Times Jumbo Cryptic Crossword 1676

Another Bank Holiday Jumbo. (May is such a cruel month for my poor typing fingers, all two of them.)

While the previous Jumbo was a hard act to follow, I must highlight and show my appreciation for the setter’s effort in filling the grid with so many long single-word solutions. Indeed, the only phrases you’ll find in the grid occupy the two longest solutions. Very cool.

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 had its wicked way with you 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. Reportedly assume lupine identity in ancient English poem (7)

Answer: BEOWULF (i.e. “ancient English poem”). Solution comprises homophones (indicated by “reportedly”) of BE A WOLF (i.e. “assume lupine identity”).

5. Flexible mould used by cobblers in film (7)

Answer: PLASTIC (i.e. “flexible”). Solution is LAST (i.e. “mould used by cobblers”, a variant meaning notably used in grid 1646 in a clue yielding THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS) placed “in” PIC (i.e. “film”, short for picture), like so: P(LAST)IC.

9. Become tense when argument goes in several different directions (7)

Answer: STIFFEN (i.e. “become tense”). Solution is TIFF (i.e. “argument”) placed “in” S E and N (i.e. “several different directions”, recognised abbreviations of south, east and north respectively), like so: S(TIFF)EN.

13. In front at last, hungry for such an injection? (11)

Answer: INTRAVENOUS (i.e. variety of “injection”). Solution is IN followed by T (i.e. “front at last”, i.e. the last letter of “front”) and RAVENOUS (i.e. “hungry”).

14. Readers initially commit a sin, somehow identifying Byron’s style (11)

Answer: ROMANTICISM (i.e. “Byron’s style”). Solution is R (i.e. “readers initially”, i.e. the first letter of “readers”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “somehow”) of COMMIT A SIN, like so: R-OMANTICISM.

15. Good entertainer, one writing for another (5)

Answer: GHOST (i.e. “one writing for another”). Solution is G (a recognised abbreviation of “good”) followed by HOST (i.e. “entertainer”).

16. Dutch navigator engaging quiet chap once working in bar (7)

Answer: TAPSMAN (i.e. “chap once working in bar” – all my dictionaries would beg to differ, suggesting the solution would instead be a TAPSTER. Chambers has for TAPSMAN “a servant in overall charge of others; chief of a company of drovers”, which doesn’t sound the same). Solution is Abel TASMAN (i.e. “Dutch navigator”) wrapped around or “engaging” P (i.e. “quiet”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “piano” in musical lingo), like so: TA(P)SMAN.

17. Engraver using illegal aid in most of added material (9)

Answer: INSCRIBER (i.e. “engraver”). Solution is CRIB (i.e. “illegal aid”, or copying another’s work) placed “in” INSERT (i.e. “added material”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “most of”), like so: INS(CRIB)ER.

18. Story originally read during specific game at Hampstead location? (3,7,2,3,6)

Answer: THE CRICKET ON THE HEARTH (i.e. “story” by Charles Dickens). Solution is R (i.e. “originally read”, i.e. the first letter of “read”) placed “during” THE (i.e. “specific”), CRICKET (i.e. “game”) and ON THE HEATH (i.e. “at Hampstead location”), like so: THE-CRICKET-ON-THE-HEA(R)TH.

23. Further evaluate soldiers taking a couple of ships round East (8)

Answer: REASSESS (i.e. “further evaluate”). Solution is RE (i.e. “soldiers”, specifically the Royal Engineers of the British Army) followed by A, SS and SS (the latter two “a couple of ships”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “steamship”) once these have been wrapped “round” E (a recognised abbreviation of “east”), like so: RE-A-SS-(E)-SS.

25. Basic device for securing electric cable, say (6)

Answer: STAPLE. Solution satisfies “basic” and “device for securing electric cable, say”.

27. First-class addition to dessert, perhaps (7)

Answer: TOPPING. Solution satisfies “first-class” and “addition to dessert, perhaps”.

30. Hoard of money picked up by listeners (5)

Answer: CACHE (i.e. “hoard”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “picked up”) of CASH (i.e. “money”).

32. Stole across border, one in a former country (7)

Answer: BOHEMIA (i.e. “former country”). Solution is BOA (i.e. “stole” or garment) wrapped around or placed “across” HEM (i.e. “border”) and I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), like so: BO(HEM-I)A.

33. Woman in Holy Writ displaying sagacity? Not so (9)

Answer: OTHERWISE (i.e. “not so”). Solution is HER (i.e. “woman”) placed “in” OT (i.e. “Holy Writ”, basically the Old Testament of The Bible) and WISE (i.e. “sagacity”), like so: OT-(HER)-WISE.

35. Admiral finally leaves River Plate, manoeuvring armed vessel (9)

Answer: PRIVATEER (i.e. “armed vessel”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “manoeuvring”) of RIVER PLATE once the L (i.e. “Admiral finally”, i.e. the last letter of “Admiral”) has “left”.

36. Financiers swapping area for love? That’s crazy! (7)

Answer: BONKERS (i.e. “crazy”). Solution is BANKERS (i.e. “financiers”) with the A (a recognised abbreviation of “area”) “swapped for” O (i.e. “love”, a zero score in tennis), like so: B(A)NKERS => B(O)NKERS.

37. Singer mostly dressing formally? (5)

Answer: ROBIN (i.e. “singer” or songbird). Solution is ROBING (i.e. “dressing formally”) with the last letter removed (indicated by “mostly”).

38. When a milk supplier is most essential to begin with? (7)

Answer: TEATIME. The solution satisfies the solution as a whole, taking TEA to be a cuppa, but also comprises TEAT (i.e. “milk supplier”), I M and E (i.e. “is most essential to begin with”, i.e. the first letters of “is”, “most” and “essential”).

40. Lamb, so-called, following American girl (6)

Answer: AMELIA (i.e. “girl’s” name). Solution is ELIA (i.e. “Lamb, so-called”, an alias of 19th century poet and essayist Charles Lamb) placed after or “following” AM (a recognised abbreviation of “American”), like so: AM-ELIA.

41. Liqueur, a new one, prepared for a speaker (8)

Answer: ANISETTE (i.e. “liqueur”). Solution is A followed by N (a recognised abbreviation of “new”), then I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”, again) and a homophone (indicated by “for a speaker”) of SET (i.e. “prepared”), like so: A-N-I-SETTE.

44. Lions turn up at end of a summer: a warning against vanity (5,5,6,1,4)

Answer: PRIDE COMES BEFORE A FALL (i.e. “a warning against vanity”). Solution is PRIDE COMES (i.e. “lions turn up”) followed by BEFORE A FALL (i.e. “at end of a summer”, FALL being another word for autumn).

48. Circus performer’s two-wheeled vehicle unknown in new site (9)

Answer: TRAPEZIST (i.e. “circus performer”). Solution is TRAP (i.e. “two-wheeled vehicle”) followed by Z (i.e. “unknown” – setters love referring to X, Y or Z in solutions as unknowns) once placed “in” an anagram (indicated by “new”) of SITE, like so: TRAP-E(Z)IST.

50. Eccentric group concealing drug in Arthur’s place (7)

Answer: CAMELOT (i.e. King “Arthur’s place”). Solution is CAM (i.e. “eccentric” – funny how this comes round like buses. I can’t be bothered to go into it again so excuse me while I copy and paste this lot from grid 1670 last month. Chambers has: “in mechanics, an irregular projection on a revolving shaft or rotating cylinder, shaped so as to transmit regular movement to another part”. “Eccentric” meanwhile is “with the axis to one side, not at the centre”) and LOT (i.e. “group”) all wrapped around or “concealing” E (i.e. “drug”, slang name of ecstasy), like so: CAM-(E)-LOT.

53. Tragic lover, Aussie native, touring Maine (5)

Answer: ROMEO (i.e. “tragic lover” of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet). Solution is ROO (i.e. “Aussie native”, informal name for a kangaroo) wrapped around or “touring” ME (US state abbreviation of “Maine”), like so: RO(ME)O.

54. Perplexing male acting a lie? That’s out of order (11)

Answer: ENIGMATICAL (i.e. “perplexing”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “that’s out of order”) of M (a recognised abbreviation of “male”) and ACTING A LIE.

55. Disloyal educator muzzling Republican round America (11)

Answer: TREACHEROUS (i.e. “disloyal”). Solution is TEACHER (i.e. “educator”) wrapped around or “muzzling” R (a recognised abbreviation of “Republican”) and followed by O (i.e. “round”), then US (i.e. “America”), like so: T(R)EACHER-O-US.

56. Some metropolitan trickery to do with sacred writings (7)

Answer: TANTRIC (i.e. “to do with sacred writings”). “Some” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: METROPOLI(TAN TRIC)KERY.

57. Portrait painter keeps young lady, as permitted by law (7)

Answer: LEGALLY (i.e. “as permitted by law”). Solution is Peter LELY (i.e. 17th century “portrait painter”) wrapped around or “keeping” GAL (i.e. “young lady”), like so: LE(GAL)LY.

58. Like fatty substance primarily located deep in Scottish river (7)

Answer: TALLOWY (i.e. “like fatty substance”). Solution is L (i.e. “primarily located”, i.e. the first letter of “located”) and LOW (i.e. “deep”) both placed “in” TAY (i.e. “Scottish river”), like so: TA(L-LOW)Y.

Down clues

1. Newlywed collecting last of stuffing for game (6)

Answer: BRIDGE (i.e. card “game”). Solution is BRIDE (i.e. “newlywed”) wrapped around or “collecting” G (i.e. “last of stuffing”, i.e. the last letter of “stuffing”), like so: BRID(G)E.

2. Detached settlement’s blooming mail! (7)

Answer: OUTPOST (i.e. “detached settlement”). Solution is OUT (i.e. of flowers, “blooming”) followed by POST (i.e. “mail”).

3. Unsuitability of steps a nun contrived (9)

Answer: UNAPTNESS (i.e. “unsuitability”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “contrived”) of STEPS A NUN.

4. Fast-moving naval task force (5)

Answer: FLEET. Solution satisfies “fast-moving” and “naval task force”.

5. Likelihood programme of courses will exclude you and me (8)

Answer: PROSPECT (i.e. “likelihood”). Solution is PROSPECTUS (i.e. “programme of courses” at, say, a university) with the US removed (indicated by “exclude you and me”).

6. A service sent up for tea (5)

Answer: ASSAM (i.e. Indian “tea”). Solution is A followed by MASS (i.e. religious “service”) once the latter has been reversed (indicated by “sent up” – this being a down clue), like so: A-SSAM.

7. City taken in by conductor on tour (7)

Answer: TORONTO (i.e. “city”). “Taken in by” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: CONDUC(TOR ON TO)UR.

8. Ladies in panel carry out supporter with sign (14)

Answer: COMMITTEEWOMEN (i.e. “ladies in panel”). Solution is COMMIT (i.e. “carry out”) followed by TEE (i.e. golf ball “supporter”), W (a recognised abbreviation of “with”) and OMEN (i.e. “sign”).

9. Ageing nurse once looking down on eastern perfume (9)

Answer: SENESCENT (i.e. “ageing” – one I knew from casually researching a silly story idea. There’s a small jellyfish, turritopsis dohrnii, that is technically immortal in that it has the ability to revert to its polyp form when sick, old or exposed to some degree of stress. Through the wonders of modern science, a secret government gene-splicing operation hidden in RAF Marham, a dash of radioactive waste and a generous suspension of belief this would inevitably lead to the UK being overrun by immortal Lovecraftian Godzillas or something. I’ll accept my Booker now, thank you). Solution is SEN (i.e. “nurse once”, specifically a State Enrolled Nurse) followed by E (a recognised abbreviation of “eastern”) and SCENT (i.e. “perfume”).

10. More distant old firm supported by former monarch (5)

Answer: ICIER (i.e. “more distant”). Solution is ICI (i.e. “old firm”, Imperial Chemical Industries) followed by ER (i.e. “former monarch”, Elizabeth Regina).

11. Frivolous person initially finds freedom, we hear, before gallows (15)

Answer: FLIBBERTIGIBBET (i.e. “frivolous person”). Solution is F (i.e. “initially finds”, i.e. the first letter of “finds”) followed by a homophone (indicated by “we hear”) of LIBERTY, then GIBBET (i.e. “gallows”), like so: F-LIBBERTI-GIBBET.

12. Ancient Egyptian leader upset about demonstration (7)

Answer: NOMARCH (i.e. “ancient Egyptian leader” – cheers, Bradfords! Chambers has: “the governor of a nome”, a nome being “a province or department, especially one in ancient Rome or modern Greece”) Solution is ON (i.e. “about” or regarding) reversed (indicated by “upset” – this being a down clue) and followed by MARCH (i.e. “demonstration”).

19. Ridiculous anger gripping little brother or sister (7)

Answer: RISIBLE (i.e. “ridiculous”). Solution is RILE (i.e. to “anger”) wrapped around or “gripping” SIB (i.e. “little brother or sister”, i.e. a shortened form of “sibling”), like so: RI(SIB)LE.

20. English fellow in dark fur, worthy of respect (9)

Answer: ESTIMABLE (i.e. “worthy of respect”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”) followed by TIM (i.e. “fellow’s” name) once placed “in” SABLE (i.e. “dark fur”), like so: E-S(TIM)ABLE.

21. Capital raised to keep a monarch (7)

Answer: EMPEROR (i.e. “monarch”). Solution is ROME (i.e. “capital” of Italy) reversed (indicated by “raised” – this being a down clue) and wrapped around or “keeping” PER (i.e. “a”, as in lottery tickets being two pounds a pop), like so: EM(PER)OR.

22. Nutter taking two addictive drugs (8)

Answer: CRACKPOT (i.e. “nutter”). When written as CRACK and POT the solution also satisfies “two addictive drugs”.

24. Adjustment at Italian comic’s ground (15)

Answer: ACCLIMATISATION (i.e. “adjustment”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “ground”) of AT ITALIAN COMIC’S.

26. Initiator of action involving port authority in dispute (9)

Answer: PLAINTIFF (i.e. “initiator of [legal] action”). Solution is PLA (i.e. “port authority”, specifically the Port of London Authority) followed by IN and TIFF (i.e. “dispute”).

28. Chap protecting eagle circling small island (8)

Answer: GUERNSEY (i.e. “island”). Solution is GUY (i.e. “chap”) wrapped around or “protecting” ERNE (i.e. a sea “eagle”) once this has itself been wrapped around or “circling” S (a recognised abbreviation of “small”), like so: GU(ERN(S)E)Y.

29. Chap involved with a true claim relating to drugs (14)

Answer: PHARMACEUTICAL (i.e. “relating to drugs”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “involved”) of CHAP and A TRUE CLAIM.

31. Raised bar? This person’s hard to pin down (7)

Answer: EVASIVE (i.e. “hard to pin down”). Solution is SAVE (i.e. “bar” or excepting) reversed (indicated by “raised” – again, this being a down clue) and followed by I’VE (i.e. “this person’s”, i.e. a contraction of I HAVE), like so: EVAS-I’VE.

34. Exclamation of praise from woman holding up book (7)

Answer: HOSANNA (i.e. “exclamation of praise”). Solution is ANNA (i.e. “woman’s” name) placed after or “holding up” – down clue again – HOS (i.e. “book”, in this case a recognised abbreviation of the Book of Hosea in The Bible), like so: HOS-ANNA.

39. Self-centred, became accepted in swinging cities (9)

Answer: EGOTISTIC (i.e. “self-centred”). Solution is GOT (i.e. “accepted”) placed “in” an anagram (indicated by “swinging”) of CITIES, like so: E(GOT)ISTIC.

42. Look thoroughly for listeners where flights are accommodated (9)

Answer: STAIRWELL (i.e. “where flights are accommodated”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “for listeners”) of STARE WELL (i.e. “look thoroughly”).

43. Jesting duke unknown to keep luxury car (8)

Answer: DROLLERY (i.e. “jesting”). Solution is D (a recognised abbreviation of “duke”) and Y (i.e. “unknown”, already covered in 48a) all wrapped around ROLLER (i.e. “luxury car”, slang for a Rolls Royce), like so: D-(ROLLER)-Y.

44. Forbearing person in doctor’s waiting room? (7)

Answer: PATIENT. Solution satisfies “forbearing” and “person in doctor’s waiting room”.

45. Given support, register build-up of work (7)

Answer: BACKLOG (i.e. “build-up of work”). Solution is BACK (i.e. “support”) followed by LOG (i.e. “register”).

46. Move falteringly over river, one in SE Africa (7)

Answer: LIMPOPO (i.e. “river, one in SE Africa”). Solution is LIMP (i.e. “move falteringly”) followed by O (a recognised abbreviation of “over” used in cricket) and PO (i.e. a “river” in Italy – a spot of recycling).

47. Like keen equestrians losing heart in N London district (6)

Answer: HORSEY (i.e. “like keen equestrians”). Solution is HORNSEY (i.e. “N London district”) once the middle letter or “heart” has been “lost”.

49. Man in army corps climbing round back of hill (5)

Answer: ELMER E. Fryar (i.e. “man in army corps” notable for being posthumously awarded the US Medal of Honor during World War II). Solution is REME (i.e. “army corps” – more recycling – these are the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers of the British Army) reversed (indicated by “climbing”, down clue yada yada yada) and wrapped “round” L (i.e. “back of hill”, i.e. the last letter of “hill”), like so: E(L)MER.

51. Roadside accommodation army doctor hired going north (5)

Answer: MOTEL (i.e. “roadside accommodation”). Solution is MO (i.e. “army doctor”, or Medical Officer) followed by LET (i.e. “hired”) once reversed (indicated by “going north”, down clue etc), like so: MO-TEL.

52. Time to do something about India, it’s implied (5)

Answer: TACIT (i.e. “implied”). Solution is T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”) followed by ACT (i.e. “to do something”) once wrapped “about” I (“India” in the phonetic alphabet), like so: T-AC(I)T.