Times Jumbo Cryptic Crossword 1683

A medium strength Jumbo peppered with some well-written clues and some spicy solutions. It’s a shame several of the exotic solutions came from anagrammy clues, though. Yuck. There were also sufficient Times crossword clichés to knock another from the countdown, so there are now 17 Jumbos to go.

Now that the competition deadline has passed, here is my completed grid along with explanations of my solutions where I have them. I hope you find them helpful. If a recent Jumbo has piddled on your chips 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

The case for the prosecution

Across clues

1. Deluded father jogged round with one athletic club (9)

Answer: PARANOIAC (i.e. “deluded”). Solution is PA (i.e. “father”) followed by RAN (i.e. “jogged”), then O (i.e. “round”), then I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) and AC (a recognised abbreviation of “athletic club”).

6. Bad quality insulin sent as ordered (13)

Answer: UNSAINTLINESS (i.e. “bad quality” – speak for yourself, setter). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “ordered”) of INSULIN SENT AS.

13. Received a name (5)

Answer: ROGER. Solution satisfies “received” in radio comms, and “a name”.

14. One making review cut pay increase in public relations (11)

Answer: REAPPRAISER (i.e. “one making review”). Solution is REAP (i.e. “cut”) followed by RAISE (i.e. “pay increase”) once placed “in” PR (a recognised abbreviation of “public relations”), like so: REAP-P(RAISE)R. Nicely worked.

15. Full fruit pie that is consumed (5)

Answer: PLUMP (i.e. “full”). Solution is PLUM (i.e. “fruit”) followed by P (i.e. “pie that is consumed”, i.e. the word PIE with the IE (i.e. “that is”, or i.e.) removed or “consumed”).

16. Neglected Saturn, say, because of interest by Newton (11)

Answer: GODFORSAKEN (i.e. “neglected”). Solution is GOD (i.e. “Saturn, say” – other gods are available) followed by FOR (i.e. “because of”), then SAKE (i.e. an “interest”, vested or otherwise, in something) and N (a recognised abbreviation of “newton”, ignoring the misleading capitalisation – this is a unit of force in physics).

17. Very good quick look round protected by fellow UN soldier (11)

Answer: PEACEKEEPER (i.e. “UN soldier”). Solution is ACE (i.e. “very good”) and PEEK (i.e. “quick look”), the latter reversed (indicated by “round”) and both placed in or “protected by” PEER (i.e. “fellow”), like so: PE(ACE-KEEP)ER.

18. Hideous newborn’s masculine when undressed (7)

Answer: ABYSMAL (i.e. “hideous”). Solution is BABY’S (i.e. “newborn’s”) and MALE (i.e. “masculine”) once the first and letters have been removed from the whole phrase (indicated by “when undressed”), like so: ABY’S-MAL.

20. Genuine about element of part of the eye (7)

Answer: RETINAL (i.e. “of part of the eye”). Solution is REAL (i.e. “genuine”) wrapped “about” TIN (i.e. chemical “element”), like so: RE(TIN)AL. Stay tuned in a couple weeks to see this solution repeated again. You stay you, Times.

21. Attentive hospital required removing third of fingers (7)

Answer: HEEDFUL (i.e. “attentive”). Solution is H (a recognised abbreviation of “hospital” used on maps and stuff) followed by NEEDFUL (i.e. “required”) with the N removed (indicated by “removing third [letter] of fingers”), like so: H-EEDFUL.

23. Workers in group sadly get meaner pay deal (10,9)

Answer: COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT (i.e. “pay deal”). Solution is COLLECTIVE (i.e. “workers in group”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “sadly”) of GET MEANER.

27. North African pop with a lot of attack (3)

Answer: RAI (i.e. “North African pop” music, specifically a form of Algerian folk music dating back 100 years. No, me neither). Solution is RAID (i.e. “attack”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “a lot of…”).

28. Wordy part for actor lacking English in pictures (6)

Answer: PROLIX (i.e. “wordy”). Solution is ROLE (i.e. “part for actor”) with the E removed (indicated by “lacking English”, E being a recognised abbreviation thereof) and the remainder placed “in” PIX (informal abbreviation of “pictures”), like so: P(ROL)IX.

29. Artist dividing using shade (6)

Answer: WRAITH (i.e. “shade”, both spectres). Solution is RA (i.e. “artist”, specifically a Royal Academician) placed in or “dividing” WITH (i.e. “using”), like so: W(RA)ITH.

31. Consume copper in coppery bust (9)

Answer: PREOCCUPY (i.e. “consume”). Solution is CU (chemical symbol of “copper”) placed “in” an anagram (indicated by “bust”) of COPPERY, like so: PREOC(CU)PY.

34. Join with unappreciative person penning note (9)

Answer: INTEGRATE (i.e. “join with”). Solution is INGRATE (i.e. “unappreciative person”) wrapped around or “penning” TE (i.e. “note” in the sol-fa scale, sometimes written as TI), like so: IN(TE)GRATE.

35. Army finally advance at regular intervals (6)

Answer: YEARLY (i.e. “at regular intervals”). Solution is Y (i.e. “army finally”, i.e. the last letter of “army”) followed by EARLY (i.e. “advance”).

36. Enjoy following live act (6)

Answer: BEHAVE (i.e. “act” in a particular manner). Solution is HAVE (i.e. “enjoy”, like an estate agent telling you a property enjoys floors, while perhaps also describing it as “bijou”) placed after or “following” BE (i.e. to “live”), like so: BE-HAVE.

39. Odd bishop banned from Birmingham (3)

Answer: RUM (i.e. “odd”). Solution is BRUM (informal name of “Birmingham”) with the B removed (indicated by “bishop banned from…”, B being a recognised abbreviation of “bishop” used in chess).

40. Strain of bird, assumed to be a boiler? (5,3,3,6,2)

Answer: POLLY PUT THE KETTLE ON (i.e. “strain” or musical piece). The rest of the clue plays on POLLY being an informal name for a parrot (i.e. a “bird”) and with KETTLE being “a boiler”. You get the idea.

42. A port cased by five United States divers (7)

Answer: VARIOUS (i.e. “divers”, an archaic word for “sundry; several; more than one” (Chambers), a variant form of DIVERSE). Solution is A and RIO (i.e. “a port”, Rio De Janeiro) both placed in or “cased by” V (i.e. “[Roman numeral] five”) and US (i.e. “United States”), like so: V-(A-RIO)-US. Another well-worked clue.

43. Regret disrespectful talk holds objective back (7)

Answer: SADNESS (i.e. “regret”). Solution is SASS (i.e. “disrespectful talk”) wrapped around or “holding” END (i.e. “objective”) once it has been reversed (indicated by “back”), like so: SA(DNE)SS.

45. Most risky district French company’s invested in (7)

Answer: DICIEST (i.e. “most risky”). Solution is DIST (a recognised abbreviation of “district”) wrapped around or having “invested” CIE (i.e. “French company”, a recognised abbreviation of Compagnie – pfffffff! Give over, setter. Have a French meme), like so: DI(CIE)ST.

47. Actual politicians with time for constant disagreement (11)

Answer: CONTRETEMPS (i.e. “disagreement”). Solution is CONCRETE (i.e. “actual”) and MPS (i.e. “politicians”, specifically Members of Parliament) with the T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”) swapped “for” C (ditto “constant”), like so: CON(C)RETE-MPS => CON(T)RETE-MPS.

49. Composer’s mass I know rewritten across unknown years (11)

Answer: Karol SZYMANOWSKI (i.e. “composer”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “rewritten”) of MASS I KNOW wrapped around or placed “across” Z (i.e. “unknown” – setters love calling X, Y or Z in solutions unknowns) and Y (a recognised abbreviation of “years”), like so: S(Z-Y)MANOWSKI. Good grief I’m so over composers in Jumbos. And, let’s face it, this solution is over 80% anagrammed, a big bugbear of mine for exotic solutions. Look out, here comes angry Beethoven.

51. Book some area in Russian bath (5)

Answer: BANYA (i.e. “Russian bath”, a sauna of sorts). Solution is B (a recognised abbreviation of “book”) followed by ANY (i.e. “some”) and A (a recognised abbreviation of “area”). It’s in the dictionary, so I guess I can’t grumble too much. I’m still calling Senator McCarthy on this pinko ratbastard clue, though.

52. Photo of generous chaps in English National Trust (11)

Answer: ENLARGEMENT (i.e. blow-up “photo”). Solution is LARGE (i.e. “generous”) and MEN (i.e. “chaps”) all placed “in” E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”) and NT (ditto “National Trust”), like so: E-N(LARGE-MEN)T.

53. Rebellious tribe in America kill unit deprived of cover (5)

Answer: ICENI (i.e. “rebellious tribe” led by Queen Boudicca against the Romans). Solution is ICE (i.e. “in America[,] kill”) followed by UNIT once its first and last letters have been removed (indicated by “deprived of cover”), like so: ICE-NI.

54. Extreme sun unfortunately limiting red French wine (5-4-4)

Answer: ENTRE-DEUX-MERS (i.e. “French wine”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “unfortunately”) of EXTREME SUN wrapped around or “limiting” RED, like so: ENT(RED)EUXMERS. Oh, this definitely warrants its French meme. And mostly clued as an anagram too? Be thankful I’m not doubling the penalty.

55. Human resources entirely died during male American slavery (9)

Answer: THRALLDOM (i.e. “slavery”). Solution is HR (i.e. “human resources”), ALL (i.e. “entirely”) and D (a recognised abbreviation of “died”) all placed in or “during” TOM (i.e. “male” cat, for example), like so: T(HR-ALL-D)OM.

Down clues

1. Headgear chap praying could perhaps provide (8,3)

Answer: PHRYGIAN CAP (i.e. “headgear”, the kind you’d see on a garden gnome). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “could perhaps provide”) of CHAP PRAYING.

2. Fiddle lazily and with a stiff style (7)

Answer: RIGIDLY (i.e. “with a stiff style”). Solution is RIG (i.e. to “fiddle”) followed by IDLY (i.e. “lazily”).

3. Drug smuggler’s refusal to carry Arabian cocaine at first (5)

Answer: NARCO (i.e. “drug smuggler”). Solution is NO (i.e. “refusal”) wrapped around or carrying AR (a recognised abbreviation of “Arabian”) and C (i.e. “cocaine at first”, i.e. the first letter of “cocaine”), like so: N(AR-C)O.

4. Hesitating? Sure loiter about (10)

Answer: IRRESOLUTE (i.e. “hesitating”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “about”) of SURE LOITER.

5. What’s pulled wife out of bad car wreck? (7)

Answer: CRACKER (i.e. “what’s pulled” at Christmas. Or in August if you’re odd). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “bad”) of CAR WRECK once the W has been removed (indicated by “wife out of…” – W being a recognised abbreviation of “wife”).

6. Bad timing relating to a point in harmony (13)

Answer: UNPUNCTUALITY (i.e. “bad timing”). Solution is PUNCTUAL (i.e. “relating to a point” in mathematics) placed “in” UNITY (i.e. “harmony”), like so: UN(PUNCTUAL)ITY.

7. Cards cheat takes in two bridge players – it gives an edge (9)

Answer: SHARPENER (i.e. “it gives an edge”). Solution is SHARPER (i.e. “cards cheat”) wrapped around or “taking in” E and N (i.e. “two bridge players”, recognised abbreviations of “east” and “north” respectively), like so: SHARP(EN)ER.

8. Instant everything is set in position (7)

Answer: INSTALL (i.e. “set in position”). Solution is INST (a recognised abbreviation of “instant”) followed by ALL (i.e. “everything”).

9. Confused about European banker’s small car (5-7)

Answer: THREE-WHEELER (i.e. “small car”). Solution is THREW (i.e. “confused”) wrapped “about” E (a recognised abbreviation of “European”) and followed by HEELER (i.e. “banker” – I think this is in the sense of something listing or leaning to one side), like so: THR(E)EW-HEELER.

10. Execute one parliamentarian – permit having fellows enter (9)

Answer: IMPLEMENT (i.e. to “execute”). Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), MP (i.e. “parliamentarian”, already covered in 47a) and LET (i.e. “permit”) all wrapped around or “having” MEN (i.e. “fellows”) “enter”, like so: I-MP-LE(MEN)T.

11. Entertainer’s beginning with joke outfit (5)

Answer: EQUIP (i.e. to “outfit”). Solution is E (i.e. “entertainer’s beginning” letter) followed by QUIP (i.e. “joke”).

12. Excess cool – illness unknown after it? (11)

Answer: SUPERFLUITY (i.e. “excess”). Solution is SUPER (i.e. awesome or “cool”) followed by FLU (i.e. “illness”) and Y (i.e. “unknown” – already covered in 49a) once this latter has been placed “after” IT, like so: SUPER-FLU-(IT-Y).

19. Gathering rising support within imperial dynasty (7)

Answer: MEETING (i.e. “gathering”). Solution is TEE (i.e. “support” for a golf ball) reversed (indicated by “rising” – this being a down clue) and placed “within” MING (i.e. Chinese “imperial dynasty”), like so: M(EET)ING.

22. Plan beneficial to drug smuggler concealing a ton (9)

Answer: FORMULATE (i.e. “plan”). Solution is FOR (i.e. “beneficial to”) followed by MULE (i.e. “drug smuggler”) once wrapped around or “concealing” A and T (a recognised abbreviation of “ton”), like so: FOR-MUL(A-T)E.

24. Hero trained with resistance, one presenting with pride (4-5)

Answer: LION-TAMER (i.e. “one presenting with pride”, the collective noun for lions being a “pride”). Solution is LION (i.e. “hero”) followed by TAME (i.e. “trained”) and R (a recognised abbreviation of “resistance”).

25. Class diversity in music-hall entertainment (7)

Answer: VARIETY. A triple-header, I believe, with the solution satisfying “class” or category, “diversity” and “music-hall entertainment”.

26. Expel former heart-throb? (7)

Answer: EXPULSE (i.e. “expel”). Solution is EX (i.e. “former”) followed by PULSE (i.e. “heart-throb”).

30. Male with natural head for cruelty (13)

Answer: HEARTLESSNESS (i.e. “cruelty”). Solution is HE (i.e. “male”) followed by ARTLESS (i.e. “natural”) and NESS (i.e. “head”, or a headland).

32. Watson’s colleague lacking potassium about to have a bite of meat (7)

Answer: CREATIC (i.e. “of meat”). Solution is Francis CRICK (i.e. James “Watson’s colleague” in discovering DNA – took a quick Google to confirm once I began to suspect what the solution would be) with the K removed (indicated by “lacking potassium” – K being the chemical symbol thereof) and the remainder wrapped “about” EAT (i.e. “to have a bite”), like so: CR(EAT)IC. A decidedly stinkerish clue in an otherwise non-stinkery Jumbo.

33. Elephant alas is transformed goddess (6,6)

Answer: PALLAS ATHENE (i.e. “goddess” – Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “is transformed”) of ELEPHANT ALAS. The classics always feature in Times Jumbos, so have a demerit.

34. I run over returning guy, perhaps predetermined? (11)

Answer: IRREVOCABLE (i.e. “predetermined”). Solution is I followed by R (a recognised abbreviation of “run”), then OVER reversed (indicated by “returning”), then CABLE (i.e. “guy, perhaps”), like so: I-R-REVO-CABLE.

37. Mine uranium in site for processing radioactive element (11)

Answer: EINSTEINIUM (i.e. “radioactive element”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “for processing”) of MINE, U (chemical symbol of “uranium”) and IN SITE.

38. Intelligence and excellence about one restaurant worker (10)

Answer: HEADWAITER (i.e. “restaurant worker”). Solution is HEAD (i.e. “intelligence”) followed by WATER (i.e. “excellence”, apparently after phrases such as “…of the first water”) once wrapped “about” I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), like so: HEAD-WA(I)TER.

40. Have children, supporting area in Greek island (9)

Answer: PROCREATE (i.e. “have children”). Solution is PRO (i.e. “supporting”) followed by A (a recognised abbreviation of “area”) once first placed “in” CRETE (i.e. “Greek island”), like so: PRO-CRE(A)TE.

41. Fail to justify a lot of insufficient aid (9)

Answer: UNDESERVE (i.e. “fail to justify”). Solution is UNDER (i.e. “insufficient”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “a lot of…”) and the remainder followed by SERVE (i.e. “aid”), like so: UNDE-SERVE.

43. Computer game Place Exodus allowing going only one way (7)

Answer: SIMPLEX (i.e. “allowing going only one way”). Solution is SIM (i.e. “computer game”, short for simulation) followed by PL (a recognised abbreviation of “place”), then EX (ditto the Book of “Exodus”, biblically speaking).

44. Astronomer finally was the only prof we ever met (7)

Answer: Carl K SEYFERT (i.e. American “astronomer” – (Googles his name…) Yeah, I don’t understand word one of that. I do wonder the thought process when a setter immortalises someone in their grids. Of course, it could just be made to fit). “Finally” indicates the solution can be derived from the last letters of WAS THE ONLY PROF WE EVER MET. The parsing was mercifully straightforward, but Who’s Who is another Times Jumbo cliché. Have a demerit.

46. Editor’s penning a second X where H is often missed? (4.3)

Answer: EAST END (i.e. “where H is often missed”, wordplay that is not often missed by cryptic crossword setters). Solution is ED (short for “editor”) wrapped around or “penning” A, S (a recognised abbreviation of “second”) and TEN (i.e. “X”, Roman numeral thereof), like so: E(A-S-TEN)D.

48. What involves some number – one over eight, ultimately? (5)

Answer: NONET (i.e. “what involved some number”, taking “number” to be a piece of music. A nonet can be a group of nine musicians). Solution is N (a recognised abbreviation of “number”) followed by ONE, then T (i.e. “eight, ultimately”, i.e. the last letter of “eight”). “One over eight” also gets you nine, which also ties in. Nicely done.

50. Gold that is pounds light (5)

Answer: ORIEL (i.e. a window or “light”). Solution is OR (i.e. “gold” in heraldry) followed by I.E. (i.e. “that is”, after id est in Latin) and L (a recognised abbreviation of “pounds” weight or sterling).