Quick Cryptic 123 by Teazel

Author   nick_the_novicePosted on Categories Quick Cryptic
Enjoyable puzzle, with a broad mix of some straightforward ones and some that were quite tricky (e.g. 4 down). Thanks to Teazel.

As I was going through this one, I was reflecting on an observation my son made recently about cryptics, and why he and his generation were not generally getting into this activity (he is a prime candidate for Crosswordland – highly literate, broad GK and lively mind). His answer was interesting – in short that a lot of the references seemed to belong to a bygone era with which his generation was unfamiliar. I’ll leave it to others to judge whether they agree, but it struck a chord with me a propos of the Quickie which is (at least in part) designed, I believe, to attract the next generation of solvers. Reds and stuffed shirts might, for example, be second nature to older solvers but may be unknown territory for 25 year olds? No criticism intended of this (or any other) offering – just a thought…

Across
1 MASTERMIND – TV quiz is the definition. Answer also derived from MASTER (“teacher”) with MIND (“object to” – as in ‘do you mind if I smoke?’, to which the time honoured response was ‘smoke? I don’t care if you burst into flames!’)
8 BLUBBER – straightforward double definition
9 PULSE – Beat is the definition. Answer also from the wordplay of PU (“up around”) with LSE (“London college” – London School of Economics)
10 LIFE – existence is the definition. Answer also from LIE (“tell stories”) around (“about”) F (abbreviation of “fine” – I assume from weather forecasts see Jack’s explanation below, for which many thanks…).
11 DARTMOOR – Prison is our definition (establishment near Princetown up on the moor where malefactors reside at her majesty’s pleasure). Answer also from the wordplay DOOR (“entrance”) “opened by” (i.e. including within it) ART (“skill”) with M (abbreviation of “minutes”). Probably my ‘clue of the day’- quite cunning, but nothing obscure involved
13 BADGE – Name tag is the definition. Answer also comes from BAD (“wrong”) with GE (“for example, if back to front”). Good example for newcomers of the need to ignore punctuation in cryptics – it is generally there to enhance the surface readings of the clues, and can quite easily mislead solvers who see the punctuation as assisting in the search for the answer!
14 SAY-SO – Authority is the definition (as in “that’s only allowed on the CFO’s say-so”). Answer also from SAYS O (“remains silent” – says nothing)
16 SCHOONER – ship is our definition. Answer also from CH (abbreviation of “check” in chess notation) “in” SOONER (“earlier”). I subsequently did a quick Google search to validate CH as an abbreviation for check (chess notation is not my forte), which led me to a fascinating table of international chess terminology. It appears that in France, the Bishop is the Jester (noted as F for Fou): intriguing…
17 LIMB – wing, say is the definition (or at least an exemplar kind of definition). Answer also from the wordplay L (“large” – standard abbreviation) with IMB (“one doctor”). Doctor abbreviations of various types frequently crop up in cryptics – including GP, MO, MB, MD, DR. MB (bachelor of medicine) is probably least well known generally, so well worth remembering
20 DARED – took a risk is the definition. Answer also derived from D (standard abbreviation of “Democrat”) with A RED (“a revolutionary”). The whole ‘reds under the bed’ thing may seem somewhat old hat these days (possibly making Red as a synonym for revolutionary incomprehensible for Gen X and Y). But, it’s standard crossword fare so there we go…
21 SLENDER – inadequate is the definition (as in “his intellect is pretty slender”): somewhat unusual usage, as today we probably more often think of slender in a positive way denoting slim and svelte, but all OK in strict sense employed in crosswordland. Answer also derived from S (standard abbreviation of “Small”) with LENDER (“bank perhaps”)
22 ARMAGEDDON – Enjoyed this one. Definition is ultimate conflict. Composite word style of clue – ARM_AGED_DON (“prepare” “elderly” “teacher”)

Down
1 MABEL – woman is the definition. The answer is an anagram (signalled by “upsetting”) of BLAME. Given the very large number of women’s names (particularly if more recent exotic additions to the canon such as Peaches are also included) the definition might be regarded as somewhat vague, but in the event it did not really matter as the anagram was clearly indicated and pretty straightforward
2 STUFFED SHIRT – Fairly straightforward double definition (assuming, of course, you are familiar with the expression)
3 ELBA – Place of exile is the definition (where Napoleon was sent, but from which he subsequently escaped…) Answer also is hidden in (indicated by “some”) FEEL BAD
4 MORTAR – Quite a tricky one, I thought. Cannon is the definition. The wordplay also giving the answer is MOR (“a lot of extra” – i.e. most of “more”) with TAR (“preservative”)
5 NEPOTISM – Not sure if this is a double definition or a single cryptic. Either way, nice gentle entry point into the north east section of the crossword
6 BLOODY-MINDED – Not wholly convinced I have parsed this correctly – anyway, here goes… Definition is cussed. Answer also derived (I think) from BLOODY (“swear” – although whilst bloody might be an example of a swear word, it does not seem to me to equate to the verb “to swear”) with MINDED (“determined” – as in ‘I’m minded to leave this job…’) All seems a bit fragile to me, but maybe I’m being overly critical or missing something…
7 WEIRDO – eccentric is our definition. Answer also from the wordplay DREW backwards (“drew up”) with I inserted (“carrying one”) and addition of O (standard abbreviation of “old”)
12 BEHOLDER – spectator is our definition. Answer also from the wordplay BEER (“pints perhaps”) “round” HOLD (“keep”)
13 BESIDE – nearby is the definition. Answer also derived from the wordplay B[ES]IDE – BIDE (“wait”) receiving ES (East and South – players from standard bridge puzzles / instruction manuals). Slight quibble that S and E are not actually “partners” but opponents – this did hold me up for a moment as I was looking for an EW or NS combination…
15 GEISHA – Eastern entertainer is the definition. The answer is also an anagram (signalled by “disguising”) of “his age”
18 BORON – element is the definition (never heard of it myself, but then again I did tend to spend chemistry lessons surreptitiously reading racy novels). Answer also from BORN (“Brought into the world”) with an O included (“inhaling oxygen”)
19 HERE – in this place is the definition. Answer also constructed from H (standard abbreviation of “hours”) with ERE (“before”)


26 comments on “Quick Cryptic 123 by Teazel”

  1. 13 minutes, with 12, 16 and both 13s taking me past the 10-minute line. I also had slight misgivings about 6dn as I solved, but on reflection I think its workings are okay and more or less as you have parsed them with “being cussed” as the literal. I’d have taken the other part of the clue “determined to swear” as what Uncle Yap terms a “tongue in cheek” definition. If the words are taken separately then “determined” corresponds nicely to MINDED (as you have explained) but like you I’m not sure that “swear” can correspond to BLOODY.

    I am less forgiving about the partners business in 13dn which to my mind is a downright error. I hope no-one is going to argue that in Bridge East and South are partners (as the clue would suggest) but just not of each other, as that simply won’t wash, and even more certainly not in a Quickie.

    F = fine is used in grading pencil leads and also in physics with reference to quantum numbers (whatever they are).

    I may contribute later re cryptics and younger generations but I’ll let others go first on that one.

    Edited at 2014-08-27 05:05 am (UTC)

  2. No need to be so literal here, I think: if someone is dead set on using foul language, you could say they are ‘bloody-minded’, inclined that way, just as if people like speed solving you could say they are competition-minded.
  3. I enjoyed this one – some interesting clues without any obscure GK. I read ‘determined’ as the definition for 6dn and wrote it straight in but am now questioning my ability to parse the rest of it… Clue of the day for me was Armageddon.

    Re. younger solvers, I’m 26 and I wouldn’t attribute too many of my crossword problems to my age – favourites of setters such as Ur for city and She for novel are pretty unlikely to come up outside Crosswordland, however old you are. I’ve really enjoyed picking up the common clues and abbreviations (AB, MB, RE etc.) and the QC has been very helpful for that. Then again, I grew up with a very keen solver for a father who made me want to understand the obscure language of crosswords and I don’t have any other friends of my generation who have caught the bug.

    1. Thanks for the feedback bezevcik – very interesting observations. I look forward to seeing what else comes in on this topic.

      In the meantime, great to hear that you are enjoying it and travelling well by the sounds of it.

  4. Found this on the more difficult side for the quickie; 12 minutes in total, with 5 of them sorting out 4d and, LOI, 12d. Agree with Jack that 13d involves an error, pure and simple – clue should have read “bridge opponents”. Also think that 6d is essentially a double definition: “determined to swear” on the one hand and “cussed” on the other.
  5. A few seconds under 8 mins so my worst time for a QC for a while. It’s possible that I wasn’t focused properly because I did this straight after the main puzzle and I was still annoyed with myself for making a pig’s breakfast of it. Having said that, it certainly wasn’t as straightforward as some other QCs. I didn’t even notice the cluing error in 13dn, but that’s most certainly what it is. BLOODY-MINDED went in with a shrug and I didn’t bother to try and parse it properly. MORTAR was my LOI and agree with Nick that it was a tricky one, my problem being that tar=preservative doesn’t automatically spring to mind.
  6. I used RE-ORDER with “c” (circa – a round) to get Recorder (as in witness).
    Now undoubtedly wrong, but felt smug briefly.

    Delightful definition of Nepotism.

    Philip

  7. Thanks for the blog. I found this difficult and agree 13d comments. The more I do these the worse I get. For a while I was solving around 60-70% but recently barely getting started. I will keep at it but not optimistic about ever getting the hang of it.
  8. A pleasant 16 minutes. I loved “relatively helpful” for nepotism.

    I think Nick has a point about the future of cryptic crosswords, and enticing in newer and younger generations. While the main puzzle has such a sense of history and would not be the same without it’s sometimes archaic and public-school-education-centric style, perhaps the Quickie might be a fresh start with more contemporary references, which might appeal to more youthful minds. My son has expressed the same reasons for not doing these, despite his usual love of any intellectual challenge.
    Well – that’s my tuppenyworth…..:)

  9. AAaarr, Jim lad! Tar for preservative is like sugar in the jam for an old salt like me, so no problems there. With initials like AB Andy, it should fall naturally to you too. It’s not just food that needs preserving, as my chippy shipmates will tell me.

    I found this relatively easy, and was pleased to see the ‘his age’ anagram again. It was the first anagram I ever got in a crossword, with a very similar clue in whatever newspaper I was reading some 50+ years ago. Those were the days!

    My loi was PULSE mainly because I spelled weirdo weirdly. Note to self: it isn’t always “I before E except after C”, and the exceptions are harder to spot when they are written vertically.

  10. Agree strongly with previous criticism of bridge partners. In my case a little bit too much knowledge actively prevented me parsing. As a bridge player I had written down NS or EW against the clue. When finally got it I was quite annoyed …..not good enough really, sorry Teazel, you usually give us good puzzles but that is just plain wrong.
  12. As a teenager, I think there aren’t many contemporary references and q uite a few I can only get with my grandmothers help!
  13. The Times rule that no living person can be an answer puts a restriction on the setters. The Indy and Guardian puzzles don’t have the same restriction, and for that reason they sometimes have a much fresher feel. However, the setters have to walk a fine line because if a puzzle contains too many contemporary references it risks alienating their core solvers.
    1. I agree about the risk of alienating established fans. I’d stand no chance of completing a puzzle full of references to contemporary popular culture, but I’d have no objection to living people being included provided they were well established in their field over a substantial period of time.
  14. Being a lot closer to 60 than 20, I have invariably solved the quick cryptics but invariably do not solve the main puzzle without a Google or two or three. I’m not quite sure what that means, but my GK is almost certainly not broad enough (Shakespeare, ancient mythology and Greek dramatists are not my cup of tea) and I do feel that that some of the words belong to a bygone era somewhere in the county where I live….

    But, hey ho, I do enjoy trying 🙂

    Finished all but BEHOLDER. Realised that drinks would be in there somewhere, but couldn’t finish it off. Well blogged Nick.

    BTW I have created an account with Live Journal. But within 15 mins of doing so, my e-mail server restricted my access due to unusual activity on my account. All solved very easily, but reminds me why I don’t generally choose to open accounts on sites such as Live Journal

    Nigel from Surrey

  15. Like jackkt, I would be snookered by contemporary popular culture, but I do acknowledge the problem that Nick has outlined.
    I think that crosswords do evolve naturally, and, while some of the recent changes in cluing are not my cup of tea, I really enjoy others. The newer setters do tend to include more modern references, but they do seem to appear more in the main cryptic puzzles of other newspapers, and may be tricky for newcomers to solving.
    The comments of the younger solvers are both interesting and encouraging, and I hope that they will persevere – perhaps they might even have a crack at compiling puzzles that reflect their interests and knowledge base more than ‘traditional’ offerings.
  16. Thanks to all for interesting set of observations on this topic. In the interests of further research, I ran past my son and his work cronies (bunch of 20 something journalists) five additional examples of the kinds of expressions that might be found in a cryptic and which would be instantly recognisable to those of a certain age (brothel creepers, clothes horse etc. etc.). Total incomprehension. At the same time, they responded with five contemporary equivalents, which completely floored me.

    I should stress I am not talking about the classics, Shakespeare, historical figures / events here – they are as knowledgeable (or ignorant!) of these as I am. It’s more the “everyday expressions” – which, it appears, are far from everyday depending on how old you are.

    Maybe Wodehouse should be taught with the same rigour as Chaucer and Shakespeare 🙂

    The more salutary lesson for me is that the younger guys who work for me probably find 50% of what I say totally incomprehensible – which might explain a lot…

  17. There’s a considerable crossword vocabulary (sailor=AB/RM/TAR/SALT/etc, doctor=MO/MB/DR/etc, old city=UR, revolutionary=CHE/RED/etc, cricket side=ON/OFF/LEG, etc), plus an understanding of all the various clue types, that needs to be acquired before one can have a reasonable chance of completing a daily cryptic. I wonder whether it’s more a lack of these basic building blocks that is a hurdle for new solvers (of any age) rather than a lack of contemporary references. As mentioned, there are more contemporary references in many of the Guardian and Independent puzzles, but I’d be surprised if new solvers have any greater success with them than with the Times, because they also rely on those same building blocks. Even with (on and off) ~20 years of Times crossword experience, I still encounter words/phrases in the puzzle every week that I’ve never heard of before, so if I was a beginner I would certainly expect to have 2 or 3 words/phrases per puzzle that were new.
  18. I’m 40 -without the blog I would really struggle but the explanations e.g. different abbreviations for doctor really help. Crosswords that try to be cool would just end up pleasing no one-or be as toe-curling as the Pet Shop Boys on The Archers!
    Hannah
    1. The Pet Shop Boys on the Archers – has this atrocity actually occurred, or is it just a brilliant (if disturbing!) invention from your good self?
  19. I have just started trying to solve the quick cryptics and am so pleased to have found this site as many of the crossword abbreviations are totally unknown to me. I do as much as I can and then check against the answers here. My son thinks I am cheating but I’d say I am learning the ropes…
    1. Welcome aboard! You might like to set up an account (it’s free) if you are going to be posting on a regular basis.

      The abbreviations used can be particularly challenging for new solvers. When I first started, I must admit I thought they were a bit unfair (almost a form of “cheating” by the setters!). Use of really common abbreviations – e.g. OBE – seemed fair enough, but some of the more obscure ones (e.g. F today) seemed a bit much.

      However, particularly after I started having a crack at setting my own cryptics (I do a jokey annual Christmas one for friends and family) I got a better insight into why they might be used. First, as a setter you sometimes need to cover off an additional letter or two that form part of the solution in the clue, and use of abbreviations can be particularly useful for this. Second, they provide scope for more colourful and intriguing surfaces.

      Either way, they are all part of the game so they just need to be learned over time. Aside from the obvious ones (ER for ‘er in Buck House), DR (Doctor) etc., frequently recurring ones are the nautical ones referred to by mohn2 above, chess pieces, OB for old boy / former pupil, cricket abbreviations (O, W, C, LBW etc.), RA (artist – member of royal academy), and some from physics (never understood them, but formulae such as F=MA, V=U+AT etc. come to mind).

      This site is absolutely the best way of learning the ropes (which I am very much still in the process of doing!)

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