Quick Cryptic 3105 by Breadman

61 comments on “Quick Cryptic 3105 by Breadman”

1. DNF, but even if the missing answer had come to me instantly I’d have had around 15 minutes on the clock and been right on the extreme edge of my target time.

   The missing answer was AGA SAGA, a term I know well enough, but words tend not to come to me when I have nothing but vowels in front of me, and in this case all the vowels were the same.

2. 11 minutes. I usually find Breadman more difficult than this but I still had trouble early on with GALLOWAY (NHO as a ‘horse’) and needed all the crossing letters for AGA SAGA. I have heard of an ARPEGGIO as a musical term without having any idea what it is, apart from today’s def. Haven’t seen SI for ‘Simon’ before, but SILICON was the only possible answer. I remembered enough French for PREGNANT, which was my pick today.

   None of Breadman’s trademark grid tricks on display here that I can see.

   Thanks to Breadman and galspray

3. Steady going but needed all the checkers for the two unknowns that brought up the rear – ARPEGGIO and GALLOWAY.
   Finished in 8.40 with COD to PREGNANT for its rather macabre surface.

4. 27:38 (average: 38, target: 40)

   I found the wordplay quite gentle in this one. I think it was a great entry level QC because as you say if you trusted the wordplay you could always get to the answer. It was very satisfying indeed.

   Didn’t know GALLOWAY or AGA SAGA. Had to trawl for AGA SAGA but it was very helpful that you were getting two for one to get to something plausible. ARPEGGIO I did know from a few decades of amateur piano. One of the few that I got from the definition then parsed.

   Thanks galspray and Breadman.

5. Much enjoyed. NHO GALLOWAY (until himself had a PDM after some minutes) took us v close to the SCC.
   First meeting with AGA SAGA.
   Forgot LING for heather – initially focussed on Erica. Chuckled at WASP.
   Missed the hidden LYCRA, half biffed on the basis of most letters (‘somewhat) of ‘craftily’.
   Thank you Galspray for showing us the error of our ways.
   Thank you Breadman … panini, nan .. or is that random?

6. DNF due to the NHO AGA SAGA. Also NHO GALLOWAY. I knew Galloway as the region of Scotland, the pugnacious, divisive politician, and the NYU Stern Professor, but not the horse, sadly.

   I’m likely in a minority of one here, but the clue to AGA SAGA is not a cryptic IMHO. It’s a straight definition, along with description of the type of word; a bit like giving the definition, and saying it’s a verb or a contronym. So there’s no other way into the answer if you don’t know the word. Okay, so that also happens with a fully cryptic definition like Izetti’s the other day (Depression in front of a computer screen? KEYSTROKE), but with the checkers and some lateral thinking, you can get to the answer which is a well known word. In today’s case, though, the checkers give you nothing (A_A_A_A), and even if you know that it’s a palindrome, you still have nothing else to work with to get to an answer.

   I’m not moaning, so don’t flame me – I’m just observing, though I find those clues dissatisfying when the answer is an obscure word or phrase that I have no other way of resolving. I actually don’t really mind obscurities, if there’s another way to get at them.

   Pi ❤️

   1. I’d never heard of AGA SAGA either but the clue told us it was a palindrome so it was then just a question of trying each letter in turn. SAGA was the only word that made sense for a novel and the AGA part was automatic.

      1. True, and indeed that’s how I got it despite NHO the answer, but I sympathise with Pi as it a rather unsatisfactory way to solve a clue: “here’s a palindrome, no other clues, now run through the alphabet until something sounds plausible”.

         1. We had AGA SAGA in QC 2020 (Dec 2021, Tracy), clued as “One may read this either way” – you hadn’t heard of it then either, Cedric 😉 . Nor had Hector! In fact there were just as many complaints then as now https://timesforthetimes.co.uk/times-quick-cryptic-2020-by-tracy

            1. Gosh, that’s embarrassing! No doubt I’ll say the same next time it comes up.

7. 8 minutes until A_A, _A_A and could not think beyond Ana _ana. DNF. Otherwise I felt it was nicely balanced with most clues demanding some thought rather than just write-ins.

8. 7:29. I thought this was hard-ish but fair, on the whole.

9. An interesting puzzle. It seemed to get better as I progressed and I avoided the SCC by seconds (I only rarely reach the low teens with Breadman, these days) so this was OK for me).
   The brilliant AGA SAGA came to me quickly (the palindrome hint was crucial) but GALLOWAY did not – if anything I would associate the word with cattle – but it had to be, given ALLOW for permit.
   My LOI was INTACT which was a hole that I only realised I hadn’t entered after filling gaps elsewhere in the grid (I never manage ‘straight-through’ solves).
   Thanks to Breadman and to Galspray for confirming all my parsing.

10. AGA SAGA was FOI. Knew GALLOWAY as a breed of cattle, but not a horse, so had to trust the wordplay. No trouble with ARPEGGIO. It’s a standard exercise along with scales for musicians. SILICON was LOI. 7:26. Thnks Breadman and Galspray.

    1. I was with you on the cattle.

11. 14:31. Some tough vocab today.

    After WEEPIE I pencilled in PREEMIE for “comparatively undersized baby”. But two similar words didn’t feel right.

    The four ages of man: Lager, Aga, Saga(travel for over 50s) then finally Gaga.

    NHO Galloway the horse, but of course knew the Scottish county (well, half a county). I had FLY as lively, and that led to possible adjectives like FALLOWLY. It’s quite hard to remember the original meaning of “gay”, as it is now never used. Frankly, the clue is better with “queer horse”, in my opinion.

    Really liked ROMEO. Simple and classic QC clue.

    1. 😀

       1. In 2021, Merlin, you gave us five ages, the other one being viagra!

12. Not at the races today. Three parsed then resorted to reveal. Is it only middle class properties that have range cookers these days?

    1. The Range of people who could afford to buy and run an actual Aga is limited. Would Angela Rayner have one in her Brighton/Hove flat, I wonder?

       1. Probably not. Other range cookers are available 🙂 We have an oil fired Rayburn in our cottage. It handles the cooking, hot water and central heating. Aga don’t do oil….and the available space was too narrow for an Aga anyway (!)

13. DNF OGRESS (stupid of me, considering Ogres are much favoured by setters). Surely GALLOWAY should have been clued as a breed of cattle. I was obsessively horsey as a child but have NHO this extinct pony.
    Was also slow on AGA SAGA which should have been easy. Joanna Trollope was accused of writing such novels at one point. The book trade love to find niche genres.
    Back to the puzzle, not a swift solve except for NE.
    Liked WASP, FUTON, ROMEO, PANINI.
    Thanks vm, Galspray.

14. Got there in the end, but usually find Breadman’s puzzles a bit easier than today’s. NHO GALLOWAY. AGA SAGA popped into my head from nowhere. COD PREGNANT.

15. 14:42. Held up at the end by AGA SAGA which was annoying as I did know it – I have seen it here before – and it should have been a write-in. I only know GALLOWAYs as cattle (I particularly like the Belted Galloways) so that one went in with a shrug. Still, much enjoyed overall. COD WASP. Thank you Breadman and galspray

16. About 30 mins. I struggled with this, but not sure why.
    NHO Galloway horse. The roads near me are named after horses so spent ages mentally going through a long list . The builders had obviously nho GALLOWAY either despite resorting to some weird names.
    I could see 8a had to be a palindrome, and aga vaguely came to mind and guessed the S.

    LOI futon – which is ironic as I sleep on one and it is delightful.
    Some enjoyable clues. Thanks Breadman and Galspray.

17. Have found a way to log into crossword club – still having problems.
    If I go to The Times home page on a browser (NOT the app), and then log on I can get to the crossword club.
    If I navigate to crossword club first and then log in it does not work.

    I do wish the Times IT would get on top of these difficulties- I use lots of apps and websites and have never get this hassle.

    Given the hacking going about I sincerely hope their cyber security is of a higher standard. I will be furious if it is not.

    End of rant 😀

    1. Off topic I know, but their app is somewhat flaky. They use a third party for managing comments on articles and it takes an eternity to load. You have to constantly refresh before it recognises you’re already logged in.

18. 14.32 so just inside target with the final three minutes spent on WEEDIER/OGRESS.
    A happy end to the week after some less than comfortable efforts this week.
    Thanks to Breadman and Galspray

19. DNF as I didn’t get Arpeggio, Aga Saga or ogress and had Weeniest. Nice crossword though so only MER at aga saga which, as has been said above, is ungettable from the wordplay. I am sure we have seen that construct before of definition and palindrome indicator, but it does have to lead to a well known answer, or have helpful crossers. Thanks Breadman and galspray

20. Dnf…

    Everything in 17 mins, but then struggled with 15dn “Pregnant” and 8ac “Aga Saga”. The former came to me eventually, but even though I knew 8ac was a palindrome, I’d never heard of the latter term. As a result, it could have been any combination of letters, so my wild guess of Axa Paxa (sounded Latin) was probably bound to fail.

    FOI – 3dn “Ta Ta”
    LOI – Dnf
    COD – 15dn “Pregnant”

    Thanks as usual!

    1. Axa Paxa 🤣 was my favorite when trawling too. But thought Ada Nada more likely.

       1. Axa Paxa is the peace found after renewing your insurance.

          1. Good one!

21. A slow solve, as usual on a Saturday, with loi the vho Aga Saga ensuring a close up view of the 30min post. The crossing Weepie and Weedier didn’t exactly jump off the page either. I knew CoD Arpeggio as a musical term, but would have been hard pressed to define it (that’s still the case: broken chord doesn’t really convey a huge amount of meaning). Invariant

22. A decent finish to a much better week for me, and three consecutive typo-free days to boot.

    FOI and COD ROMEO (my old radio call sign in my final years of cab driving)
    LOI PREGNANT
    TIME 4:21

    1. Hmm. . . a random choice or something considered more appropriate? 😉

23. 10:09 I am familiar with belted GALLOWAY cattle, so it seemed reasonable to believe that there was a horse breed from there too.
    I spent too much of my youth practising scales and arpeggios on the clarinet.
    LOI was AGA SAGA, having failed to come up with any novel fitting ANA *ANA or ALA *ALA.

    Thanks Galspray and Breadman

24. I seems to be on Breadman’s wavelength today and these were my type of clues.
    Thought of AGA KHAN for 8a which fortunately lead to AGA SAGA.
    Heard of Belted Galloway cattle which was near enough and Arpeggio was easy as I play them most days.
    COD PREGNANT
    Thanks Breadman and Galspay.

25. Persevered to a finish after struggling to solve LOIs GALLOWAY/AGA-SAGA, the former NHO. Lots to like including PREGNANT, WASP and OGRESS. Many thanks galspray and Breadman.

26. 7.11 Surprisingly quick today. GALLOWAY horses were unknown but seemed plausible and I was held up a little at the end by WEEPIE, WASP and WEEDIER. Thanks galspray and Breadman.

27. 6:35 (or 40:34 Parksolve)

    A little bit of a slow start, but picked up speed once the first three or four were in. I couldn’t initially recall the French for ‘ready’ though knew it mainly from the high street sandwich vendor. No probs with AGA SAGA, regularly seen in these parts, but I empathise with Pi that if you didn’t know the term, it might be hard to divine without more useful wordplay.

    Thanks Breadman and Galspray

28. A fairly speedy 8:38 for us today. No major hold ups. Like others I knew of Belted Galloway cattle but I don’t recall having heard of the horse before; the wordplay led us there though. I barely run Parkrun these days (take that thought out of your head!) but I do volunteer regularly. Not today though, our run was cancelled because of a troublesome WASP’s nest on our rural course. My COD. Thanks, Galspray and Breadman.

29. 27:18

    Another struggle, not helped by DNK GALLOWAY and NHO LOI AGA SAGA. Biffing TATTIEST didn’t help either.

30. DNF. Gave up on about 13 mins with AGA SAGA missing despite an alphabet trawl and WEEDIER unparsed so not risked. With 11 errors in 38 puzzles at present I’m sworn off gambling for a while.
    GALLOWAY reminds me of The Lowlands of Holland but NHO the horse.
    Thanks Galspray and Breadman.

    1. Ah I always thought it was Galway in The Lowlands of Holland. Maybe depends on the singer.

       1. I had Maddy Prior in mind but I’ve never seen it in writing.

          1. Dolores Keane! Not that MP isn’t superb.

31. I thought weenier fitted better for “comparatively undersized” but NR did not make a doctor.
    Never heard of Aga Saga.

32. Revealed Arpeggio @ 15 mins. Shame as was flying through most of the clues in order. Thanks all

33. A mostly easier and entertaining puzzle, which nonetheless I could not finish. Gave up after trawling for 8a too many times in 17 minutes. AGA SAGA is cute and I must confess to having seen it once before; hope the pain of the DNF will be enough to imprint it properly into my Britspeak lexicon. (I got hung up on ADA for the novel.) I also failed on WEEDIER, having the more American associations of “lean, lanky, and ungainly” (Collins) rather than actually small. I settled for WEENIER though I could not parse it. I liked WASP best too!

    Thanks Breadman and galspray.

34. I didn’t have much trouble – aga saga is a staple of crosswords, appearing many times over the years. It’s probably helpful not to know anything about horses and cattle – galloway, that sounds like it might be some kind of horse. Weedier was the trickiest, and my LOI.

    Time: 7:48

35. Solved eventually, but very slow today at 17:10. AGA SAGA (NHO) needed a letter search and seems to me a rather unsatisfactory clue as there is no wordplay to help one, and I was also held up on OGRESS as I didn’t think of PR for Priest.

    Many thanks Galspray; three Saturdays in a row and the jumbo, so a heroic stint. Happy to resume the reins next Saturday!

36. Stumped by AGA SAGA, but always happy to learn new words. Thought the puzzle was very good, some easy clues, and some thinkers. Made my lunch break more enjoyable for sure. Thanks for the blog 😁

37. DNF, made up ASA RASA for 8ac. Didn’t remember seeing AGA SAGA before. Ho hum. Other than that, enjoyed this.

    Thanks to Breadman and Galspray.

38. I thought that that had a clutch of pretty hard clues so was surprised to see a very average time of 08:41 at the close.

    The ones that gave me trouble were ARPEGGIO (didn’t spot the anagram and kept trying to work a GA in there), WRESTLING (really should have seen that faster), TACKIEST and LOI GALLOWAY (I knew the cattle and therefore didn’t think they could be a horse too!).

    COD to WASP, which made me chuckle. Many thanks gallers and Breaders.

39. I’m sure I’ve seen the ‘AGA SAGA’ very recently as a crossword answer. Maybe in the concise?
    Thanks Breadman and Galspray

40. Tried to do this without worrying about the time.

    Did it help? No. Another disastrous DNF.

    These wretched puzzles are slowly driving me mad. Whatever part of the brain one needs for cryptics is sorely lacking in my case. I feel lost and embarrassed at how awful I am.

    I’ve written textbooks, delivered lectures, designed post-graduate law modules, and yet I can’t solve some basic riddles.

    As I have thought for some time, the only thing that I can do here is generally recall abbreviations, acronyms and common phrases. My ability to do anything else is no better than when I began this infuriating competition. I am so fed up with this fruitless endeavour.

    1. Some interesting points there Gary. There’s definitely a “type” of human brain that is suited to completing these puzzles. Not sure how you’d define it, but it doesn’t equate to IQ (a meaningless concept in its own right).

       I’m pretty good at these, and puzzles in general, but not so good at writing textbooks, delivering lectures or designing post-graduate law modules. Some would suggest that you got the type of brain that has served you better in life!

       Would be nice to see you persevere and continue to comment. It’s been mentioned before that one can enjoy a puzzle without fully completing it, although I do understand your frustration.

       And BTW, even if you achieve Magoo-like solving powers, it’s still a fruitless endeavour! That’s part of the charm.

       1. Thanks galspray. I appreciate you taking the time to comment 👍

41. 8.10.

42. never heard of naan being spelt nan

Comments are closed.