Times Jumbo Cryptic Crossword 1673

A toughie this week. I won’t give it the coveted label of “stinker” on account of all the obscure trash in the grid. This is just a cheap way of making the puzzle harder. Still, at least there was some good clues to be had, so it wasn’t all bad. [EDIT: “were”, not “was”. Good grief, Poll, where do you think you’re from? Bleedin’ West ‘Am or sumfin’? – LP]

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 you have come a cropper against a recent Jumbo 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 input. Till next time, stay safe out there kids.

LP

Across clues

1. Unappealing uniform son dons every 24 hours (9)

Answer: UNSIGHTLY (i.e. “unappealing”). Solution is U (“uniform” in the phonetic alphabet) followed by S (a recognised abbreviation of “son”) once placed in or “donning” NIGHTLY (i.e. “every 24 hours”), like so: U-N(S)IGHTLY.

6. African country to the west importing some empty food container (7)

Answer: NOSEBAG (i.e. “food container” for a horse). Solution is GABON (i.e. “African country”) reversed (indicated by “to the west” – this being an across clue) and wrapped around or “importing” SE (i.e. “some empty”, i.e. the word “some” with all its middle letters removed), like so: NO(SE)BAG.

10. Shot through part of hotel? (5)

Answer: LOBBY (i.e. “part of hotel”). Solution is LOB (i.e. a throw or “shot”) followed by BY (i.e. “through”).

13. Parties in parliament prepare for war between sides (13)

Answer: HOUSEWARMINGS (i.e. “parties”). Solution is HOUSE (i.e. “parliament”) followed by ARM (i.e. “prepare for war”) once placed “between” WINGS (i.e. “sides”), like so: HOUSE-W(ARM)INGS.

14. Swan around with Parisian in boring Med resort, making money once (9)

Answer: NINEPENCE (i.e. “money once”). Solution is PEN (i.e. a female “swan”) reversed (indicated by “about”) and followed by EN (i.e. “Parisian in”, i.e. the French for “in”). These are then placed in or “boring” NICE (i.e. “Med resort”), like so: NI(NEP-EN)CE.

15. King in jumper, say, returned fashion adornment for crown (7)

Answer: TOPKNOT (i.e. “adornment for crown” – can refer to a hairstyle, fake hair or a knot of ribbons plonked on one’s noggin). Solution is K (a recognised abbreviation of “king” used in chess) placed “in” between TOP (i.e. “jumper, say” – other garments are available) and TON (i.e. “fashion”, a variant meaning I’ve only ever seen used in Jumbos) once the latter has been reversed (indicated by “returned”), like so: TOP-(K)-NOT.

16. Bread and some butter eaten by president briefly (7)

Answer: CHAPATI (i.e. “bread”). Solution is PAT (i.e. “some butter”) placed in or “eaten by” CHAIR (i.e. “president”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “briefly”), like so: CHA(PAT)I.

17. Dogged right back has trouble with gutless England (7)

Answer: TRAILED (i.e. “dogged”). Solution is RT (a recognised abbreviation of “right”, as in the title Rt Hon) reversed (indicated by “back”) and followed by AIL (i.e. “trouble”), then ED (i.e. “gutless England”, i.e. the word “England” with all the middle letters removed), like so: TR-AIL-ED.

18. Devour nuts, entertained by those running the Grand National courses (4,8)

Answer: HORS D’OEUVRES (i.e. “courses”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “nuts”) of DEVOUR placed in or “entertained by” HORSES (i.e. “those running the Grand National”), like so: HORS(DOEUVR)ES.

20. Could one be accepted as eccentric? (5,5)

Answer: SPACE CADET. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, being an “eccentric” person, but the clue is also an anagram (also indicated by “eccentric”) of ACCEPTED AS.

23. Ultimately founder in drink? (5)

Answer: DROWN. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, but is also formed by R (i.e. “ultimately founder”, i.e. the last letter of “founder”) placed “in” DOWN (i.e. to “drink”), like so: D(R)OWN.

24. Retreating, I left old, short rifle in military campaign (9)

Answer: GALLIPOLI (i.e. a “military campaign” of the First World War). Solution is I followed by L (a recognised abbreviation of “left”), then O (ditto “old”) and PILLAGE (i.e. to “rifle”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “short”). This is all then reversed (indicated by “retreating”), like so: GALLIP-O-L-I.

25. Dog given large drink retires somewhere secluded (5,2)

Answer: CURLS UP (i.e. “retires somewhere secluded”). Solution is CUR (i.e. “dog”) followed by L (a recognised abbreviation of “large”) and SUP (i.e. “drink”).

26. Tendency to stuff goods roughly into long ship (11)

Answer: PIGGISHNESS (i.e. “tendency to stuff”). Solution is G and G (i.e. both “goods”, G being a recognised abbreviation thereof) and ISH (i.e. “roughly”) both placed “into” PINE (i.e. to “long” for). This is all then followed by SS (i.e. “ship”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of a steamship), like so: PI(GG-ISH)NE-SS.

28. Being indecisive, I’m going to holiday houses (11)

Answer: VACILLATION (i.e. “being indecisive”). Solution is I’LL (i.e. “I’m going to”, a contraction of I WILL) placed in or “housed” by VACATION (i.e. “holiday”), like so: VAC(I’LL)ATION.

30. Rightist sent out guards opposed to ancient ruler (11)

Answer: CONSTANTINE (i.e. “ancient ruler”, 4th century Roman emperor). Solution is CON (i.e. “rightist”, short for Conservative) followed by an anagram (indicated by “out”) of SENT once wrapped around or “guarding” ANTI (i.e. “opposed to”), like so: CON-ST(ANTI)NE.

32. Act to keep walls of cell, say, in a tidier state (11)

Answer: DECLUTTERED (i.e. “in a tidier state”). Solution is DEED (i.e. “act”) wrapped around or “keeping” CL (i.e. “walls of cell”, i.e. the first and last letters of “cell”) and UTTER (i.e. “say”), like so: DE(CL-UTTER)ED.

34. New aim to limit danger, mostly, in ruler’s domains (7)

Answer: IMPERIA (i.e. “ruler’s domains”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “new”) of AIM wrapped around or “limiting” PERIL (i.e. “danger”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “mostly”), like so: IM(PERI)A.

36. Embarrassed-looking Conservative in left-wing stronghold once (3,6)

Answer: RED SQUARE (i.e. “left-wing stronghold once”). Solution is RED (i.e. “embarrassed-looking”) followed by SQUARE (i.e. “conservative”, ignoring the misleading capitalisation).

38. Star group periodically accepts crossword setters (5)

Answer: CETUS (i.e. a constellation or “star group”). Solution is CET (i.e. “periodically accepts”, i.e. every other letter of ACCEPTS) followed by US (i.e. “crossword setters”, from the point of view of the setter).

39. Nothing stops sister getting article in part of phrase (4,6)

Answer: NOUN CLAUSE (i.e. “part of phrase”). Solution is O (i.e. “nothing”) placed in or “stopping” NUN (i.e. “sister”) and followed by CLAUSE (i.e. “article” in, say, a contract or will), like so: N(O)UN-CLAUSE.

41. One possibly potted in party, after poet hosts wicked one (8,4)

Answer: BILLIARD BALL (i.e. “one possibly potted”). Solution is BALL (i.e. “party”) placed “after” BARD (i.e. “poet”) once wrapped around or “hosting” ILL (i.e. “wicked”) and I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), like so: B(ILL-I)ARD-BALL.

45. Stick around because this is found in fruit (7)

Answer: GLUCOSE (i.e. “this is found in fruit”). Solution is GLUE (i.e. “stick”) wrapped “around” COS (informal form of “because”), like so: GLU(COS)E.

46. Person entertained during contest drinking tea, mostly (7)

Answer: INVITEE (i.e. “person entertained”). Solution is IN (i.e. “during”) and VIE (i.e. “contest”) once wrapped around or “drinking” TE (i.e. “tea, mostly”, i.e. the word “tea” with its last letter removed), like so: IN-VI(TE)E.

47. Mike loathing holding clubs in scrap (7)

Answer: MODICUM (i.e. a small amount or “scrap”). Solution is M (“Mike” in the phonetic alphabet) followed by ODIUM (i.e. “loathing”) once wrapped around or “holding” C (a recognised abbreviation of “clubs” used in card games), like so: M-ODI(C)UM.

49. David’s wife is the lady plugging city travel firm (9)

Answer: BATHSHEBA (i.e. King “David’s wife”). Solution is SHE (i.e. “the lady”) placed in or “plugging” BATH (i.e. British spa “city”) and BA (i.e. “travel firm”, British Airways), like so: BATH-(SHE)-BA.

50. Musician finally playing with leading orchestra is conveying no warmth? (3-10)

Answer: NON-CONDUCTING (i.e. of a material “conveying no warmth”). Solution is N (i.e. “musician finally”, i.e. the last letter of “musician”) followed by ON (i.e. “playing”) and CONDUCTING (i.e. “leading orchestra”).

52. Ruminant’s dash to the left of delta (5)

Answer: ELAND (i.e. a variety of antelope, i.e. “ruminant”). Solution is ELAN (i.e. “dash”, vigour or style) placed before or “to the left of” – this being an across clue – D (“delta” in the phonetic alphabet).

53. For medics, filter calls about unknown drug (7)

Answer: DIALYSE (i.e. “for medics, filter”). Solution is DIALS (i.e. “calls”) wrapped “about” Y (i.e. “unknown” – setters love referring to X, Y or Z in solutions as unknowns) and followed by E (i.e. “drug”, slang name of ecstasy), like so: DIAL(Y)S-E.

54. Expels police officer confiscating one’s stuff (9)

Answer: DISGORGES (i.e. “expels”). Solution is DS (i.e. “police officer”, specifically a Detective Sergeant) wrapped around or “confiscating” I’S (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one” made possessive) and GORGE (i.e. to “stuff”), like so: D(I’S-GORGE)S.

Down clues

1. Release article in Le Monde on problem (7)

Answer: UNHITCH (i.e. “release”). Solution is UN (i.e. “article in Le Monde”, Le Monde is a French newspaper so this is the French for “a” – an article being a word like a, an or the) followed by HITCH (i.e. “problem”).

2. Foil, no good, wrapping new grape variety (11)

Answer: SCUPPERNONG (i.e. “grape variety” from North Carolina, named after the river apparently. Yeah, me neither). Solution is SCUPPER (i.e. to “foil”, for example, Professor Badguy’s dastardly plans for world domination using just the inside of a biro, a small sachet of baking soda and a 5V battery; ultimately shutting down and blowing up his vast poison gas factory that had been cunningly disguised as an abandoned and conveniently flammable shopping mall, all the while assisted but eventually betrayed by a clothes-averse swimwear-model-cum-quantum-physicist called Ophelia Norks. Die In A Bit, coming soon to a cinema near you!) followed by NO and G (a recognised abbreviation of “good”) once “wrapped” around N (ditto “new”), like so: SCUPPER-NO-(N)-G.

3. Place for putting dope’s clothing on (5)

Answer: GREEN (i.e. “place for putting” in golf). Solution is GEN (i.e. info or “dope”) wrapped around or “clothing” RE (i.e. “on” or regarding – think email replies), like so: G(RE)EN.

4. Little piggy imbibing wine and snack food (7)

Answer: TOASTIE (i.e. “snack food”). Solution is TOE (i.e. “little piggy”, colloquially) wrapped around or “imbibing” ASTI (i.e. “wine” variety), like so: TO(ASTI)E.

5. What for a Spaniard is very flipping delicious! (3)

Answer: YUM (i.e. “delicious”). Solution is MUY (i.e. “what for a Spaniard is ‘very’”) reversed (indicated by “flipping”).

6. The setter’s two relatives climbing Indian mountain (5,4)

Answer: NANDA DEVI (i.e. “Indian mountain”). Solution is I’VE (i.e. “the setter’s” or a contraction of I HAVE from the point of view of the setter) followed by DAD and NAN (i.e. “two relatives”). The whole is then reversed (indicated by “climbing” – this being a down clue), like so: NAN-DAD-EV’I. Bradford’s was deployed here without hesitation. That’s not to say this was a hasty action, though. Mercy, no, don’t think me so shallow. This was a decision that had been reached having previously spent decades measuring the value of knowing every mountain in the world against the value of going out and meeting people. Every day leading up to this Jumbo a tug-of-war had been contested throughout my mind. Do I dedicate a significant and unrecoverable portion of my life to learning and re-learning the names and locations of every mountain in the world, perchance they should appear in a cryptic crossword or two, or do I go out and meet people, get drunk, talk rubbish, play pool, screw around, get into scrapes and generally immerse myself in the whole messy business of life? Frankly, given that, you’re lucky I still know what an Everest is.

7. Do some hip swinging in band? Always (6)

Answer: SASHAY (i.e. “do some hip swinging”). Solution is SASH (i.e. “band”) followed by AY (i.e. “always” or forever – another cryptic crossword staple, this is an archaic variant meaning of “aye” Chambers would have you believe is something said these days in Scotland or the North East. Well, I grew up in County Durham and frequently return there to visit family and friends and I can confidently say I’ve only ever heard “aye” used in an affirmative sense. Can’t speak for them lot up in Northumberland, mind…).

8. German city that is close to Berlin blocking charge by silly would-be ruler (6,6,7)

Answer: BONNIE PRINCE CHARLIE (i.e. “would-be ruler” who, born in exile, journeyed to Scotland in 1745 and led an attempted Jacobite invasion of England. It got as far as Derby before running out of steam). Solution is BONN (i.e. “German city”) followed by I.E. (i.e. “that is”, from the Latin id est) and N (i.e. “close to Berlin”, i.e. the last letter of “Berlin”) once placed in or “blocking” PRICE (i.e. “charge”). This is all then followed by CHARLIE (i.e. a “silly” person), like so: BONN-IE-PRI(N)CE-CHARLIE.

9. Some incite neglect about dealing with make-up (7)

Answer: GENETIC (i.e. “dealing with make-up”). “Some” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, while “about” indicates the solution has been reversed, like so: IN(CITE NEG)LECT.

10. Exciting performer in Hollywood area pranced wildly (3,6)

Answer: LAP DANCER (i.e. “exciting performer”). Solution is LA (i.e. “Hollywood area”, Los Angeles) followed by an anagram (indicated by “wildly”) of PRANCED, like so: LA-PDANCER.

11. Asian with collar up clearing vessel, almost (11)

Answer: BANGLADESHI (i.e. “Asian”). Solution is NAB (i.e. to “collar” someone) reversed (indicated by “up” – this being a down clue) and followed by GLADE (i.e. “clearing”) and SHIP (i.e. “vessel”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “almost”), like so: BAN-GLADE-SHI.

12. Profit that is invested by unknown land’s banks (5)

Answer: YIELD (i.e. “profit”). Solution is I.E. (i.e. “that is”, already covered in 8d) placed in or “invested by” Y (i.e. “unknown”, already covered in 53a) and LD (i.e. “land’s banks”, i.e. the first and last letters of “land”), like so: Y-(IE)-LD.

16. Aria and curtain call save failing opera (10,9)

Answer: CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA (i.e. “opera” by Pietro Mascagni – that’s a nope and a nope from me, but you’ll probably recognise bits of its Intermezzo – 1:20 onwards in particular, if you fancy a listen below). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “failing”) of ARIA and CURTAIN CALL SAVE. If you imagined me effing and blinding over this one, you’d be right, but I have to admit this was an excellent clue.

19. Provider of a filling dinner only half set out on time (7)

Answer: DENTIST (i.e. “provider of a filling”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “out” again) of DIN (i.e. “dinner only half”, specifically the first half) and SET followed by T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”), like so: DENTIS-T.

21. Need pasta cooked for Mediterranean spreads (9)

Answer: TAPENADES (i.e. “Mediterranean spreads” apparently “made from capers, anchovies and black olives, seasoned with olive oil and lemon juice” (Chambers). Sounds rather nice, to be fair). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “cooked”) of NEED PASTA.

22. Maybe crow or rook beset by modern ailment (6)

Answer: CORVID (i.e. “maybe crow”). Solution is R (a recognised abbreviation of “rook” used in chess) placed in or “beset by” COVID (i.e. “modern ailment”, lest we forget), like so: CO(R)VID.

23. Noticed oddball penning irrational drawing (9)

Answer: DEPICTION (i.e. “drawing”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “oddball”) of NOTICED wrapped around or “penning” PI (i.e. an “irrational” number in maths), like so: DE(PI)CTION.

24. Wife of William S, say, raised hell (7)

Answer: GEHENNA (i.e. “hell” – over to Chambers for this one: “the valley of Hinnom, near Jerusalem, in which the Israelites sacrificed their children to Moloch, and to which, at a later time, the refuse of the city was conveyed to be burned; hence hell (Bible)“). Solution is ANNE H (i.e. “wife of William S”, referring to Anne Hathaway and William Shakespeare) and E.G. (i.e. “say”, from the Latin exempli gratia) all reversed (indicated by “raised” – this being a down clue), like so: GE-H-ENNA. One remembered from its previous Jumbo appearance if I’m honest.

25. Contrive dull, occasionally somewhat revolutionary plot (7)

Answer: COLLUDE (i.e. “plot”). “Somewhat” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, while “revolutionary” indicates the solution has been reversed, like so: CONTRIV(E DULL OC)CASIONALLY.

27. Partner said why date’s gone wrong, initially (6)

Answer: STEADY (i.e. “partner” or an informal reference to a regular boyfriend or girlfriend). Solution is Y (i.e. “said why”, i.e. the letter Y spoken) with an anagram (indicated by “gone wrong”) of DATE’S placed before it or “initially”, like so: STEAD-Y.

29. Queen’s servant, say, given a bunch of coppers for stomach remedy (7)

Answer: ANTACID (i.e. “stomach remedy”). Solution is ANT (i.e. “queen’s servant, say”) followed by A and CID (i.e. “bunch of coppers”, the Criminal Investigation Department).

31. Turn up and sell a potty in perfect condition (2,4,5)

Answer: NE PLUS ULTRA (i.e. “perfect condition” – Latin, of course. Sine qua non for The Times). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “potty”) of TURN UP and SELL A.

33. Possibly, job for a Persian sailor without contract (3-8)

Answer: RAT-CATCHING (i.e. “possibly, job for a Persian”, a variety of cat). Solution is CATCH (i.e. to “contract” a disease) with RATING (i.e. “sailor” – over to Chambers again: “the class of any member of a crew; a sailor of such a class”) wrapped around or “without” it, like so: RAT(CATCH)ING.

35. Once again, went over grass borders in a mood (9)

Answer: RECROSSED (i.e. “once again, went over”). Solution is REED (i.e. “grass”) wrapped around or “bordering” CROSS (i.e. “in a mood”), like so: RE(CROSS)ED.

37. Receipt of fruit with dry area inside (9)

Answer: QUITTANCE (i.e. a “receipt”). Solution is QUINCE (i.e. “fruit”) wrapped around or having “inside” of it TT (i.e. “dry”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “teetotal”) and A (ditto “area”), like so: QUI(TT-A)NCE.

40. A retired teacher with lower energy, one making cuts (3-4)

Answer: AXE-HEAD (i.e. “one making cuts”). Solution is A followed by EX-HEAD (i.e. “retired teacher”) once the first E (a recognised abbreviation of “energy”) has been “lowered” a notch – this being a down clue – like so: A-(E)X-HEAD => A-X(E)-HEAD.

42. Sections of navy blue American painter put upside down (7)

Answer: ARMADAS (i.e. “sections of navy”). Solution is SAD (i.e. “blue”), AM (a recognised abbreviation of “American”) and RA (i.e. “painter”, specifically a Royal Academician) all reversed (indicated by “put upside down” – this being a down clue), like so: AR-MA-DAS.

43. Travel northwards through trees in French city (7)

Answer: LIMOGES (i.e. “French city”). Solution is GO (i.e. “travel”) reversed (indicated by “northwards” – this being a down clue) placed in or “through” LIMES (i.e. “trees”), like so: LIM(OG)ES. It was at this point I found myself imagining the shame and agony of this week’s setter every time the poor soul had to use an English word in their grid. There, there, Ptolemy. You got through it.

44. Diarist lifting foot smoothly (6)

Answer: EVENLY (i.e. “smoothly”). Solution is John EVELYN (i.e. “diarist”, no me neither) with the last letter or “foot” knocked back a couple of notches or “raised” – this being a down clue – like so: EVELY(N) => EVE(N)LY.

45. Outburst of laughter, say, welcomes British film star (5)

Answer: Clark GABLE (i.e. “film star” of Hollywood’s Golden Era). Solution is GALE (i.e. “outburst of laughter, say”) wrapped around or “welcoming” B (a recognised abbreviation of “British”), like so: GA(B)LE.

48. Knock down duck and gander (5)

Answer: DECKO (i.e. “gander” or look-see). Solution is DECK (i.e. to “knock down”) followed by O (i.e. “duck” or zero score). Another remembered from its previous Jumbo appearance.

51. Pair performing pirouettes to get instrument (3)

Answer: OUD (i.e. Arabic stringed “instrument”, a bit like a lute). Solution is DUO (i.e. “pair performing”) reversed (indicated by “pirouettes”).