Times Quick Cryptic 1366 by Hurley

Author   ChrisPosted on Categories Quick Cryptic
Like yesterday, this flowed quickly to start with but then slowed for the final tussle – with 8ac, 3dn and, finally, 17ac. Happily, all completed a few seconds inside 10 minutes.
A small change to the format today comes in response to a request for the full clue. The definition is now underlined within the clue and letters to be anagrammed are in asterisks – *anagrist*. As always, if more clarification is required then do ask – I much prefer to respond to someone than to write out loads of explanation which may not be required.

ACROSS

7. ITEM. Somewhat pol(ITE M)annerly, couple.
8. SMALL FRY. Insignificant guys in Southern (S) shopping area (MALL) feel hot (FRY).
9. PILLAR. Medication (PILL) artist – RA – brought back (AR) for supporter.
10. NATTER. Nationalist (NAT) with unfinished term (TER)m – there’s gossip.
11. PUNT. Bet / it’s a flat bottomed boat.
12. AUSTRIAN. National *air – aunt’s* dancing.
15. LEAP YEAR. Spring (LEAP) (Y)ou (E)videnced (A)s (R)ewarding first of all – 2016, say.
17. SLAM. Criticise / feat at bridge (the card game).
18. SPOT ON. Exactly right piece of cutlery (SPOON) about time (T).
21. ADMIRE. Have high opinion of *media* reforms as resistance (R) is suppressed.
22. COME TRUE. Happen as hoped perhaps – flying *meteor cu*t short.
23. LUTE. Oddly (L)o(U)d, (T)h(E) instrument.

DOWN

1. ATTITUDE. Manner of a (A) non-drinker (TT), (I)rritable, (T)esty, initially, r(UDE) losing head.
2. AMULET. Cheers up (ta upwards – AT) after receiving slipper (MULE) as lucky charm.
3. USERNAME. *Menus are* altered? You may need this for computer.
4. LAWN. Green area statute (LAW), new (N).
5. ULSTER. In Pa(ULS TER)rific football team.
6. FREE. Tips from (F)orme(R) (E)xil)E, independent.
13. STREAMER. Move fast (STEAM) across river (R) with queen’s banner.
14. ALACRITY. Liveliness, in style of (ALA) city (CITY) welcoming king (R).
16. PUTTER. Golf club, parking (P), say (UTTER).
17. SAMPLE. Specimen, second (S), more than sufficient (AMPLE).
19. POOL. Kitty‘s / place to swim.
20. NARK. Informer ran up (NAR) over kilometre (K).

23 comments on “Times Quick Cryptic 1366 by Hurley”

  1. Started with ITEM, finished with USERNAME. No hold ups. Enjoyable puzzle. 7:50. Thanks Hurley and Chris.
  3. 8 minutes. I like your new format, Chris. Quoting the clues supplies better context than previously but your presentation is still very economical and easy on the eye.
  4. This week isn’t shaping up well for me. Over 21m with red squares again. Started well but slowed badly. LOI was 22a, thought COME was all was all that was needed from flying meteor and pondered COME FREE for too long – should have realised “flying” was up to something rather more in the clue. Red squares for 17a where I biffed SPAN which met the criteria for criticise and bridge but I couldn’t explain the S – although DNK SLAM was a term in Bridge. My other big biff was AMULET. Biggest relief when the penny dropped for ALACRITY. Lots to like about this puzzle.

    I think I’m the first to need the blog, the new format works well for me – missing parsings immediately made sense. Thanks!

  5. Started off briskly but slowed down towards the end with 3d, 12a and 13d proving tough to crack. I very nearly fell into the same trap as mendesest by initially biffing SPAN for LOI 17a but managed to go back for a second look as it didn’t feel right. Finished in 10.55.
    Thanks for the blog
  6. Was racing along with only 3 left after 10 minutes, then it took another 13 to get the unknown bridge slam, COD attitude and LOI alacrity.

    Biffed amulet, mule for slipper understood post submission.

    Thanks.

  7. Quite enjoyed this one. Wanted to put “Driver” instead of “Putter”. Wanted to put “Span” instead of “Slam” – but got there in the end.

    14D seems a bit lazy to use the word CITY as a literal, and held me up from seeing the answer longer than it should.

    But although I was not delayed by 8A, I cannot understand whether people would ever use the word “fry” to mean “feel hot”? To say I am frying is to say I am _too_ hot, to the point of cooking. “I will fry if I go outside” implies that you will burn, be too hot, not just merely feel hot.

    When would someone use “fry” to merely mean “feel hot”? Just curious…

    Edited at 2019-06-04 06:50 am (UTC)

    1. Collins has fry = ‘to be excessively hot’ – in which condition one would ‘feel hot’. So I think this hangs together.
    2. Collins has fry = ‘to be excessively hot’ – in which condition one would ‘feel hot’. So I think this hangs together.
  8. 21:33, so just over my target. A lot of the clues went in quickly, but I was left with a blank SE corner which took about 10 minutes to sort out. Getting ALACRITY was the key, the rest fell into place with AUSTRIAN in last.

    Brian

  9. No ALACRITY (my LOI) here, clocking in at 3.5 Kevins for a Bad Day. My first crossword for ten days or so, having been in the West Highlands with no newspaper and no phone either (after dropping it into the sea on day 1 …); maybe I was rusty. I liked USERNAME. Thanks to blogger and setter.

    Templar

    1. I took my phone for a swim in Fuerteventura, in a waterproof pouch, a couple of years ago. Unfortunately the pouch wasn’t waterproof and the pool was salt water. There was no recovering that one! My passport dried out, but it’s a bit crinkly now.
  10. I was steaming along at first with this and had most of it done in under 15 minutes. Thought I might be on for a second ever sub-20, but sadly that slam and alacrity double slowed me down horribly. I’d never heard of slam being a bridge term as I know almost nothing about the game, but it seemed reasonably likely as I did once know another card game called slam and of course you get grand slams in other games/sports. However, even with the extra “a” I couldn’t see alacrity and gave up as my watch ticked over 35 minutes. Almost as soon as I’d given up though, the answer came to me and 36 minutes is still a bit better than my average.
  11. ….SAMPLE Chris’s blog. As an experienced solver, I don’t always refer to it, instead passing straight on to the comments by my fellow solvers. Chris, this really is excellent ! I sincerely hope that the effort you put in is fully appreciated, especially by those less seasoned solvers, who must find it a massive help.

    FOI ITEM
    LOI AMULET
    COD COME TRUE
    TIME 3:43

  12. A nice puzzle with some write-ins and a few head scratchers and mis-biffs at first (e.g. slam/span & putter/driver – as alexander found above). Some good clues (USERNAME, SMALL FRY) but my COD and LOI was COME TRUE which just didn’t click at first. Two interruptions (deliveries) so just over 4K. Thanks to Chris for a concise and helpful blog and to Hurley for another good QC. John M.

    Edited at 2019-06-04 01:55 pm (UTC)

  13. This is turning into a difficult week. Well north of 30 mins, with Span for 17ac to boot. Nothing wrong with Hurley’s clues, I was just very slow working out the cryptics. On the other hand, I’m having more success (relatively) with the 15x15s, so I’m not sure what’s going on. Invariant
  14. Finished in about 7k so definitely A GOOD DAY…

    Biffed amulet, so thanks for the explanation, Chris. Coincidentally, had ‘a la’ at my local crossword club yesterday, otherwise I’m sure I’d have struggled with 14d.

    Top left was the last to fall in place for me. Didn’t see the hidden at 7a until LOI.

    Thanks fot the blog – it’s the main reason I stick with the Times QC.. And to hurley for an accessible puzzle.

  15. About 16 minutes while waiting at the optician’s, so not giving this my full attention.
    My LOI was 1d. I always seem to struggle without the first letter and I thought this began IT.
    COD to PUTTER for a good golfing clue. David
  16. No problem with 17a as one of us plays the game, but tricky if you do not. LOI 2d, cleverly crafted clue. Abt 20 m which is good for us, thanks Hurley for a pleasant solve.
  17. Wonderfully clear and concise explanation of everything so thanks, Chris, I love the new format. (Having said that I am very appreciative of all the wonderful QC bloggers, whatever their systems, who take their time to help us lesser mortals!)

    I took 30 minutes (1.5 times my target) so finding that I had an error in SPAN was very disappointing. It was an enjoyable challenge though – no complaints. MM
    FOI ITEM
    LOI STREAMER
    COD ALACRITY

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