Times Cryptic 28004 – 500 not yet out

Author   jackktPosted on Categories Daily Cryptic

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My solving time was 32 minutes for all but 3 letters, but this was a technical DNF because I had rather lost patience with the puzzle by then so I used aids to complete the last word. It’s a shame that I didn’t enjoy it much because this is my 500th blog of weekday 15×15 puzzles (QCs are up to 225) and I would have preferred a more satisfying offering to mark the occasion.

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 In America worship gets to a higher level (8)
UPRAISES
PRAISE (worship) contained by [in] US (America)
6 Girl jokes when speaking in bed (6)
MATRIX
Sounds like [when speaking] “May tricks” (girl jokes). This was the clue that did for me as I had no idea that ‘bed’ was a definition of ‘matrix’ and the sound-alike wordplay only became apparent once I knew what the answer was. Way down a long list of definitions SOED has matrix as the bed or hollowed place in a slab in which a monumental brass is fixed. Collins offers a couple of variations. Why would anyone know this?
9 Minister stopping short, interrupted by a French beast (6)
VICUNA
VICA{r} (minister) [stopping short] contains [interrupted by] UN (a, French). It’s a llama. Another obscurity for me, but the wordplay was helpful.
10 Swiftness with which the thing eats into plant on allotment? (8)
CELERITY
IT (the thing) contained by [eats into] CELERY (plant on allotment). Unless I’m missing something, ‘on allotment’ adds nothing and only serves to confuse the issue. Celery is not the most popular of vegetables because of its bitter taste, so I’d be surprised if many allotment holders grow it. It goes nicely with a strong cheese, especially Stilton, but other than that, I’d never eat it.
11 A word from IT to be effective when spoken (4)
BYTE
Sounds like [when spoken] “bite” (be effective). Hm…
12 One copper with external protection, heading off to get transport (10)
HELICOPTER
I (one) + COP (copper – policeman) contained by [with external] {s}HELTER (protection) [heading off]. ‘Copper’ cluing COP is feeble.
14 Worm finding mate after short journey (8)
TRICHINA
TRI{p} (journey) [short], CHINA (mate – CRS, plate). Another unknown.
16 Sweet wine takes no time to get word of approval (4)
OKAY
{t}OKAY (sweet wine) [no time – t]. I knew of the wine from a 1929 song of the same title by Noel Coward, but also it has come up here on a few occasions.
18 Spot   unwanted visitor in garden? (4)
MOLE
Two meanings
19 Drink cleric knocked back with empty talk (8)
VERMOUTH
REV (cleric) reversed [knocked back], MOUTH (empty talk – bragging). All mouth and (no) trousers!
21 Party acquiring dubious votes — the limit possibly for famous Russian (10)
DOSTOEVSKY
DO (party), anagram [dubious] of VOTES, SKY (the limit possibly). The vaguest of definitions forces solvers to rely on wordplay, checkers and enumeration.
22 Ship‘s load, about to be discharged (4)
ARGO
{c}ARGO (load) [about  – c – to be discharged].
24 By a large lake Heather slips maybe (8)
LINGERIE
LING (heather), ERIE (large lake)
26 Simpletons so timid, having lost heart sadly (6)
IDIOTS
Anagram [sadly] of SO TI{m}ID [having lost heart]
27 Speak ill of brilliant ace, the writer (6)
DEFAME
DEF (brilliant), A (ace), ME (the writer)
28 Groups gathering information — about a thousand pieces (8)
SEGMENTS
SETS (groups) containing [gathering] GEN (information) containing [about] M (a thousand). A Russian doll clue.
Down
2 Be nosy about four ladies? (5)
PRIVY
PRY (be nosy) containing [about] IV (four)
3 An attractive sort of voice that Renee often has (5,6)
ACUTE ACCENT
A (an), CUTE (attractive), ACCENT (sort of voice). As in Renée Zellweger.
4 Has this film finally bombed? Or maybe it’s this! (5,3)
SMASH HIT
Anagram [bombed] of HAS THIS {fil}M [finally]
5 A vile princess is involved in historic rebellion (8,7)
SICILIAN VESPERS
Anagram [involved] of A VILE PRINCESS. I’d heard the expression but didn’t know its historical meaning. I thought it was a work by Monteverdi!
6 Hostility in country church (6)
MALICE
MALI (country), CE (church)
7 Possibly Dartmoor’s big mound of rubbish piled up (3)
TOR
ROT (rubbish) reversed [piled up]. There are lots of tors on Dartmoor of which Haytor is perhaps the most famous. It’s around 1500ft high and I’m rather surprised that I have a photo of myself, aged 11, taken at its summit in 1959 . As far as I’m aware that was my first and only attempt at such an adventure.
8 Experiencing difficulty. but evidently not off one’s trolley (2,3,4)
IN THE CART
A definition and a cryptic hint. I can’t say I knew the expression with this meaning but I found it on-line, decribed as ‘obsolete’. Apparently it comes from the practice of taking prisoners for punishment or to their execution in carts. Victims were transported to the gallows in a cart, which was also used as the means of execution by attaching the noose and then driving the cart away. ‘Off one’s trolley’ means mad.  There’s a rogue punctuation mark in the middle of the clue.
13 Expert being paid to take the case likely to stir up anger? (11)
PROVOCATIVE
PRO (expert being paid)), VOCATIVE (case – grammar)
15 Act to probe the iron spread out in mineral (9)
RHODONITE
DO (act) contained by [to probe} anagram [spread out] of THE IRON. Another unknown, but the wordplay and checkers presented limited options.
17 Fish that is grand, superior to two others (8)
GRAYLING
G (grand), RAY LING (two others – fish). ‘Superior’ is simply a placement indicator in a Down clue.
20 Ruling to wane, when being ignored (6)
DECREE
DECRE{as}E (wane) [when – as – being ignored]
23 See bird, for example, flying north (3,2)
GET IT
TIT (bird} + EG (for example) reversed [flying north]
25 Indian location showing ambition, no end (3)
GOA
GOA{l} (ambition) [no end]

85 comments on “Times Cryptic 28004 – 500 not yet out”

  1. … cheated with LOI IN THE CART which I’d NHO and had been looking at blankly for five minutes.

    I’d never heard of DEF = brilliant either, not into Hip Hop which was the complete opposite of the guitar-based music I was brought up on.

    RHODONITE entered with a shrug.

  2. Managed to get this out, with the same difficulties/obscurities others have mentioned, though took a very long time over a few sessions. MATRIX was my last in, having already entered the unheard of IN THE CART in the expectation that it couldn’t possibly be be correct. Sometimes it does pay to trust to wordplay.

    About on the limit for obscure words, terms and general knowledge for me, but no complaints.

    Thanks and congrats to Jack for the big D.

  3. confidently put MITE in at 18a, as we don’t have moles as garden pests here in Oz. This made 15d difficult. I was looking for RHINOsomething as the mineral. A rhinolith is a stone in the nose, but was unparseable. A review of the checkers revealed MOLE as a mite better than MITE ( but not better than vegemite), and RHODONITE fell into place as LOI shortly thereafter. 23’03”
  4. ….in the shape of RHODONITE and TRICHINA, but both lent themselves to the reasonably confident biff.

    I knew IN THE CART (which made MATRIX an easy spot, although I thought more grid than bed), and I offer you the explanation of my old English teacher, Frank Millard, who thought it originated from the tumbrils used to transport the aristocrats to the guillotine during the French Revolution. The common exclamation was “Now we’re really in the cart”, hence heading to our doom. I’ve no real proof of the correctness of this, but it’s certainly plausible.

    FOI UPRAISES
    LOI DECREE
    COD SMASH HIT
    TIME 10:42

  5. Another who struggled with Matrix, having almost convinced myself it must be Mattie (of House of Cards fame).

    Thanks to the setter. Thanks and congratulations to Jack for his fine achievement.

  6. Jack.

    Hearty congratulations on your imperious milestone. Your blog is invariably highly entertaining, informative and stimulating. Your encouragement to newcomers to have a go at the 15 x 15 is exemplary. Enjoyment lies in the journey even if occasionally the end point is not fully attained. You are a star.

    Here’s to the next 500… Cheers!

  7. MATRON and ON THE CART here, we could have a philosophical discussion as to whether one rides in or on a cart, but i just have to accept outside my ken. In the wagon, a more substantial conveyance, does not apparently work, as one is either on or off that mode of transport. Anyway, MATRON “thrown” in as a no hoper after that. Thanks blogger and setter.
  8. Another DNF here. Too many odd clues, DNKs and NHOs for me and gave up with most of the SW unfinished and MATRIX of course. Not helped by having ON THE ….. thinking, if your not off, you must be on.

    Congrats Jack on your 500. Hopefully many more to come.

  9. I was running along quite nicely today although I didn’t find the going particularly easy, until 6 ac “Matrix” and I now realise I was far from the only one to struggle here. I couldn’t see past “Mo” for the girl’s name and “tease” for jokes and got into a familiar mental rut. In desperation (and having had quite enough headbanging yesterday!) I put in Moteis which I hoped was an obscure word for “bed” — fat chance!
    Several NHOs — “Sicilian Vespers” (but crossers helped), “Trichina” and “Rhodonite” where the clueing was helpful in both cases.
    COD 17 d “Grayling”, if only because I’d heard of it!
    Overall I found the puzzle both satisfying and a little irritating to tackle.
    Thanks to Jack for the blog. In particular, may I say that “500 not out” is in the Brian Lara class — an achievement you should be proud of!
    In addition I have very much appreciated your frequent words of clarification and occasionally moderation over the time I have been following this site, which has very much set the right tone in my opinion. Here’s to the next 500!
  10. I seemed to getting along pretty well with only two clues remaining unsolved. Needless to say, MATRIX was one of them.
    The other was DECREE which completely eluded me because, as I later discovered, I’d inadvertently transposed the two central vowels in DOSTOEVSKY with the result that my checkers at 20d appeared to be — O — R — E.
    So a DNF for me. I suppose I could have double-checked the correct spelling of DOSTOEVSKY but I worry that by doing so I’d be resorting to aids. Or is the use of a dictionary (or other reference work) to simply check on one’s spelling perhaps perfectly acceptable, and does not count as an aid? Perhaps someone would be kind enough to clarify.
    1. I think we all play by our own rules. Mine are that I would never look anything up to check before submitting but each to his or her own 🙂
    2. I agree with pootle, do whatever suits you. I rarely check spelling when doing the 15×15 and never for the QC, but am more relaxed when solving the Jumbo. And for The Guardian, which I solve every day now I will use aids quite freely if I’ve gone past the half-hour mark.
  11. 24.31 although I appear inadvertently to have submitted off-leaderboard, very modest of me. With no pen and paper to work out the anagram, the unknown Sicilian Vespers took longer to decipher than it otherwise might. Struggled to work out the correct deployment of the letters in rhodonite. Trichina and the in the cart expression also unknown, the latter requiring a lengthy alpha-trawl to convince myself it was the best option. I found this a satisfying puzzle to work through.

    Well done Jackkt on your sterling blogging work, much appreciated by this solver.

  12. with the last five of course on matrix. I was an ‘on the cart’er but luckily I saw the error. Otherwise matron was going to be a very sad entrant. Matron = girl? No, I think not. I agree entirely with DavidH about obscure words. Bring them on. How else do you learn? Part of the beauty of the language is in its recondite corners. And you can usually work them out. I’d never knowingly heard of trichina, but it followed from the clueing and felt right. Matrix as bed I assumed was because of some mathematical meaning for bed. I was wrong, but now I know it means the setting for an ornamental brass. In the cart came up a few months ago – but I had obviously half-forgotten it.
  13. 52 minutes, but for a change everything understood and correct. Lots of unknowns: RHODONITE, but I agree with David above that you know where the other letters go when you have the checked ones; SICILIAN VESPERS, but that too was an anagram; and IN THE CART, my LOI, which I finally dared to leave in place since nothing else seemed to fit the trolley one wasn’t off. MATRIX, just before that, was a bit obscure, but I didn’t find it unfair in any way, and it seemed reasonable to understand it as a bed in the sense of a substrate which fixes the position of something placed on it (actually, the first few meanings in my COED equate to “bed” in some sense). I took a while to see MOLE and also had some questions about DEF, but no other real problems.

    Congratulations from me, too, Jack, on your 500th blog. I always enjoy your blogs particularly because we often have similar approaches (and similar solving times), so, perhaps a sentiment you won’t share with me, I hope there will be 500 more!

    Edited at 2021-06-15 08:54 pm (UTC)

  14. I’m familiar with MATRIX as an array of numbers, but have always pronounced it as “mat’ ricks”, and although I was aware of it having many other meanings,
    I didn’t know the way 6ac said it. (Saw the film on TV but with subtitles – sound muted.)
  15. I finished this in the hernia surgeon’s waiting room (follow-up visit; no problems), where I couldn’t check anything, and am relieved to find on coming here that my previously unknowns, IN THE CART, TRICHINA, RHODONITE and SICILIAN VESPERS, were all correct. This one looked opaque at first, then became rather easy, and then… those four (the longest one being easiest because it was all an anagram, natch).

    Edited at 2021-06-15 10:41 pm (UTC)

  16. Busy day, I somehow overlooked this subtext until now. I wonder if I’ll last that long…!

    Edited at 2021-06-16 01:37 am (UTC)

  17. Late entry cos I forgot to take a look at the site yesterday. 28.00 but hesitated and dithered over matrix. Eventually put it in but had no confidence it was right . Still not convinced , never seen tricks as an alternative to jokes nor matrix as a bed. But I suppose the longer you live , the more you learn…

    Nice puzzle otherwise. Belated thanks setter and blogger.

  18. I gave up on this and came here for illumination, and I’m so glad I did. I failed on all the same answers as everyone else and for the same reasons, but only on those. I successfully got all the reasonably gettable ones, including DOSTOEVSKY and VICUÑA. That’s progress. FOI PRIVY, LOI SMASH HIT. NHO too many to list but all obscurities. (And what an interesting discussion that was.) No aids used. I’m late to the party but congratulations, jackkt. 🥳 500 blogs=500 completed cryptics. To me that’s unimaginable!
    1. I haven’t been able to find that word exists, but even if it does, a beetle isn’t a worm so it wouldn’t count as an alternative answer to ‘trichina’ which is (a worm).
  20. …on your 500 blogs and thanks for your efforts.
    I thought this was easy when I started it last night after a busy day. Looked forward to knocking off the rest this morning but got precisely nowhere for all the reasons already rehearsed in this interesting set of comments.

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