Jumbo 1143

Just one very obscure (to me) tree, but the rest of the solutions were reasonably straightforward.

Across
1 GO THROUGH – GOTH = someone dressed in black, ROUGH = violent type
6 PEDLARS – sounds like PEDALLERS = those who may be cycling
10 COMET – ME = this person, in COT = bed
13 SHOP ASSISTANT – ST(reet), around HOP = dance and ASS = idiot, ANT = worker
14 LANGOUSTE – LA = the (French), (ONES GUT)*
15 AMBOYNA – A MAN* around BOY = lad. Had to check this one
16 TERMINI – TERM = amount of time, IN = home, I = one
17 TISSUES – T(ackle), ISSUES = matters needing discussion
18 ONE FOR THE POT – double definition. I am sure I saw this solution somewhere else recently
20 AGGRAVATED – A G(overnment) G(overnment) RED = embarrassed, around A VAT = a tax
23 SHORE – SORE = in pain, around H(ospital)
24 DRAWS NEAR – double definition, the second from DRAW’S NEAR implying a winning result is remote
25 SURINAM – SINAM = MAN IS = fellow is, reversed, around UR = old city
26 PREPARATION – P.A. = high-level secretary, around REP = material, RATION = helping
28 ISAAC NEWTON – IS, A, A, CON = study, around NEWT = semiaquatic creature
30 LIGHTWEIGHT – WHITE = bloodless LATE = old, Spoonerised
32 MODERNISTIC – (NORDIC ITEMS)*
34 NUTLETS – LET = obstruction, in NUTS = eccentric folk
36 FROBISHER – FISHER = one working on the waves, around ROB = plunder
38 APRON – A PRON(g) = a bit that might prick
39 STRIP LIGHT – ST(a)R = twinkler, PLIGHT = difficulty, around I
41 FROM THE HEART – double definition
45 CYCLONE – CYCLE = regular pattern, around ON = NO = number, reversed
46 SEA LEGS – E.G. = say, in SEALS = animals needing ability in the water. Being picky I would say that sea legs represents ability on the water, not in the water
47 TAFFETA – TAFF = river, ETA = Greek character
49 BRIGADIER – BRIG = ship, A, RIDE*
50 PRIVATISATION – PRIVATION = hardship, around (IT’S A)*
52 ROGUE – OG = GO = shot, reversed in RUE = French street
53 NOWHERE – NOW HERE = just arrived
54 CATALOGUE – CAT = animal, AGUE = fever, around LO = look
 
Down
1 GESTAPO – GAP = space, around EST(ablished), O(lympics)
2 TROUBLESOME – TOME = work, around ROUBLES = Russian money
3 READY – READ = study, Y(en) = Japanese money
4 UPSTART – U(niversity), PART = role, around ST = someone good
5 HAS – HAS(let) = meat loaf
6 PLAYROOMS – (MA’S POORLY)*
7 DETAIL – double definition, the second from dock = de-tail
8 ALL FINGERS AND THUMBS – double definition, the first mildly cryptic
9 SENATOR – SENT = despatched, O.R. = soldiers, around A(rea)
10 CROSSOVER – ROSS = explorer, in COVER = position on (a cricket) field
11 MOSQUITO NET – IT ON in MOSQUE = place of worship, T(ime)
12 TRESS – (s)TRESS = worry
16 THE TAMING OF THE SHREW – (FATHER WITH THEME SONG)*
19 OPERANT – O(ld), RANT = verbal onslaught, around P.E. = exercising
21 DOMINICAN – DO = party, MINI = little, CAN = something to drink
22 TEDIUM – TED = old rocker, I’M = this person’s, around U = for the nobs
23 SUPPLANTS – SUPPL(ic)ANTS = beggars
24 DRAWERS – double definition
25 SECURER – S.E. = Home Counties, CURER = medical practitioner
27 NOTION – NOT ON = not feasible, around I(ndependence)
29 EPITAPH – E.P. = record, IT, A PH(one)
31 GET CRACKING – double definition, the second cryptic referring to a boiled egg and soldiers
33 THREATENING – (GENT, THE RAIN)*
35 ESPIONAGE (A PIGEON’S)*, E(nergy)
37 ISRAELITE – IS, R.A. = academician, ELITE = chosen
40 IBERIAN – (s)IBERIAN = from a cold Asian place
42 HIT LIST – double definition
43 TRAINEE – AINTREE = racecourse, with TR = RT = right, reversed, moved to the front
44 SAMPLE – SALE = commercial activity, around M.P. = politician
45 CABER – CAB = taxi, E.R. = very important lady
48 FRAIL – F = loud, RAIL = bird
51 ARC – (m)ARC(h) = walk

5 comments on “Jumbo 1143”

  1. One of my rarer under-60 Jumbos. A couple of DNKs–AMBOYNA, NUTLET, also ‘haslet’, which led me to wonder about how 5d worked. Several nice clues; 28ac, 11d, 16d, 52ac, among others.
    1. Thank you for reading and commenting. The clue is “Eats half of meat loaf”, so the definition is Eats and the wordplay takes HAS as half of the word HASLET which is a type of meat loaf. This does not work for HASH, half of which would be HA, and does not fit the meat loaf description as well as HASLET.
      1. Thanks very much for your reply — impressive after 6 years! I actually solved this from book 18 of the Times jumbo crosswords collection, and interestingly they seem to have changed the clue for that (puzzle 14): it now reads ‘Eats endless meat stew’ which might possibly fit with Hash’ I guess.
        1. From that clue I think your analysis is correct and hash is a better fit than haslet

Comments are closed.