I completed this over two sessions and had very few problems.
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]. “Aural wordplay” is in quotation marks. I usually omit all reference to juxtaposition indicators unless there is a specific point that requires clarification.
 Across |
|
| 1 | Passes such practical training (5-2) |
| HANDS-ON | |
| A cryptic hint precedes the hyphenated definition | |
| 5 | Mistake to engage feeble reactionary (8) |
| BLIMPISH | |
| BISH (mistake) containing [to engage] LIMP (feeble). This is derived from Colonel Blimp, a character invented by the cartoonist David Low c1934, an obese, reactionary ex-officer, a pompous elderly diehard sporting a walrus moustache. | |
| 9 | A pig died on the train (6) |
| ABOARD | |
| A, BOAR (pig), D (died). I’d have been happier with an indication of the DBE. | |
| 13 | On principle, feigned forbearance with which I answer Middle East expert (8,2,6) |
| LAWRENCE OF ARABIA | |
| LAW (principal), anagram [feigned] of FORBEARANCE, then I, A (answer). Feign(ed) isn’t listed by Chambers as an anagram indicator but synonyms include forge, fake and shape, so I guess that covers it. | |
| 14 | Book a benefit for stupid oaf (6) |
| BABOON | |
| B (book), A, BOON (benefit) | |
| 16 | See you as well swallowing endlessly large amounts (6-2) |
| TOODLE-OO | |
| TOO (as well) containing [swallowing] OODLE{s} (large amounts) [endlessly] | |
| 17 | Performing couple warmer at night? Not very (4) |
| DUET | |
| DU{v}ET (warmer at night) [not very] | |
| 18 | Unprofitable? This joint succeeded, for one (9) |
| THANKLESS | |
| THIS becomes THANKLESS when ANKLE (joint) + S (succeeded) replaces [stands in for] I (one) | |
| 20 | For very big performance an endless check (8) |
| GIGANTIC | |
| GIG (performance), AN, TIC{k} (check) [endless] | |
| 21 | I am frugally treated in miscellaneous gathering (11) |
| GALLIMAUFRY | |
| Anagram [treated] of I AM FRUGALLY. I met this word once before here some 12 years ago and didn’t know it then so there was little chance I would remember it today. On both occasions I resorted to aids. SOED defines it as a varied miscellaneous jumble or medley; (chiefly dial.) | |
| 24 | A touch frantic, not cold and listless (9) |
| APATHETIC | |
| A, PAT (touch), HE{c}TIC (frantic) [not cold] | |
| 25 | Chap taking a risk cut tongue (8) |
| MANDARIN | |
| MAN (chap), DARIN{g} (taking a risk) [cut] | |
| 26 | Be aware of master of trivia’s return (4) |
| KNOW | |
| WONK (master of trivia) reversed [return]. Fortunately this came up in January this year, and I remember it. On that occasion it was defined as ‘obsessive expert’. | |
| 29 | Destroy books, trashy magazines and film (4,7) |
| PULP FICTION | |
| PULP (destroy), FICTION (books) plus two definitions | |
| 31 | Attend to his desperate cry of failure (5,4,2) |
| THAT’S DONE IT | |
| Anagram [desperate] of ATTEND TO HIS | |
| 33 | In races on slope beside river these are taken off balance (4,7) |
| BANK CHARGES | |
| BANK (slope beside river), CHARGES (races) | |
| 36 | Sellers say first to engage punter is to gain advantage (2,3,6) |
| GO ONE BETTER | |
| GOON (Peter Sellers say), E{ngage} [first to…], BETTER (punter). Other stars of The Goon Show were Spike Milligan, Harry Secombe and briefly, Michael Bentine. | |
| 38 | A little heterosexual love personified (4) |
| EROS | |
| Hidden in [a little] {het}EROS{exual} | |
| 39 | Craft group regularly full on up to start of autumn (8) |
| FLOTILLA | |
| F{u}L{l} O{n} [regularly], TILL (up to), A{utumn} [start of…] | |
| 41 | Put out about mistake getting such lengthy exposure (4-5) |
| TIME-LAPSE | |
| EMIT (put out) reversed [about], LAPSE (mistake) | |
| 44 | It may be on the bed against the window (11) |
| COUNTERPANE | |
| COUNTER (against), PANE (the window). I wasn’t sure this word for ‘bedspread’ was still in use, but type ‘counterpane’ into Amazon and you will be spoiled for choice. A pane is only a part of a window so I had a MER at that. | |
| 45 | Virtually daily event is no more, sadly (8) |
| MOONRISE | |
| Anagram [sadly] of IS NO MORE. I wondered why ‘virtually’. It may be something to do with it happening daily whether or not conditions allow it to be visible. Other suggestions welcome. | |
| 48 | Record increases, not much at first, lead to offers of savings (9) |
| DISCOUNTS | |
| DISC (record), {m}OUNTS (increases) [not m{uch} at first] | |
| 49 | Dress Cleopatra’s maid put back (4) |
| SARI | |
| IRAS (Cleopatra’s maid) reversed [put back]. NHO her but taken on trust. | |
| 50 | Nameless colleague really missing helper to make beds (8) |
| PARTERRE | |
| PART{n}ER (colleague) [nameless], RE{ally} [missing helper]. A level space in a garden occupied by an ornamental arrangement of flower beds. | |
| 52 | A sometimes prominent feature too big for trousers (6) |
| CHINOS | |
| CHIN (a sometimes prominent feature), OS (too big – outsize) | |
| 53 | From censor that “No” outrageous: lid put on popular play (3,2,1,3,3,4) |
| CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF | |
| CATO (censor), anagram [outrageous] of THAT NO, then IN (popular), ROOF (lid). The play is by Tennessee Williams. As censor, Cato tried to save Rome’s ancestral customs and combat Hellenistic influences. | |
| 54 | Extension — does one go on at it? (6) |
| LENGTH | |
| A definition and a reference to the expression ‘to go on at length’ about a subject. | |
| 55 | Made available free (8) |
| RELEASED | |
| Two meanings. | |
| 56 | With November moving on a bit, longed for December (4,3) |
| YEAR END | |
| YEARNED (longed) becomes YEAR END when N (November) is moved on a bit | |
| Down |
|
| 1 | Slaves sneaked up after a horse (6) |
| HELOTS | |
| H (horse), then STOLE (sneaked) reversed [up] | |
| 2 | Lawgiver’s original weight (6) |
| NEWTON | |
| NEW (original), TON (weight). Who else thought first of Moses? | |
| 3 | Crabby types, drunkenly egocentric in speech (9) |
| SHELLFISH | |
| Aural wordplay [drunkenly…in speech]: “selfish” (egocentric) / SHELL FISH | |
| 4 | Devilishly enchanting concertina playing Mike interrupts (11) |
| NECROMANTIC | |
| M (Mike) contained by [interrupts] anagram [playing] of CONCERTINA | |
| 5 | For old chemist, too bad not to have these days back (4) |
| BOOT | |
| TOO + B{AD} [not to have these days – anno domini) reversed [back]. The pharmacy chain trading for many years as Boots The Chemists was established in 1849, by John Boot. | |
| 6 | Leader of worship welcomes wife with an ironically disbelieving expression (2,1,8) |
| I’M A DUTCHMAN | |
| IMAM (leader of worship) contains [welcomes] DUTCH (wife), AN. The origin of this saying appears to be unknown. |
|
| 7 | The sole catlike creature in the house (11) |
| PLANTAGENET | |
| PLANTA (the sole of the foot), GENET (catlike creature). This is the Royal House of Plantagenet that originated in France and ruled in England 1154 – 1485. Lancaster and York were termed ‘cadet’ branches of the family. I was able to biff the answer with the aid of checkers but the parsing was elusive and only came to light much later. I’ve met each element of wordplay at least once before but had not retained either of them. | |
| 8 | Without moving, grabbing a bit of chocolate in a flash (9) |
| SCINTILLA | |
| STILL (without moving) containing [grabbing] C{hocolate} [a bit of…] + IN, then A. SOED: A spark; a trace, a tiny piece or amount. | |
| 10 | Winger, British, to go without international selection (8) |
| BLACKCAP | |
| B (British), LACK (go without), CAP (international selection). ‘Cap’ is a player selected to play in a national team in an international competition. | |
| 11 | Where one has a subject mastered, makes up suggestions to drink a measure of spirits (2,4,10) |
| AT ONES FINGERTIPS | |
| ATONES (makes up) + TIPS (suggestions) containing [to drink] FINGER (a measure of spirits) | |
| 12 | Ruling line under empty diary, not pleasant (7) |
| DYNASTY | |
| D{iar}Y [empty], NASTY (not pleasant) | |
| 15 | What may be nuclear force covers a great distance to protect island (8) |
| FAMILIES | |
| F (force), A, MILES (great distance) containing [to protect] I (island). My AI assistant advises: The term “nuclear family” was coined in the 1920s and is attributed to anthropologist Bronislaw Malinowski. The term draws on the existing word “nucleus,” which means the central core of something. So, a nuclear family refers to the core members of a family unit, typically parents and their children living together. I never knew this. I always assumed it had to do with the era of nuclear energy and weapons. One lives and learns! | |
| 19 | Clock sounds after seconds not moving (8) |
| STICKING | |
| S (seconds), TICKING (clock sounds) | |
| 22 | Obvious mate approaching White capturing bishop (8) |
| PALPABLE | |
| PAL (mate), PALE (white) containing [capturing] B (bishop) | |
| 23 | Query order to appear for examination (4,4,8) |
| CALL INTO QUESTION | |
| A definition and a cryptic hint | |
| 27 | When initially a peerage cropped up, did one sleep on it? (8) |
| WATERBED | |
| W{hen} [initially], A, then DEBRET{t} (peerage) [cropped] reversed [up]. Read more about John Debrett here if you wish. Debrett’s Peerage is the go-to reference book on the subject but I’m not convinced that qualifies ‘Debrett’ as a synonym for ‘peerage’ that passes the substitution test. | |
| 28 | The lowdown from inside grand opera … (4) |
| DOPE | |
| Hidden [inside] {gran}D OPE{ra} | |
| 30 | … a piece of information following part of one (4) |
| FACT | |
| F (following), ACT (part of one opera @28ac) | |
| 32 | As OAP, I don’t fancy taking on children (8) |
| ADOPTION | |
| Anagram [fancy] of OAP I DON’T | |
| 34 | Everyone you said to call is seductive (8) |
| ALLURING | |
| ALL (everyone), aural wordplay [said] U / “you”, RING (call) | |
| 35 | Put weight behind reflective backing track (11) |
| SILVERSTONE | |
| SILVER (reflective backing in mirrors), STONE (weight). The Silverstone racing circuit is famous throughout the world. | |
| 36 | Language students finally losing memory spoil one answer (11) |
| GRAMMARIANS | |
| {losin}G [finally], RAM (memory), MAR (spoil), I (one) ANS (answer) | |
| 37 | Mainly regret I abandoned rewritten film (5,6) |
| ELMER GANTRY | |
| Anagram [rewritten] of MA{i}NLY REGRET [I abandoned]. A 1960 film based on a 1927 novel by Sinclair Lewis. | |
| 40 | Explain reason for delayed arrival? Not I (9) |
| TRANSLATE | |
| TRA{i}N’S LATE (reason for delayed arrival) [not I] | |
| 42 | At uni, sail horribly fateful vessel (9) |
| LUSITANIA | |
| Anagram [horribly] of AT UNI SAIL | |
| 43 | Was not one of the crowd plucky to arrest old con? (5,3) |
| STOOD OUT | |
| STOUT (plucky) containing [to arrest] O (old) + DO (con – swindle) | |
| 44 | Willing extra fish in frozen condition to be docked (7) |
| CODICIL | |
| COD (fish), ICIL{y}(in frozen condition) [docked]. A document varying the terms of an existing Will. | |
| 46 | Nothing in copse to show track (6) |
| GROOVE | |
| 0 (nothing) contained by [in] GROVE (copse). Grooves on vinyl records are usually subdivided into tracks. | |
| 47 | Having gathered sail, put off returning across centre of Med (6) |
| REEFED | |
| DEFER (put off) reversed [returning] containing [across] {M}E{d} [centre]. SOED: reef (vb.) reduce the extent of a sail by taking in or rolling up a part and securing it. I didn’t know this. | |
| 51 | Without hesitation think about garden feature (4) |
| POND | |
| POND{er} (think) [without hesitation] | |
At the risk of sounding “wonkish”… moonrise here in Sydney on 25th August is at 11:57pm. The next moonrise is at 1:07am on 27th August. No moonrise on the 26th, because they are more than 24 hours apart.
A small thought at 1ac : to “hand on” wouldn’t have a hyphen, so I think it’s a cryptic hint.
PS: a vote of thanks for posting the blog early! Nice to see it before sunset in Sydney!
Thanks. Good point about the hyphen. I have amended the blog accordingly.
I’ll take your word re the moonrise as it would account for ‘virtually’ in the clue. All beyond me, I’m afraid. Wherever it was that I looked it up I read that it takes place once every 24 hours which seemed reasonable as I’d never heard anyone question that sunrise takes place daily (although living in the UK one might be forgiven for doubting it sometimes!).
SILVERSTONE’s fame never reached me, but with the checkers and STONE SILVER seemed likely. (I had a professor named Diamond, who had a sister Ruby, who married a Silverstone; but I digress.) Same thing with 7d: checkers + GENET=PLANTAGENET. I looked up PLANTA, and then remembered that I had a plantar wart removed from the sole of my foot when I was a boy. I liked CODICIL.
I did this in 70:05 but had to look up GALLIMAUFRY. I also had an inexplicable ADOPTIOG at 32d giving me my pink square. Thanks setter and Jack.
Thanks for the blog Jack. I found this at the harder end of the scale, partly because there seemed to be a lot of filler words that were only there to make the surface read smoothly:
_For_ very big
_For_ old chemist…
_As_ OAP I don’t fancy…
_In_ races on slope…
Mostly legit I suppose (isn’t the definition supposed to be at one end of the clue though?) but some took a while to disentangle.
Your point about filler words has merit but there’s an argument that they are often necessary to make the surface reading coherent.
There’s no rule or even a convention about definitions having to be at the beginning or end of a clue – it wouldn’t apply to cryptic definitions or &lits for example – but they often are, and it’s a useful fact for solvers, especially beginners, to bear in mind.
Thanks Jack, I was thinking more of clues with definition and wordplay, but it’s a fair point about &lits.
It’s also true of standard clues. For instance the form ‘for this [definition], you need [wordplay]’. The definition is usually at the beginning or end just because that’s how it usually works out!
Quite straightforward. Now I know which puzzle Zabadak was referring to when he mentioned GALLIMAUFRY in the blog for one that didn’t contain the word!
I didn’t know the moon thing but I figured that if its orbit doesn’t align exactly with the rotation of the earth then you must either have days where it rises more than once or days where it doesn’t rise at all, or possibly both for all I know.
I was puzzled by 29ac because I always though PULP FICTION referred to books, but OED says ‘characteristic of pulp magazines’ so clearly this was a misconception.
I have heard Debrett’s Peerage referred to as simply ‘Debrett’, so I think that’s OK.
I haven’t run for a while because of a knee injury but when I did I seemed to be constantly fighting off plantar fasciitis. Knowing the cat wasn’t a GANET helped me to spell the house.