Quick Cryptic No 296 by Hurley

Author   ChrisPosted on Categories Quick Cryptic
I didn’t record a time but I guess between 10 and 15 minutes. It started off looking hard but then finished quickly and nothing too tricky. I seem to be reducing my explanations as time goes on – in this case mainly as I’m waiting for a plane. This should be fine for the regulars but I’m a little concerned for newcomers. If anyone doesn’t understand why an answer IS the answer then please ask – also, comments on brevity/style always appreciated.

Definitions underlined, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition, deletions CROSSED OUT

Across
1 Regret absence of girl (4)
&nbsp &nbspMISS – dd.
3 Italy not entirely enthralled by upper limits in London and Paris, say? (8)
&nbsp &nbspCAPITALS – ITALY inside CAPS.
8 New vet too costly (not half!) — whispered in undertone (5,4)
&nbsp &nbspSOTTO VOCE – Anagram (new) of VET TOO COS.
10 Sussex port grass (3)
&nbsp &nbspRYE – dd.
11 Back Eastern European with energy in run off (5)
&nbsp &nbspELOPE – POLE backwards with E.
12 Modest dwelling, firm, dry, linked with particular period (7)
&nbsp &nbspCOTTAGE – CO, TT (teetotal), AGE.
13 Great at tricky races in water (7)
&nbsp &nbspREGATTA – Anagram (tricky) of GREAT AT.
18 He cuts firm leaf (5)
&nbsp &nbspSHEET – HE cuts inside SET.
19 Main object of dislike in Europe — that extremist (3,4)
&nbsp &nbspPET HATE – euroPE THAT Extremist.
20 Former forward is beginning to exhibit special skill (9)
&nbsp &nbspEXPERTISE – EX, PERT, IS, Exhibit.
22 Drink at most intermittently (3)
&nbsp &nbspTOT – aT mOsT.
23 At end of circuit, vessel to change course (4)
&nbsp &nbspTURN – circuiT, URN. I wanted this to be ‘tack’ – but it wasn’t!
24 Judgment dispatched in French church (8)
&nbsp &nbspSENTENCE – SENT, EN (in, in French), CE.

Down
1 Teacher upset US uncle — schooltime cut short (6)
&nbsp &nbspMASTER – Uncle SAM backwards, TERM.
2 It’s funny: initially, staff in television companies order more (6)
&nbsp &nbspSITCOM – Staff In Television Companies Order More. Is East Enders a sitcom? Is it funny?
4 Fuss today upset nurses (3)
&nbsp &nbspADO – tODAy – in the clue (nurses), backwards (upset).
5 Offence if the tidy tent toppled (8,5)
&nbsp &nbspIDENTITY THEFT – Anagram (toppled) of IF THE TIDY TENT.
6 Irish graduate invested in silver safety device (6)
&nbsp &nbspAIRBAG – IR, BA inside AG.
7 After losing heart, saw ideal garden in country (6)
&nbsp &nbspSWEDEN – SAW, EDEN.
9 Strange to revere a binger (9)
&nbsp &nbspOVEREATER – Anagram (strange) of TO REVERE A.
12 Tea with politician — winner (5)
&nbsp &nbspCHAMP – CHA, MP.
14 Declare categorically: “Right to participate in something useful” (6)
&nbsp &nbspASSERT – R inside ASSET.
15 Look around pages for spicy stuff? (6)
&nbsp &nbspPEPPER – PEER around PP.
16 Insincere talk about Swiss region (6)
&nbsp &nbspCANTON – CANT, ON.
17 Courage of copper, perhaps (pronounced) (6)
&nbsp &nbspMETTLE – Homophone of metal.
21 Diamonds more pleasant with wrappers removed (3)
&nbsp &nbspICE – nICEr.

17 comments on “Quick Cryptic No 296 by Hurley”

  1. Started off very slowly and thought I was in for a struggle but then the answers began to flow. However my last, REGATTA took me ages as I was working on races as part of the anagram. Big doh moment when the answer came to me. Favourite METTLE.
  2. I’m all for succinct blogs as people can always ask for more info if needed, but each to their own and there are no set rules on the subject.

    I noticed a couple of slips which I hope you won’t mind me mentioning. At 8ac the definition is “whispered in undertone” and there’s a typo in “anagram”. And another typo at 12 in “teetotal”.

    I nearly biffed TACK at 23 then considered the non-existent TARK before finally thinking of TURN.

    Eastenders would be described as a soap rather than a sitcom and there was never anything remotely funny about it in the days I used to watch it – unless one has a very strange sense of humour I suppose. Mind you there aren’t many laughs in a lot of sitcoms either!

      1. In that case, sorry but I just noticed ‘m’ for ‘n’ in 13ac too. Regards.
  4. Been getting on with the puzzles, but today’s was a stumbling block. Just could not get on the setters wavelength after the first 5 or 6 easier clues. Bound to happen.
  5. This was enjoyable and very much the sort of puzzle I’d expect from Hurley.

    Oddly, the 15×15 didn’t take me too much longer. Wavelengths and all that I suppose.

  7. Thanks for a very helpful blog. I found it all fine until 14 and 15 down, which I just could not get, although now you’ve explained them they are perfectly straightforward. Sarah
  8. I git about 3/4. A bit mire detail is helpful for newbies. I don’t understand 18a and why ‘enthralled’ in 3a?
    Thanks
    Hannah
    1. Hannah,

      ‘Enthralled’ is what’s called a containment indicator telling us that Italy (or rather most of Italy as indicated by ‘not entirely’) goes inside CAPS (upper limits). It’s enthralled in the sense of being captivated by something or taken in by it.

      At 8a ‘cuts’ serves a similar function indicating that HE cuts into SET (firm – think ‘set’ like jelly does) to give SHEET as in a sheet of paper or the leaf of a book.

      Hope this helps.

      Edited at 2015-04-28 05:42 pm (UTC)

    2. Sorry-auto correct is playing up. I meant ‘got’ and ‘more’ obviously…
  9. As others said, it seemed hard to start with but then it all became clear and I found it very enjoyable – thanks Hurley. My only unparsed clue is 16D, and I still can’t see it. Can someone help some more with the parsing please? Thanks Chris for your other explanations – fine for me as I’ve been following the blog for a while now, but I think I would have found it puzzling in my early days of doing the Quickie and understanding cryptic clues. Thanks. bandjo
    1. It’s an interesting balance – and thanks for the comment. The more ‘I didn’t get that’ comments posted will help me understand how to play it. As for 16dn – CANT (insincere talk), ON (about).
      1. Ah – thanks Chris. Cant is a new word for me. And I previously read it as “can’t”. Makes sense now. Cheers bandjo

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