Times Quick Cryptic 1566 by Joker

Author   ChrisPosted on Categories Quick Cryptic
LHS filled in first with a bit of a biff fest towards the bottom. Then the rest completed a little more slowly, but still steadily, leaving me with a time happily within target (for a change) at 8:50.

ACROSS

1. Work at school on ballet about Queen’s supreme importance (13)
PREPONDERANCE – work at school (PREP), on (ON), ballet (DANCE) about Queen (ER).

8. Consume as a joke, reportedly (6)
INGEST – homophone (reportedly) of as a joke – in jest.

9. Go wrong with delivery run (6)
ERRAND – had to force myself to complete the parsing here as ‘errant’ wanted to be entered. Go wrong (ERR), with (AND).

10. Charge when admitting first of tourists for outdoor event (4)
FETE – charge (FEE) admitting (T)ourists.

11. One no trump concluded as planned (8)
INTENDED – one (I), no trump (NT) (or maybe 1NT is bridge notation), concluded (ENDED).

12. Sacred emblem louts destroyed (5)
LOTUS – anagram (destroyed) of LOUTS. Symbol of the divine in humanity, apparently.

13. Head of old Oxford debating society abandoning university (5)
ONION – old (O), Oxford debating society u(NION) – without u for university. The Oxford Union have been hosting world-famous debates and speakers since 1823.

15. Aver bias, terribly harsh (8)
ABRASIVE – anagram (terribly) of AVER BIAS.

17. Stringed instrument in sack, we hear (4)
LUTE – homophone (we hear) of sack – loot.

19. Perfect place in the middle of Luton, one in quiet area (6)
UTOPIA – l(UTO)n, one (I) in quiet area (P A).

20. Additional despatch cut by company (6)
SECOND – despatch (SEND) cut by company (CO).

21. Changing into neat Roman embroidery (13)
ORNAMENTATION – anagram (changing) of INTO NEAT ROMAN.

DOWN

2. Fury about new diversity (5)
Range – fury (RAGE) about new (N).

3. Gift posted again under pressure (7)
PRESENT – posted again (RE-SENT) underneath pressure (P).

4. Brazil perhaps has old king beheaded (3)
NUT – King c(NUT) the Great.

5. Put in bar with English? Terminal (9)
ELECTRODE – put in (ELECT – an MP), bar (ROD), English (E).

6. Month working in protective garment (5)
APRON – month (APR), working (ON).

7. Is youngster allowed in works restaurant? (7)
CANTEEN – is youngster allowed (CAN TEEN).

11. Begin with soldier brought up in home country (9)
INSTIGATE – soldier (GI – brought up=IG) inside home (IN) and country (STATE).

12. Bolster failing target for fishermen? (7)
LOBSTER – anagram (failing) of BOLSTER.

14. Villa lick City with no wingers? Criminal (7)
ILLICIT – v(ILL)a l(IC)k c(IT)y no wingers/ends.

16. Greek character in theatrical Phaedra (5)
APLPHA – in theatric(AL PH)aedra.

18. Beginning to try a new turn in dance (5)
TANGO – (T)RY, a (A), new (N), turn (GO).

20. Place for filming small alien film (3)
SET – small (S), alien film (ET).

48 comments on “Times Quick Cryptic 1566 by Joker”

  1. Thought this was really tough. Had no clue about onion….you live and learn.
    1. Please see comments above re PG Wodehouse who used onion to mean head e.g. use your onion. Some evidence suggests the origins of the word are from Celtic based on the similar shape of the onion and head.
      1. I read those comments about PG Wodehouse but to the best of my knowledge that author never wrote ‘use your onion’ or any other phrase which may have implied onion equals head. I think Joker got this wrong, plain and simple, unless someone can actually produce a quotation. I don’t think it’s reasonable to say well, in this [unnamed in the clue] author’s style he might have written ‘use your onion’ (or somesuch phrase), and that being the only source for the cryptic definition of the answer. Far too vague!
        1. After Dulwich, Wodehouse had two unhappy years working in a bank. Although he disdained the City, he owed rather more to his fellow clerks than he acknowledged, appropriating the Pooterish Edwardian slang of give me the pip (irritate); restore the tissues (take alcoholic refreshment); off his onion (unbalanced); old oil (flattery); pure applesauce (fanciful nonsense), and pip pip (goodbye).
          This is from:
          https://www.oed.com/page/pgwodehouse/P.G.+Wodehouse+in+the+OED

          There’s also:
          https://lingomash.com/slang-meanings/41744/slang-meaning-of-off-one-s-onion

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