Times Quick Cryptic No 1198 by Teazel

Author   rolytolyPosted on Categories Quick Cryptic
A gentler puzzle today from Teazel, hopefully something of a relief after a run of trickier offerings. I tackled this directly after doing Tuesday’s 15x and QC, both of which were tough, and was rewarded with something like a PB of 5:08 (at least, I don’t remember every breaking the 5 minute mark). Difficult puzzles can be dispiriting for a beginner, but they do make good practice. Every more experienced solver has spent many an hour staring blankly at an almost-blank grid, the optimism after getting that early anagram now a soured, taunting vestige of false hope. I got all bar 22ac with my first read through of the acrosses, which made for a merry feast of biffing come the downs, hence the time. Nice change of pace – many thanks to Teazel!

Across
1 Brand or scar, we hear (6)
MARQUE – sounds the same (“we hear”) as MARK (scar)
4 Slice beer ingredient into container (4,2)
CHOP UP – HOP (beer ingredient, with a current tendency to be overused to the point of tasting of pot pourri) in CUP (container)
8 Travelling to old city in west of Ghana (7)
TOURING – TO (to) UR (old city) IN (in) G ( the “westernmost” letter of Ghana). Nicely masked use of “to” and “in”.
10 Lines some observer sees (5)
VERSE – “some” of the letters of obserVER SEes
11 Victor Middleton regularly recording (5)
VIDEO – V(ictor), and then the regular/alternate letters of mIdDlEtOn
12 Stuffy, as a bald man is commonly? (7)
AIRLESS – HAIRLESS (as a bald man is), commonly = drop the aitch.
13 Having shed fat, I’m terribly clumsy (3-6)
HAM-FISTED – anagram (terribly) of SHED FAT IM
17 Bill’s relation (7)
ACCOUNT – nice double definition, the second as in a narration/recount.
19 Racecourse is firm, in a way (5)
ASCOT – CO. (company/firm) in A ST. (a street/way)
20 A lake frequently high (5)
ALOFT – A L(ake) OFT (frequently)
21 Decide to do puzzle again (7)
RESOLVE – double definition.
22 Personal ornament that’s over a foot? (6)
ANKLET – cryptic definition, an anklet going above a foot. Ruined my clean sweep, dammit!
23 Small wait for such a clear sky (6)
STARRY – S(mall) TARRY (wait)
Down
1 After car check, I have reason to act (6)
MOTIVE – MOT (car check) I’VE (I have)
2 How hands move without stopping (5,3,5)
ROUND THE CLOCK – gentle cryptic hint.
3 Special clothes, even (7)
UNIFORM – double definition
5 Hang around south coast resort, then run (5)
HOVER – HOVE (south coast resort) then R(un)
6 Not the architectural style of the Pisa tower? (13)
PERPENDICULAR – cryptic(ish) definition. Like Trump’s tower (according to Ms Daniels), the Leaning Tower of Pisa is a monumentally disappointing erection.
7 Asleep, after upheaval: a delight (6)
PLEASE – anagram (after upheaval) of ASLEEP
9 Happy one is at a peak as fighter (9)
GLADIATOR – GLAD (happy) I (ONE) is at A TOR (a peak)
14 Characteristic to employ poles for crossing (7)
TRANSIT – TRAIT (characteristic) to employ/engage N(orth) S(outh) (poles)
15 Criticise a parent for hat (6)
PANAMA -PAN (criticise) A MA (a parent)
16 Very hard putting fish into pig-pen (6)
STEELY – put EEL (fish) into STY (pig-pen)
18 Release neckwear for NY assembly? (5)
UNTIE – a U.N. (NY assembly) TIE (neckwear)

30 comments on “Times Quick Cryptic No 1198 by Teazel”

  1. Nice and easy. Some solvers may not know of the Perpendicular style of English Gothic architecture, as in Kings College chapel, Cambridge. 3:48.
  2. 7 minutes, so comfortably back on form after a run of missed targets. I found 22ac barely cryptic and I was a little concerned about the redundant ‘a’ in 7dn.
    1. I was bothered by the ‘a’, too, but it does make the surface reading a lot smoother.
      1. True, but a little tricksy for a QC because it presents the definition as a noun whereas the answer is a verb. Still it’s useful as a lesson to be learnt, I suppose.
        1. I’m afraid I find this clue flawed by the “a” for precisely that reason.
          But this works:
          After upheaval, sleep: a delight.
          So close… Sigh…

          Edited at 2018-10-11 05:48 am (UTC)

    2. The clue in my paper version is:

      A sleep, after upheaval, is delight.

      Quick solve for me, under 12 minutes. 12ac my COD.

    3. In the my print copy 7dn is “… upheaval, is delight” so I was confused by the reference to the extra “a”.

      Edited at 2018-10-11 08:57 pm (UTC)

  4. 13 mins, so well below average for me and I happily join those who are relieved that we have had an easier puzzle after what seems to be a long series of trickier ones.
  5. Thanks to Teazel for a better-balanced QC which should be more accessible to newer solvers. I found it easier than recent offerings but at 15 mins, still didn’t get close to my past average (which seems like a dream, now – perhaps I need to pick a different time of day when there are fewer interruptions). I quite liked Touring, Transit, and Anklet. LOI Marque, believe it or not! Thanks to roly for his perceptive comments. John M.

    Edited at 2018-10-11 08:46 am (UTC)

    1. Ditto on loi and favourite clues. Only differences were half the time and 7 hours later. I’m not convinced that the time of day has anything much to do with it though – it’s more whether you’ve got some peace and quiet and a nice cup of tea!
  7. A nice change of pace after the past couple of weeks. Completed in 7.44. My only query was 7d where, as others have already stated, the ‘a’ seemed to be out of place.
  8. I seem to be out of step with everyone. I beat my target by 10 minutes on both Monday and Tuesday, but was 10 minutes over at 40 for todays, which I found very difficult. LOI was Marque.
    Brian
    1. I find that if 1a does not reveal itself quickly then my solving time exponentially lengthens.
  9. Well, that would’ve been a PB at 4:48, but I managed to mistype 7d as PPLEAE. Heading for under the 5 minute barrier meant my proof reading was careless. Definitely an easier offering. Thanks Teazel and Roly.
  10. My first sub 10 min solve for quite a while. LOI PERPENDICULAR needing all the checkers. 1a MARQUE has appeared recently and was a write in like so many others for me today. 21a RESOLVE took some time but shouldn’t have as did 16d STEELY where I invented a fish called ‘urd’. 9:28
  11. I thought I was ready for a PB (c. 17 mins), but 1a absolutely stumped me … I’m not even sure why, I just didn’t associate marque with brand.
    Other than that encouraging I’m sure for beginners, but the old one that challenges the parsing e.g. 8a, 14a etc
    COD: 3d. I reckon that might stump a few if 1a is found wanting.
    thanks to setter, blogger and all those who contribute.
    Carl
  13. I know it’s wrong, but I got Touring, by city (TURIN) (O)ld in and (G)hana. And you know what, I don’t care!
  15. Certainly one of my fastest times. FOI MOTIVE, followed by MARQUE, and it just flowed from there. LOI ANKLET (I read ‘foot’ as ‘fool’ at first – didn’t help) Neat clue, so my COD. Missed the parsing in 8ac, just assumed TOING was an area of Ghana.
    Think most regulars will be pleased to see a more straightforward offering, but with many enjoyable, and nicely cryptic, clues. Thanks setter.
    PlayUpPompey
  16. Graham. I also assumed Tour for the city. Having driven through/over Tours many times I assumed this was the English spelling like Marseille and Lyon. So why not Pari ? John
  17. Why is U.N uniquely a NY assembly? Guess easy to biff but don’t see a obvious connection other than being a crossword land manouvre . Agree with rolytoly that this QC is reasonable. Cheers.

    SRT

    1. The UN assembles in New York, so it’s a New York assembly. Nothing unique about it; the city council meets there too, inter alia.
  18. Have been at Walton Heath today watching proper golfers, so came to this puzzle late.
    Nothing much to add – solved on paper,did not time my solve but under 15 minutes. FOI was Marque,first clue read; and LOI was Touring; I was worried that my weak geography would be tested.
    Enjoyed the puzzle. David
  19. I think Marque came up recently somewhere so off to a great start. Some old favourites appeared and I was pleased that when I started to panic with 12a I managed to work it out. Just on the wavelength and hit a PB of 12 minutes.
    Nice to be able to not get stuck on anything for long.
    Thanks all
    John George

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