “Sitting in” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: TH(E VERANDA NO N)IGHTLY.

24. Blocks money order, leading to lack of books at high school (9)

Answer: MONOLITHS (i.e. “blocks”). Solution is MO (a recognised abbreviation of “money order”) followed by NO LIT (i.e. “lack of books”, LIT being short for literature) and HS (a recognised abbreviation of “high school”).

25. Court official is upset when getting stick (8)

Answer: TIPSTAFF (i.e. “court official” – over to Chambers: “an officer who carries [a tipstaff], a sheriff’s officer”). Solution is TIP (i.e. to “upset”) followed by STAFF (i.e. “stick”).

26. Slip passed on after it’s been returned (4)

Answer: BOOB (i.e. “slip” or error). Solution is OB (i.e. “passed on”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of obiit, Latin for died) placed “after” BO (i.e. the same reversed or “returned”), like so: BO-OB. Appeared in grid 1618 back in May, also on even intersecting letters, so…

29. Fumed after party at university put off (11)

Answer: DISCOURAGED (i.e. “put off”). Solution is RAGED (i.e. “fumed”) placed “after” DISCO (i.e. “party”) and U (a recognised abbreviation of “university”), like so: (DISCO-U)-RAGED.

31. Prince’s friend’s bloomer, caught by storm in New Zealand (11)

Answer: ROSENCRANTZ (i.e. “Prince’s friend”, a minor character in William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark). Solution is ROSE (i.e. “bloomer” or flower) followed by C (a recognised abbreviation of “caught” in some ball games) and RANT (i.e. “storm”) once these two have been placed “in” NZ (short for “New Zealand”), like so: ROSE-(N(C-RANT)Z).

33. Realised elm needs replanting in the country (in shade) (7,4)

Answer: EMERALD ISLE (i.e. “country”, an informal reference to Ireland). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “replanting”) of REALISED ELM. The “in shade” bit probably refers to EMERALD being a colour, but I could be wrong.

36. Timid person’s exploit to speak of and celebrate (11)

Answer: MILQUETOAST (i.e. “timid person”, after a character created by American cartoonist HT Webster). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “to speak of”) of MILK (i.e. to “exploit”) followed by TOAST (i.e. “celebrate”), like so: MILQUE-TOAST. One I knew, strangely enough, thanks to a read of sci-fi website Clarkesworld’s submission guidelines several years ago, which made me wonder what on earth “Milquetoast” meant. I guess it stuck with me ever since.

38. Small piece of music, any of just six, evidently (4)

Answer: NOTE (i.e. “small piece of music”). When written as NOT E the solution also playfully satisfies “any of just six, evidently”, there ordinarily being seven musical notes: A, B, C, D, E, F and G. NOTED appeared in grid 1585 last November, and NOTES appeared in grid 1616 in May, on both occasions also on odd intersecting letters. I’m claiming them, so…

39. Boxer maybe as eyes gouged I’d condemned (5,3)

Answer: GUIDE DOG (i.e. “boxer maybe as eyes” – do boxers make good guide dogs? I genuinely don’t know). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “condemned”) of GOUGED I’D.

41. Stand for body that’s round say and containing more fat? (9)

Answer: BUTTERIER (i.e. “containing more fat”). Solution is BIER (i.e. a “stand for [dead] body”) wrapped “round” UTTER (i.e. “say”), like so: B(UTTER)IER.

44. Meeting upset good number (3-8)

Answer: GET-TOGETHER (i.e. a “meeting”). Solution is GET TO (i.e. “upset”) followed by G (a recognised abbreviation of “good”) and ETHER (i.e. “number”, taken to mean something that numbs).

45. Needle in water removing gallons for time (8)

Answer: IRRITATE (i.e. to “needle”). Solution is IRRIGATE (i.e. to “water”) with the G (a recognised abbreviation of “gallons”) swapped “for” T (ditto “time”), like so: IRRI(G)ATE => IRRI(T)ATE.

48. With full mug of coffee for knocking back after loaf (4-5)

Answer: MOON-FACED (i.e. “with full mug”, mug being slang for a face). Solution is DECAF (i.e. “coffee”, short for decaffeinated) reversed (indicated by “knocking back”) and placed “after” MOON (i.e. to “loaf” or to wander listlessly – I’d make a so-so gesture here. I’d argue loafing is a sedentary thing).

49. Leave no longer just what you want (4)

Answer: EXIT (i.e. to “leave”). Solution is EX (i.e. “no longer”) followed by IT (i.e. “just what you want”).

50. I agree to extract lead from each mine (4,4)

Answer: VERY WELL (i.e. “I agree”). Solution is EVERY (i.e. “each”) with its first letter removed (indicated by “extract lead from…”) and the remainder followed by WELL (i.e. a “mine”).

52. Mischief from The Gunners, quietly leaving trophy (6)

Answer: RASCAL (i.e. a “mischief”). Solution is RA (i.e. “The Gunners”, in this case the Royal Artillery) followed by SCALP (i.e. “trophy”) once the P has been removed (indicated by “quietly leaving”… P being a recognised abbreviation of “piano” used in musical lingo), like so: RA-SCAL.

53. Book fair after so long? Goodness! (8,2,6)

Answer: FAREWELL MY LOVELY (i.e. a “book” by Raymond Chandler). Solution is LOVELY (i.e. “fair”) placed “after” FAREWELL (i.e. “so long”) and MY (i.e. “goodness” – both exclamations).

54. Secretary receives steadfast backing, mostly, for receiving bribes (6)

Answer: PAYOLA (i.e. “bribes”. Another I knew, but it’s worth a visit to Chambers for the definition: “a secret payment or bribe to secure a favour, especially the promotion of a commercial product by a disc jockey”, supposedly this is a combination of “pay” and “Victrola”, a make of gramophone). Solution is PA (i.e. “secretary” or Personal Assistant) wrapped around or “receiving” LOYAL (i.e. “steadfast”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “mostly”) and the remainder reversed (indicated by “backing”), like so: P(AYOL)A.

55. In the midst of wrongdoing, property gets developed (8)

Answer: GESTATED (i.e. “developed”). Solution is ESTATE (i.e. “property”) placed “in” GD (i.e. “the midst of wrongdoing”, i.e. the middle letters of “wrongdoing”), like so: G(ESTATE)D.

56. Problem queen gets dispensing with formalities (7)

Answer: SUMMARY (i.e. “dispensing with formalities”). Solution is SUM (i.e. a mathematical “problem”) followed by MARY (i.e. “Queen” of Scots). Appeared in grid 1583 last November, just within my threshold for a recent repeat. It appeared on odd intersecting letters too, so…

Down clues

1. Lack of soil below delta (6)

Answer: DEARTH (i.e. “lack”). Solution is EARTH (i.e. “soil”) placed after or “below” – this being a down clue – D (“delta” in the phonetic alphabet), like so: D-EARTH.

2. Assisting actor maybe in line that needs to be spoken (6)

Answer: CUEING (i.e. “assisting actor maybe”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “that needs to be spoken”) of QUEUING (i.e. “in line”).

3. Muddle her allies create (5,4)

Answer: RAISE HELL (i.e. to “create” trouble). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “muddle”) of HER ALLIES.

4. One not content with single job having second working barge (11)

Answer: MOONLIGHTER (i.e. “one not content with single job”). Solution is MO (i.e. a “second” or short moment) followed by ON (i.e. “working” or operational) and LIGHTER (i.e. a “barge”). MOONLIGHT appeared in grid 1603 back in March, also on odd intersecting letters. I’m claiming it, so…

5. Couple in bar turning round, making you jump (4)

Answer: AXEL (i.e. a “jump” in figure skating). Solution is AXLE (i.e. a “bar” between two wheels) with the last “couple” of letters “turned round” or reversed, like so: AX(LE) => AX(EL).

6. Short books about splitting up piloted (11)

Answer: ABBREVIATED (i.e. “short”). Solution is B and B (i.e. “books”, recognised abbreviations thereof) and RE (i.e. “about” or regarding – think email replies) all placed in or “splitting up” AVIATED (i.e. “piloted”), like so: A(B-B-RE)VIATED.

7. Vessel with big hole’s one letting water escape? (11)

Answer: MINESWEEPER (i.e. a ship or “vessel”). Solution is MINE’S (i.e. “big hole” in the ground, followed by a contraction of “is”) followed by WEEPER (i.e. “one letting water escape”).

8. Pastries dumped in freezing shower most likely to go off (9)

Answer: SLEEPIEST (i.e. “most likely to go off”). Solution is PIES (i.e. “pastries”) placed “in” SLEET (i.e. “freezing shower”), like so: SLEE(PIES)T.

10. Ordered to grasp stick as means of obstruction (8)

Answer: BLOCKADE (i.e. “means of obstruction”). Solution is BADE (i.e. “ordered”) wrapped around or “grasping” LOCK (i.e. to seize up or “stick”), like so: B(LOCK)ADE.

11. Film star also painting, for a change (4,5,2,5)

Answer: LAST TANGO IN PARIS (i.e. a 1972 “film” starring some butter. Supposedly, I mean. I wouldn’t know). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “for a change”) of STAR ALSO PAINTING.

12. Admit use of bad language hasn’t ended (5,2)

Answer: SWEAR IN (i.e. to “admit”, say, into office). Solution is SWEARING (i.e. “use of bad language”) with the last letter removed (indicated by “hasn’t ended”).

15. Nuisance having to accommodate pilots being stretched for fuel (8)

Answer: PARAFFIN (i.e. “fuel”). Solution is PAIN (i.e. “nuisance”) wrapped around or “accommodating” RAF (i.e. “pilots”, specifically the Royal Air Force) once the last letter has been repeated (indicated by “being stretched” – can’t say I’ve seen this wordplay too often), like so: PA(RAFF)IN. Appeared in grid 1592 back in December, but on that occasion it was on odd intersecting letters.

19. Planet Mercury, for instance, that’s mostly methane (5,3)

Answer: MARSH GAS (i.e. “that’s mostly methane”). Solution is MARS (i.e. “planet”) followed by HG (chemical symbol of “mercury”) and AS (i.e. “for instance”). Nicely worked.

22. Hint at the outset someone’s doing me wrong (8)

Answer: SMIDGEON (i.e. a “hint” of something). Solution is S (i.e. “at the outset someone”, i.e. the first letter of “someone”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “wrong”) of DOING ME, like so: S-MIDGEON.

23. Until you assent to otherwise, showing nothing off (16)

Answer: UNOSTENTATIOUSLY (i.e. “showing nothing off”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “otherwise”) of UNTIL YOU ASSENT TO.

27. Light year, perhaps, minus space and time: a fashionable expression (4,4)

Answer: BUZZ TERM (i.e. “a fashionable expression”). Solution is BUZZ (i.e. “light year, perhaps, minus space”, i.e. removing the space between “light” and “year” to get the surname of BUZZ Lightyear) followed by TIME (i.e. “term”).

28. Document from court cases for whenever important (4)

Answer: WRIT (i.e. “document from court”). “Cases for” indicates the solution is derived from the first and last letters of WHENEVER IMPORTANT.

30. Even things in cloakroom picked up and not put down (4)

Answer: ORAL (i.e. “not put down” in writing). “Even” indicates the solution is derived from every other letter of CLOAKROOM, while “picked up” indicates those letters are reversed – this being a down clue. Appeared in grid 1614 in May, but on that occasion it was on even intersecting letters.

32. European city’s food variable, note, and seconds revolting! (8)

Answer: SALZBURG (i.e. “European city” in Austria). Solution is GRUB (i.e. “food”) followed by Z (i.e. “variable”, setters love referring to X, Y or Z in solutions as unknowns or variables), then LA (i.e. “note” of the sol-fa scale) and S (a recognised abbreviation of “seconds”). The whole is then reversed (indicated by “revolting” or uprising – this being a down clue), like so: S-AL-Z-BURG. Another very nicely worked clue. Probably my favourite of the puzzle.

34. EU accede to reform: a throw of the dice? (5-3)

Answer: DEUCE-ACE (i.e. “a throw of the dice”, specifically a throw of two and a one). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “to reform”) of EU ACCEDE.

35. Green light, maybe, that motorist hopes to avoid? (11)

Answer: ENDORSEMENT. Solution satisfies “green light” and “what motorist hopes to avoid”, being a record of an offence on one’s driver’s licence. Appeared in grid 1602 back in March, also on odd intersecting letters, so…

36. August publication, then November, provided at minimum cost abroad (11)

Answer: MAGNIFICENT (i.e. “august”). Solution is MAG (i.e. “publication”, short for magazine) followed by N (“November” in the phonetic alphabet), then IF (i.e. “provided”, as in a conditional statement) and I CENT (i.e. “minimum cost abroad”, the I taken to mean 1).

37. Incumbent upon you, indeed, to be very busy (2,2,3,4)

Answer: UP TO THE EYES (i.e. “very busy”). Solution is UP TO THEE (i.e. “incumbent upon you”) followed by YES (i.e. “indeed”).

40. Take water from earth – dyed, curiously (9)

Answer: DEHYDRATE (i.e. “take water from”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “curiously”) of EARTH DYED. Appeared in grid 1596 in January, also on odd intersecting letters, so…

42. Fitness to chase record, the first requirement for a competitor? (5,4)

Answer: ENTRY FORM (i.e. “first requirement for a competitor”). Solution is FORM (i.e. “fitness”) placed after or “chasing” ENTRY (i.e. “record”).

43. Left party to beat up bouncer of course (4,4)

Answer: GOLF BALL (i.e. “bouncer of [golf] course”). Solution is L (a recognised abbreviation of “left”), LAB (i.e. “party”, short for the Labour Party) and FLOG (i.e. “to beat”) all reversed (indicated by “up” – this being a down clue), like so: GOLF-BAL-L.

44. Fool somersaulting over ditch is a sucker (7)

Answer: GUMDROP (i.e. “a sucker” or sweet). Solution is MUG (i.e. “fool”) reversed (indicated by “somersaulting”) and followed by DROP (i.e. to “ditch”), like so: GUM-DROP.

46. No longer nurse a lonely heart, say, if looking up old dramatist (6)

Answer: SENECA the Younger (i.e. “old dramatist”). Solution is SEN (i.e. “no longer nurse”, specifically the old State Enrolled Nurse) followed by ACE (i.e. “lonely heart, say” – other suits of playing cards are available – I loved this when I twigged it) once the latter has been reversed (indicated by “looking up” – this being a down clue), like so: SEN-ECA.

47. Like soil often put in church yard primarily (6)

Answer: CLAYEY (i.e. “like soil often”). Solution is LAY (i.e. “put”) placed “in” CE (i.e. “church”, specifically the Church of England). This is all then followed by Y (i.e. “yard primarily”, i.e. the first letter of “yard”), like so: C(LAY)E-Y. I think it’s a close race between this and BUTTERIER for the worst word I’ve seen all week.

51. Made off, following light (4)

Answer: FLED (i.e. “made off”). Solution is F (a recognised abbreviation of “following”) followed by LED (i.e. “light”, specifically a Light Emitting Diode”).