Times Jumbo Cryptic Crossword 1661

Whoops! Unlike my real-life alter-ego, you could say I’ve got a little behind here. The one good thing about delaying these Jumbo solutions is that I get my Saturdays back, but it does place demands on the rest of my week as a result. Sometimes, things are going to slip.

Anyway, 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 left you scratching your head then you might have nits. If that’s not the case, however, and you’re actually just a little stuck 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 your patience and comments. Till next time, stay safe out there kids.

LP

Across clues

1. Boorish idiot on councillor’s case (5)

Answer: CRASS (i.e. “boorish”). Solution is ASS (i.e. “idiot”) placed “on” or after CR (i.e. “councillor’s case”, i.e. the first and last letters of “councillor”), like so: CR-ASS.

4. Obvious formality puts off adult trainee (10)

Answer: APPRENTICE (i.e. “trainee”). Solution is APPARENT (i.e. “obvious”) and ICE (i.e. “formality”) with one of the As removed (indicated by “puts off adult”, an old film certification requiring children under 14 to be accompanied by an adult, which was largely superseded by PG), like so: APPRENT-ICE.

9. They bring together British experts (6)

Answer: BRACES (i.e. “they bring together”). Solution is BR (a recognised abbreviation of “British”) and ACES (i.e. “experts”).

14. Confiscate sought after object stolen by witness (9)

Answer: SEQUESTER (i.e. “confiscate”). Solution is QUEST (i.e. “sought after object”) placed in or “stolen by” SEER (i.e. “witness”), like so: SE(QUEST)ER.

15. English doctor runs into trouble, heading off source of shame? (13)

Answer: EMBARRASSMENT (i.e. “shame”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”) followed by MB (i.e. “doctor”, a Bachelor of Medicine or Medicinae Baccalaureus) and HARRASSMENT (i.e. “trouble”) once its first letter has been removed (indicated by “heading off”), like so: E-MB-ARRASSMENT.

16. Letter’s mostly impressive elegance, having no heart (7)

Answer: EPISTLE (i.e. “letter”). Solution is EPIC (i.e. “impressive”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “mostly”) and the remainder followed by STYLE (i.e. “elegance”) once its middle letter has been removed (indicated by “having no heart”), like so: EPI-STLE.

17. Is work this writer’s returned disrupting whole discussion? (9)

Answer: SYMPOSIUM (i.e. “discussion”). Solution is IS, OP (i.e. “work”, a recognised abbreviation of “opus”) and MY (i.e. “this writer’s”, or something belonging to the setter) all reversed (indicated by “returned”) and placed in or “disrupting” SUM (i.e. “whole”), like so: S(YM-PO-SI)UM.

18. Monarch’s rule is unfamiliar except for Republican’s predecessors (5)

Answer: REIGN (i.e. “monarch’s rule”). Solution is FOREIGN (i.e. “unfamiliar”) with the FO removed (indicated by “except for Republican’s predecessors” – I believe this is referring to the word “for” in the clue, specifically the letters ‘FO’ of the word that precede ‘R’ (a recognised abbreviation of “Republican”). If it turns out this refers to something else then I’ll update the post).

19. Fresh fruit filled with sugar’s beginning process involving press (4,10)

Answer: NEWS CONFERENCE (i.e. “process involving press”). Solution is NEW (i.e. “fresh”) and CONFERENCE (i.e. “fruit”, specifically a variety of pear) all wrapped around or “filled with” S (i.e. “sugar’s beginning” letter), like so: NEW-(S)-CONFERENCE.

22. ID provided by returning sentry? (7)

Answer: NAMETAG (i.e. “ID”). Solution is GATEMAN (i.e. “sentry”) reversed or “returned”. The riddly question mark isn’t really necessary as GATEMAN is a recognised word.

25. Novel written that is containing new twist (10)

Answer: INTERTWINE (i.e. “twist”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “novel”) of WRITTEN followed by I.E. (i.e. “that is”, i.e. “i.e.”!) once wrapped around or “containing” N (a recognised abbreviation of “new”), like so: INTERTW-I(N)E.

27. Song drunk lady sung with elan (4,4,4)

Answer: AULD LANG SYNE (i.e. “song”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “drunk”) of LADY SUNG and ELAN.

30. Who might produce monumental work featuring mother and child? (5)

Answer: MASON (i.e. “who might produce monumental work”). Solution is MA (i.e. informal word for “mother”) followed by SON (i.e. “child”).

31. Loutish Australian arrived spreading much fondness (8)

Answer: LARRIKIN (i.e. “loutish Australian” – a new one on me, but then I’m not Australian). Solution is ARR (a recognised abbreviation of “arrived” used, say, on timetables) placed on or “spreading” LIKING (i.e. “fondness”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “much”), like so: L(ARR)IKIN.

32. Emphasised the effect of final courses being returned (8)

Answer: STRESSED (i.e. “emphasised the effect of”). Solution is DESSERTS (i.e. “final courses”) reversed (indicated by “returned”). Seen it before.

35. Particular detail diminished sci-fi epic in some way (8)

Answer: SPECIFIC (i.e. “particular”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “in some way”) of SCI-FI once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “diminished”) and EPIC.

36. Sinister people on the march wanting power (8)

Answer: MENACING (i.e. “sinister”). Solution is MEN (i.e. “people”) followed by PACING (i.e. “on the march”) once the P has been removed (indicated by “wanting power” – P being a recognised abbreviation of “power”), like so: MEN-ACING.

37. Time to worry persistently about distinctive accent (5)

Answer: TWANG (i.e. “distinctive accent”). Solution is T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”) followed by GNAW (i.e. “to worry persistently”) once reversed (indicated by “about”), like so: T-WANG.

39. Conservative government’s first, for example, to stop helping assembly (12)

Answer: CONGREGATION (i.e. “assembly”). Solution is CON (short for “Conservative”) followed by G (i.e. “government’s first” letter) and EG (i.e. “for example”) once placed in or “stopping” RATION (i.e. portion or “helping”), like so: CON-G-R(EG)ATION.

41. Purchased too much public housing for branch (10)

Answer: OVERBOUGHT (i.e. “purchased too much”). Solution is OVERT (i.e. “public”) wrapped around or “housing” BOUGH (i.e. “branch”), like so: OVER(BOUGH)T.

43. Hot sauce and beans regularly wrapped in pancake (7)

Answer: TABASCO (i.e. “hot sauce”). Solution is BAS (i.e. “beans regularly”, i.e. every other letter of BEANS) placed or “wrapped in” TACO (i.e. “pancake”), like so: TA(BAS)CO.

45. Coolness and spirit belonging to object (8,2,4)

Answer: PRESENCE OF MIND (i.e. “coolness”). Solution is MIND (i.e. “spirit”) being OF or “belonging to” PRESENCE (i.e. a material thing or “object”). You get the idea.

48. Harangue half-cut voters (5)

Answer: ORATE (i.e. to “harangue”). Solution is ELECTORATE (i.e. “voters”) with the first “half cut”.

49. Awfully banal choir missing a description of breathtaking passage? (9)

Answer: BRONCHIAL (i.e. “description of breathtaking passage”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “awfully”) of BANAL CHOIR.

51. Extreme means of amplifying vocal controversy (7)

Answer: POLEMIC (i.e. “controversy”). Solution is POLE (i.e. geographical “extreme”) followed by MIC (i.e. “means of amplifying vocal”, short for a microphone).

53. What can prise open the tightest of locks? (4-5,4)

Answer: FINE-TOOTH COMB. Clue plays on “locks” being another word for hair. Would a fine-tooth comb do the job though? I don’t have tight curly hair (very much the opposite) so can’t really answer. Seems unlikely though.

54. Take cover from some of sun’s heat henceforth (9)

Answer: UNSHEATHE (i.e. “take cover from”). “Some of” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: S(UN’S HEAT HE)NCEFORTH. Nicely done.

55. Temptation grips king, queen and lady-in-waiting? (6)

Answer: LURKER (i.e. “lady-in-waiting”, playing more on someone lying in wait than anyone in a royal household). Solution is LURE (i.e. “temptation”) wrapped around or “gripping” K (a recognised abbreviation of “king” used in chess) and followed by R (i.e. “queen”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of the Latin Regina), like so: LUR(K)E-R.

56. Advanced position demonstrated by leader of game? (10)

Answer: BRIDGEHEAD (i.e. “advanced position” on a ship). When written as BRIDGE HEAD the solution also playfully satisfies “leader of [card] game”.

57. I’m surprised piercing sound is boring (2-3)

Answer: HO-HUM (i.e. “boring”). Solution is OH (i.e. “I’m surprised”) placed in or “piercing” HUM (i.e. “sound”), like so: H(OH)UM.

Down clues

1. Partners in deal following money and source of oil (6)

Answer: CASHEW (i.e. a “source of oil”). Solution is E and W (i.e. “partners in deal”, specifically east and west in a game of bridge) placed after or “following” CASH (i.e. “money”), like so: CASH-E-W.

2. Gained experience that takes time to be appreciated (8,5)

Answer: ACQUIRED TASTE (i.e. “that takes time to be appreciated”). Solution is ACQUIRED (i.e. “gained”) followed by TASTE (i.e. an “experience” of something).

3. Process to extract metal emitted noxious fumes? (5)

Answer: SMELT. Solution satisfies “process to extract metal” and, playfully, “emitted noxious fumes”, for the Johnny Fartpants among you.

4. Innovative style disrupted trade with company (3,4)

Answer: ART DECO (i.e. “innovative style”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “disrupted”) of TRADE followed by CO (a recognised abbreviation of “company”), like so: ARTDE-CO.

5. Legal ways in sabotaged troop’s attempt to guard Slough (5,2,5)

Answer: PORTS OF ENTRY (i.e. “legal ways in”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “sabotaged”) of TROOP’S and TRY (i.e. “attempt”) all wrapped around or “guarding” FEN (i.e. a marsh or “slough”, ignoring the misleading capitalisation), like so: PORTSO-(FEN)-TRY.

6. Sin tempted woman upset about way of working henceforth (8)

Answer: EVERMORE (i.e. “henceforth”). Solution is ERR (i.e. to “sin”) and EVE (i.e. “tempted woman”) all reversed (indicated by “upset” – this being a down clue) and wrapped “about” MO (i.e. “way of working”, short for Modus Operandi), like so: EVE-R(MO)RE.

7. Cheers show disapproval of what is unacceptable (5)

Answer: TABOO (i.e. “what is unacceptable”). Solution is TA (i.e. “cheers”) followed by BOO (i.e. “show disapproval”).

8. Elements of a recording requiring adjustment? (10)

Answer: CORRIGENDA. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, being “corrections to be made in a book” (Chambers) and is also an anagram (indicated by “requiring adjustment”) of A RECORDING. Usually I’d have a big moan about exotic solutions being clued up as anagrams, but at least on this occasion the solution was interesting.

10. Platform game set in storm at sea (7)

Answer: ROSTRUM (i.e. “platform”). Solution is RU (i.e. “game”, specifically Rugby Union) placed “in” an anagram (indicated by “at sea”) of STORM, like so: ROST(RU)M.

11. Subject that brings people together? (9)

Answer: CHEMISTRY. Solution satisfies school “subject” and “that brings people together”.

12. Made a contribution to protest material (5)

Answer: SATIN (i.e. “material”). When written as SAT-IN the solution also satisfies “made a contribution to protest”.

13. Carnivorous animal is confused with a giant marten (9,5)

Answer: TASMANIAN TIGER (i.e. “carnivorous animal”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “confused”) of IS and A GIANT MARTEN.

20. Dog that’s been fed one more resilient (9)

Answer: SPRINGIER (i.e. “more resilient”). Solution is SPRINGER (i.e. “dog”) wrapped around or having “been fed” I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), like so: SPRING(I)ER.

21. Reportedly bad state of ratings? (8)

Answer: NAUTICAL (i.e. “of ratings” – one definition of “rating” is a class of seaman). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “reportedly”) of NAUGHTY (i.e. “bad”) followed by CAL (i.e. US “state”, short for California), like so: NAUTI-CAL.

23. Editor plugging dull, essential elements for enthusiastic consumer (6,4)

Answer: GREEDY GUTS (i.e. “enthusiastic consumer”). Solution is ED (short for “editor”) placed in or “plugging” GREY (i.e. “dull”) and followed by GUTS (i.e. “essential elements”), like so: GRE(ED)Y-GUTS.

24. Hipster from country once potential partner for Queen (7,3)

Answer: SIAMESE CAT (i.e. “potential partner for Queen” – a queen being a female cat). Solution also satisfies “hipster from country once”, referring to Siam, the former name of Thailand.

26. Capital gains reduced protection for member (10,4)

Answer: WELLINGTON BOOT (i.e. “protection for member” – a member sometimes refers to an arm or leg). Solution is WELLINGTON (i.e. “capital” of New Zealand) followed by BOOTS (i.e. “gains” – a variant meaning of “boot” is profit) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “reduced”).

28. For all to see, established in union member’s accommodation (5,4)

Answer: GUEST ROOM (i.e. “accommodation”). Solution is U (i.e. “for all to see”, i.e. the film certificate “universal”) and EST (a recognised abbreviation of “established”) both placed “in” GROOM (i.e. “union member”, taking a union to be a wedding), like so: G(U-EST)ROOM.

29. Boring book about religious education occupying lives (8)

Answer: TIRESOME (i.e. “boring”). Solution is TOME (i.e. “book”) wrapped “about” RE (a recognised abbreviation of “religious education”) once this has first been placed in or “occupying” IS (i.e. “lives”), like so: T(I(RE)S)OME.

33. Bitter dispute caused by raising line in small fishing competition (8,5)

Answer: SLANGING MATCH (i.e. “bitter dispute”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “small”), ANGLING (i.e. “fishing”) and MATCH (i.e. “competition”) once the L (a recognised abbreviation of “line”) has been moved back a couple of notches or “raised” – this being a down clue – like so: S-ANG(L)ING-MATCH => S-(L)ANGING-MATCH.

34. 56 lines Lucretius translated in The Art of Forestry (12)

Answer: SILVICULTURE (i.e. “the art of forestry” – ignoring the misleading capitalisation). Solution is LVI (i.e. “56” expressed in Roman numerals) placed in or “lining” an anagram (indicated by “translated”) of LUCRETIUS, like so: SI(LVI)CULTURE.

38. Woman often seen as wicked sulks about choke holds (10)

Answer: STEPMOTHER (i.e. “woman often seen as wicked” in fairy tales). Solution is PET (i.e. “sulk”) reversed (indicated by “about”) and placed in or “held” by SMOTHER (i.e. “choke”), like so: S(TEP)MOTHER.

40. Presumably someone who wouldn’t bash your head in is hardly a problem (2-7)

Answer: NO-BRAINER. Solution satisfies “hardly a problem” and, playfully, “presumably someone who wouldn’t bash your head in”.

42. Trustworthy cover from reinsurance likely (8)

Answer: RELIABLE (i.e. “trustworthy”). Solution is RE (i.e. “cover from reinsurance”, i.e. the first and last letters of “reinsurance”) followed by LIABLE (i.e. “likely”).

44. Staff spirit changing around characters known for political correctness (7)

Answer: SCEPTRE (i.e. “staff”). Solution is SPECTRE (i.e. “spirit”) with the P and C swapped around (indicated by “changing around characters known for political correctness”), like so: S(P)E(C)TRE => S(C)E(P)TRE.

46. Not in favour of baseless stance adopted by newspaper article (7)

Answer: OPPOSED (i.e. “not in favour of”). Solution is POSE (i.e. “stance”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “baseless”) and the remainder placed in or “adopted by” OP-ED (i.e. “newspaper article”), like so: OP-(POS)-ED.

47. Cry about being caught in sting (6)

Answer: SCREAM (i.e. “cry”). Solution RE (i.e. “about” – think email replies) placed or “caught in” SCAM (i.e. “sting”), like so: SC(RE)AM.

48. Waste removed from almost everything (5)

Answer: OFFAL (i.e. “waste removed”). Solution is OFF (i.e. “from”) followed by ALL (i.e. “everything”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “almost”), like so: OFF-AL.

50. Sound produced by one string or several (5)

Answer: CHORD. Solution is a homophone (indicated by “sound produced by”) of CORD (i.e. “string”). The solution also satisfies “sound produced by several” strings. Nicely worked.

52. Scoundrel lying about securing Charlie for sucker (5)

Answer: LEECH (i.e. “sucker”). Solution is HEEL (i.e. “scoundrel”) reversed (indicated by “lying about”) and wrapped around or “securing” C (“Charlie” in the phonetic alphabet), like so: LEE(C)H.