Times Jumbo Cryptic Crossword 1653

A medium strength Jumbo where, mercifully, the more exotic solutions were gettable from the wordplay. None of this anagramming stuff like SKA HAT MAN A VIP or A VAST PINK HAM A to get some port I’ve never heard of. All good by me!

Now that the competition deadline has passed 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 the slip 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 patience. Till next time, stay safe out there kids.

LP

Across clues

1. Prime Minister aboard HMS India upset sailor (10)

Answer: MIDSHIPMAN (i.e. “sailor”). Solution is PM (short for “Prime Minister”) placed in or “aboard” an anagram (indicated by “upset”) of HMS INDIA, like so: MIDSHI(PM)AN.

6. What tailors use to record sizes? (4,8)

Answer: TAPE MEASURES (i.e. “what tailors use”). Solution is TAPE (i.e. “record”) followed by MEASURES (i.e. “sizes”). Simple, but nicely done.

14. Formal surrender parade – not professional (7)

Answer: CESSION (i.e. “formal surrender”). Solution is PROCESSION (i.e. “parade”) with the PRO removed (indicated by “not professional”).

15. Common genus of flowers in picture (7)

Answer: PROSAIC (i.e. “common”). Solution is ROSA (i.e. “genus of flowers”) placed “in” PIC (short for “picture”), like so: P(ROSA)IC.

16. Peer has company – note a lot of misgiving (7)

Answer: COEQUAL (i.e. “peer”). Solution CO (a recognised abbreviation of “company”) followed by E (i.e. musical “note”) and QUALM (i.e. “misgiving”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “a lot of…”), like so: CO-E-QUAL.

17. Mostly silly about Ecstasy and unwilling to listen (4)

Answer: DEAF (i.e. “unwilling to listen”). Solution is DAFT (i.e. “silly”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “mostly”) and the remainder wrapped “about” E (slang name for “Ecstasy”), like so: D(E)AF.

18. Honey bear indeed, all empty, and cross (6)

Answer: HYBRID (i.e. “cross”). “All empty” indicates the solution is formed from HONEY BEAR INDEED once the middle letters have been removed from each word.

20. Make a channel carrying spring’s discharge (8)

Answer: DISPATCH (i.e. “discharge”). Solution is DITCH (i.e. “make a channel”, can be a verb in this regard as well as a noun) wrapped around or “carrying” SPA (i.e. “spring”), like so: DI(SPA)TCH.

24. Self-satisfied group with upsetting intimacy and amorous latitude (6,10,7)

Answer: MUTUAL ADMIRATION SOCIETY (i.e. “self-satisfied group”, or, facetiously, “a group of people or circle of friends lavish in their praise of one another” (Chambers). The book world is dreadful for this, so much so that I automatically discount the opinion of pretty much any author quoted on the cover. I mean, think about it. Where else do you see people crank out glowing reviews of their peers’ work? Do you see Damien Hirst put out another spot painting and see Tracey Emin, Jeff Koons and Banksy all scramble to heap praise on it? When you see an advert for Alice Cooper’s latest album, do you see a quote from Ozzy saying “It’s alright actually”? Weird that we accept it for books). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “upsetting”) of INTIMACY and AMOROUS LATITUDE. Very nicely worked.

25. Temporarily suspended – a chance there’s no returning in it (7)

Answer: ABEYANT (i.e. “temporarily suspended”). Solution is A and BET (i.e. “chance”) wrapped around or having “in it” NAY (i.e. “no”) once reversed (indicated by “returning”), like so: A-BE(YAN)T.

26. People who fight OAP protected by son run away finally (8)

Answer: SOLDIERY (i.e. “people who fight”). Solution is OLDIE (i.e. “OAP”) placed in or “protected by” S (a recognised abbreviation of “son”), R (ditto “run”) and Y (i.e. “away finally”, i.e. “away” with its last letter removed), like so: S-(OLDIE)-R-Y.

27. Design a river flat (6)

Answer: PLANAR (i.e. “flat”). Solution is PLAN (i.e. “design”) followed by A and R (a recognised abbreviation of “river”).

29. Student teacher? Pity one unfortunately covering nearly everything (4,10)

Answer: OPEN UNIVERSITY (i.e. “student teacher”, taken to mean a teacher of students). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “unfortunately”) of PITY ONE wrapped around or “covering” UNIVERSE (i.e. “everything”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “nearly”), like so: OPEN(UNIVERS)ITY.

31. Bank installing stronghold backs updated version (8)

Answer: RETROFIT (i.e. taken as a noun, an “updated version”). Solution is TIER (i.e. “bank”) wrapped around or “installing” FORT (i.e. “stronghold”), and the whole then reversed (indicated by “backs”), like so: RE(TROF)IT.

34. Instruction note about US vehicle trail (8)

Answer: TUTELAGE (i.e. “instruction”). Solution is TE (i.e. “note” in the sol-fa scale) wrapped “about” UTE (i.e. “US vehicle”, short for a utility truck) and LAG (i.e. to “trail”), like so: T(UTE-LAG)E.

36. Clue, for instance, is a curse! (4-6,4)

Answer: FOUR-LETTER WORD. Solution satisfies “clue, for instance” and “a curse” or swear word.

39. Prompt is visible to audience (6)

Answer: INCITE (i.e. to “prompt”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “to audience”) of IN SIGHT (i.e. “is visible”).

41. How one may receive holiday home which helps one slow down? (5,3)

Answer: BRAKE PAD (i.e. “which helps one slow down”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “how one may receive”) of BREAK (i.e. “holiday”) followed by PAD (i.e. “home”).

43. Former pope from a wealthy satellite town (7)

Answer: EXURBAN (“from a wealthy satellite town”). Solution is EX (i.e. “former”) followed by URBAN (i.e. “pope” – there have been a few Pope Urbans over the years).

46. A wonder of old tapestry with areas of flowers round fine little lake on (7,7,2,7)

Answer: HANGING GARDENS OF BABYLON (i.e. “a wonder of old”, or one of The Seven Wonders of the World). Solution is HANGING (i.e. “tapestry”) followed by GARDENS (i.e. “areas of flowers”), then O (i.e. “round”), F (a recognised abbreviation of “fine” used in grading pencils), BABY (i.e. “little”), L (a recognised abbreviation of “lake”) and ON.

47. A section of mascarpone pie, certainly not cut (3-5)

Answer: ONE-PIECE (i.e. “not cut”). “A section of” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: MASCARP(ONE PIE CE)RTAINLY.

48. The man carries a crash helmet in compound (6)

Answer: HALIDE (i.e. “compound” of halogen and a metal). Solution is HE (i.e. “the man”) wrapped around or “carrying” A and LID (slang for a “crash helmet”), like so: H(A-LID)E. One nailed from the wordplay.

49. Shady dealer with small celebrity backing (4)

Answer: SPIV (i.e. “shady dealer”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “small”) followed by VIP (i.e. “celebrity”) once reversed (indicated by “backing”), like so: S-PIV.

53. Opening of second of songs Mahler’s rewritten (7)

Answer: ARMHOLE (i.e. “opening” in a garment). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “rewritten”) of O (i.e. “second [letter] of songs”) and MAHLER.

54. One may want spread here, having a spell of good luck (2,1,4)

Answer: ON A ROLL. Solution satisfies “one may want spread here”, i.e. on a bread roll, and “having a spell of good fortune”.

56. American I had over one August night for starters (7)

Answer: IDAHOAN (i.e. an “American”). Solution is I followed by HAD once reversed (indicated by “over”), then O, A and N (i.e. “one August night for starters”, i.e. the first letters of “one”, “August” and “night”), like so: I-DAH-O-A-N.

57. Improbability of oiled hunk cooking with oil? (12)

Answer: UNLIKELIHOOD (i.e. “improbability”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “cooking”) of OILED HUNK and OIL.

58. Dynasty left fools – they lower the level of brightness (10)

Answer: SUNGLASSES (i.e. “they lower the level of brightness”). Solution is SUNG (i.e. Chinese “dynasty”, more commonly known as the Song dynasty) followed by L (a recognised abbreviation of “left”) and ASSES (i.e. “fools”).

Down clues

1. Something put on road island – a tree (9)

Answer: MACADAMIA (i.e. “tree”). Solution is MACADAM (i.e. “something put on road”, tarmac) followed by I (a recognised abbreviation of “island”) and A.

2. Lament mind set developing destructive action (13)

Answer: DISMANTLEMENT (i.e. “destructive action”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “developing”) of LAMENT MIND SET.

3. One who succeeds is regularly cheerier (4)

Answer: HEIR (i.e. “one who succeeds”). “Regularly” indicates the solution is derived from every other letter of CHEERIER.

4. Set on distant objects, girl cycles (5-9)

Answer: PENNY-FARTHINGS (i.e. “cycles”). Solution is FAR THINGS (i.e. “distant objects”) with PENNY (i.e. “girl’s” name) “set on” top, like so: PENNY-(FAR-THINGS).

5. Intention to avoid November when climbing mountain (3)

Answer: ALP (i.e. “mountain”). Solution is PLAN (i.e. “intention”) with the N removed (indicated by “to avoid November” – November being N in the phonetic alphabet) and the remainder reversed (indicated by “when climbing” – this being a down clue).

7. Gelatinous substance got from a fish (4)

Answer: AGAR (i.e. “gelatinous substance”, the kind of stuff you grow bacteria on). Solution is A followed by GAR (i.e. a variety of “fish”).

8. Eastern father keeping one of Plato’s works in desk (10)

Answer: ESCRITOIRE (i.e. a writing “desk”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “eastern”) followed by SIRE (i.e. to “father”) once wrapped around or “keeping” CRITO (i.e. “one of Plato’s works”), like so: E-S(CRITO)IRE. Tough bugger.

9. Arranged a Pisces maiden’s fantasy? (8)

Answer: ESCAPSIM (i.e. “fantasy”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “arranged”) of A, PISCES and M (a recognised abbreviation of “maiden” used in cricket).

10. Dazzling, like a mirror cat’s reflected in (11)

Answer: SPECTACULAR (i.e. “dazzling”). Solution is SPECULAR (i.e. “like a mirror” – speculum is another name for a mirror) wrapped around or having “in” CAT once reversed (indicated by “reflected”), like so: SPEC(TAC)ULAR.

11. Not clear cut how hunger gets resolved (5-4)

Answer: ROUGH-HEWN (i.e. “not clear cut”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “gets resolved”) of HOW HUNGER.

12. Meat cut up for a person (4)

Answer: SELF (i.e. “a person”). Solution is FLESH (i.e. “meat”) with the last letter removed (indicated by cut”) and the remainder reversed (indicated by “up” – this being a down clue).

13. File with contents of folk’s foolish nonsense (8)

Answer: FOLDEROL (i.e. “foolish nonsense”). Solution is FOLDER (i.e. “file”) followed by OL (i.e. “contents of folk”, i.e. the middle letters of “folk”).

19. Once more get control over historic London bus after missing out (8)

Answer: REMASTER (i.e. “once more get control over”). Solution is ROUTEMASTER (i.e. “historic London bus”) with the OUT removed (indicated by “after missing out”).

21. Fabled capital, unknown and fantastically covered in gold (6)

Answer: XANADU (i.e. an idyllic “fabled capital” in Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem Kubla Khan). Solution is X (i.e. “unknown” – setters love referring to X, Y or Z in solutions as unknowns) followed by an anagram (indicated by “fantastically”) of AND once placed or “covered in” AU (chemical symbol of “gold”), like so: X-A(NAD)U.

22. More stern and rising cruelty Cain rates regularly (8)

Answer: STRICTER (i.e. “more stern”). “Regularly” indicates the solution is derived from every other letter of CRUELTY CAIN RATES, while “rising” indicates the letters are reversed – this being a down clue.

23. Given water monster on Tweed, we got away (8)

Answer: HYDRATED (i.e. “given water”). Solution is HYDRA (i.e. mythical “monster”) followed by TWEED once the WE has been removed (indicated by “we got away”), like so: HYDRA-TED.

28. Making things easy, exploit perhaps minted ring (7-7)

Answer: FEATHER-BEDDING (i.e. “making things easy”). Solution is FEAT (i.e. “exploit”) followed by HERBED (i.e. “perhaps minted”) and DING (i.e. a “ring” sound).

29. Totally unconscious justice (8)

Answer: OUTRIGHT (i.e. “totally”). Solution is OUT (i.e. “unconscious”) followed by RIGHT (i.e. “justice”).

30. Customary notice on the end of the enclosure (8)

Answer: STOCKADE (i.e. “enclosure”). Solution is STOCK (i.e. “customary”) followed by AD (i.e. “notice”, short for advertisement) and E (i.e. “end of the”, i.e. the last letter of “the”).

32. Gambling system somewhat dependent on draws (8,5)

Answer: FOOTBALL POOLS. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, given the game asks punters to guess the score “draws” in a number of football games.

33. Action over vote name changer? (4,4)

Answer: DEED POLL (i.e. “name changer”). Solution is DEED (i.e. “action”) followed by POLL (i.e. “vote”).

35. Rule about dry ice or potassium structure (11)

Answer: LATTICEWORK (i.e. “structure”). Solution is LAW (i.e. “rule”) wrapped “about” TT (i.e. “dry”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of teetotal) and ICE. This is all then followed by OR and K (chemical symbol of “potassium”), like so: LA(TT-ICE)W-OR-K.

37. Reportedly what sailors would take to be compass points (6)

Answer: RHUMBS (i.e. “compass points”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “reportedly”) of RUMS (i.e. “what sailors would take”).

38. Broadcasting lots then dropping 50 per cent of all material (10)

Answer: BROADCLOTH (i.e. “material”). “Dropping 50 per cent of all” indicates the solution is derived from the first halves of BROADCASTING LOTS THEN.

40. As some maps are to deceive, not easy going (9)

Answer: CONFORMAL (i.e. “as some maps are” – over to Chambers: “(of a map) representing small areas in their true shape”, whatever that means). Solution is CON (i.e. “to deceive”) followed by FORMAL (i.e. “not easy going”).

42. Quiet meal, but not opening large cask as before (8)

Answer: PUNCHEON (i.e. “large cask” – I think “as before” indicates the solution is an obsolete word). Solution is P (i.e. “quiet”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “piano” used in musical lingo) followed by LUNCHEON (i.e. “meal”) once the first letter has been removed (indicated by “not opening”), like so: P-UNCHEON.

44. Church service openings can be dull occasions (3-6)

Answer: NON-EVENTS (i.e. “dull occasions”). Solution is NONE (i.e. 3pm “church service”, one of the canonical hours, also known as NONES) followed by VENTS (i.e. “openings”).

45. What one tries to live up to as oldie struggling with age (3,5)

Answer: EGO IDEAL (i.e. “what one tries to live up to”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “struggling”) of OLDIE and AGE.

50. Military insignia university prohibited (4)

Answer: TABU (i.e. “prohibited”, a variant spelling of TABOO). Solution is TAB (i.e. “military insignia” “distinguishing a staff officer on the collar of his or her uniform” (Chambers)) followed by U (a recognised abbreviation of “university”).

51. Plant with corm – not a root shows (4)

Answer: TARO (i.e. “plant with corm”). “Shows” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: NO(T A RO)OT. One nailed from the wordplay.

52. Religious leader hit hard over article (4)

Answer: LAMA (i.e. Buddhist “religious leader”). Solution is LAM (i.e. “hit hard”) followed by A (i.e. “article”, being a word like a, an or the).

55. Regularly clued-up and ready in Europe (3)

Answer: LEU (i.e. “ready in Europe” – ready is a slang word for money; the solution is the currency of Romania). “Regularly” indicates the solution is derived from every other letter of CLUED-UP.