Jumbo 1118

Nothing particularly to note about this one. There are a couple of definitions that might be a bit loose, but not enough to prevent solving.

No solving time noted

Across
1 HAWFINCH – HALF INCH = appropriate (Cockney Rhyming slang – half inch = pinch), with W(ater) replacing L(arge)
5 MASSIF – MASS = service, IF = provided
9 RAT-TRAP – PART = role, TAR = sailor, all reversed
14 MAINTOPMAST – MAMA’S = mother’s, T(ime), around IN and TOP = POT = vessel, reversed
15 ANNIVERSARY – ADVERSARY = opponent with INN reversed replacing D(aughter)
16 ISTLE – ISLE = man, around (carpe)T
17 BAY TREE – BAY = sea inlet, TREE = one with branches
18 EGLANTINE – E.G. = for example, LANE = way, around TIN = money
19 EYEBALL – EYE = detective, BALL = dance
20 SLEEPING DRAUGHT – SLEEP = PEEL’S = PM’s, reversed, IN, G(ood), DRAUGHT = cool air current
22 INTONATION – INTO = knowledgeable about, NATION = people
23 VANISH – VAN-ISH = like a van = like a commercial vehicle?
25 PROW – P.O.W. = prisoner, around R = resistance
28 COPPER-BOTTOMED – COPPER = penny, BOTTOM = weaver, ED = journalist
30 EVERYMAN – EMAN = NAME = celebrity, reversed (from East), around VERY = genuine
32 RELIGION – REGION = area, around initial letters of L(iberal) I(ntellectual)
34 IDENTICAL TWINS – (WANT IT SLICED IN)*
37 ANTI – initial letters of A(ll) N(ational) T(raining) I(nstitutions)
38 NOTING – NOT(h)ING = cipher
39 FLOODGATES – (A SET OF GOLD)*
43 FEATHER ONES NEST – double definition, the second mildly cryptic as a chat is a type of bird
45 EARFLAP – E(uropean), A FLAP = a panic, around R(adio)
47 TALKING-TO – T(enor), ALTO = singer, around KING = royal
49 OREGANO – ORGAN = possibly stomach, around E(ast), O(ld)
51 NOISE – NO = number, I = one, SE(ed), where the removed ED = little boy
52 MATHEMATICS – MA, MA = graduates, around THE = article, TIS = it’s, around C(antor)
53 RECTILINEAR – (LIE IN CRATER)*
54 STERLET – ST(reet) = way, ET = film, around E(a)RL = peer
55 NESTLE – hidden reversed in cELTS ENjoy
56 SKELETAL – (LAST KEEL)*
 
Down
1 HEMLINE – HEM = hesitate, LINE = policy
2 WHISTLE-STOP – WHIST = game, LEST = for fear that, OP = surgery. Without checking the dictionary I am not sure whether “pause to speak”, which appears to be the definition, is fair
3 IN THE MAIN – double definition
4 CAPABILITY BROWN – CAPABILITY = potential, BROWN = tan
6 ATTORNEY – ATE = worried, (landlad)Y, around TORN = rent
7 SHAKESPEAREANA – SHAKE SPEAR = show hostility, E(nglish) – see 29D, ANA = stories
8 FINGERNAIL – cryptic definition
9 REVILED – DELIVER = free, reversed
10 TURIN – TURN = short walk, around I(talian)
11 READING-ROOM – REG = chap, ROOM = MOOR = fell, reversed, around A DIN = a row
12 PAYMENTS – (PETS MANY)*
13 LAZY – LAY = narrative poem, around Z = unknown
20 SMOOTH – hidden in keswickS MOOT Hall
21 APPARAT – APT = liable, around PARA = airborne soldier (not soldiers?)
22 INCURS – IN = fashionable, CURS = dogs
24 HAVE A BONE TO PICK – cryptic definition using different meanings of “setter”
26 HOLD ONES HORSES – double definition
27 ENOSIS – ENO = ONE reversed, S(mall), IS(land)
29 ENGLISH – ELI’S = priest’s, H(omily), around N(igglin)G
31 BILLET – BET = what racegoers may do, around ILL = unhealthy
33 LANDAULETTE – LAND = light, AU = gold, LETTE(r) = character
35 INTELLIGENT – IN = popular, TELL = archer, I = one, GENT = bloke
36 STENTORIAN – SIAN = Welshwoman, around TENT = red wine, and OR = alternative
40 GERUNDIAL – (GAL RUINED)*
41 OFT-TIMES – O(ld), F.T., TIMES = newspapers
42 CEREBRAL – CEREAL = cornflakes, around alternate letters in BaRd
44 REGNANT – (p)REGNANT = in the club
46 PLEURAL – sounds like PLURAL = more than one
48 IDEAL – I(rish), DAL = LAD = boy, reversed, around E(nglish)
50 ARCH – double definition

6 comments on “Jumbo 1118”

  1. There were a couple here (1ac, 44d) that I got because ‘half-inch’ and ‘in the club’ had appeared in daily cryptics recently enough that they hadn’t completely faded from memory. ENOSIS was my LOI, and COD; I imagine it would help solve it to be of a certain age, though.
  2. My only mistake,wrote shakespeareans,forgetting americana,africana etc.Don’t get ANA,somebody help,please.(C.ONG’ARA,NAIROBI)
    1. -ana as a suffix indicates ‘publications etc. relating to X’, as in Americana, Shakespeareana, SOED gives railwayana, cricketana as well. ana as a word, which I’ve never seen outside of the NY Times crossword, means much the same thing: SOED gives ‘1) a collection of a person’s memorable sayings. M18. 2) publications or other items concerning or associated with a person, place, activity, etc.’ in other words the same as -ana.
  3. I just noticed your comment on the definition. In the US, a whistle-stop was a brief train stop made by a political campaigner on his tour of the area, to make a short speech before the train moved on. Given the death of US railroads, I don’t suppose the term’s used much anymore.
  4. Thanks,Kevin,remarkable to see an American who’s into cryptics,I thought they only cared about the NY Times and LA types,which are beyond me.(ONG’ARA,KENYA)

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