Jumbo 1018

Apologies for the delay in posting this. The periods I had set aside to compile it were unexpectedly taken up by other commitments.

I did not record a time but I recall this being quite straightforward. The difficulty comes in explaining the solution to some of the clues (see 40A). I think a couple of the definitions may have been difficult for international solvers, but the wordplay and checking letters should have helped.


Across
1 SADDLES UP ADDLES = goes off, in SUP = drink
6 KNIGHTSBRIDGE – KNIGHTS = makes Sir, BRIDGE = cross
13 ONSET – deliberately omitted – please ask if unsure
14 AIR CORRIDOR – AIR = display, COR = my, O.R. = other ranks = men, around RID = clear
15 LUCRE – h(ERCUL)e = Poirot, reversed
16 STAGE-STRUCK – STAGES = coaches, TRUCK = lorry
17 GUINEA GRASS – (RAIN GAUGES)*, S = small
18 HIDEOUT – sounds like high doubt = raised question
20 SHORTEN – SH = button it, OR = alternative, TEN = NET = catch, reversed
21 SCOTTIE – a(SCOT) = racecourse, TIE = moor
23 HANDLE WITH KID GLOVES – cryptic definition. Butter = goat
27 GEE – double definition. I’m not positive but I think Gee Up! as a command to a horse may derive from Ginger Up
28 ERNANI – E.R. = Queen, NAN = mother of pop (father), I = one
29 LUGOSI – LUG = hump, O.S. = abnormally large, I = one
31 FORKLIFTS – F.T. = Financial Times = daily, in FOR = assisting, KLIS = SILK = QC, reversed
34 PAPER MILL – P = soft, APE = parrot, RM = jolly, ILL = poorly
35 KICK IN – KICKIN(g) = breaking habit of
36 ECHOIC – CHOICE = what’s on the menu, with the last letter moved to the front
39 SUN – SUN(k) = sent to (sea) bed
40 A WANDERING MINSTREL I – I think this is (IN TERMS)*, clued by “A wandering minstre”, followed by (ca)LI(ph). Any other suggestions?
42 HAYLOFT – HAYL = sounds like HAIL = welcome, OFT = on many an occasion
43 GODSEND – deliberately omitted – please ask if unsure
45 EARLOCK – (CORAL KE(y))*
47 LAUNDERETTE – I think this is LA, UN, DER, ET, and TE, being articles in various languages [Edit – see the Anonymous first comment below – which I believe is probably he correct parsing of the clue]
49 I’M A DUTCHMAN – IMAM = Moslem leader, around DUTCH = wife, AN
51 AMUSE – alternate letters in hArMfUl, S,E = oppnonents at bridge
52 RUSSIAN BLUE – RUSS, IAN = boys, BLUE = adult. Queen in the clue is a female cat
53 RINSE – R(iver) IN S(outh) E(ast) = Home Counties
54 BOUILLABAISSE – (A BUS IS LIABLE)* around O(ld)
55 DO YOU MIND – DO = cook, YO = greeting, U = superior, MIND = intellect
Down
1 SCOTS WHA HAE – (E(nglish) A CHAT SHOWS)*
2 DISCARD – DISC = one to slip, A, RD = Road
3 LATTE – (f)LATTE(r) = apply soft soap to
4 SHANTY TOWN – SHANTY = a number (=song) of sailors, OWN = have, around T(ime)
5 PERCUSS – PER = a (as in “ten a penny”), CU = copper, SS = vessel
6 KNOCK FOR KNOCK – KNOCK KNOCK = start of joke, around FOR = pro. I am not sure whether the same term is used internationally, but when two vehicles are involved in an accident and it is not clear where any fault lies insurers agree to settle their own customers’ claim without pursuing each other on a knock for knock basis
7 IRRIGATED – IRRITATED = cross with the central letter replaced by G(ood)
8 HADRIAN – hidden reversed in opeN AIR DAHlias
9 SCREEN SAVERS – SCREENS = riddles (sieves), A, VERS(e) = rhyme
10 RELIGIOUS – RE = about (LUGOSI (= 29A) I)*
11 DACHA – alternate letters in aDvAnCe HeAd
12 EVEN-STEVENS – EVEN SEVENS = rugby also, around (resul)T. Surprisingly, because draws are unusual in rugby (particularly sevens) I suppose.
19 ONLINER – ON LINER = enjoying a cruise
22 TUG OF LOVE – cryptic definitions
24 NINEPENNY – NINNY = fool, around EP = record, EN = in (French)
25 TOUSLED – TO = not from, US LED = influenced by Washington
26 LEFTISM – deliberately omitted – please ask if unsure
30 INCONVENIENCE – double definition, the second referring for IN CONVENIENCE
32 LOCATOR – LO = watch, CAT = jazz fan, OR = gold
33 DISASTER AREA – (AIDS SET)*, RARE = far from common, A
34 PASCHAL LAMB – PAS = old men, CH(eck), ALL = everything, AM = in morning, B(efore)
37 CHICKEN-FEED – CHICKEN, = one with little bottle, FEED = paid (a fee)
38 INSECURELY – IN = at home, S(mall) RELY = bank (on), around ECU = currency
40 A GOOD DEAL – AGO = in the past, ODD = not even, E(uropean), AL = gangster
41 RED DEVILS – RED(i)D = freshly perpetrated, EVILS = crimes. The Red Devils are a display parachute team
43 GO TO SEA – (O(ver) SO GET)*, A(ce). the definition is Turn Jack = become sailor
44 DRAWLED – DRAW = attract, L.E.D. = glowed
46 OSMANLI – OS = sailor (ordinary seaman), MAN = crew, L(eft), I(sland)
48 ULURU – second letters in mUsician pLayed pUnk tRacks bUt
50 CORFU – CO = firm, R.F.U. = (Rugby) Union organisers

5 comments on “Jumbo 1018”

  1. I found this one very tough. I think 47 across is LETTEr = “allowing person to shrink”
    containing A + UN + DER, &lit.
    1. Thank you – I think you are probably correct. I did feel that my version did oally fit the clue as written.

      Edited at 2013-02-03 06:16 pm (UTC)

  2. This was a steady solve for me, about an hour in all, in two sessions. I had trouble parsing 31ac and 47ac, though I sort of got the drift of the clues.
    Anonymous has a good point re 47ac, though it seems either interpretation works, if we assume “et” is in fact an article, and not a preposition as “with” is, or a conjunction as “and” is..
  3. I thought this was an anagram of IN TERMS ie (wandering) MINSTRE in (indicated by ‘can grasp’ ALI – an early caliph.
    1. Thank you – that makes more sense than my attempt. At least I got the IN TERMS part.

      Defiitely one of those clues where one is sure of the answer, never mind the wordplay.

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