Quick Cryptic Number 277 by Joker

Author   william_j_sPosted on Categories Quick Cryptic
Apologies for the delay in posting – with little hope of finding this puzzle in advance, Murphy’s law dictates that something will crop up in the morning.

I found this fairly straightforward, except for two obscure words in one clue (the answer and part of the charade), and a little Australian culture that was new to me, but which I like very much.

No reproduction of the clues this morning – the PC I’m working on does not want to help in that regard. Definitions underlined.

Across
8 NIAGARA – high waterfall from A R (river) + AGAIN (once more) all reversed (going over).
9 IDEAL – I (one) with DEAL (understanding) for perfect.
10 EIGHT – wEIGHT (heaviness) without the first letter (trimmed at the front end) for rowing boat.
11 BIG GAME – double definition.
12 OLD MASTER – double definition.
14 RAM – a sign (of the zodiac?) hidden in pyRAMid.
16 DAB – double definition.
18 IN THE MAIN – double definition. Main being an archaic term for the open ocean.
21 CORONER – CORNER (difficult situation) around O (old) for official in court.
22 MINUS – lacking from M (millions) + IN + US.
23 GUEST – nearly GUESs with T (time) gives one checked into hotel.
24 ORIFICE – an opening from first letters (initially) of Our and Refregerator + IF (provided) and ICE (something cool to drink). My COD.

Down
1 ON RECORD – double definition.
2 RAGGED – RAGED (was furious) containing (receiving) G (note) for old and torn.
3 PART – TRAP (catch) reversed (going up) for theatrical role.
4 GAMBIT – G (good) + AMBIT (scope) in opening move at chess. I only recently discovered the true meaning of ‘opening gambit’ (it was in a TV quiz recently, I think), and the ‘scope’ part needed looking up afterwards.
5 LINGERIE – LINGER (be reluctant to leave) with cutIE (removing cut, trim) for underwear.
6 REPAIR – put right from REP (travelling salesman) with AIR (affected manner).
7 BLUE – double definition. An athlete from Oxford or Cambridge University, and a nickname in Australia for someone with red or ginger hair. I don’t claim to understand the Aussie sense of humour, but I was almost sure this was right once it was in the grid!
13 ALIENATE – lose the support of from an anagram (indicated by upset) of AN ELITE after A (article).
15 MINISTER – MINI (small car) with an anagram (indicated by unsettled) of REST for government chief.
17 BORDER – live alongside from B (black) and ORDER (for example, the Dominican Order).
19 TERROR – ERROR (mistake) after end of audiT gives fear.
20 AUNTIE – A + UNTIE (loose) for female relative.
21 CAGE – C (caught, in cricket) + AGE (a long time) in prison.
22 MAIL – I in MAL (shopping centre, mall, without last letter) for post.

10 comments on “Quick Cryptic Number 277 by Joker”

  1. A gambit can never be an opening move in a chess game because the word implies the offer of a piece (in practice a pawn and almost always by white) on the assumption that the offered pawn is eventually recoverable or some other advantage secured. No piece can be offered or captured by the first move of either player. White’s second move is the one most likely to be a gambit. A ‘gambit opening’ is common parlance in chess, referring to a sequence of moves. But the clue here is specific. ‘Opening move’
  2. It was on University challenge recently.

    Got stuck in lingerie and had no idea about blue redheads.

  3. Good to see Joker back at his normal level after last weeks tricky offering. Thank you for the parsing of 7d, which I had no idea about. Invariant
  4. Gave up on 17d, completely forgot that monks came in orders. Apart from that it all went in ok, 5d took a bit of time and I couldn’t parse the ‘if’ in 24a so thanks for the explanation.
    It’s strange how quickly you pick up crossword vocabulary 18a would have been a mystery to me a few months ago but today it was a write in.
  5. 12 minutes with a few problems along the way. I didn’t see any problem with GAMBIT when solving and wonder if this is yet another example of a usage that is clear to everyone except those with expert knowledge.

    Edited at 2015-04-01 01:13 pm (UTC)

  6. Delighted, if somewhat ashamed, to report that I have at last managed to complete this crossword without resorting to reading your really helpful explanation of the clues! Think I must have learnt a lot about cryptics. I’ve always done Times 2, but get a great deal of satisfaction from attempting the Quick Cryptic. Many thanks to all who provide this service!
  7. Enjoyable romp and thanks to William for the blog in what sounds like trying circumstances!

    Re. blue, I’ve been living here in Sydney for 13 years now and never heard blue as slang for red head! “True blue” is used extensively to mean authentically Australian – “he’s a true blue, dinky-di Aussie…”

    In my experience redheads are generally referred to as Rangas (contraction of orang-utan) or, occasionally, “bushfire blondes”. The Australian National University’s resource “Meanings and origins of Australian words and idioms” – a fascinating scholarly analysis of some of the most colourful slang you could ever imagine – does not mention this usage.

    Double checked with my wife (who is as authentic a piece of walking talking Australiana as it is possible to get!) and she reckons it was occasionally used many generations ago, but she has not come across it since she was a kid – which, with all due respect to ‘er indoors, was a fair while back now…

    Clearly it’s legit as there do appear to be some references to it (urban dictionary for example) so no complaints. Just pointing all this out
    – so no one should feel bad that they did not know of this thing
    – to warn against casually dropping it into conversation with any passing Australian you meet (they are unlikely to have a clue what you are talking about!)
    – in the vague hope someone might find it interesting.

    1. Just to confirm “Blue” for a person with red or ginger hair is in all the usual dictionaries as Australian and/or NZ informal usage. Collins also has “Bluey”. Apparently it takes a capital B.
    2. Thanks for your insights – for the record:
      – I guessed and feel fine.
      – I will follow your sound advice (never upset an Australian – especially if they are due to play cricket against you soon).
      – your hope is fulfilled – absolutely fascinating – especially the bushfire blonde bit. 😊
  8. Started, unwisely, on a busy day yesterday and found the grid still half complete this morning. No problems except for 17dn – I think that border = alongside rather than live alongside. My house/property may border yours but I don’t border you?

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