Quick Cryptic 692 by Orpheus

Author   nick_the_novicePosted on Categories Quick Cryptic
A pleasant puzzle from Orpheus which I personally found to be at the easier end of the spectrum, although these things are always somewhat subjective.

For those very new to this game, this puzzle contains a broad range of clue types together with several crosswordland “chestnuts” that are well worth remembering, such as Owl / Hooter, books / OT, and hesitation / ER. So, all up I thought this was a particularly good QC for those taking their first tentative steps on this cheerful road to insanity… Enjoy the journey!

As always, thanks very much to our setter.

Across
1 Something beneficial, like radio, for example? (5)
ASSET – AS (like) SET (radio, for example). At risk of sounding patronising, the set/radio equation might be somewhat baffling for solvers younger than me. In the 1950s/early 60s, people often referred to their “radio set” or “TV set”. As an infant at the time I never got around to asking why – just the way it was…
4 Old man holding end of mauve quill (7)
FEATHER – FATHER (old man) ‘holding’ E (end of mauvE)
8 Piece that’s unusually staccato — not Schubert’s first (7)
TOCCATA – *{S}(TACCATO) – with “unusually” as the anagrind – and the S being removed from the mix (not Schubert’s first)
9 Like some architecture in Greenland or Iceland? (5)
DORIC – Hidden “in” GreenlanD OR ICeland
10 Skilled marksman notes owl (12)
SHARPSHOOTER – SHARPS (notes – as opposed to the flats) + HOOTER (owl)
12 Cut out PE without hesitation (6)
EXCISE – EX{ER}CISE (PE) loses the ER… (without hesitation)
13 Cockney’s mention of ‘old-ups is irritating (6)
ITCHES – {H}ITCHES (hold ups in East End speak)
16 Preferential treatment getting showjumper off to a bad
start? (5,7)
FIRST REFUSAL – DD. If you have the right of first refusal on a deal, you have preferential treatment. And if the horse refuses a jump, the rider gets a penalty. Rather neat.
18 Scope of non-grammatical complaint after dog attack? (5)
AMBIT – Non grammatical version of “I’ve been bitten”
20 Scoffed at sailors visiting southern school (7)
SCORNED – RN (sailors) included in (visiting) S (southern) COED (school)
21 Contemptible scoundrel promises to pay? Strange (7)
CURIOUS – CUR (contemptible scoundrel) + IOUs (promises to pay)
22 Pool of money for cat? (5)
KITTY – DD
Down
1 A professional performer rates it badly (7)
ARTISTE – *(RATES IT) with “badly” as the anagrind
2 Party attended by mountaineer, one seeking status? (6,7)
SOCIAL CLIMBER – ‘Party’ gives us SOCIAL, and a mountaineer is a CLIMBER
3 Monks ensnare last of animals in deep holes (9)
TRAPPISTS – TRAP (ensnare) + S (last of animalS) ‘in’ PITS (deep holes). These chaps might not say a lot, but they make damn good beer.
4 Gaudy insect circling tree (6)
FLASHY – FLY (insect) going around (circling) ASH (tree)
5 Help! The opera isn’t finished! (3)
AID – AID{A} (Verdi’s opera minus its final letter)
6 Tree Arab, say, associated with old joke (5,8)
HORSE CHESTNUT – Arab, say, gives us the HORSE (definition by example) and an old joke is a CHESTNUT
7 Competition for ethnic group (4)
RACE – DD
11 Unemployed old female in dated composition (3,2,4)
OUT OF WORK – O (old) + F (female) ‘in’ OUT (dated – as in passé) + WORK (composition)
14 Reliably do silly manoeuvres (7)
SOLIDLY – *(DO SILLY) with “manoeuvres” as the anagrind
15 Emergency primarily concerning river, the one in Oxford (6)
CRISIS – First letters (primarily) of Concerning and River + ISIS (the river that flows through Oxford)
17 Powder stored in metal cupboard (4)
TALC – Hidden in (stored in) meTAL Cupboard
19 Old books brought up in addition (3)
TOO – O (old) + OT (books – Old Testament) all reversed (brought up)

27 comments on “Quick Cryptic 692 by Orpheus”

  1. I agree this seemed at the easier end of the spectrum and I completed it in 8 minutes having lost half a minute considering GAMUT at 18ac when I had only the T-checker in place. Solving 17dn put paid to that idea. I agree about the beer, Nick.
  2. I was sailing along thinking I might even beat my record when I came to a dead halt at 13 16 & 20 across. Then I put in THAMES for 15dn and that didn’t help!

    PCBAF

    1. Just in case anyone doesn’t know….it is the Thames but as it flows through Oxford it is known as the Isis. A bit of an oddity.
      Not sure I quite like the clue implication that it is the only one. There is of course also the Cherwell on which I wasted many afternoons punting. It runs into the Thames while it is still called Isis near Iffley in Oxford. All clear? Not when you stir it up with a punt pole it isn’t.
  3. Definitely on the easy side. The definition by example (DBE) in 6d is made acceptable, for those who don’t accept DBEs, by the ‘say’. I think this is the first time I’ve seen SET clued by ‘radio’ rather than ‘TV’. 4:23.
  5. All done in 42 minutes, with no checking.

    Bottom half straightforward. Struggled with the top but the catalyst was getting trappist.

    Last 2 were 9a doric which I put in but missed the hidden word…and 5d aid which I guessed as I didn’t know the opera.

    Also didn’t know the word toccata.

    1. Google ‘toccata and fugue in D minor’ and listen to a bit, and I’ll bet you recognize it. If you’re old enough, you might have heard it in Disney’s “Fantasia”.
  6. Definitely on the easier side, but no less enjoyable for that. Liked AMBIT.

    Nice to see Horryd on his best behaviour.

    Thanks Orpheus and Nick.

  7. Yep, easier than most. 20:20, close to a record for me. Liked FIRST REFUSAL, managed to miss both of the hidden clues (TALC, DORIC) but both had a final C as a checker, making them straightforward from the definition.

  8. Jeepers – 4.53, easily a record for me. Having a pregnant wife and laying off the booze is clearly working wonders. Or this was just much easier than usual

  9. Nice crossword. Although 20ac was quite gettable with the checkers, for me, I think the reasoning was quite difficult. Never seen COED as a clue for school before. Maybe it’s just me. Gribb.
  10. Must be just me this week, thought it hard for a QC. GK required in 15d, 9ac, 8ac, and COED for school….7′ , still smarting from 15×15. Thanks nick and Orpheus.
  11. 20:59 for me today so I would agree it was at the easier end of the spectrum, but that’s always a relief for me. Completely missed the hidden in Doric and didn’t parse 20a, not spotting Coed as school, so thanks as always for the blog.
  12. Agree with all the above. Pretty straightforward. Had not seen COED used for a school before, but did very much enjoy FIRST REFUSAL, and thought AMBIT neat.
    PlayupPompey
  13. I thought this was a gentle offering from someone like Orpheus, but still very enjoyable. 27mins fully parsed, so towards the easier end by my standards. I am a bit mystified by the comments about Co-Educational schools, but perhaps I’m just showing my age (62, since you ask). Invariant
    1. I’m 62 too! My comment concerned COED as a word, I think it’s an Americanism for a female student who attends a mixed high school or university, the ‘school’ meaning is a bit obscure, but acceptable.
      1. I had no idea about the US meaning, just went with the school. Ignorance can be bliss at times. Invariant
  14. Speaking as someone who will never make the 15×15 (and frankly doesn’t want to) I thoroughly enjoyed this. COD 16a made me smile. Thank you, Orpheus.

    Diana.

  15. I’m 68 today and stuck scorned (20A) in without bothering to parse it. Coed would have passed me by, anyway.
  16. I found this to be a gentle and enjoyable puzzle. Only real head scratcher was 8a which was unknown to me. Thanks to kevingregg for the example. Forgot to time it today, but I would estimate it took me around 15 minutes.
  17. Sped through this on a fast train to Cardiff- about 15 minutes for the puzzle, which I liked. Liked 16a. David
  18. Never mind 12 or 15 minutes this is the first QC I have finished, ever! Yay
    Captain Mike

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