A medium strength Jumbo this week, but a good un with some stand-out clues and a welcome lack of stuffiness.
On that latter point, as mentioned last week, I’ve given it 20 Jumbo Cryptics before chucking in these posts as I’ve grown bored of all the stuffy clichés, particularly around cultural references. I don’t think I could care any less now about Billy Shakespeare, Greek mythology and a host of long-dead composers, poets, artists and philosophers. That said, let’s be fair to those setters who weren’t born in the 1800s. Let’s make it 20 more dull Jumbos before I walk into the sunset. Too many stuffy clichés and – tick! That’s one week closer to the end. It would be unfair to start the countdown on this week’s Jumbo, so the counter still stands at 20. Next week’s Jumbo, however? (Makes so-so gesture.)
Anyway, 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 flimflammed you then you might find my Just For Fun page of use, where you’ll find links to hundreds of the things.
Thanks again for your patience and input. Till next time, stay safe out there kids.
LP
Across clues
- Got longer articles to spread popular beliefs (9)
Answer: INCREASED (i.e. “got longer”). Solution is AS (i.e. “articles”, basically A made plural – an article being a word like a, an or the) placed in or “spreading” IN (i.e. “popular”) and CREED (i.e. “beliefs”), like so: IN-CRE(AS)ED.
- Sound – that of ceremony? (5)
Answer: RIGHT (i.e. “sound” or correct). Solution is a homophone (also indicated by “sound”) of RITE (i.e. “ceremony”).
- Corrupts spy brought back to safeguard lives (7)
Answer: POISONS (i.e. “corrupts”). Solution is SNOOP (i.e. “spy”) reversed (indicated by “brought back”) and wrapped around or “safeguarding” IS (i.e. “lives” or exists), like so: PO(IS)ONS.
- Acknowledge passage of mine contains start of message (5)
Answer: ADMIT (i.e. “acknowledge”). Solution is ADIT (i.e. an opening into a mine or “passage of mine” – we’ve seen this a couple of times in recent Jumbos) wrapped around or “containing” M (i.e. “start of message”, i.e. the first letter of “message”), like so: AD(M)IT.
- Former state comprising capital of Poland and part of Soviet Union (7)
Answer: PRUSSIA (i.e. “former state”, dissolved in 1871). Solution is P (i.e. “capital of Poland”, i.e. the first letter of “Poland”) followed by RUSSIA (i.e. “part of Soviet Union”).
- Being in exile forfeits right to go into details (9)
Answer: EXPATIATE (i.e. “go into details”). Solution is EXPATRIATE (i.e. “being in exile”) with the R removed (indicated by “forfeits right” – R being a recognised abbreviation thereof).
- Most of teaching unit is rehashed for mock (11)
Answer: INAUTHENTIC (i.e. “mock”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “rehashed”) of TEACHING once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “most of…”) and UNIT.
- Onset of fear when entering dramatic location? (5,6)
Answer: STAGE FRIGHT. The solution satisfies the clue as a whole but is also F (i.e. “onset of fear”, i.e. the first letter of “fear”) placed in or “entering” STAGE RIGHT (i.e. “dramatic location”), like so: STAGE-(F)-RIGHT.
- Pull again and screw around (6)
Answer: REDRAW (i.e. “pull again”). Solution is WARDER (i.e. “screw”, slang thereof) reversed (indicated by “around”).
- Constructive activity gradually getting more intense (8)
Answer: BUILDING. Solution satisfies “constructive activity” and “gradually getting more intense”.
- Stupefying work I put away (6)
Answer: OPIATE (i.e. “stupefying”, taking the solution as an adjective). Solution is OP (i.e. “work”, short for opus) followed by I and ATE (i.e. “put away”).
- Named suspect in photo creating widespread disorder (8)
Answer: PANDEMIC (i.e. “widespread disorder”, taking disorder to mean a disease). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “suspect”) of NAMED placed “in” PIC (i.e. “photo”), like so: P(ANDEM)IC.
- Divine alien? (3,2,4,5)
Answer: OUT OF THIS WORLD. Solution satisfies “divine” and “alien”.
- Support for individuals with bills to settle (5)
Answer: ROOST. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, taking “individuals with bills” to mean birds. Nicely disguised.
- Demonstrator in disreputable group (6)
Answer: SHOWER. Solution satisfies “demonstrator”, as in one who shows, and “disreputable group”.
- Itchy feet could be symptomatic of this condition (10)
Answer: WANDERLUST. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, taking “itchy feet” to mean a desire to move on.
- Initially investigated if de facto changes performed authorized role (10)
Answer: OFFICIATED (i.e. “performed authorized role”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “changes”) of I (i.e. “initially investigated”, i.e. the first letter of “investigated”) and IF DE FACTO.
- Surge of immigrants possibly belonging to unstable state (6)
Answer: INFLUX (i.e. “surge of immigrants possibly” – a rather specific definition, but fitting within the context of the clue). Solution is IN (i.e. “belonging to”) followed by FLUX (i.e. “unstable state”).
- Shudder at minor injuries inflicted during attack by men (5)
Answer: ABHOR (i.e. “shudder at”). Solution is ABH (i.e. “minor injuries inflicted during attack”, or Actual Bodily Harm) followed by OR (i.e. “men”, specifically the Other Ranks of the British Army).
- Put in new order for remix of Memories on disc (14)
Answer: RECOMMISSIONED (i.e. “put in new order”, say, for a work of art). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “remix”) of MEMORIES ON DISC.
- Essential blow phased out computer device (3,5)
Answer: KEY PUNCH (i.e. “phased out computer device”). Solution is KEY (i.e. “essential”) followed by PUNCH (i.e. a “blow”).
- Make a mistake with message (6)
Answer: ERRAND (i.e. a verbal “message”, an archaic definition apparently). Solution is ERR (i.e. “make a mistake”) followed by AND (i.e. “with”).
- Folk on social media in what way entertaining spectacle with restricted view (8)
Answer: PEEPSHOW (i.e. “entertaining spectacle with restricted view”). Solution is PEEPS (i.e. “folk on social media”) followed by HOW (i.e. “in what way”).
- First class spinner follows helpful advice (6)
Answer: TIPTOP (i.e. “first class”). Solution is TOP (i.e. old skool toy, a “spinner”) placed after or “following” TIP (i.e. “helpful”), like so: TIP-TOP.
- Peach skin’s flipping lovely nap? (6,5)
Answer: BEAUTY SLEEP (i.e. “lovely nap”). Solution is BEAUTY (i.e. a “peach”, slang thereof) followed by PEEL’S (i.e. “skin’s”) once reversed (indicated by “flipping”).
- Support for light punishment of cruel bad man (11)
Answer: CANDELABRUM (i.e. “support for light”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “punishment”) of CRUEL BAD MAN.
- For Americans, exactly where one might find visual aids? (2,3,4)
Answer: ON THE NOSE. Solution satisfies “for Americans, exactly” and “where one might find visual aids”.
- Iditioic ideas in inefficient stores (7)
Answer: ASININE (i.e. “idiotic”). “Stores” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: IDE(AS IN INE)FFICIENT.
- Northerners instinctively know to give up first time (5)
Answer: INUIT (i.e. far “northerners”). Solution is INTUIT (i.e. “instinctively know”) with the “first” T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”) removed or “given up”.
- Talking out line of rubbish clogging up entrance (7)
Answer: GAROTTE (i.e. “taking out line” – “taking out” being slang for killing). Solution is ROT (i.e. “rubbish”) placed in or “clogging up” GATE (i.e. “entrance”), like so: GA(ROT)TE.
- Great man’s relations inhibited by effect of The Sun’s coverage (5)
Answer: TITAN (i.e. “great man”). Solution is IT (i.e. sexual “relations”) placed in or “covered” by TAN (i.e. “effect of the sun”), like so: T(IT)AN.
- Soldiers stationed in hamlet developed product that’s full of holes (9)
Answer: EMMENTHAL (i.e. cheese, a “product that’s full of holes”). Solution is MEN (i.e. “soldiers” – outdated wordplay now, surely) placed “in” an anagram (indicated by “developed”) of HAMLET, like so: EM(MEN)THAL.
Down clues
- National anthem’s introduction bores two hosting King and Queen (5)
Answer: IRAQI (i.e. “national”). Solution is A (i.e. “anthem’s introduction”, i.e. the first letter of “anthem”) placed in or “boring” II (i.e. “two” expressed in Roman numerals) once these have first been wrapped around or “hosting” R (i.e. “king”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of the Latin Rex) and Q (a recognised abbreviation of “queen” used in chess), like so: I(R(A)Q)I. Nicely worked.
- Head of unit’s integrated circuit included in authoritative proposal (10,7)
Answer: COMMANDING OFFICER (i.e. “head of unit”). Solution is IC (a recognised abbreviation of “integrated circuit”) placed or “included in” COMMANDING (i.e. “authoritative”) and OFFER (i.e. “proposal”), like so: COMMANDING-OFF(IC)ER.
- He helps move each man around country (6,5)
Answer: ESTATE AGENT (i.e. “he helps move”). Solution is EA (a recognised abbreviation of “each”) and GENT (i.e. “man”) all wrapped “around” STATE (i.e. “country”), like so: E(STATE)A-GENT.
- Royal Engineer’s draining job? (6)
Answer: SAPPER. Solution satisfies a slang term for a “Royal Engineer”, and also a “draining job”.
- Suspect unlikely to take part (8)
Answer: DOUBTFUL. Solution satisfies “suspect” and “unlikely to take part”.
- Unrealistically positive representation of decorous role (4-8)
Answer: ROSE-COLOURED (i.e. “unrealistically positive”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “representation of”) of DECOROUS ROLE.
- I’m astonished about papers supporting rat’s abandoned wife (5,5)
Answer: GRASS WIDOW (i.e. “abandoned wife” – a new one on me). Solution is WOW (i.e. “I’m astonished”) wrapped “about” ID (i.e. identification “papers”) and the whole then placed after or “below” – this being a down clue – GRASS (i.e. traitor or “rat”), like so: GRASS-W(ID)OW.
- Article ending in Saint Paul’s Second Letter to The Corinthians (5)
Answer: THETA (i.e. “letter to The Corinthians”, specifically the eighth letter of the Greek alphabet). Solution is THE (i.e. “article”, already covered in 1a) followed by T (i.e. “ending [letter] in saint”) and A (i.e. “Paul’s second letter”).
- Riddle about source of Italian pizza topping (9)
Answer: PEPPERONI (i.e. “pizza topping”). Solution is PEPPER (i.e. to “riddle” with) followed by ON (i.e. “about” or regarding) then I (i.e. “source of Italian”, i.e. the first letter of “Italian”).
- Individual questioning position adopted by dodgy rentier (11)
Answer: INTERVIEWER (i.e. “individual questioning”). Solution is VIEW (i.e. “position”) placed in or “adopted by” an anagram (indicated by “dodgy”) of RENTIER, like so: INTER(VIEW)ER.
- Animal with a varied diet consisting mainly of fruit (5)
Answer: ORANG (i.e. “animal with a varied diet”, shortened form of orang-utan). Solution is ORANGE (i.e. “fruit”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “mainly”).
- Who might investigate elaborate hustle? (6)
Answer: SLEUTH (i.e. “who might investigate”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “elaborate”) of HUSTLE. Another nicely worked clue.
- Dazzling display on a revolutionary English company’s range of work (10)
Answer: REPERTOIRE (i.e. theatre “company’s range of work”). Solution is RIOT (i.e. “dazzling display”), RE (i.e. “on” or regarding – think email replies) and PER (i.e. “a”, e.g. some beers being five pounds a pint) all reversed (indicated by “revolutionary”) and followed by E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”), like so: (REP-ER-TOIR)-E.
- Understand board is ready for acquisition (8)
Answer: GETTABLE (i.e. “ready for acquisition”). Solution is GET (i.e. “understand”) followed by TABLE (i.e. a panel or “board”).
- Connected with cast’s broadcast completely (7,3,7)
Answer: THROUGH AND THROUGH (i.e. “completely”). Solution is THROUGH (i.e. “connected”, as in “putting you through now, caller” – ask your parents, kids), followed by AND (i.e. “with”) and a homophone (indicated by “broadcast”) of THREW (i.e. “cast”).
- Toxic atmosphere found among academia’s managers (6)
Answer: MIASMA (i.e. “toxic atmosphere”). “Found among” indicates the solution can be found in ACADE(MIA’S MA)NAGERS.
- Reversed trend, heading off praise for position taken by journalist? (10)
Answer: EDITORSHIP (i.e. “position taken by journalist”). Solution is TIDE (i.e. “trend”) “reversed” and followed by WORSHIP (i.e. “praise”) once its initial letter has been removed (indicated by “heading off”), like so: EDIT-ORSHIP.
- Clears head raising matter concerning supervisor finishing early (6,2)
Answer: SOBERS UP (i.e. “clears head”). Solution is PUS (i.e. biological “matter”), RE (i.e. “concerning” – again, think email replies) and BOSS (i.e. “supervisor”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “finishing early”). This is all then reversed (indicated by “raising” – this being a down clue), like so: SOB-ER-SUP.
- Discourage drinking by right (6)
Answer: DEXTER (i.e. “right”, from the Latin). Solution is DETER (i.e. “discourage”) wrapped around or “drinking” X (i.e. “by”, or the multiplication symbol), like so: DE(X)TER.
- Meeting lays to rest notice following reorganization (12)
Answer: INTERSECTION (i.e. “meeting”). Solution is INTERS (i.e. buries or “lays to rest”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “following reorganisation”) of NOTICE, like so: INTERS-ECTION.
- Chamber piece inspired by observation (11)
Answer: COMPARTMENT (i.e. “chamber”). Solution is PART (i.e. “piece”) placed in or “inspired by” COMMENT (i.e. “observation”), like so: COM(PART)MENT.
- Software industry (11)
Answer: APPLICATION. Solution satisfies “software” and “industry”. Excellent clue! Best for quite a while.
- Might scheme finish off bankrupt energy supplier? (5,5)
Answer: POWER PLANT (i.e. “energy supplier”). Solution is POWER (i.e. “might”) followed by PLAN (i.e. “scheme”) and T (i.e. the “finish off bankrupt”, or the last letter of “bankrupt”).
- Put off key deficiency in Asian country’s attitude (9)
Answer: INDISPOSE (i.e. “put off”). Solution is INDIA’S (i.e. “Asian country’s”) with the A removed (indicated by “[musical] key deficiency”) and the remainder followed by POSE (i.e. “attitude”), like so: INDI’S-POSE.
- Agree method of eliminating change? (8)
Answer: COINCIDE (i.e. “agree”). The solution also playfully satisfies “method of eliminating change”, as in how the suffix -CIDE, meaning the killing of someone or something, has been tacked on the end of COIN, or some “change”. I’ll admit this did raise a titter when I twigged it. Another excellent clue.
- Old on-line journal includes name of slender figure? (6)
Answer: OBLONG (i.e. “slender figure” or shape). Solution is O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”) followed by BLOG (i.e. “on-line journal”, short for weblog) once wrapped around or “including” N (a recognised abbreviation of “name”), like so: O-BLO(N)G.
- Free to think again seemingly (6)
Answer: REDEEM (i.e. “free”). When written as RE-DEEM the solution playfully satisfies “to think again seemingly”, taking DEEM to mean “think”. You get the idea.
- Revise warning as a result of temperature rising (5)
Answer: ALTER (i.e. “revise”). Solution is ALERT (i.e. “warning”) with the T (a recognised abbreviation of “temperature”) brought back a few notches (indicated by “rising” – this being a down clue), like so: ALER(T) => AL(T)ER.
- Employ specialist denied position originally (5)
Answer: EXERT (i.e. “employ”). Solution is EXPERT (i.e. “specialist”) with the P removed (indicated by “denied position originally”, i.e. the first letter of “position”).
- Second unsatisfactory service upset driver using this establishment (5)
Answer: MOTEL (i.e. “driver using this establishment”). Solution is MO (i.e. “second”, short for a moment) followed by LET (i.e. an “unsatisfactory service” in tennis) once the latter has been reversed (indicated by “upset” – this being a down clue), like so: MO-TEL.
Lucian Poll's Web Ramblings 
So straightforward that I find I have no marginal scribblings at all.
Enjoyed GAROTTE and my LOI, SOBERS UP. Thanks for parsing REPERTOIRE, I think I was just too idle.
If we’re going to need to be counting the “stuffy” puzzles then we’ll be wanting Independent Assessors and VAR maybe? Anything to delay your implosion Lucian……….
Not being very active or knowledgeable on (re, about) social media, I was ridiculously pleased with myself to think unaided of ‘peeps’ in 43a – and interested to look it up in Chambers to find that aspect unmentioned. Just ‘slang’ for a person’s friends or entourage. Also relieved to get the other computer-related answers fairly quickly, indeed ‘application’ immediately! And amused to find you too believe that ‘Key Punch’ is obsolete. So perhaps I shall be able to cope with the demise of classical allusions and cultural cliches that you hope for. (Tongue in cheek suggestion – there must be a mildly significant social benefit to those, that at least our ancient memories are kept functioning)
Went down a blind alley for a while in spelling candelabrum with the ‘el’ reversed, but the waste of time ‘redeemed’ by wondering which came first, candle or candela, after looking up the etymology.
I particularly liked ‘coincide’ – final clue I solved.
I’m wondering if I shall have to get to grips with the Listener Crossword, if you do give up, but I fear that may be a bridge too far for me, apart from the mathematical ones which I sometimes manage.
Thanks as always.
Agree with summary: neither particularly memorable nor particularly irritating.
I didn’t, though, like use of “dazzling display” to indicate “riot” – is that really a tight enough correspondence? – but smiled at elliptical use of “individuals with bills” (28a) and letter to Corinthinans (8d).
LP must have relished use of “peeps” for “folk on social media” (43a). No tired nineteenth-century reference, there. By Jumbo standards a positively ‘wicked’ modishness!
May I just mildly offer “a RIOT of colour” as an example that might vindicate the setter here?
Yes, a just about convincing illustration, I concede. I was more picturing psychedelic kaftans at the Sorbonne, May 1968. More fanciful even than the setter!
I shall miss your explanations greatly if you stop. Any chance of second thoughts please??
I too will miss your explanations if you give up, because there are always a few where I know the answer but can’t quite explain why! And for ‘PEEPS’, I had to ask my 52-year old daughter (the grandchildren not around) for a word meaning folk on social media.
I too will miss you if you jack it in. The very stuff that annoys you, all those horrible cultural obscurities, are the very things that deserve to be called out.
We found this reasonably challenging and there was no need to hunt through the dictionary for silly words. There were a couple of answers we didn’t quite understand until you came to the rescue (thank you). I’m still slightly bemused by 11D … if you were trying to describe an Orangutan to someone, would your first thought be its varied diet?
Like you and Jennifer, we did admire Coin-cide!