Quick Cryptic 2876 by Beck

Author   CuraristPosted on Categories Quick Cryptic

A tad more difficult than usual judging by my time. LOI was 13ac which took me ages to see. 7:50 for me.

Across
1 Dishonest republican interrupts chef and newspaperman (7)
CROOKED – COOK with R for republican inserted followed by ED
5 Managed to carry one bucket? (4)
RAIN – RAN with I inside. ‘Bucket’ as a verb
7 In the morning I depart for friend overseas (5)
AMIGO – AM + I GO
8 Wrap up Eastern European returning with five points (7)
ENVELOP – POLE + V (five) + N[orth] + E[ast] backwards
10 Genetic make-up of every other part of Donna (3)
DNA – alternate letters. I’m sure clues like this used to be numerated as (1,1,1)?
11 ’50s conflict destroyed arena work (6,3)
KOREAN WAR – anagram (‘destroyed’) of ARENA WORK
13 US city splits westbound in tailspin (6)
SPIRAL – LA + RIPS all backwards
14 They say some hard looks are what’s needed to get to the next level? (6)
STAIRS – sounds like STARES. This took me ages to spot as well
17 Treated creakiest winter athlete (3-6)
ICE-SKATER – anagram (‘treated’) of CREAKIEST
19 Start on holiday (3)
OFF – Double definition, the first as in ‘the off’, the start of a horse race.
20 English northern couple with energy to twist (7)
ENTWINE – E + N + TWIN + E
22 Circle south, at times going by, city in Japan (5)
OSAKA – O + S + AKA (also known as)
23 Dad starts off very early to make a road (4)
PAVE – PA + V[ery]+ E[arly]
24 It helps relieve congestion encountered in government holiday (7)
MENTHOL – hidden word
Down
1 Doom to go after family secret (11)
CLANDESTINE – DESTINE (to doom) + CLAN (family)
2 Cranes made from construction paper? (7)
ORIGAMI – cryptic definition, referring to the fact that the classic bird model made in origami is the Tsuru, or crane.
3 Refusal to drink quickly (5,4)
KNOCK BACK – double definition, though the first would work better as a verb, I think
4 Sad days loom, ultimately repeatedly (6)
DREARY – D (days) + REAR (loom) + Y (last letter of ‘repeatedly’)
5 Give gas to member of the clergy (3)
REV – double definition, the first being to rev an engine
6 Relative working as a barrister? (2-3)
IN-LAW – self-explanatory
9 Group of voters taking in different factors in foreign harbours (5,2,4)
PORTS OF CALL – anagram (‘different’) of FACTORS inserted into POLL (group of voters)
12 Following number in contact with PM? (9)
AFTERNOON – AFTER + NO + ON
15 Line showing equal water depths is over tub (7)
ISOBATH – IS + O + BATH
16 Master swimming in a small river (6)
STREAM – anagram (‘swimming’) of MASTER
18 Sex trade offers something else (5)
EXTRA – hidden word
21 Anger topless father (3)
IRE – SIRE minus the first letter

99 comments on “Quick Cryptic 2876 by Beck”

  2. 4:29. On the easy side of average for me. LOI PORTS OF CALL. Thanks Beck and Curarist.

  3. Monday – 25 mins
    Tuesday – 39 mins
    Wednesday – 14 mins DNF (touching/mooching)
    Thursday – 51 mins
    Friday – 16 mins

    Total – 2 hours, 25 mins, with one DNF and one escape from SCC.

    Thanks for the blog.

  4. 15m
    Found the SE tough, especially ports of call, menthol, and LOI afternoon.
    COD menthol/afternoon.

  5. I’m usually the guy sweeping behind the last bus, but this I found quite straightforward and lit the lantern rouge at 15 mins. Chuffed.

  6. Defeated by spiral, origami and isolation, otherwise a satisfactory solve. Thanks Beck.

  7. 25:44 with no errors. Despite the slowish time I enjoyed this one. I was held up by DREARY, OFF and especially PORTS OF CALL which seems obvious now but took at least five minutes to solve even with five checkers (P-R-S/–/-A-L). FOI – RAIN, LOI- OFF, COD – AFTERNOON. Thanks Beck and Curarist.

  9. 16:15 here, pushed over my target by SPIRAL, where I was looking for a six-letter city name. I also fell into many other traps along the way, including DEVELOP for 8 across, wanting 17 across to start with SKI, and the made-up word CLANDESTINY for 1 down. Now I write all that, it’s amazing that I finished at all!

    Thanks to Beck and Curarist.

  10. Started like a rocket but finished like the stick was MENTHOL, ENTWINE and LOI SPIRAL twisted my melon. Home and hosed in 09:06 for an Undistinguished Day.

    Great puzzle. Many thanks Beck and curarist.

  12. Must have been on the easier side today as finished in 14 minutes – much quicker than usual. Glad it was as I want to watch the darts final shortly. FOI CROOKED
    LOI PAVE.
    Thank you Beck and Curarist

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