Yet another fairly straightforward jumbo, I have omitted the majority of the definitions as they are very clearly signposted. Really very little to add, so apologies for the brevity of some of the explanations.
| Across | |
| 1 | COPYRIGHT – COPY=follow, RIGHT=conservatives, definition “control over reproduction” |
| 6 | MUSES – M=male, USES=exploits |
| 9 | OMITTED – MITT=baseball equipment in(inside) OED=Oxford English Dictionary=British Lexicon |
| 13 | VOILA – “In” here is the “is created by” type link word with V=very and A=short article about OIL=fuel, the French “producer” in the definition is slightly whimsical implying someone revealing |
| 14 | OVERRUN – slightly weak double definition |
| 15 | SOFTENING – OFTEN=frequently, incarcerated=inside (phrased to fit with the surface), SING=half of US prison. SING SING is something I only know of from “half of it” in crosswords. Apparently it is in Ossining, New York – the overlap of letters suggests a potentially very cunning clue! |
| 16 | THAT IS TO SAY – HAT=headgear, ISTOS = (I toss)* inside TAY=river. The definition is just “Ie”, hidden definitions in pronouns or the like are great for confusing the solver. |
| 17 | MAIDEN OVERS – I guess this is an attempt to cryptically confuse with thought of a picket line, but if you see it, it seems a fairly straight definition. |
| 18 | SLEIGH – It would seem that ICE meaning to “slay” is an American idea. It probably is originally, but I wouldnt necessarily equate it solely with the US, if I even accepted it at all. Hmmm.. |
| 19 | ARMOURED – ARM=section (as in of a company), OUR ED= the editor we have, protected is the definition |
| 21 | SAMPAN – SAM=south american, PAN=vessel, This is the Asian version. |
| 25 | RUNS AMOK – RUNS=publishes, AM OK=brief message confirming my safety, definition=riots |
| 26 | ROBINSON CRUSOE – ROBINS=fliers, ON, CRUSOE = (course)*. Makes a difference from “theive” and “(connisseur)*” which I have seen a few times |
| 28 | WHEEL – W=with, HEEL=instruction for boxer=dog |
| 29 | BRAINY – BY=in reserve, RAIN=water supply. |
| 30 | HARD CHEESE – HARD=cruel, CHEESE=thing to say when being shot (by a camera) |
| 33 | EXPEDITION – P=page in EX=former EDITION=issue, def=promptness |
| 35 | HAMLET – HAM=poor actor, LET=allowed, for the famous cigar, er… title role. |
| 36 | FRIAR – FAR=very much, RI=religious instruction=teachings, feels to me like a “three-quarters” &lit, not a full one due to the “as this” but getting there.</a> |
| 38 | REINFORCEMENTS – REIN=control, FORTS=strongholds, including C=hundred, E=english, MEN=soldiers. The definition is “extra troops” |
| 40 | MIDNIGHT – MID = reversal of DIM=dark, NIGH=near, T=end of west, the defintion alludes to a MIDNIGHT snack. |
| 42 | METRIC – an interesting contradiction that I hadn’t seen before, feet in poetry being METRIC, but the opposite thing in measurement terms. |
| 43 | RECALLED – ALL=everyone in RECED(e)=endless retreat |
| 44 | HAZARD – HARD=tough, covering Z=unkown, A=area, the definition slightly cryptic with drivers being golf clubs/players. |
| 47 | INFANTRYMAN – INFANT=child, (ARMY)* then N=name. |
| 50 | GET TOGETHER – quite a long hidden phrase, but perhaps too long not to be obvious. |
| 52 | EARLINESS – EARS=hearing things! about LINES=school punishment. The definition being the opposite of unpunctuality. |
| 53 | HECTARE – (teacher)* anagrind being “recollected”. Not sure why the land has to be in France, but I suppose that is the origin? |
| 54 | TINNY – TINY being english for piccolo, around N=note. Def =”sounding metallic” |
| 55 | SPOTLIT – SPOT the dog, LIT=landed, def=”in the centre of attention”. |
| 56 | NEPAL – seen this one a few times before, based on the fact that to the NE of NEPAL is CHINA=pal. |
| 57 | DEADLY SIN – (lady dines)* for something which gluttony is an example of. |
| Down | |
| 1 | COVET – def=want, then CO=top officer, VET=carry out inspection. |
| 2 | PRIVATE ENTERPRISE – PRIVATE=soldier, ENTER=join, PRISE=force, for the non-PUBLIC affair. |
| 3 | READING GAOL – READING=interpreting, O=love in GAL=young woman, the whole being the topic of a well known ballad/poem by Oscar Wilde. |
| 4 | GHOSTS – G=good, HOSTS=landlords. Surface works for alcohol rather than spectres. |
| 5 | TREASURY – (a user)* inside TRY=tax |
| 6 | MERRY GO ROUND – ERR=blunder in MY=the writer’s, GO=essay, ROUND=about. |
| 7 | SAND MARTIN – SMARTIN’ = feelin’ pain, AND=also, internally, for the bird. |
| 8 | SUSHI – IS reversed about US=american, H=hospital |
| 9 | OFF SEASON – OFF/ON = switch positions, switch being a noun rather than verb, SEAS=lots of water! |
| 10 | IDES OF MARCH – not quite following the word play – I reckon it is “sides of march”=”left, right” with the start off. I can see that “left, right” suggests marching, but whether these are “sides” I dont know? Maybe I have it totally wrong. |
| 11 | TRIPE – TRIP=make mistake, E=english |
| 12 | DIGEST – double definition |
| 18 | STRAWBERRY – STRAW=trifle, BERRY sounds like BURY=put out of sight |
| 20 | DISMALLY – SMALL=little in DIY=home-work |
| 22 | ANSWERING MACHINE – see the answer to 50A – exactly the same here. |
| 23 | SORBET – BE=live, surrounded by SORT=nature |
| 24 | CELEBRATED – Thought=CEREBRATED, with R(ight) becoming L(eft) |
| 27 | SABOTEUR – (sure boat)* |
| 31 | DETAIL – double def |
| 32 | TAUTOLOGICAL – TAUT=tense, O=old, GI=soldier inside LOCAL=pub. Apologies for the rubbish previously, thanks to kevingregg. |
| 34 | DEFERENTIAL – DEFER=put off, (in late)* |
| 36 | FUNDAMENTAL – FUND=supply, MENTAL=in mind, around A=area. |
| 37 | DEACONSHIP – (a second)* then HIP=joint |
| 39 | RECURRENT – give this one to the setter as for ages I thought it should be QE2 for the “current” queen, only when typing this did I twig the I=current part! |
| 41 | LEFTWARD – LEFT WARD = exited hospital, and “not right” (directionally) |
| 45 | SINEWS – IS reversed, then NEWS=intelligence |
| 46 | BODEGA – AGED=old, OB=old boy=student no longer, all reversed. |
| 48 | FORGO – FOR=pro, GO=game |
| 49 | MASON – MA’s = degree’s ON=possible, slightly cryptic definition, courses being brickwork. |
| 51 | RAYON – (O yarn)* |
This one took me 50’15”, quite fast for me, but I went for CEREBRATED instead of CELEBRATED, after looking long and hard at the clue and in fact changing my mind, in the wrong direction. But couldn’t ‘thought’ be the definition? Please?
I think 24D is a little ambiguous, and can read it both ways. I picked celebrated because of the “here” word, which I took to indicate the answer part, but that is the only reason.
I loved 39dn, cod for me.
Don’t ever feel the need to apologise Marcos, simply being willing to blog a jumbo in the first place marks you out as a special person 😉