Quick Cryptic No. 289 by Orpheus

Author   piquetPosted on Categories Quick Cryptic
Well this was a stroll in the park – duck soup again – after Wednesday’s Cryptic from 1948 which gave your blogger and most of us a reality check after living in our comfy Ximenean world. I managed this on my Android tablet, on which an on-screen keyboard has now appeared on The Times ‘play’ version in a browser; I’d like to think it’s a result of my bombarding the IT people with comments about the sub for one version (using their app) unfairly being more than the Windows version, but it’s probably a coincidence.

Across
1 HAMLET – A nice double definition (DD) to start us off.
5 ALCOVE – A LOVE = sweetheart, insert C (conservative); def. recess.
8 DOUBLE DEALING – Another DD, one wry; look-alike distributing cards = double dealing; duplicitous means the same.
9 ANON – CANON = cathedral priest, has heading = C removed; def. unidentified writer.
10 FATHERLY – FAT = stout, HER = woman’s; L = lover initially, Y = unknown (as in x, y, z); def. protective.
11 AGENCY – Hidden word in B(AG ENCY)CLOPEDIA; def. bureau.
13 UNCLAD – UNCLE = relative, fails to finish = loses its E, then AD = commercial; def. nude.
15 ASTERISK – A RISK (hazard) has (SET)* inserted; A (SET)* RISK; def. star.
17 RAFT – Another cryptic DD, for some reason a raft of something is a large quantity of it.
19 TAKE THE MICKEY – TAKE THE MIC = consider the microphone, KEY = security; def. teasing. Allegedly from Cockney RS, i.e.Take the Mickey Bliss, although who Mr Bliss was, we do not seem to be able to establish.
21 SKATER – KATE = girl, inside S R = outskirts of S tranrae r; def. a winter sportsperson.
22 OVERDO – OVER = with respect to, DO = party; def. exaggerate.

Down
2 ACORN – A CON = a scam, insert last letter of fruiterer = R; def. fruit. A nut is apparently a fruit.
3 LEBANON – LE = the French, BAN = embargo, ON; def. a Middle East state.
4 TEE – Sounds like TEA; used by golfer for supporting the ball.
5 AWESTRUCK – A S (second) TRUCK (wagon) has WE inserted; def. lost for words.
6 CALVE – L = Limousins at first, inside CAVE = underground hollow; def. produce (young Limousins, for example).
7 VANILLA – VAN = VEHICLE, ILL = SICK, A = first of ALL; def. flavouring.
10 FLY-FISHER – FLY = astute, (IF HE’S)* indicated by ‘out’, R = river; def. angler.
12 GOSHAWK – GOSH = Golly ! A WK = a week; def. bird of prey.
14 CORACLE – CO = commanding officer, L inside RACE = rush; def; small boat.
16 EVENT – E = English, VEN = (title used for) archdeacon, T = beginning to time; def. the 800 metres, say.
18 FIEND – FIND = discover, insert E = energy; def. monster.
20 MOO – MOON = body in the sky, missing its N = north; def. low, as in noise made by a cow.

11 comments on “Quick Cryptic No. 289 by Orpheus”

  1. Although I do not time myself, I think this was my quickest solve for several weeks but there was some good word play to work through. I did not fully parse 19a. AWESTRUCK my last in with favourite FLY FISHER.
  2. I took one look at the 1948 puzzle and fled. This was a walk in the proverbial, although I sent myself up a garden path trying to parse 6d, thinking ‘young Limousins at first’. 4:10. I didn’t know about Mr. Bliss, but wouldn’t he be the cousin of Jimmy Riddle, i.e. a name to rhyme with what one takes out of someone?
  3. This was the easiest solves for some weeks, for me. What was wrong with Wednesday’s 15×15? I only look at them when alerted that I might be able to manage them but I’m slightly tempted now…one advantage of the iPad app is you have all the back copies since installation unless you actively delete them…
  4. A whole week of solves within 10 minutes has not happened to me before and is some consolation for my struggles with the 15×15 this week.
  5. I was flying – rather too fast as it happens – through this. Double Crosser went in with insufficient parsing at 8ac so the NE was a bit of a mess. Still – 11 minutes isn’t too shabby. COD to 15 ac which led me to dust off my limited knowledge of astronomy before coming back to earth with a bump.
  6. Pretty straightforward. Only unparsed one was 18d – ven for archdeacon to be added to my list of abbreviations. Plett11
  7. If there’s one thing that gets me going each time I visit this site is the boasting taking place from all the experienced solvers about how quick they are or how easy it is. For me at least it’s always a struggle and occasionaly I resort to checking my answers here only to find everyone saying how easy it’s been today or somesuch.

    Well keep it to yourselves and let’s hear about more why a clue produces the answer it does, not how ruddy good you all are. Some of us are real novices and easily put off by expert’s banter.

    1. A complaint too far I think. I have struggled through this week, not often beating thirty minutes, but I rely on those who are struggling to beat five minutes in order to maintain my interest and enthusiasm. We need you all. Even hotels “boast” wonderful food and marvellous views these days.
    2. Anon – The clue is in the title of the blog “Times for the Times” i.e. it is a forum for solvers to post their times so I think your comment is a little misplaced.
    3. As a fellow beginner I sympathise with you. It is daunting when you see how quickly they solve them. I see it as being in a different league and can only dream of matching their times. That said I check the blog daily and use it to learn more about crosswordland, which I am slowly. I find it a great help, so thanks guys. CrypticNumpty
  8. Well, anon, all the clues are always explained in the blog in some detail. If this is not enough and you want further information you only have to ask.

    If I might suggest, you might get more out this site if you engage with us rather than insult us, and having a (free) Live Journal account or adding a name or nickname to your anonymous postings would be a start.

    As for solving times, they are what this site was originally about and although they are not the be all and end all of activities here they are a useful yardstick for measuring skill levels and progress for those seeking to improve and that’s why they are included.

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