Times Quick Cryptic 685 by Teazel

Author   jackktPosted on Categories Quick Cryptic
I’m standing in for mohn2 this week. In response to overwhelming popular demand (well one person wrote to me) I am reinstating my practice of stating my QC solving times, but other bloggers remain free to do as they wish. This one took me 8 minutes so I would rate it towards the easier end of the spectrum, though it’s not without a couple of  lesser-known answers and references as noted in my comments. Here’s my blog…

As usual definitions are underlined in bold italics, {deletions are in curly brackets} and [anagrinds, containment, reversal and other indicators in square ones]

Across
1 Draughtsman’s gender is problematic (8)
DESIGNER – Anagram [problematic] of GENDER IS
5 Cut deeply into good wood (4)
GASH – G (good), ASH (wood)
8 Highly desirable change of editor (2,3,3)
TO DIE FOR – Anagram [change] of OF EDITOR
9 Thwart, using this sword? (4)
FOIL – Two definitions
11 Radiance noticed around husband (5)
SHEEN – SEEN (noticed) around H (husband)
12 To contradict wins, always (7)
GAINSAY – GAINS (wins), AY (always). A rather old fashioned term that may not be familiar to all these days. Additonally in the wordplay AY = always or ever is not in everyday usage, though it comes up quite a lot in puzzles.
13 Son quietly studied feast (6)
SPREAD – S (son), P (quietly), READ (studied)
15 Robber gang taking computer technology (6)
BANDIT – BAND (gang), IT (computer technology)
18 Open boat that smoker may use (7)
LIGHTER – A straight definition and a cryptic hint. The cryptic’s perhaps a little easier than the literal.
19 To some extent liked a chair for Russian cottage (5)
DACHA – Hidden [to some extent] in {like}D A CHA{ir}. A foreign word, again perhaps not familiar to all.
21 Low river in high ground (4)
MOOR – MOO (low), R (river). The meaning required for the first element appears in the second verse of the Christmas carol “Away in a Manger” – “The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes…”
22 Work with artist, say, a producer of spectacles (8)
OPTICIAN – OP (work), sounds like [say] “Titian” [artist]
23 Instructed dolt to move (4)
TOLD – Anagram of DOLT with [to move] as the anagrind
24 Keep page at front of book (8)
PRESERVE – P (page), RESERVE (book)
Down
1 Can’t stand extremely dire cricket matches (7)
DETESTS – D{ir}E [extremely], TESTS (cricket matches). The answer only fits the definition in the third person: he / she detests something or other.
2 Marsh plant in small border (5)
SEDGE – S (small), EDGE (border)
3 Political group has signal to go and have fun (5,5)
GREEN PARTY – GREEN (signal to go),  PARTY (have fun)
4 One flipping expression of disgust is sufficient (6)
ENOUGH – ONE reversed [flipping], UGH! (expression of disgust)
6 Motivated by a stick to secure employment (7)
AROUSED – A, ROD (stick) contains [to secure] USE (employment)
7 Ivy’s partner, a prickly girl? (5)
HOLLY – Two vaguely cryptic definitions
10 Success with girl is random (3-3-4)
HIT-AND-MISS – HIT (success), AND (with), MISS. I always feel that this should be “hit-or-miss” but usage of “and” outweighs “or” by 12m to 9m on a google search  so I suppose I shall have to bow to the masses.
14 Plaything bagged regularly in cylindrical pack (3,4)
RAG DOLL – {b}A{g}G{e}D [regularly] in ROLL (cylindrical pack)
16 Pupil’s support of course keeps artist at home (7)
TRAINEE – TEE (support of course – golf) contains [keeps] RA (artist) + IN (home)
17 Decorous publicity about string of pearls, perhaps (6)
PROPER – PR (publicity), contains [about] ROPE (string of pearls, perhaps)
18 Maximum speed came down, motorway included (5)
LIMIT – M1 (motorway) contained [included] by LIT (came down – landed). A limit can apply to lots of things, so this definition with reference to speed is an example of a definition by example (DBE in TftT jargon) which is frowned upon by some solvers unless signalled by a question-mark or “perhaps” or other such indicator.
20 Councillor that is right for reader of proclamations (5)
CRIER – CR (councillor), IE (that is), R (right). The definition refers to the ancient position of town-crier, an officer of the court whose job is/was to announce decisions affecting the public. Oyez!

19 comments on “Times Quick Cryptic 685 by Teazel”

  1. Definitely at the easy end of the bell curve, but none the worse for that.

    I hadn’t thought about “hit and miss” before – I guess the phrase comes from cricket/baseball/rounders, and is either short for “attempt to hit and miss” or is a description of multiple attempts (“some you hit and some you miss”). Whatever the truth, I feel it’s unwise to get too exercised over the (il)logic of idioms.

    I don’t think “limit” is a DBE anymore – Google’s dictionary has “speed limit” as a meaning of “limit” and I’m sure it’s not the only dictionary to do so.

    1. Thanks for your input, Adrian.I think most regular solvers at TfTT don’t worry much about occasional DBEs these days, although in the past there were some quite strong opinions on both sides. However it’s a subject that newer solvers may like to be aware of so it seems appropriate to raise it in the QC forum occasionally.

      I think the example here is borderline and it’s interesting that you have found a source that justifies it, but before mentioning it today I had checked the “usual” sources (Collins, COED, SOED and Chambers) none of which does so, although SOED gives “speed limit” as an example of a term in which “limit” might appear, along with “age limit”, “weight limit” and “etc”.

      Either way it’s no big deal but it doesn’t hurt to give the subject an airing.

  2. Definitely on the easy side. I’d agree with Adrian on ‘hit___miss’ and on ‘limit’. 5:22.
  3. Jack glad to see you back on the old timer with a solid 8 mins.

    Now you may have to change the name of this blog from ‘Times for The Times’ – to ‘Some Times for the Times’ – as what’s on the label ain’t in the tin!

    I have been in touch with a QC about the alternate Wednesday QC and he believes I have a reasonable case – especially as 98.75% of the other bloggers, including yourself, duly oblige.
    Might it be construed as misrepresentation?

    I was home in 7:02

    WOD GAINSAY

  4. I’m one of the people who would love to graduate to the 15×15 but most days cannot even get started. I have the very occasional more successful day when it is ‘less challenging’ puzzle and once, but only once, managed to complete it. Therefore the QC is my daily challenge and my times vary from 20 mins to 90 mins. 28 mins today so I would agree it’s at the easier end of the spectrum. Some entertaining clues though. 18d was unparsed so thanks for the explanation. Even if I had got M1 instead of just M, I would have struggled with Lit for came down.
    1. Ditto….don’t make it harder. We already have a few puzzles each week which stretch the brains of ordinary mortals!
  6. Have to agree that this was at the easier end of them spectrum, completed in 10 minutes. I always thought of dachas as being big country houses lived in at the weekends by oligarchs or communist bigwigs in days gone by. But I see from the dictionaries that it is defined as a ‘country house or cottage’. LOI 15a
    On the subject of the 15×15 I would ideally like to ‘graduate’ one day but as I still find it fairly impenetrable have decided to just enjoy the QC for the time being.
    Thanks for standing in jack.
  7. As we are discussing times, I am pretty much in the same position as Ant45, with times ranging from 15 mins to 90 mins (the longer usually being over 2 or more sittings, so I tend not to know my actual solving times). Today was 20mins in one sitting, so definitely at the easier end of the spectrum. I am one of those happy with the QC in its own right, although I have completed the 15×15 a couple of times and having done so am happy to leave it at that.
    I was quite happy with LIMIT and regard hit and miss / hit or miss as perfectly valid alternatives.
    PlayupPompey
  8. Today’s main puzzle isn’t too bad, although SPOILER ALERT the three long words are a bit obscure. Have a go at the 7-letter words and see how many you can get.
  9. Can anyone explain the relevance of “of course” in 16dn. Wouldn’t “support” be sufficient alone for “tee”? Gribb
    1. Hi, Gribb,

      Yes, “support” would indeed be sufficient for “tee” and frequently is in the 15×15 puzzle. But bearing in mind this is a QC which has to cater for a wider range of solver, by adding “of course” as a cryptic reference to golf, the setter is simply being a little more generous.

      Edited at 2016-10-24 12:56 pm (UTC)

      1. Just realised that course refers to golf course, so quite a nice add actually. Always shows that when you doubt the validity of a clue, you’re wrong!
  10. This seemed gentle after the rigours of the largely still unsolved Saturday puzzle. Solved in 15 minutes. LOI was 6d as I had not managed the parsing on first pass. Liked 3d. David
  11. I think this refers to lots of goes: some hitting the target and some missing. Whereas hit or miss is a solo effort.
  12. I consider that the QC’s provide quite a wide range of challenge. If this was easier (I agree with that) it only serves to wet the appetite for the next one, which is bound to be a stinker. My times also range from 30 to 90 minutes (or even more sometimes, and can be spread over multiple sittings to fit into my day). By the time I’ve finished the QC over a late afternoon coffee or evening when I can get time for myself, the main cryptic has usually been binned and is seldom retrievable in useable condition. As I find it helpful to work with a printed copy, downloading and printing off just isn’t the same experience. I find the 15×15 cryptic daunting and seldom get very far as yet. Count me as one who would love to see QCs on a Saturday and Sunday too. Most of today fell into place easily enough but I had to tease out 6d aroused even though I had all the checkers. LOI 24a preserve. COD 14d rag doll. so thanks to Teasel for an encouraging start to the week and to the rest of you for an informative blog.

  13. 15 minutes for me so on the easier side.

    I struggle to get anagrams without printing out so normally do.

    I still find a huge gulf between the two. I’ve got 5 in the 15×15 today. I may try doing it first while my brain is still fresh.

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