Jumbo 898

Author   sghansonPosted on Categories Jumbo Cryptic
This one was fairly straightforward. Any obscure words were clued using clear wordplay.

I did not record any time as I completed the crossword over a couple of sessions.

There was some discussion on the Crossword Club Forum where a couple of people were surprised to find that there was an error in their entry. From one of Peter B’s comments, I think this may have been in relation to 47D where ASHTAR is one of those words that sounds correct, but is not. I believe the use of one = A is not allowed in the Times Cryptics.

Across
1 STOMACH ACHE – MOST*, ACH,ACH = cry from Germany, doubly, (prostrat)E
7 ACCOMPLICES – C in (POLICE SCAM)*
13 GREAT-GRANDPARENTS – GREAT = very, PA in GRAND RENTS = excellent lets
14 NAVVY – V in NAVY = serving people
15 RESORT – OR in REST = lodge
16 COHESIVE – HE, SI = is returning, in COVE = fellow
17 ACRYLIC – RY = lines, in A CLIC(k)
19 OYSTER BED – double definition. I needed to check post solve that one definition of STEW is an oyster bed
21 SYLLABIC – S = second, YLLA = ally = partner, reversed, BIC = BBC with change of heart
23 AIDA – A,IDA. IDA and AIDA are bothe princesses in opera
25 TRONC – hidden in (pa)TRON C(ontributions). A pool for tips, etc
27 DANTON – D(uke), (w)ANTON. I needed to check afterwards that Danton was a French revolutionary
28 ZABAGLIONE – Z=unknown, A and E around BAG = catch, LION = hero
30 DETAINEE – cryptic definition
31 BIBLIOGRAPHERS – (B(ook) IS HORRIBLE GAP)*
34 STOCKTON-ON-TEES – (NO CONTEST STOKE)*
35 ESCAPIST – (SPACES(u)IT)*
38 NON-FICTION – NOTION=idea, around initial letters of N(ew) F(ees) I(n) C(ollege). As parents of an aspiring university applicant I’m not sure I appreciated the surface reading
40 TRIPOS – TRIPS = makes a mistake, around O
41 ENNUI – t(ENNI)s around U(niversal)
43 deliberately omitted, please ask if necessary
44 CABRIOLE – CA = about, BRIO = vigour, LE(g)
45 SHEFFIELD – EFF(ort) in SHIELD = trophy
48 ATLASES – SEA around SALT, all reversed
49 DESPAIRS – DES = of the (French), PAIRS = matches
50 EXHALE – EXE = river, around HAL(f) = drink.
53 deliberately omitted, please ask if necessary
54 HOLDING OPERATIONS – HOLDINGS = things one owns, around all of OPERA = musical work, TON = fashion around 1
55 DESCRIPTIVE – (EDIT PRECIS)* around V(olume)  
56 EVER AND ANON – EVER = REVE(rend) reversed, AND = with, c(ANON)
 
Down
1 SUGAR-COATED – SUGAR = darling, COD = DOC reversed, around ATE = swallowed
2 OBEYS – O = round, BEYS = governors
3 ASTARTE – ATE = worried, around STAR = sun
4 HARD – (c)HARD = vegetable
5 CONCORDANT – CONCORD(e), ANT=worker
6 EXPRESSIONISTS – (PERSONS,SIXTIES)*
7 deliberately omitted, please ask if necessary
8 CONTE – CONTE(nt) = happy
9 MESSALINA – A(ristocratic),L(ine) in MESSINA
10 LANARK – L(och), AN ARK = a boat
11 CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE – (ID BE, SILICON DEVICE)*
12 SKYSCRAPERS – SKYERS = hits, around SC = namely,and RAP = music
18 ABEDNEGO – ABED = retired, (GONE)*. In the Bible Abednego was one of three men unharmed by fire after professing their faith in God to Nebuchadnezzar
20 SHOOT DOWN IN FLAMES – SHOOT = bag, DOWN = feathers, IN, F(ine), LAME = game, S(on)
22 ANALOG – ANA = sounds like Anna, LOG = record. The US spelling of analogue.
24 SLIPPAGE – SLIP = cutting, PAGE = leaf
26 CHICK LIT – CHIC = stylish, then T(ons), ILK = sort both reversed
29 BLUE-GREEN ALGAE – (E(v)EN, LARGE, BELUGA)*
32 RESISTED – RED=scarlet, around SISTE(r)=nun
33 COLOUR – CO=commander, LOUR=threatening look
34 deliberately omitted, please ask if necessary
36 THIRD PERSON – double definition
37 APOSTROPHE – (APROPOS, THE)*
39 TRANS-SHIP – TRIP around AN=article, SS=ship, around H(old)
42 CONSPIRE – CON = study, SPIRE = point
46 FIXATED – FATED = destined, around 1, X=kiss
47 ISHTAR – 1, STAR around H(usband).
49 DELHI – DELI around H(ard)
51 ACORN – A, CO(mpany), RN = Royal Navy. Mast is a term for nuts, used as feed.
52 deliberately omitted, please ask if necessary

 

4 comments on “Jumbo 898”

  2. Fresh in my mind as I only finished it off on the train tonight. Last two in were ZABAGLIONE and SLIPPAGE, which had me scratching my head for a while. Both seemed obvious once I’d parsed the clues correctly, so one-up to the setter.
  3. ASHTAR was indeed my problem – I forgot to use the I/A rule, or the rule that the answer has to be a real word – if I’d thought of ISHTAR as well as ASHTAR, I think I might have chosen the right one.

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