Times Quick Cryptic 1511 by Teazel

Author   ChrisPosted on Categories Quick Cryptic

I seemed to be taking a while with all the long clues so was surprised when I had it all wrapped it all up in 8:44 with loi 3dn.

A Yuletide salute to the valiant solvers who, each weekday, square their shoulders, tilt their hats, and set off into the uncharted jungle of Crosswordland. Wrong turns may be taken but with each daily battle, the blade of their machetes sharpen and their knowledge of the geography broadens.

To you I raise a glass of festive cheer and wish you all speed in breaking through to the sunlit uplands of the sub twenty minute solve.

1ac (plural) to Teazel and greetings to all.

ACROSS

1. Top-quality ball game by sailor (4-4)

FIVE-STAR – ball game (fives – a ball game similar to squash but played with bats or the hands), sailor (TAR).

5. Detached area? I’ll say! (4)

ISLE – Homophone (say) of I’ll.

8. A line dance? (5)

CONGA – cryptic definition of this dance of a line of (usually rather tipsy) people.

9. Spiteful type hosting scanty entertainment (7)

CABARET – spiteful type (CAT) holding (hosting) scanty (BARE).

11. Broadcaster busy emitting dangerous material (11)

RADIOACTIVE – broadcaster (RADIO), busy (ACTIVE).

13. Pitiful, heartless, corrupt? Here’s a boost (6)

UPLIFT – anagram (corrupt) of PITFUL (the ‘i’ removed as it’s heartless).

14. A tendency to keep son away (6)

ABSENT – a (A), tendency (BENT) to keep son (S).

16. £51 meal, one omitting the food? (6,5)

LIQUID LUNCH – £51 (LI in roman numerals and QUID) meal (LUNCH). One (meal) omitting food. COD.

18. Record one article: time for a descriptive word (7)

EPITHET – record (EP – extra long player), one (I), article (THE), time (T).

19. A multitude in store, it’s said (5)

HORDE – homophone (it’s said) of hoard.

20. Food deposited in meat-safe (4)

EATS – inside m(EAT S)afe.

21. Press lay about, spread so thinly? (8)

SPARSELY – anagram (about) of PRESS LAY.

DOWN

1. Fine deed, in truth (4)

FACT – fine (F), deed (ACT).

2. Stage performer unfortunately quits in revolt (13)

VENTRILOQUIST – anagram (unfortunately) of QUITS IN REVOLT.

3. Unapproachable, like a rugby half-back? (11)

STANDOFFISH – a rugby half back is a standoff (short for stand-off half) – so to be like one is to be standoff-ish.

4. An endless boring task to be a TV presenter (6)

ANCHOR – an (AN), endless boring task (CHOR)e.

6. Cost of attending church wedding? It should go to the staff (7,6)

SERVICE CHARGE – cost of attending (CHARGE), church wedding (SERVICE).

7. Plea to add two points to formal agreement (8)

ENTREATY – two points (EN – east/north) added to formal agreement (TREATY).

10. Supporter holding seat is no minister (11)

BACKBENCHER – supporter (BACKER) holding seat (BENCH).

12. See bully wounded: good shot! (5,3)

BULLS EYE – anagram (wounded) of SEE BULLY.

15. Illegally dump end of tiny antenna? (3-3)

FLY-TIP – flies have antennae so I think ‘end of tiny antenna’ is simply the top/tip of a fly (FLY TIP). This seems a bit thin so any other ideas appreciated.

17. Depend entirely? Only half (4)

RELY – only half of enti(RELY).

22 comments on “Times Quick Cryptic 1511 by Teazel”

  1. I started off slow, my FOI being 18ac, but things picked up after that. Biffed STANDOFFISH–DNK the rugby term, or probably any other rugby term for that matter–and LIQUID LUNCH. And FLY-TIP; I can’t think of a better explanation than Chris’s, alas. 6:42.
  2. Another squeaker-inner just under 10 minutes and remaining as unconvinced as others about the effectiveness of 15dn.
  3. I thought this was going to be a stinker when my FOI was 21a. Fortunately the down clues proved more accommodating as I worked my way back up the grid and things started to flow more easily. Completed in 10.26 with LOI ISLE. Joint CODs to 3d and 16a and a shrug to an unparsed FLY-TIP.
    Thanks for the blog and happy Christmas to all.
  4. I managed a few minutes of quiet this morning for a change and it seemed to help. Started slowly and jumped around but it began to take shape and the longer clues fell out quite well, given a few crossers. I liked ISLE and STANDOFFISH. 2.1K today which is quite satisfying for a slightly more difficult offering from Teazel, to whom many thanks. Thanks to Chris, as ever. Happy Christmas to all. John M.

    Edited at 2019-12-24 08:22 am (UTC)

  5. Like Chris, I thought I was making heavy weather of this one and was surprised to find myself submitting at 8:30. Like Vinyl, I had FOUR STAR for 1a which made 2d impossible until I reconsidered. Liked LIQUID LUNCH. Also though FLY TIP a little bit weak, but enjoyed the puzzle on the whole. Thanks Teazel and Chris, and a Happy Christmas to all.
  6. I didn’t find this so easy and was a bit slow to start. Like others, I was puzzled by FLY for ‘tiny antenna’. Lots of nice clues though. I think I’ve seen LIQUID LUNCH BEFORE, but I also liked FIVE-STAR and VENTRILOQUIST too. 6:06
  7. A Christmas Eve DNF for me. At 8a I had ‘linea’ which caused me no end of problems sorting out 1a and 1d. Eventually I put in CONGA and the NW corner yielded. My nemesis was 19a. I know of hoard meaning store but thought that was also the spelling for the word meaning multitude….and horse didn’t seem to make any sense. Oh well. Season’s greetings to one and all. Janet
  8. Chris’ intro certainly applies to me today, as I took 22 minutes for this lovely puzzle from Teazel. LIQUID LUNCH also got my COD, although there were many more to be admired. I can’t help with 15d I’m afraid, I’m as mystified as others. Merry Christmas!
  9. STANDOFFISH, and ISLE UPLIFT my glass to all bloggers, setters, and contributors to this blog when I partake of my LIQUID LUNCH later (no EATS, no SERVICE CHARGE !)

    I read FLY-TIP exactly as Chris did, and I didn’t see much wrong with it. Finished within target, and enjoyed.

    FOI CABARET
    LOI STANDOFFISH
    COD (indeed, any day !) LIQUID LUNCH

  10. Another who enjoyed the liquid lunch, and the clues generally with shared “hmm” at the fly tip, albeit obvious what the answer was. Plymouthian
  11. I started quickly getting 1d then 1a and did not have too many problems until my last two. FLY TIP went in without thinking and I only now see it’s a bit of a stretch. I thought ENTREATY was difficult but after 10 minutes I only needed two. Took ages to see CONGA and LOI was ISLE ( my COD).
    About 15 minutes solving on paper today after the dog walk.
    Fresh air and no ozone I hope.
    David
  12. Being away on holiday, am having to use tablet, so had to login with Facebook. Not easy to type quickly, resulting in time about quarter of an hour, even no holdups,
    phmfantom
  13. Took me ages to get going and then it went in smoothly – its a wavelength thing maybe – had to twiddle the dial to find the station 🙂 Merry Christmas all!
  14. I was having the 16ac when I finally finished this.

    A nice puzzle, albeit a few took longer than anticipated.
    13ac “Uplift” seemed obvious but for some reason took ages to parse. Still don’t really understand 15dn “Fly Tip” but it couldn’t be anything else.

    FOI = 12dn “Bullseye”
    LOI = 5ac “Isle”
    COD = Liquid Lunch”

    Merry Xmas everyone!

  15. Coomandavealookwotucouldawon.

    If you understand the above you’ll know why 12 down was so easy with Bully in the anagrist.
    Happy Xmas. From someone who has received so much help over the last few years. Johnny

  16. I found this a real struggle. A few biffed and glad to see the parsing.

    Still don’t follow conga – can someone expand on how it’s a cryptic def?

    1. That was my question when I saw the clue, and indeed I refrained from writing it in until I had a checker or two; but evidently line dancing is different from dancing in a line: see Google.
  17. I kick-started Christmas last night and suffered for it today. But I enjoyed this tricky crossword and was pleased to complete it!! Probably the best part of 50 minutes. LOI Conga…easy once you know! Much to enjoy. FOI Eats so did struggle!
    Thanks all and Happy Christmas!!
    John George
  18. Coomandavealookwotucouldawon.

    If you understand the above you’ll know why 12 down was so easy with Bully in the anagrist.
    Happy Xmas. From someone who has received so much help over the last few years. Johnny

  19. To the brilliant people who have helped me get better at this dubious pastime. A fantastic bunch.

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