Times Jumbo Cryptic Crossword 1674

A medium strength Jumbo that was okay but didn’t leave too much of a lasting impression on me, other than being another one of those ISRAELI/DISRAELI Jumbos. How tedious. More on that later.

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 ground your gears 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. Expert in family trees got lineages mixed up (11)

Answer: GENEALOGIST (i.e. “expert in family trees”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “mixed up”) of GOT LINEAGES.

7. Tribute in vacuous Hello! publication by European (6)

Answer: HOMAGE (i.e. “tribute”). Solution is HO (i.e. “vacuous hello”, i.e. the word “hello” with all the middle letters removed) followed by MAG (i.e. “publication”) and E (a recognised abbreviation of “European”).

10. Difficulties of a couple in Spain? (4)

Answer: ADOS (i.e. “difficulties”). Solution is A followed by DOS (i.e. “couple in Spain” or the Spanish for “two”).

14. Useful information on public profile (7)

Answer: OUTLINE (i.e. “profile”). Solution is LINE (i.e. “useful information”, informally – Chambers supports it deep into the definitions) placed “on” or after OUT (i.e. made “public”), like so: OUT-LINE.

15. Short frame cut mostly from a certain metal (7)

Answer: STANNIC (i.e. “from a certain metal”, or “relating to tin in its quadrivalent state” (Chambers). Ah, of course. It was on the tip of my tongue). Solution is STAND (i.e. “frame”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “short”) and the remainder followed by NICK (i.e. “cut”) once the last letter has also been removed (indicated by “mostly”), like so: STAN-NIC.

16. Possible requirement for sad story being discussed (2,5)

Answer: AT ISSUE (i.e. “being discussed”). When written as A TISSUE the solution also satisfies “possible requirement for sad story”.

17. Collected works by author abridged for festival (6,7)

Answer: CORPUS CHRISTI (i.e. “the ‘festival’ in honour of the Eucharist” (Chambers)). Solution is CORPUS (i.e. “collected works”) followed by Agatha CHRISTIE (i.e. “author”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “abridged”).

18. Something prompting you to grab a rest (9)

Answer: REMAINDER (i.e. the “rest”). Solution is REMINDER (i.e. “something prompting you”) wrapped around or “grabbing” A, like so: REM(A)INDER.

19. Regularly on it, managed to get drunk (5)

Answer: OILED (i.e. slang for being “drunk”). Solution is OI (i.e. “regularly on it”, i.e. every other letter of ON IT) followed by LED (i.e. “managed”, say, a team).

21. Queen welcomes in philosopher supported by old politician (4,6)

Answer: MARK ANTONY (i.e. “old politician” of the Roman Empire). Solution is MARY (i.e. a “queen”) wrapped around or “welcoming” Immanuel KANT (i.e. “philosopher”) along with ON (i.e. “supported by”, positionally), like so: MAR(KANT-ON)Y.

23. Finally, stir in fizzy tonic and lemon flavouring (6)

Answer: CITRON (i.e. “lemon flavouring”). Solution is R (i.e. “finally stir”, i.e. the last letter of “stir”) placed “in” an anagram (indicated by “fizzy”) of TONIC, like so: CIT(R)ON.

25. Wearing suit a lot (2,6)

Answer: IN SPADES (i.e. “a lot”). Solution is IN (i.e. “wearing”) followed by SPADES (i.e. “suit” in a deck of playing cards).

26. Making products from oil – some pretty rich, possibly (14)

Answer: PETROCHEMISTRY (i.e. “making products from oil”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “possibly”) of SOME PRETTY RICH.

29. Have groups of friends succeeded? (7)

Answer: POSSESS (i.e. “have”). Solution is POSSES (i.e. “groups of friends”) followed by S (a recognised abbreviation of “succeeded”).

30. Outgoing former partner fought to drop last of charges, right? (9)

Answer: EXTROVERT (i.e. “outgoing”). Solution is EX (i.e. “former partner”) followed by STROVE (i.e. “fought”) once the S has been removed (indicated by “to drop last [letter] of charges”). This is all then followed by RT (a recognised abbreviation of “right”, as in Rt Hon), like so: EX-TROVE-RT.

31. Writer of poetry in rhyme, primarily (5)

Answer: HOMER (i.e. ancient Greek “writer of poetry”). Solution is HOME (i.e. “in”) followed by R (i.e. “rhyme primarily”, i.e. the first letter of “rhyme”).

32. Bookish PhD beset by desire to make a comeback (5)

Answer: NERDY (i.e. “bookish”). Solution is DR (i.e. “PhD” or Doctor of Philosophy) placed in or “beset by” YEN (i.e. “desire”) once reversed (indicated by “to make a comeback”), like so: NE(RD)Y.

34. Doctor rules out taking diazepam in the end for shaking (9)

Answer: TREMULOUS (i.e. “shaking”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “doctor”) of RULES OUT wrapped around or “taking” M (i.e. “diazepam in the end”, i.e. the last letter of “diazepam”), like so: TRE(M)ULOUS.

37. Small note accompanying love letter from overseas (7)

Answer: OMICRON (i.e. “letter from overseas”, specifically the Greek alphabet). Solution is MICRO (i.e. “small”) and N (a recognised abbreviation of “note”) both placed after or “accompanying” O (i.e. “love”, a zero score in tennis), like so: O-(MICRO-N).

39. Hacks maybe look forward to lectures (14)

Answer: EXPECTORATIONS (i.e. “hacks” or coughs). Solution is EXPECT (i.e. “look forward to”) followed by ORATIONS (i.e. “lectures”).

41. Gifted show-off’s debut incorporating extravagant dances (8)

Answer: GAVOTTES (i.e. “dances”). Solution is GAVE (i.e. “gifted”) and S (i.e. “show-off’s debut”, i.e. the first letter of “show-off”) all wrapped around or “incorporating” OTT (i.e. “extravagant” or Over-The-Top), like so: GAV(OTT)E-S.

43. Extremely dry sandwiches are not pleasant to eat (6)

Answer: DAINTY (i.e. “pleasant to eat”). Solution is DY (i.e. “extremely dry”, i.e. the first and last letters of “dry”) wrapped around or “sandwiching” AINT (i.e. “are not”), like so: D(AINT)Y.

44. Boar about to eat insect and a large bear (5,5)

Answer: GIANT PANDA (i.e. “large bear”). Solution is PIG (i.e. “boar”) reversed (indicated by “about”) and wrapped around or “eating” ANT (i.e. “insect”). This is all followed by AND A, like so: GI(ANT)P-AND-A.

45. Workers sited principally alongside river (5)

Answer: STAFF (i.e. “workers”). Solution is S (i.e. “sited principally”, i.e. the first letter of “sited”) followed by TAFF (i.e. a “river” in Wales).

48. Very notable time period inspiring each TV serial (4,5)

Answer: SOAP OPERA (i.e. “TV serial”). Solution is SO (i.e. “very”) and ERA (i.e. “notable time period”) all wrapped around or “inspiring” A POP (i.e. “each”), like so: SO-(A-POP)-ERA.

49. Texan law enforcer let a greenhorn off (3,4,6)

Answer: THE LONE RANGER (i.e. “Texan law enforcer” of American TV). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “off”) of LET A GREENHORN.

51. Healthier-looking police officer in more uncivilised surroundings? (7)

Answer: RUDDIER (i.e. “healthier-looking”). Solution is DI (i.e. “police officer”, specifically a Detective Inspector) placed “in” or “surrounded” by RUDER (i.e. “more uncivilised”), like so: RUD(DI)ER.

52. Former PM, heading away from Haifa, perhaps (7)

Answer: ISRAELI (i.e. “from Haifa, perhaps”). Solution is Benjamin DISRAELI (i.e. “former PM”) with the first letter removed or “heading away”. Poor helmsmanship from the puzzle editor again. You can literally go back two pages in the Saturday Review and see DISRAELI in the grid from a couple of weeks ago, achieved through the inverse of this clue. We’ve had this whole lazy ISRAELI <= => DISRAELI construction so many times since I started writing these posts it seems we’re just going to have to put up with it until all the other Times setters have had a go.

53. One digging a verse about Roman goddess (7)

Answer: MINERVA (i.e. “Roman goddess” of wisdom). Solution is MINER (i.e. “one digging”) followed by A and V (a recognised abbreviation of “verse”) once the latter two have been reversed (indicated by “about”), like so: MINER-(V-A).

54. Mythical Queen accomplished nothing (4)

Answer: DIDO (i.e. “mythical queen” and founder of Carthage). Solution is DID (i.e. “accomplished”) followed by O (i.e. “nothing”).

55. Cleaner emptied out sluice harbouring nasty smell (6)

Answer: SPONGE (i.e. “cleaner”). Solution is SE (i.e. “emptied out sluice”, i.e. the word “sluice” with all its middle letters removed) wrapped around or “harbouring” PONG (i.e. “nasty smell”), like so: S(PONG)E.

56. Person hunting for a certain gift? (6,5)

Answer: TALENT SCOUT. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole. Not much else to say about this one, unless I’m missing something clever.

Down clues

1. Endlessly bad-tempered old comedian (7)

Answer: GROUCHO Marx (i.e. “comedian”). Solution is GROUCHY (i.e. “bad-tempered”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “endlessly”) and the remainder followed by O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”), like so: GROUCH-O.

2. Botany experts – people barely seen around a lake (11)

Answer: NATURALISTS (i.e. “botany experts”). Solution is NATURISTS (i.e. “people barely seen”) wrapped “around” A and L (a recognised abbreviation of “lake”), like so: NATUR(A-L)ISTS.

3. So long as deception’s ingrained, everything’s unclear at first (5)

Answer: ADIEU (i.e. “so long”). “At first” indicates the solution is derived from the first letters of “As Deception’s Ingrained Everything’s Unclear”.

4. Economist working with a proven means of excessive counterbalancing (16)

Answer: OVERCOMPENSATION (i.e. “excessive counterbalancing”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “working”) of ECONOMIST and A PROVEN.

5. They protect popular web browsers without using force (8)

Answer: INSURERS (i.e. “they protect”). Solution is IN (i.e. “popular”) followed by SURFERS (i.e. “web browsers”) once the F has been removed (indicated by “without using force” – F being a recognised abbreviation of “force”), like so: IN-SURERS.

6. Obvious mum or dad can support tutors lacking faith at heart (11)

Answer: TRANSPARENT (i.e. “obvious”). Solution is PARENT (i.e. “mum or dad”) placed after or “supporting” – this being a down clue – TRAINS (i.e. “tutors”) once the I has been removed (indicated by “lacking faith at heart”, i.e. removing the middle letter of “faith”), like so: TRANS-PARENT.

7. Rough indication partly showing where dinghy comes from (5)

Answer: HINDI (i.e. “where dinghy comes from” – Hmm. I don’t think I’ve seen etymology used in a clue before). “Partly showing” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: ROUG(H INDI)CATION.

8. American chose fresh European pasta dish (8,6)

Answer: MACARONI CHEESE (i.e. “pasta dish”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “fresh”) of AMERICAN CHOSE followed by E (i.e. “European”, already covered in 7a).

9. Good stuff, I say, gets an award (6)

Answer: GRAMMY (i.e. “an award” in pop music circles). Solution is G (a recognised abbreviation of “good”) followed by RAM (i.e. “stuff”) and MY (i.e. “I say”, both exclamations).

11. Requisite bit of info about English team close to disaster (11)

Answer: DESIDERATUM (i.e. “requisite” – I don’t think there’s enough overlap here. Chambers has the solution as “something desired or much wanted”, and the clue as “required; needed; indispensable”. They’re not the same. Other dictionaries may differ, of course). Solution is DATUM (i.e. “bit of info”) wrapped “about” E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”), SIDE (i.e. “team”) and R (i.e. “close to disaster”, i.e. the last letter of “disaster”), like so: D(E-SIDE-R)ATUM.

12. Formally admit sport is overcome by greed? (5,2)

Answer: SWEAR IN (i.e. “formally admit”). Solution is WEAR (i.e. to “sport”) placed in or “overcome by” SIN (i.e. “greed”, an example thereof), like so: S(WEAR)IN.

13. Hot sauce seeing one tear up multiple times (4-4)

Answer: PIRI-PIRI (i.e. “hot sauce” – yum!) Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) and RIP (i.e. “tear”) reversed (indicated by “up” – this being a down clue) and repeated (i.e. “multiple times”), like so: (PIR-I)-(PIR-I).

20. Self-introduction from journalist in sarcastic, seriously funny programme? (7)

Answer: DRAMEDY (i.e. “seriously funny programme” – oof, could this be the apotheosis of awful portmanteau words? I mean, “ginormous” has squatted for so long in the English language that it’s almost become acceptable. “Chillax”, meanwhile, has thankfully gone the way of the dinosaurs. “Sheeple”, while bad, at least serves a purpose as it quite often says more about the person using the word than the word itself. Oh, wait, I forgot about “edutainment” (immediately throws up)). Solution is AM ED (i.e. “self-introduction from journalist”, specifically an editor) placed “in” DRY (i.e. “sarcastic”), like so: DR(AM-ED)Y.

22. Body revealed by some actors on stage (5)

Answer: TORSO (i.e. “body”). “Revealed by some” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: AC(TORS O)N. A little untidy this. When hiding the solution in clues, setters don’t often leave straggler words (in this case “stage”). A minor quibble.

24. Play dealing with rep coming to an end? (5,2,1,8)

Answer: DEATH OF A SALESMAN (i.e. “play” by Arthur Miller). Another where the solution satisfies the clue as a whole. Nothing much else to say, really.

25. Instant message notification sound able ultimately to have an effect (7)

Answer: IMPINGE (i.e. “to have an effect”). Solution is IM (a recognised abbreviation of “instant message” – ask your parents, kids) followed by PING (i.e. “notification sound”) and E (i.e. “able ultimately”, i.e. the last letter of “able”).

27. Basic undergarments are what you and yours have! (1-6)

Answer: Y-FRONTS (i.e. “basic undergarments”). The remainder of the clue plays on how “you” and “yours” are both FRONT-ed by Ys.

28. Sweeping statement is inelegant, or contrived to conceal answer (14)

Answer: GENERALISATION (i.e. “sweeping statement”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “contrived”) of IS INELEGANT OR all wrapped around or “concealing” A (a recognised abbreviation of “answer”), like so: GENER(A)LISATION.

31. Awful building largely embodies design only occasionally used (7)

Answer: HEINOUS (i.e. “awful”). Solution is HOUSE (i.e. “building”) with the last letter removed (indicated by “largely”) and the remainder wrapped around or “embodying” EIN (i.e. “design only occasionally used”, i.e. every other letter of DESIGN), like so: H(EIN)OUS.

33. Soldiers briefed to accept also being shouted at (11)

Answer: REPRIMANDED (i.e. “being shouted at”). Solution is RE (i.e. “soldiers”, specifically the Royal Engineers of the British Army) followed by PRIMED (i.e. “briefed”) once wrapped around or “accepting” AND (i.e. “also”), like so: RE-PRIM(AND)ED.

35. Where students learn about where they can get cheap drinks? (5)

Answer: UNION (i.e. “where [students] can get cheap drinks”). Solution is UNI (i.e. “where students learn”) followed by ON (i.e. “about” or regarding).

36. Upset during second show is all-pervasive (11)

Answer: OMNIPRESENT (i.e. “all-pervasive”). Solution is IN (i.e. “during”) and MO (i.e. “second” or a short time, short for a moment) all reversed (indicated by “upset” – this being a down clue) and followed by PRESENT (i.e. to “show”), like so: (OM-NI)-PRESENT.

38. Little bounder took a rag and ran out (3-8)

Answer: RAT-KANGAROO (i.e. “little bounder”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “out”) of TOOK A RAG and RAN.

40. Liberal cleric on vacation’s caught attending colourful festival (8)

Answer: CATHOLIC (i.e. without capitalisation, “liberal”, as in “opposite to exclusive” (Chambers) No, me neither). Solution is CC (i.e. “cleric on vacation”, i.e. the word “cleric” with all its middle letters removed – a bit of a penchant for this week’s setter) wrapped around or “catching” AT HOLI (i.e. “attending colourful festival” – Holi is the one where they all chuck coloured powder around), like so: C(AT-HOLI)C.

42. Cousin unexpectedly starts to appear less withdrawn (8)

Answer: UNSOCIAL (i.e. “withdrawn”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “unexpectedly”) of COUSIN followed by A and L (i.e. “starts to appear less”, i.e. the first letters of “appear” and “less”), like so: UNSOCI-AL.

43. Wanted gentleman caught in act (7)

Answer: DESIRED (i.e. “wanted”). Solution is SIR (i.e. “gentleman”) placed or “caught in” DEED (i.e. “act”), like so: DE(SIR)ED. Strange to have this and 11d in the same grid.

46. Suitable clothing in respect of an insect that bites (4,3)

Answer: FIRE ANT (i.e. “insect that bites”). Solution is FIT (i.e. “suitable”) wrapped around or “clothing” RE (i.e. “in respect of” – think email replies) and AN, like so: FI(RE-AN)T.

47. The French going on journey behave without restraint (3,3)

Answer: LET RIP (i.e. “act without restraint”). Solution is LE (i.e. “the French”, i.e. the French for “the”) followed by TRIP (i.e. “journey”).

49. Carry across final slice of ginger cake (5)

Answer: TORTE (i.e. “cake”). Solution is TOTE (i.e. “carry”) wrapped around or placed “across” R (i.e. “final slice of ginger”, i.e. the last letter of “ginger”), like so: TO(R)TE.

50. Relatives from Northern Territory – in Australia! (5)

Answer: AUNTS (i.e. “relatives”). Solution is NT (a recognised abbreviation of “Northern Territory”) placed in AUS (ditto “Australia”), like so: AU(NT)S.