Times Cryptic 26930

Author   jackktPosted on Categories Daily Cryptic

A fairly straightforward puzzle today which delayed me only 3 minutes over my target half-an-hour.

As usual definitions are underlined in bold italics, {deletions are in curly brackets} and [anagrinds, containment, reversal and other indicators in square ones]

Across
1 Primate‘s staff ailing — doctor called in (8)
MANDRILL – MAN (staff) + ILL (ailing) with DR (doctor) contained [called in]
9 Area police announced restriction that sours the air (4,4)
ACID RAIN – A (area), CID (police), RAIN sounds like [announced] “rein” (restriction)
10 Readily believes Northerner holds us back (4,2)
LAPS UP – LAPP (Northerner) contains [holds] US reversed [back]
11 Cast organised protest to get fishing basket (7,3)
LOBSTER POT – LOB (cast), anagram [organised] of PROTEST
12 Greek character backing firm in Perth, remarkably (4)
UNCO – NU (Greek character) reversed [backing], CO (firm). Scottish dialect.
13 Tory authority’s discounted in meeting (10)
CONFLUENCE – CON (Tory), {in}FLUENCE (authority) [discounted ‘in’]. A gathering of people, or where rivers meet.
16 Second mate claiming heart of girls like Myrtle, perhaps (7)
SHRUBBY – S (second), HUBBY (mate) containing [claiming] {gi}R{ls} [heart]
17 Fired as a result of poor editing (7)
IGNITED – Anagram [poor] of EDITING
20 Former Italian writer, heading off depression after church (10)
ANTECEDENT – {d}ANTE (Italian writer) [heading off], CE (church), DENT (depression). The answer is an adjective here.
22 Country‘s Republican force given audible cue (4)
IRAQ – IRA (Republican force – Irish Republican Army), Q sounds like [audible] “cue”
23 Maverick or a well-fed ungulate? (6,4)
FALLOW DEER – Anagram [maverick] of OR A WELL-FED
25 Rebellion of small proportions I’m doubtful about leading (6)
MUTINY – UM (I’m doubtful) reversed [about], TINY (of small proportions)
26 Some music I put on as soon as king enters court (8)
CONCERTI – ONCE (as soon) + R (king) contained by [enters] CT (court), I
27 Caddy is breaking into loping stride on course (8)
CANISTER – IS contained by [breaking into] CANTER (loping stride on course – racecourse)
Down
2 A water source on island if all else fails (2,1,5)
AT A PINCH – A, TAP (water source), INCH (island)
3 50 gatecrashing party certain to gain admission (10)
DISCLOSURE – L (50) contained by [gatecrashing] DISCO (party], SURE (certain)
4 Remorseless climbing mountain chain, I’m at the top! (10)
IMPLACABLE – I’M, ALP (mountain) reversed [climbing], CABLE (chain). ‘Cable’ and ‘chain’ are not the same to my mind except in the sense that they can both be used for the same purpose. Edit at 06:00: It now occurs to me that ‘cable’ and ‘chain’ (and even possibly ‘cable chain’) are stitching patterns in knitting, and that may be the meaning in which they can be substituted, but I don’t know enough on the subject to say for sure. Do we have a knitting correspondent within our ranks?
5 Like a flame beginning to burn in new mantle? (7)
LAMBENT – B{urn} [beginning] in anagram [new] of MANTLE
6 Spray that’s dropped picked up (4)
MIST – Sounds like [picked up] “missed” (dropped)
7 Security measure for Panama running through locks? (6)
HATPIN – Cryptic definition. I’m not sure one would use a hatpin to secure a Panama hat but I get the idea and the question mark suggests it’s a bit loose.
8 Oddly, kind of fabric we struggle to pull up in bed? (8)
KNOTWEED – K{i}N{d} O{f} [oddly], TWEED [fabric]
14 They handle cargo — not the most massive pieces (10)
LIGHTERMEN – LIGHTER (not the most massive), MEN (pieces – e.g. chess)
15 Gets shot of priest at home, with friends coming round (10)
ELIMINATES – ELI (priest), MATES (friends) contains [coming round] IN (at home)
16 Expert behind vehicle in science fiction film (8)
SCARFACE – CAR (vehicle) in SF (science fiction), ACE (expert). The nick name of Al Capone. The classic film of this title was made in 1932 and starred Paul Muni. There was a remake in 1983 featuring Al Pacino.
18 Manager shortly bringing in a rich reserve as triallist (8)
EXAMINEE – EXE{c} (manager) [shortly] containing [bringing in] A + MINE (rich reserve).
19 Charlie supporting either crackpot or dissident (7)
HERETIC – C (Charlie) underneath [supporting] anagram [crackpot] of EITHER
21 Story books that scout looks out for? (6)
TALENT – TALE (story), NT (books)
24 Cordial, neither hot nor cold (4)
WARM – A straight definition with a cryptic hint

47 comments on “Times Cryptic 26930”

  1. I was happy to finish this in a single sitting in reasonable time for me. It didn’t seem to be a pushover but the clues fell steadily. The only DNK was UNCO.

    Thanks, Jack, for the early-posted blog. And thanks to the setter for a medium difficulty puzzle.

  2. I put in 14d with an A instead of an E; I seem to be getting sloppier as I stumble on to that bourn from which. I’m pretty sure we just had UNCO somewhere; probably a prize puzzle so I shouldn’t mention it. I didn’t notice anything about cable/chain, or about the hatpin, but now you mention it, … I also didn’t notice the definition of KNOTWEED, but now I do; I would have thought that, say ‘that we struggle …’ is needed.
  3. Held up a little by EXAMINEE, because “exec” is “short” already for “executive.” I’ve also known the expression at 2 solely as “in a pinch,” though the wordplay persuaded me to opt for this variant. When was the last time anyone here saw, let alone used, the word SHRUBBY?

    Edited at 2018-01-09 05:08 am (UTC)

    1. I use shrubby to define a certain type of habitat which consists mostly of young trees and bushes.
  4. I found this oddly chewy, given how straightforward the first few parsings look by the cold light of morning, and my time was 9 minutes. Perhaps it was just one of those puzzles that is so limpid that there’s not much for the brain to grab onto and start running with? LOI 7dn which I was “sure” was going to be a two letter country code for Panama inside HAIR, or similar…
  5. Nearly biffed “knitwear” along with Vinyl, but managed to avoid it. Sadly did biff FATTED CALF at 23a. With the enumeration, the F at the start and “well-fed ungulate” in the clue I’m thinking I may not be alone.

    Still, sorted that all out quickly enough and came home in 45m. FOI 10a LAPS UP LOI 18d EXAMINEE, not helped by assuming that “triallist” was something to do with horses. Enjoyed the misdirection of “editing” as anagram fodder at 17a. WOD SHRUBBY.

    I’ve definitely seen UNCO a couple of times in the last couple of years here; I don’t think I’d’ve remembered it otherwise.

  6. 30 mins with yoghurt (prune) and the usual. Blueberry compote especially good today (inc. maple syrup).
    I really enjoyed this (maybe I prefer limpid). Mostly I liked: 13ac, 20ac, well-fed ungulate, “I’m doubtful about”, Knotweed (I agree it needs a “that”), Scarface (COD).
    MERs today at (like Jack): chain=cable, a hatpin! in a Panama! Quel faux pas!
    Unco was familiar from crosswords but I live in Scotland and no-one has ever said it.
    Thanks fun setter and Jack.

    PS Excellent use of “a”s today. Not a dangler to be seen.

    Edited at 2018-01-09 08:15 am (UTC)

  7. Chambers defines “cable” as a strong rope or CHAIN. They’re also both measures of length.

    No trouble with this – a stroll in the park

  8. 14:38 … with the same sense of paradoxical difficulty so nicely articulated by verlaine. Sometimes you see ghosts in these things, not least, in my case, entering WARM and then removing it on the grounds that it was too obvious and wracking my brain for the cryptic definition of 23a (FALLOW DEER) before realising it was a regular anagram. And like v I went the other way with HATPIN, trying in vain to figure out the non-existent wordplay.

    But props to the setter for some cute misdirections, exploiting the seasoned solver’s assumptions.

  9. In a hurry today and was defeated by the IGNITED not KNITWEAR but KNOTWEED crossing.
  10. O my Stevens and my Lofthouse long ago! (With Dougie Holden and a bit of Hoppy.) I know I keep using Francis Thompson but why not as the last Victorian and first baby boomer? A steady progress day, finishing in 29 minutes. I’ll give COD to KNOTWEED, which I was happy with as a clue and produced a smile. The new avatar is at Horryd’s request. Apparently, Tinker only charted at number 11. Thank you Jack and setter.

    Edited at 2018-01-09 08:41 am (UTC)

  11. Traps for the careless biffer here, so CONFERENCE instead of CONFLUENCE, and I was another who went for the unparsed KNITWEAR to begin with, but got there despite having to unpick these things. Ended with an alphabet trawl to get EXAMINEE, which was representative of a puzzle which was harder than it looked.
  12. 7:57. I know what v means by ‘limpid’. The right approach to solving a lot of these was just to read the clue and let the solution appear, without letting conscious thought get in the way. Does that make any sense? Probably not.
    UNCO did seem more than usually familiar, but it may have appeared in a Mephisto or Azed recently: I have been catching up. The Christmas Azed is great fun, if you like that sort of thing. I also did a Spectator puzzle for the first time this week. It was set by Magoo and really excellent.
  13. A steady 19.24 following the instructions to reveal the answers. Not much more to say really.
  14. I too biffed CONFERENCE before correcting myself. Am familiar with KNOTWEED, can tell a very long story about it. 13′ 43″ today, thanks jack and setter.

    Can I please politely mention that I haven’t felt able to post on a lot of occasions recently? The reason being that some like to comment in this forum on sporting events on the other side of the world. As one who loves cricket but does not have the stamina to stay up all night, I like to watch highlights or even ‘as live’ recordings, and avoid knowing the score. I know it only happens every four years, just saying.

    1. Sorry if I’ve been the culprit, Rob. I’ll desist for New Zealand and the one-dayers.
    2. But we know England will lose the one dayers and tests in NZ, so I wouldn’t worry too much! (Only joshing of course). Found this easy but luck with 12a. Finished in under 30 mins which is good for me. Loved the misdirection in 16d so my COD. THANKS ALL
  15. Knew UNCO but not what it meant – presumed it was some Aussie saying, but got the wrong Perth. Held up at the end by my biffed CONFERENCE – I should have guessed that setters always include a pear when they have that word in front of them – and HATPIN my LOI, thinking that Panama was some abbreviation reference with the P there and all…
  16. 29 minutes, a steady plod along with the same feelings as most, overthinking some of the clues. So LOI was HATPIN and took an age to see ungulate was the definition in 23a. Nothing unknown and nice to see old DANTE back after he replaced my erroneous DONNE recently.
  17. …. and raise by an EXAMINER.

    Which made 14 and 27 tricky to say the least until finally realising that at least one of the above must be wrong.

    Count me in the club that’s seen UNCO recently (can’t recall where), as well those spending a disproportionate amount of time unpicking 23a. Even having spotted straight away that it was an anagram it took most of the checkers being in to allow me to see the obvious.

    LOI – given the issues already described – 14d

    In honour of 16a I will watch Python and the Holy Grail later.

    16 minutes in the end. B-, must do better.

  18. A pleasant solve with only my LOI, EXAMINEE, giving me a hard time. I had to resort to an alphabet trawl, which took a while to reach X. I also detoured into knitwear territory for a brief moment, but avoided the conference. I did initially think about working something into HAIR or CANAL at 7d, but rapidly spotted the correct answer. Remembered UNCO from recent puzzles. Liked KNOTWEED and SHRUBBY. 25:40. Thanks setter and Jack.
  19. 19 minutes, wasting about 5 by having put in partially parsed ‘conference’ for 13A. Once that was fixed, the SE corner ran in. LOI examinee (and it took me a little while afterwards to parse the ‘ex e’). Knew ‘unco’ from reading Burns.
  20. 10:49. No problems other than, like TT & co, a biffed CONFERENCE. My other 4 biffs went in right first time.

    I, too, raised a slight eyebrow at the definition part of the weed clue, particularly as Peter B picked up on a similar instance in the clue for alcopop in the turkey.

    Edited at 2018-01-09 03:57 pm (UTC)

  21. 33mins but with a frankly ridiculous almost-momble ‘canonrti’. Don’t think I stopped to look at the word as a whole, just did the jigsaw: C (ANON) R T I . Doh!

  22. I understand te wordplay but not the meaning of UNCO, and can’t find a reference relating it to Perth.

    Can a kind soul explain please?

    1. ‘in Perth’ is a favourite device of setters to indicate that the word in question is either a Scots or Strine usage, as a possible place where it might occur.
  23. Tried to do this while watching the US college football championship, and found that I wasn’t up to mult-itasking. I should have turned the TV off.
  24. 20:11. Limpid? Like a good martini. Yes it was mostly fairly transparent and without any rocks to founder on or olives to add a bit of extra taste. UNCO and ELIMINATES both seemed familiar…. yes quite likely in one of the recent prize ones.
  25. Struggled with unco as could do the word play but hadn’t heard if it. Otherwise enjoyed it. Completed in 1 sitting after lunch by the fire in the local.
  26. Twenty-one minutes for me meaning that this was a relatively easy one. (I’ve long since given up the hope that faster times equate to flashes of brilliance on my part.)

    All went in quickly, apart from IRAQ (because I didn’t see the parsing, and was toying with Iran), and EXAMINEE. UNCO went in for want of anything better – I half knew the word, but didn’t appreciate its Australiarity. I made a mental note to go back and re-think it, but then forgot said mental note and was glad when it turned out to be right. The internet seems to insist that it’s Scottish rather than Australian in origin.

    Edited at 2018-01-09 04:26 pm (UTC)

        1. Unco is also an Australian word, but a derogatory one for a clumsiness or a clumsy person. Short for uncoordinated. It’s in the Macquarie Dictionary, the Australian reference.
  27. 25m so a rare sub 30 these days. Add me to the CONFERENCE biffers as well. Otherwise a pleasant solve with no unknowns today. Thanks for the blog and the puzzle.
  28. About 30 minutes, like Paul while watching US college football, so there was some distraction. Took me 30 minutes, ending with EXAMINEE. Regards.
  30. 30:50 for me so fairly straightforward. Slight delay at 10ac where “eats up” popped into my head, its utter unparseability led to an alphabet trawl as far as L. Unco known and seen recently although I sometimes get the meanings of the similarly crosswordy words: unco (Scottish very / remarkable), umbo (shield boss) and ambo (pulpit in an early Christian church) mixed up and I think I recently put an ambo in for an umbo in one puzzle.
  31. Not sure how I came up with EATS UP but there you go. I’ll see you at the bottom of the table.
  32. Assumed ‘pin’ for security measure, as in pin number, for a Panama hat. Hence ‘hatpin’ rather than the thing that might hold it on your head! Am I stating the obvious here?
  33. My (unfortunately usual) hour with KNOTWEED and UNCO my LOI. Once I actually wrote in the former the wordplay was bright and clear, and although I had never heard of the latter the wordplay couldn’t be other than it actually was, so I bunged it in, assuming I couldn’t possibly know Australian slang anyway (yes, I know, wrong Perth, but does it matter?). The rest must have been easy, although where do I know LAMBENT from?
  34. 25m so a rare sub 30 these days. Add me to the CONFERENCE biffers as well. Otherwise a pleasant solve with no unknowns today. Thanks for the blog and the puzzle.

Comments are closed.