Jumbo 873

Author   sghansonPosted on Categories Jumbo Cryptic

Quite a few unfamiliar words and phrases in this one, but all with wordplay that leads reasonably clearly to the correct solution. I did not time myself on this as I did it in more than one sitting.

Across
1 BLACK FOREST – BEST = cream, around LACK FOR = need for
7 SAVORY – SAVOY around (Ap)R(il)
10 CLIP – double definition
14 LOOKOUT – cave as in Latin for look out
15 MAILMEN – M(ake),AILMEN(t)
16 CLANGER – I think the second part of the clue means that it sounds like “clangour”
17 INTENTIONALLY – sounds like “in tension”, followed by ALLY
18 UNSETTLED – double definition. Outstanding as in unpaid, or unsettled
19 GREAT – G(RE)AT
21 EPARCHATES – APE (=primate) reversed, RC, HATES. One of the ones I needed to confirm in a dictionary afterwards
23 deliberately omitted, please ask if necessary
25 DAIQUIRI – DAI,QU,I,RI = Ir reversed
26 CONTRACT BRIDGE – C,(BATTING RECORD)*
29 MADEIRA – ARI(d),EDAM all reversed
30 HINDEMITH – (be)HIND,EMIT,(churc)H
31 CURER – double definition
32 RABAT – hidden in (a)RAB AT(tempting)
34 CEREBELLA – CE,REBEL,LA
37 EYESPOT – EYE and SPOT are both synonyms for see
39 PSEUDOSCORPION – (PRODUCES POISON)*. I was very pleased to get this without checking letters!
41 IDEOGRAM – MI = motorway reversed around (EG ROAD)*
43 REDCAR – REDCA(p),R. MP in this case is a Military Policeman, also known as a Redcap, from the uniform
44 STROGANOFF – (A STRONG)* followed by OFF = strong smelling
45 TRUMP – T’ = the (as in Northern dialects), followed by RUMP = last
48 CHARACTER – CHARTER around A C(ountry)
49 UNDER THE TABLE – (DURABLE TENT HE)*
51 deliberately omitted, please ask if necessary
52 SHADOWS – SHOWS around AD
53 DRIBBLE – D,RIBBLE  
54 deliberately omitted, please ask if necessary
55 WHEEZE – double definition, the second by reference to the homophone of “whees”. Thanks to nmacsweeney for pointing out my incomplete entry
56 HONEYEATERS – HEATER’S = sun’s, around ONE, (jul)Y
 
Down
1 BELTING – double definition
2 APOSTLEBIRD – (DEBARS PILOT)
3 KNOWN – WONK,N all reversed
4 OUTSIDE BROADCAST – (STUDIO BASED ACTOR)*
5 EMMENTAL – (th)EM, MENTAL
6 TRIPLE CROWN – a crown was five shillings so a Triple Crown would be fifteen. A number of different sporting achievements, all involving three wins, can lead to a Triple Crown
7 SAMEY – YE = formerly you,MAS = graduates, all reversed
8 VENTURE CAPITAL – 32A Rabat is the capital of Morocco
9 RECESS – R(easonabl)E,CESS = tax.
11 LEGAL TENDER – LENDER around GAL,TE
12 PARADED – PARA,DE(e)D
13 TATTOOER – TATER = King Edward (potato) around TOO = likewise. My last one, but looking back on it I am not sure why
20 TOURIST – TO UIST around R(iver). North and South Uist are islands in the Outer Hebrides
22 ANTRE – hidden in (Inc)AN TRE(asures). A cavern, confirmed by the dictionary
24 AT THE END OF THE DAY – double definition
25 DEMIREP – PRIMED reversed around (lan)E. A lady of dubious virtue – another confirmed by the dictionary afterwards
27 ERRATUM – (MATURER)*
28 CHARLOTTE RUSSE – CHAR = fish, LOT = portion, followed by T(o) E(at) and RUSSE(t).
31 deliberately omitted, please ask if necessary
33 BREADBASKET – double definition, the first of which refers to areas like the Midwest of America where grain is widely grown
35 BEPPO – B,(z)EPPO. A Byron poem – I needed to check this one.
36 LEOPARD MOTH – ((expe)L,THE,POOR,MAD)*
38 PERTURBABLE – (BURBLE PRATE)*
40 DIAPASON – AID reversed, followed by PA,SON. Another one I checked after – a diapason is an organ stop
42 MORRISON – MORRIS = kind of dancing, followed by ON = acceptable. Morrison shelters were like large steel tables for use indoors during WWII
43 deliberately omitted, please ask if necessary
46 PEERESS – PRESS around (s)EE
47 deliberately omitted, please ask if necessary
49 UKASE – UK’S = our country’s around A(bout), all followed by E(uropean). A ukase is a Russian Tsar’s edict
50 TAIGA – alternate letters in sTrAyInG fAr

6 comments on “Jumbo 873”

  1. Thank you for the excellent blog for a puzzle that I found not too difficult, solving time about 50 mins. Two v minor points, in 45A I think the reference is to the LAST TRUMP ie at the time of judgment (Bible) and in 55A think it’s a homophone ie audible “whees”.

    Clues I marked as esp good UNSETTLED, CURER, OUTSIDE BROADCAST (best of all IMHO), SAMEY, TATTOOER, BREADBASKET

    1. Thank you for the clarification of 55A – my blog posting was incomplete.

      For 45A I am not so sure. I am not good on Bible references, but it seems quite a weak clue. It could just as easily refer to an Asimov short story or the fact that there can be a last trump in a hand of bridge.

      1. LAST TRUMP: I think it’s the religious reference that is intended. It’s defined that way in both Collins and the Concise Oxford dictionaries, which I think the Times use.
  2. “A number of different sporting achievements, all involving three wins, can lead to a Triple Crown.” Yes, but is there an actual, physical trophy for winning a Triple Crown? I’ve always thought of it as purely conceptual.
    1. Google (the all-seeing) does have images of Triple Crown trophies for rugby and horseracing.
  3. Not that deep into rugby union, but in that game, if any one of the four countries (England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland) beats all the other three in the same season it gets that honour, which, I think, was mythical (no actual trophy). However in more recent times, I think they may have created a trophy specially for it. In more recent times its effect has been diluted as both France and more recently Italy play in the same competition (5 Nations and then 6 Nations) so the Triple Crown is a play within a play.

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