Solving time: 8 minutes.
Today we have another milestone as we reach Quick Cryptic #2000 and it’s fitting that it should be set by Des as he was responsible for the very first puzzle published on 10th March 2014. He has given us only 22 puzzles over the years but they are always top notch and more recently they have usually contained a surprise of some sort. Amongst these, was a previous milestone Quick Cryptic #1000 in which the grid contained only the letters: ONE THOUSAND.
Today’s puzzle has its own trick (neither a Nina in the true sense, nor a theme – unless I have missed something). Did you spot it? I’ve hidden the explanation below in case you don’t want to know at this stage, in which case best avoid the comments beneath the blog for now.
[Hidden device…]
All 20 letters at the edge of the grid are C, each representing 100 in Roman numerals. 20 x C = 2000.
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]. I usually omit all reference to positional indicators unless there is a specific point that requires clarification.
| Across | |
| 6 | Scoundrel keeping Oscar, behold in the shade (6) |
| COLOUR | |
| CUR (scoundrel) containing [keeping] O (Oscar) + LO (behold). I’ve often wondered why AV bible uses the expression ‘Lo and behold’, surely a tautology? | |
| 7 | Fashionable Post Office, one found by river naturally (5) |
| HIPPO | |
| HIP (fashionable), PO (Post Office). I’m tempted to post a link to the F&S song but I think we all know it by now. | |
| 9 | Grain seen reflected in moonrock (4) |
| CORN | |
| Hidden and reversed [seen reflected] in {moo}NROC{k} | |
| 10 | Rotter I ring to return luxury car (8) |
| CADILLAC | |
| CAD (rotter), I, then CALL (ring) reversed [to return] | |
| 11 | Curtsies afresh, serving oranges, say (8) |
| CITRUSES | |
| Anagram [afresh] of CURTSIES | |
| 13 | Brief detailed description you gamble on? (4) |
| SPEC | |
| I interpret this as a double definition. SPEC can be a shortened [brief] version of ‘specification’ (detailed description) and also of ‘speculation’ (something you gamble on) | |
| 15 | Cry of rook perhaps, possessing large talon (4) |
| CLAW | |
| CAW (cry of rook perhaps) containing [possessing] L (large). Rooks, crows and ravens are said to ‘caw’. | |
| 16 | As copper, for example, call time after disturbance (8) |
| METALLIC | |
| Anagram [after disturbance] of CALL TIME | |
| 18 | Reduce run for one travelling to work (8) |
| COMMUTER | |
| COMMUTE (reduce – a prison sentence. for example), R (run) | |
| 20 | Boy having beer cold (4) |
| ALEC | |
| ALE (beer), C (cold) | |
| 21 | Genning up: it regularly leads to boredom (5) |
| ENNUI | |
| {g}E{n}N{i}N{g} U{p} I{t} | |
| 22 | Ace detectives in charge becoming sour (6) |
| ACIDIC | |
| A (ace), CID (detectives – Criminal Investigation Department), IC (in charge) | |
| Down | |
| 1 | From part of empire, perhaps: no one local, sadly (8) |
| COLONIAL | |
| Anagram [sadly] of NO I (one) LOCAL. A rare QC visit into Guardian territory with this partially indirect anagram. | |
| 2 | Female compatriot of noble line without husband (12) |
| COUNTRYWOMAN | |
| COUNT (noble), RY (railway line), WO (without), MAN (husband). A straightforward assembly job. | |
| 3 | Dangerous reptile descending on American plant (6) |
| CROCUS | |
| CROC (dangerous reptile), US (American) | |
| 4 | Charlie conceals rebukes (6) |
| CHIDES | |
| C (NATO Charlie), HIDES (conceals) | |
| 5 | Last part is false — authentic originally (4) |
| CODA | |
| COD (false – hoaxing, parodic), A{uthentic} [originally]. The final section of some pieces of music. | |
| 8 | Coy Bill plays daft: not like these words! (12) |
| POLYSYLLABIC | |
| Anagram [daft] of COY BILL PLAYS. ‘These words’ being ‘coy, bill, plays, daft’ all of which are monosyllabic. | |
| 12 | Girl only feet from the TV, immobile (3) |
| EVE | |
| {th}E {T}V {immobil}E [only feet – last letters – from…] | |
| 14 | Long poem cut by half causes widespread ill-feeling (8) |
| EPIDEMIC | |
| EPIC (long poem) contains [cut by] DEMI (half) | |
| 16 | Measuring system encountered, endlessly valuable (6) |
| METRIC | |
| MET (encountered), RIC{h} (valuable) [endlessly] | |
| 17 | Sailor with waterproof coat found on road (6) |
| TARMAC | |
| TAR (sailor), MAC (waterproof coat) | |
| 19 | Oil exporters work with European Community (4) |
| OPEC | |
| OP (work – opus), EC (European Community). Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. | |
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