One at the easier end of the Quickie spectrum today, I thought, or maybe I’m just starting to get my eye in. That said, a few were quite challenging to parse fully (albeit they went in quickly enough based on definition and other checkers – and then it was a case of a bit of ex post facto justification). 20 minutes, with about 5 of these spent on the last couple down in the south east corner which – like so many solutions – were obvious once the penny dropped, but it was a fair while dropping…
Thanks to the setter Corelli for an enjoyable puzzle. I had a vague recollection of Corelli as a Baroque composer and was anticipating a few musical references, but instead we got teeth, hair, a manicure and some square bashing to get us trim – more of a makeover than a musical soiree. Anyway, here we go…
[On edit – made a bit of a dog’s breakfast of formatting: apologies, hope it is legible]
Across
1 SUSAN -“She” points us to a female name, and there it is hidden in part of – partially – “gives us a nod“
4 BROWSE -“Look over” is the definition bit of the clue: the answer is also derived from the wordplay of hilltops (“BROWS”) with east (“E”)
9 DENTIST -“One who’ll fill” gives our definition (the question mark at the end of the clue often indicates there might be a bit of a pun or something jokey about the clue): the wordplay also giving the answer is hollow (“DENT”) with first (i.e. “1ST”). First bit of our makeover…
10 DUE TO -“As a result of” provides the definition: the wordplay is pair singing (“DUET”) with orchestra’s beginning (i.e. “O” – being the first letter – beginning – of Orchestra).
11 BID -“Order” gives the definition (somewhat old fashioned usage of “bid”: I recall a TV ad from years ago where a chap in 18th century gear said “I bade my wife prepare breakfast” and the dutiful wife produced a packet of whatever cereal was being advertised… these days I suspect he’d get a dusty response in most households with which I’m familiar, sword and velvet doublet notwithstanding). The answer is also derived from the first letters – starters – of “bistro Italian diner”
12 FAREWELL -“So long” gives us the definition: the answer also comes from food (“FARE”) followed by (after) water source (“WELL”)
15 RAFFLE TICKETS -“those we’d like drawn” is the definition bit, with the answer being an anagram of fat freckliest (the anagram is signposted by “characters strangely“)
17 DISSOLVE -“Break up” provides the definition: the wordplay also giving the answer is plummet (“DIVE”) holding defeat back (“SSOL” i.e. loss backwards)
18 THE -Definition is “article”: the wordplay is “TH” (abbreviation of Thursday) with “E” (being evening’s leader). Bit of a soft one, even for the Quickie. Let’s move rapidly on…
20 DRILL -“Practice” provides the definition (as in square bashing rather than the terrifying instrument wielded by 9ac). The answer also comes from the wordplay Sick (“ILL”) prefaced by doctor (“DR”). The toughest part of the makeover… Good clue, I thought.
22 EVEREST -“Peak” gives our definition bit, with the answer also coming from take it easy (“REST”) on night before (“EVE”). Overall, the clue (or “surface” as the crossword aficionados call it) provides sage advice.
23 LOG OUT – “Do it before leaving PC” is the (somewhat extensive) definition. The answer is also derived from turn (“GO”- whose go is it…?) “in” hooligan (“LOUT”). For the benefit of those who are even newer than me to this game, this is a classic example of how cryptics are (in a sense) easier to get with certainty than non cryptic crosswords. Hands up all those who, on first reading of the definition, thought “Log Off”? Quite a few, would be my bet. But, there’s no way (at least that I can see) whereby you could construct Log Off from the remainder of the clue. The way that the additional wordplay essentially validates the answer you might have tentatively got from the definition (or, in this case, invalidates your initial incorrect definition-based response) is one of the great differentiators and advantages of the cryptic. Here endeth the homily.
24 TASKS -This was tricky (at least for me) and I spent an unfeasibly long time on this one (and it’s associate – from an intersection perspective – 14 down). The definition bit is “Some Labour” (advice to the real newbies: don’t let that capital L fool you – one of the setter’s little tricks – perfectly legitimate in this cat and mouse game). The wordplay is [Kremlin’s] news agency (“TASS”) “covering” leader in Kremlin (“K”)
Down
1 SIDEBURN -Moving on with the makeover – get rid of that burdensome fuzz! “facial hair” gives us our definition: the answer is also an anagram of is burden – the anagram being indicated by “unkempt”
2 SYNOD -“assembly of clergy” provides the definition. The answer also comes from every other letter – every so often – in spying old. At school I learned of the Synod of Whitby, the memory of which is revived whenever I visit the Prospect of Whitby, a fine (venerable?) watering hole in Wapping
3 NAIL FILES -“items for manicure” gives the definition. The answer is also derived from an anagram of finalise (with the anagram being signposted by moves) with an “L” (large). Yet more of the makeover…
5 ROD -“staff” gives us our definition. The wordplay is “R” (abbreviation of Republican) with OD (being “do” – as in party – ) upset (i.e. messed around with)
6 WHEELIE -“Trick cyclist does” give us our (pretty straightforward) definition. However, the wordplay is a bit more convoluted and it took me some time to parse it fully. little gives us “WEE”, which holds “H” (being abbreviation of hard), followed by “LIE” being position (as in lie of a ball on the golf course – “got a tricky lie” is an oft heard lament of yours truly explaining away his triple bogey).
7 ETON -“School” gives our definition. It also sounds like (or is a homonym to give it the full treatment) of “eaten”- clued by scoffed
8 STORYTELLER -“Liar” is the definition. The wordplay is vendor (“SELLER”) including (keeping) “TO RY T” (being to with “ry” as an abbreviation of railway and “t” as first letter of “timetable” – timetable at first)
13 WICKEDEST -“Most villainous” gives us our definition. The wordplay is “WICKET” (being a kind of gate , which some say is the origin of the stumps that go cartwheeling when I bat) with “DES” – being “of the” (plural) in French – blocking it (i.e. getting in the way of the free flow of wicket).
14 ASBESTOS -“I’m very resilient in heat” is the definition bit. The wordplay is like giving us “AS”, champion giving us “BEST”, and so being “raised” giving us “OS”. In retrospect, no idea why I struggled with this one for a few minutes – I just did…
16 FAILING -“defect” gives us our definition (I spent a while going down the Philby kind of road until the penny dropped – subconsciously probably fell for the preceding adverb – “unexpectedly” – pointing me to “defect” as a verb rather than a noun). The wordplay is an anagram (indicated by unexpectedly) of Final I coming before “G” (being an abbreviation of Grand).
18 TRESS -“Hair” provides the definition (makeover artist at it again). The wordplay is simply mat removed from MATTRESS (i.e. bedding)
19 IDOL -“graven image” is the definition. The wordplay is DI (Princess) with LO (Behold) and both being lifted (i.e. upside down)
21 LOU -Bit of a tame one to end with. LOU can be either a Boy or girl, and is also derived from LOUD (deafening without end).
I agree that this seemed on the easier end of the spectrum although I struggled with the NE corner myself. I’ve noticed that the QC seems to have few clues involving more than two bits of construction in the wordplay. I think it is why I struggled over WHEELIE despite fond memories of enjoying them on my bicycles as a child and, ehem it wasn’t me officer, again on my motorcycle when … (less said the better).
Same issue with STORYTELLER. Of course this three or more bits of construction type clue are commonplace in the main puzzle. I wonder if that is why the experienced solvers sometimes find the quickie a bit of a challenge. Maybe they are simply looking for something more complex?
I thought 18dn might be a bit tricky for some on the GK front. It was something I happened to know and thought of immediately but I was still a bit thrown by ‘Some’ which I might see as padding rather than part of the definition.
Can anyone remember which setter compiled #2 on 11th March please?
Nice blog, Nick. Btw, you having a missing T towards the end of 18dn.
Edited at 2014-03-26 10:31 am (UTC)
Thanks Nick.
Interestingly I have to solve the main puzzle before approaching this one or I don’t do particularly well on the Quick.
Some clues are coming more instinctively now but I fell into 2 traps: failure for failing & the ubiquitous log off.
Z8 is hinting a lot less & even praised me for my speed on a couple of clues. Old age must be mellowing him..
COD 18dn, LOI 20ac – circular completion pattern.
Nice thorough blog from my fellow-novice!
Edited at 2014-03-27 12:33 am (UTC)