Quick Crossword 484 by Tracy

Author   emu66Posted on Categories Quick Cryptic
Some clever mis-directions in a number of clues this week. In 24a at first I took shock for the anagram indicator and looked for a treatment, though I don’t know why now – it’s a pretty standard use. I enjoyed the unusual phrase breaks in both 16d and 18d which disguised the definitions. LOI 25a and we’ve had 2d in the short time I’ve been blogging, I think. Thanks setter.

Across
1 Toy not starting? You need a current: EDDY
(t)EDDY
3 Ahead, master swimming against the current: UPSTREAM
Ahead = UP, anagram (swimming) of MASTER
9 This’ll carry climbers galore, rambling by opening of pass: PERGOLA
Anagram (rambling) of GALORE with P(ass)
10 Snake – one that may be scaled, except for head: ADDER
(l)ADDER
11 State, likewise, gives permission: SAY-SO
State = SAY, likewise = SO
12 Elected to change one after the other: IN TURN
Elected = IN, change = TURN
14 Goes regularly, possibly producing mugshots : ROGUES GALLERY
Anagram (possibly) of GOES REGULARLY
17 Fellow with article about an English speaking country : GUYANA
Fellow = GUY, article = A, about AN
19 Michelangelo’s financial backer: ANGEL
Hidden clue
22 Ladies’ man over after capital: ROMEO
Over = O, capital = ROME
23 Thug’s initial motive for crime: TREASON
T(hug), motive = REASON
24 Given treatment, as host in shock: ASTONISH
Anagram (given treatment) of AS HOST IN
25 Fell in dock: MOOR
Double definition

Down
1 Former Post Office certain to get publicity: EXPOSURE
Former = EX, Post Office = PO, certain = SURE
2 English city in which neighbouring teams play each other: DERBY
Double definition
4 Mary’s painting jumping insect: PRAYING MANTIS
Anagram (jumping) of MARY’S PAINTING
5 Warm temperature kiln required: TOAST
Temperature = T, kiln = OAST
6 Favour daughter entering English language: ENDORSE
Daughter = D, language = NORSE
7 Married woman’s title, about a planet: MARS
Married woman’s title = MRS, about A
8 Wild dog , shy, moving toe: COYOTE
Shy = COY, anagram (moving) of TOE
13 Look on passenger ship for a kind of cosmetic: EYELINER
Look on = EYE, passenger ship = LINER
15 Epicure commending our methods, partly: GOURMET
Hidden word
16 Let out of jail, finally relaxed: LEASED
(Jai)L, relaxed = EASED
18 Bother with our sailors below deck : ADORN
Bother = ADO, our sailors = RN
20 Enthusiasm got us into trouble: GUSTO
Anagram (into trouble) of GOT US
21 Uplifting simple tune after a song sung in opera : ARIA
Reversal (uplifting) of simple tune = AIR, after A

17 comments on “Quick Crossword 484 by Tracy”

  1. For me the most difficult of the week. Although some were write-ins, I took far too long to get the anagram at 14a, was convinced the English city in 2d was Ely and I spent an age getting my LOI 3a. Sometimes I feel I try to be too clever by half.
    Good blog. Nice puzzle.
  2. Perfect difficulty for me, in that I knew if I kept trying, I’d get there eventually.

    Loved all the misdirections, too.

  4. Yes, this was another one on the harder side. The 2 long anagrams were a big help (they usually are if you can get them fairly quickly). It took me a surprisingly long time to see COYOTE. I went fishing for “dingo” and then wondered if “wild” was an anagram indicator. Silly of me really not to think of them immediately because we get them in the Rhinebeck area of NYS, and quite unnerving they are when you hear them in the night. As Emu says, there was a similar misdirection in 24a. 6.59
  5. Too difficult for me today. Failed on 25a and 5d. I also had to guess 19a from the checkers and am still a bit unclear about the link between angels and financial backers.
    1. In amongst roughly 13 (!) definitions for ‘angel’, Chambers has ‘ a financial backer esp one who finances theatrical venues’.
        1. You’re welcome – definitely one of the more obscure meanings, and originally a bit of a biff for me.
    1. Chambers has ‘fell – an upland tract of wasteland, pasture or moorland’ and ‘moor – a wide expanse of uncultivated ground esp upland’. Hope that helps.
  7. I also have a problem with 16d
    Leased does not mean let out.
    That would be released.
    A property that is leased is let.
    Is this the lazy use of the language? Deployed by setters, tolerated by solvers, but only queried by purists such as I?
    1. This was purely my mistake when typing up the blog in html; I underlined too many words. It is corrected now.
    2. LEASED can be either “let” or “let out” – the clue tolerates both meanings and both are correct. Any language purist also knows that “fell” meaning “moor” is a well-known usage in the Northern parts of the UK. If you are going to criticize setters for poor or lazy work you do need to get up to speed yourself. And if you wish to comment here please identify yourself – it doesn’t take long and costs nothing. P.S. You’ve nothing to apologise for Emu.

      Edited at 2016-01-15 07:12 pm (UTC)

    3. “… only queried by purists such as I?”. Evidently not a purist.

      Sorry about the position of this. It should have appeared below the post by Anonymous above.

      Edited at 2016-01-15 10:03 pm (UTC)

  8. As yesterday I nearly gave up after quite a long session. Today the problem was the NE corner needing 5d, 6d and 12a. I also struggled with 17a and 24a. But none of it with hindsight was too difficult or obscure in my opinion. Just an excellent test.
    In the end I saw TOAST having struggled to get away from Oven.And at 24a I took Shock as the anagram indicator. LOI was Endorse and I endorse this puzzle. David
  9. Enjoyed this and plugged away over despairing moments to complete ok. 19a could be a ‘business Angel’ one who provides capital and sometimes mentoring too. Thx for explaining 5d toast! My favourites today 1d exposure and 17a Guyana.

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