Jumbo 1253

Author   sghansonPosted on Categories Jumbo Cryptic
A couple of unfamiliar solutions and one word that I have only seen in crosswords, but all fair

Across
1 RELIANCE – E.C. = City, NAILER = fixer, all reversed
5 FIZGIG – FIZ(z) = champagne, GIG = performance. A word I have seen in crosswords before, but nowhere else that I can recall
9 REDUCED – REED = grass, around DUC = CUD = what may be chewed, reversed
14 PENALTY AREA – PENALTY = fine, AREA = district. Box is the definition, from football/soccer.
15 AT ALL EVENTS – double definition
16 SPOOR – (t)ROOPS = soldiers, reversed
17 TEMPEST – TEM = MET = forecasting office, reversed, then PEST = nuisance
18 STAIRWELL – sounds like STARE WELL = look very carefully
19 DUNGEON – DUN = horse, GONE*
20 MUSIC TO ONES EARS – double definition
22 SLIP STITCH – ST(reet) = way, around LIPS = edges, then ITCH = irritate
23 SUNSET – SUET = sort of pudding, around N(orth) and S(outh)
25 RAIL – double definition
28 RUNNING BANQUET – RUNNING = taking charge of, BANQUET = state dinner. Unfamiliar, but clear from the clue
30 RED PANDA – R(un), DEADPAN*
32 SUBTOPIA – SUB = BUS = transport, reversed, TO, PI = apparently good, A(rea)
34 MAN AND SUPERMAN – MAN = chap, AND = with, SUPERMAN = outstanding individual
37 BOND – double definition
38 HASTEN – HAS = keeps, TEN = NET = web, reversed
39 BIPARTISAN – B(l)IP = minor irregularity, ARTISAN = craftsman
43 UNDERPERFORMING – UNDERPIN = shore up, around FORMER*, G(ate)
45 SCAPULA – (CASUAL P(ressure))*
47 FORESTALL – FO = OF, reversed, R.E. = soldiers, STALL = play for time
49 CONIFER – CON = prisoner, I, FE(a)R = suspect
51 EXTOL – hidden in nEXT OLympics
52 LONDON PRIDE – double definition, the second mildly cryptic referring to the fact that one can be said to “swell with pride”
53 PULL STRINGS – PULL = yank, STRINGS = part of orchestra
54 SHELTIE – SHELTE(r) = refuge, around I
55 ENSIGN – (m)EN = people, SIGN = initial
56 ASBESTOS – A, S.O.S. = call for help, around BEST = very fine
 
Down
1 REPOSED – double definition
2 LINCOLNS INN – LINCOLN = president, SIN = wrong, around N(ew)
3 ALLERGENS – ALL = every one, GREENS*
4 CRY STINKING FISH – double definition. Another unfamiliar phrase but the checking letters left little doubt and a search confirmed
6 IN A SENSE – (A SIN SEEN)*
7 GIANTS CAUSEWAY – GIANT = huge, SWAY = influence, around CAUSE = ground
8 GLASSHOUSE – double definition the second referring to the saying “Those in glass houses should not throw stones”
9 RELEARN – LEAR = humorist, in alternate letters of oRlEaNs
10 DOVER – DOVE = symbol of peace, R(ight)
11 CENTENARIAN – (ANCIENT NEAR)*
12 DISCLOSE – DISC = counter, LOSE = go down
13 DRUM – DUM = MUD = slander, reversed, around R = king
20 MR CHAD – MRCH A = MARCH = demo, with a letter moved, D(ay). A wartime humorous cartoon drawing, normally with a phrase such as “Wot, no sugar” to complain about shortages
21 SCRAPIE – (AS PRICE)*
22 SOREST – SO = well, REST = take a break
24 THE SUN ALSO RISES – double definition, the first cryptic and referring to The Sun newspaper
26 SQUARE BRACKETS – SQUARE = old-fashioned type, BRACKETS = supports
27 CANNON – CON = criminal, around ANN = woman
29 IN ORDER – double definition
31 EDGING – hidden in approachED GINGerly
33 BLOOD ORANGE – BLOOD = drink for Dracula, ORANGE = odd colour for blood
35 MOSQUITO NET – MO’S = doctor’s, QUIT = leave, NOTE*
36 USEFUL LIFE – USEFUL = worthwhile, LIFE = existence
40 TO A DEGREE – TOAD = amphibian, EGRE(t) = water, (bridg)E
41 OUTFALLS – FALLS OUT = leaves parade, with the order of the words then changed
42 WINNIPEG – WINNI = sounds like WINNIE = (Winston) Churchill, PEG = somewhere to hang a hat
44 EXAMPLE – EXAM = test, PLE(a) = prayer
46 ATLASES – SEA = ocean, around SALT = brine, all reversed
48 SCOOT – S(mall) COOT = bird
50 FOLD – F(ine), OLD = getting on

9 comments on “Jumbo 1253”

  1. I’ve been waiting for this blog to find out what the hell 20d was, and I’m relieved to find that I’ve never heard of the solution and could never have solved it. There were a couple more DNKs– 22ac, 28ac, 52ac, 41d–but they were solvable, or at least biffable.
  2. Nope – never heard of him either. And I didn’t know or had forgotten GLASSHOUSE=detention centre. No sooner did it pop up here than it also appeared in a Guardian cryptic. Must try to remember.
  3. I learned GLASSHOUSE from Anthony Powell: Capt. Gwatkin threatens whatshisname with it if he doesn’t shape up.
    1. I should have remembered that Kevin. I haven’t read “Dance” for a while and it’s rather a commitment as you know so I think I’ll leave the re-read for the summer when I have weekends sans internet. Thanks – now I have something to hang the word on.
  4. And would a Kenyan get MR CHAD in a million years without google.This jumbo was tough but completed it the following day.
    Ong’ara,
    Nairobi.
  5. Well, MR CHAD defeated me as well. FIZGIG and SUBTOPIA were unknowns as well but I worked them out. Otherwise quite enjoyable for me.

    David (Warwick)

  6. I found the following emoticon as an example of what Mr Chad looked like – peering over a wall

    ” Ü “

    The US version was “Kilroy was here”

    Edited at 2017-03-19 10:40 am (UTC)

  7. I knew MR CHAD somewhere in the recesses of my mind and was eventually able to drag him out, but I misbiffed SUBURBIA and overwrote IN RRDER in the process, so 2 wrong.

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