Times Jumbo Cryptic Crossword 1693

A relatively straightforward Jumbo this week, and one that didn’t trigger any Times Crossword clichés. Nice! Are we starting to see fewer fuddy-duddy Jumbos now? Or have we simply hit upon a run of Times crossword setters born within the last 100 years? Hard to say. The countdown remains at 10 Jumbos to go, either way.

Now the competition deadline 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 tweaked your nose and pretended to steal it (I don’t know how, mind, given it doesn’t have any fingers) 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. Old key needed for lift (5)

Answer: EXALT (i.e. to “lift”). Solution is EX (i.e. “old”) followed by ALT (i.e. “key” on a computer keyboard).

4. Dinghy hard to move out of the water (4,3,3)

Answer: HIGH AND DRY (i.e. “out of the water”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “to move”) of DINGHY HARD. Nicely worked.

9. Position hesitant sounds around silence (4,2)

Answer: SHUT UP (i.e. “silence”). Solution is PUT (i.e. “position”) and UHS (i.e. “hesitant sounds”) all reversed (indicated by “around”), like so: SHU-TUP.

14. Performers in Gigi principally had to dress down (9)

Answer: CASTIGATE (i.e. “to dress down”). Solution is CAST (i.e. “performers”) followed by I and G (i.e. “in Gigi principally”, i.e. the first letters of “in” and “Gigi”), then ATE (i.e. “had” food).

15. Glut of extra cake put in a skip? (13)

Answer: OVERABUNDANCE (i.e. “glut”). Solution is OVER (i.e. “extra”) and BUN (i.e. “cake”) once the latter has been “put in” A and DANCE (i.e. “skip”), like so: OVER-(A-(BUN)-DANCE).

16. Have groups of associates succeeded? (7)

Answer: POSSESS (i.e. “have”). Solution is POSSES (i.e. “groups of associates”) followed by S (a recognised abbreviation of “succeeded”).

17. Plant beginning thoroughly to overwhelm far side of swamp (9)

Answer: SPEEDWELL (i.e. “plant”). Solution is SEED (i.e. “plant beginning” – a nice bit of recycling) and WELL (i.e. “thoroughly”) all wrapped around or “overwhelming” P (i.e. “far side of swamp”, i.e. the last letter of “swamp”), like so: S(P)EED-WELL.

18. Clear hole-like shape alongside green (5)

Answer: OVERT (i.e. “clear”). Solution is O (i.e. “hole-like shape”) followed by VERT (i.e. “green” in heraldry).

19. Frustration caused by senior cop’s job (14)

Answer: DISAPPOINTMENT (i.e. “frustration”). Solution is DI’S (i.e. “senior cop’s”, specifically a Detective Inspector’s) followed by APPOINTMENT (i.e. “job”).

22. Dairy alternative in fancy mocktail with no cherry to start with (3,4)

Answer: OAT MILK (i.e. “dairy alternative”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “fancy”) of MOCKTAIL once the C has been removed (indicated by “with no cherry to start with” – C being the first letter of “cherry”).

25. Older relative finally gifted small child a pound – that’s the lot! (5,5)

Answer: GRAND TOTAL (i.e. “that’s the lot”). Solution is GRAN (i.e. “older relative”) followed by D (i.e. “finally gifted”, i.e. the last letter of “gifted”), then TOT (i.e. “small child”), then A and L (i.e. “pound” – can be a recognised abbreviation of a pound weight, after the Latin libra, or of a pound sterling).

27. Withdraw to attend a yoga getaway, maybe (4,1,7)

Answer: BEAT A RETREAT (i.e. “withdraw”). Solution is BE AT (i.e. “to attend”) followed by A and RETREAT (i.e. “yoga getaway, maybe”).

30. Nothing pleasant is held in reserve (2,3)

Answer: ON ICE (i.e. “held in reserve”). Solution is O (i.e. “nothing”) followed by NICE (i.e. “pleasant”).

31. One-time London lawyer’s heading off to become model (8)

Answer: EXEMPLAR (i.e. “model” or perfect example). Solution is EX (i.e. “one-time”) followed by TEMPLAR (i.e. “London lawyer” who lives, or has chambers, in Temple, London) once its first letter has been removed (indicated by “heading off”), like so: EX-EMPLAR.

32. A promotional packet largely used for winter social activities? (5-3)

Answer: APRES-SKI (i.e. “winter social activities”). Solution is A followed by PRESS KIT (i.e. “promotional packet”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “largely”), like so: A-(PRESS-KI).

35. In retrospect, part of explicit song actually is without conviction (8)

Answer: AGNOSTIC (i.e. “without conviction”). “Part of” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, while “in retrospect” indicates the solution has been reversed, like so: EXPLI(CIT SONG A)CTUALLY.

36. A new, revolutionary discipline lacking current development (8)

Answer: NASCENCE (i.e. “development”). Solution is A and N (a recognised abbreviation of “new”) all reversed (indicated by “revolutionary”) and followed by SCIENCE (i.e. “discipline”) once the I has been removed (indicated by “lacking current” – I being a recognised abbreviation of an electric current used in physics), like so: (N-A)-SCENCE.

37. Fragile material hit with middle of bat (5)

Answer: CHINA (i.e. “fragile material”). Solution is CHIN (i.e. to “hit” someone) followed by A (i.e. “middle [letter] of bat”).

39. Grace regularly seen in fantastically surefooted, outstanding performances (5,2,5)

Answer: TOURS DE FORCE (i.e. “outstanding performances”). Solution is RC (i.e. “grace regularly seen”, i.e. every other letter of GRACE) placed “in” an anagram (indicated by “fantastically”) of SUREFOOTED, like so: TOURSDEFO(RC)E.

41. Restraint attached to sheep’s in terrible condition (10)

Answer: RAMSHACKLE (i.e. “in terrible condition”). When written as RAM’S HACKLE the solution also satisfies “restraint attached to sheep”.

43. Some baseball players look for no backing (7)

Answer: YANKEES (i.e. “some baseball players”). Solution is SEEK (i.e. “look for”) and NAY (i.e. “no”) all reversed (indicated by “backing”).

45. Digital artwork? (6,8)

Answer: FINGER PAINTING. Clue plays on fingers being “digits” on one’s hand. Solution and pretty much the same clue appeared in grid 1649 at the start of the year, so this was an easy get.

48. Bound, we’re told, to be celebrated (5)

Answer: FETED (i.e. “celebrated”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “we’re told”) of FATED (i.e. “bound” by destiny).

49. At first, Oliver uses a hot, frenetic place with ovens (4,5)

Answer: OAST HOUSE (i.e. “place with ovens” where hops are dried). Solution is O (i.e. “at first, Oliver”, i.e. the first letter of “Oliver”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “frenetic”) of USES A HOT, like so: O-ASTHOUSE.

51. Witness, seriously cut, bearing pained expression (7)

Answer: VOUCHER (i.e. “witness”, as in one who vouches for another). Solution is VERY (i.e. “seriously”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “cut”) and the remainder wrapped around or “bearing” OUCH (i.e. “pained expression”), like so: V(OUCH)ER.

53. Intend hospital department to receive constant, mostly firm support (13)

Answer: ACCOMPANIMENT (i.e. “support”). Solution is AIM (i.e. “intend”) and ENT (i.e. “hospital department”, specifically Ears Nose and Throat) all wrapped around or “receiving” C (a recognised abbreviation of “constant”) and COMPANY (i.e. “firm”) once this latter has had its last letter removed (indicated by “mostly”), like so: A(C-COMPAN)IM-ENT.

54. Offshore territory briefly identified by limitless biome? (4,2,3)

Answer: ISLE OF MAN (i.e. “offshore territory” of the UK). Remainder of the clue plays on how the recognised abbreviation (indicated by “briefly identified”) of the solution, IOM, is in the word “bIOMe” once the first and last letters or “limits” of said word have been removed.

55. Emend socialist piece of legislation? (6)

Answer: REDACT (i.e. “emend”). Solution is RED (i.e. “socialist”) followed by ACT (i.e. “piece of legislation”).

56. A Parisian concert venue was in debt and not venerated (10)

Answer: UNHALLOWED (i.e. “not venerated”). Solution is UN (i.e. “a Parisian”, i.e. the French for “a”) followed by HALL (i.e. “concert venue”) and OWED (i.e. “was in debt”). No demerit for using the French “un” – you see it used in many other cryptic crosswords, not just those in The Times.

57. Warm beverage that you initially infused with rum (5)

Answer: TODDY (i.e. “warm beverage”). Solution is T and Y (i.e. “that you initially”, i.e. the first letters of “that” and “you”) all wrapped around or “infused with” ODD (i.e. “rum”), like so: T(ODD)Y.

Down clues

1. Jailbreak exploit not given publicity? (6)

Answer: ESCAPE (i.e. “jailbreak”). Solution is ESCAPADE (i.e. “exploit”) with the AD removed (indicated by “not given publicity” – “ad” being taken as a shortened form of advertisement).

2. Two idiots initiating one state shooting, perhaps (13)

Answer: ASSASSINATION (i.e. “shooting, perhaps”). Solution is ASS and ASS (i.e. “two idiots”) followed by I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) and NATION (i.e. “state”). A much easier get thanks to CHARACTER ASSASSINATION using much the same clue only a few Jumbos ago in grid 1690.

3. Rubbish drug experience on ecstasy (5)

Answer: TRIPE (i.e. “rubbish”). Solution is TRIP (i.e. “drug experience”) followed by E (slang name for the drug “ecstasy”). Simple, but nicely worked.

4. Warning given by one managing with drink (5-2)

Answer: HEADS-UP (i.e. “warning given”). Solution is HEAD (i.e. “one managing”) followed by SUP (i.e. “drink”).

5. Wacky ideas must get valued roughly (12)

Answer: GUESSTIMATED (i.e. “valued roughly”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “wacky”) of IDEAS MUST GET.

6. A greater, extravagant, upstanding lover (8)

Answer: AMORETTO (i.e. “lover”). Solution is A followed by MORE (i.e. “greater”) and OTT (i.e. “extravagant”, or Over The Top) once the latter has been reversed (indicated by “upstanding” – this being a down clue), like so: A-MORE-TTO.

7. Parent filled with concerning, foreboding feeling (5)

Answer: DREAD (i.e. “foreboding feeling”). Solution is DAD (i.e. “parent”) wrapped around or “filled with” RE (i.e. “concerning” or regarding – think email replies), like so: D(RE)AD.

8. Property of extremely restorative brew, say (4,6)

Answer: REAL ESTATE (i.e. “property”). Solution is RE (i.e. “extremely restorative”, i.e. the first and last letters of “restorative”) followed by ALE (i.e. “brew”) and STATE (i.e. “say”).

10. Great uncertainty expressed for where a villain may be? (7)

Answer: HIDEOUT (i.e. “where a villain may be”). Solution comprises homophones (indicated by “expressed”) of HIGH (i.e. “great”) and DOUBT (i.e. “uncertainty”).

11. Fork prong gathers up passion fruit (9)

Answer: TANGERINE (i.e. “fruit”). Solution is TINE (i.e. “fork prong”) wrapped around or “gathering up” ANGER (i.e. “passion”), like so: T(ANGER)INE.

12. Gather defendant’s statement ahead of time (5)

Answer: PLEAT (i.e. “gather”). Solution is PLEA (i.e. “defendant’s statement”) followed by T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”).

13. Defensive tactic of busy journalists covering The Old Bailey? (4-5,5)

Answer: FULL-COURT PRESS (i.e. “defensive tactic” in basketball – makes a change from cricket!). Solution is FULL (i.e. “busy”) and PRESS (i.e. “journalists”) all wrapped around or “covering” COURT (i.e. “The Old Bailey”), like so: FULL-(COURT)-PRESS.

20. Deals with the kids in the end, after a day shift? (9)

Answer: ADDRESSES (i.e. “deals with”). Solution is E and S (i.e. “the kids in the end”, i.e. the last letter of “the” and “kids”) placed “after” A, D (a recognised abbreviation of “day”) and DRESS (i.e. a “shift”), like so: (A-D-DRESS)-E-S.

21. Style and pizazz seen outside eg church (8)

Answer: ELEGANCE (i.e. “style”). Solution is ELAN (i.e. “pizazz”) wrapped around or “seen outside” of EG and followed by CE (i.e. “church”, specifically the Church of England), like so: EL(EG)AN-CE.

23. Sound of cat rouses birds (10)

Answer: KITTIWAKES (i.e. “birds”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “sound of”) of KITTY (i.e. “cat”) followed by WAKES (i.e. “rouses”), like so: KITTI-WAKES. Another nicely worked clue.

24. Showing a lack of knowledge, but also not angrily getting upset (10)

Answer: IGNORANTLY (i.e. “showing a lack of knowledge”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “getting upset”) of NOT ANGRILY.

26. Working with online media’s awfully superficial (3-11)

Answer: ONE-DIMENSIONAL (i.e. “superficial”). Solution is ON (i.e. “working”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “awfully”) of ONLINE MEDIA’S, like so: ON-EDIMENSIONAL.

28. Biting insect at the bottom of deep hole (9)

Answer: TRENCHANT (i.e. “biting”). Solution is ANT (i.e. “insect”) placed after or “at the bottom of” – this being a down clue – TRENCH (i.e. “deep hole”), like so: TRENCH-ANT.

29. At one point, I ask you inside to examine painting equipment (5,3)

Answer: SPRAY CAN (i.e. “painting equipment”). Solution is PRAY (i.e. “at one point, I ask you”, taking “at one point” to indicate an archaic phrase) placed “inside” of SCAN (i.e. “to examine”), like so: S(PRAY)CAN.

33. Old-fashioned person strangely thinks I’m cute and prudent at heart (5-2-3-3)

Answer: STICK-IN-THE-MUD (i.e. “old-fashioned person”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “strangely”) of THINKS I’M CUTE followed by D (i.e. “prudent at heart”, i.e. the middle letter of “prudent”), like so: STICKINTHEMU-D.

34. VIP was keen re new special screening (5,7)

Answer: SNEAK PREVIEW (i.e. “special screening”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “new”) of VIP WAS KEEN RE.

38. Replace start of session with short online forum? That’s a revelation! (10)

Answer: CONFESSION (i.e. “a revelation” or disclosure). Solution is SESSION with the “start” “replaced…with” CONF (i.e. “short online forum” – Chambers supports it, but good grief this feels like it’s come from the Victorian age. Short for CONFERENCE, in case you hadn’t worked it out), like so: (S)ESSION => (CONF)ESSION.

40. Continued circulating without being spotted (9)

Answer: UNNOTICED (i.e. “without being spotted”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “circulating”) of CONTINUED. Another great clue. Some really good anagrams this week.

42. Subject of ridicule taken in by sincere comeback (8)

Answer: REBUTTAL (i.e. “comeback”). Solution is BUTT (i.e. “subject of ridicule”) placed in or “taken in by” REAL (i.e. “sincere”), like so: RE(BUTT)AL.

44. Enclosed around half of a local area (7)

Answer: ENDEMIC (i.e. “of a local area”). Solution is ENC (a recognised abbreviation of “enclosed” used in formal correspondence) placed “around” DEMI (i.e. “half”), like so: EN(DEMI)C.

46. Invented a cover having no effect (7)

Answer: INVALID (i.e. “having no effect”). Solution is INV (a recognised abbreviation of “invented”) followed by A and LID (i.e. “cover”).

47. Aim to interrupt experiment with it (6)

Answer: TRENDY (i.e. “with it” hep cats and daddios). Solution is END (i.e. “aim” or intention) placed in or “interrupting” TRY (i.e. “experiment with”), like so: TR(END)Y.

48. Talent evident in opening couplet of flamenco tune (5)

Answer: FLAIR (i.e. “talent”). Solution is FL (i.e. “opening couplet of flamenco”, i.e. the first two letters of “flamenco”) followed by AIR (i.e. “tune”).

50. Husband longing to introduce a source of wild laughter? (5)

Answer: HYENA (i.e. “source of wild laughter”). Solution is H (a recognised abbreviation of “husband”) followed by YEN (i.e. “longing”) and A.

52. University club bringing in old sub from overseas (1-4)

Answer: U-BOAT (i.e. “sub[marine] from overseas”). Solution is U (a recognised abbreviation of “university”) followed by BAT (i.e. “club”) once wrapped around or “bringing in” O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”), like so: U-B(O)AT.