Times Jumbo Cryptic Crossword 1692

A fairly straightforward Jumbo. I don’t mind that! Like recent Jumbos there was a refreshing lack of tired old Times crossword clichés – and this time without needing to reach for Billy Shakespeare, hurrah! – so the countdown stays at 10 Jumbos to go.

Now that the competition has long since 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 your life 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

The case for the prosecution

Across clues

1. Quiet country with hot area for predatory fish (7)

Answer: PIRAHNA (i.e. “predatory fish”). Solution is P (i.e. “quiet”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “piano” in musical lingo) followed by IRAN (i.e. “country”), then H (a recognised abbreviation of “hot” used on water taps) and A (a recognised abbreviation of “area”).

5. Quirky law from east binding that chap thus (9)

Answer: WHIMSICAL (i.e. “quirky”). Solution is LAW reversed (indicated by “from east” – this being an across clue) and wrapped around or “binding” HIM (i.e. “that chap”) and SIC (i.e. “thus”, from the Latin), like so: W(HIM-SIC)AL.

10. Muslim market? It’s substantially like this country (4)

Answer: SOUK (i.e. “Muslim market”). When written as SO UK the solution also satisfies “substantially like this country”. It’s interesting that we’ve had several Muslim-related solutions recently in Jumbos, e.g. FEDAYEEN, MARABOUT, HALAL, SOUK. I wonder if there’s been some edict to make Jumbos a little more diverse. The Times is on a drive to increase the appeal of their crosswords, so I wouldn’t put it past them.

14. Selfish person in the know worried about scam (13)

Answer: INCONSIDERATE (i.e. “selfish”). Solution is INSIDER (i.e. “person in the know”) and ATE (i.e. “worried”) all wrapped “about” CON (i.e. “scam”), like so: IN(CON)SIDER-ATE.

15. Drink before dance? It’s what a boxer may have (9)

Answer: PUNCHBALL (i.e. “what a boxer may have”). Solution is PUNCH (i.e. “drink”) followed by BALL (i.e. “dance”).

16. Essential to secure company for rambling (10)

Answer: INCOHERENT (i.e. “rambling”). Solution is INHERENT (i.e. “essential”) wrapped around or “securing” CO (a recognised abbreviation of “company”), like so: IN(CO)HERENT.

17. Din god and devil initially investigated with sign of hesitation (11)

Answer: PANDEMONIUM (i.e. “din”). Solution is PAN (i.e. a Greek “god”) followed by DEMON (i.e. “devil”), then I (i.e. “initially investigated”, i.e. the first letter of “investigated”) and UM (i.e. “sign of hesitation”).

18. Man with papers and style (5)

Answer: IDIOM (i.e. “style”). Solution is IOM (i.e. “Man”, in this case a recognised abbreviation of the Isle of Man) placed after or “with” ID (i.e. identity “papers”), like so: ID-IOM. A word I’ll always remember thanks to Sir Lancelot in Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

19. Like automated vehicles, oddly red and silver – and small (10)

Answer: DRIVERLESS (i.e. “like automated vehicles”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “oddly”) of RED and SILVER followed by S (a recognised abbreviation of “small”), like so: DRIVERLES-S.

21. Agent disturbed by swindles, overcome with horror (6)

Answer: AGHAST (i.e. “overcome with horror”). Solution is AGT (a recognised abbreviation of “agent”) wrapped around or “disturbed by” HAS (i.e. “swindles”), like so: AG(HAS)T.

23. Composer’s offspring disheartened guests with German hotel (9)

Answer: SONGSMITH (i.e. “composer”). Solution is SON (i.e. “offspring”) followed by GS (i.e. “disheartened guests”, i.e. the word “guests” with all its middle letters removed), then MIT (i.e. “with German”, i.e. the German for “with”) and H (“hotel” in the phonetic alphabet).

25. Old Italian coin, something chewed over by bankers ultimately (5)

Answer: SCUDO (i.e. “old Italian coin”). Solution is CUD (i.e. “something chewed”) and O (a recognised abbreviation of “over” used in cricket) all placed after or “by” S (i.e. “bankers ultimately”, i.e. the last letter of “bankers”), like so: S-(CUD-O).

26. Entertainer’s treat is misguided (7)

Answer: ARTISTE (i.e. “entertainer”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “misguided”) of TREAT IS.

28. Die by river, clutching one tropical bloom? (7,6)

Answer: PASSION FLOWER (i.e. “tropical bloom”). Solution is PASS ON (i.e. “die”) and FLOWER (i.e. “river”, as in how one flows) all wrapped around or “clutching” I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), like so: PASS-(I)-ON-FLOWER.

31. English celebrity escorted across lake, given a coat (9)

Answer: ENAMELLED (i.e. “given a coat”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”) followed by NAME (i.e. “celebrity”) and LED (i.e. “escorted”) all wrapped around or placed “across” L (a recognised abbreviation of “lake”), like so: E-NAME-(L)-LED.

33. Monk’s function requiring small container (9)

Answer: DOMINICAN (i.e. “monk”). Solution is DO (i.e. “function” or party) followed by MINI (i.e. “small”) and CAN (i.e. “container”).

35. Like a mole, for example, eating his grub? (13)

Answer: INSECTIVOROUS. Clue satisfies the clue as a whole. “Moles” eat insects, and the rest of the clue plays on “grubs” being insects in their infancy. You get the idea.

37. On radio, a youth contributing to panto (7)

Answer: ALADDIN (i.e. a “panto”). Solution is A followed by a homophone (indicated by “on radio”) of LAD (i.e. “youth”), then IN (i.e. “contributing to”), like so: A-LADD-IN.

38. Indian dynasty in the end calling up forgotten reserve troops (5)

Answer: GUPTA (i.e. “Indian dynasty” of yore). Solution is G (i.e. “in the end calling”, i.e. the last letter of “calling”) followed by UP, then TA (i.e. “forgotten reserve troops”, the Territorial Army – feels odd to refer to them as forgotten: they were merely renamed the Army Reserve a decade or so ago).

40. Unfashionable wear for women in the suburbs (9)

Answer: OUTSKIRTS (i.e. “suburbs”). Solution is OUT (i.e. “unfashionable”) followed by SKIRTS (i.e. “wear for women”).

42. Start of terrible split about husband’s frugality (6)

Answer: THRIFT (i.e. “frugality”). Solution is T (i.e. “start [letter] of terrible”) and RIFT (i.e. “split”) all wrapped “about” H (a recognised abbreviation of “husband”), like so: T-(H)-RIFT.

44. Sentence in writing on southern peak’s fulmars, etc (10)

Answer: STORMBIRDS (i.e. “fulmars, etc”). Solution is BIRD (i.e. slang for a prison “sentence”) placed “in” MS (i.e. “writing”, short for a manuscript) and placed “on” or after S (a recognised abbreviation of “southern”) and TOR (i.e. rocky “peak”), like so: (S-TOR)-M(BIRD)S.

46. Moved slowly, finally summoned by hooter (5)

Answer: NOSED (i.e. “moved slowly”). Solution is D (i.e. “finally summoned”, i.e. the last letter of “summoned”) placed after or “by” NOSE (i.e. “hooter”, slang thereof), like so: NOSE-D.

48. Having a bouquet prepared for our side only at first (11)

Answer: ODORIFEROUS (i.e. “having a bouquet”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “prepared”) of FOR OUR SIDE and O (i.e. “only at first”, i.e. the first letter of “only”).

50. In South Carolina, getting own back for foraging (10)

Answer: SCAVENGING (i.e. “foraging”). Solution is SC (i.e. US state abbreviation of “South Carolina”) followed by AVENGING (i.e. “getting own back”). An easier get given we had a very similar clue only a few Jumbos earlier in grid 1689. I’m quite the stuck record on this, I know, but it does keep happening…

52. Be divided by new term for hardliner (9)

Answer: EXTREMIST (i.e. “hardliner”). Solution is EXIST (i.e. “be”) wrapped around or “divided by” an anagram (indicated by “new”) of TERM, like so: EX(TREM)IST.

53. Choose Italian film about golf: it has drawing power (13)

Answer: ELECTROMAGNET (i.e. “it has drawing power”). Solution is ELECT (i.e. “choose”) followed by ROMAN (i.e. “Italian”) and ET (i.e. “film”, darling of cryptic crossword setters everywhere, ET: The Extra-Terrestrial) all wrapped “about” G (“golf” in the phonetic alphabet), like so: ELECT-ROMA(G)N-ET.

54. Dress with a certain appeal, primarily round India (4)

Answer: SARI. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, but also comprises SA (i.e. “a certain appeal”, in this case a recognised abbreviation of “sex appeal” you only ever really see in cryptic crosswords) followed by R (i.e. “primarily round”, i.e. the first letter of “round”) and I (“India” in the phonetic alphabet).

55. Seasonal farm worker, one hastening to acquire garment (9)

Answer: HARVESTER (i.e. “seasonal farm worker”). Solution is HARER (i.e. “one hastening” or haring about) wrapped around or “acquiring” VEST (i.e. “garment”), like so: HAR(VEST)ER.

56. Fool, possibly, principally serving in arid waste (7)

Answer: DESSERT (i.e. “fool, possibly”. Other desserts are available). Solution is S (i.e. “principally serving”, i.e. the first letter of “serving”) placed “in” DESERT (i.e. “arid waste”), like so: DE(S)SERT.

Down clues

1. Dickensian illustrator purchasing house in Zurich first of all (4)

Answer: PHIZ (i.e. “Dickensian illustrator”, real name Hablot Knight Browne). “First of all” indicates the solution is derived from the initial letters of Purchasing House In Zurich. The wordplay was fairly obvious, making this rather exotic solution an easier get, but ask yourself how many other words would have fitted P_I_.

2. Revised text about religious feast, as released (9)

Answer: RECENSION (i.e. “revised text”). Solution is RE (i.e. “about” or regarding – think email replies) followed by ASCENSION (i.e. “religious feast”) once the AS has been removed (indicated by “as released”), like so: RE-CENSION.

3. Tips from new commander overwhelmed a sergeant, say (3-12,7)

Answer: NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER (i.e. “a sergeant, say”). Clue plays on the initials, NCO, a recognised abbreviation of the solution, also being the “tips” or first letters of New Commander Overwhelmed.

4. A requirement to digest one’s cake flavouring (7)

Answer: ANISEED (i.e. “cake flavouring”). Solution is A and NEED (i.e. “requirement”) all wrapped around or “digesting” I’S (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one’s”), like so: A-N(I’S)EED.

5. Necessary funds enclosed in top half of wallet? (11)

Answer: WHEREWITHAL (i.e. “necessary” or the means). Solution is HEREWITH (i.e. “enclosed”) placed “in” WAL (i.e. “top half of [the word] wallet”), like so: W(HEREWITH)AL.

6. Unsuitability of snap I sent out (9)

Answer: INAPTNESS (i.e. “unsuitability”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “out”) of SNAP I SENT.

7. Eg, Leicester’s novel record? (5)

Answer: SHEEP (i.e. “e.g. Leicester” – other breeds are available). Solution is SHE (a “novel” by H Rider Haggard) followed by EP (i.e. “record”, specifically an Extended Play).

8. Builders may use one managing pit (6,5)

Answer: COPING STONE (i.e. “builders may use one”). Solution is COPING (i.e. “managing”) followed by STONE (i.e. a “pit” or fruit-stone).

9. Hang about, departing at last in ocean-going vessel (6)

Answer: LINGER (i.e. “hang about”). Solution is G (i.e. “departing at last”, i.e. the last letter of “departing”) placed “in” LINER (i.e. “ocean-going vessel”), like so: LIN(G)ER.

11. Old woman carrying in a simple wind instrument (7)

Answer: OCARINA (i.e. “simple wind instrument”). Solution is O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”) and CARA (i.e. “woman’s” name) all wrapped around or “carrying” IN, like so: O-CAR(IN)A.

12. Unit of distance? More like temperature, surprisingly (9)

Answer: KILOMETRE (i.e. “unit of distance”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “surprisingly”) of MORE LIKE and T (a recognised abbreviation of “temperature”).

13. Dodgson’s work reportedly disconcerted The Mirror? (7,3,7-5)

Answer: THROUGH THE LOOKING-GLASS (i.e. “Dodgson’s work” – he was better known as Lewis Carroll). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “reportedly”) of THREW (i.e. “disconcerted”) followed by THE and LOOKING-GLASS (i.e. “mirror” – ignore the misleading capitalisation). Though I have some affection for Carroll’s work, and though this is a famous book, I can’t ignore this is another Jumbo crutching on old novels to get the job done. Have a demerit.

18. Popular drink yours truly would find tasteless (7)

Answer: INSIPID (i.e. “tasteless”). Solution is IN (i.e. “popular”) followed by SIP (i.e. “drink”) and I’D (i.e. “yours truly would”, a contraction of I WOULD).

20. French museum’s door or window slats (7)

Answer: LOUVRES (i.e. “door or window slats”). When written as LOUVRE’S the solution also satisfies “French museum’s”.

22. Taken in by bulky catalogue, head of authority who’s resigned (8)

Answer: FATALIST (i.e. “who’s resigned”). Solution is A (i.e. “head of authority”, i.e. the first letter of “authority”) placed or “taken in by” FAT (i.e. “bulky”) and LIST (i.e. “catalogue”), like so: FAT-(A)-LIST.

24. Offender to begin with breaking into pub cash? Not guilty (8)

Answer: INNOCENT (i.e. “not guilty”). Solution is O (i.e. “offender to begin with”, i.e. the first letter of “offender”) placed in or “breaking into” INN (i.e. “pub”) and CENT (i.e. “cash”), like so: INN-(O)-CENT.

27. Colossal volley? Not entirely (5)

Answer: SALVO. Solution can satisfy “colossal volley”, but “not entirely” also indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: COLOS(SAL VO)LLEY. Nicely worked.

29. A flightless bird once associated with south Pacific state (5)

Answer: SAMOA (i.e. “Pacific state”). Solution is A and MOA (i.e. “flightless bird once”, now extinct) both placed after or “with” S (a recognised abbreviation of “south”), like so: S-(A-MOA).

30. Communicate quietly with that man’s reputation rising (7)

Answer: WHISPER (i.e. “communicate quietly”). Solution is W (a recognised abbreviation of “with”) followed by HIS (i.e. “that man’s”) and REP (short for “reputation”) once this latter has been reversed (indicated by “rising” – this being a down clue), like so: W-HIS-PER.

32. Neglected, and treated with contempt around university (7)

Answer: DISUSED (i.e. “neglected”). Solution is DISSED (i.e. “treated with contempt”) wrapped “around” U (a recognised abbreviation of “university”), like so: DIS(U)SED.

34. Hotel employee’s dark period overcoming drink? (5,6)

Answer: NIGHT PORTER (i.e. “hotel employee”). Solution is NIGHT (i.e. “dark period”) followed by PORTER (i.e. “drink”).

36. Church musician often representing him as rector (11)

Answer: CHOIRMASTER (i.e. “church musician often” – non-religious choirs are available). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “representing”) of HIM AS RECTOR.

37. Oaths sure upset a writer! (9)

Answer: AUTHORESS (i.e. “a writer”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “upset”) of OATHS SURE.

39. Man showing sign of age, perhaps hides key, turning white (9)

Answer: ALBESCENT (i.e. “turning white”). Solution is AL (i.e. “man’s” name) and BENT (i.e. “showing sign of age”) all wrapped around or “hiding” ESC (i.e. “key” on a computer keyboard, short for Escape), like so: AL-B(ESC)ENT.

41. Eastern lad having administered church without reverberation (9)

Answer: RESONANCE (i.e. “reverberation”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “eastern”) and SON (i.e. “lad”) both placed in or having “without” it RAN (i.e. “having administered”) and CE (i.e. “church”, specifically the Church of England), like so: R(E-SON)AN-CE.

43. Aussie native’s note on rook – for cock? (7)

Answer: ROOSTER (i.e. “cock”). Solution is ROO’S (i.e. “Aussie native’s”) followed by TE (i.e. “note” in the sol-fa scale, sometimes written TI) and R (a recognised abbreviation of “rook” used in chess).

45. Heavenly body, not a fat-soluble compound (7)

Answer: STEROID (i.e. “fat-soluble compound”). Solution is ASTEROID (i.e. “heavenly body”) with the A removed (indicated by “not a”).

47. Retired agent is first of heroes to die (6)

Answer: PERISH (i.e. “to die”). Solution is REP (i.e. “agent”, short for representative) reversed (indicated by “retired”) and followed by IS, then H (i.e. “first [letter] of heroes”), like so: PER-IS-H.

49. Speaker’s perceived environment (5)

Answer: SCENE (i.e. “environment”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “speaker’s”) of SEEN (i.e. “perceived”).

51. Situated outside entrance to temple, let it remain (4)

Answer: STET (i.e. “let it remain”). Solution is SET (i.e. “situated”) wrapped around or placed “outside” of T (i.e. “entrance to temple”, i.e. the first letter of “temple”), like so: S(T)ET.