Quick Cryptic No 396 by Teazel

Author   ChrisPosted on Categories Quick Cryptic
A medium difficulty (some will zoom through, of course) and amusing crossword which held me up in the bottom half more than the top. Double and cryptic definitions abound in this highly satisfactory quick cryptic.

Definitions are underlined as usual.

Across
1 Starting to appear attractive (8)
&nbsp &nbspBECOMING – Double definition.
5 Cooking soup can be a work of art (4)
&nbsp &nbspOPUS – Anagram (cooking) of SOUP.
8 Musical implying the eastern section is Labour? (4,4,5)
&nbsp &nbspWEST SIDE STORY – If the West side’s Tory then the eastern section may be Corbyn supporters (or not).
10 Forced peaceful type to accept war at last (5)
&nbsp &nbspDROVE – Peaceful type (DOVE) accepting wa(R).
11 Attempt to eat the whole of vegetable (7)
&nbsp &nbspSHALLOT – Attempt (SHOT) containing the whole of (ALL).
12 To change sides is a fault (6)
&nbsp &nbspDEFECT – Double definition.
13 Salesman encountered, returning in bad mood (6)
&nbsp &nbspTEMPER – Salesman (REP), encountered (MET) all backwards.
16 In danger — of being burnt? (2,5)
&nbsp &nbspAT STAKE – Being burnt at the stake was an unpleasant punishment in the days before ASBOs. I half wondered if this was the origin for the term ‘at stake’ but Collins has it as ‘uncertain origin’.
18 One among others to take again (5)
&nbsp &nbspRESIT – One (I) among others (REST).
20 President meets certain pop musicians who promote a cause (8,5)
&nbsp &nbspPRESSURE GROUP – President (PRES), certain (SURE), pop musicians (GROUP).
21 Marines banned? That’s the usual (4)
&nbsp &nbspNORM – Marines banned = no Royal Marines = NO RM.
22 Tails companion, making a formal bow (5,3)
&nbsp &nbspWHITE TIE – Double definition – white tie and tails, a white tie occasion.

Down
1 Bent, as a violin is (5)
&nbsp &nbspBOWED – Double definition.
2 Finish knitting and prepare to sail (4,3)
&nbsp &nbspCAST OFF – Double definition.
3 From teacher, girl receiving constant high-level tuition (11)
&nbsp &nbspMASTER CLASS – Teacher (MASTER), girl (LASS) receiving constant (C).
4 One barely to be seen in a colony? (6)
&nbsp &nbspNUDIST – Cryptic definition. A nudist colony is where a nudist may be seen bare.
6 From front of ship, left to go hunting (5)
&nbsp &nbspPROWL – PROW, L.
7 Unscrupulous lawyer, wary and endlessly unyielding (7)
&nbsp &nbspSHYSTER – Wary (SHY), endlessly unyielding (STER)n.
9 Does it make one too scared to go on? (5,6)
&nbsp &nbspSTAGE FRIGHT – Cryptic definition. If one has this one is scared to go on stage.
12 Cleric receives notice quietly, showing no emotion (7)
&nbsp &nbspDEADPAN – DEAN receives notice (AD) and quietly (P).
14 Qualify as officer, and faint (4,3)
&nbsp &nbspPASS OUT – Double definition.
15 Hard ground — put rug here? (6)
&nbsp &nbspHEARTH – Hard (H), EARTH – it’s where a hearth rug goes.
17 Direct trees to be replaced (5)
&nbsp &nbspSTEER – Anagram (replaced) of TREES.
19 Start to temper sword in tent (5)
&nbsp &nbspTEPEE – (T)emper, sword (ÉPÉE).

12 comments on “Quick Cryptic No 396 by Teazel”

  1. This took a while, although so far as I can now remember the main problem was that I put in ‘reset’ (‘replaced’?) at 17d, making 20ac impossible. 14d may be a problem for US solvers; I don’t believe we use the term. 8:20.
    1. I had RESET too initially, and for some reason read 21a as ‘That’s unusual’. But 12d and 20a saw me straight. 3d my LOI, wrongly thinking it had to start with MIS. Like Nick, I enjoyed WEST SIDE STORY and AT STAKE. 7:20.

      Edited at 2015-09-15 08:47 am (UTC)

  2. Good stuff and quite challenging in parts, I thought – found it at the harder end of the QC spectrum.

    Fair amount of cryptics in there, which do (to a degree) depend on being tuned in to the right wavelength – which I probably was not. But once seen, they were very good – particularly liked AT STAKE and WEST SIDE STORY.

    Thanks to Teazel and to Chris – most enjoyable.

  3. I normally find Teazel’s puzzles difficult but I got through this one with no trouble and quite quickly. I put in 8a from the enumeration and did not go back and parse it which I should have because it is good.

    AT STAKE last in and favourite.

  4. 11 minutes. AT STAKE was my last one in. STAGE FRIGHT and WEST SIDE STORY were my favourites. The 15×15 is a harder than yesterday’s but should not be beyond some Quickie solvers.

    Edited at 2015-09-15 07:22 am (UTC)

  5. Found this taxing, not helped by sticking in Blooming for 1a and Sport for 6d (which both work absent checkers IMHO). Have to say I find Teazel and I are often on different wavelengths – so always an enjoyable challenge.
  6. Funny, because I usually find Teazel’s puzzles tricky too, but whizzed through today in just over 10 minutes! That’s as quick as I can ever finish, so am feeling quite chuffed:) Will take Jackkt’s advice and am off to do battle with the ‘big’ one now. Penny
  7. When I saw it was Teazel today I sat down and mentally prepared myself for a long struggle. But I completed it in about 30 mins and in one sitting with only 12d unparsed. I was fortunate not to get myself in all sorts of trouble in the SE corner when I nearly chucked black tie in from the definition.
    When I finally parsed 8a it did bring a smile to my face.
  8. Since the challenge for me is not how long, but whether I can finish at all, I was glad to get to the end, with ‘At Stake’ my LOI. The SE corner benefited from taking a couple of hours of and returning to the puzzle, which I have found helps because I forget the dead ends I had gone down.

    One difference of interpretation with today’s blogger, Chris, (and ongoing thank you’s for introducing us to the mysteries…) isn’t the formal bow in 22a not a formal occasion (bow, as in bend at the waist) but a neck adornment (bow as in knotted tie). This was my COD. Perhaps it’s both.

    1. Well, I think I’m with you and that we’re both on side of the cravat. One definition is the white tie (cravat) which goes with tails. The other is the white bow-tie itself – as in the dress code of formal occasions.
      Let me know if you still think we differ.
  9. Not to hard except couldn’t think what AT S_A_E could be! Might have got it if I stared at it for half an hour, but life’s too short…
  10. I zoomed through this one by comparison with my normal crawl. Not really held up by anything. Enjoyable and some nice clues. David

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