Solving time: 11 minutes
My third blog of a QC by Jimmy and he’s only set 16. Nothing to scare the proverbials here, I think, but some may find it not so easy. How did you do?
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]. “Aural wordplay” is in quotation marks. I usually omit all reference to juxtaposition indicators unless there is a specific point that requires clarification.
 Across |
|
| 8 | Advice on clues in cryptic form (7) |
| COUNSEL | |
| Anagram [in cryptic form] of ON CLUES | |
| 9 | A key change ultimately for female pop singer (5) |
| ADELE | |
| A, DEL (key), {chang}E [ultimately]. I know nothing about her, but I’ve heard the name mentioned. | |
| 10 | Expensive vehicle parts picked up (5) |
| ROLLS | |
| Aural wordplay [picked up]: “roles” (parts – as taken by actors) | |
| 11 | Discover hunter moving around area (7) |
| UNEARTH | |
| Anagram [moving] of HUNTER containing [around] A (area) | |
| 12 | Quidditch, in essence, involves some irritation (9) |
| ITCHINESS | |
| Is hidden in [involves] {Quidd}ITCH IN ESS{ence} | |
| 14 | Hint written the wrong way is mine (3) |
| PIT | |
| TIP (hint) reversed [written the wrong way] | |
| 16 | Tuber, in spring time, coming from the east (3) |
| YAM | |
| MAY (spring time) reversed [coming from the east] | |
| 18 | I’m fearing shaking device which blows things up (9) |
| MAGNIFIER | |
| Anagram [shaking] of I’M FEARING | |
| 21 | Someone who might instal pipes or soft timber (7) |
| PLUMBER | |
| P (soft), LUMBER (timber). I thought ‘instal’ with one ‘l’ was the American spelling, and Collins lists it as such, but also as a British English alternative to ‘install’, along with Chambers and the Oxfords. For all that, my spellchecker still doesn’t like it! | |
| 22 | Tropical fruit parent’s held in hand (5) |
| PAPAW | |
| PA (parent) contained by [held in] PAW (hand) | |
| 23 | Stand in atelier or move gently left (5) |
| EASEL | |
| EASE (move gently), L (left). For the definition, an atelier is an artist’s studio. | |
| 24 | Deserving lad denied entertaining delight (7) |
| GLADDEN | |
| Hidden in [entertaining] {deservin}G LAD DEN{ied} | |
| Down |
|
| 1 | Lack transport in South London? (8) |
| SCARCITY | |
| CAR (transport) contained by [in] S (South) + CITY (London?) | |
| 2 | Open watering hole with a lot of insects (6) |
| PUBLIC | |
| PUB (watering hole – jocular slang), LIC{e} (insects) [lots of…]. My last one in, for some reason. | |
| 3 | Female deity lives repeatedly (4) |
| ISIS | |
| IS (lives) + IS [repeatedly] | |
| 4 | Gutted criminal with a purpose for part of sentence (6) |
| CLAUSE | |
| C{rimina}L [gutted], A, USE (purpose) | |
| 5 | Glide behind a boat’s wake? It’s oddly about right (5-3) |
| WATER-SKI | |
| Anagram [oddly] of WAKE IT’S containing [about] R (right) | |
| 6 | The French feel effects of hallucinogenic drugs and don’t hold back (3,3) |
| LET RIP | |
| LE (the, French), TRIP (feel effects of hallucinogenic drugs) | |
| 7 | Conclusions of treaty saddle China with informal agreement (4) |
| YEAH | |
| {treat}Y + {saddl}E + {Chin}A + {wit}H [conclusions of…] | |
| 13 | Timothy wanting time on phone still (8) |
| IMMOBILE | |
| {T}IM (Timothy) [wanting time], MOBILE (phone) | |
| 15 | Object about argument, which is disconcerting (8) |
| THROWING | |
| THING (object) containing [about] ROW (argument) | |
| 17 | Creamy confection in seconds consumed by timid person (6) |
| MOUSSE | |
| S (seconds) contained [consumed] by MOUSE (timid person) | |
| 19 | Billions lost from rubbish repair shop (6) |
| GARAGE | |
| GAR{b}AGE(rubbish) [billions lost from…] | |
| 20 | Setter’s new diet regularly ignored after opening of picnic hamper (6) |
| IMPEDE | |
| I’M (setter’s), P{icnic} [opening of…], {n}E{w} D{i}E{t} [regularly ignored] | |
| 21 | Tweet cover of Prince record (4) |
| PEEP | |
| P{rinc}E [cover of…], EP (record) | |
| 22 | Drama created by Labour’s leader blocking workers’ reward (4) |
| PLAY | |
| L{abour’s} [leader] contained by [blocking] PAY (workers’ reward) | |
21:17
After a long time away from the QC I started to panic with only 3 clues in after the first pass (ISIS, PIT & PLUMBER).
Kept circling around the grid until all the answers gradually revealed themselves with the exception of ROLLS which I couldn’t see could be anything else put missed parts (roles) ‘picked up’ – thanks jackkt.
Reassured by all the comments above.
Thanks to Jimmy and jackkt.
The two hidden clues were excellent. Quite tough, but managed it all correct. About 25 minutes.
A fun puzzle that I thought was well pitched as a Monday QC. I happen to know ADELE very well, but still struggle with the idea of someone so current (and alive) featuring in a crossword. Thanks Jimmy and Jack.
Still convinced that the IM from IMPEDE comes from jImMy!! Took me ages to see GLADDEN.
Excellent crossword thank you Jimmy and thanks Jack for the explanations. Managed to parse all bar WATERSKI and IMPEDE!
About 40 hard worked minutes.
I’ve been doing these quick cryptics since they started. I usually finish – even though they generally take over an hour, maybe more.
But I can’t remember doing so few clues or being so off wavelength.
Take PUBLIC. I’m supposed to know water hole is pub. That is archaic slang that I’ve never used. Then I’m supposed t0 guess a type of insect – LICE and take a letter off.
I could literally spend a year and not get this.
I know I’ll never be able to tackle a 15 x 15 – so if these quick cryptics are just 13 x13 versions – with an insultingly easy clue or two given to us in a patronising manner – then I’ll have to stop even trying.
Thanks for your help
Yet another failure. 21 minute DNF as I put PEEL for PEEP. That’s this week blown to smithereens. My ghastly performances show no sign of abating. I cannot solve the easiest of clues. Every day I have some form of calamity.
3 short on 15 x 15.
Just 2 on Quintagram.
Woeful, woeful, woeful. There was a time when I solved 24 QCs on the bounce. Now it’s astonishing if I solve more than 3 in a week. ☹️
Very late to the party again but just wanted to say how much I enjoyed this puzzle. Great hiddens and some twisty wordplay but nothing too too arcane for me, for 15 1/2 minutes of fun.
Thanks Jimmy and jackkt.