Jumbo 1021 – 59 straightforward clues and an absolute stinker !

Author   fathippy2Posted on Categories Jumbo Cryptic
Did this a week late, having missed the weekend in question. It was fairly straightforward, probably because it seemed to have far fewer cryptic clues than usual, and mostly clear definitions, however what would have been a pretty quick time actually turned out to be a DNF (without aids) as I drew a blank on 9D and gave up on it. It was a word I had never come across and one I dont think I would have put in with any confidence from the wordplay either. Probably my fault for the gap in the knowledge base, but seemed a little annoying!

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Across
1 PALMTOP – PAL=friend, M=minutes, TO, P=power
5 CAMPER VAN – CAMPER=more affected, VAN=vanguard=ground breakers
10 BARB – BARBER=hairdressers, removing the ER=hesitation
14 POWDER COMPACT – POWER=authority, around D=democrat, then COMPACT=agreement
15 ANDANTINO – AND=also, ANTI=against, NO(tes)=a couple of notes
16 MODIGLIANI – I NAIL GI = I catch soldier, returning, by MOD=ministry of defence, for the painter.
17 PROLIFERATE – PRO-LIFE = anti abortion, RATE=measure
18 MEDOC – OC=officer commanding, after MED=sea
19 DIDGERIDOO – DID GERI DO = “was girl able to perform” , O=old
21 AMOEBA – first letters – A M(icro-org) O(f) E(xtremely) B(asic) A(natomy)
23 CORALLITE – OR=men, ALL=completely, inside CITE=name
25 SLO-MO – LO=look, inside S,MO = two seconds
26 UNDYING – UNDRYING = paint that wont harden, without the R=runs
28 IRRESPONSIBLY – (possibly err in)*
31 ALEXANDRA – ALE=drink, X=kiss, AND=with, RA=artist
33 EXTRICATE – EX=former partner, ATE=needled, about TRIC(k)=endless peculiar habit
35 OVERSTATEMENT – OVER=throughout, STATEMENT = bank record
37 PROTEGE – ROT=rubbish, EG=say, in PE=gym exercises.
38 CROSS – double def
40 GUINEA PIG – GUINEA = african nation, PIG = something really difficult
42 SECTOR – SEC =dry, TOR = rocky peak
44 MASTERMIND – hidden in (michael)MAS TERM IN D(urham)
46 HENNA – H=hard, ANNE=girl, reversed.
48 EMANCIPATION – (operatic)* around MAN=peter grimes, for example. Def is “one making free”.
50 HOITY TOITY – HOY = call to attend, TOY = play, both around IT, for “arrogant”
52 IMPRECISE – IMP = unruly child, (cries)*, then (bottl)E
53 DERMATOLOGIST – (a modest girl to)*
54 RILL – (d)RILL = bore without first letter.
55 DETERGENT – DETER GENT = put man off
56 KEY WEST – KEY = most important, W(id)E ST = wide street with I’d removed.

Down
1 PIPE – PI = very religious, over (a)P(s)E = apse being cleared out regularly. A churchwarden is a type of PIPE.
2 LOW LOADER – (well O road)*
3 THE LINCOLNSHIRE POACHER – (hero he’ll pinch nice roast)*
4 PICKLED – PICK = best, LED = under control,
5 COMMANDEERS – (men comrades)*
6 MEATINESS – EATIN(g) = taking food mostly, in MESS = soldiers canteen.
7 EAT UP – HEAT UP=warm, without the H= but not hot.
8 VIA DOLOROSA – VI=six, ADO=fuss, LO=see, ROSA=girl
9 NUDNIK – my last/never one in!! I have literally never heard or seen the word before so was onto a loser from the start! Even the wordplay is not that helpful as it is a big jump to KIND ‘UN from agreeable one for the reversal.
11 AGITATE – TA=terriers, in A GITE = french holiday home
12 BOOMERANG – BOO=sound of disapproval, RANG=resounded, around ME
13 INTERMEDIATE TECHNOLOGY – (get in on the act, more yield)*
18 MACHINE – CH=church, in MAINE=new england state.
20 ISOZYME – I=one, SO=very much, Z,Y=unknowns, M=mass, E=energy.
22 GUJERATI – JUG=prison, reversed, then (irate)*
24 IDOLATER – I DO = I perform, LATER=subsequently
27 INDIE – IN=fashionable, DIE=pop off
29 RETRO – (terro)* where the anagrist was endless terror.
30 BLOWOUT – LOW= of inferior quality, inside BOUT=ill turn
32 ANTIGUA – hidden in (gi)ANT IGUA(na)
34 ENCHANTMENT – N CHANT = new song, in E=english, MENT=sounds like MEANT=intended.
36 SIGNIFICANT – SIGN=crab (zodiac), IF IT, outside CAN=tin.
37 POSTERIOR – POSTER=large bill, I=one, O=round, R=right.
39 SURCHARGE – SURGE=big rise, around CHAR=cleaner.
41 PINSTRIPE – PINS=spike’s, TRIPE=nonsense. Capitalised Spike in the surface probably a nod to Mr Milligan.
43 CHAPPAL – CHAP=man, PAL(e)=unfinished light coloured, for the slipper
45 DRY DOCK – DRY=hardline conservative (as in wets and dries), DOCK=cut
47 UPWIND – UP=risen, WIND=snake
49 RADAR – RADA = drama school, R=its head (first letter)
51 STET – last letters of (beatle)S, (las)T (liv)E (concer)T

3 comments on “Jumbo 1021 – 59 straightforward clues and an absolute stinker !”

  1. Well, there were four words in this crossword I had not come across before (or couldn’t remember) but I did manage to get them all, so I don’t think it can be right to say “onto a loser from the start” in relation to such words. Though I agree the wordplay could have helped more than it did.
  2. I’m with you on NUDNIK. I’ve never heard of it either, and unless we’re just unusual and it’s actually quite common, I think it’s sufficiently obscure to merit a clearer clue. NADNIK fits the wordplay as well as NUDNIK and I had to cheat to find out which was right. I hate clues like that, and I particularly hate them right at the end of a jumbo!

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