Times Cryptic 27542

Author   jackktPosted on Categories Daily Cryptic

Solving time: Forgot to record it. Merry Christmas one and all!

As usual definitions are underlined in bold italics, {deletions and substitutions are in curly brackets} and [anagrinds, containment, reversal and other indicators in square ones]. I usually omit all reference to positional indicators unless there is a specific point that requires clarification.

Across
1 Spineless fellow rejected by girl extremely bluntly (5-5)
NAMBY-PAMBY : MAN (fellow) reversed [rejected], PAM (girl), B{luntl}Y [extremely]. ‘Spineless’ for ‘namby-pamby’ is in some of the usual sources but it has strayed a little from the original meaning which was wishy-washy, insipid or weakly sentimental. The phrase was coined by the dramtist Henry Carey (1674-1749) as a play on the Christian  name of the poet Ambrose Philips ( 1694-1743) who was in the habit of composing sentimental verses addressed to babies e.g.
Timely blossom, infant fair,
Fondling of a happy pair,
Every morn and every night,
Their solicitous delight…
6 Sound made by old Egyptian ruler’s game (4)
FARO : Sounds like “Pharaoh” (old Egyptian ruler). I’m not sure this qualifies as a soundalike because ‘faro’ and ‘pharaoh’ are actually alternative spellings of the card game which takes its English name from the Egyptian ruler.
10 Support goal, heading off Arab, perhaps (7)
ENDORSE : END (goal), {h}ORSE (Arab, perhaps) [heading off]
11 Cut off current, well behind time (7)
ISOLATE : I (current), SO LATE (well behind time)
12 By which we measure enclosed ground, attracting flak? (9)
YARDSTICK : YARD (enclosed ground), STICK (flak – criticism)
13 Wanderer Pythias’s friend recalled (5)
NOMAD : DAMON (Pythias’s friend) reversed [recalled]. Biffed, then looked up Damon later.
14 Express sorrow audibly, though backing Arthur C Clarke’s work? (3-2)
SCI-FI : SCI sounds like “sigh” [express sorrow audibly], IF (though) reversed [backing]
15 Wondering bridge player in an undistinguished crowd (9)
AWESTRUCK : S (bridge player) contained by [in] A (an) + WET (undistinguished), RUCK (crowd). On edit: Early commenters have suggested the parsing is in fact: WEST (bridge player) in A (an) + RUCK (undistinguished crowd) and since Collins uses the word ‘undistinguished’ in one of its definitions* I am happy to concede that this is surely what the setter intended. However my suggestion works pretty well too, using  ‘wet’  in the sense of ‘weak, feeble, insipid’, one or all of which might well be substituted for ‘undistinguished’, so I shall let it stand.
*[a large number or quantity; mass, esp of ordinary or undistinguished people or things]
17 Plant originally cultivated in flatter surroundings? (9)
BUTTERCUP : C{ultivated} [originally] contained by [in…] BUTTER UP (flatter) […surroundings]. I never hear or see the word now without being reminded of this sketch from A Bit of Fry & Laurie
20 Composition in Monet’s art, for example (5)
ESSAY : ES (Monet’s art – ‘tu es’), SAY (for example)
21 One of many popes digesting Holy Writ slowly (5)
LENTO : LEO (one of many popes) containing [digesting] NT (Holy Writ – New Testament)
23 Irritation displayed in functions held by workers (9)
ANTSINESS : SINES (functions) contained [held] by ANTS (workers)
25 English politician beginning to organise broadcast about stores (7)
EMPORIA : E (English), MP (politician), O{rganise} [beginning], AIR (broadcast) reversed [about]
26 Scare female away? Correct (7)
RIGHTEN : {f}RIGHTEN (scare) [female away]
27 Flower, one planted by lake in Northumberland? (4)
NILE : I (one) + L (lake) contained by [in] NE (Northumberland? – the most North-Easterly county in England)
28 Scatty padre loses cat (10)
LEOPARDESS : Anagram [scatty] of PADRE LOSES
Down
1 Poor chap captured by Napoleonic marshal (5)
NEEDY : ED (chap) contained [captured] by NEY (Napoleonic marshal). Ney was one of the original 18 Marshals of the Empire created by Napoleon. His name has come up a number of times previously but without referencing Boney.
2 Way sailors misguidedly sit for someone like Picasso? (9)
MODERNIST : MODE (way), RN (sailors  – Royal Navy), anagram [misguidedly] of SIT
3 Tie up new horse? Risky around this northern area (9,5)
YORKSHIRE MOORS : Anagram [new] of HORSE RISKY contains [around] MOOR (tie up)
4 Claim to be monarch in charge of a large landmass? (7)
AMERICA : Alternatively spaced this can be read as AM ER (claim to be monarch), I/C (in charge of) , A
5 Sound fellow in education primarily, one arranging courses? (7)
BRICKIE : BRICK (sound fellow), I{n} E{ducation} [primarily]. Nothing to do with education or food here, courses are horizontal rows of bricks or other material in a wall e.g. the ‘damp course’ which sits between two rows of bricks.
7 Panic relating to wings at front of mansion (5)
ALARM : ALAR (relating to wings), M{ansion} [front]
8 Old lockers accommodating half of dope very well (4-5)
OKEY-DOKEY : O (old),  KEY+ KEY (lockers) containing [accommodating] DO{pe} [half]
9 Make an accusation, using digital means? (5,3,6)
POINT THE FINGER : Cryptic definition
14 Junior officer‘s payment to change name (9)
SUBALTERN : SUB (payment), ALTER (change), N (name)
16 Draw out a French novel and a couple of articles (9)
UNSHEATHE : UN (‘a’ – French), SHE (novel – by Rider Haggard), A + THE (couple of articles)
18 Notice in Daily Express initially a mockery? (7)
CHARADE : AD (notice) contained by [in] CHAR (daily – cleaner) + E{xpress} [initially]
19 Suggestion upset rugby player, a supporter of mine (3-4)
PIT-PROP : TIP (suggestion) reversed [upset], PROP (rugby player)
22 Cactus only an enemy will identify? (5)
NOPAL : NO PAL (only an enemy). Unknown, but guessed from checkers and wordplay.
24 Hollow space? Not out visiting South America (5)
SINUS : IN (not out) contained by [visiting] S (South) + US (America)

47 comments on “Times Cryptic 27542”

  1. Same sort of unknowns and vaguely-heard-ofs as Jack, with a biffed ‘Yorkshire Dales’ briefly holding things up. Good to see NAMBY-PAMBY and OKEY-DOKEY keeping each other company.

    Merry Christmas to solvers, setters, editors – and, heck, it’s the season of goodwill – neutrinos and annoying fly-by posters who haven’t bothered to read the comments.

  3. I flung in BRICKEE, wondering where the second E came from and fully intending to return to it when I had a moment. I had a moment, lots of them, but didn’t avail myself of any of them. Damn. DNK NOPAL.
  4. Under 16 minutes means pretty easy for me – glad not to have made a silly typo, which I often do on fast times. Still a minute plus behind the “flat track bully” from HK.

    I took WEST as the bridge player in AWESTRUCK like Kevin. Also didn’t bother with the French art = es, as “Monet’s art” contains SA in the middle. Like others DNK NOPAL.

    Thanks to everyone for the comments this year, and Merry Christmas from down under.

  5. Several answers like ANTSINESS where I ran the wordplay and thought “that’s not a word” and then realized it actually was. UNSHEATHE another one.
  6. Not very hard, except that BRICKIE, NOPAL and PIT-PROP had to come strictly from wordplay. My LOI was YORKSHIRE MOORS, which I quite enjoyed working out also.

    Edited at 2019-12-24 05:48 am (UTC)

  7. 12 minutes, finishing in a flourish, so I was never on for a sub 10. LOI was AWESTRUCK, which I parsed your original way, Jack, because I was looking for a news letter that worked. DNK NOPAL but it made sense. I’ll make ANTSINESS COD as it’s a strange word. I presume its derivation comes from “ants in your pants”, something I can recall being accused of as a child. Thank you Jack and setter. No newspapers are being delivered the next two days (or New Year’s Day), so happy Christmas, everyone.
  8. 13:29 … and no ‘orses frightened.

    I got a bit held up in the northwest, partly because I couldn’t remember the marshal’s name (I had a hunch it was Bey, which didn’t help at all).

    Merry Christmas, all

    🎄🎅🦌

  9. 25 mins pre brekker, including about 5 alphabet trawling for Awestruck.
    NHO Nopal.
    Mostly I liked: Buttercup.
    Thanks setter and J (nice blog).
  10. 11’50”, relatively flying. I agree with jack’s original parsing of AWESTRUCK. Anyone at all heard of the cactus?

    Thanks jack and setter.

    I’d like to wish blessings on everyone for a peaceful and happy Christmas.

  11. My first ever sub-20 solve, this seemed transparent to me today and gave a sense of how the mighty in these ranks encounter most Cryptics – a bit like hitting a gorgeous pure iron shot and knowing for a fleeting moment how McIlroy feels all the time. That was fun and a nice Christmas present, and as fast as I’m ever likely to go I suspect.

    Humble thanks to all of you for sharing your tips, tricks and sagacity, to the tireless bloggers especially and of course to the anonymous brilliant setters and the staff at the Times for so many hours of edification and enjoyment. A very merry Christmas to everyone.

  12. 20 minutes, cactus unknown and antsiness guessed, my auto text tried to change it to nastiness.
  13. 12:48. Not sure why it took me so long to see the second word of 3D was MOORS… my LOI. Never mind. Some entertaining vocab with NAMBY-PAMBY, OKEY-DOKEY and ANTSINESS. I liked BRICKIE. Thanks setter and Jack.
    Merry Christmas to all.
    1. I rushed to submit at 14:10 with one missing and one wrong. LARGO for LENTO and No NOPAL for NOPAL. I quickly got to the right answers but the pink squares will forever stare out at me as a permanent reproof of my impetuosity.

      COD: BUTTERCUP.

  14. Right on the wavelength with Marshal Ney starting the proceedings, and an AWESTRUCK ESSAY bringing up the rear. Didn’t know the cactus, but it couldn’t have been anything else. A PB at 11.00! Thanks setter and Jack. Happy Christmas everyone:-)
  15. Done in a peppy 22 minutes, despite strategically trying to start off with 1d and, even knowing le Brave des Braves not actually getting the answer until I’d got going with 6d FARO and gone the entire way around the grid…

    Thanks to others for confirming that I wasn’t alone in taking a while to see ANTSINESS as a word. Thanks to Jack for the parsings and the Fry & Laurie.

    Have a lovely Christmas everyone!

  17. Only NOPAL unknown.
    Many thanks to everyone who makes the crossword and its solving so much fun. A happy Christmas to all. I fly tomorrow away for a week so will rejoin you all in the New Year.
  18. ….by finding that “cubist” was too short to be the solution to 2D, and DNK NOPAL though the parsing made it a gimme.

    This was like stepping back to the days of regional qualifiers for the championship, when time was the overriding factor.

    With reference to Jack’s quote from Carey, fondling of a pair – happy or otherwise – at the office party could get you locked up for Christmas 🤭

    To all of you on here, and to all the setters, a very Merry Christmas !

    FOI FARO
    LOI YORKSHIRE MOORS
    COD BRICKIE
    TIME 6:16

  19. Thirty five minutes for this one, which I found quite enjoyable. No problem with NOPAL, which I knew as a food. NOPAL is that cactus with the bit flat, ovalish pads. As a food it looks somewhat unpromising but, when properly prepared it is in fact remarkably unpleasant.

    Nice to see Arthur C. getting a mention. He invented (or at least proposed) the geostationary communications satellite, back in the days before we’d put anything into space. I grew up reading him and Asimov. AWESTRUCK went in unparsed – I saw that there were three out of four possible bridge players, but hadn’t come across “ruck” before.

    Well, Christmas is almost upon us, so brace! brace! brace! and I hope it’s a good one for everybody.

    1. A couple of rows on one of my bookshelves are filled with Arthur C Clark and Isaac Asimov paperbacks(and Leslie Charteris). Did you watch the series of Childhood’s End that was televised recently? I have a couple of brace of pheasant stored in my daughter’s freezer, but we’re having turkey tomorrow:-)
      1. Alas I missed Childhood’s End. I’m down for goose tomorrow; one of our dogs has been picking off the partridge that frequent our garden, but alas she hasn’t yet learned the concept of “give” and so all that’s left of them are a few feathers.
  20. No idea why I knew NOPAL. Nice smooth one until it came time to submit when the Grinch gave me one of those pesky “you’re not supposed to be here” messages which was hardly in the spirit of the season. Recorded time 13.50. A very Merry Christmas to all of us, every one. And to Jack as the “consulting cryptologist” thank you for all your behind-the-scenes help to occasional bloggers like me and for your efforts to frustrate the occasional gremlins on the Club site.
  21. 13.32 so a rare sub-15. Held up a bit by an original nimby-namby which fortunately never felt quite right and managed to correct. Word of the day leopardess. Thanks jack and all the other labourers at the blog face. Though it looks as if I’m now landed with the Poor Little Buttercup earworm for Christmas, I wish a quiet and lucid one to all. joekobi
  22. A nice gentle offering to ease us into Christmas.

    Season’s greetings to all the setters, bloggers and others in this community. Peace and Joy to all.

  23. A 9 minute biff fest. My only unsuccessful biff was “Yorkshire Dales” which is entirely justifiable as there’s no such thing / place as the “Yorkshire Moors”. North York Moors is the correct designation.

    I’ve only lived in Yorkshire for 20 years and I’m already becoming a belligerent old sod.

    Merry bloody Christmas all!

    1. There are lots of Moors in Yorkshire covering a large area including Ilkley of Baht ‘at fame (unofficial anthem). The most notorious in the area where I lived for 60 years is Saddleworth, though it spreads over neighbouring counties.
      1. Well where do you draw the line at what’s an acceptable crossword phrase? Hampshire forests? Cumbrian Lakes? Lancastrian Towns? Scottish rivers? Cornwall coves?

        If you Google “Yorkshire Moors” most of the first several dozen results are specific to the North York Moors.

        1. By the same token I now understand that the ‘Norfolk Broads’ don’t exist as they are officially designated ‘The Broads’ to include the ones in Suffolk of which I was unaware until this moment.

          Of course one has to bow to local knowledge, but as a Southerner born and bred (hailing from the historic County of Middlesex which urban sprawl and the bureaucrats have done their best to wipe from the map), YORKSHIRE MOORS seemed perfectly okay to me. Yorkshire were Yorkshire when I were a lad, which was something of a privilege for it when almost everything beyond Watford was simply “Oop North”! 🙂

          Edited at 2019-12-24 05:51 pm (UTC)

    2. But usage trumps pedantry. ‘Yorkshire Moors’ is in common parlance and surely nobody could claim that the clue was misleading.
      1. Agree the clue was not misleading but I would question ‘common parlance’; certainly it wasn’t in the County. I only commented because of the ‘correct designation’ of North York Moors by penfold 61.
      2. It’s only in common parlance because people incorrectly think that’s what the National Park is called.
        1. Yes. I was thrown by the missing North, having grown up not far away from them. Not common parlance for me without the North.
  24. On empty train back from Glasgow for Xmas. DNK NOPAL and had to think twice about Arthur C Clarke with all of the checkers – had he written a book called SAI something or other. A big DOH moment when the answer clunked into place.
  25. Having to login with Facebook as am on tablet.
    Time just over half an hour, with no particular delay. Nopal known from previous puzzles !
    Merry Christmas and best wishes to all.

    phmfantom

    Edited at 2019-12-24 02:57 pm (UTC)

  26. Thought I was on to a really fast time but took a while to work out awestruck and, particularly, antsiness. Eventually put my pen down in 11 minutes pleased and relieved I didn’t get one of those blocks on the final stretch.

    Antsiness almost made me glad I finished through O level maths- almost but not quite.

    Merry Xmas to the compiler and everyone else.

  27. No time as I fell asleep! An AWESTRUCK Christmas to everyone from the YORKSHIRE MOORS (well, York actually….)
  28. Cheerfully bashed out with a glass of fizz at the kitchen table, in amongst the various Christmas cooking tasks. All solving should be so pleasant. Compliments of the season to one and all!
  29. 13:58 a fairly gentle one (I was quicker on this than on today’s QC), like most others I’d NHO Nopal but wp left little room for manoeuvre. Merry Christmas everyone.

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