Quick Cryptic No 110 by Orpheus

Author   piquetPosted on Categories Quick Cryptic
Seven or eight minutes of writing-in to complete this, a tad harder perhaps than my Wednesday blogging duty, with one word rather obscure but gettable from the wordplay. For new solvers, there are several ‘old chestnuts’ in here which frequently arise in crosswords, worth remembering, so pardon me you more experienced solvers, if I am repetitive on that subject.

Across
1 GOBSTOPPER – GO = pass, B = first of bureau, stopper = plug, def. ‘sticky sweet’. Only sticky if you take one out mid-suck and demonstrate the colour changes, if I remember rightly.
8 SOONEST – Heads of Stationery Office = SO. So, anagram of (NOTES SO)*, indicated by ‘revised, def. ‘a.s.a.p.’
9 CURIA – Spies = CIA, around UR = ancient city. Chestnut: UR for ancient city, more often than not. And as Jackkt points out, CIA for spies is another.
10 SOHO – O = output originally, inside S (small) HO (house). Chestnut: HO for house. Def., part of London.
11 GALLOWAY – LO = see, inserted into GALWAY = Irish county, def. ‘cow of Scottish breed’. Usually the ‘belted’ kind, I learnt from Adam’s farm on Countryfile. Chestnut: LO for see.
13 STROP – S = initially saddening, TROP = PORT = left, backwards. Def. tantrum’. Chestnut: PORT for left.
14 TENOR – Double definition. Second meaning, ‘the general way in which an event or process takes place’.
16 CONTRARY – Another double definition, of a sort.
17 IBIS – B = book, I, with IS around, def. ‘a wading bird’. There are others in crosswordland, but the IBIS is the most commonly observed from my hide.
20 EXACT – EX = no longer in force, ACT = law, def. ‘precise’.
21 BARRAGE – BAR RAGE would be anger in the pub, def. ‘prolonged attack’.
22 SALAMANDER – (ALARMS DEAN)*, a frequently occurring amphibian in crosswords if not elsewhere.

Down
1 GASPS – G = final letter of noticing, ASPS = venomous snakes, def. ‘catches one’s breath’.
2 BROTHER_IN_LAW – BOTHER IN LAW with R (runs) inserted.
3 TWEE – Def. ‘quaint’, almost TWEET.
4 PITMAN – TIP = gratuity, upset is PIT, MAN = crew (as a verb), def. ‘miner’.
5 ESCALATE – (ACE LEAST)* indicator ‘disposed’, def. ‘develop by stages’.
6 DRAWING-BOARD – BOARD = management (another chestnut), DRAWING = attracting, def. ‘basis for plan’.
7 LAWYER – W = wife, inserted in LAYER = bed, def. ‘solicitor’.
12 OPERETTA – (RATE POET)*, indicator ‘arranged’, def. ‘stage work’.
13 SUCKER – Slightly amusing cryptic def., alluding to 1 ac perhaps.
15 ARABIA – AB = sailor (chestnut: also TAR is often used); insert into ARIA = song, def. ‘Asian peninsula’.
18 SHEAR – SHE = female, R = banker finally, insert A, def. ‘cut’.
19 PROA – PRO = expert, A. You may not know you Malayan boats and there are numerous ways to spell this particular craft, but given _R_A you might guess it correctly. For ‘Expert’ think PRO or ACE.

10 comments on “Quick Cryptic No 110 by Orpheus”

  1. I’VE FINISHED IT. Yes it took me much longer than pipkirby, but it’s so encouraging for a beginner. Had to look up 14a as I’d never heard of the word used in this way……
    I’m off to celebrate with a cup of coffee.
    AnonK
  2. I’ve taken to solving these after lunch the day before publication and on this occasion a feeling of repleteness caused me to nod off part way through, so I have no solving time to offer. Good puzzle though.

    PS: Pip, I’d have added ‘spies’ = CIA to the chestnut list.

  3. 5 mins with the SUCKER/CONTRARY crossers my last ones in. Whenever I see “pass” in a clue my first thought is “col”, so I wasted time at 1ac trying to think of a ten-letter sweet beginning with COL before I decided to move on.
  4. Beaten coffee time so good for me, but after half a lifetime of visiting Malaysia I still didn’t know Proa…..some things seem to exist more in crossword world than in everyday life.
  5. Thanks for the blog Pip. I think it is good to point out the chestnuts. For those who want more of them, Big Dave’s Telegraph Crossword Blog (link in right sidebar on this blog) has a great section called “The Usual Suspects”.

    Didn’t know PROA or GALLOWAY but they could both be determined from the wordplay. The boat seems very interesting with the “shunt” to tack where the prow become the stern.

  7. Until I came here I thought that this was a bit harder than some as it took me 20 minutes, but on reflection it would seem that this was due to doing it while I monitored two granddaughters at Antz in your Pantz Play Barn. Not a relaxing experience but it is what Grandmothers are for. Still only two thirds through the big one.
    1. Being a Grandma myself, I concur 100% with your definition of what grandmothers are for!
      1. I have never used this before so not sure where the comment ends up so this is a trial! Thanks munk1puzl for your comment which made me smile. Glad to read that you are back in the zone after A level marking.
  8. I had to temporarily eschew cryptic solving for A Level team leading but I’m now finched (one of my favourite Bristolian words!)

    I was actually pretty pleased with myself 20 mins plunged straight back in & only needed one bit of Z8ery. When I was struggling with Galway/Galloway he suggested the Respect party!

    Lovely blog Pip – I’m inordinately fond of chestnuts; both yours and marrons glaces.
    (Why can’t I type accents aigus on a tablet???)

    CONTRARY was my COD and SHEAR my LOI.

Comments are closed.