Quick Cryptic 2600 by Hurley

Author   CuraristPosted on Categories Quick Cryptic

 

I think this is close to the ideal QC – not too difficult, and with a mixture of write-ins and clues that needed a bit more thought. An exactly on-par 6 minutes for me.

Across
1 Cheerful substitute, good, honourable (10)
UPSTANDING – UP (cheerful) + STAND-IN + G
8 Inducement of vehicle? Nonsense (6)
CARROT – CAR + ROT. A reference to the carrot dangled in front of a donkey to get it to move, which to me suggests donkeys are idiots.
9 Usual practice of copper’s cat (6)
CUSTOM – CU (copper) + S + TOM (cat)
10 Queen’s manner when outsiders leave (4)
ANNE – MANNER minus the first and last letters
11 Slicer or musical instrument? Guy at party recalled nothing (8)
MANDOLIN – MAN (guy) + DO (party) + LIN (NIL backwards). I swear by my mandolin, which is super handy for  slicing potatoes for dauphinoise etc,  but I thought it had an ‘e’ on the end. Turns out both spellings are allowed.
12 Unfinished direction about Public Relations growth (6)
SPROUT – SOUT[H] outside of PR
14 Design trendy shelter (6)
INTENT – IN + TENT. Lovely example of misdirection using a less common meaning. Also proves Curarist’s First Law which is that the number one trick of crossword setters is to mess with parts of speech. ‘Design’ here is presented as a verb, but really it’s a noun.
16 Status of turbulent priest — extremely godlike? (8)
PRESTIGE – Anagram (‘turbulent’) of PRIEST + G[odlik]E. Momentarily considered biffing ‘decapitated’ for this.
18 Hope wife is home at the outset (4)
WISH – W + IS + H[ome]
20 Ultimately not mistake to see troublesome child (6)
TERROR – T + ERROR
21 What’s needed maybe to be mother? To pater, mostly silly (6)
TEAPOT – anagram (‘silly’) of TO PATE[R]. ‘Being mother’ is an old-fashioned phrase meaning ‘being the one who pours the tea for everyone’
22 Tardy in supporting round of applause (10)
BEHINDHAND – BEHIND + HAND
Down
2 Seafood not cooked at noon following pressure (5)
PRAWN -RAW + N after P
3 Weapon code, protective, partially backed (7)
TORPEDO – backwards hidden word
4 Biscuit enthusiast (3)
NUT – double definition. ‘Nut’ as in ginger nut.
5 Additional payment maybe in currency unit one has (9)
INCENTIVE -IN + CENT + IVE
6 US soldier’s short time gadget (5)
GISMO -GI + S + MO. Another alternative spelling that I am distressed to find is permitted. I shall write to my MP.
7 Movement’s formal proposal (6)
MOTION – double definition
11 Powerful lady’s armchair repaired (about time!) (9)
MATRIARCH – anagram (‘repaired’) of ARMCHAIR + T
13 Package wrapped in Spar: Cellophane (6)
PARCEL – hidden word
15 Thaw? Opt to change route by river perhaps (7)
TOWPATH – anagram (‘to change’) of THAW OPT
17 Quiet massage for Hazel? (5)
SHRUB – SH (quiet) + RUB (massage). ‘Massage’ is ALWAYS ‘rub’. A masseur/euse is ALWAYS a ‘rubber’. Heed my words, O crossword novices.
19 Be a little romantic with server? (5)
SPOON – double definition, the first a slightly old-fashioned word for what we used to call ‘snogging’.
21 Style — very large amount (3)
TON – double definition. Large amount is figurative, eg ‘I have a ton of work to do’

83 comments on “Quick Cryptic 2600 by Hurley”

  1. 19 mins…

    A bit late to this today, so haven’t read all of the comments. Nothing too difficult, although 22ac “Behindhand” seemed a bit of an odd word. Still struggling to see what context it would be used in. I initially spelt 6dn “Gismo” with a “z” – so that took a little bit of unravelling.

    FOI – 2dn “Prawn”
    LOI – 22ac “Behindhand”
    COD – 8ac “Carrot”

    Thanks as usual!

  2. How is this “nicely pitched” when there are words not used (in the intended senses) since the 19th century? (SPOON and TON).

  3. DNF

    This seemed so easy. Nearly done in 10 but came unstuck in the bottom right. Took forever to get SPOON and TON but just couldn’t think of a word to fit the LOI BEHINDHAND.

  4. Well tons to capture the imagination today, from the usual practice of the copper’s cat to hoping the wife is at home at the outset and then spooning!

    Thanks Curarist and Hurley

  5. I began with ten straight write-ins, but then reality took over.

    Finished in 16 mins, the last two debating whether to enter spoon. Given my record this week, I was not hopeful, but I was vaguely aware of it being used by DH Lawrence. Feel like I missed a good time today.

    A dreadful week:
    Mon – 12 min DNF (one error)
    Tue – 32 min DNF (one error)
    Wed – 17 mins
    Thu – 33 min DNF (one overlooked clue!)
    Fri – 16 mins

    This had the capacity to be a decent week (by my low standards). As it is, three fails makes it the worst since I began to achieve regular finishes. Optimism is a commodity in short supply where I am concerned.

    Thanks for the blog.

  6. Busy day so a late solve this evening. No real problems. Pondered NUT but seemed to fit. Knew TON from Bridgerton. Liked TEAPOT as it reminded me of my late mum who used this phrase frequently. Liked CARROT. Thanks all.

  7. Behindhand! I mean WHO SAYS BEHINDHAND … EVER?! Hopeless for us struggling novices … despair – etc!

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