Times Jumbo Cryptic Crossword 1707

A medium strength Jumbo that didn’t outstay its welcome, and, better still, hardly ever strayed into those Times Crossword clichés that get me all het up. In all, this was a pleasant way to see in the Christmas season.

As the competition deadline has long passed for this one 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 trampled your daisies 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 wrap up these last few Times Jumbo Cryptic posts. Just two more after this. Till next time, stay safe out there kids.

LP

The case for the prosecution

Across clues

1. Artist is in shock with valuation (9)

Answer: APPRAISAL (i.e. “valuation”). Solution is RA (i.e. “artist”, specifically a Royal Academician”) and IS both placed “in” APPAL (i.e. “shock”), like so: APP(RA-IS)AL.

6. Plant thyme with March sun about (13)

Answer: CHRYSANTHEMUM (i.e. “plant”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “about”) of THYME and MARCH SUN.

13. Stout is left in sink (5)

Answer: BURLY (i.e. “stout”). Solution is L (a recognised abbreviation of “left”) placed “in” SINK (i.e. to “bury”), like so: BUR(L)Y.

14. Oblong area for games with mat (9)

Answer: RECTANGLE (i.e. “oblong”). Solution is REC (i.e. “area for games”, short for recreational) followed by TANGLE (i.e. “mat” of hair).

15. Bow you once nearly hit when reversing (7)

Answer: CURTSEY (i.e. to “bow”). Solution is YE (i.e. “you once”, i.e. ye olde “you”) and STRUCK (i.e. “hit”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “nearly”). The whole is then “reversed”, like so: CURTS-EY.

16. Things ruin sodden salads – this could be one of them (8,6,8)

Answer: THOUSAND ISLAND DRESSING. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole and is also an anagram (indicated by “this could be”) of THINGS RUIN SODDEN SALADS. Last week I dipped into the archives to copy-and-paste a rant of mine when RIGOLETTO was repeated for the umpteenth time. This solution hasn’t appeared for a few years to be fair, last appearing in grid 1509, but back then it was being repeated a lot. The clue back then was “relish standardising nosh cooked with dulse”, and I guess I just kind of snapped…

Answer: THOUSAND ISLAND DRESSING (i.e. “relish” – and one so popular with Times setters it has appeared four times since I started doing these Jumbo posts. Either that or it’s the same setter each time and they’re utterly besotted with the stuff. Like, open any cupboard or drawer in their house and you’ll find nothing but jars and jars of Thousand Island dressing. Wardrobe: ditto. Box room: chock-a-block with it. Turn on the taps: Thousand Island dressing oozes out. Flush the toilet: Thousand Island dressing. Good grief, there are even jars of it stuffed into the cistern. These Times setters really, really love their Thousand Island dressing! I prefer hummus, personally). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “cooked”) of STANDARDISING NOSH and DULSE.

18. What shows resistance Her Majesty encountered in Scotland’s over (8)

Answer: OHMMETER (i.e. “what shows [electrical] resistance”). Solution is HM (a recognised abbreviation of “Her Majesty”) and MET (i.e. “encountered”) both placed “in” O’ER (i.e. “Scotland’s over”), like so: O’(HM-MET)ER.

20. Home outside of Tredegar entered by rough trespasser (8)

Answer: INTRUDER (i.e. “trespasser”). Solution is IN (i.e. at “home”) and TR (i.e. “outside of Tredegar”, i.e. the first and last letters of “Tredegar”) all wrapped around or “entered by” RUDE (i.e. “rough”), like so: IN-T(RUDE)R.

21. Like chicken pasty? (5)

Answer: ASHEN (i.e. pallid or “pasty”). When written as AS HEN the solution also satisfies “like chicken”).

23. Seconds not yet composed for final stage (6)

Answer: SUNSET (i.e. “final stage”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “seconds”) followed by UNSET (i.e. “not yet composed”).

24. Bostonian patriot ditching English tea vocally for his reply (6)

Answer: REVERT (i.e. “reply” – that’s a flat nope from me. There’s no overlap between the two words, or at least that I can see. There may be some historical context that the setter is referring to, but I’m not reading up on the whole US war of independence to find it. I’m giving up these posts so I can free up some spare time, remember – I’m not falling down any more rabbit holes). Solution is Paul REVERE (i.e. “Bostonian patriot” at the time) with the last E removed (indicated by “ditching English” – E being a recognised abbreviation of “English”) and the remainder followed by T (i.e. “tea vocally”), like so: REVER-T.

25. US outlet charges rent (9)

Answer: BOOKSTORE (i.e. “US outlet”). Solution is BOOKS (i.e. “charges” – think “book ‘em, Danno” from Hawaii 50) followed by TORE (i.e. ripped or “rent”).

28. Partisan evaluated involving European judges (10)

Answer: PREJUDICED (i.e. “partisan”). Solution is PRICED (i.e. “evaluated”) wrapped around or “involving” E (a recognised abbreviation of “European”) and JUD (ditto “judges”, in this case the Book of Judges in The Bible), like so: PR(E-JUD)ICED.

29. Oxygen present in mostly unpolluted stream (4)

Answer: POUR (i.e. “stream”). Solution is O (chemical symbol of “oxygen”) placed or “present in” PURE (i.e. “unpolluted”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “mostly”), like so: P(O)UR.

30. Outstanding passage from theremin entertains (7)

Answer: EMINENT (i.e. “outstanding”). “Passage from” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: THER(EMIN ENT)ERTAINS.

32. Plaintive note on current account (7)

Answer: ELEGIAC (i.e. “plaintive”). Solution is E (i.e. musical “note”) followed by LEG (i.e. “on” side in cricket), then I (a recognised abbreviation of an electrical “current” used in physics) and AC (a recognised abbreviation of “account”).

34. Float purchase blocked by Oscar (4)

Answer: BUOY (i.e. “float”). Solution is BUY (i.e. “purchase”) wrapped around or “blocked by” O (“Oscar” in the phonetic alphabet), like so: BU(O)Y.

35. Weak leader of national board is pitiful (10)

Answer: LAMENTABLE (i.e. “pitiful”). Solution is LAME (i.e. “weak”) followed by N (i.e. “leader of national”, i.e. the first letter of “national”) and TABLE (i.e. “board”).

38. Increase the risk cracking the peanut (2,3,4)

Answer: UP THE ANTE (i.e. “increase the risk”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “cracking”) if THE PEANUT.

39. American nonsense is fair game (6)

Answer: HOOPLA. Solution satisfies “American nonsense” and a “fair game”.

40. Brave men, men consuming eggs (6)

Answer: HEROES (i.e. “brave men”). Solution is HES (i.e. “men”, plural of he – yeah, I thought it was clunky too) wrapped around or “consuming” ROE (i.e. fish “eggs”), like so: HE(ROE)S.

43. Insect that’s metamorphosed one minute since (5)

Answer: IMAGO (i.e. “insect that’s metamorphosed” – an made-to-fit solution I knew, weirdly). Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) followed by M (a recognised abbreviation of “minute”) and AGO (i.e. “since”).

45. Naughtily suggest including one’s husband (8)

Answer: IMPISHLY (i.e. “naughtily”). Solution is IMPLY (i.e. “suggest”) wrapped around or “including” I’S (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one” made possessive) and H (a recognised abbreviation of “husband”), like so: IMP(I’S-H)LY.

47. Cuts parts off fish with its middle crooked (8)

Answer: LOPSIDED (i.e. “crooked”). Solution is LOPS (i.e. “cuts parts off”) followed by IDE (a variety of “fish” useful to crossword compilers) and D (i.e. “its middle”, i.e. the middle letter of IDE).

49. What may somehow result from racism petition division? (8,14)

Answer: POSITIVE DISCRIMINATION. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, being discrimination in favour of those previously discriminated against, but is also an anagram (indicated by “what may somehow result from”) of RACISM PETITION DIVISION. Nicely worked.

52. Army group also included in proposed idea (7)

Answer: PLATOON (i.e. “army group”). Solution is TOO (i.e. “also”) placed or “included in” PLAN (i.e. “proposed idea”), like so: PLA(TOO)N.

53. Victor, chap in pain in alpine fall (9)

Answer: AVALANCHE (i.e. “alpine fall”). Solution is V (“Victor” in the phonetic alphabet) and ALAN (i.e. “chap’s” name) both placed “in” ACHE (i.e. “pain”), like so: A(V-ALAN)CHE.

54. Flat by centre of quad in Italian city (5)

Answer: PADUA (i.e. “Italian city”). Solution is PAD (i.e. “flat” or apartment) followed by UA (i.e. “centre [letters] of quad”). Made. To. Fit.

55. Bad hotels ignored entertainment in Venetian setting (3,10)

Answer: THE GONDOLIERS (i.e. “entertainment in Venetian setting”, being a comic opera by Gilbert & Sullivan – you know what? I wrote that last bit assuming it was true, knowing how often G&S appear in Jumbo Cryptics. Imagine my lack of surprise upon discovering I was right). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “bad”) of HOTELS IGNORED.

56. Popular song of the recent past (9)

Answer: YESTERDAY. Solution satisfies “popular song” by The Beatles and “of the recent past”. You can also imagine my lack of surprise to find this repeated not only in the very next Jumbo but in exactly the same place too. Never change, The Times.

Down clues

1. Keen to get on circuit with promises of money (9)

Answer: AMBITIOUS (i.e. “keen”). Solution is AMBIT (i.e. “circuit”) followed by IOUS (i.e. “promises of money”).

2. Presentation for each class with master introducing Newton (11)

Answer: PERFORMANCE (i.e. “presentation”). Solution is PER (i.e. “for each”) followed by FORM (i.e. school “class”) and ACE (i.e. “master”) once wrapped around or “introducing” N (a recognised abbreviation of “Newton”, a measurement of force in physics), like so: PER-FORM-A(N)CE.

3. Fool around near pit (5)

Answer: ABYSS (i.e. “pit”). Solution is ASS (i.e. “fool”) wrapped “around” BY (i.e. “near”), like so: A(BY)SS.

4. Guest called in endlessly demanding (8)

Answer: STRANGER (i.e. “guest”). Solution is RANG (i.e. “called”) placed “in” STERN (i.e. “demanding”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “endlessly”), like so: ST(RANG)ER.

5. Need a moment talking about newborn’s nourishment? (6)

Answer: LACTIC (i.e. “about newborn’s nourishment”). Solution comprises homophones (indicated by “talking”) of LACK (i.e. “need”) and TICK (i.e. “a moment”), like so: LAC-TIC.

6. Hero of Conan Doyle’s ill-fated craft (10)

Answer: CHALLENGER. Solution satisfies “hero of Conan Doyle”, referring to Professor George Challenger, a character in a number of sci fi stories written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle such as The Lost World, and also “ill-fated craft”, referring to the space shuttle that exploded shortly after launch in 1986.

7. Note sections of family into baroque restoration (12)

Answer: REGENERATION (i.e. “baroque restoration”). Solution is RE (i.e. musical “note” of the sol-fa scale) followed by GENERATION (i.e. “sections of family”).

8. Relative’s place accommodating papa and daughter (7)

Answer: STEPDAD (i.e. “relative”). Solution is STEAD (i.e. “place”) wrapped around or “accommodating” P (“papa” in the phonetic alphabet) and D (a recognised abbreviation of “daughter”), like so: STE(P-D)AD.

9. Like some subs round place were destroyed (7-7)

Answer: NUCLEAR POWERED (i.e. “like some subs”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “destroyed”) of ROUND PLACE WERE.

10. Hot and really intense spicy sauce, African originally (7)

Answer: HARISSA. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, meanwhile “originally” also indicates the solution comprises the initial letters of “Hot And Really Intense Spicy Sauce, African”. Nicely worked.

11. Unsocial person Martin hopes to get thrown out (11)

Answer: MISANTHROPE (i.e. “unsocial person”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “to get thrown out”) of MARTIN HOPES.

12. Salad dressing, month old (4)

Answer: MAYO (i.e. “salad dressing”). Solution is MAY (i.e. “month”) followed by O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”).

17. Confuse second of judges new on bench (8)

Answer: UNSETTLE (i.e. “confuse”). Solution is U (i.e. “second [letter] of judges”) followed by N (a recognised abbreviation of “new”) and SETTLE (i.e. a long high-backed “bench”).

19. One managing river dock on limitless river (9)

Answer: EXECUTIVE (i.e. “one managing”). Solution is EXE (i.e. “river” of England) followed by CUT (i.e. to “dock”) and IVE (i.e. “limitless river”, i.e. the word “river” with its first and last letters removed).

22. Mirror put back together again without any silvering initially (8)

Answer: RESEMBLE (i.e. “mirror”). Solution is REASSEMBLE (i.e. “put back together again”) with the AS removed (indicated by “without any silvering initially”, i.e. the first letters of “silvering” and “initially”).

25. Person lingering in large building, one holding fifty (8)

Answer: BARNACLE (i.e. “person lingering”). Solution is BARN (i.e. “large building”) followed by ACE (i.e. playing card with a value of “one”) once wrapped around or “holding” L (i.e. “[Roman numeral] fifty”), like so: BARN-AC(L)E.

26. Speed of pigs eating paper at first seems surprising (9)

Answer: SWIFTNESS (i.e. “speed”). Solution is SWINE (i.e. “pigs”) wrapped around or “eating” FT (i.e. “[news]paper”, The Financial Times) and followed by S and S (i.e. “at first seems surprising”, i.e. the first letter of “seems” and “surprising”), like so: SWI(FT)NE-S-S.

27. Atmospherically managed broadcast about health (3-11)

Answer: AIR-CONDITIONED (i.e. “atmospherically managed”). Solution is AIR (i.e. to “broadcast”) followed by CONDITIONED (i.e. “about health” – makes so-so gesture).

28. Musical piece duo plays with peril (8)

Answer: PRELUDIO (i.e. “musical piece”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “plays”) of DUO and PERIL. Musical lingo is a big ol’ Times Jumbo Cryptic trope, so have an angry Beethoven.

31. Fashionable individual’s a weak person, strangely atheistic (12)

Answer: SOPHISTICATE (i.e. “fashionable individual”). Solution is SOP (i.e. “weak person”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “strangely”) of ATHEISTIC, like so: SOP-HISTICATE.

33. Make projections of additional ring in section of earth’s crust (11)

Answer: EXTRAPOLATE (i.e. “make projections”). Solution is EXTRA (i.e. “additional”) followed by O (i.e. “ring”, as in the letter’s shape) once first placed “in” PLATE (i.e. “section of earth’s crust”), like so: EXTRA-P(O)LATE.

36. Secondary route tended to be liberal (5-6)

Answer: BROAD-MINDED (i.e. “liberal”). Solution is B-ROAD (i.e. “secondary route”) followed by MINDED (i.e. “tended”).

37. Global seminar is among the very best (5-5)

Answer: WORLD-CLASS (i.e. “among the very best”). Solution is WORLD (i.e. “global”) followed by CLASS (i.e. “seminar”).

41. Sitting in sun on the end of my outside garden (9)

Answer: SEDENTARY (i.e. “sitting”). Solution is STAR (i.e. “sun”) and Y (i.e. “end [letter] of my”) all wrapped around or placed “outside” of EDEN (i.e. Biblical “garden”), like so: S(EDEN)TAR-Y.

42. Righteousness over words in play in high school (8)

Answer: HOLINESS (i.e. “righteousness”). Solution is O (a recognised abbreviation of “over” used in cricket) and LINES (i.e. “words in play”) all placed “in” HS (a recognised abbreviation of “high school”), like so: H(O-LINES)S.

44. River creature seen on Wimbledon common? (7)

Answer: ORINOCO (i.e. “river”). Solution also satisfies “creature seen on Wimbledon common”, referring to a character from the 1970s kids TV show The Wombles.

46. Quietly reverse trouble and win through (7)

Answer: PREVAIL (i.e. “win through”). Solution is P (i.e. “quietly”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “piano” used in musical lingo) followed by REV (I’m guessing this is a recognised abbreviation of “reverse”, but Chambers doesn’t support it) and AIL (i.e. “trouble”).

48. This part of Atlantic is about described by bay (6)

Answer: BISCAY (i.e. “this part of Atlantic”, the Bay of Biscay). Solution is IS and C (i.e. “about”, i.e. a recognised abbreviation of “circa”) both placed in or “described by” – yeah, another that’s a bit too wishy-washy for me… anyway, “described by” BAY, like so: B(IS-C)AY.

50. Fruit perhaps preserved primarily in beer (5)

Answer: APPLE (i.e. “fruit”). Solution is P and P (i.e. “perhaps preserved primarily”, i.e. the first letters of “perhaps” and “preserved”) both placed “in” ALE (i.e. “beer”), like so: A(P-P)LE.

51. See son with drug (4)

Answer: SPOT (i.e. “see”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “son”) followed by POT (i.e. “drug”, slang for marijuana).