Times Jumbo Cryptic Crossword 1671

Another middling Jumbo for me that went a little too tenuous at times. 8d was very good, though.

Now 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 kicked you in the naughty bits then you might find my Just For Fun page of use, where you’ll find links to solutions for hundreds of the things.

Thanks for your continued patience and input. Till next time (i.e. in a minute or two), stay safe out there kids.

LP

Across clues

1. Reply unexpectedly, with solution to defend (6,4)

Answer: ANSWER BACK (i.e. “reply unexpectedly”). Solution is ANSWER (i.e. “solution”) followed by BACK (i.e. “to defend”).

6. Quick tongue, yet serpentine, in two parts? (7-5)

Answer: LICKETY-SPLIT (i.e. “quick”). Solution is LICK (i.e. to “tongue”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “serpentine”) of YET, then SPLIT (i.e. “in two parts”), like so: LICK-ETY-SPLIT.

14. Children’s animation featuring popular kids (7)

Answer: BAMBINI (i.e. “kids”, plural of bambino, from the Italian). Solution is BAMBI (i.e. “children’s animation” from Walt Disney) wrapped around or “featuring” IN (i.e. “popular”), like so: BAMB(IN)I.

15. Creative type, one filling hot dog? (7)

Answer: PAINTER (i.e. “creative type”). Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) placed in or “filling” PANTER (i.e. descriptive of a “hot dog”), like so: PA(I)NTER.

16. Role model’s pain of having missed birdie, coming up short? (7)

Answer: PARAGON (i.e. “role model”). Solution is PAR AGONY (i.e. playfully descriptive of some “pain of having missed birdie” in golf) with the last letter removed (indicated by “coming up short”), like so: PAR-AGON.

17. Exquisite red (4)

Answer: RARE. Solution satisfies “exquisite” and “red”, the colour of undercooked meat. Too loose for my liking.

18. Evidence of painful experience in banging performance? (6)

Answer: TATTOO. Solution satisfies “evidence of painful experience” – not my scene, but I’m always impressed by a good tattoo. I went to a Guana Batz gig a few months ago. If they had frontman Pip Hancox’s full upper-body tattoo as a long-sleeved T-shirt I’d have bought their entire stock. Solution also satisfies a “banging performance” of drumming.

20. European chap in battle that is uglier on the flanks (8)

Answer: MONSIEUR (i.e. “European chap”). Solution is MONS (i.e. “battle” in the First World War, been used in a few Jumbos now) followed by IE (i.e. “that is”, i.e. “i.e.”!) and UR (i.e. “uglier on the flanks”, i.e. the first and last letters of “uglier”).

24. Eccentric Wars of the Roses lot, queen and king, proving this? (6,4,2,5,2,4)

Answer: THERE’S NOWT SO QUEER AS FOLK, a phrase summing up the “eccentric” nature of people. Solution is an anagram (indicated by “eccentric”) of WARS OF THE ROSES LOT, QUEEN and K (a recognised abbreviation of “king” used in chess”).

25. Sage parent admits something going to her head? (7)

Answer: MAHATMA (i.e. a wise or “sage” leader). Solution is MAMA (i.e. “parent”) wrapped around or “admitting” HAT (i.e. “something going to her head”), like so: MA(HAT)MA.

26. Vehicle for hire, a racer not cleared of old rubbish (4-1-3)

Answer: RENT-A-CAR (i.e. “vehicle for hire”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “rubbish”) of A RACER NOT once the O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”) has been removed or “cleared”.

27. Sailor married to girl in sci-fi film (6)

Answer: AVATAR (i.e. “sci-fi film”). Solution is TAR (i.e. informal reference for a “sailor”) placed after or – loosely – “married to” AVA (i.e. “girl’s” name), like so: AVA-TAR.

29. Gather enthusiast confronting family is an impertinent riddler (8,6)

Answer: SQUIRREL NUTKIN (i.e. “impertinent riddler” of Beatrix Potter’s book, The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin). Solution is SQUIRREL (i.e. “gather”) followed by NUT (i.e. “enthusiast”) and KIN (i.e. “family”).

31. Democrat, national leader once (8)

Answer: DISRAELI (i.e. UK “leader once”, he was prime minister in the 1800s). Solution is D (a recognised abbreviation of “Democrat”) followed by ISRAELI (i.e. “national”). I suppose it’s been a year, but it’s no less disappointing to find yet another Times setter who cannot look beyond this obvious construction. See grids 1604 and 1595 for previous examples. Ho hum.

34. Bull or cow? Horse close (4,4)

Answer: GREY SEAL (i.e. “bull or cow”, male and female of the species respectively). Solution is GREY (i.e. variety of “horse”) followed by SEAL (i.e. to “close”). A bit random.

36. Caught in bombardment, general’s sacred object (10,4)

Answer: FISHERMAN’S RING (i.e. “sacred object” – over to Chambers: “a signet ring, with the device of St Peter fishing, used in signing papal briefs”. The ring is used to seal documents. A new ring is cast for each Pope, with the previous ring either destroyed or damaged in some way to prevent further use). Solution is William Tecumseh SHERMAN’S (i.e. “general’s”) placed “in” FIRING (i.e. “bombardment”), like so: FI(SHERMAN’S)RING.

39. King spotting game likely to crack? (6)

Answer: CRISPY (i.e. “likely to crack”). Solution is CR (i.e. “king”, specifically Charles Rex) followed by I SPY (i.e. “game”).

41. Cook with waiters at hairdressers in conversation? (8)

Answer: BARBECUE (i.e. “cook”). Solution comprises homophones (indicated by “in conversation”) of BARBER QUEUE (i.e. “waiters at hairdressers”).

43. Act nine or younger, daughter! (7)

Answer: PRETEND (i.e. “act”). Solution is PRE-TEN (i.e. “nine or younger”) followed by D (a recognised abbreviation of “daughter”).

46. Unfortunate position, awaiting platform alteration? (3,5,4,2,3,6)

Answer: THE WRONG SIDE OF THE TRACKS. Solution satisfies “unfortunate position” in life, and, playfully, with a little recycling, “position, awaiting platform alteration”.

47. Very soon gold chain added to kitty (8)

Answer: TOMORROW (i.e. “very soon”). Solution is OR (i.e. “gold” in heraldry) and ROW (i.e. “chain”) all placed after or “added to” TOM (i.e. male “kitty”), like so: TOM-(OR-ROW).

48. Longchamp favourite hurdling as racehorse (6)

Answer: CHASER (i.e. “racehorse”). Solution is CHER (i.e. “Longchamp favourite” – Longchamp is a racecourse in Paris, so this is the French for “dear” or “favourite”) wrapped around or “hurdling” – really stretching it now – AS, like so: CH(AS)ER.

49. Setter, ‘orrible character (4)

Answer: AGAR (i.e. “setter”, a jelly derived from seaweed used to host bacterial cultures, among other uses). Solution is HÄGAR with the H dropped (indicated by “’orrible character” – Hägar the Horrible is a syndicated cartoon strip with some serious reach, some 1,900 newspapers over the years if Wikipedia is anything to go by).

53. Bit of a shock? Incorrect exclusion of workforce (7)

Answer: LOCKOUT (i.e. “exclusion of workforce”, typically enforced by factory owners on their employees). Solution is LOCK (i.e. “bit of a shock” of hair) followed by OUT (i.e. “incorrect”).

54. Where shopper may be brewing (2,5)

Answer: IN STORE. Solution satisfies “where shopper may be” and “brewing”.

56. Either way, it’s exalted (7)

Answer: DEIFIED (i.e. “exalted”). “Either way” is an indication the solution is a palindrome.

57. Traveller across the sky, path’s shown up in height… (7,5)

Answer: HALLEY’S COMET (i.e. “traveller across the sky”). Solution is ALLEY’S (i.e. “path’s”) and COME (i.e. arrived or “shown up”) both placed “in” HT (a recognised abbreviation of “height”), like so: H(ALLEY’S-COME)T.

58. … trail on which I am transported, shimmering with light! (10)

Answer: IRIDESCENT (i.e. “shimmering with light”). Solution is SCENT (i.e. “trail” or clue) placed “on” or after I RIDE (i.e. “I am transported”), like so: (I-RIDE)-SCENT.

Down clues

1. Botanical garden a nuisance, corporation bringing in bulldozer finally (9)

Answer: ARBORETUM (i.e. “botanical garden”). Solution is A, BORE (i.e. “nuisance”) and TUM (i.e. “corporation” – I’ve said this a few times now, but “corporation” is pure catnip for Times setters; the word is an archaic reference to a pot belly) all wrapped around or “bringing in” R (i.e. “bulldozer finally”, i.e. the last letter of “bulldozer”), like so: A-(R)-BORE-TUM.

2. Pile on the Thames in use, a few others scattered to the north (8,5)

Answer: SOMERSET HOUSE (i.e. an impressive “pile on the Thames” that was designed to accommodate a number of societies and public offices). Solution is USE with SOME (i.e. “a few”) and an anagram (indicated by “scattered”) of OTHERS both placed before it, or “to the north” – this being a down clue – like so: (SOME-RSETHO)-USE.

3. Unholy fiend wiping brow (4)

Answer: EVIL (i.e. “unholy”). Solution is DEVIL (i.e. “fiend”) with the first letter removed (indicated by “wiping brow”).

4. Terminal a bit erratic, containing an alloy (9,5)

Answer: BRITANNIA METAL (i.e. an “alloy” similar to pewter, apparently). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “erratic”) of TERMINAL A BIT wrapped around or “containing” BRIT(AN)NIAMETAL.

5. Nick and Bobby (3)

Answer: COP. Solution satisfies “nick” or to catch, and “bobby”, slang for a policeman.

7. Halfwit forgetting ID, a Greek character (4)

Answer: IOTA (i.e. “Greek character”, the ninth letter of the Greek alphabet). Solution is IDIOT (i.e. “halfwit”) with the ID removed or “forgotten” and the remainder followed by A, like so: IOT-A.

8. Hark! A berk! Empty orchestra playing, hard to ignore – here? (7,3)

Answer: KARAOKE BAR. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole – not only does it describe what one may encounter in such a place, but KARAOKE is also “empty orchestra” in Japanese. Solution is also an anagram (indicated by “playing”) of HARK A BERK and OA (i.e. “empty orchestra”, i.e. the word “orchestra” with all its middle letters removed) once the H (a recognised abbreviation of “hard” used in grading pencils) has been removed or “forgotten”. An excellent clue. Best of the lot.

9. Nailed by judge, a blighter hanging (8)

Answer: TAPESTRY (i.e. “hanging”). Solution is TRY (i.e. to “judge”) wrapped around or “nailing” – this setter’s containment indicators are really pushing it this week – A and PEST (i.e. “blighter”), like so: T(A-PEST)RY.

10. Show superhero, say, in image on computer (11)

Answer: SCREENSAVER (i.e. “image on computer” – again, pushing it). Solution is SCREEN (i.e. “show”) followed by SAVER (i.e. “superhero, say” – other less fantastical heroes are available).

11. Delinquent criminal has worked to rule (5,4)

Answer: LAGER LOUT (i.e. “delinquent”). Solution is LAG (slang for a “criminal”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “worked”) of TO RULE, like so: LAG-ERLOUT.

12. Defeat war machine (4)

Answer: TANK. Solution satisfies a slang word for “defeat”, and “war machine”.

13. Undercarriage scratched in luxury car, being lower (8)

Answer: LIMOUSIN (i.e. “lower”, or breed of cattle. To “low” is another way of saying mooing). Solution is LIMOUSINE (i.e. “luxury car”) with the last letter or “undercarriage” removed or “scratched”.

19. Huge cable at the back, pull loop to secure it (8)

Answer: TOWERING (i.e. “huge”). Solution is E (i.e. “cable at the back”, i.e. the last letter of “cable”) placed between or “secured” by TOW (i.e. to “pull”) and RING (i.e. “loop”), like so: TOW-(E)-RING.

21. High treble producing great number (6)

Answer: BELTER (i.e. “great [musical] number”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “high”) of TREBLE.

22. Fruit stuffed with half of rice – quite like a regular meal is it? (8)

Answer: SQUARISH (i.e. “quite like a regular meal”). Solution is SQUASH (i.e. “fruit”) wrapped around or “stuffed with” RI (i.e. “half of rice”, specifically the first half), like so: SQUA(RI)SH.

23. Alongside cocktail, smart bottles (8)

Answer: SKIRTING (i.e. “alongside”). Solution is KIR (i.e. “cocktail”) placed in or “bottled” by STING (i.e. to “smart”), like so: S(KIR)TING.

28. Girl, briefly detained, got the wrong idea (14)

Answer: MISAPPREHENDED (i.e. “got the wrong idea”). Solution is MISS (i.e. “girl”) with the last letter removed (indicated by “briefly”) and the remainder followed by APPREHENDED (i.e. “detained”), like so: MIS-APPREHENDED.

29. Wisdom in place of heroic stories? (8)

Answer: SAGACITY (i.e. “wisdom”). When written as SAGA CITY the solution also playfully satisfies “place of heroic stories”.

30. Wind best dispersed for couple in boudoir? (4,4)

Answer: TWIN BEDS (i.e. “couple in boudoir”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “dispersed”) of WIND BEST.

32. Top advisor hopeless in emergencies (8,5)

Answer: EMINENCE GRISE (i.e. “top advisor” – over to Chambers again: “someone exercising power in the background, as did Cardinal Richelieu’s private secretary and alter ego Père Joseph”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “hopeless”) of IN EMERGENCIES.

33. Sickly character called out for drink (5,3)

Answer: GREEN TEA (i.e. “drink”). Solution is GREEN (i.e. “sickly”) followed by a homophone (indicated by “called out”) of the letter T (i.e. a “character” of the alphabet).

35. Set on reversing unpleasant situation: think about that (11)

Answer: SUPERIMPOSE (i.e. “set on” top of another). Solution is MIRE (i.e. “unpleasant situation”) “reversed” and placed in or having “about” it SUPPOSE (i.e. “think”), like so: SUP(ERIM)POSE.

37. Drop a brick into modest drink (6)

Answer: SHERRY (i.e. “drink”). Solution is ERR (i.e. “drop a brick”, specifically saying something tactless or indiscreet) placed “into” SHY (i.e. “modest”), like so: SH(ERR)Y.

38. Old musician has piece to play after lifting of short’s stick (4,6)

Answer: FATS DOMINO (i.e. “old musician”). Solution is DOMINO (i.e. a “piece to play” in a game of… um…) placed “after” STAFF (i.e. “stick”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “short”) and the remainder reversed (indicated by “lifting of…” – this being a down clue).

40. Differing in citadel – or not? (9)

Answer: IDENTICAL (i.e. “differing … not”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “differing” – a little more recycling) of IN CITADEL.

42. Train that’s amazing loaded with liquor (4-4)

Answer: CHOO-CHOO (i.e. “train”). Solution is COO (i.e. “that’s amazing”) wrapped around or “loaded” with HOOCH (i.e. “liquor”), like so: C(HOOCH)OO.

44. Shame seeing recording, evidently blushing over it (9)

Answer: DISCREDIT (i.e. “shame”). Solution is DISC (i.e. “recording”) followed by RED (i.e. “evidently blushing”) and IT.

45. At the crease, openers bagging runs – people unlikely to applaud? (8)

Answer: INGRATES (i.e. “people unlikely to applaud”). Solution is IN (i.e. “at the crease” in a game of cricket) followed by GATES (i.e. “openers”) once wrapped around or “bagging” R (a recognised abbreviation of “runs”), like so: IN-G(R)ATES.

50. Expression of contempt about Liberal nonsense (4)

Answer: BLAH (i.e. “nonsense”). Solution is BAH (i.e. “expression of contempt”) wrapped “about” L (a recognised abbreviation of “Liberal”), like so: B(L)AH.

51. Man say brought up in Helsinki (4)

Answer: ISLE (i.e. “Man[,] say” – other isles are available). “In” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, while “brought up” indicates the solution has been reversed – this being a down clue – like so: H(ELSI)NKI.

52. Beer voucher turned over (4)

Answer: PILS (i.e. “beer”). Solution is SLIP (i.e. “voucher”) reversed or “turned over”.

55. First of all, euphonium and reed organ (3)

Answer: EAR (i.e. “organ”). “First of all” indicates the solution is derived from the initial letters of Euphonium And Reed.