I started this one at breakneck pace: the first four went in at first glance and I thought I might be on for a very fast time. Then things slowed down to a more normal pace, and I finished in 11:11 which I’m happy with both as a time and aesthetically. This is below my average time.
As I wrote the explanations, I became conscious that there were no extraneous words in any of the clues. Not one. Well played Hurley, that can’t have been easy.
Definitions underlined, synonyms in round brackets, wordplay in square brackets and deletions in strikethrough. Anagram indicators italicised in the clue, anagram fodder indicated like (THIS)*.
| Across | |
| 1 | Argument against transit changing is limiting factor (10) |
| CONSTRAINT – CON (argument against), plus (TRANSIT)*. | |
| 8 | UK phase revamped in major change (5-2) |
| SHAKE UP – (UK PHASE)* | |
| 9 | Extremely clear fool is grossly insensitive (5) |
| CRASS – First and last letters of C |
|
| 10 | Place to hide, leafier, regularly visited (4) |
| LAIR – every other letter [regularly visited] of L |
|
| 11 | Trust nice earl abroad (8) |
| RELIANCE – (NICE EARL)* | |
| 13 | Is able to broadcast in French film festival resort (6) |
| CANNES – Sounds like [broadcast] “can” (is able to).
“French film festival resort” only brought one thing to mind for me, and it was the right answer. |
|
| 14 | Again peruse repeated Religious Education promotion (6) |
| REREAD – RE (Religious Education) twice [repeated], then AD (promotion). | |
| 17 | Duck nurses English child not drinking? (8) |
| TEETOTAL – TEAL (duck) contains [nurses] E for English and TOT (child). | |
| 19 | Young deer to show slavish devotion (4) |
| FAWN – A double definition. | |
| 21 | With tips on decor, copy curtain (5) |
| DRAPE – Outer letters [tips] of D |
|
| 22 | Three attempt to embrace home computing (7) |
| TRINITY – TRY (attempt) containing [to embrace] IN (home) and IT (information technology: computing). | |
| 23 | Decisive play at Wimbledon? Secure Cup? About right (3-7) |
| TIE BREAKER – TIE (secure), plus BEAKER (cup) containing [about] R (right). | |
| Down | |
| 2 | Acclaim some innovations (7) |
| OVATION – hidden in [some] |
|
| 3 | Appear to notice Mike (4) |
| SEEM – SEE (to notice), M (Mike, in the NATO phonetic alphabet). | |
| 4 | Sword originally received as present is excellently rated (6) |
| RAPIER – first letters [originally] of all the words after “originally” in the clue. | |
| 5 | Willing daughter supporting popular Conservative policy (8) |
| INCLINED – D for daughter below [supporting] IN (popular), C for Conservative and LINE (policy). | |
| 6 | Prepare series (5) |
| TRAIN – Another double definition, the second as in a “train of events”. | |
| 7 | Dominance can end, say campaigners at first, animatedly (10) |
| ASCENDANCY – (CAN END SAY C I didn’t parse this one while doing the puzzle: just worked it out now as I’m writing the blog. |
|
| 8 | Worry, being alone, sick at heart to be put inside (10) |
| SOLICITUDE – SOLITUDE (being alone), with the middle two letters [at heart] of I had to do some research to convince myself that “solicitude” can work as a synonym for “worry”. The first online definition is “care or concern for someone or something”, and it isn’t that big of a step from “care or concern” to “worry”. But my first reaction was “hold on, can that be right?” |
|
| 12 | Fuel reek, one’s frantic (8) |
| KEROSENE – (REEK ONES)* | |
| 15 | Not straightforward, bringing up the visa vexatiously to some extent (7) |
| EVASIVE – Hidden [to some extent] backwards [bringing up, as this is a down clue] in |
|
| 16 | Preview kitchen item, missing nothing (6) |
| TASTER – T With _A_T_R as the crossers, I needed an alphabet trawl for this. Fortunately, when I got to C the word “coaster” came to mind, and from there I was able to jump over D-S and get to “toaster”. |
|
| 18 | Praise former partner, a little tentatively initially (5) |
| EXALT – EX (former partner), then the first letters [initially] of A L |
|
| 20 | Support first-class Verdi opera (4) |
| AIDA – AID (support), A (first-class). | |
5:22
I biffed CANNES, TEETOTAL, TIE-BREAKER, & SOLICITUDE. ‘Verdi’ was hardly necessary in 20d; ‘opera’ (4) is going to be Aida ((5)=Norma).
And (6) is Carmen. But (5) might be Tosca? I hunted for a plausible (3) but without success.
Unless it is Lulu
Osud. Look forward to seeing that one soon.
I started slowly but sped up. Some of the answers aroused suspicion by their simplicity – Cannes, really? I was a little annoyed I could not see constraint at once, but it was easy enough when I had the checkers. I finished by biffing rapier, only to discover post-solve that it had a very simple cryptic.
Time: 8:00
4:13. Agree that this was an exemplar of a Quick Cryptic.
I also hesitated over 8dn, but for me it was “ah, so that’s what SOLICITUDE means”.
Thanks Hurley and good blog Doof. You should put your feet up after an 11:11.*
* (obscure cricket reference warning).
Really obscure! Something to do with a Nelson?
That was the thinking. A pedant would point out that 11:11 can’t really be a multiple of 111 so “Nelsons” doesn’t apply, but fortunately we don’t get pedants around here do we?
I was wondering if the reference was to Armistice Day at the end of World War I. And if anyone ever claimed to do a puzzle in 1:11 as a true Nelson completion, I think the neutrino police would be on the case!
10 minutes. Very enjoyable. Another here who didn’t know what SOLICITUDE meant.
Couldn’t nut out TASTER for preview so a DNF in 11.21. Nice QC, thanks to Hurley and the Doof.
Two main hold ups, I has AI for first class so I was torn between AIDA and ‘dias’ – both fitted the definition but I couldn’t parse either. TIEBREAKER made the choice for me and thanks for Doofers for the parsing. Also couldn’t think of any kitchen items once none of the cutlery fitted I froze, even thinking of whacking in ‘raster’ didn’t help me make the leap from ‘roaster’ to ‘toaster’. Got there in the end with a groan. All done in a not quite sub-10 but with a wierd R in the middle of both shRke up and ovRtion. That’s a three key typo – probably not my record but impressive.
Agree, just right for a Quick Cryptic. No quarrel with any of the clues and rolled in at 14.48 (well below average for me). Thanks Doof and Hurley
Like our blogger I started at a gallop and then slowed, especially on the right hand side. For some reason RELIANCE took an age to emerge, and I needed the N from it to unlock TRAIN (very slow to see series = train). But my LOI, and biggest hold-up, was TASTER; that took a long letter search and pushed my time out to 13:57. But all done and a fine puzzle.
Many thanks Doofers for the blog.
I felt as though I made hard work of a fairly gentle offering and I’m another who had no idea what SOLICITUDE meant, but fortunately the wordplay was clear.
Started with SHAKE UP and finished with TRINITY in 6.58.
Thanks to Doofers and Hurley
Another person burnt in the Toaster as I couldn’t get Saucer, which I knew was wrong, out of my head.
Lots to like and more than a smidgeon of Bif and Parse.
COD INCLINED. 22 min for par solve.
Thanks Doofers and Hurley
Add me to the “quick then slow” roster. Double triple check the number of As in ASCENDANCY; is it faun or FAWN; finally see RELIANCE/TRAIN; and then stare at -A-T-R for a bit. In the end I cracked it by mentally walking round my kitchen naming the objects, ah there’s the toaster, highly skilled methodology.
Lovely puzzle, COD to TRINITY for using “home computing” instead of “sex”, all done in 06:43 for a Good Day. Many thanks Doofers and Hurley.
Had to enter the kitchen mind palace myself. Roaster? Coaster? Toaster.
A really satisfying QC, without overly obscure vocabulary or GK. The way others instantly twig clues that I struggle with, and vice-versa is a constant source of fascination. How similar and different we all are ! Many thanks setter and blogger.
9:13
I was slow to see CONSTRAINT, despite the fact that I used to give lectures on optimisation techniques, including the distinction between objectives and constraints.
LOI was SOLICITUDE.
Thanks Doofers and Hurley
Perfect level of challenge, methinks. Just shy of 18mins.
Echo everyone else’s comments. All green in 7:43 for me.
Thanks all
I agree with many previous comments, too. A fine puzzle, well-pitched but with chewy and satisfying bits. 13 Minutes for me with TASTER my LOI. One or two were bifd en route but, having looked at them more carefully post-completion, the parsings all dropped out for me.
My CsOD were SOLICITUDE and TRINITY.
Many thanks to Hurley for his imaginative but tight clueing and to Doofers for the authoritative answers.
I wish more QC setters could hit the spot like this.
09:37
Loi SOLICITUDE, I just know that 1. It’s a word, 2. I dont know its meaning 3. Its different from the more common Solitude
Excellent puzzle! From CONSTRAINT to TIE BREAKER in 6:01. Thanks Hurley and Doofers.
11 minutes. As others have said a QC at just the right level of difficulty with plenty to enjoy. I was slow off the mark with the crossing INCLINED and RELIANCE – no excuses – but otherwise all went steadily if not speedily. I liked the idea of the TRINITY (who knows, maybe Holy) puzzling over their home PC.
Thanks to Doofers and Hurley
Agree with all the comments on a well pitched QC that was quickly completed in 16:30.
Have to confess that I did not parse AIDA but what else could it be.
Thanks Hurley and Doofers.
An enjoyable midweek breeze, thank you Hurley. Couldn’t quite parse CANNES (but of course) and so sure the duck was the O, failed to think of TEAL. But all good, LOI TASTER (toaster, last-minute correction from coaster). Thanks Doofers.
18:44 – about average for me. A steady solve with a few biffs: TEETOTAL, SOLICITUDE, TIE-BREAKER, and a minute or two getting TASTER.
Great puzzle. Very fast at first but then slowed on the right. Carelessly put ASCENDANCe at first which made LOI TRINITY difficult until the penny dropped. Liked many inc TEETOTAL and TIE BREAKER.
Thanks vm, Doofers.
All the acrosses bar three went straight in and I was looking at a rare sub 10 finish. Unfortunately the downs were not so obliging especially in the SE and I eventually crossed the line in 13 minutes which is still satisfactorily quick for me. I didn’t stop to parse everything so thanks to Doofers for the parsings of ASCENDANCY, SOLICITUDE and AIDA.
FOI – 1ac CONSTRAINT
LOI – 16dn TASTER
COD – 22ac TRINITY
Thanks to Hurley and Doofers
8.11.
6:23
No, I didn’t know that is what SOLICITUDE means either. No matter, the checkers and wordplay made the answer clear. As with others, my LOI was TASTER, though it came to me fairly swiftly.
Thanks Doofers and Hurley
4:40. LOI SOLICITUDE not being sure what it meant. Neat as ever from Hurley, thanks for the puzzle and thanks for the blog Doofers.
Nice puzzle, with 5 minutes spent thinking of the correct kitchen appliance.
19:50 in the end after a very fast start, it all petered out.
Many thanks blogger and setter.
10 in very quickly then a very long pause before deducing 8d from the word play but not a word I was familiar with. Missed rapier and the reverse hidden.
Nice puzzle, great blog.
Always nice to do a Hurley puzzle, immaculately clued and just right for a QC puzzle. A steady solve as with yesterday’s Joker, this time finishing the right side of my target time at 9.29. I join others in knowing of the word SOLICITUDE without knowing its meaning.
4.23. I agree with others that this was a lovely puzzle and a perfect level for a QC.
I wrestled with SOLICITARY for a while, which works as well for the cryptic but unfortunately isn’t a word. COD to TIE-BREAKER.
Very slow solve, but in retrospect there is nothing dubiuos at all. Didnt get solicitude as I had sol___e as alone and was looking for a filling. Also didn’t know it meant worry, but I suppose in an extreme form it could just. Could do with some as I am stiff snd sore from playing over 70s hockey yesterday. Put firmly in my place by one of the players who asked to be substituted off in the second half as he has an over 80s match today and didnt want to overdo it.
Thanks to Hurley and Doofers.
Alpha-trawl for 1st letter of LOI TOASTER (groan). Elsewhere all went in very smoothly. Many thanks both.
I romped home in a pleasing 5:49. I only slowed up for CANNES as the simplicity of the parsing eluded me and I bunged in SOLICITUDE from checkers. TRINITY was my LOI and TASTER is my COD. Thanks Doofers
An excellent QC from Hurley, with just loi Taster preventing a rare sub-15. I must remember to start my alpha-trawls at M rather than A. Like others, Solicitude went in with a shrug at the unknown meaning.
I would be tempted, Doofs, to not include French in the definition for Cannes, since I think it’s possibly signaling a French pronunciation is required for the homophone to work?
CoD to Trinity for the parsing. Invariant
26 minutes, which is slightly faster than average for me. But I could (should?) have avoided the SCC today, had I not been baulked at the end by my last three. They were TRINITY (which has caused me trouble before), AIDA (lack of GK) and TASTER (which required an alphabet trawl).
Many thanks to Doofers and Hurley.
Not sure why I had been logged out. Weird!
A smidge under 9 minutes for a pleasing and enjoyable puzzle. My one little, teeny weeny niggle is having to think of one item among hundreds in a kitchen. Happily the crossers solved that problem.
Like others I didn’t equate SOLICITUDE with worry but can now see that it isn’t a great leap.
COD TRINITY
Thanks Hurley and D.
A top to bottom solve, stopping only to consider whether 13A should read “Is able to BE broadcast….”.
FOI CONSTRAINT
LOI AIDA
COD SOLICITUDE
TIME 3:01
14.37 Many were quick then slow. I was slow then slow. Finished with ASCENDANCY. Thanks Doofers and Hurley.
A pleasant puzzle to start my day off work (post weekly shopping trip). Just had to try the new variety of Coke Zero (Cherry Float – basically a mix of Cherry Coke Zero and Vanilla Coke Zero), which was very nice.
I have heard of the word solicitude but, like others, wasn’t sure what it meant. I checked the definition in Chambers and “worry” came up, so in it went.
First Lap: 11
Answered (no help): 21
Answered (with help): 3
Time: 33:21
5 clues solved in 20mins. Bottom of the class again! I wonder sometimes whether having an ability to associate many words (creative fluency) is a hinderance to solving puzzles? This means you see too many possible constructions that could lead to the solution. Whereas someone who has more dominant critical thinking skills can get there quicker. Longer clues are a nightmare for rapid associators because there are so many different choices, and it becomes overwhelming. This is why I never spend too much time on cryptic crosswords!
The target/definition is (thankfully) almost always either at the front or end of the clue. Getting that right (sometimes not as easy as it sounds) is always a good start. Experience (and crossers!) should then help you to whittle down the possible cryptic elements, and then it’s just a question of having the necessary GK/vocabulary.
I would think rapid associating, which I am bad at, would be helpful once you develop better skills at winnowing the possibilities. My development has to go the other way, my critic is too dominant over my generator.
13 minutes. Ok-ish by my standards.
12:37
Thought I was in for a quick time here but slowed towards the end. Biffed ACE SERVICE which survived KEROSENE but not much more and struggled to finally get TIE BREAKER.
13:37
As others, a rare speedy start with 7 across clues and 6 downs on the first pass.
Four clues remaining at the 10 minute mark (16d, 20d, 22a & 23a) and a mind that had gone blank.
Utilised the ‘go take a break technique’ and upon returning TASTER went almost straight in.
Also one who knew of the word SOLICITUDE but not its meaning.
DNK AIDA but my LOI confirmed I’d parsed it correctly.
Agree with others a lovely puzzle but, at the risk of putting my head above the parapet, am I the only one to have had a MER at CANNES? ‘Is able to’ surely is ‘can’ not ‘cans’?
FOI: SHAKE-UP
LOI: TIE BREAKER
COD: TEETOTAL/TRINITY
Thanks to Doofer and Hurley
Edit: Should have kept my head down just Googled how to pronounce Cannes (silent ‘s’), d’oh!
😳
see above 😉
21 mins. Took ages to get drape, which at least ruled out the solictary word I was making up. Fawn took a while to dredge too.
FOI Constraint
LOI Solicitude
COD Tie breaker
thanks Hurley and Doofer
A thoroughly enjoyable example of a true QC in my opinion.
COD teetotal.
17 mins…
Thought I was longer, as there were a few clues that needed some digging out. Both 7dn “Ascendancy” and 8dn “Solicitude” took a bit of time, along with my COD 17ac “Teetotal” which should have been more obvious than it was.
FOI – 3dn “Seem”
LOI – 14ac “Reread”
COD – 17ac “Teetotal”
Thanks as usual!
12:20. Carelessly throwing in ASCENDANCe (hi, Countrywoman!) without carefully checking the anagrist cost me a fast time on this very pleasing puzzle, converting TRINITY into a quandary until I saw my error. Also a hitch at TASTER, which I saw quickly but rejected as not fitting the literal, oops. To me a taster is the poor fellow who tastes the king’s food in case of poisoning attempts, which is no excuse since this is crosswordland. Liked CRASS best for its top-quality, all-too-apt surface.
Thanks to Hurley and Doof.
😯
All done – like many, quick start then slowed – then sped up by focusing on definitions to biff the answer before parsing, which is not the way to go. Reduced my personal satisfaction for the sake of the clock.
Lesson learned – more fun to focus on the cryptic path and take longer.
Held up a little trying to make DOTE work (in lieu of FAWN).
Good puzzle and blog.
Thank you
Is Hurley a one I can do, I seem to remember I did ok with the last one. I stopped to air my doubts though didn’t complain. But I’m going to stick with SOLICITUDE Caring For, even if it could be Worrying About – in a caring way of course.