Times Jumbo Cryptic Crossword 1705

Another decent enough Jumbo, though one that felt a little too much like a Who’s-Who at times (as you’ll see through my bellyaching across several clues). And, of course, this being The Times, most of the people in question weren’t exactly on the tip of one’s tongue. Meh.

The competition deadline for this one has long since passed, so you can find my completed grid below along with explanations of my solutions where I have them. I hope you find them useful. If a recent Jumbo has your number 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 kind words as I see out these last few Jumbos. Till next time, stay safe out there kids.

LP

The case for the prosecution

Across clues

1. Lose it down a gutter, its front blocking gondola (4,1,6)

Answer: BLOW A GASKET (i.e. “lose it”). Solution is LOW (i.e. “down”), A and G (i.e. “gutter, it’s front”, i.e. the first letter of “gutter”) all placed in or “blocking” BASKET (i.e. “gondola”, which can refer to the basket underneath a hot air balloon), like so: B(LOW-A-G)ASKET.

7. Recollection of bread, as fed to natives in wonderful bower? (5,6)

Answer: PABLO CASALS (i.e. celebrated Spanish cellist, or “wonderful bower”). Solution is BAP (i.e. “bread”) reversed (indicated by “recollection of…”) and followed by AS once placed in or “fed to” LOCALS (i.e. “natives”), like so: PAB-LOC(AS)ALS. Wonderful he may be, but this is another illustration of why I’m done with Times Jumbo Cryptics. I just can’t be arsed with crap like this any more.

13. Second lecture on my seabird (9)

Answer: CORMORANT (i.e. “seabird”). Solution is MO (i.e. “second”, short for a moment) and RANT (i.e. “lecture”) all placed “on” or after COR (i.e. “my”, both exclamations), like so: COR-(MO-RANT).

14. Worship is embraced by one with benefit (7)

Answer: IDOLISE (i.e. “worship”). Solution is IS placed in or “embraced by” I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) and DOLE (i.e. “benefit”), like so: I-DOL(IS)E.

15. A little titbit, as tempter? (5)

Answer: TASTE. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, but “a little” also indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: TITBI(T AS TE)MPTER.

16. Vaudeville star, one celebrating? (6)

Answer: Sir Henry LAUDER (i.e. early 20th century “Vaudeville star” – Christ on a bike, setter. Pablo Casals wasn’t enough for you, I take it? Or perhaps you had tickets to see Lauder in his pomp? Either way, I’m so utterly bored of it now). Solution also satisfies “one celebrating”.

17. Drink in picnic containers, carbonated? (8)

Answer: CHAMPERS (i.e. “drink”). Basically the setter is combining C (the chemical symbol of “carbon”) and HAMPERS (i.e. “picnic containers”). The parsing doesn’t really work for me, but I guess having the clue scan was more important.

18. Reverend often slipping tongue in kisser (7)

Answer: William Archibald SPOONER. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole. Cryptic crossword fans will be very familiar with Spoonerisms, being words or phrases where the principal letters or sounds are swapped, so there’s no need to for Who’s Who this time. Still, three long-dead blokes in the space of eight clues. For goodness sake…

20. Savage lurch, reminder at death in Canterbury tale? (6,2,3,9)

Answer: MURDER IN THE CATHEDRAL (i.e. “Canterbury tale”, specifically a dramatic work by T S Eliot about the assassination of Thomas Becket in Canterbury Cathedral). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “savage”) of LURCH REMINDER AT DEATH.

23. Heartless relative having dropped in, everybody hiding away (7)

Answer: CALLOUS (i.e. “heartless”). Solution is COUSIN (i.e. “relative”) with the IN removed (indicated by “having dropped in”) and the remainder wrapped around or “hiding” ALL (i.e. “everybody”), like so: C(ALL)OUS.

24. Turn fan backwards and ventilate after evacuation (7)

Answer: REVOLVE (i.e. “turn”). Solution is LOVER (i.e. “fan”) reversed (indicated by “backwards”) and followed by VE (i.e. “ventilate after evacuation”, i.e. the word “ventilate” with all its middle letters removed), like so: REVOL-VE.

26. Old type size in collection that’s back in the news (7)

Answer: TOPICAL (i.e. “in the news”). Solution is PICA (i.e. “type size”, specifically “an old type size, approximately, and synonymously for, 12-point, giving about 6 lines to the inch” (Chambers)) placed “in” LOT (i.e. “collection”) once reversed (indicated by “that’s back”), like so: TO(PICA)L.

28. Odd pink or blue? (4)

Answer: RARE. A triple-header, I believe, with the solution satisfying “odd”, “pink” (as in meat) and “blue” (as in a blue moon).

29. Mathematical computation, hard stuff (8)

Answer: CALCULUS. Solution satisfies “mathematical computation” and “hard stuff” being a painful build-up of calcium that clings to the teeth. Also covers the formation of kidney stones, if you prefer.

32. Drug, one was in possession of the police (9)

Answer: METHADONE (i.e. “drug”). When written as MET HAD ONE the solution also satisfies “one was in possession of the police”.

35. Man, male regenerating gradually (9)

Answer: PIECEMEAL (i.e. “gradually”). Solution is PIECE (i.e. “man”, both references to chess pieces) followed by an anagram (indicated by “regenerating”) of MALE, like so: PIECE-MEAL.

36. Binds sample embroidery (8)

Answer: TAPESTRY (i.e. “embroidery”). Solution is TAPES (i.e. “binds”) followed by TRY (i.e. to “sample”).

37. Commercials broadcast for bladed tool (4)

Answer: ADZE (i.e. “bladed tool”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “broadcast”) of ADS (i.e. “commercials”).

39. Uncommunicative about one being faced by rogue element (7)

Answer: CADMIUM (i.e. chemical “element”). Solution is MUM (i.e. “uncommunicative”, as in keeping mum) wrapped “about” I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”). This is all then placed after or “being faced by” CAD (i.e. “rogue”), like so: CAD-(M(I)UM).

41. Female and pop party (7)

Answer: SHEBANG (i.e. “party”). Solution is SHE (i.e. “female”) followed by BANG (i.e. “pop”).

44. Small change in old cartoon strip? (7)

Answer: PEANUTS. Solution satisfies “small change” and an “old cartoon strip” by Charles Schulz.

45. Writer inspired by the dream is talking about why our arguments are equally sound? (5,5,5,5)

Answer: GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE (i.e. “why our arguments are equally sound”). Solution is INK (i.e. “writer”) placed in or “inspired by” an anagram (indicated by “about”) of THE DREAM IS TALKING, like so: GREATMINDSTH(INK)ALIKE.

49. Shudder with terror entering contest (7)

Answer: VIBRATE (i.e. “shudder”). Solution is BRAT (i.e. “terror”, both referring to little shits ill-behaved children) placed in or “entering” VIE (i.e. to “contest”), like so: VI(BRAT)E.

50. Hit hard, broke (8)

Answer: STRAPPED. Solution satisfies “hit hard” and “broke”, as in strapped for cash.

51. Get down from oak originally in tree-lined avenue (6)

Answer: GROOVE (i.e. “get down”, in a Disco Stu kind of way. Does anyone still watch The Simpsons?) Solution is O (i.e. “oak originally”, i.e. the first letter of “oak”) placed “in” GROVE (i.e. “tree-lined avenue”), like so: GR(O)OVE.

53. Water thrown back, so wet behind the ears (5)

Answer: NAÏVE (i.e. “wet behind the ears”). Solution is EVIAN (i.e. brand of “water”) reversed or “thrown back”.

54. Blot that was registered by yours truly on audio? (7)

Answer: EYESORE (i.e. “blot”). “On audio” indicates the solution comprises homophones of I SAW (i.e. “that was registered by yours truly”).

55. Breed with refined deportment, reportedly? (9)

Answer: PROPAGATE (i.e. “breed”). “Reportedly” indicates another homophone, this time for PROPER GAIT (i.e. “with refined deportment”). Nicely worked.

56. When Westminster quietens, that keeps the wet lot on edge (5,6)

Answer: SILLY SEASON (i.e. “when Westminster quietens” and the press are left scrabbling for any old story to print). Solution is YON (i.e. “that”) wrapped around or “keeping” SEAS (i.e. “the wet lot” – a strange description, but then, within the context of the clue, moderate Conservatives are sometimes referred to as wets). The whole is then placed “on” or after SILL (i.e. “edge”, e.g. a windowsill), like so: SILL-Y(SEAS)ON.

57. Ho hum, pedestrian score checker (5-6)

Answer: SIGHT-READER (i.e. “score checker”, musically speaking. Over to Chambers: “someone who can read … music at first sight of the notes”). Solution is SIGH (i.e. “ho hum”) followed by TREADER (i.e. descriptive of a “pedestrian”).

Down clues

1. Fastener joins deer and baby animal up (6)

Answer: BUCKLE (i.e. “fastener”). Solution is ELK (i.e. “deer”) and CUB (i.e. “baby animal”) all reversed (indicated by “up” – this being a down clue), like so: BUC-KLE.

2. Mournful and true, I’d a dismal book (3,6,6)

Answer: OUR MUTUAL FRIEND (i.e. “book” by Charles Dickens. Another one. Yup. Definitely a theme among Times setters at the moment). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “dismal”) of MOURNFUL TRUE I’D A.

3. Repairs on inverted cross very near (2,4,4)

Answer: AT ONE’S DOOR (i.e. “very near”). Solution is ATONES (i.e. “repairs”) followed by ROOD (i.e. Christ’s “cross”) once the latter has been reversed (indicated by “inverted” – this being a down clue), like so: ATONES-DOOR.

4. A modus operandi abroad (4)

Answer: AWAY (i.e. “abroad”). Solution is A and WAY (i.e. “modus operadi” or method of working).

5. Imperial chief, leader of nation in comfort with uniform on (9)

Answer: Lord Herbert KITCHENER (i.e. “imperial chief” and sporter of the best moustache of World War I. His “Your Country Needs You” poster is one of the most iconic images of the war). Solution is N (i.e. “leader of nation”, i.e. the first letter of “nation”) placed “in” CHEER (i.e. to “comfort”) and the whole then placed “on” or after KIT (i.e. “uniform”), like so: KIT-(CHE(N)ER). He’s somewhat better known than the randoms occupying the start of the puzzle, so I’ll spare another demerit.

6. Success as island blocks top hotel (7)

Answer: TRIUMPH (i.e. “success”). Solution is I (a recognised abbreviation of “island”) placed in or “blocking” TRUMP (i.e. to “top”) and followed by H (“hotel” in the phonetic alphabet), like so: TR(I)UMP-H.

7. Southern French clan dancing at end of show (9)

Answer: PROVENCAL (i.e. “southern French”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “dancing”) of CLAN placed “at end of” PROVE (i.e. to demonstrate or “show”), like so: PROVE-NCAL.

8. English composer a joy (5)

Answer: Arthur BLISS (i.e. “English composer”). Solution also satisfies “a joy”. A simple enough clue, but, still, what I said about Kitchener just now? Scratch it. Enough of this Who’s Who rubbish already.

9. Slack lovers finally woke up, but were late for work, probably? (9)

Answer: OVERSLEPT (i.e. “late for work, probably”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “slack”) of LOVERS followed by EPT (i.e. “finally woke up but”, i.e. the last letters of “woke”, “up” and “but”), like so: OVERSL-EPT.

10. Another opportunity to see article on pay reforms (6,6)

Answer: ACTION REPLAY (i.e. “another opportunity to see”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “reforms”) of ARTICLE ON PAY.

11. Store outfit in North London (7)

Answer: ARSENAL. Solution satisfies a military “store” and an “outfit in North London”, referring to the football team.

12. Range of phonetic letters? (6)

Answer: SIERRA (i.e. “range”). The remainder of the clue plays on how SIERRA features in the “phonetic” alphabet, representing S.

19. Pretty up on amenable gelding, equestrian initially – in this? (8)

Answer: DRESSAGE. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, but is also DRESS (i.e. “pretty up”) followed by AGE (i.e. “amenable gelding equestrian initially”, i.e. the first letters of “amenable”, “gelding” and “equestrian”).

21. Thus title written upside down underneath the bottle (7)

Answer: THERMOS (i.e. “bottle”). Solution is SO (i.e. “thus”) and MR (i.e. “title”, short for mister) collectively written “upside down” – this being a down clue – and placed “underneath” (again, down clue) THE, like so: THE-(RM-OS).

22. In the dark unable to solve crosswords? (8)

Answer: CLUELESS. Solution satisfies “in the dark” and, playfully, “unable to solve crosswords”.

23. Heat-resistant tiles on spacecraft, vehicle like a rocket (8)

Answer: CARAPACE (i.e. “heat-resistant tiles on spacecraft”). Solution is CAR (i.e. “vehicle”) followed by APACE (i.e. “like a rocket”).

25. So long time for hotel employee (5)

Answer: VALET (i.e. “hotel employee”). Solution is VALE (i.e. “so long”, from the Latin) followed by T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”).

27. Obscure winger to arrive in theatre of impossible dreams (5-6-4)

Answer: CLOUD-CUCKOO-LAND (i.e. “theatre of impossible dreams”). Solution is CLOUD (i.e. to “obscure”) followed by CUCKOO (i.e. bird or “winger”) and LAND (i.e. “to arrive”).

30. Jumbos bit incomplete, defeat admitted (7)

Answer: COLOSSI (i.e. “jumbos”). Solution is COIN (i.e. “bit”, one definition of which being a coin) with its last letter removed (indicated by “incomplete”) and the remainder wrapped around or “admitting” LOSS (i.e. “defeat”), like so: CO(LOSS)I.

31. Pigment more likely to leak, might you say? (5)

Answer: SEPIA (i.e. “pigment”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “might you say”) of SEEPIER (i.e. “more likely to leak”).

33. Change point for old gate (8)

Answer: TURNPIKE (i.e. “old gate”). Solution is TURN (i.e. “change”) followed by PIKE (i.e. a sharp “point” or spiked staff).

34. Red label, yet I will appear troubled by design (12)

Answer: DELIBERATELY (i.e. “by design”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “troubled”) of RED LABEL YET I.

38. Bespoke orders I’m told are covering area (6-4)

Answer: TAILOR-MADE (i.e. “bespoke”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “orders”) of I’M TOLD ARE wrapped around or “covering” A (a recognised abbreviation of “area”), like so: T(A)ILORMADE.

40. Childish communication intercepted by supremo? There’s evidence! (9)

Answer: MOTHERESE (i.e. “childish communication”). “Intercepted by” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: SUPRE(MO THERE’S E)VIDENCE.

42. Colour that is used up before blue, warmer? (9)

Answer: EIDERDOWN (i.e. “warmer”). Solution is RED (i.e. “colour”) and IE (i.e. “that is”, i.e. “i.e.”, short for the Latin id est) all reversed (indicated by “used up” – this being a down clue) and followed by DOWN (i.e. sad or “blue”), like so: (EI-DER)-DOWN.

43. Land unpleasant job, being lab rat (6,3)

Answer: GUINEA PIG (i.e. “lab rat”). Solution is GUINEA (i.e. West African country or “land”) followed by PIG (i.e. “unpleasant job”).

45. French food borne by female messenger (7)

Answer: GABRIEL (i.e. angelic “messenger” if The Bible is to be believed). Solution is BRIE (i.e. “French food”) placed in or “borne by” GAL (i.e. “female”), like so: GA(BRIE)L.

46. Half-naked, as Alf naked? (7)

Answer: TOPLESS (i.e. “half-naked”). The remainder of the clue plays on how “Alf” is “half” without its initial letter, or, to put it cryptically, TOPLESS. You get the idea.

47. Chance to host first of three contests (6)

Answer: EVENTS (i.e. “contests”). Solution is EVENS (i.e. “chance”) wrapped around or “hosting” T (i.e. “first [letter] of three”), like so: EVEN(T)S.

48. Fireball more disastrous, full of energy and temperature (6)

Answer: METEOR (i.e. “fireball”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “disastrous”) of MORE wrapped around or “full of” E (a recognised abbreviation of “energy”) and T (ditto “temperature”), like so: M(E-T)EOR.

50. Small muscles, those found on end of nose (5)

Answer: SPECS (i.e. “those found on end of nose”, short for spectacles). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “small”) followed by PECS (i.e. “muscles”, short for pectorals).

52. Rookie shooter (4)

Answer: COLT. Solution satisfies “rookie” or young inexperienced player in sports, and also “shooter”, being a type of revolver.