Jumbo 1238

Nothing much to comment on here – a straightforward Jumbo.

The only thing that took a little time was justifying the solution to 52A – but the answer was clear from the checking letters.

Across
1 WIDOWER – WOWER = stunner, around I = one, D(aughter)
5 BASE METAL – BASE = bottom, (deni)M, ET AL = the rest
10 FLEA – F(emale), LEA = meadow
14 VALUE-ADDED TAX – VALUE = appreciate, ADDED = extra, TAX(i) = transport
15 EXPEDIENT – EX = out of, PENT = imprisoned, around DIE = to be executed
16 GAMEKEEPER – GAME = plucky, KEEPER = goalie
17 MARSTON MOOR – (MATRONS ROOM)*
18 CAIRN – double definition
19 DENTIFRICE – DENT = make an impression, IF, RICE = grass
21 LEAN-TO – LEAN = thin, TO(n) = a lot of weight
23 MINNEHAHA – MINNE = sounds like MINI = little, HA-HA = ditch
25 EXURB – BRUTE = vicious character, reversed and with X = unknown replacing T = time
26 IRONMAN – IRAN = Muslim country around ON = working and M(ale)
28 CROSS-GARTERED – CROSSED = passed over, around GARTER = high chivalric honour
31 ELEPHANTS – (th)E, HELP*, ANTS = workers
33 LUCRETIUS – LUCRE = riches, TIUS = SUIT = plea, reversed
35 LIPOGRAMMATIC – (MAGICAL IMPORT)*
37 CAMBRIC – CAM = eccentric, BRIC(k) = building block
38 COBRA – CO = firm, BRA = support
40 MILKSHAKE – MILKS = extracts, HAKE = fish
42 LARDON – hidden in colLAR DO Notice
44 REAL MADRID – REALM = country, AD = bill, RID = clear
46 CHILD – CD = record, around HIL(l) = rise
48 AT FIRST HAND – AT FIRST = initially, HAND = one offered to help
50 MICKEY FINN – MICKEY = mouse, F(ine), INN = pub
52 MAGDALENE – M.A. = degree, GALEN = doctor, around D(uke), (cours)E. Took some parsing to justify
53 PEACE DIVIDEND – (NEED CAP)*, around DIVIDE = separate
54 NOES – sounds like NOSE = feature
55 MATCH PLAY – CHAMP* around T = tee, LAY = bet
56 GREATER – GRATER = kitchen utensil, around E(nergy)
 
Down
1 WAVE – WA(i)VE = don’t insist on
2 DALMATIAN – double definition
3 WHERE ANGELS FEAR TO TREAD – cryptic definition
4 REDHEAD – RE = about, DEAD = sort of heat, around H(orse)
5 BIEN PENSANT – (SENT A NIB)* around PEN = writer
6 SATURNINE – S.A.E. = envelope, around TURN = change and IN
7 MAXIM – MAXIM(um) = all you can get
8 THE CRUCIBLE – double definition, the second referring to the Sheffield theatre
9 LAPUTA – PUT = sited, in alternate letters of vLtAvA
11 LIE DOWN – LIED = told stories, OWN = have
12 AFTERNOON – (OFTEN RAN)* around O = circle
13 A DANCE TO THE MUSIC OF TIME – A DANCE = a figure, TO THE MUSIC OF TIME = accompanied by old father playing
18 COMICAL – COL = officer, around MICA = mineral
20 ROUND UP – ROUNND = drink for everyone, UP = more expensive
22 FINE GAEL – (FEELING A(wful))*
24 AT A PINCH – A TAP IN = a gimme, CH(eck)
27 MANET – TEN A.M. = late rising?, reversed
29 OCCAM – O C = zero Celsius = point of freezing, CAM = river
30 RELABEL – REEL = dance, around LAB = dog
32 SUCCEED – sounds like SUCK SEED = get juice out of a pip
34 SECRET AGENT – SENT = given mision, around CRETE = island, around AG = silver
36 GIMCRACKERY – G.I. = American who may have been impressed, MY, around CRACKER = fine example
37 CELLARMAN – CELL ARM = prison wing, AN
39 ALARM CALL – double definition
41 ALIGNMENT – LIGAMENT*, around (surgeo)N
43 REFUGEE – R(esent), E,E,E = lots of English, around FUG = stuffy atmosphere
45 DIETING – DIE = pass on, TIN = can, G(ood)
47 STREAM – ST = way, REAM = enlarge bore
49 DEPTH – DEPT = section of business, H(eight)
51 ODER – RE-DO = work again on, reversed

3 comments on “Jumbo 1238”

  1. I was wondering about 6d and 8d; I should have figured out 6, but had no idea whatever about the snooker venue. 3d struck me as barely cryptic, but I suppose one shouldn’t complain about a nice long freebie. One might, on the other hand, complain a bit about ‘impressed’ in 36d; lots of GIs have been drafted since the term was introduced in the 1930s, but none were impressed. LOI 22d, which I’d say was the COD.
  2. Straightforward?To you SG,as for me,EXURB for instance took me four days to crack.A toughie for me.Ong’ara,Nairobi.
  3. Thank you for the excellent blog which explains everything. Like another commenter, I found this far from straightforward, one of the toughest Jumbos I can remember but all totally fair. Very enjoyable crossword. A few answers new to me but I managed in the main to tease them out from wordplay.

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