Sunday Times 4418 (30 Jan 2011)

Author   daveperryPosted on Categories Weekend Cryptic
Solving time: 30 minutes exactly.

Another straightforward puzzle. It’s good to see that the general standard of the puzzle has survived the transition between editors. I haven’t noticed any glaring mistakes in the few weeks either, so if there’s an improvement on that front then so much the better. I clocked myself at 28 minutes during my son’s swimming lesson, which left me with just 13 & 14 unsolved, and they came to me after a couple more minutes thought a bit later on.

Nothing much particularly clever here. I liked the cryptic def at 13. I spotted CAMERA very quickly, but it took me a long time to understand the 30 reference and get the first word. I’ll give that my COD.

cd = cryptic def., dd = double def., rev = reversal, homophones are written in quotes, anagrams as (–)*, and removals like this

Across
1 A + Programme + I + ARIES
6 OP + I + ATE – I saw this quite early on, but it took me a while to justify the wordplay. ATE = took, and the definition is ‘drug to aid rest’.
9 Talk + RUE
10 SUPERSTORE = (PRESSURE TO)*
11 BETTER = dd – Improved as an adjective, and a layer of bets
12 ABSTRUSE = (STAB)* + RUSE
14 HEATSTROKE = (THEATRES)* about OK
16 lAPSE
18 PE + RU
19 BRAND + Y + SNAP
21 CRACKERS – The biscuit theme continues from the previous clue, plus a triple def – touched/nuts/bananas
23 ANTLER = (LEARNT)*
25 MINESTRONE = (IN STORE MEN)*
27 Orchestra Ban Obnoxious Electiric
28 CAN(guN)ON
29 DRAUGHTS – cd
Down
2 PER(SEVER)E
3 ALE + R+ T
4 INSCRUTABLE = (SERBIAN CULT)*
5 SOPRANO = (OPeRA + SONg)*
6 O(A)R
7 INTERVALS = IN + (TRAVELS)*
8 TART + S
13 SPEED CAMERA – cd
16 TRUNCHEON = TR for L in LUNCHEON – I’ve not seen TR for Turkey before, but it was quite clear what was required.
17 eSCAPE + GO AT
20 ABS + CON + requireD
22 RAITA = rev hidden
24 THrONG
26 sTAN

16 comments on “Sunday Times 4418 (30 Jan 2011)”

  1. I have no solving time for this one as I was doing it during change-overs in the tennis final. But the answers seemed to go in easily and without much thought. The only clue I didn’t understand was 26dn where the answer is obvious but the wordplay is surely a bit dubious if I’ve understood correctly that ‘hint of sun’ = ‘s’.
    1. “Hint of” for “first letter of” is a favourite with the setter(s) of the UK-based Sunday Times cryptic that appears in The Weekend Australian. Maybe the mannerism is spreading?

      Edited at 2011-02-06 09:08 am (UTC)

  2. 35 minutes. I agree with jackkt about ‘hint of sun’. Although the ST has certainly improved under the new regime, I still find too many clues with unnatural surface readings: 1, say, or 15, or 19.
      1. If it’s the one I think you mean I don’t think it’s an error: just an alternative spelling. I’ve never come across it and it slowed me down quite a bit but it is in the online ODE.
        1. I’m referring to 3dn. Its not in any of the usual dictionaries nor is it found in Oneword/Google or the OED that I have access on-line to via my library. I think we must be talking about different words.
          1. 3D in the online 4419 has one of those spelling errors that makes you think “How on earth did I miss that?”, though the effect on solving the clue should be minimal. It will be corrected ASAP.
          2. Sorry, I see what you mean now – in the clue not the answer. Doh! I did actually notice it as I solved but as Peter says it had no effect on solving. Unlike the unusual spelling of the answer…
            1. I now see what you meant too, but actually the spelling in the answer is the one that I would use and I couldn’t swear I was aware of the other one though I imagine I must have come across it. The Oxfords and Collins list it as the usual spelling, but Chambers lists SE first and SS as the alternative.
              1. How odd. I’m sure I’ve never come across this spelling, and it cost me several minutes. Funny how we have these little blind spots.
    2. Basic errors have definitely reduced. But presumably it is the same setters as before, and will be for some time to come, so any other changes are likely to be pretty gradual, I imagine. It would be nice to see the back of one or two of the traditional ST grids.
      1. Barbara Hall retired from setting this puzzle as well as from editing, so there is one change in the setting team. The other three (Don Manley, Tim Moorey, Jeff Pearce) remain the same. Grid changes are ahead but I have other things to worry about first, so it’s “festina lente” …
  3. Just over 10 minutes for this, putting me in 68th place on the club site leaderboard, some way behind Magoo in 22nd place!
  4. I suspect the spelling variation is a UK/US distinction; I only knew one of the versions from a novel title. (I’m being vague because I suppose we really shouldn’t be talking about this yet.)
  5. According to ODE, the version I had trouble with is a British spelling, so in my case it’s just ignorance. I’d never come across the novel I think you mean: American detective fiction is more to my taste!

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