Today we mark the 10th anniversary of the first Quick Cryptic puzzle published by The Times on Monday 10th March 2014. I had the honour of blogging that puzzle set by Des, and I’m pleased to find myself on duty again for this one by Mara. Today also coincides with my own milestone of 300 QC blogs so I’m marking that occasion too.
Judging by the huge increase in activity at TfTT over the past 10 years I think The Times can be assured that the new puzzle format has been a resounding success, introducing many more people to the joys of cryptic puzzles, and a large number of these have gone on to become accomplished solvers of the world famous 15×15 puzzle. This was always one of the stated aims, but those who prefer to enjoy the QC in its own right are also catered for and are a welcome new addition to the growing TfTT community. We’ve come a long way since this was simply a discussion forum for a very small number of elite solvers.
As for today’s puzzle, I was pleased to finish it in 9 minutes, just within the 10 minutes that was my QC target for most of the past 10 years before I began to allow myself a little longer in order to enjoy the scenery. This is a welcome improvement on the 30 minutes I needed to complete Quick Cryptic #1, although I had the excuse on that first day that the enumerations in the clues didn’t originally indicate hyphenated or multi-word answers, which was something of a handicap. The completed grid for that puzzle is reproduced above my intro and the keen-eyed may spot that it contains ‘GREETINGS, THE EDITOR’ at the top, and ‘NEW CROSSWORD’ at the bottom. I was hoping for something special in today’s grid to mark the occasion, but sadly it was not to be.
Finally, many thanks to The Times and their team of setters for giving us this daily treat and to all TfTT bloggers and contributors for making the past 10 years so enjoyable.
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 |
|
| 1 | Soup re-created innermost peace in the end (10) |
| MINESTRONE | |
| Anagram [re-created] of INNERMOST, {peac}E [in the end] | |
| 7 | Right limb, that thing (5) |
| LEGIT | |
| LEG (limb), IT (that thing). I was a little surprised to find that some usages of of this word date back to the 19th century. | |
| 8 | Very little or slightly drunk (6) |
| TIDDLY | |
| Two meanings | |
| 10 | Fool, equally stupid originally (3) |
| ASS | |
| AS (equally), S{tupid} [originally] | |
| 12 | Ancient Hebrew I realise needs translation, script finally nailed (9) |
| ISRAELITE | |
| {scrip}T [finally] contained [nailed] by anagram [translation] of I REALISE | |
| 13 | Old stove, bright colour (6) |
| ORANGE | |
| O (old), RANGE (stove) | |
| 14 | Danger, most extreme characters going in with force (6) |
| HAZARD | |
| AZ (most extreme characters) contained by [going in] HARD (with force) | |
| 17 | Idle, without designated period to work? (9) |
| SHIFTLESS | |
| SHIFT-LESS (without designated period to work) | |
| 19 | Initials on entry visa erased the day before (3) |
| EVE | |
| E{ntry} + V{isa} + E{rased} [initials on…] | |
| 20 | Little wind for walk in the park? (6) |
| BREEZE | |
| Two meanings, the second re something that’s easy-peasy | |
| 21 | Dark close, light’s ending (5) |
| NIGHT | |
| NIGH (close), {ligh}T [‘s ending] | |
| 23 | Jot about one page for a term in grammar (10) |
| PARTICIPLE | |
| PARTICLE (jot) containing [about] I (one) + P (page) | |
| Down | |
| 1 |
Table mat so, redesigned for breakfast item (5,5) |
| MELBA TOAST | |
| Anagram [redesigned] of TABLE MAT SO. This is named after the Australian opera singer Dame Nellie whose real surname was Mitchell, but she took the stage name Melba from her home city of Melbourne. Courtesy of Wikipedia I can advise that her name is associated with four foods, all of which were created in her honour by the French chef Auguste Escoffier: Peach Melba, a dessert made of peaches, raspberry sauce, and vanilla ice cream; Melba sauce, a sweet purée of raspberries and red currant; Melba toast, a crisp dry toast; Melba Garniture, chicken, truffles and mushrooms stuffed into tomatoes with velouté sauce. |
|
| 2 | Harass useless horse (3) |
| NAG | |
| Two meanings. I was a little surprised by ‘useless horse’ but that derogatory meaning is to be found amongst the various dictionary definitions of ‘nag’ if one digs deep enough. | |
| 3 | Legislative session, smart hosting it (7) |
| SITTING | |
| STING (smart) containing [hosting] IT | |
| 4 | Leave work permanently and go to bed (6) |
| RETIRE | |
| Two meanings | |
| 5 | First of gashes in uncovered elbow (5) |
| NUDGE | |
| G{ashes} [first of…] contained by [in] NUDE (uncovered) | |
| 6 | Last amulet, it has broken (8) |
| ULTIMATE | |
| Anagram [broken] of AMULET IT | |
| 9 | Late, recent changes for the bull, say? (4,6) |
| DEAD CENTRE | |
| DEAD (late), Anagram [changes] of RECENT | |
| 11 | European health resort over sewer passed up (8) |
| SPANIARD | |
| SPA (health resort), then DRAIN (sewer) reversed [passed up] | |
| 15 | Poisoner nicer, as reformed (7) |
| ARSENIC | |
| Anagram [reformed] of NICER AS. ‘A person or thing that poisons’ is in SOED. | |
| 16 | Express remorse when locked up again? (6) |
| REPENT | |
| RE-PENT (locked up again) | |
| 18 | Article cheers character from Greece (5) |
| THETA | |
| THE (article), TA (cheers) | |
| 22 | Hole in stocking a problem (3) |
| GAP | |
| Hidden [in] {stockin}G A P{roblem} | |
13:37 here, so not too many problems today. ISRAELITE was my LOI: I was looking for an ancient language & couldn’t get past “Aramaic”, despite it having neither the right number of letters nor the letters from the anagrist.
I was first introduced to the QC in 2015, dipped in occasionally until I found this blog in 2020 or so and have been doing the puzzle almost every day since. I very rarely have the multiple hours available that attempting the biggie requires of me.
Congrats to Jackkt on the milestone (300!), and thanks to both Mara and Jackkt.
I’m also another who’s been with the QC from the very beginning. After having struggled for so many years with the 15×15 the QC was a wonderful addition. I only discovered this blog a few months ago but find it really useful and entertaining. I always solve using the paper edition so don’t race but like to enjoy the getting the answers. I also find it useful if someone posts that the 15×15 is an approachable one and then have a go. I’ve never finished one yet but it doesn’t stop me trying!
Thank you to the setters and bloggers!
Congrats and much appreciation to everyone involved, especially Jack on this auspicious day.
I found the quickie about a week after it first appeared – we were on holiday that first week, and I didn’t see the paper every day. But I have done every QC since then, and have revisited 1500+ as part of my training. What with that, the blog and the biggie, I am now a total crossword addict!
I have really enjoyed the blog over recent years – as more people have joined, it has become such a friendly and supportive group, and I can guarantee that someone – maybe a blogger, or a poster, or a setter – will make me chuckle every day.
Wot everyone else has said really about today’s puzzle. A pleasant solve, all done and dusted in 8:01.
FOI Minestrone LOI Dead centre COD Shiftless
Thanks Mara and Jack
Same here, Penny. Every day someone or something related to the QC also makes me chuckle. Unfortunately, however, most days one exasperating character also nearly brings me to tears. He goes by the name of SomRandomChap and it’s his all-round crosswording inadequacies that make me despair.
Now now G – less of this please! Exasperating? I think not 😂 There are a great many people here who can’t wait for the next chapter of the Random Household’s Adventures in Crosswordland 😊
Thanks Jack. I’m wondering how many of the 300 QC blogs I have read!
FOI MELBA TOAST
LOI REPENT
7:50
Heavens above it can’t be that long.
Did the first one.
Thanks to all involved over the years and may we have many more…. even if I can’t do them
I was defeated by Hazard – didn’t think of A and Z. I was trying to fit in end characters of words in the clue 🙁
For a minute I thought I might have biffed it with RAMRAID being a sort of definition of ‘going in with force’ til I realised it has too many letters 🙁
But enjoyed the rest of it.
Thanks for the blog
27:11
I got stuck for an eternity on the last 2. I was convinced I was looking for an anagram of LATE RECENT. Only when the penny finally dropped could I solve that and LOI HAZARD.
10 years! Thanks to all involved especially our esteemed blogger. I am one who started my learning journey with the quick cryptic- no one else I knew did them – so really pleased they were introduced.
Here’s to the next 10!
I didn’t realise that I was an early-adopter… I started the QC in May 2014 while entertaining my sister and brother-in-law to a trip to Cumbria as part of their visit from Australia. My sister likes cryptic crosswords and introduced me to their mysteries with the QCs during our pre-supper drinks that trip. Finding that I could, after all, read the clues (having been daunted as an under-grad by the Guardian back in the mid-60’s) I soon became hooked and am a regular would-be solver. It was some time before I found TftT, but what an education this has proved to be. Apart from the more technical issues and help with parsing, I often smile at the erudition on display and quickly pass over the ‘toys out of the pram’ contributions from certain contributors. As I seldom get an opportunity to solve before late afternoon or evening I am in the position to appreciate the discussions as well as the trials and tribulations revealed, or confessed. Sometimes I will try out a 15×15 but still find the leap too extending, so am happy to ponder, dawdle and enjoy the QC. I am also grateful for the direct help I have received from our generous bloggers, and their weekend puzzles. Long may the QC and TftT continue. Jack’s 300th blog speaks for the dedication of the team, and personal congratulations and thanks are due. as for 446…well!
Yes, today was fairly benign but still had some thinking needed. FOI Minestrone. LOI 18d Theta simply as I got there last. COD 12a Israelite. With a couple of Z and an early V I was looking for a pangram but this was wide of the mark. Tomorrow I will have my six-weekly chance to start over lunch at the Italian Deli in Market Harborough – let’s hope it is approachable!
I went to a wonderful little Italian deli / sandwich shop in MH a few years ago – it was in a side street near the town centre and sold a wide variety of canolli, among other things. Would it be the same place, I wonder? Hope you enjoy your lunch – and the crossword too!
I’m sure it is the same – ‘Just So Italian’ in Adam & Eve Street. Today a toasted filled focaccia sandwich served with a green salad/crisps, and a delicious hot panettone bread & butter pudding with a couple of coffees saw me through Breadman. I confess to have over-indulged last time with the canolli…
Having spent ages typing out my comments, everything crashed and I had to start again. Story of my life. 🤣🤣🤣
Congratulations Jackkt on your milestone and thank you for your efforts on our behalf. Thanks also to the other bloggers past and present for their time and effort. I am hugely appreciative of what you all do and in awe of your skills.
This took 19 minutes. I could lie and say I enjoyed it, but the reality is that I am under so much pressure to achieve a good time that I got stressed and frustrated. I avoided the SCC, but that just made me feel relieved rather than happy. I didn’t find it easy (because I was so anxious).
After 3.5 years or so, my progress has been glacial. My goal of progressing to the main puzzle is further away than ever.
Thanks again Jackkt.
Happy anniversary – and thanks to all bloggers for their learned debriefs which have helped us, occasional solvers for the past few years, improve from serial DNFers to completing today’s in a smidge under our current target time of 30 minutes. Hurrah & huzzah👏
Great to enjoy this one with my friends from this blog. Trying to learn how to conquer a cryptic was a post retirement challenge and the Times and tftt have been a great way of doing this providing great fun every day (apart from Sunday). Thanks very much all.
What a special pair of milestones! And particular thanks to Jackkt, who is always there to explain and advise. I have to admit that the QC is not a stepping stone to the 15×15 for me (not that bright, I’m afraid) but I thoroughly enjoy the challenge it affords me. I am so grateful for tftt. I would never have got anywhere with cryptics without all the help I have been given on this forum.
I also have to mention the Weekend Cryptic here because I haven’t yet found a way to comment directly on it. (My attempts always receives an error message!) I note that we shall soon be celebrating its 100th edition. So thank you to the Weekend Cryptic Team for creating such brilliant QCs. I thoroughly enjoyed the latest despite it taking me well into the SCC (26:25). MM
Just a footnote to thank all contributors who have expressed their support and appreciation of my blogs over the years, and also more generally for The Times Quick Cryptic puzzle.
6.53
Solved today as Mrs Oompah had the paper yesterday.
Only paused for SHIFTLESS.
Thanks all.