Times Quick Cryptic 1767 by Teazel

Author   william_j_sPosted on Categories Quick Cryptic
Well that was a struggle! I couldn’t get any of the perimeter clues at the top of the grid, nor did any of the long answers jump out. The SW proved a little more tractable, but the momentum didn’t last. Followed by a slow trudge over the finish line – probably my longest time all year. Lots of groans from me and kudos to Teazel.

There’s little obscure vocabulary, except perhaps the dish and one word in 20ac, so I hope I’m alone in finding this one more difficult.

Definitions underlined.

Across
1 Disadvantage of ward, literally (8)
DRAWBACK – a kind of reverse clue, where the answer provides the cryptic instruction to get a word in the clue. In this case, DRAW written BACK (reversed) gives ‘ward’ (ward literally).
5 Our cousins a nuisance, almost (4)
APES – A PESt (a nuisance), without the final letter (almost).
8 Going back on decision to have transplant operation? (6,2,5)
CHANGE OF HEART – definition and cryptic hint.
10 Navy left in bases (5)
FLEET – L (left) contained by (in) FEET (bases).
11 Beg little devil to get learning (7)
IMPLORE – IMP (little devil) next to (to get) LORE (learning).
12 Make mistake with simple task (6)
ERRAND – ERR (make mistake) then AND (with).
13 Rows in church, so rude (6)
COARSE – OARS (rows) contained by (in) CE (Church of England, church).
16 Poor dog, its appropriate part cut short (7)
CURTAIL – CUR (poor dog) then TAIL (its appropriate part).
18 Correct height on masts, sails, etc (5)
RIGHT – HT (height) on RIG (masts, sails, etc.).
20 Astonished, inveighs against delivery vehicle (13)
THUNDERSTRUCK – THUNDERS (inveighs, assails or makes an attack) next to (against) TRUCK (delivery vehicle).
21 American guy expected to host duke (4)
DUDE – DUE (expected) containing (to host) D (duke).
22 Old-fashioned relative moves forward (6,2)
PASSES ON – PASSÉ (old-fashioned) and SON (relative).

Down
1 Drink available from inside cafe (5)
DECAF – hidden in (available from) insiDE CAFe.
2 A chess defeat: game over for dilettante (7)
AMATEUR – A MATE (a chess defeat), then RU (rugby union, game) reversed (over).
3 Level of marsh quite unexceptional (3,8)
BOG STANDARD – definition and cryptic hint.
4 Biscuit that may be placed on computer (6)
COOKIE – definition and cryptic hint.
6 Nature god holding one old instrument to play (5)
PIANO – PAN (nature god) containing (holding) I (one, Roman numerals) then O (old).
7 Drunkard present, whether you like it or not (2,5)
SO THERE – SOT (drunkard) and HERE (present).
9 Ancient doctor prophetic, as seen afresh (11)
HIPPOCRATES – anagram of (seen afresh) PROPHETIC AS.
12 No longer referred to as enthusiastic (7)
EXCITED – EX (no longer) and CITED (referred to).
14 Spicy dishes converted to sugar (7)
RAGOUTS – anagram of (converted) TO SUGAR. This spicy stew is not to be confused with ‘ragu’ (a tomatoey sauce), apparently.
15 Female guest left off roll in academy, first of all (6)
GLORIA – initial letters from (first of all) Guest Left Off Roll In Academy.
17 Eighteen holes, then buy this at the nineteenth? (5)
ROUND – definition and cryptic hint. A round of golf (eighteen holes) and a round of drinks.
19 Nominal fine received by a number (5)
TOKEN – OK (fine) contained by (received by) TEN (a number).

55 comments on “Times Quick Cryptic 1767 by Teazel”

  1. Very slow start after implore was put in quickly. Not helped by putting in panto for 6d, then we seemed to get going with the long clues, the rest fell into place.
  2. The crossovers of 1A/D and 12A/D held me up for a very long time today. It seems I can no longer see hiddens?!

    I eventually completed on an hour, but having had to check the blog for 1A, 12A and 16A. Errand was gettable, had I realised I needed to split the ‘with’ out from ‘mistake’. Drawback and curtail though I don’t think I would ever have gotten to from the cryptic. Still not sure I like either clue or answer, but it seems like the more experienced had no issues so perhaps this is just my lack of knowledge and slight grumpiness from the string of DNFs.

    Looking forward to being on the right wavelength again, but thanks Teazel for the puzzle in the meantime and William for the much needed blog!

  3. Just finished an earlier QC from last week and now have an all time personal best of 25 minutes. I cannot believe how fast I worked through Mara’s offering and am rather pleased with myself!

    I was starting to doubt, and just when you think you can’t improve, you suddenly have a great day.

    Many thanks to all the people who blog for all the encouragement you give the less experienced like me! And for those others who struggle often to even finish, your own hurrah moment is coming, keep going!

  4. We really enjoyed this really extremely well set puzzle. Well done and thank you Teazel. Took us 14 minutes to complete.

    FOI: decaf
    LOI: amateur
    COD: so many to choose from but we liked excited and coarse.

    Thanks for the blog William.

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