Times Jumbo Cryptic Crossword 1663

A medium strength Jumbo that was okay in the main, with some nicely disguised wordplay dotted throughout. It got a little overly mechanical in places if my word count is any judge, but that’s probably more a bother for me than anyone else!

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 pittled on your plants 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. Being a huge Reading fan, playing Alboin, aim big before the end (11)

Answer: BIBLIOMANIA (i.e. “being a huge reading fan” – ignoring the misleading capitalisation). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “playing”) of ALBION AIM and BIG once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “before the end”).

7. Paper follows translated articles on our planet (5,3,3)

Answer: UNDER THE SUN (i.e. “on our planet”). Solution is THE SUN (i.e. UK “[news]paper”) placed after or “following” UN and DER (i.e. “translated articles”, specifically the French for “a” and the German for “the” – an article being a word like a, an or the), like so: (UN-DER)-THE-SUN.

13. Spreads sandwiches along with famous courses here (2,7)

Answer: ST ANDREWS (i.e. “famous [golf] courses here”). Solution is STREWS (i.e. “spreads”) wrapped around or “sandwiching” AND (i.e. “along with”), like so: ST(AND)REWS.

14. Outliers in terribly irrational state – it’s unsurprising (7)

Answer: TYPICAL (i.e. “it’s unsurprising”). Solution is TY (i.e. “outliers in terribly”, i.e. the first and last letters of “terribly”) followed by PI (i.e. an “irrational” number in maths) and CAL (i.e. US “state”, short for California).

15. Show distress and hesitation like a judge? (5)

Answer: SOBER (i.e. “like a judge”). Solution is SOB (i.e. “show distress”) followed by ER (i.e. “hesitation”).

16. Cultural agency in Scotland’s odd about French art (6)

Answer: UNESCO (i.e. “cultural agency”). Solution is UNCO (i.e. “Scotland’s [word for] odd”) wrapped “about” ES (i.e. “French art”, in this case the French for “are” – usually we’d see some ye olde indicator when “art” gets used like this), like so: UN(ES)CO.

17. Chilled old writer nearly put on coach out of India (8)

Answer: TRANQUIL (i.e. “chilled”). Solution is QUILL (i.e. “old writer”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “nearly”) and the remainder placed after or “on” TRAIN (i.e. “coach”) once the I has been removed (indicated by “out of India” – India being I in the phonetic alphabet), like so: TRAN-QUIL.

18. Cold Parisian’s here by Scottish river (7)

Answer: ICINESS (i.e. “cold”). Solution is ICI (i.e. “Parisian’s here”, i.e. the French for “here” – blimey, we’re not even a quarter of the way into this puzzle and we’ve already had three French words being used. It’s almost enough to warrant bringing back the Holy Grail meme) followed by NESS (i.e. a “Scottish river”).

20. Happy to tour in case of annual holiday, with flying fare from Europe (11,9)

Answer: CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST (i.e. “fare from Europe”). Solution is CONTENT (i.e. “happy”) wrapped around or “touring” IN, and then followed by AL (i.e. “case of annual”, i.e. the first and last letters of “annual”), BREAK (i.e. “holiday”) and FAST (i.e. “flying”), like so: CONT(IN)ENT-AL-BREAK-FAST.

23. Capital firm keeping tax returns for powerful Roman (7)

Answer: OCTAVIA (i.e. “powerful Roman” – take your pick between the Elder and the Younger). Solution is AI (i.e. “capital”, both expressions of something excellent, in this case A1 with the 1 replaced by its Roman numeral equivalent) and CO (i.e. “firm”, short for company) all wrapped around or “keeping” VAT (i.e. “tax”, in this case Value Added Tax). This is all then reversed (indicated by “returns”), like so: OC-(TAV)-IA.

24. Foot in pool in Durham, say (7)

Answer: SPONDEE (i.e. a “foot” in prosody, one comprising two long syllables). Solution is POND (i.e. “pool”) placed in SEE (i.e. “Durham, say” – other dioceses are available), like so: S(POND)EE. We’ve seen our fair share of prosodical terms in Jumbos lately, haven’t we? On this occasion it’s probably a coincidence, but I do like the idea of a Times setter moonlighting as a frustrated poet. The type who agonises for days over a single line, rewriting it over and over until the words lose all meaning, eventually giving up and placing another load of scribble in the desk drawer. Hang in there, Swinburne. You’ll show them. Eventually. Maybe.

26. Strip joint that’s seedy welcomes record by Queen (7)

Answer: DEPRIVE (i.e. to remove or “strip”). Solution is DIVE (i.e. a bar or “joint that’s seedy”) wrapped around EP (i.e. “record”, in this case an Extended Play) and R (i.e. “queen”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of the Latin Regina), like so: D(EP-R)IVE.

28. Place to hide Arab’s money from the east (4)

Answer: LAIR (i.e. “place to hide”). Solution is RIAL (i.e. “Arab’s money”) reversed (indicated by “from the east”, this being an across clue).

29. Opponent of Orthodox Church receives Mass, shut off from the world (8)

Answer: HERMETIC (i.e. “shut off from the world”). Solution is HERETIC (i.e. “opponent of Orthodox Church”) wrapped around or “receiving” M (a recognised abbreviation of “mass”, ignoring the misleading capitalisation), like so: HER(M)ETIC.

32. Leopard’s tail, one possibly spotted in parts, maybe (9)

Answer: DIVISIBLE (i.e. “in parts, maybe”). Solution is D (i.e. “leopard’s tail”, i.e. the last letter of “leopard”) followed by I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) and VISIBLE (i.e. “spotted”).

35. Permit naïve Republican to get taken in by rotter (5,4)

Answer: GREEN CARD (i.e. “permit”). Solution is GREEN (i.e. “naïve”) followed by R (a recognised abbreviation of “Republican”) once placed or “taken in by” CAD (i.e. “rotter”), like so: GREEN-CA(R)D.

36. English boy screening short film about sharp decline (8)

Answer: NOSEDIVE (i.e. “sharp decline”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”) and SON (i.e. “boy”) all wrapped around or “screening” VIDEO (i.e. “film”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “short”). The whole is then reversed (indicated by “about”), like so: NOS-(EDIV)-E.

37. Fan of fascism’s extreme characters in part of UK (4)

Answer: NAZI (i.e. “fan of fascism”). Solution is A and Z (i.e. “extreme characters”, i.e. the first and last letters of the alphabet) both placed “in” NI (i.e. “part of UK”, specifically Northern Ireland), like so: N(AZ)I.

39. Beginning with covers of Nirvana track (7)

Answer: NASCENT (i.e. “beginning”). Solution is NA (i.e. “covers of Nirvana”, i.e. the first and last letters of “Nirvana”) followed by SCENT (i.e. “track”).

41. Cheers up person having somewhat reduced meals (7)

Answer: SUPPERS (i.e. “meals”). “Somewhat reduced” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: CHEER(S UP PERS)ON.

44. Hide murders cracked by Sherlock at last (7)

Answer: DOESKIN (i.e. “hide”). Solution is DOES IN (i.e. “murders”) wrapped around or “cracked by” K (i.e. “Sherlock at last”, i.e. the last letter of “Sherlock”), like so: DOES-(K)-IN.

45. Might one enjoy Labour MP turning on left with shout that’s wild? (7,3,10)

Answer: GLUTTON FOR PUNISHMENT (i.e. “might one enjoy labour” – ignoring the misleading capitalisation). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “that’s wild”) of MP TURNING ON LEFT and SHOUT.

49. Dip into alcohol suitable to be consumed (2,5)

Answer: AL DENTE (i.e. “suitable to be consumed” – much too vague, setter. The solution means “firm to the bite” (Chambers), which isn’t even in the same county, never mind ballpark). Solution is DENT (i.e. “dip”) placed “into” ALE (i.e. “alcohol”), like so: AL(DENT)E.

50. In the US, female fashion shows seen here (8)

Answer: BROADWAY (i.e. “shows seen here”). Solution is BROAD (i.e. “in the US, female”, derogatorily. That’s nice, setter) followed by WAY (i.e. method or “fashion”).

51. Come back among aircrew, snappily heading west (6)

Answer: ANSWER (i.e. a retort, rejoinder or “come back”). “Among” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, while “heading west” indicates the solution has been reversed – this being an across clue – like so: AIRC(REW SNA)PPILY.

53. Nerdy American girl coming out holding The Times (5)

Answer: DWEEB (i.e. “nerdy American” – coo, is that the sharpening of pitchforks I can hear with all these Americanisms?) Solution is DEB (i.e. “girl coming out”, short for debutante) wrapped around or “holding” WE (i.e. “The Times”, from the point of view of the setter), like so: D(WE)EB.

54. Football club leaving a learner in charge? This may be fatal (7)

Answer: ARSENIC (i.e. “this may be fatal”). Solution is ARSENAL (i.e. English “football club”) with the last A and L removed (indicated by “leaving a learner” – L being a recognised abbreviation of learner, e.g. on L-plates) and the remainder followed by IC (a recognised abbreviation of “in charge”), like so: ARSEN-IC.

55. Score roughly with header from youth – net’s broken (9)

Answer: TWENTYISH (i.e. a “score roughly”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “broken”) of WITH, Y (i.e. “header from youth”, i.e. the first letter of “youth”) and NET’S.

56. Periodically debated introducing strict limit in African province (7,4)

Answer: EASTERN CAPE (i.e. “African province”). Solution is EAE (i.e. “periodically debated”, i.e. every other letter of DEBATED) wrapped around or “introducing” STERN (i.e. “strict”) and CAP (i.e. “limit”), like so: EA(STERN-CAP)E.

57. Support cryptic setters in minor ways (4,7)

Answer: BACK STREETS (i.e. “minor ways”). Solution is BACK (i.e. to “support”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “cryptic”) of SETTERS.

Down clues

1. Barney reversing express vehicle at first (4-2)

Answer: BUST-UP (i.e. “barney”). Solution is PUT (i.e. to “express”) “reversed” and placed after or having “at first” BUS (i.e. “vehicle”), like so: BUS-TUP.

2. Feeble argument about Thin Lizzy covers being very bad (15)

Answer: BLAMEWORTHINESS (i.e. “being very bad”). Solution is LAME (i.e. “feeble”) and ROW (i.e. “argument”) reversed (indicated by “about”). These, along with THIN, are then all placed in or “covered” by BESS (i.e. “Lizzy”, both shortened forms of Elizabeth), like so: B(LAME-WOR-THIN)ESS. Very cool, setter. All is forgiven.

3. Asian language group cheers up the writer’s mood (10)

Answer: INDICATIVE (i.e. “mood”). Solution is INDIC (i.e. “Asian language group”) followed by TA (i.e. “cheers”) once reversed (indicated by “up” – this being a down clue), then I’VE (i.e. “the writer’s”, a contraction of “the writer has”, from the point of view of the setter), like so: INDIC-AT-I’VE.

4. Gathering police must conserve energy (4)

Answer: MEET (i.e. a “gathering”). Solution is MET (i.e. “police”, short for the London Metropolitan Police) wrapped around or “conserving” E (a recognised abbreviation of “energy”), like so: M(E)ET.

5. Unconditional reason why orchestra can’t perform? (2-7)

Answer: NO-STRINGS (i.e. “unconditional”). When written as NO STRINGS the solution also playfully satisfies “reason why orchestra can’t perform”.

6. Insect queen turned part of its head? (7)

Answer: ANTENNA (i.e. “part of [ant’s] head”). Solution is ANT (i.e. “insect”) followed by ANNE (i.e. English “queen” of old) once reversed (indicated by “turned”), like so: ANT-ENNA.

7. University teacher admitting new choice is not fully explored (9)

Answer: UNPLUMBED (i.e. “not fully explored”). Solution is U (a recognised abbreviation of “university”) and BED (i.e. “teacher”, in this case a BEd or Bachelor of Education) all wrapped around or “admitting” N (a recognised abbreviation of “new”) and PLUM (i.e. “choice”), like so: U-(N-PLUM)-BED.

8. Like a peer around mostly boring houses (5)

Answer: DUCAL (i.e. “like a peer”). Solution is CA (i.e. “around”, in this case short for circa) placed in or “housed” by DULL (i.e. “boring”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “mostly”), like so: DU(CA)L.

9. Tucking into bread with sweet topping, king had a merry time (9)

Answer: ROLLICKED (i.e. “had a merry time”). Solution is ROLL (i.e. “bread”) and ICED (i.e. “sweet topping”) wrapped around or having “tucked in” K (a recognised abbreviation of “king” used in chess), like so: ROLL-IC(K)ED.

10. I appal hosts, dancing with son in ill-advised ball (8,4)

Answer: HOSPITAL PASS (i.e. “ill-advised ball”, i.e. a pass in football that’ll likely put a teammate in hospital if they went for it). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “dancing”) of I APPAL HOSTS followed by S (a recognised abbreviation of “son”), like so: HOSPITALPAS-S.

11. Theme of chapter probing sea and air transport (7)

Answer: SUBJECT (i.e. “theme”). Solution is C (a recognised abbreviation of “chapter”) placed in or “probing” SUB (i.e. “sea transport”) and JET (i.e. “air transport”), like so: SUB-JE(C)T.

12. German scientist’s cosy home around Rhein’s banks (6)

Answer: Walther NERNST (i.e. “German scientist” – no, me neither). Solution is NEST (i.e. “cosy home”) wrapped “around” RN (i.e. “Rhein’s banks”, i.e. the first and last letters of “Rhein”), like so: NE(RN)ST.

19. Excluding the public during rise of computer age (2,6)

Answer: IN CAMERA (i.e. “excluding the public”). Solution is IN (i.e. “during”) followed by Apple MAC (i.e. “computer”) once reversed (indicated by “rise of…” – this being a down clue). This is all then followed by ERA (i.e. “age”), like so: IN-CAM-ERA.

21. Made better, stopped nursing tiring complaint (7)

Answer: EMENDED (i.e. “made better”). Solution is ENDED (i.e. “stopped”) wrapped around or “nursing” M.E. (i.e. “tiring complaint”), like so: E(ME)NDED.

22. Change look of navy flag, suppressing centrepiece (8)

Answer: REDESIGN (i.e. “change look of”). Solution is RED ENSIGN (i.e. “navy flag”) with the “centrepiece” or middle letter, N, removed or “suppressed”, like so: RED-ESIGN.

23. Kind of ring, jewellery worn by soldier (8)

Answer: OBLIGING (i.e. “kind”). Solution is O (i.e. “ring”) and BLING (i.e. “jewellery”) wrapped around or “worn by” GI (i.e. US “soldier”), like so: O-BLI(GI)NG.

25. After work, can get involved (3,2)

Answer: OPT IN (i.e. “get involved”). Solution is OP (i.e. “work”, short for “opus”) followed by TIN (i.e. “can”).

27. Written ruling over opponents in board game (2,5,3,5)

Answer: IN BLACK AND WHITE (i.e. “written”). Solution is IN (i.e. elected or “ruling”) followed by BLACK AND WHITE (i.e. “opponents in board game”, specifically chess).

30. House in France occupied by Democrat president (7)

Answer: James MADISON (i.e. 4th US “president”). Solution is MAISON (i.e. “house in France”, i.e. the French for “house”) wrapped around or “occupying” D (a recognised abbreviation of “Democrat”), like so: MA(D)ISON.

31. Speaker’s shy in class (5)

Answer: CASTE (i.e. “class”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “speaker’s”) of CAST (i.e. to throw or “shy”).

33. See classical quartet that is more brilliant than the others (8)

Answer: VIVIDEST (i.e. “more brilliant than the others”). Solution is V (i.e. “see”, short for the Latin vide) followed by IV (i.e. “classical quartet”, i.e. four expressed in Roman numerals) and ID EST (i.e. “that is”, again in Latin. ID EST is where you get “i.e.” from).

34. Like an ace French figure on heartless DJ’s device (12)

Answer: UNRETURNABLE (i.e. “like an ace” in tennis). Solution is UN (i.e. “French figure”, in this case the French for the number 1) followed by RE (i.e. “on” or regarding – think email replies) and TURNTABLE (i.e. “DJ’s device”) once its middle letter has been removed (indicated by “heartless”), like so: UN-RE-TURNABLE.

38. Scary creature in the main running through sewer (3,7)

Answer: SEA MONSTER (i.e. “scary creature in the main” – the main being another word for the high sea). Solution is ON (i.e. “running” or operational) placed in or “through” SEAMSTER (i.e. “sewer”, i.e. one who sews), like so: SEAM(ON)STER.

40. Group of lawyers stopping money in place for levies (5,4)

Answer: TITHE BARN (i.e. “place for levies”). Solution is THE BAR (i.e. “group of lawyers”) placed in or “stopping” TIN (slang for “money”), like so: TI(THE-BAR)N.

42. Anglicans following e.g. him or me, say (9)

Answer: PRONOUNCE (i.e. “say”). Solution is CE (i.e. “Anglicans”, specifically the Church of England) placed after or “following” PRONOUN (i.e. “e.g. him or me”), like so: PRONOUN-CE.

43. After error in speech, dodge dealing with grammar (9)

Answer: SYNTACTIC (i.e. “dealing with grammar”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “in speech”) of SIN (i.e. “error”) followed by TACTIC (i.e. a trick, ruse, stratagem, or “dodge”), like so: SYN-TACTIC.

45. Flipping bounder right to leave garment, possibly Nike (7)

Answer: GODDESS (i.e. “possibly Nike” – other Greek goddesses are available). Solution is DOG (i.e. cad or “bounder”) reversed (indicated by “flipping”) and followed by DRESS (i.e. “garment”) once the R has been removed (indicated by “right to leave” – R being a recognised abbreviation of “right”), like so: GOD-DESS.

46. Drugs sent north in lead vehicle in Asia (7)

Answer: PEDICAB (i.e. “vehicle in Asia”, basically a trike with a covered backseat attached). Solution is ACID and E (i.e. “drugs”, the latter a slang name for ecstasy) all reversed (indicated by “sent north” – this being a down clue) and placed “in” PB (chemical symbol of “lead”), like so: P(E-DICA)B.

47. Manage northern oilfield, finally drilling well (6)

Answer: HANDLE (i.e. “manage”). Solution is N (a recognised abbreviation of “northern”) and D (i.e. “oilfield, finally”, i.e. the last letter of “oilfield”) both placed in or “drilling” HALE (i.e. “well” or healthy), like so: HA(N-D)LE.

48. Lingerie items donned by Royal composer (6)

Answer: Johannes BRAHMS (i.e. “composer”). Solution is BRAS (i.e. “lingerie items”) wrapped around or being “donned by” HM (i.e. “Royal”, His or Her Majesty), like so: BRA(HM)S.

50. Maybe Iraqi, going around south, turns up here? (5)

Answer: BASRA (i.e. “here”, in the context of the clue – in this case a city in Iraq). Solution is ARAB (i.e. “maybe Iraqi” – other Arabs are available) wrapped “around” S (a recognised abbreviation of “south”). The whole is then reversed (indicated by “turns up” – this being a down clue), like so: BA(S)RA.

52. Not as large, empty vessel (4)

Answer: LESS (i.e. “not as” much). Solution is LE (i.e. “large, empty”, i.e. the word “large” with all its middle letters removed) followed by SS (i.e. “vessel”, a recognised abbreviation of a steamship).