All righty then. The prize deadline for this one has finally passed, so… hello again! If you have returned to these climes after all this time then welcome back and thank you for your patience. Thanks also for the incredible feedback left in the comments these last couple of weeks. I was genuinely taken aback and intrigued to read the range of views expressed. I’ll pick up on a few before getting to all the juicy solutions.
One theme that developed in the comments was that I should thumb my nose to The Times and continue publishing timely solutions. Believe me, the temptation to do this is strong – the habit is a hard one to break! – but it’s probably better I don’t escalate things now I’m on their radar.
There were also a few comments questioning the wisdom of a national newspaper running a prize crossword in this internet age, given how easy it is to get the answers (and often far quicker than I can publish). Honestly, I don’t have a view on this as I’ve never entered the competition, but I’ve always given serious consideration to any negative feedback in this regard. While The Times hasn’t directly given me any grief, I do know they’d prefer I didn’t publish solutions while the competition is running. It’s hard to continue publishing timely solutions with that in mind.
A final theme, and one I found heartening, was how helpful several of you find the posts and comments here. Ultimately, for me, that’s what it’s all about. Years ago I was inspired to start writing Jumbo cryptic solutions after 1) feeling much too bullish having fully completed a few of them on the trot and believing I was king of all crosswords, but also 2) seeing a comment left on Amazon for one of the annual Jumbo cryptic books wishing that someone would explain some of the answers.
Before this starts becoming an essay, I would like to close this out by saying to anyone who feels their cryptic fu has improved thanks to my posts, you and me both, chum! I look back at my earlier posts and wince at the stuff that used to trip me up. Before that I used to do Jumbos and give up halfway through, wrongly believing a dictionary to be cheating. And you don’t want to know how many years I spent casually giving up on cryptic crosswords not twigging that “up” was a reversal indicator in down clues. The truth is, what really upped my game with cryptic crosswords was the same as for any skill – practice, and it’s the same for you too. I might help you with the odd clue, much the same as people here help me when I’m stuck, but, really, the gains you have made have all been self-earned. Keep it up!
Righto, time for me to stop waffling. Thanks again for the kind words. Till next time, wrap up well and stay safe out there kids.
LP
Across clues
- Case made for mummy’s confinement? (11)
Answer: SARCOPHAGUS. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, taking mummy to be of the Egyptian variety. A sarcophagus would be the casket or “case” they would be buried in.
- Land using stone passage we hear (7,4)
Answer: EMERALD ISLE (i.e. “land”, in this case an informal name for Ireland). Solution is EMERALD (i.e. a precious “stone”) followed by a homophone (indicated by “we hear”) of AISLE (i.e. “passage”).
- Engineer reminds open branch to get guard dog (9,8)
Answer: DOBERMANN PINSCHER (i.e. “guard dog”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “engineer”) of REMINDS OPEN BRANCH.
- Conservative member of the House of Lords rebuffed toady (5)
Answer: CREEP (i.e. “toady”). Solution is C (a recognised abbreviation of “Conservative”) followed by PEER (i.e. “member of the House of Lords”) once this latter has been reversed (indicated by “rebuffed”), like so: C-REEP.
- Journalist having something to learn by holding papers back (6)
Answer: EDITOR (i.e. “journalist”). Solution is ROTE (i.e. “something to learn by”) wrapped around or “holding” ID (i.e. “papers”, short for identity). The whole is then reversed (indicated by “back”), like so: ED(IT)OR.
- Dallas Cowboy’s dispute with Republican (8)
Answer: WRANGLER (i.e. “Dallas cowboy”, ignoring the misleading capitalisation. We’re not dealing with the American Football team here). Solution is WRANGLE (i.e. “dispute”) followed by R (a recognised abbreviation of “Republican”).
- Criticise manoeuvre moving ring in glittering array (7)
Answer: PANOPLY (i.e. “glittering array”). Solution is PAN (i.e. to “criticise”) followed by PLOY (i.e. a “manoeuvre”) once the O (i.e. “ring”) has been “moved” like so: PAN-PL(O)Y => PAN-(O)PLY.
- Large settlement of rank furthers claims (9)
Answer: FRANKFURT (i.e. a “large settlement”, in this case a city in Germany). “Claims” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: O(F RANK FURT)HERS.
- Repeatedly bomb China (8)
Answer: EGGSHELL (i.e. delicate “China”). “Repeatedly” indicates we’re seeking multiple words satisfying “bomb”, in this case EGG and SHELL, the former being slang for a bomb or mine.
- Clubs inspired by United in the past (4)
Answer: ONCE (i.e. “in the past”). Solution is C (a recognised abbreviation of “clubs” used in some card games) placed in or “inspired by” ONE (i.e. “united”, ignoring the misleading capitalisation), like so: ON(C)E.
- One involved in endless task that is boring vocal group (5)
Answer: CHOIR (i.e. “vocal group”). Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) placed “in” CHORE (i.e. “task”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “endless”), like so: CHO(I)R.
- Top gangster struggled without cover (6)
Answer: HOODIE (i.e. garment or “top”). Solution is HOOD (i.e. “gangster”) followed by VIED (i.e. “struggled”) once the first and last letters have been removed (indicated by “without cover”), like so: HOOD-IE.
- Trap left criminal corporation without millions (7,3)
Answer: LOBSTER POT (i.e. “trap”). Solution is L (a recognised abbreviation of “left”) followed by MOBSTER (i.e. “criminal”) and POT (i.e. “corporation” – we’ve seen this a few times now, a variant meaning of “corporation” is an archaic reference to a pot belly). The M is then removed from all this (indicated by “without millions” – M being a recognised abbreviation of “millions”), like so: L-OBSTER-POT. Very nicely worked.
- Careless fielders at cover dropping ball (8)
Answer: SLIPSHOD (i.e. “careless”). Solution is SLIPS (i.e. some “fielders” in a game of cricket) followed by HOOD (i.e. “cover”) once one of the Os has been removed (indicated by “dropping ball”), like so: SLIPS-HOD. Another good un.
- Present that’s small: maybe a foot? (8,6)
Answer: STOCKING FILLER. Solution satisfies a Christmas “present that’s small”, and, playfully, “maybe a foot”.
- Topic has Labour developing fear of being hemmed in (14)
Answer: CLAUSTROPHOBIA (i.e. “fear of being hemmed in”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by ”developing”) of TOPIC HAS LABOUR. Another excellent clue.
- Host introducing song with welcome for musician (8)
Answer: MARIACHI (i.e. “musician”). Solution is MC (i.e. “host” or Master of Ceremonies) wrapped around or “introducing” ARIA (i.e. a “song”) and followed by HI (i.e. “welcome”), like so: M(ARIA)C-HI.
- Unhappy person reduced masculine subject matter (10)
Answer: MALCONTENT (i.e. “unhappy person”). Solution is MALE (i.e. “masculine”) with the last letter removed (indicated by “reduced”) and the remainder followed by CONTENT (i.e. “subject matter”), like so: MAL-CONTENT.
- Charity’s first to move east to set up accommodation (6)
Answer: ENCAMP (i.e. “set up accommodation”). Solution is MENCAP (i.e. a “charity”) with the “first” letter “moved east” or to the right – this being an across clue – like so: (M)ENCAP => ENCA(M)P.
- Try to persuade prisoner to avoid scorn (5)
Answer: TEMPT (i.e. “try to persuade”). Solution is CONTEMPT (i.e. “scorn”) with the CON removed (indicated by “prisoner to avoid”…)
- Moderate support terminated prematurely (4)
Answer: EASE (i.e. to “moderate”). Solution is EASEL (i.e. “support”) with the last letter removed (indicated by “terminated prematurely”).
- Disciplinarian’s right to stop unruly inmate (8)
Answer: MARTINET (i.e. “disciplinarian”, apparently after a French general during the reign of Louis XIV). Solution is RT (a recognised abbreviation of “right”, e.g. in the title Rt Hon) placed in or “stopping” an anagram (indicated by “unruly”) of INMATE, like so: MA(RT)INET.
- Bribe small number disrupting series (9)
Answer: SWEETENER (i.e. “bribe”). Solution is WEE (i.e. “small”) and TEN (i.e. a “number”) both placed in or “disrupting” SER (a recognised abbreviation of “series”), like so: S(WEE-TEN)ER.
- Scene involving figures primarily in office during crisis (7)
Answer: DIORAMA (i.e. “scene involving figures”). Solution is I and O (i.e. “primarily in office”, i.e. the first letters of “in” and “office”) both placed in or “during” DRAMA (i.e. “crisis”), like so: D(IO)RAMA.
- Animal puppet (8)
Answer: CREATURE. Solution satisfies “animal” and “puppet”, the latter found fairly deep in CREATURE’s definitions; Chambers has: “a person completely under one’s control, a dependant, instrument or puppet”. A new one on me.
- Vehicle in which one would arrive late? (6)
Answer: HEARSE (i.e. “vehicle”). The remainder of the clue plays on how “late” is used to describe someone who is deceased, and how a HEARSE is used to carry the deceased to their funeral.
- Sex appeal of older men perplexes her initially (5)
Answer: OOMPH (i.e. “sex appeal”). “Initially” indicates the solution is derived from the initial letters of Of Older Men Perplexes Her.
- Aide is not upset about newspaper’s transfer of ownership (17)
Answer: DENATIONALISATION (i.e. “transfer of ownership” from the state to the private sector). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “upset”) of AIDE IS NOT wrapped “about” NATIONAL (i.e. “newspaper”), like so: DE(NATIONAL)ISATION.
- Very bright child reportedly drowned (3-8)
Answer: SUN-DRENCHED (i.e. “very bright”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “reportedly”) of SON (i.e. “child”) followed by DRENCHED (i.e. “drowned” or sodden).
- Union member backing protest about time and space for rest breaks? (7,4)
Answer: SITTING ROOM (i.e. “space for rest breaks”). Solution is GROOM (i.e. “union member”, taking “union” to mean a marriage) placed after or “backing” SIT-IN (i.e. “protest”) once wrapped “about” T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”), like so: (SIT-(T)-IN)-GROOM.
Down clues
- Team produces unexpected results? (4,7)
Answer: SIDE EFFECTS (i.e. “unexpected results”). Solution is SIDE (i.e. “team”) followed by EFFECTS (i.e. “produces”). Simple but nicely worked.
- Key books in religious studies: his speciality? (5)
Answer: RABBI, the “his” within the context of the clue. Solution is A (i.e. a musical note or “key”), B and B (i.e. “books” – B being a recognised abbreviation of “book”) all placed “in” RI (i.e. “religious studies”, in this case a recognised abbreviation of Religious Instruction), like so: R(A-BB)I.
- What’s fitting for rower from Havard or Yale we’re told? (7)
Answer: OARLOCK (i.e. “what’s fitting for rower from Harvard” – an OARLOCK being another word for a rowlock, “a contrivance serving as fulcrum for an oar” (Chambers)). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “we’re told”) of OR followed by LOCK (i.e. “Yale”, a variety thereof).
- Leader deceived about office finally (4)
Answer: HEAD (i.e. “leader”). Solution is HAD (i.e. “deceived”) wrapped “about” E (i.e. “office finally”, i.e. the last letter of “office”), like so: H(E)AD.
- Taxonomic groups split into individuals of similar age (10)
Answer: GENERATION (i.e. “individuals of similar age”). Solution is GENERA (i.e. “taxonomic groups”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “split”) of INTO, like so: GENERA-TION.
- Literary genre almost fits iconic scene in novel format (7,7)
Answer: SCIENCE FICTION (i.e. “literary genre”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “in novel format”) of FITS once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “almost”) and ICONIC SCENE.
- Anagram aligns with edges of eligible fodder (8)
Answer: ENSILAGE (i.e. “fodder” – ENSILAGE can describe silage as well as the process itself). Solution is an anagram (indicated by… er… “anagram”) of ALIGNS and EE (i.e. “edges of eligible”, i.e. the first and last letters of “eligible”).
- Some number subtracted from lower number (5)
Answer: ETHER (i.e. “number” or anaesthetic, as in how it numbs). Solution is NETHER (i.e. “lower”) with the N removed (indicated by “some number subtracted from…” – N can be a variable that represents any number).
- Killer returned and cut down European in citadel (9)
Answer: ACROPOLIS (i.e. a “citadel”, especially in Athens). Solution is ORCA (i.e. “killer” whale) reversed (indicated by “returned”) and followed by POLISH (i.e. “European”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “cut down”), like so: ACRO-POLIS.
- Becoming fairly good (6)
Answer: DECENT. Solution satisfies “becoming” or to look presentable, and “fairly good”. Again, simple but nicely worked.
- What slows up journey having dropped off Bobby? (8,9)
Answer: SLEEPING POLICEMAN (i.e. “what slows up journey”, a speed bump). Solution is SLEEPING (i.e. “having dropped off”) followed by POLICEMAN (i.e. “bobby”, slang thereof).
- Person no longer having to accommodate issue? (5-6)
Answer: EMPTY-NESTER. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, taking “issue” to mean offspring.
- Game associated with US includes quiet period of heightened activity (4,4)
Answer: RUSH HOUR (i.e. “period of heightened activity”). Solution is RU (i.e. “game”, specifically Rugby Union) and OUR (i.e. “associated with us”, ignoring the misleading capitalisation) wrapped around or “including” SHH (i.e. “quiet” – Chambers allows a second H), like so: RU-(SHH)-OUR.
- A ridiculous ban on women’s lib includes old lady and elusive creature (10,7)
Answer: ABOMINABLE SNOWMAN (i.e. “elusive creature”). Solution is A followed by an anagram (indicated by “ridiculous”) of BAN ON WOMEN’S LIB once wrapped around or “including” MA (i.e. “old lady”, both informal references to one’s mother), like so: A-BOMINABLESNOW(MA)N.
- Get lost, missing first suitable walk (4,2)
Answer: HOOF IT (i.e. to “walk”). Solution is SHOO! (i.e. “get lost”) with its first letter removed (indicated by “missing first”) and the remainder followed by FIT (i.e. “suitable”), like so: HOO-FIT.
- Gathering welcomes little male chauvinist? Hardly (8)
Answer: FEMINIST (i.e. “male chauvinist? Hardly”). Solution is FEST (i.e. “gathering”) wrapped around or “welcoming” MINI (i.e. “little”), like so: FE(MINI)ST.
- One opposing current measures is tortured to some extent (8)
Answer: RESISTOR (i.e. “one opposing [electrical] current”). “To some extent” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: MEASU(RES IS TOR)TURED.
- Get ready to put TV channels into effect? (6,8)
Answer: ACTION STATIONS. Solution satisfies a call to “get ready” and, playfully, “to put TV channels into effect”, given channels are sometimes also called stations.
- Secures Greek fruit (8)
Answer: GRAPPLES (i.e. “secures”). Solution is GR (a recognised abbreviation of “Greek”) followed by APPLES (i.e. “fruit”).
- Way to secure deal for instrument (6)
Answer: SPINET (i.e. a musical “instrument” akin to a harpsichord). Solution is ST (i.e. “way”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of a “street”) wrapped around or “securing” PINE (i.e. “deal” – we’ve seen this a couple of times in Jumbos; a variant definition of “deal” is “a fir or pine board of a standard size” (Chambers)), like so: S(PINE)T.
- Committee introduces conclusion in dutiful summary (11)
Answer: COMPENDIOUS (i.e. “summary”, taken as an adjective). Solution is COM (a recognised abbreviation of “committee”) followed by END (i.e. “conclusion”) once placed in or “introduced” to PIOUS (i.e. “dutiful”), like so: COM-P(END)IOUS.
- Lay to rest strange cases for one new breach in rules? (11)
Answer: INTERREGNUM (i.e. “breach in rules”). Solution is INTER (i.e. “lay to rest” or bury) and RUM (i.e. “strange”) once wrapped around or “casing” EG (i.e. “for one”, or for example) and N (a recognised abbreviation of “new”), like so: INTER-R(EG-N)UM.
- Attendant’s vehicle, right outside, to the rear of church property (10)
Answer: MANSERVANT (i.e. “attendant”). Solution is VAN (i.e. “vehicle”) placed in or having “outside” of it RT (a recognised abbreviation of “right”, already covered). This is all then placed “to the rear of” MANSE (i.e. “church property”), like so: MANSE-R(VAN)T.
- Great Dane wrecked open-air restaurant (3,6)
Answer: TEA GARDEN (i.e. “open-air restaurant”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “wrecked”) of GREAT DANE. Another I really liked.
- Bankrupt’s case undoubtedly involves owing money (8)
Answer: INDEBTED (i.e. “owing money”). Solution is BT (i.e. “bankrupt’s case”, i.e. the first and last letters of “bankrupt”) placed in or “involved” by INDEED (i.e. “undoubtedly”), like so: INDE(BT)ED.
- Insect eating through round sea cucumber (7)
Answer: TREPANG (i.e. “sea cucumber”). Solution is GNAT (i.e. “insect”) wrapped around or “eating” PER (i.e. “through”, as in the phrase “as per”). The whole is then reversed (indicated by “round”), like so: T(REP)ANG. Bradford’s to the rescue here.
- State hospital opening up in due course (6)
Answer: LATHER (i.e. a distressed “state”). Solution is H (a recognised abbreviation of “hospital” used on maps) placed in or “opening up” LATER (i.e. “in due course”), like so: LAT(H)ER.
- Shell company originally needed Switzerland (5)
Answer: CONCH (i.e. “shell”). Solution is CO (a recognised abbreviation of “company”) followed by N (i.e. “originally needed”, i.e. the first letter of “needed”) and CH (i.e. country code of “Switzerland”, short for Confederazione Helvetica).
- Horny individual maybe picked up mocking refusal (5)
Answer: RHINO (i.e. “horny individual”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “picked up”) of WRY (i.e. “mocking”) followed by NO (i.e. “refusal”), like so: RHI-NO.
- Hide structure from one following advice (4)
Answer: TIPI (i.e. “hide structure”, a variant spelling of TEPEE). Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) placed after or “following” TIP (i.e. “advice”), like so: TIP-I.
Lucian Poll's Web Ramblings 
It’s proving very difficult to leave comments. For the second time in succession, the website doesn’t seem to be working properly!
Welcome back, Lucian!
After three attempts (the site software is playing up again) to respond, my intended comment now seems only deeply banal. I wanted to note simply how I enjoyed the appearance of “hoof it” to mean “walk”. Sounds almost as antique as I – do people still say that?
On the other hand, it was through parsing alone that I worked out there must be some very modish term “empty-nester”. Had my partner heard of it? “Naturally. Where have you been for the last twenty years?” she scoffed. Back in my place.
We’re soon leaving to spend the fulll Brexit allowance hoofing it round the Pyrenees. If I don’t post again until spring, it’s not because I’ve abandoned the site. Long may it thrive!
Lucian, thank you for your introduction. As one of those who tries to send a completed answer in each week (only if I have completed it myself without your aid), it is always helpful to have an explanation of those I know are right but can’t quite understand why. For instance ‘GROOM’ for ‘union’ in 56a and the whole of ‘MANSERVANT’ in 37d. But I agree with the Times that you shouldn’t post them before the deadline, please, or people like me are effectively ‘fighting with one hand behind our back’.
Can I just say how much I appreciate what you do. It must take masses of your time.
I used to be puzzled by some answers when I saw them in the Times after two weeks. To have explanations is wonderful and has improved my crossword skills immeasurably. Thank you.
Thanks, Lucian. Cheers
Thanks Lucian. Great to see you back.
I think we’d all agree that we are here to learn from you and share the comradeship of the cryptic. Since I started, during lockdown, I’ve followed some of your journey – taking a week to get through half a grid, progressing to nowadays finishing almost all grids, but usually needing a few final parsing explanations from you to fully understand and to further my education.
All power to your elbow and pen.
Cheers Graham
On this puzzle, I completely missed PICKED UP in 51d as a homophone indicator. I was fixated, it being a Down clue, on picked up referring to turning upside down.
Another good trap Oh Setter for those like me who seize on a meaning and don’t question and think around it. Live and learn. G
Hi Lucian,
Apologies for rather long reply.
Agreed that prize crosswords have no place in the Internet age. Also that there are loads of crossword forums out there anyway, where one can pick up an answer or three. I steer clear of them and just rely on my hardback dictionaries if stuck.
I probably agree that you should not publish answers until after the solution date but, again, this is the Internet age and “the truth is [not only] out there”, but pretty easy to find.
The big disadvantage to your delayed solutions is that. by the time they do (from now on) drop into my Inbox, the actual crossword will have become a distant memory. But that, I think, cannot be helped.
While rambling on, let me tell you the very first cryptic clue I ever came across – must be sixty-five years ago.
Clue: “I’d follow Tim though afraid (5)”
Answer: “Timid”.
“Wow, that’s clever”, I thought – I must have been about 10 years old at the time.
After school, I started doing the Daily Mail cryptic but, once I was finishing it every day, I moved onto “The Guardian”. Not my favourite paper but their crosswords were always good, with enormous variations in difficulty. I then moved onto The Times”. On the train to work, I did sometimes (rarely to be honest) complete the daily crossword in under 10 minutes, but it was more often just under 30 minutes as the train pulled into Kings Cross.
I used to enter “The Times” national crossword championship (before the Internet age) and reached the London regional finals five years running, held at The Hilton in Park Lane. Most enjoyable but one was quickly brought down to earth when the winner was often John Bradbury Sykes, editor of various Oxford English dictionaries.
Anyway, Lucian, keep up the good work – and I hope you will keep posting.
Oh dear, the dislocation between my solving and your wonderful blog means that an awful lot of the joy has drained away. I simply can’t remember the highs and lows.
If we are to be stuck in this sad new world, I think a possible solution may be to keep the puzzle back and solve it during the “permitted” weekend.
Have noticed in passing that the very excellent TfTT website has only 3 comments so far, during the week there are often 50 or more. It has always been respectful of the wretched embargo.
Loss of interest will be bitter draught.
Thank you as always Lucian. Compared to your patient and diligent work, it’s really no big problem to leave our solution lying on the kitchen table for a couple of weeks.
We enjoyed this puzzle, even if it was a bit easier than usual. Not so keen on the double-deletion of ‘vied’ … one of those occasions where you think, is that really it?
We got Ether without understanding the reference to Nether – obvious now you’ve shown us the way.
And a gold star to the setter for Sitting Room!
Hi Lucian. How about this cunning plan. 1. You comment as you used to on the crossword in generic terms – a stinker etc giving nothing specific away. We add our general thoughts – “ooh bottom left was a problem”, “really liked 28 across etc”. 2. Then you update later with the full answers and the solutions.
A kind of two stage process. Not as good as before, but something earlier…
Andrew
Ps also repeat my previous thoughts of a meet up of you and your “followers” in London for a Sunday lunch in the New Year. To talk crosswords and thank you for all your work
Lucian, so good to find you are back and continuing your Reithian mission to inform, educate and entertain. You have greatly increased my knowledge of Amerianisms, obscure fish, plays, novels, drug synonyms and much else in your patient efforts to make us better solvers and made me LOL at some of your comments. While the immediacy isn’t there any more, please don’t stop.