Times Jumbo Cryptic Crossword 1685

A relatively straightforward Jumbo this week. Much like last week this Jumbo didn’t suffer too many Times Crossword clichés, except for the biggie. Oh yes, here’s another setter that can’t help themselves when it comes to Billy Shakespeare, literally history’s only playwright. Jesus H. The clueing also lacked imagination: an overreliance on forenames to get the job done, or just outright repeating the same wordplay over and over. I’ll admit I didn’t twig this when solving the Jumbo, but it soon got boring when writing it up. 15 Jumbos to go.

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 given you the screaming ab-dabs 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. I know this has been even later than usual but there have been good reasons for it. Well, good for me, anyway. 🙂 Till next time, stay safe out there kids.

LP

The case for the prosecution

Across clues

1. Tycoon in Asian river experiment is German (13)

Answer: INDUSTRIALIST (i.e. “tycoon”). Solution is INDUS (i.e. “Asian river”) followed by TRIAL (i.e. “experiment”) and IST (i.e. “is German”, i.e. the German for “is”).

8. Bloke securing drink knocked back by Irish singer (9)

Answer: BOWERBIRD (i.e. “singer”, specifically a bird). Solution is BOD (i.e. “bloke” – I’m going to so-so this. BOD is a contraction of BODY. It doesn’t necessarily mean a “bloke”) wrapped around or “securing” BREW (i.e. “drink”) once reversed (indicated by “knocked back”) and IR (a recognised abbreviation of “Irish”), like so: BO(WERB-IR)D.

13. Surpass American state and European island (5)

Answer: CAPRI (i.e. “European island”). Solution is CAP (i.e. “surpass”) followed by RI (i.e. “American state”, abbreviation of Rhode Island).

14. Bar key painting? That’s a slip (11)

Answer: COUNTERFOIL (i.e. “slip”). Solution is COUNTER (i.e. “bar”) followed by F (i.e. musical “key”) and OIL (i.e. “painting”).

15. Racecourse record thus misrepresented at first (5)

Answer: EPSOM (i.e. “racecourse”). Solution is EP (i.e. “record”, specifically an Extended Play) followed by SO (i.e. “thus”) and M (i.e. “misrepresented at first”, i.e. the first letter of “misrepresented”).

16. Quiet Hampshire arts master disturbed by a ghostly vision (9)

Answer: PHANTASMA (i.e. “ghostly vision”). Solution is P (i.e. “quiet”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “piano” in musical lingo), HANTS (shortened form of “Hampshire”) and MA (i.e. “arts master”, or Master of Arts) all wrapped around or “disturbed by” A, like so: P-HANT(A)S-MA.

17. The last word in armaments! (4)

Answer: AMEN (i.e. “the last word”). “In” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: ARM(AMEN)TS.

18. Hired ruffian’s year stalking male cricketer (8)

Answer: MYRMIDON (i.e. “hired ruffian” – over to Chambers: “(without capital) a member of any ruffianly band under a daring leader; someone who carries out another’s orders without fear or pity”). Solution is YR (a recognised abbreviation of “year”) placed in or “stalking” M (a recognised abbreviation of “male”) and MID-ON (i.e. “cricketer”, a position in the field), like so: M-(YR)-MID-ON.

20. Cleric entering cathedral city in a calm manner (6)

Answer: EVENLY (i.e. “in a calm manner”). Solution is VEN (i.e. “cleric”, short for the title Venerable) placed in or “entering” ELY (i.e. a “cathedral city”), like so: E(VEN)LY.

21. Very early way to keep trees: get your priorities right (5,6,5)

Answer: FIRST THINGS FIRST (i.e. “get your priorities right”). Solution is FIRST THING (i.e. “very early”) followed by ST (i.e. “way”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “street”) once wrapped around or “keeping” FIRS (i.e. “trees”), like so: FIRST-THING-S(FIRS)T.

24. Waterproof fabric a Republican chap stored in container (9)

Answer: TARPAULIN (i.e. “waterproof fabric”). Solution is A, R (a recognised abbreviation of “Republican”) and PAUL (i.e. “chap’s” name) all placed or “stored in” TIN (i.e. “container”), like so: T(A-R-PAUL)IN.

26. Craftsman finally becoming less active (7)

Answer: GLAZIER (i.e. “craftsman”). Solution is G (i.e. “finally becoming”, i.e. the last letter of “becoming”) followed by LAZIER (i.e. “less active”).

27. Brightest star principally associated with sacred river (5)

Answer: ALPHA (i.e. “brightest star” of a constellation). Solution is A (i.e. “principally associated”, i.e. the first letter of “associated”) placed “with” or after ALPH (i.e. “sacred river”, specifically one from Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem Kubla Khan, representing the boundary between the real and supernatural world), like so: ALPH-A. I’m not 100% sure of this one as “with” doesn’t usually equate with “place after” in a cryptic crossword clue, but I can’t think what else it could be. Also, come on, how many people are going to know the river in Kubla Khan? In fact, how many people will have read Kubla Khan in the first place? Have a poetry demerit.

29. Cutting off chaps in army corps needing time to cross ditch (12)

Answer: RETRENCHMENT (i.e. “cutting off”). Solution is MEN (i.e. “chaps”) placed “in” RE (i.e. “army corps”, specifically the Royal Engineers of the British Army) and T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”) once these latter two have been wrapped around or “crossing” TRENCH (i.e. “ditch”), like so: RE-(TRENCH)-(MEN)-T.

31. Female Latvian opposed to dabblers (10)

Answer: DILETTANTI (i.e. “dabblers”). Solution is DI (i.e. “female” name) followed by LETT (i.e. “Latvian”) and ANTI (i.e. “opposed to”).

33. Failure to settle on mat Penny repaired (10)

Answer: NONPAYMENT (i.e. “failure to settle”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “repaired”) of ON MAT PENNY.

35. Fashionable inference to finish with (2,10)

Answer: IN CONCLUSION (i.e. “to finish with”). Solution is IN (i.e. “fashionable”) followed by CONCLUSION (i.e. “inference”).

38. Comparatively inactive fish seen round lake and river (5)

Answer: IDLER (i.e. “comparatively inactive”). Solution is IDE (i.e. variety of “fish”) wrapped “round” L (a recognised abbreviation of “lake”) and followed by R (ditto “river”), like so: ID(L)E-R.

39. Nanny trains where plants are reared (7)

Answer: NURSERY (i.e. “where plants are reared”). Solution is NURSE (i.e. “nanny”) followed by RY (i.e. “trains”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of a railway). I’ll leave it up to you to debate whether a railway comprises the rolling stock that use it. (I’d say not.)

40. Unacceptable corollaries for mounted escorts (9)

Answer: OUTRIDERS (i.e. “mounted escorts”). Solution is OUT (i.e. “unacceptable”) followed by RIDERS (i.e. “corollaries”, specifically “a clause or corollary added to an already complete contract or other legal document” (Chambers)).

42. Old timer’s impressive face captivating stout woman (11,5)

Answer: GRANDFATHER CLOCK (i.e. “old timer”). Solution is GRAND (i.e. “impressive”) and CLOCK (slang for a “face”) all wrapped around or “captivating” FAT (i.e. “stout”) and HER (i.e. “woman”), like so: GRAND-(FAT-HER)-CLOCK.

44. Restore theatre before broadcast (6)

Answer: REPAIR (i.e. “restore”). Solution is REP (i.e. “theatre”, specifically a reparatory one) followed by AIR (i.e. to “broadcast”).

47. Note about wild partygoers makes us cross (8)

Answer: TRAVERSE (i.e. to “cross”). Solution is TE (i.e. “note” in the sol-fa scale, sometimes written as TI) wrapped “about” RAVERS (i.e. “partygoers”), like so: T(RAVERS)E.

49. Photograph game (4)

Answer: SNAP. Solution satisfies “photograph” and a card “game”.

50. Eastern girl’s shoulder piece (9)

Answer: EPAULETTE (i.e. “shoulder piece”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “eastern”) followed by PAULETTE (i.e. “girl’s” name).

52. Set fire to church by rocky peak (5)

Answer: TORCH (i.e. “set fire to”). Solution is CH (a recognised abbreviation of “church”) placed after or “by” TOR (i.e. “rocky peak”), like so: TOR-CH.

53. Stylish fellow I arranged to meet – and terrorised! (11)

Answer: INTIMIDATED (i.e. “terrorised”). Solution is IN (i.e. “stylish”) followed by TIM (i.e. “fellow’s” name), then I and DATED (i.e. “arranged to meet”).

54. River, one featuring in folk legend (5)

Answer: LOIRE (i.e. a “river” in France, the longest apparently). Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) placed “in” LORE (i.e. “folk legend”), like so: LO(I)RE. Times setters can’t help themselves when it comes to all things French, so here’s a meme.

55. Leader limiting a politician’s time in N London suburb (9)

Answer: HAMPSTEAD (i.e. “N London suburb”). Solution is HEAD (i.e. “leader”) wrapped around or “limiting” A, MP’S (i.e. “politician’s”, specifically a Member of Parliament made possessive) and T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”), like so: H(A-MP’S-T)EAD.

56. Lacking individuality, unlike Hamlet for example (13)

Answer: CHARACTERLESS (i.e. “lacking individuality”). The remainder of the clue plays on how the play Hamlet has characters in it. Like every other play then. But, like anything French, Times setters can’t help but crowbar Billy Shakespeare in at every given opportunity. It’s embarrassing really.

Down clues

1. Just beginning nice pint I ordered (9)

Answer: INCIPIENT (i.e. “just beginning”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “ordered”) of NICE PINT I.

2. Corrupt fellow holding record on river (7)

Answer: DEPRAVE (i.e. “corrupt”). Solution is DAVE (i.e. “fellow’s” name – getting bored of all these names now) wrapped around or “holding” EP (i.e. “record”, already covered in 15a. This week’s setter does seem a little one-track) and R (a recognised abbreviation of “river”), like so: D(EP-R)AVE.

3. Sparkle misplaced in Tallis etc (11)

Answer: SCINTILLATE (i.e. “sparkle”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “misplaced”) of IN TALLIS ETC.

4. Secluded place for a break (6)

Answer: RECESS. Solution satisfies “secluded place” and “break”.

5. Fawning grown-up penning article on Scottish island mostly (9)

Answer: ADULATION (i.e. “fawning”). Solution ADULT (i.e. “grown-up”) wrapped around or “penning” A (i.e. “article”, i.e. a word like a, an or the). This is all then followed by IONA (i.e. “Scottish island” and a favourite of cryptic crossword setters everywhere) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “mostly”), like so: ADUL(A)T-ION.

6. Uncompromising senior officer being conveyed around (12)

Answer: INTRANSIGENT (i.e. “uncompromising”). Solution is GEN (i.e. “senior officer”, short for a General) placed in or having “around” it IN TRANSIT (i.e. “being conveyed”), like so: IN-TRANSI(GEN)T.

7. Pouring rain let rot spread (10)

Answer: TORRENTIAL (i.e. “pouring”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “spread”) of RAIN LET ROT.

8. Express disapproval of king’s literary work (4)

Answer: BOOK (i.e. “literary work”). Solution is BOO (i.e. “express disapproval”) followed by K (a recognised abbreviation of “king” used in chess).

9. Town with Welshman spreading danger: extremely canny about it (6,6,4)

Answer: WELWYN GARDEN CITY (i.e. “town” in Hertfordshire, population around 50,000. Sorry, Welwyners, I’ve not heard of you). Solution is W (a recognised abbreviation of “with”) followed by ELWYN (i.e. “Welshman’s” name – seriously yawn now), then an anagram (indicated by “spreading” – again, just used two clues ago) of DANGER, then CY (i.e. “extremely canny”, i.e. the first and last letters of “canny”) once wrapped “about” IT, like so: W-ELYWN-GARDEN-C(IT)Y.

10. Discharge explosive substance in Hebridean island (5)

Answer: RHEUM (i.e. gooey “discharge”). Solution is HE (i.e. “explosive substance”, specifically High Explosive) placed “in” RUM (i.e. “Hebridean island”), like so: R(HE)UM.

11. Cool drink, we hear, for one in the know (7)

Answer: INSIDER (i.e. “one in the know”). Solution is IN (i.e. “cool” or fashionable) followed by a homophone (indicated by “we hear”) of CIDER (i.e. “drink”), like so: IN-SIDER.

12. Skilful person given post covering Republican rally (13)

Answer: DEMONSTRATION (i.e. protest or “rally”). Solution is DEMON (i.e. “skilful person”) followed by STATION (i.e. “post” or job) once wrapped around or “covering” R (a recognised abbreviation of “Republican”), like so: DEMON-ST(R)ATION.

19. Half-hearted boost popular with old Asian islander (8)

Answer: FILIPINO (i.e. “Asian islander”). Solution is FILLIP (i.e. “boost”) with one of the middle Ls removed (indicated by “half-hearted”) and the remainder followed by IN (i.e. “popular”) and O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”), like so: FILIP-IN-O.

22. Blowout in tyre ultimately disturbing at speed (5)

Answer: FEAST (i.e. “blowout”). Solution is E (i.e. “tyre ultimately”, i.e. the last letter of “tyre”) placed in or “disturbing” FAST (i.e. “at speed”), like so: F(E)AST.

23. Old county councillors initially want luxury food and new horse (16)

Answer: CLACKMANNANSHIRE (i.e. “old county” in Scotland that was abolished in 1975). Solution is C (i.e. “councillors initially”, i.e. the first letter of “councillors”) followed by LACK (i.e. “want”), then MANNA (i.e. “luxury food”), then N (a recognised abbreviation of “new”) and SHIRE (a variety of “horse”).

25. Like part of organ in later construction? (7)

Answer: RETINAL (i.e. “like part of organ”, specifically the retina of the eye). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “construction”) of IN LATER. A repeat solution from two weeks ago. Never change, Times, never change.

28. Thoughtful writers originally illustrating victory in Europe (7)

Answer: PENSIVE (i.e. “thoughtful”). Solution is PENS (i.e. “writers”) followed by I (i.e. “originally illustrating”, i.e. the first letter of “illustrating”), then VE (a recognised abbreviation of “Victory in Europe” day).

29. Athletic little chap crossing sierra: seamstresses may use it (7,6)

Answer: RUNNING STITCH (i.e. “seamstresses may use it”). Solution is RUNNING (i.e. “athletic”) and TITCH (i.e. “little chap”) all wrapped around or “crossing” S (“sierra” in the phonetic alphabet), like so: RUNNING-(S)-TITCH.

30. Month attorney finally framed acceptable system of rule (8)

Answer: MONARCHY (i.e. “system of rule”). Solution is MARCH (i.e. “month”) and Y (i.e. “attorney finally”, i.e. the last letter of “attorney”) all wrapped around or “framing” ON (i.e. “acceptable”), like so: M(ON)ARCH-Y.

32. Doctor coped nicely, given a reference book (12)

Answer: ENCYCLOPEDIA (i.e. “reference book”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “doctor”) of COPED NICELY followed by A, like so: ENCYCLOPEDI-A.

34. Caustic account delivered (5)

Answer: ACRID (i.e. “caustic”). Solution is AC (a recognised abbreviation of “account”) followed by RID (i.e. “delivered”, as in deliver us from evil).

36. Like protozoans, extremely unusual in college wine store (11)

Answer: UNICELLULAR (i.e. “like protozoans”). Solution is UL (i.e. “extremely unusual”, i.e. the first and last letters of “unusual”) placed “in” UNI (i.e. “college”, short for university) and CELLAR (i.e. “wine store”), like so: UNI-CELL(UL)AR.

37. Common rite broadcast strictly in time (10)

Answer: METRONOMIC (i.e. “strictly in time”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “broadcast”) of COMMON RITE.

40. Odd in Scotland, keeping box for players (9)

Answer: ORCHESTRA (i.e. music “players”). Solution is ORRA (i.e. “odd in Scotland” – another easier get after its recent use in another Jumbo. Isn’t it odd how often that happens?) wrapped around or “keeping” CHEST (i.e. “box”), like so: OR(CHEST)RA.

41. Charming woman taking uniform from supply on ship (9)

Answer: SORCERESS (i.e. “charming woman”). Solution is SOURCE (i.e. “supply”) with the U removed (indicated by “taking uniform from” – “uniform” being U in the phonetic alphabet) and the remainder followed by RE (i.e. “on” or regarding – think email replies) and SS (a recognised abbreviation of “steamship”), like so: SORCE-RE-SS.

43. What racing tipster is in relation to starting price (7)

Answer: ANAGRAM. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, given RACING TIPSTER is an anagram of STARTING PRICE.

45. Way to enter a bridle path, seated thus? (7)

Answer: ASTRIDE (i.e. “seated thus”, within the context of the clue, i.e. on a horse). Solution is ST (i.e. “way”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “street”) placed in or “entering” A and RIDE (i.e. “bridle path” – Chambers offers within its definitions: “a road for horse-riding, especially one through a wood”), like so: A-(ST)-RIDE.

46. Robber’s daughter taking vermouth, propping up bar (6)

Answer: BANDIT (i.e. “robber”). Solution is D (a recognised abbreviation of “daughter”) and IT (i.e. “vermouth” – another recent repeat of obscure wordplay, this being a recognised abbreviation of Italian vermouth) both placed after or “propping up” – this being a down clue – BAN (i.e. to prohibit or “bar”), like so: BAN-(D-IT).

48. English chap rejecting mother’s code of beliefs (5)

Answer: ETHOS (i.e. “code of beliefs”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”) followed by THOMAS (i.e. “chap’s” name, again, again, again etc) once the MA (short for “mother”) has been removed or “rejected”, like so: E-THOS.

51. Breeding establishment set at last in south of France (4)

Answer: STUD (i.e. “breeding establishment”). Solution is T (i.e. “set at last”, i.e. the last letter of “set”) placed “in” SUD (i.e. “south of France”, i.e. the French for “south”), like so: S(T)UD.